June | Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - The federal government on Monday announced two-day public holidays across the country on June 25 and 26 (Thursday and Friday) to observe the 9th and 10th of Muharram-ul-Haram, 1448 A.

The federal government on Monday announced two-day public holidays across the country on June 25 and 26 (Thursday and Friday) to observe the 9th and 10th of Muharram-ul-Haram, 1448 A.

The federal and Sindh governments on Monday announced public holidays on June 25 (Thursday) and 26 (Friday) on account of Ashura. In a notification dated June 22, the Cabinet Secretariat said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared Muharram 9 and 10, falling on June 25-26, as public holidays. Meanwhile, the Sindh Information Department also issued a notification to this effect on social media platform X. The notification, issued by Sindh’s chief secretary, said. “The government of Sindh, hereby declares June 25 and 26, 2026 as public holidays throughout the province of Sindh, on the occasion of Ashura (Muharram 9 and 10, 1448 A.H).” It added that all offices, autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations and local councils under the administrative control of the government of Sindh, except essential services, would remain closed. Muharram is a month of mourning, observed in particular by Shia Muslims worldwide. It commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where, amongst many, the grandso...

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set June 30 as the deadline for completion of all sewerage and drainage projects across the province and imposed a ban on leaving excavation work incomplete or roads open after digging.

SARGODHA - The Sargodha police’s Anti-Vehicle Lifting Squad (AVLS) recovered 30 stolen and tempered motorcycles worth millions of rupees and handed them over to their rightful owners during successful operations conducted across the district in the month of June 2026.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced that all its field formations will observe normal working hours on June 27 and 28, 2026 (Saturday and Sunday), to facilitate the collection of duties and taxes.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will attend the fourth meeting of the R-4 group of countries in Cairo on June 21 at the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart, Dr Badr Abdelatty, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO). “At the invitation of Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will attend the 4th Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the R-4 Group of Countries, to be held in Cairo, Egypt, on 21 June 2026,” said the statement. The meeting would bring together the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan to “discuss regional developments and exchange views on issues related to peace, security, and stability”. “Building on the outcomes of previous R-4 meetings, the ministers will also discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation in areas of shared interest,” added the statement. During the visit, FM Dar would hold bilateral consultations with his Egyptian counterpart and would also call on...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the continuation of the federal government's austerity measures until June 30, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday.

Pre-sales of Grand Theft Auto VI, the feverishly anticipated video game release, will begin on June 25, Rockstar Games said on Thursday. GTA VI, due to be released on November 19 after two delays, is the eighth main entry in the blockbuster franchise and is set to arrive more than 13 years after GTA V, the second best-selling video game in history. Rockstar Games, owned by New York-based Take-Two Interactive, announced the date in a post on X, saying pre-orders would begin across digital platforms and at select retailers. Rockstar also released the game’s official cover art but did not disclose pricing. Analysts believe the game will be available at a base price of $80, based on recent comments from Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick and industry reports. As popular as it is notorious for its sexual and violent content, the franchise has allowed players to roleplay as criminals doing dirty deeds across sprawling cityscapes since its first entry in 1997. The newest game was originally due to be released ...

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has declared a public holiday across the province on June 17, 2026, on the occasion of 1st Muharram 1448 AH, marking the beginning of the Islamic New Year.

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) until June 17, 2027, while highlighting concerns over Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, terrorism threats, human rights situation and regional stability. The resolution, drafted by China and adopted by all 15 UNSC members, reaffirms the UN’s central role in supporting peace and stability in Afghanistan and maintaining engagement with the country’s de facto authorities and other stakeholders. Although Pakistan is not mentioned by name in the text, several provisions of the resolution carry direct implications for Islamabad, particularly on refugee returns, regional security, counterterrorism cooperation and economic connectivity. The Security Council directed Unama to support efforts to create conditions conducive to the “voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return and reintegration of internally displaced persons and refugees,” a...

The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Monday announced that the Muharram 1448 AH moon was not sighted in the country. The first of Muharram will fall on Wednesday, June 17, while Ashura will be observed on June 26. In a notification, the ministry said: “In pursuance of the decision of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee in its meeting held today in Lahore, the federal government in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Islamabad, hereby announces that the moon of Muharram 1448 AH has not been sighted.” “Therefore, the 1st Muharram 1448 AH shall commence from Wednesday, June 17, 2026,” it added. Earlier today, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported that the committee would meet at Iqbal Hall, Badshahi Mosque in Lahore to sight the Muharram moon, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Muharram is a month of mourning, observed in particular by Shia Muslims worldwide. It commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where, amongst many, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peac...

Pakistan has officially announced that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Muharram 1448 AH was not sighted anywhere in the country, making June 17 (Wednesday) the first day of the Islamic month.

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.