Pakistan

Islamabad - Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) announced on Sunday that customers may face internet service degradation during the evenings from May 11-18.

A grand ceremony was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Sunday to commemorate the Marka-e-Haq victory, with senior military leadership and armed forces officials in attendance.

ISLAMABAD - The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Pakistan commemorated the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

One of the major developments during Marka-e-Haq was the reported destruction of India’s Russian-made S-400 air defence system.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Sunday congratulated the nation on success of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, declaring that Pakistan had “crushed the arrogance” of anyone attempting to cross the country’s “red line.

Oil prices rallied on Monday, after US President Donald Trump said Iran’s response to a US proposal was “unacceptable,” raising supply fears as the Strait of Hormuz stayed largely closed, which kept the global market tight. Brent crude futures climbed $4.16 or 4.11 per cent to $105.45 a barrel at 0340 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate was at $99.80 a barrel, up $4.38, or 4.59pc. Last week, both contracts recorded 6pc weekly losses on hopes for an imminent end to the 10-week-old conflict that would allow oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz. “The oil market continues to trade like a geopolitical headline machine, with prices swinging sharply based on every comment, rejection, or warning coming from Washington and Tehran,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova. Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday and is expected to discuss Iran, among other topics, with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US officials. “Market attention now shifts squarely to President Trump’s v...

Rawalpindi - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif here on Sunday inaugurated Kutchery Chowk flyover, renamed as Maarka-e-Haq Square, that was completed in record time of 179 days with five underpasses, two overhead bridged and one pedestrian bridge.

ISLAMABAD: The government is considering reducing the income tax burden on salaried individuals while refraining from increasing salaries and pensions in the upcoming budget, aiming to provide equitable fiscal relief to both public and private sector employees. Informed sources told Dawn that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has expressed a desire to lower tax rates and, if possible, raise the taxable income threshold for the salaried class in recognition of their significant contribution to revenue generation compared to retailers, wholesalers, exporters, and real estate players. On the other hand, the government may keep salaries and pensions uncha­nged at current levels, using the resulting fiscal savings to provide tax relief instead. “There is no reason to increase salaries if it pushes employees into hig­her taxable income brackets, leaving government employees with little to no increase in take-home pay,” an official said. He added that with lower tax rates and higher taxable income thresholds, gove...

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi conveyed to Bangladeshi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam on Sunday that there were “vast opportunities for investment”, as the two sides agreed to increase cooperation in trade and business. Naqvi, who is on an official visit to Bangladesh, called on Islam in Dhaka, where the two held “detailed discussions on bilateral relations, the regional situation, and Pakistan’s conciliatory role”, according to an official statement released by the Ministry of Interior. The Bangladeshi state minister appreciated Pakistan’s efforts aimed at resolving the Iran-US conflict, it said. Pakistan has been leading the efforts for the resolution of the conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, and hosted the first round of face-to-face talks between Washington and Tehran in April. The interior ministry’s statement said that during Naqvi’s meeting with Islam, both sides agreed to increase cooperation in the fields of trade, business, and c...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed on Sunday that Pakistan had received Iran’s response to a US proposal to end the war in the Middle East. Speaking at a ceremony held in Islamabad to commemorate Marka-i-Haq, the premier mentioned Pakistan’s efforts for de-escalation between the US and Iran, stating that Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had informed him “a while ago” that Pakistan had received Iran’s response. “I cannot go into more detail. But, I commend the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and congratulate Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has dedicated himself [to this cause],” he said. Earlier, Iranian media reported that Iran had sent its response to the US proposal via Pakistan. “The Islamic Republic of Iran sent today through Pakistani mediators its response to the latest text proposed by the United States to end the war,” the official IRNA news agency said. Iranian news agency ISNA reported that Tehran’s response to the latest US peace proposal fo...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recalled the “historic” response of Pakistan to India during Marka-i-Haq on Sunday as he addressed a ceremony held at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad to commemorate the conflict’s first anniversary. The conflict with India — starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos with a ceasefire between the two countries on May 10 — has been called “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth) by the state. President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir were among those attending the ceremony in Islamabad, where Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Baber Sidhu were also present. PM Shehbaz began his address by observing one minute of silence for those martyred during the period of conflict. Recalling the conflict, PM Shehbaz said that India “using Pahalgam as an excuse, made baseless accusations against us”. And despite Pakistan offering a transpa...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the people of to cut down on petrol and diesel consumption amid supply disruptions due to the Middle East war. India is one of the few countries in the region that has not increased the prices of petrol and diesel for domestic consumers or rationed supplies. But it has increased prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) — a primary cooking fuel in this country — after disruptions following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which led to Iran’s near-total blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. “We have to reduce our use of petrol and diesel. In cities with metro lines, we should try to travel by metro … If we must use a car, then we should try to car pool,” he said, addressing a gathering in southern Telangana state. He added that restrictions on use were also necessary to save foreign currency spent on fuel imports. “We must also place a strong emphasis on saving foreign exchange, as petrol and diesel have become so expensive globally.” Modi also urged peopl...

BANNU: At least 15 police personnel were martyred on Saturday night after a suicide attack on the Fateh Khel police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district. The terrorists launched their attack on the post by ramming a vehicle laden with explosives. According to Bannu Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan, a total of 18 police personnel were present at the post at the time of the attack, of whom 15 were martyred and three sustained injuries. A crane removes a burned armored vehicle from a damaged police checkpost site following a car bombing attack by terrorists. — AFP Police said that following the explosion, terrorists opened heavy fire and attacked the post from multiple directions. Multiple blasts were heard in the area, causing fear and panic among local residents. “During the assault, the militants used quadcopters along with heavy weaponry,” a senior administrative official in Bannu told AFP on condition of anonymity. Sources said that communication with the Fateh Khel police post was lost briefly af...

Groups of passengers and crew disembarked from a cruise ship hit by ​a deadly hantavirus outbreak on Sunday to be evacuated to their home countries where they will isolate according to national protocols to prevent further spread of ‌the disease. Government planes carrying Spanish and French nationals landed in Madrid and Paris, where the passengers were transported to hospitals, according to the two countries’ governments. One of the five French passengers showed symptoms during the repatriation flight, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on X. Planes to Canada, the Netherlands, Turkey, the UK, Ireland, and the United States were due to depart by 8:30 local time on ​Sunday, with the final flights departing on Monday. The passengers will be tested upon arrival and then either taken to local hospitals or quarantine ​facilities or transported home for isolation. The World Health Organisation has recommended a 42-day quarantine for all passengers from the boat from Sunday, its ⁠director of epidemic and ...

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President confirms receiving Tehran's response via Islamabad

Floods hit Shangla; lightning and rain leave multiple injured in K-P

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Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed five wickets to give Bangladesh a slender lead after Pakistan debutant Azan Awais hit 103 on a rain-hit third day of the first Test on Sunday. Pakistan made 386 all out in response to Bangladesh’s first innings total of 413 in Dhaka. Bangladesh closed the day on 7-0 in their second innings to increase their lead to 34 runs, after bad light ended play with Mahmudul Hasan Joy unbeaten on two and Shadman Islam yet to score. left-handed Azan, who resumed on 85, completed his hundred off 153 balls to become the 14th Pakistani and sixth player overall to score a century on debut against Bangladesh. He became pace bowler Taskin Ahmed’s 50th Test wicket after captain Najmul Hossain Shanto caught the opener at slip. “It’s a very blessed feeling for me because I know it’s my debut match and I performed really well for my country,” a visibly moved Azan said. “When I was going in to bat, I was a little nervous, but I performed very well for my team.” Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals b...

K-P governor urges addressing concerns of all stakeholders