Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved 15 percent increase in pensions provided by the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), effective from January 1, 2025, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.

LAHORE/OKARA - At least 28 people were killed and 90 others injured in rain related accidents across the Punjab province during the last 24 hours, rescue officials said late Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD - A Major of Pakistan Army got martyred while three militants of India-sponsored proxy Fitna al Hindustan were killed in exchange of fire between the security forces and militants of Fitna al Hindustan during an intelligence-based operation conducted in Awaran District of Baloshistan on Wednesday, ISPR said.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday said the government was committed to protect the rights and dignity of journalists at all levels.

Aleema directed to appear in person to record statement in her defence.

KARACHI: President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, on Wednesday categorically denied rumours of any postponement or cancellation of the nationwide strike scheduled for July 19, affirming that the shutdown will proceed as planned. The KCCI has installed hoardings and billboards across major arteries of Karachi announcing the complete strike, with slogans demanding respect for taxpayers “instead of handcuffs”. Despite the formation of a high-level committee by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to hold consultations with traders on budgetary measures aimed at documenting the economy, the KCCI leadership remains resolute in its decision. The committee, comprised of multiple stakeholders, has been tasked with conducting a 30-day consultation process to formulate a consensus-based proposal for submission to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet. Mr Bilwani said the strike decision was reaffirmed following an unproductive meeting with the finance mini...

ISLAMABAD: The UN special representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, on Wednesday proposed a ‘prioritised’ regional dialogue with Pakistan, Iran and Central Asian states to halt the disorderly return of Afghans and uphold the principle of voluntary, dignified and safe repatriation. The call comes as more than 1.3 million Afghans have returned to the country this year, straining communities where 70 percent of people live in poverty, the UN envoy said in a press statement. “Afghanistan’s stability hinges on shared responsibility,” Ms Otunbayeva said in the statement circulated by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). “We cannot afford indifference; the cost of inaction will be measured in lives lost and conflicts reignited.” Women and children face the gravest risks, returning not only to dire economic hardships but to a context where their access to basic services and social protections remains severely constrained, Ms Otunbayeva said. “Do not turn away,” she appealed to donors, ...

LAHORE: The Flood Forecasting Division on Wednesday warned of “exceptionally high flood” in River Jhelum in the next 24 hours, producing 350,000- to 450,000-cusec stream and asked “all concerned to remain alert”. Although alert, both Indus River System Authority (Irsa) and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) responding to warning are jubilant and promising to “absorb” the entire stream at Mangla Dam, where such cushion is available. According to Irsa spokesman Khalid Idrees Rana, the authority would do its best to store the entire stream. “In fact, the authority was hoping, and praying, for River Jehlum to swell during this monsoon and yield some additional water. At present, Mangla Dam is standing at 1,186 feet, against its maximum level of 1,242 feet – it still can go up by 56 feet. It is holding 3.41 million acre feet of water, whereas it can go up to 7.3 million feet. “Irsa’s optimism of absorbing the entire flood wave is based on the filling criteria. Unlike Tarbella, where after reaching a cer...

• Gender pay gap at 25pc hourly, 30pc monthly • Women make up only 13.5pc of workforce ISLAMABAD: Women in wage employment earn substantially lower wages than their male counterparts in Pakistan, according to a report launched by the International Labour Organ­isation (ILO) on Wednesday. The ‘Pakistan Gender Pay Gap Report 2025’ estimates the gender pay gap at approximately 25 per cent based on hourly wages and 30pc based on monthly wages. The gender pay gap in Pakistan is also significant by international standards. In comparison, lower-middle-income countries — the income group Pakistan falls under — have an average gender pay gap of 21pc based on monthly wages and 17pc based on hourly wages. While launching the report, Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis Nadeem Aslam Chaudhary reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring equal pay for work of equal value. He said the report and accompanying action plan represent a vital step towards identifying and addressing the barriers that hinder women’s p...

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two police constables were martyred when unk­n­own assailants opened fire near Shahi Gate in the Kulachi tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan district on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Head Const­able Ghulam Muhammad, from Panyala village in Dera Ismail Khan, and Constable Shehzad, from Aba Khel village in Lakki Marwat district. According to a police spokesperson, the constables were travelling on a motorcycle when the incident took place. One of the constables, who had a disability, was being transported to a hospital by his colleague when they were attacked. The assailants fired upon them as they reached Shahi Gate, resulting in the death of both officers on the spot. Police and other law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area after the attack and initiated a search operation. As the attackers attempted to flee, police returned fire, killing one assailant and injuring two others. A Kalashnikov rifle and ammunition were recovered from the deceased militant. The Counter-Terrorism Depar...

PESHAWAR / ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) recent order and subsequent notifications related to reserved seats have led to partial changes in the party positions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Asse­mbly, with the JUI-F losing two and PPP losing one seat overall. While PTI-backed lawmakers maintain their tally of 92 members, opposition parties have experienced slight variations in their seat allocations. The development has not impacted the overall seat count for the opposition, but individual party positions have shifted. The ECP reduced one reserved seat each for JUI-F and PPP, while one has been allocated to PML-N. With the latest notifications, JUI-F and PML-N each hold 17 seats in the 125-member house, while PPP holds 10 seats. The Awami National Party (ANP) and PTI-Parliamentarians (PTI-P) each have three seats. ECP fears delay in oath-taking may affect Senate polls; asks PHC to designate ‘oath commissioner’ The fate of one of the 26 seats reserved for women is to be decided by a draw b...

• Karachi-based Sabri qawwals were supposed to perform at a wedding in Quetta • Major leading Awaran operation martyred QUETTA: Just days after the deadly bus attack in the Zhob area of Balochistan, another passenger bus came under attack that claimed three innocent lives, including two Karachi-based Sabri qawwals, and left 13 others injured on the outskirts of Kalat on Wednesday. SSP Shahzad told Dawn that three people who lost their lives in bus firing Kalat included famous qawal Ahmed Hussain Sabri, his son Ahmed Raza Sabri, who left for Quetta along with other musicians of the group in a bus. “My brother, nephew and one musician killed in the armed attack,” famous Karachi-based Qawal Majid Ali Sabri said on the phone. He said his brother, nephew and other musicians were travelling to Quetta for performance at a wedding ceremony. “My close relatives and musicians are among the injured,” added Majid Sabri who along with his wife is due in the provincial capital on Thursday (today). Officials said the armed ...

ISLAMABAD - The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), has issued an official reminder to the heads of all political parties to submit their consolidated statements of accounts (Form-D) pertaining to the fiscal year 2024–25 no later than Au­gust 29.

Gas supply to Punjab disrupted as miscreants blow up main pipeline in Lakki Marwat.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and China yester­day vowed to bolster bilat­eral ties as they discussed progress on the multibil­lion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

Despite IMF objection, new agreement allows exports if stocks exceed 7MMT

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External outflows, SBP purchases also weigh; gold down Rs3,000/tola

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A crush at an aid centre in southern Gaza killed at least 20 people on Wednesday, with the site’s operator blaming “Hamas operatives” within the crowd and the Palestinian territory’s civil defence agency attributing the panic to Israeli gunfire. It was the first time that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the United States […]