ISLAMABAD, June 15(ABC): The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has proposed an up to Rs55 per litre increase in the prices of the POL products. According to a summary sent by the OGRA to the Finance Ministry, it has been proposed to increase the petrol and diesel prices by Rs29 and Rs55 per litre. After the approval of Prime Minister …

PARIS, June 15(ABC): Social media giant Meta said that it was rolling out a slew of measures to boost the safety of young users on its Instagram platform, the latest firm to address the issue. Campaigners have long criticised tech giants for failing to protect teenagers from harmful content, and the popularity of Instagram with young people has placed it …

LAHORE, June 15(ABC): Punjab government has slashed powers of Speaker of provincial assembly through an ordinance. According to the ordinance issued by Governor Balighur Rehman, Punjab Assembly will now be under Ministry of Law and now all staff of the assembly secretariat will also be under Law ministry. From now on all notifications will also be issued by the ministry.

WEB DESK, June 15(ABC): Internet Explorer will shut down today, June 15, announced Microsoft. “The Internet Explorer (IE) 11 desktop application will end support for Windows 10 semi-annual channel starting June 15, 2022,” the statement read. Microsoft encourages customers to shift to Microsoft Edge with IE mode. “IE mode enables backward compatibility and will be supported through at least 2029,” it …

WEB DESK, June 15(ABC): Meta-owned instant messaging app WhatsApp keeps rolling out new features every now and then to enhance user experience — both on mobile phones and on desktops. “WhatsApp keeps working on improving the UWP version of the app. After introducing the ability to share view once photos and record voice notes, WhatsApp is now rolling out to …

ISLAMABAD, June 15(ABC): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has felicitated Chinese President Xi Jinping on his birthday being celebrated on Wednesday. In a tweet, the Prime Minister deeply appreciated Chinese President s resolve to build Pakistan-China community of shared future. He said under the dynamic leadership of President Xi, China has emerged as an all-weather strategic cooperative partner of Pakistan.  

ISLAMABAD, June 15(ABC): The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed a case against former federal minister and PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi, sources close to the development told on Wednesday. The case, according to the sources, pertains to alleged money laundering, and has been filed by the Lahore chapter of the agency. In addition, a money laundering case has been filed …

ISLAMABAD, June 15(ABC): The government is reviewing the new slabs announced for personal income tax (PIT) to bring them in line with the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Asim Ahmad, said on Tuesday. Ahmad saw it as quite the predicament given the narrow tax base which makes it difficult …

TEHRAN, June 15(ABC): Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took up the issue of the release of Pakistani prisoners detained in the prisons of Iran with Iranian President Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi. The foreign minister was welcomed by Iran’s leader in Tehran on his first official two-day visit to the neighbour country on Tuesday. FM Bilawal reaffirmed Pakistan’s keen desire to strengthen bilateral …

KARACHI, June 15(ABC): The Pakistani rupee continued its downward slide against the US dollar as it depreciated over Re1 in the interbank market during early morning trading on Wednesday. The local currency shed Rs1.9 against the greenback and was trading at Rs206.25. According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the currency closed at Rs205.16 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Stock …

LAHORE, June 15(ABC): Punjab’s political turmoil seems unlikely to abate as two provincial assembly sessions have been summoned today (Wednesday). Meanwhile, provincial government’s failure to present the annual budget for fiscal year 2022-23 on the second consecutive day on Tuesday seems to have further deepened the political crisis in the province, reported. Governor Balighur Rehman prorogued the assembly session on Tuesday, …

NEW YORK, June 15(ABC): Pakistan’s newly appointed ambassador to Washington, Masood Khan, met United States (US) President Joe Biden Wednesday morning in Washington, reported. “Sardar Masood Khan, Pakistan Ambassador to the United States, visited the White House to meet and greet President Joe Biden and have an official photograph with him which is an established tradition in Washington DC,” read …

LONDON, June 15(ABC): Former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has asked the coalition government to facilitate former president Pervez Musharraf if he wishes to return to Pakistan, adding that he does not have any “personal enmity or tussle” with the ex-dictator. “I have no personal enmity or tussle with Pervez Musharraf. I do not want anyone else to …

RAWALPINDI, June 14(ABC): In light of Pervez Musharraf’s ailing health, Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar said Tuesday the military leadership believes that the former army chief should return to Pakistan. “In such a situation the institution and leadership’s stance is that Pervez Musharraf should return,” said DG ISPR. The military’s spokesperson, during an interview with a …

TEHRAN, June 14(ABC): Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday reiterated the resolve to further strengthen bilateral relations in all dimensions during the maiden visit of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari,  reported. Addressing a joint news conference alongside his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran, the foreign minister said Iran is an important neighbour and brother of Pakistan and building close relations with …

KARACHI, June 14(ABC): Amid ruckus in the assembly, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday presented an Rs1.7 trillion “pro-poor” and “tax-free” budget for the next fiscal year 2022-23. The chief minister said the past year witnessed “extraordinary changes” —  both nationally and internationally — and it ultimately impacted the common man. “Despite that, the Government of Sindh vows …

ISLAMABAD, June 14(ABC): : PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan said Tuesday that his government was under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), however, it still decided to provide relief to the masses. Speaking during a ceremony in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, the former prime minister said that during his tenure, the then-opposition kept telling the government …

ISLAMABAD, June 14(ABC): The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday directed those part of the Exit Control List (ECL) to seek the interior ministry’s permission to travel abroad. The directive came as a five-member larger bench of the SC resumed the hearing on a suo motu notice on the perceived apprehension of “persons in authority” undermining the criminal justice system. …

ISLAMABAD, June 14(ABC): Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, who is also the chair of Pakistan’s National Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Coordination Committee, will lead the Pakistan delegation at the FATF Plenary Meeting being held in Berlin, Germany. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the meeting, Pakistan’s progress under the …

ISLAMABAD, June 14(ABC): PTI leader Shireen Mazari said on Tuesday that her party has reservations against the new United States Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome. In a press conference flanked by PTI leader Asad Umar, Mazari alleged that the American envoy was holding meetings with Pakistani officials even though he is yet to present his credentials. “American envoy met the …

ISLAMABAD, June 14(ABC): PTI on Tuesday challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict on the reserved seats of the Punjab Assembly for women in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). On June 2, 2022, the ECP ruled that the allocation of reserved seats — three women and two minorities — would be notified after the conclusion of the by-election for …

KARACHI, June 14(ABC): Volatility emerged on Tuesday once again in the foreign exchange market as the Pakistani rupee depreciated nearly Rs1.64 against the US dollar to Rs205.50 in the interbank market during intra-day, reported. According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the currency had closed at an all-time low of Rs203.86 per dollar on Monday. The local currency dipped to an …

ISLAMABAD, June 14(ABC): As the new COVID variant in the United Kingdom (UK) emerged, doctors warned PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif against travelling,  reported Tuesday, citing sources. Former prime minister Imran Khan’s government had refused to renew Nawaz’s passport after it expired in February last year but then interior minister Sheikh Rasheed had said if the PML-N supremo wanted to return, he could …

ISLAMABAD, June 14(ABC): After former Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed he was deposed due to a US-led coup and launched a statewide campaign, the new US ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, signalled Washington’s willingness to move on from the regime change debate by convening a strong two-way dialogue. Former PM Imran Khan had launched a statewide campaign asking for “freedom” …

KARACHI, June 14(ABC): Diesel and petrol prices could rise by Rs53 and Rs18 per litre, respectively, if the government passes on the full impact of global oil markets to consumers, effectively eliminating the subsidy in an effort to repay the IMF loan, reported Tuesday, citing industry officials. According to oil sector calculations, the ex-depot price of high speed diesel (HSD) …

ISLAMABAD, June 14(ABC): Pakistan has launched a massive diplomatic effort to get off the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, according to official sources, reported. Pakistan needs the votes of Turkey, China, and Malaysia to get off the list, and all three countries have assured the Pakistani authorities of full support for the purpose. That’s why now there are …

ISLAMABAD, June 14(ABC): Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said Monday that if the government does not abolish the subsidies on petroleum products, then the country will default. In a bid to bring economic stability and revive the stalled multi-billion-dollar IMF programme, the government had increased the price of petrol by a whopping Rs60 per litre last month. It was also expected that …

LAHORE, June 13(ABC): A special court in the city said Monday that “no evidence of corruption, misuse of authority, and bribery” was so far found on record against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz, in the Rs16 billion money laundering case. In a written order for confirming their pre-arrest bail, the higher court said …

ISLAMABAD, June 13(ABC): PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan Monday warned of food insecurity in the country if the coalition government does not focus on giving targetted subsidies to farmers. Addressing a farmer’s convention in the federal capital, the party chairman said: “Farmers are given subsidies all over the world and if the agriculture sector is not sustainable, …

ISLAMABAD, June 13(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has censured the Indian government over the ongoing brutality and state oppression against the Muslims of India after they staged protests against BJP leaders’ blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Taking to Twitter Monday, the prime minister said: “India has unleashed its brute & oppressive state apparatus to browbeat Indian Muslims into submission.” …

PESHAWAR, June 13(ABC): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra is presenting the provincial budget for fiscal year 2022-23 before the house in Peshawar. Jhagra has unveiled the fourth budget of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) second government in the province with a total outlay of over Rs1.3 trillion. During his budget speech, the finance minister said that the development budget percentage, …

ISLAMABAD, June 13(ABC): The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Monday notified an increase of Rs3.99 per unit in the power tariff on account of fuel cost adjustment for the month of April 2022. According to the details, this decision will place an additional burden of billions on the power consumers while the price hike will not apply to …

ISLAMABAD, June 13(ABC): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said the government is giving subsidy of three billion rupees to provide ghee to the masses on reduced rates. Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday, she pointed out that the price of ghee in the open market is five hundred and fifty rupees per kilogram whilst it …

LAHORE, June 13(ABC): Punjab government has announced up to 30 percent increase in salaries of its employees in the budget for 2022-23. According to details, the employees will get 15 percent increase in basic pay and 15 percent disparity allowance. However, the disparity allowance will be limited to only few departments of the provincial government. Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Punjab …

ISLAMABAD, June 13(ABC): The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will convene in Berlin, Germany this week from June 14 to 17, 2022, to decide whether Pakistan will be removed from the grey list or retain its current position for another few months,  reported Monday. The Pakistani government is optimistic and anticipates a favourable conclusion from the plenary conference. “For the time …

ISLAMABAD, June 13(ABC): As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completely rejected the proposed tax relief in the Personal Income Tax (PIT) to the tune of Rs47 billion, the government is left with no option but to consider making changes to the proposal,  reported Monday. While the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has given the relief to the salaried class earning …

ISLAMABAD, June 13(ABC): PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday claimed that it was “impossible for the incumbent coalition government to win the next election”. Speaking to a private TV news channel, Khan said that it would also be “very difficult for the current government to run an electioneering campaign”, adding that on the other hand, the …

ISLAMABAD, June 12(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif observed on Sunday that the granting of transit visas to Afghan citizens “will help them complete paperwork for onward travel”. “New Afghan visa policy by our government is part of our efforts to continue helping our Afghan brothers and sisters in their hour of need,” tweeted the premier. The premier urged the “international …

ISLAMABAD, June 12(ABC): Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday announced that he has recently had a discussion with the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha regarding the persecution of Muslims in India. Taking to Twitter, Bilawal wrote: “Spoke to OIC SG HE Hissein Brahim Taha on the totally unacceptable and condemnable remarks by Indian BJP …

ISLAMABAD, June 12(ABC): The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided to launch a money-laundering probe against former federal minister and PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi, sources told  Sunday. Moonis is the son of Pervez Elahi, a senior leader of the PML-Q. FIA sources said that “sufficient evidence” has been collected against Moonis after which the agency decided to formally start an …