Pakistan

Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, Irfan Ali Kathia, has said that the water level in major rivers of the province is continuously rising.

ISLAMABAD: The Pu­­blic Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday expr­es­sed shock over reports that the chairman of the Secu­rities and Exchange Com­mission of Pakistan (SECP) was drawing an annual salary of Rs41 million. PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan questioned how a country facing economic hardships could afford such packages. “Is the board free to fix salaries at its own discret­i­­on without seeking appro­­v­­al from anyone?” he asked. The chairman directed the finance division to provide details of the matter in the next meeting, to be held today (Wednesday), along with a list of how many other chairmen in various institutions were drawing salaries in the hundreds of millions. The PAC also reviewed an audit objection regarding the non-recovery of Rs1.66 billion from the Karachi Country Club. Members recalled officials had assured the committee that the case had been decided in government’s favour, the land taken over, and payments cleared, but fresh claims contradicted those statements, with officials admit...

• ECC greenlights Multan-Rawalpindi oil pipeline, Rs3bn flood relief package for Gilgit-Baltistan • Gas levy funds to reduce power tariffs for all consumers ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Tuesday approved a financial bailout for Pakistan Television (PTV), a recovery plan for Rs47 billion in outstanding petroleum levy from Cynergico Refinery, and the use of funds collected under the captive levy on gas to reduce electricity rates for all consumers. The committee also gave the green light to the construction of the Multan to Rawalpindi oil pipeline in partnership with Azerbaijan and sanctioned Rs3 billion in relief for flood-affected families in Gilgit-Baltistan. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired the meeting. The captive levy, imposed as part of the government’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), applies to gas and RLNG supplies to captive power plants of industrial units. Introduced on July 1 it began at 5pc above the notified tariff, with sc...

• Calls on lawmakers to quit parliamentary bodies, including PAC; party’s political committee also endorses his opinion • Jailed founder refuses to accept Salman Akram Raja’s resignation; throws his weight behind Achakzai as potential replacement for NA opposition leader ISLAMABAD: Changing its mind once again, the PTI has decided to boycott the upcoming by-elections for national and provincial assemblies, in line with the opinion of its incarcerated leader, Imran Khan. The decision was taken by the party’s political committee, which met to consider Mr Khan’s input following a meeting with his legal team at Adiala Jail on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Mr Khan’s message was relayed to the media by his sister, Aleema Khan, who also met Mr Khan in prison. She was flanked by PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja — whose resignation was reportedly turned down by the incarcerated former PM. Denying reports of a bitter exchange with Mr Raja, she said the lawyer was “like family” to them. She said her brother had as...

ISLAMABAD - The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed all registered political parties to submit their consolidated and audited financial statements for the fiscal year 2024–25, by August 29.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Tuesday directed that all Motorways be made barrier-free in line with international standards while further E-Tag system should be more strengthened.

ISLAMABAD - The three Afghan nationals who married to Pakistani citizens Tuesday approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against their repatriation.

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday rejected the agreement between the heirs and the accused through the video link in a murder case.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday paid glowing tribute to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) for its outstanding role in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

ISLAMABAD - Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has taken a significant step toward environmental protection and tackling smog in the capital by initiating Pakistan’s largest nursery, spread across 50 acres of land, which is now nearing completion.

ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday once again reserved its verdict in a petition seeking court’s directions for the constitution of Judicial Commission to probe the death of Arshad Sharif (late).

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