Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The government spending on education in Pakistan has fallen to a new low in the past year despite being declared a national emergency with 26 million children — or more than one in three — out of school, one of the highest percentages globally, Save the Children said in a statement on Thursday. Since the start of the current fiscal year in July 2024 to March 2025, education expenditure fell by 29 per cent. The percentage of GDP spent on education has fallen consisten­tly since 2018 when it was 2pc to 0.8pc, according to the latest Pakistan Economic Survey. The UN-backed Incheon Declaration recommends that governments allocate 4pc to 6pc of their GDP to education. The INGO says Pakistan needs urgent investment to get 26m children into school. In 2024, the government said it aimed to increase the education budget to 4pc of GDP by 2029. The government cannot break that promise to Pakistan’s children.“ Save the Children says more than one in three kids out of school “Children in the poorest areas of Pa...

• Senate, National Assembly panels oppose carbon levy, term it undue burden on public • Approve new taxes on high-value pensions, athletes • Govt asked to reveal terms of IMF’s resilience facility ISLAMABAD: The parliamentary committees on Thursday rejected the government’s proposal to impose a carbon levy on petroleum products, terming it an undue burden on the public, whereas the finance minister stressed that “the era of tax exemptions and amnesty schemes is over”. However, they approved new taxes on high-value pensions and the income of international athletes. The carbon levy became a focal point as the Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on Finance and Revenue held simultaneous sessions at Parliament House for a clause-by-clause review of the Finance Bill 2025-26. Chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and MNA Naveed Qamar, respectively, both panels proposed several amendments and struck down a number of measures. The Senate concluded its deliberations on the proposed tax provisions on Thursd...

ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday launched the National Electric Vehicle (NEV) Policy 2025-30, describing it as a transformative step in Pakistan’s journey towards industrial growth, environmental protection and energy efficiency. One of the key targets under the policy is to ensure that electric vehicles account for 30 per cent of all new vehicles sold in the country by 2030. This transition is projected to save 2.07 billion litres of fuel annually, resulting in nearly $1bn in foreign exchange savings. Additionally, the policy aims to reduce carbon emissions by 4.5 million tonnes and cut healthcare-related costs by $405m each year. Addressing a news conference, Special Assistant to the Prime Mi­­nister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan said the new EV policy is in line with the premier’s vision of promoting clean, sustainable and affordable transport while boosting local industry and protecting the environment. He emphasised that the transport sector is a major source of carbon emissions in...

ISLAMABAD - Leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday said that the job of the opposition is to highlight the government’s mistakes and guide it towards better policies.

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast pre-monsoon rains across various regions of the country from June 20-23 with occasional gaps, subsiding the intense heat wave affecting several parts.

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye, to participate in the 51st Session of the Council of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation being held on 21 and 22 of this month, the Foreign Office said yesterday.

ISLAMABAD - Minister of Information Technology & Telecommunication Ms.

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A recent COVID-19 variant recently emerged in the U.S. ‘NB.1.8.1’, informally titled ‘Nimbus’, is attracting worldwide notice due to its fast spread and a particularly painful razor blade throat symptom, as described by patients. According to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 variant B. 1.8.1 accounted for approximately 37% of all […]

As fans await the release of ‘Superman,’ the film’s main villain, Lex Luthor, is reportedly set to join the fight in Fortnite Chapter 6 season 3. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu – Click Here The game’s latest season has Hollywood actor David Corenswet’s ‘Superman,’ the first time Fortnite got a Man of Steel from […]