Pakistan

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presented a Rs3.56 trillion budget for FY2026–27 on Wednesday, without imposing any new taxes and announcing a 7 per cent increase in government employees’ salaries and pensions. The session was delayed due to a ruckus created by lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P). MPA Ali Khurshidi said the party was boycotting the session because the opposition had not been consulted beforehand. CM Murad said that in the upcoming fiscal year, the government’s goal was to “maintain fiscal discipline, strengthen public finances, and sustain development momentum during a very challenging year”. For development, the provincial government has allocated Rs720.39bn. Total tax receipts, including sales tax, are projected at Rs690bn for the upcoming fiscal year. Provincial non-tax receipts are projected at Rs85bn. For capital receipts, local repayments are projected at Rs7.54bn, while bank borrowing is estimated at Rs60.8bn, bringing total capital receipts to Rs68.34bn...

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PM Shehbaz Sharif discuss regional issues, budget and diplomacy Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House, where the two leaders held detailed discussions on key national and regional matters.

Law enforcement agencies conducted a raid at the residence of Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) leader Mehran Arshad Khawaja in Dadyal tehsil of Mirpur district, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), recovering a drone, weapons, and other suspicious items, officials said.

ISLAMABAD: Lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha filed a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday, seeking an early hearing of their challenge to a Feb 19 Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision in the controversial social media posts case. On Jan 24, an Islamabad sessions court sentenced Imaan and Hadi to a total of 17 years in jail on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). In February, the IHC had denied the lawyers’ plea for suspension of their 17-year sentences under Peca. The controversy at the centre of the case stems from a complaint filed under Peca on August 12, 2025, by the NCCIA Islamabad assistant director (investigating officer) before the Cybercrime Reporting Centre, FIA. The complaint accused Imaan of disseminating and “propagating narratives that align with hostile terrorist groups and proscribed organisations”, while her husband was implicated for reposting some of her posts. Filed through senior counsel Faisal Siddiqi, the application on We...

ISLAMABAD: Halfway through his 5-year constitutional term, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to transform the government’s monitoring mechanism through real-time digital oversight to improve service delivery and public perception. The step is a part of the Digital Nation Pakistan Initiative, whose monitoring model has already been finalised by the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA). The initiative coincided with media reports about a potential reshuffle in the federal cabinet after the federal budget 2026-27 is passed by the parliament later this month. In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Press Information Department (PID) said that Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema chaired a meeting “to review the Prime Minister’s Office System (PMOS), an innovative AI-powered platform designed to strengthen governance, enhance coordination and improve monitoring of government initiatives across ministries and departments”. Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Secretary IT Zarrar Hasham Kha...

The Punjab government has decided to introduce Juvenile Driving Permits for individuals aged between 16 and 18 years, allowing eligible youth to legally ride motorcycles and scooters under specified conditions.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday termed the federal budget for fiscal year 2026-27 “people-friendly” and hoped that it would promote an “export-oriented” economy. He made the remarks in a meeting with women parliamentarians from the PML-N, where he thanked them for their participation in the ongoing budget debate. He expressed hope that people will be able to benefit from the “relief-oriented” budget after the restoration of peace in the region, according to a press statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). According to the statement, PM Shehbaz noted that the budget had introduced “measures to empower women in the country as well as increase their inclusion in the mainstream,” terming it a “top priority” for the government. He also spoke of Pakistan’s peace efforts in the US-Iran war, expressing gratitude to countries who supported Pakistan throughout the peace process. PM Shehbaz commended the efforts of the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, De...

A domestic worker accused of stealing 20 tola gold jewellery from a house in Karachi has been arrested, police said on Wednesday.

On the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have urged all stakeholders to work together for the protection and restoration of Pakistan’s rangelands and natural ecosystems.

Electricity consumers across Pakistan will now receive bills in a redesigned and simplified format aimed at improving readability and ease of understanding.

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi on Wednesday visited the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York and appreciated the Pakistan Mission’s constructive role in fostering dialogue and settling disputes peacefully. In a statement shared on X, the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN said, “Former Pakistan cricket team captain and celebrated all-rounder Shahid Afridi visited the UN Headquarters in New York at the invitation of Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, the permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN.” During the visit, Ambassador Ahmad briefed Afridi on the work of the mission, including “Pakistan’s active engagement at the UN in advancing multilateralism, promoting dialogue and diplomacy, and contributing to international peace and security,” the statement said. It added that Afridi “expressed appreciation for the mission’s important work and its constructive role in fostering understanding, dialogue and multilateral cooperation among nations, and advocating the peaceful settlement o...

Pakistan has facilitated the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals, including eight fishermen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday.

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Langrial on Wednesday told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance that around 9,000 individuals holding bank deposits worth Rs750 billion had paid no income tax, highlighting what he described as significant gaps in the tax system.

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan on Wednesday announced decisions on three pending election petitions, giving the PPP 11 seats. The election chief declared PPP candidate Attaullah Khan the winner from GBA-16 Diamer-II, PML-N candidate Malik Kefayat from GBA-17 and PML-N candidate from GBA-13 Astore-I. The rival candidates had filed petitions with the GB Election Commission, challenging the Form-47 results. After hearing arguments from both sides, CEC Raja Shahbaz Khan had suspended the results and reserved his verdict on the petitions. With the announcement, the PPP has secured 11 seats, the PML-N has secured six, independent candidates — who joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) a day earlier — have won four, PTI-backed candidates have won two and the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen has secured one seat. The GB CEC said the notifications for the successful candidates would now be issued. He said six seats reserved for women and three technocrat seats would be distri...

The United Kingdom has announced an additional £8 million in funding to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in combating illegal migration, human smuggling and organised crime, while also acknowledging Islamabad’s role in facilitating recent diplomatic engagement that contributed to a US-Iran understanding.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Tuesday approved Rs2.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) was informed on Wednesday that Punjab has a very limited number of public sanitation facilities for transgender persons and people with disabilities.

A senior representative of Pakistan’s poultry industry has expressed disappointment over the federal budget for 2026-27, saying the sector has not been provided any meaningful relief despite facing mounting challenges.

The National Highway and Motorway Police (NHMP) on Wednesday made it mandatory for all vehicles, especially passenger and cargo vehicles, to carry a working fire extinguisher as it announced stricter fire safety rules for commuters. In a statement, an NHMP spokesperson said that all vehicles, especially passenger and cargo vehicles, must carry a working fire extinguisher. “These special safety measures are being implemented to prevent fire hazards during accidents,” the spokesperson said. It said that after June 24, vehicles without an active extinguisher will face strict legal action. Entry of cargo and public service vehicles without a fire extinguisher will be banned at motorways and national highways, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said that for the sake of public awareness, the motorway police were carrying out a nationwide fire safety campaign till June 24. Drivers were urged to make sure that the fire extinguisher they were carrying was not expired. Expired or non-working units will not be acc...

Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian civilian and military aircraft from using its airspace for another month, until July 24, according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Wednesday.