Pakistan

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has announced that the provincial government will present a completely tax-free budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, with special relief measures aimed at the salaried segment of the population.

The federal government has announced a major electrification initiative for the fiscal year 2025–26, aiming to bring electricity to 15,352 villages across Pakistan, according to budget documents.

Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi reaffirmed Pakistan Railways’ commitment to enhancing passenger services during his visit to the Quetta Railway Station on Wednesday.

Police arrested a suspect with an extensive criminal record in Punjab’s Lodhran district, while two other suspected dacoits escaped during an exchange of fire, police officials said on Thursday. A first information report (FIR) was filed against the suspect at the City Kahror Pakka Police Station on the behalf of the state under sections 324 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for “deliberately attacking police officers with the intention to kill and assisting his accomplices escape”. The suspect was arrested in an injured condition by the Crime Control Department (CCD), the FIR said. It added that the police team was present at Allah Warai chowk when they received a tip-off that three armed persons were present at Khudai Phatak area. “Police immediately formed teams and conducted a raid, when the suspects suddenly opened...

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has taken a landmark step in child protection by launching Pakistan’s first Virtual Centre for Child Safety under the Safe City Authority in Punjab.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned of grave consequences if India attempts to block Pakistan’s water supply.

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday declared that Pakistan is undergoing a significant national turnaround, with key economic indicators reflecting rapid progress.

A relentless heatwave continues to grip parts of Pakistan, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reporting felt temperatures as high as 50°C and heat intensity peaking at an extreme 60°C in Lahore on Thursday.

The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has announced that electricity bill payments will no longer be accepted at post offices starting July 1, 2025.

US President Donald Trump touted a new website for his planned $5 million US residency permit on Wednesday, saying the waiting list for the golden visa has opened on TrumpCard.gov. “Thousands have been calling and asking how they can sign up to ride a beautiful road in gaining access to the greatest country and market anywhere in the world,” Trump wrote in a social media post. screengrab via Truth Social/@realDonaldTrump Trump unveiled the first such visa aboard Air Force One in April, holding a golden prototype that bore his face and promising the special permit would probably be available “in less than two weeks.” The visas are not available yet, but the website announced on Wednesday allows interested parties to submit their name, desired visa and email address under a header that says “The Trump Card is Coming.” Trump previously said the new visa, a high-priced version of the traditional green card, would bring in job creators and could be used to reduce the US national deficit. The announcement comes as ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has entrusted Bilal Azhar Kayani with the additional role of Minister of State for Finance, effective immediately.

• Centre sets aside Rs3.2bn in budget for FY26 against requirement of Rs40bn for completion of water supply scheme • JI says federal govt has ‘literally shelved’ the project • Sharjeel expresses concerns over earmarking of ‘inadequate’ funds KARACHI: Lingering for over two decades, the much-delayed K-IV water project now faces another major setback as the federal government has allocated only Rs3.2 billion in the budget against the required amount of Rs40bn for the scheme, sparking fears that the city may have to wait for “another 10 years” or more for the completion of the plan. Officials associated with the project, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have expressed deep frustration over the paltry allocation, warning that the funding shortfall has derailed any realistic timeline set for the project’s completion. “Over 63 per cent of the work is already done, and with proper funding, we were confident of wrapping it up within a year,” said one senior official. “But with just Rs3.2bn, we are now staring ...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has reaffirmed her government's commitment to eliminating child labour, calling it a tragic reality and a challenge to human dignity in the modern era.

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...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for the United Arab Emirates on Thursday for an official visit aimed at reinforcing Pakistan-UAE relations and exploring new avenues of cooperation.

• 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...

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...

• 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...

• 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...

• 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...