Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani held a significant meeting with Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov to discuss avenues for strengthening bilateral relations and advancing shared regional goals.

ISLAMABAD - The parliamentarians from both sides of the aisle, usually spend busy days in Eid Milan parties in constituencies, this time have been bound to play with economic figures of fiscal budget 2025-26 to introduce popular and unpopular measures.

ISLAMABAD - The top election regulatory authority once again yesterday once again expressed serious concern over the continued delay in holding local government polls in Punjab.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday said that issue of Kashmir between India and Pakistan must be resolved through plebiscite and United Nation Resolutions.

Hearing adjourned until June 21.

QUETTA - Three people including a policeman sustained injuries when terrorists riding on motorcycle hurled hand grenade at them at Eastern Bypass near Bakra Market area of Quetta on Monday.

• Earthquake of magnitude 5 or 6 can cause widespread destruction, says former VC of NED University • City weatherman says tremors will stop in a day or two; maintains chances of major quake are slim KARACHI: Although the seismic experts have said that the recent earthquakes in the city are largely harmless and that the magnitude will reduce in a day or two when the “active” fault fully releases its energy, they expressed concern over the city’s vulnerability to earthquake damage. They warned that while the metropolis may not experience any major earthquake, its weak infrastructure cannot withstand a big jolt. During the past two days, multiple low-intensity earthquakes have occurred in the city’s Quaidabad area, Gadap Town, Malir and DHA with the highest being recorded at 3.6-magnitude. Karachi Chief Meteorologist Amir Hyder Laghari said that there is a historical fault which has become activated and is causing frequent earthquakes in the city. He said the fault is releasing its energy and when it’s spent, i...

ISLAMABAD: With an improved 4.2 per cent economic growth forecast for next year, the Ministry of Planning and Development cautioned on Monday about the re-emergence of external sector pressure amid easing import control and debt repayments. “The external sector may face pressure, as easing import controls and debt repayments are likely to widen the current account deficit,” said the Ministry of Planning and Development in its Annual Plan 2025-26. However, it forecast strong remittances and export recovery and anticipated external financing to cushion these pressures and support external sustainability. Yet, the planning ministry did not forecast any major increase in industrial sector output compared to the current year, which missed most of the targets set for various sectors of the real economy. The Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) projected Pakistan’s economy to grow by 4.2pc in 2025-26, signalling expectations of a broad-based recovery against 2.7pc GDP growth during the current fiscal year again...

NEW DELHI: After claiming exaggerated prestige from hosting last year’s G20 summit in New Delhi and following continuous visits as special invitee to G7 summits, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not been asked to attend the upcoming G7 summit in Ottawa, reports said on Monday. The G7 is an informal grouping of the industrialised west and Japan — France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, and Canada. It is also attended by the European Union (EU), the IMF, the World Bank and the United Nations. India Today noted that South Africa, Ukraine and Australia have reportedly accepted invitations from Canada, it said “uncertainty remains over PM Modi’s visit.” The report said “India is yet to receive any official invitation for the summit, which is being hosted by Canada from June 15-17,” but also added that the Indian side was not “inclined to attend”. It quoted sources as saying “relations must improve” before any such high-profile visit takes place. The report also cited security c...

ISLAMABAD: As the Centre and Punjab continue to drag their feet on local government polls, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on Monday warned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister can be summoned in case the long overdue elections were not held. Heading a five-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which started hearing of the case related to the delay in the conduct of local bodies elections in Islamabad and Punjab, he called for early completion of the local government laws in Islamabad and Punjab. Mr Raja said it would be embarrassing for the government if the ECP issues an order. He declared that the ECP will issue an order at the next hearing for local government elections in Punjab. He said the Commission cannot sit with its eyes closed as it wanted to see progress. The ECP will set the timeline itself without waiting for any input from Punjab, he said. Calls for early completion of local govt laws in Islamabad, Punjab He recalled that he personal...

• Allocations for nearly all sectors slashed, except for road-building projects and parliamentarians’ schemes; funding for food, water, energy and social sectors curtailed • Govt allocates Rs880bn for the public sector development programme, down 20pc from current year • Provinces to pitch in Rs2.80tr under annual plan to boost uplift spending • Development plan prioritises Bhasha Dam, Rs120bn Balochistan highway • Ahsan Iqbal says more than 100 projects worth Rs1tr to face cuts ISLAMABAD: Under the tight control of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), next year’s federal development programme cuts allocations for almost all sectors, barring a rise in road building schemes and no changes to parliamentarians’ schemes. Despite this, the Annual Planning Coordination Committee (APCC) cleared the national development programme worth a record Rs4.083 trillion, aided by Punjab and Sindh, showing greater financial muscle than the Centre which is pauperised by greater financial devolution, debt servicing, and securi...

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Meteorological Depart­ment (PMD) has issued a forecast of rain and windstorms in the upper parts of the country from tomorrow (Wednes­day) until the Eid holidays. In light of the forecast, the disaster management authorities of Khyber Pak­h­tunkhwa and Punjab have issued an advisory to district authorities to prepare for potential emergencies. The Met Office has predicted that moist currents are penetrating the northeastern parts of the country and a westerly wave is also likely to approach northern areas on June 3. Under the influence of this weather system, rain, dust storms, and thunderstorms are expected in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Gilgit, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Mansehra, Battagram, Shangla, Kohistan, and Abbottabad from June 2 to 5, with occasional gaps. Similar weather is exp­ected in Islamabad, Raw­al­pindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mianwali, Sargo­dha, Hafizabad, Mandi Bah­a­uddin, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh...

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US President Donald Trump is “open” to meeting his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in Turkey, the White House said, after the two sides failed on Monday to make headway towards an elusive ceasefire. Delegations from both sides did, however, agree another large-scale prisoner exchange in their meeting in Istanbul, which in mid-May also hosted their […]

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On the arrival of mango season, markets overflow with lively fruit, but concerns about artificial ripening methods remain. Experts warn that some mangoes are ripened using chemicals like calcium carbide, which can pose serious health risks, including skin irritation and respiratory issues. Key Differences Between Natural and Chemically Ripened Mangoes Colour Check: Naturally ripened mangoes […]

Action star Jackie Chan, who recently featured in ‘Karate Kid: Legends,’ made shocking revelations about the secret lives of his parents. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu – Click Here In a recent interview, the 71-year-old actor recalled a shocking moment when his father, Charles, told him about his life as a spy. “My father […]

ISLAMABAD: TikToker Sana Yousuf was shot dead in Islamabad on Monday by an unknown assailant allegedly on a personal dispute, ARY News reported citing police. The incident was reported within the jurisdiction of Sumbal Police Station. According to initial reports. The victim, identified as Sana Yousuf from Chitral, was fatally shot by a man outside […]

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