Pakistan

KARACHI: The Sindh government has directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to immediately take steps to stop the breeding of exotic species at the Karachi zoo, with particular emphasis on big cats. The directive was issued by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah while chairing a meeting of officials representing the KMC, zoo and relevant departments. The meeting reviewed the existing conditions, management practices and future planning related to exotic animals housed at the zoo. Mr Shah emphasised that the government was committed to ensuring animal welfare, ethical management and compliance with international best practices concerning captive wildlife. He stated that uncontrolled breeding of exotic species, especially big cats, posed serious challenges in terms of animal welfare, space constraints, safety and long-term management, and needed to be addressed without delay. During the meeting, the KMC and zoo authorities were directed to initiate immediate measures to halt the breeding of exotic a...

ISLAMABAD: With a 1.4 percentage-point increase in the tax-to-GDP ratio last year, mostly through additional revenue measures worth Rs2.5 trillion, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) now expects the federal tax contribution to remain stagnant over the next five years and a slight improvement coming from provinces. The latest IMF estimates suggest Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) receipts rose from 8.9 per cent of GDP in the fiscal year 2023-24 to 10.3pc in 2024-25, but still missed the Fund’s programme target of 10.7pc. For the current fiscal year, the IMF projects FBR revenue at 11.1pc of GDP, which would then remain flat at that level until FY30. In absolute terms, FBR revenue increased from Rs9.3tr in FY24 to Rs11.74tr in FY25, with a massive shortfall. For the current year, collections are projected at Rs13.98tr, implying a shortfall of Rs328 billion under existing assumptions. The IMF noted that tax revenue collection in FY25 fell short by Rs1.224tr relative to budget projections and by Rs524bn relative...

ISLAMABAD: The Pri­vatisation Commission is all set to privatise Pak­istan International Air­lines Corporation Ltd (PIAC) on December 23 (Tuesday), as only three bidders remain in the race after the exit of Fauji Fertiliser Company Ltd. According to the programme circulated by the Privatisation Commission on Sunday, bids will be submitted between 10:45am and 11:15am, while bids will be opened at 3:30pm, a process that will be shown live on television networks, as decided by the government. The three bidders are: a consortium comprising Lucky Cement Limited, Hub Power Holdings Lim­ited, Kohat Cement Com­pany Limited, and Metro Ventures (Private) Limi­ted; a consortium comprising Arif Habib Corporation Limited, Fatima Fertiliser Company Limited, City Schools (Private) Limited, and Lake City Holdings (Private) Limited; and Air Blue (Private) Ltd. Chairman of the Privatisation Commission and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation, Muhammad Ali, said during a YouTube interview that Fauji Fertiliser Company...

JERUSALEM: Israel’s security cabinet approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move the country’s far-right finance minister said on Sunday was aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state. The latest approvals come days after the United Nations said the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank — all of which are illegal under the international law — had reached its highest level since at least 2017. The Israeli government’s decision brings the total number of settlements illegally approved over the past three years to 69, according to a statement from the office of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. “The proposal by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz to declare and formalise 19 new settlements in Judea and Samaria has been approved by the cabinet,” the statement said, without specifying when the decision was taken. Decision brings the total number of settlements illegally approved over the past three years t...

ISLAMABAD: The Finance Division, in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA), has launched Zarkheze, a digital platform aimed at digitising agricultural finance and expanding access to formal credit for small farmers. Under the initiative, farmers will be able to apply digitally through the Zarkheze app for financing of up to Rs1 million. After verification and agronomic assessment, applications will be forwarded to the bank chosen by the farmer for processing. The programme provides that 75 per cent of the financing will be disbursed in kind for the purchase of agricultural inputs through banks’ pre-approved agri-vendors. Farmers will also receive advisory services through the Land Information Management System (LIMS). Officials said the product was designed not only to provide financing but also to improve productivity by ensuring access to quality inputs and advisory services. To encourage banks to increase lending to small farmers, the government has off...

ISLAMABAD: The government is considering launching a new project aimed at making educational boards of the country equipped with modern technology on the pattern of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE). Since 2015-18, the federal government has upgraded FBISE through a Rs50 million project, “Modernisation and Standardisation of Examination System.” The project was a brainchild of Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. According to documents, the project was completed in three years “with accomplishment of all set targets.” After completion of the project, the then PML-N government wanted to replicate it across the country. However, with the change of its government the plan could not be executed. Planning, education ministries and FBISE working on proposed project, says board chairman According to documents, a series of meetings of the project steering committee represented by all provinces was held in 2018-19, but no tangible progress could be made due to lack of interest by the ...

India stunned after entering final unbeaten; Opener Sameer Minhas scripts history

Zardari meets Iraqi leaders, vows joint fight against extremism, terrorism and narcotics

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and the United Kingdom have formalised a wide-ranging climate part-nership with the launch of the UK–Pakistan Green Compact, a framework aimed at strengthening climate resilience, accelerating the clean energy transition and scaling up nature-based solutions, particularly mangrove conservation.

LAHORE - Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Sunday stressed that Pakistan ur-gently needs a “charter of politics” to ensure political maturity, stability and national progress.

LAHORE - Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi has said that the nation remains fully united on matters of Pakistan’s defence and warned that those spreading rumors and propaganda will never succeed.

LAHORE - Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Senator Rana Sanaullah Khan has emphasized that political stability is essential for sustainable national progress and development.

ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari, Sunday, reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm support for Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity, and reiterated commitment to Iraq’s stability, prosperity and democratic progress.

Pakistan honoured as guardian of Haramain.

Islamabad - The second Pakistan Navy MILGEM-class ship, PNS Khaibar, was commissioned on Friday at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, marking another major milestone in Pakistan-Türkiye defence cooperation.

Islamabad - The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that all courts in the country, including the Supreme Court, are constitutionally bound to adhere to its judgments.

ISLAMABAD - Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aain-e-Pakistan (TTAP) has demanded the immediate appointment of an impartial Chief Election Commissioner and also sought “free and fair” elections under a new Election Commission.

Lahore/Islamabad - Pakistan U-19 produced a commanding all-round performance to outclass arch-rivals India by a massive 191-run margin in the final of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground on Sunday.

United States Senator Lindsey Graham called on Sunday for renewed military action against Hamas and Hezbollah if they fail to disarm and accused the Palestinian group of consolidating its power in Gaza. The Republican politician, on a visit to Israel, is a staunch ally of US President Donald Trump. Beginning in October, a fragile ceasefire has so far halted two years of war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip despite both sides trading accusations of truce violations. A separate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah also came into effect in November 2024 after more than a year of hostilities, though Israel continues to carry out strikes on Lebanese territory. Israel has made dismantling the arsenals of both groups, allies of its arch-foe Iran, a key condition for any lasting peace. “It’s imperative we come up with a plan quickly, put Hamas on a time clock, give them a period of time to achieve the goal of disarmament,” Graham said at a press conference during his visit. “And if you don’t, I ...

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