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Dawn - 07:14 Jun 12, 2025
ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel was assured on Wednesday that findings of the inquiry report over the issue of alleged paper leaks of O/A level will be shared after June 16. This assurance was given by Country Director of Cambridge Assessment International Education Uzma Yousuf to the subcommittee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Education, which met at the education ministry with MNA Sabheen Ghoury in the chair. She said everything will be clearer during the inquiry. On the other hand, during the meeting, MNA Mohammad Ali Sarfraz, who attended the meeting as special invitee, pointed out that several papers were leaked. He also presented paper codes and video evidence to the subcommittee. The committee also stated that in case papers are leaked, the committee will ensure no loss to students, and if paper/s are retaken, they should be retaken immediately so that students can get their results in August this year. The committee also decided to hear school heads, who, besides British Council, also... -
Dawn - 06:15 Jun 12, 2025
• Langrial says new 15pc tax rate on passive income aims to address disparity with active business earnings • Political leadership and intel agencies’ help enlisted to ensure compliance, root out corruption KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial on Wednesday detailed a sweeping overhaul of the country’s tax compliance system, vowing to crack down on non-compliant sectors, expand digital monitoring, and address longstanding loopholes in the tobacco, retail and passive income tax regimes. Speaking to Geo News, Mr Langrial said that the government’s recent enforcement drive in the sugar sector had resulted in a 39 per cent increase in tax collection without any change in tax rates, and that similar measures are now being rolled out across other key industries. “The story of non-compliance in the tobacco sector will fundamentally change, just as it did in sugar,” he said. He acknowledged that raising tax rates on the formal sector often led to market erosion by the informa... -
Dawn - 05:36 Jun 12, 2025
KARACHI: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly was informed on Wednesday that over 80 per cent of private industrial units were not implementing the order of minimum wage. The PAC meeting, headed by its Chairman Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, directed the provincial labour department and Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) to ensure the strict implementation of the officially notified minimum wage of Rs37,000 to workers in all industrial units across the province. While reviewing the audit reports of the SESSI for the years 2018 and 2019, the PAC chairman said that non-implementation of monthly minimum wages in 80 per cent of private industrial units was a violation of labour laws. He directed the SESSI and the labour department to strictly implement the policy of providing the minimum monthly wage to all workers across the province. Committee asks labour secretary to investigate payment of Rs50m on alleged fake bills; orders audit of annual procurement of Rs9bn medicines for SESSI... -
Dawn - 04:41 Jun 12, 2025
• Finance secy says revenue numbers are already locked with IMF • Income tax rate of first slab reduced to 2.5pc, not 1pc as initially printed in Finance Bill • Change offsets additional fiscal impact from increased govt salaries • Aurangzeb defends steep pay hikes for lawmakers, ministers • Says govt held back on raising minimum wage as industry unwilling to implement previous rate • Contributory pension scheme for forces personnel may face delays ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday repeatedly warned that the government would be compelled to impose a further Rs400 to 500 billion in taxes if parliamentarians failed to approve the sweeping enforcement measures proposed in the 2025-26 budget — as they were already cleared by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “I now request my colleagues in both houses of parliament to get the enabling clauses for enforcement measures passed, otherwise we would have to take Rs400-500bn additional tax measures,” the usually soft-spoken minister said a... -
Dawn - 03:23 Jun 12, 2025
• Authorities impose overnight curfew, arrest 25 protesters • US president warns protests at army parade will be met with force LOS ANGELES: Protests against Donald Trump’s harsh immigration policies spread on Wednesday across the United States despite a military-backed crackdown in Los Angeles and a threat by the Republican president to use “heavy force.” In Los Angeles, where the unrest began last Friday, the downtown area was calm but tense after an overnight curfew saw police make 25 arrests. Heavily armed officers patrolled near government buildings, and storekeepers boarded up windows to protect against vandalism. US Marines — ordered by Trump to deploy in addition to more than 4,000 National Guard soldiers — were expected to make their first appearance on the streets on Wednesday. “US military troops deployed to Los Angeles are allowed to temporarily detain individuals until law enforcement agents arrive to arrest them,” a senior US military official said. The mostly peaceful protests ignited over a su... -
Dawn - 03:22 Jun 12, 2025
• Bhakkar and Jacobabad report 49°C as heatwave persists • Hospitals across Punjab receive scores of heatstroke patients • Authorities ask people to remain indoors, stay hydrated • Met Office expects hot spell to continue for 48-72 hours LAHORE: Amid no let-up in extreme heat that has engulfed Pakistan since last week, almost all cities in Punjab reported temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, with Bhakkar and Sindh’s Jacobabad topping the charts with 49°C. The intense weather is expected to continue today as well, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. “Mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, while very hot in plain areas,” it said in a statement posted on its website. “However, dust-raising/gusty winds are likely in plain areas during the afternoon. Partly cloudy weather with isolated rain-wind/thunderstorm is likely in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Potohar region, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the evening/night,” it added. The Provincial Disaster Management... -
Dawn - 03:13 Jun 12, 2025
• Rs1m fines proposed for unregistered online vendors in new Finance Bill • Banks, couriers to deduct withholding tax under new plan • Fine for failing to submit withholding tax statements raised by 10 times • Govt to take over property valuation powers from FBR ISLAMABAD: The federal government has proposed sweeping reforms to tighten tax compliance, including significantly higher penalties for non-compliance and stronger enforcement measures to target under-taxed and digitally active sectors. The changes, proposed in the Finance Bill 2025, aim to deter non-compliance, discourage cash-based transactions and enhance documentation of the economy. Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial said enforcement was the only viable option to boost revenue collection, rather than relying on new taxes. One of the key amendments is a tenfold increase in the penalty for failure to submit withholding tax statements — from Rs5,000 to Rs50,000. Authorities believe this will compel withholding agents to... -
Dawn - 03:03 Jun 12, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Nadia Baloch, the sister of Dr Mahrang Baloch, urged the Supreme Court on Wednesday to set aside the April 15 order of the Balochistan High Court that rejected the plea against her detention under the Maintenance of Public Order. Dr Mahrang Baloch, a leader of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), is held at the Hudda District Prison, Quetta, pursuant to a March 22 detention order by the deputy commissioner under the Maintenance of Public Order. Moved through senior counsel Faisal Siddiqi, the appeal pleaded that Mahrang Baloch had challenged her detention before the BHC, but the high court rejected her plea. Now the appeal before the apex court contended that the high court order was contrary to the Constitution, law and facts. The federal government through interior ministry, home and tribal affairs department of Balochistan, prosecutor general, inspector general of police, Federal Investigation Agency director general, Quetta deputy commissioner and the state have been named as resp... -
Dawn - 02:50 Jun 12, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is undertaking an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday (June 12) to express gratitude to their rulers for supporting Pakistan’s stance during the recent conflict with India. The visit reflects the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Pakistan and the UAE, which are marked by mutual trust, shared values, and close cooperation across multiple sectors, said an official press release issued here on Wednesday. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, and other senior officers. PM Shehbaz will hold high-level meetings with the UAE leadership, including a bilateral meeting with the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. A wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest and concern will be discussed during the high-level interactions. The PM’s visit will serve to further streng... -
Dawn - 19:11 Jun 11, 2025
A Manhattan jury found Harvey Weinstein guilty on a sex crimes charge on Wednesday, though the jury has not yet reached a verdict on all counts the former movie mogul faces in deliberations that have been marred by infighting and threats. Weinstein, once one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood, is facing a retrial after a state appeals court last year overturned his 2020 conviction. He was accused by prosecutors in the case of raping an aspiring actress and assaulting two other women. Weinstein, 73, pleaded not guilty and has denied assaulting anyone or having non-consensual sex. The jury found Weinstein guilty on one of the three counts he faced, which stemmed from his alleged assault of former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. The jury found Weinstein not guilty of a charge stemming from his alleged assault of Kaja Sokola in 2002 when she was a 16-year-old aspiring actress. The jury has not yet reached a verdict on a third count, which charges him with raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in ... -
Dawn - 18:49 Jun 11, 2025
Punjab Prosecutor General Syed Farhad Ali Shah on Wednesday took notice of the Hafizabad gang-rape incident and declared it a “high-profile” case for the police to pursue. Last week, Hafizabad police launched raids to arrest eight suspects who allegedly abducted a couple in Hafizabad and subjected them to physical and sexual assault. A first information report (FIR) filed by the husband at the Kasoki Police Station said that the incident occurred on April 25 when the complainant and his wife were on a motorcycle and they stopped for a bit. As the wife got off the motorcycle, a man came towards them who verbally abused and hit her, it stated. A group of armed men later arrived and took the couple to a secluded place near a graveyard, the FIR said, detailing how the couple were subjected to physical violence, sexual assault, and robbery. According to a press release issued by the prosecutor general’s office today, the prosecutor general declared the case as “high-profile”, summoning the investigating officer (I... -
Dawn - 18:27 Jun 11, 2025
Civil society members gathered at Karachi’s Teen Talwar monument on Wednesday to protest the detention of activists on board the Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen and Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, urging people “not to rest until the entire world stands in support of Palestine.” Earlier this week, Israeli forces detained the members of the aid ship, operating under the Freedom Flotilla Foundation, going to Gaza to break Israel’s siege. The activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, were carrying baby powder and aid for the besieged enclave. Israel has ramped up its offensive in Gaza, after it ended a ceasefire in March. So far, 55,014 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes. Chanting “Free Palestine” echoing through the city’s intersection, civil society members gathered to decry the Palestinian suffering in the face of Israeli occupation. The crowd sang, rejecting Israel’s actions: “Aisay dastoor ko mai nahi maanta” (I do not accept this system). Speaking to Dawn.co... -
Dawn - 18:22 Jun 11, 2025
The image of the United States has deteriorated sharply in much of the world since President Donald Trump’s return, with low marks both on his character and policies, a global survey said on Wednesday. The Pew Research Centre found that favorability of the US has dropped in 15 of the 24 countries surveyed. Trump received his lowest marks in neighbouring Mexico, which he has long disparaged and pressed on migration, with 91 per cent of Mexicans saying they did not have confidence that Trump would do the right thing on world affairs. Trump led to a downward shift in perceptions of the US as a whole. In both Mexico and fellow neighbour Canada, which Trump has provocatively said should be the 51st US state, majorities now see the US unfavourably after seeing the country favourably last year when Joe Biden was president. Views of the US also darkened in most of Europe, with an especially sharp drop in Poland, a frontline ally of Ukraine, as Trump reduces US support for Kyiv and seeks a negotiated solution with Rus... -
Dawn - 18:17 Jun 11, 2025
The board overseeing the Fulbright programme, the prestigious exchanges between US and foreign scholars, quit on Wednesday, accusing President Donald Trump’s administration of political interference. Members of the board, nominated by successive presidents, voiced alarm about “injecting politics and ideological mandates” into a long non-partisan programme. “The current administration has usurped the authority of the board and denied Fulbright awards to a substantial number of individuals who were selected for the 2025-2026 academic year,” the board members said in a resignation statement posted online. “The administration is also currently subjecting an additional 1,200 foreign Fulbright recipients to an unauthorised review process and could reject more,” it said. “We believe these actions not only contradict the statute but are antithetical to the Fulbright mission and the values, including free speech and academic freedom, that Congress specified in the statute.” The board members chose to resign rather tha... -
Dawn - 17:53 Jun 11, 2025
The Punjab police on Wednesday said they arrested a suspect in Okara for the alleged murder of his wife last month. The first information report (FIR) of the incident was registered at Okara’s Renala Khurd Saddar Police Station at the complaint of the woman’s father under Section 302 (murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code on May 19. The FIR, a copy of which is available with Dawm.com, said the complainant came to know that his daughter was injured at her house, adding that he “found her murdered with her throat slit when he reached his son-in-law’s home with the latter lying unconscious on the ground in an injured state as well.” The FIR said the police were subsequently called to the spot. It requested a case and action against the son-in-law, accusing him of the murder with a blade. A statement from the Okara police spokesperson today said the suspect was arrested and the murder weapon recovered as well, adding that the husband had managed to injure himself as well. It called the murder the “result of a domest... -
Dawn - 17:15 Jun 11, 2025
Reckless and negligent driving claimed the lives of five people on Wednesday in separate road accidents across Karachi, according to police and rescue officials. The city has lately witnessed a rise in traffic accidents, especially involving heavy vehicles, including dumpers and water tankers, which killed nearly 500 people and injured 4,879 in 2024, according to hospital data. Paposh Nagar Station House Officer (SHO) Shaukat Awan said that two boys were killed after a water tanker hit them near Abdullah College. “The victims were riding a motorcycle and were on their way towards Banaras Chowk when the tanker descending from the North Nazimabad bridge hit them,” Awan said. The accident resulted in the death of a 20-year-old and an 18-year-old, he said, adding that the bodies were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for legal formalities. He added that the incident enraged passersby, who caught the driver and beat him. “They attempted to torch the heavy vehicle, but police prevented them,” he said, adding tha... -
Dawn - 16:59 Jun 11, 2025
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is pushing to investigate whether Harvard University violated federal sanctions, The New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by the newspaper. Rubio is pushing to investigate if Harvard violated sanctions by collaborating on a health insurance conference in China that may have included officials blacklisted by the United States, the paper said. The university has been conducting an internal review into the involvement of the Chinese state-run group Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps at the conference, the paper added. Rubio signed off on a recommendation to the Treasury Department last month to open an investigation, the report said. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. A treasury department spokesman said the agency takes “any allegations of sanctions violations extremely seriously” but declined to comment on possible or pending investigations. A State Department spokesperson also declined to co... -
Dawn - 16:49 Jun 11, 2025
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday said lower government expenditures in the outgoing fiscal year were a “response” to previous “right pushback” from tax-paying individuals. He made the remarks during a post-budget press conference where he expanded upon the federal budget proposed yesterday for the upcoming FY25-26. Maintaining an aggressive stance on fiscal consolidation, as required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Aurangzeb yesterday still managed to offer some notional relief to the salaried class in the federal budget for FY2025-26, along with incentives for the real estate and construction sectors to revive the struggling industrial sector and stimulate economic growth. Highlights: Finance minister links no hike in minimum wage with slower inflation Aurangzeb defends salary hike ‘after 9 years’ for NA speaker, Senate chairman FBR chief notes levy on solar panels due to ‘disadvantaged’ local assemblers FBR member explains rationale behind taxing high-value goods at different rate... -
Dawn - 16:31 Jun 11, 2025
US cities hosting next year’s FIFA World Cup faced questions on Wednesday about how to reassure international fans concerned by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and travel ban as the year-to-go countdown began. The United States, along with Canada and Mexico, is set to co-host the finals, which will feature 48 teams and a record 104 matches in a tournament that FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said would usher in a new generation of football fans. Celebrities and football stars were due to walk the red carpet at the Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles — one of the host cities — for the year-to-go event there, a day after President Trump deployed Marines and the National Guard to quell protests. California Governor Gavin Newsom described the deployment as an “unmistakable step toward authoritarianism”, while Trump officials defended it and branded the protests as lawless, blaming local and state Democrats for permitting upheaval. Los Angeles is one of several host cities that will mark the year-to-go occasio... -
Dawn - 16:14 Jun 11, 2025
The Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday slammed remarks by India’s Minister for External Affairs Subhramanyam Jaishankar regarding how India had the “right to strike Pakistan”, stating that New Delhi’s “bellicose punchlines” showed its “sheer frustration following an unsuccessful military adventure”. The Indian minister’s comments come in the wake of a four-day military conflict between the nuclear powers last month. Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, Jaishankar said when India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained that ‘Operation Sindoor’ was not over, it was a clear message that “we reserve the right to go after terrorists anytime, anywhere if they have done harm to us”. According to the FO statement, Pakistan rejected Jaishankar’s comments, stating that top diplomats should aim to promote peace and harmony rather than producing “bellicose punchlines”. Criticising his conduct, the FO said the tone and tenor of a foreign minister “should be commensurate with his dignified status”. The FO further said: “For th...
7934 items