Pakistan

Police, procurement, judiciary rank highest in corruption perceptions

The sun burned with a fierce, summer-like intensity on the winter morning but it couldn’t temper the spirit of the competitors gunning for glory at the National Games on Tuesday. The open field at the athletics venue hummed with simultaneous action — discus flying in one sector, hurdlers pacing in another. On the track, athletes bobbed and stretched, their shadows short under the midday blaze. In the stands, a scattered crowd fanned themselves, eyes darting between events. The pool offered some respite from the blazing sun as swimming began at the Games on a day headlined by Commonwealth Games gold medallist Inam Butt extending his remarkable legacy by clinching his 18th national title — the most by any wrestler — and a national record for discus thrower Faryal Farooq. Faryal’s feat was the culmination of a four-years effort; those long days of lonely training meeting minutes of razor-edged opportunity. Through her first four throws, she was nowhere near the mark. The record, it seemed, would elude her once m...

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday said that the country’s economy cannot be run with force and suggested that the federal government allow provinces to collect taxes to bolster the economy. Speaking to journalists after meeting with the business community at the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Bilawal also suggested that the provinces could directly collect sales tax, in view of independent reports about a Rs3 trillion leakage. “Wherever you need our help at the level of the president of Pakistan, our governors, we are ready to do so for your district-wise economic uplift plan,” the PPP chief said. “The prime minister also desires to work for this, but the difference between their approach and ours is that they believe in centralisation and we focus on decentralisation,” he added. Bilawal acknowledged the business community’s concerns about high tax rates, but maintained that his party believes in collecting more taxes to strengthen the economy. “Though the goal i...

ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday declared a petition challenging degree of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri as maintainable.

ISLAMABAD - The top election regulatory authority yesterday announced the long-awaited schedule for local government polls in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

ISLAMABAD - Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi chaired an important meeting to review citizen-facilitation measures, traffic management, and the use of modern technology across federal capital.

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar yesterday held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to review bilateral relations and regional developments.

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ruled that dismissing an employee without proper evidence is contrary to the principles of justice.

LAHORE - The scope of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s digital governance vision has been extended to municipal services, allowing citizens across Punjab to pay bills and other charges from the convenience of their homes.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review progress in the province’s agriculture sector, where Punjab and China signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at modernisation, technology transfer and enhanced research collaboration.

RAWALPINDI - Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, called on President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto at Islamabad on Tuesday.

SUKKUR - At least nine alleged bandits were killed in a shootout with police near Manchhar Shah Graveyard in Shikarpur on Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Indonesia on Tuesday agreed to enhance bilateral trade, expand cooperation in health, agriculture, information technology, science, and education, and deepen coordination on regional and global issues, including Palestine.

LAHORE: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addresses members of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Peshawar - An important meeting of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, here at the Chief Minister Secretariat, on Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD - Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, distributed 1,000 winter blankets donated by China among flood-affected villagers in Narowal, saying the support reflects the “enduring bond between Pakistan and China”.

ISLAMABAD - Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday chaired a special parliamentary meeting on national challenges related to water scarcity and food security.

ISLAMABAD - The prices of Petrol and High Speed Diesel will go up by Rs2.

Peshawar - Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi said on Tuesday that incidents of terrorism are continuously increasing in the province, and there can be no negotiations with those who are waging war against the state and killing citizens and security personnel.

PESHAWAR - Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kun­di on Tuesday emphasized the need for strict penal­ties against corruption, saying that eliminating cor­rupt practices is essential for building an honest and progressive society.