June | Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday lifted the austerity measures it had imposed on March 10, 2026, due to disruptions in petroleum supplies amid the ongoing Iran-US conflict. On March 10, the apex court announced that the country’s courts would observe four-day work weeks. It further stated that the monthly ceiling of Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) allocated to judges and entitled officers should be reduced by 50 per cent. A notification issued with the approval of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi stated that the notification, dated March 10, 2026, has been withdrawn. “Accordingly, all austerity measures adopted in the said notification shall cease to have effect from June 15, 2026,” it added. The government had announced unprecedented austerity measures on March 9 in the wake of the Middle East war to deal with the global energy crisis, which had arisen due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Following the government’s announcement, institutions including the Supreme Court, the...

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will present the federal budget for the next fiscal year (FY26–27) in the National Assembly on June 12, an adviser to the minister has confirmed. Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad shared the revised budget schedule in a post on X. He added that the Pakistan Economic Survey for the outgoing FY2025–26 would be launched at 2:20pm on Thursday by Aurangzeb. Budget sessions of the National Assembly and Senate have already been summoned by President Asif Ali Zardari. The National Economic Council (NEC), the highest economic decision-making forum of the federation, met earlier on Wednesday to finalise federal and provincial development plans ahead of the budget presentation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who chaired the meeting, said the Centre held consultations with the provinces on all matters “with extreme seriousness, and we made decisions in the best interest of Pakistan”. The NEC finally met after being delayed three times, as negotiations had continued over ...

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday predicted dust and windstorms, rain and thunderstorms across most parts of the country this week from June 11–13, and warned the relevant authorities to remain “vigilant”. A press release issued by the PMD said a western disturbance is likely to approach the upper parts of the country on June 11 and persist until June 13. It added that moist currents from the Arabian Sea are also likely to penetrate the upper and central parts of the country from June 11. Scattered dust and windstorms, and rain and thunderstorms — along with isolated heavy falls and hail — are expected in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Okara, Kasur, Khushab, Sargodha, Noor Pur Thal, Bhakkar, Layyah, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffa...

President Asif Ali Zardari summoned a session of the National Assembly on June 10, at 5pm in the Parliament House. “The President has summoned the National Assembly session for tomorrow, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 5pm in the Parliament House. The President has summoned the session by exercising the powers conferred under Article 54 Clause 1 of the Constitution,” according to the notification. This will be the “28th session of the 16th National Assembly”, added the notification. President Zardari also summoned a session of the Senate at 4pm on June 10, according to a post on social media by the president’s office. A source in the National Assembly Secretariat told Dawn that both sessions have been called budget sessions for 2026–27; however, it is expected that the budget will be presented in Parliament on June 12. The sessions were reportedly convened for the budget and to line up members before its presentation. Under Article 63, Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) could be disqualified if they abstain...

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Tuesday that the budget for the next fiscal year (FY2026-27) would likely be presented in the parliament on June 12 (Friday). He posted this on X, further stating that summaries to convene budget sessions in the National Assembly and Senate on June 10 (Wednesday) had been sent to the presidency for approval. The sessions for the NA and the Senate have been advised to be summoned at 5pm and 4pm, respectively, Chaudhry added. Before Chaudhry’s statement, uncertainty had surrounded the date for the budget’s presentation as the federal government, its coalition partners and provincial governments struggled to reach a consensus over the Centre’s demand for more than Rs1 trillion for strategic needs. The meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) was postponed for the third time on Monday at the last moment amid continuing negotiations over the freezing of provincial shares in the federal divisible pool under the NFC Award. Muzzammil Aslam, adviser on ...

The federal budget 2026-27 will be presented in the National Assembly on June 12.

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that heatwave conditions are likely to develop across the country from June 07 to 12 as a high-pressure system is expected to form in the upper atmosphere on June 8 and persist until June 11.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a heatwave warning for various parts of the country from June 7 to June 12. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the districts of Peshawar, Mardan, Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan are expected to record maximum temperatures four to six degrees Celsius above normal, ranging between 41°C and 46°C from June 8 to 11. Temperatures are expected to rise to 37°C-40°C in KP’s northern districts of Chitral, Dir and Swat, as well as in Gilgit-Baltistan, from June 8 to 10. In Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Bagh and Muzaffarabad, maximum temperatures are expected to range between 41°C and 44°C from June 8 to 10. From June 8 to 11, temperatures are expected to range between 44°C and 48°C in Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Joharabad, Khushab, Mianwali, Noorpur Thal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Pakpattan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Layy...

ISLAMABAD - Leaders of major political and religious parties in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Wednesday unanimously adopted a comprehensive resolution at an All Parties Conference (APC) in Muzaffarabad, reaffirming support for the Kashmir freedom movement, democratic stability and constitutional governance while rejecting the June 9.

ISLAMABAD: With the federal budget for the financial year 2026-27 expected to be tabled on June 10, two major ruling partners, the PML-N and the PPP, continued their consultations on the proposed fiscal measures, with another round of the pre-budget meeting scheduled for later this week. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday that the budget would be tabled on June 10. Sources said the next meeting between the PPP and PML-N would be attended by party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who will be back from his election campaign in Gilgit-Baltistan before the June 7 polls. PPP sources said these were routine pre-budget meetings to discuss taxation and other measures and multiple rounds could take place before the budget session. A PPP leader also said they were trying to reach an agreement with the government on fiscal measures in light of the new IMF demands, adding that they were unhappy with the budget in its current form. Another source said the consultations were also delayed because the IM...

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday forecast below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures across most parts of the country during the months of June to August. The PMD said in its outlook that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is currently in a neutral phase and is expected to shift to a positive phase by July 2026, while the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has moved into a positive phase (El Nino) and is expected to strengthen further during the season. In view of these conditions, the PMD said that “normal to below-normal” rainfall was expected over most parts of the country during the June–July–August (JJA) season, with the largest negative departures likely over the northeastern parts of Punjab. The findings were reinforced by the Met Office’s probability outlook, which indicated a high probability of below-normal rainfall across most of Pakistan, particularly Punjab, Sindh, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and most of Balochistan. “In contrast, near-normal to slightly above-normal...

The presentation of the federal budget for the next fiscal year (FY2026-27) has been pushed to June 10, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. His remarks come after several media outlets reported on Tuesday that the budget would not be presented on June 5, for which sessions of both houses of Parliament were summoned. Asked about the reason for postponing the budget presentation during Samaa TV’s ‘Nadeem Malik Live’ programme on Tuesday night, Chaudhry said, “The initial proposal for the budget was June 5, [but] now, the budget will be released on June 10, God willing.” Asked for a confirmation, the minister reiterated that the new date for the budget announcement was June 10 (Wednesday). Elaborating on the reason for the delay, Chaudhry stressed that one of the two main steps in the budget process was “convincing the allies” in the ruling coalition. However, he played down the impression of any rifts between the PML-N and the PPP, terming the latter’s chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Za...

Political bigwigs on Tuesday sought to garner public support in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) as PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressed rallies ahead of the June 7 elections. General elections in GB are scheduled for Sunday, after a four-month delay attributed to harsh winter weather. Addressing a public gathering in Skardu, where First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari was also present, Bilawal called for greater rights for the people of GB. “I have to struggle along with GB’s new generation […] If we have to implement the manifesto of roti, kapra, makaan in its true sense, then we will have to work on three rules — we will have to attain the right to haq-i-hakimiyat (right to govern), haq-i-malkiyat (right to ownership), and haq-i-rozgaar (right to employment),” Bilawal said. He further said, “The struggle of PPP’s new generation will be to get you your right to govern, and that will happen when GB will get the protections, facilities and powers provided in the 18th Amendment.” “Aft...

LAHORE: Former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif will visit Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday to meet party ticket holders ahead of the June 7 elections. The GB Election Commission had announced that general elections in the region would be held on June 7 after a four-month delay. On Monday, Punjab Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said on X that the PML-N president will visit GB on Tuesday for a one-day visit. During the visit, he will meet party leaders and ticket-holders. “He will also discuss the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and matters related to the development and welfare of the people of the region,” she said. Nawaz has not been active in politics since the February 2024 general elections. However, he is serving as head of the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival. The former prime minister often presides over its meetings and oversees measures for the protection of the city’s heritage. The PML-N supremo also acts as a political mentor to his daughter and Punjab Chief Ministe...

The upper parts of the country are expected to experience dust storms and thunderstorms from June 2, which are likely to persist until June 5, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Monday. “A westerly wave is likely to approach the upper parts of the country” during the forecast period, PMD said in an advisory. In Punjab and Islamabad, scattered dust storms and thunderstorms with rain are expected, with isolated heavy falls and hailstorms at a few places, in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Okara, Kasur, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, D.G. Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Layyah. In Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), the PMD forecast scattered rain, windstorms and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy falls and hailstorms, in Ne...

The Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council has predicted that the crescent moon of Muharram-ul-Haram is unlikely to be visible in Pakistan on June 15.

Punjab government has finalized budget proposals for fiscal year 2026-27 and is likely to present the provincial budget in the second week of June, according to sources in the provincial finance ministry.

• Prolonged agitation threatens AJK’s upcoming elections • Abolishing 12 assembly seats for Pakistan-based refugees remains key stumbling block • Govt says talks still on MUZAFFARABAD: Mara­thon talks between a federal ministerial team and the core leadership of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) ended without a breakthrough late on Saturday night, prompting the latter to announce that its June 9 strike would proceed as planned. The lengthy dialogue, convened to persuade the JAAC to withdraw its strike call and resolve differences over its charter of demands, stretched for more than nine hours with intermittent breaks. The outcome has heightened concerns over political stability in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where general elections are expected in the last week of July. “Today, we held talks with the representatives of the governments of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir throughout the day on all issues, including the 12 refugee seats,” JAAC core member Shaukat Nawaz Mir told reporters...

The European Union’s (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas will visit Pakistan on June 1 (Monday) to take part in the 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the EU announced on Saturday. According to the statement issued by the bloc, Kallas — also the European Commission’s vice president — will also hold meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. “This is the eighth round of the Strategic Dialogue between the EU and Pakistan, providing an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations under the Strategic Engagement Plan, signed in June 2019,” the EU said in the statement. “HR/VP Kallas will hold a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar at 12:30 local time.” The EU is Pakistan’s sec­ond-largest trading partner, with the GSP+ status allowing...

The Islamabad High Court has fixed June 1 for hearing sentence suspension applications filed by human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha in the social media posts case.