Pakistan

MULTAN - Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi on Tuesday said the number of passengers would be increased through substantial steps being taken to meet expectations of the public.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Teh­reek-i-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the budgetary proposals, alleging that the proposed budget for the upcoming financial year has been prepared by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The party arrived at this conclusion after discussing the budgetary proposals for financial year 2025-26 at a meeting of the parliamentary party, which was attended by PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, leader of the opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan and leader of opposition in Senate Shibli Faraz among others. Calling the PML-N government “illegitimate”, the participants were of the opinion it had no authority to present the budget. They said the PTI would never accept the budget prop­o­sals as the IMF had allegedly prep­a­red them. They alleged that relaxati­ons were proposed for the elite, while the less privileged were crushed. The PTI leaders also criticised the ‘biased role’ of the NA speaker. The party decided that if the national broadcaster/PTV failed to air speeches by lawmak...

US Department of State on Wednesday reiterated US President Donald Trump’s resolve to work on the Kashmir dispute, saying each step that he takes “is made to solve generational differences between countries”. Donald Trump had offered to work on the Kashmir issue after he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the two nations’ most intense military confrontation in decades. In a message lauding the countries’ leaders for achieving peace, he remarked, “I will work with both of you to see if, after a ‘thousand years’, a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir.” Responding to a question on the steps US plans to take in the wake of Trump’s offer, State Department’s spokesperson Tammy Bruce during a White House press briefing noted, “So, while I can’t speak to his plans, the world knows his nature, and I can’t speak to any details of what he might have in that regard,” adding that the White House would have plenty to say about the matter. She further said, “[Trump] has been the only one to brin...

Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Barrister Gohar, has strongly criticized the federal government following the announcement of the 2025–26 budget, calling it a failure on both economic and reform fronts.

• Up to 80pc tax relief for salaried individuals earning Rs600,000-1.2m annually • Minimal relief for top salary brackets earning above Rs4.1m • 1pc surcharge reduction for income above Rs10m to curb brain drain • Super tax cut by 0.5pc for companies earning Rs200m-500m • Pensions above Rs10m to be taxed at 5pc • Cash withdrawal tax for non-filers increased to 1pc from 0.6pc ISLAMABAD: The government has announced sweeping tax reforms in the federal budget 2025-26, offering tax cuts of up to 80 per cent for low-income salaried individuals while limiting relief for higher earners to just 3pc. A new 5 per cent tax has also been proposed on high-value pensions exceeding Rs10 million annually. The focus of the budget seems to balance sectoral rel­ief, expand tax scope, achieve equitable burden-sharing, and introducing strong enf­orcement measures. The government expects the digital taxation framework, carbon levies and tax enforcement on e-commerce and digital transactions to help Pakistan adapt to global financi...

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday unveiled Pakistan’s annual federal budget in a charged National Assembly session, outlining ambitious proposals to drive 4.2 per cent economic growth in the coming fiscal year while cutting back on overall spending and tightening tax measures. As the session — chaired by NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq — commenced, opposition lawmakers erupted into anti-government slogans. Starting his speech, the finance minister said the budget 2025-26 was being presented at a “historic moment” marked by national unity and resolve, referencing the recent Pakistan-India conflict. “The spirit with which we protected our national sovereignty, we need to ensure our financial security the same way,” he maintained, continuing his speech through the noisy session. “Pakistan has now achieved economic stability and is moving towards a Pakistan that is prosperous.” View this post on Instagram Budget outlay The federal budget for fiscal year 2026 has a total outlay — the sum of expenditures ...

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ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has introduced a new digital tax law that mandates taxation on earnings generated from YouTube, social media platforms, and various online services, ARY News reported. According to reports, income derived from audio, video, and music streaming services will now be subject to tax, along with other digital sectors. The legislation […]

‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star Orlando Bloom has opened up on a potential return to the franchise alongside Hollywood star Johnny Depp. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu – Click Here While Depp has played Jack Sparrow in all five films, Bloom and Keira Knightley had starring roles in the first three films. The two […]

The provincial government on Tuesday said it has decided to implement strict rules to improve traffic flow and prohibit parking on Karachi’s I.I. Chundrigarh Road — often known as the city’s “Wall Street” — to tighten traffic regulation enforcement and improve road safety. Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah issued the instructions after receiving a briefing on traffic management in the metropolis, a statement issued by his spokesperson, Abdur Rasheed Channa, said. According to the statement, parking will be prohibited on I.I. Chundrigar Road, beginning from Shaheen Complex to the Merewether Tower. CM Shah also directed the authorities concerned to ban parking for all types of vehicles from Muhammad Bin Qasim Road to Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road up to the S.M. Law College. I.I. Chundrigar Road, a major road in the city’s central business district, is often referred to as Karachi’s “Wall Street”. The road is a significant financial hub, serving as the location for the Pakistan Stock Exchange, major banks, and other ...

BTS's Jungkook thanks fans after completing military service, shares awkwardness on camera, and teases live broadcast.

KYIV: Russia and Ukraine said they exchanged an unspecified number of sick and wounded prisoners of war on Tuesday under an agreement reached at peace talks last week in Turkey. The handover took place after an initial swap of prisoners under the age of 25 was conducted on Monday. “Today marks the first stage of […]