LAHORE, July 29(ABC): The Punjab Assembly elected PTI’s Sibtain Khan, who was a joint candidate of his party and the PML-Q, as the new speaker on Friday. The Punjab Assembly speaker’s seat fell vacant after the former office bearer Pervez Elahi was elected as the chief minister of Punjab on Tuesday, July 26. Sibtain won the election after securing 185 …

ISLAMABAD, Jul 29(ABC): Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail said here on Friday that attracting the United States foreign investment in different sectors of country’s economy was the government’s top priority. The minister was talking to Ambassador of the United Stated of America to Pakistan, Donald Blome who called on him here, according to press statement issued by …

QADIRABAD, July 29(ABC): Flash flood unleashed by heavy rainfall inundated the settlements in the areas of Rajanpur, Rojhan and Taunsa on Friday. The rural areas and settlements have been wrecked by the flood water, while the victims are moving to safe places on their own. Furthermore, the crops on 27 thousand 860 acres of land have also been affected due …

ISLAMABAD, July 29(ABC): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said that ECP should decide on the matter of funding of all parties simultaneously. In a statement on Twitter, the PTI leader said that the funding laws are intended to ensure that the voters are aware that who is funding a political party. PTI has given the details of …

ISLAMABAD, July 29(ABC): Petrol and diesel prices may rise by Rs10-17 per litre beginning August 1, 2022, despite the fact that prices for petroleum products and crude oil have remained relatively stable. The increase has been estimated because the exchange rate has gone haywire, according to a report. According to sources, a hike of Rs10 in petrol and Rs16-17 in …

WEB DESK, July 29(ABC): PML-Q’s Central Working Committee (CWC) has decided to release Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain from the duties of party president, citing health concerns. The decision to remove Shujaat from the party command was taken at a CWC meeting headed by Senator Kamil Ali Agha in the chair at the Muslim League House on Thursday. “It has become necessary …

ISLAMABAD, July 29(ABC): The coalition government on Thursday lifted the ban on the import of non-essential and luxury products imposed earlier in May, however, the restrictions on the import of completely built-up automobiles, mobile phones, and home appliances will remain in place. According to the Ministry of Finance, the decision was taken during the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), held under …

ISLAMABAD, July 29(ABC): Pakistan reported a slight decline in its coronavirus positivity ratio while another person succumbed to the virus, National Institute of Health, Islamabad’s (NIH) data showed Friday morning. As per the latest stats, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Pakistan declined from 3.65% yesterday to 3.35% today (Friday). On Thursday, the country had reported nine deaths in a single …

ISLAMABAD, July 29(ABC): PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Thursday said if the PTI wants to apply political tactics and make people change party positions, then the coalition government also knows how to engage in that kind of politics. Maryam was speaking to the press following a meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) chiefs to chalk out a future strategy …

ISLAMABAD, July 29(ABC): National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf Thursday accepted 11 resignations of PTI members under Article 64(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan. NA spokesperson said notification has also been issued in this regard. The announcement was made on the official Twitter handle of the National Assembly. The PTI lawmakers had tendered their resignations en masse after Imran Khan’s …

ISLAMABAD, July 29(ABC): Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Thursday said that Pakistan and China had complete convergence on fully leveraging Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as an important regional platform for development and connectivity. Bilawal met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers meetings of the SCO. During the meeting, Bilawal and Wang reviewed the progress …

KARACHI, July 29(ABC): The country’s foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) continued to decline on a weekly basis. On July 22, the foreign currency reserves held by the SBP were recorded at $8,575.16 million, down $754 million compared with $9,328.6 on July 15, data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday showed. …

ISLAMABAD, Jul 28(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the eight years long delay in the decision of foreign funding case against Imran Khan evidenced how the “Ladla” was being protected. The prime minister, in a tweet, said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for not taking salary and contrary to that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader was …

ISLAMABAD, July 28 (ABC): The federal government has decided to accept resignations of some Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Members of the National Assembly (MNAs). According to details, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has started consultation with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Sadiq in a bid to accept the resignations of PTI lawmakers. Media reports said that PML-N has demanded …

ISLAMABAD, Jul 28 (ABC): President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday urged the provincial governments and organisations from public and private sectors to make all possible efforts for rescue and relief to people hit by flash floods and torrential rains in various parts of the country. The president, in a tweet, said that the torrential rains and flash floods had deluged …

ISLAMABAD, July 28(ABC): The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Thursday rejected the elevation of five high court judges, nominated by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, to the Supreme Court. Sources prior to the development told that CJP Bandial presided over the judicial commission’s meeting, where a total of five judges, two from the Sindh High Court …

RAWALPINDI, July 28 (ABC): Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Pakistan values its relations with Poland and we earnestly look forward to enhance mutually beneficial multi-domain relations based on common interests. He was talking to Mr Maciej Pisarski, Ambassador of Republic of Poland to Pakistan, who called on the Chief of Army Staff at …

ISLAMABAD, July 28(ABC): Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Thursday while calling out Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said that the former prime minister should dissolve assemblies of both the provinces if he wants election to be held. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, he said that the PTI lawyers postponed the foreign funding case for over …

ISLAMABAD, July 28(ABC): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)  supremo and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday directed the newly elected Punjab government to restore PTI prominent programs including Ehsaas, health cards and other welfare projects. The PTI chairman held a virtual meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and former Federal Minister Moonis Elahi through video link and discussed political …

QUETTA, July 28(ABC): The recent monsoon spell in the country pummelled Balochistan, leaving destruction in its way as more than 100 people lost their lives and thousands of homes were completely destroyed. Balochistan Chief Secretary Abdul Azai Aqili, in a press conference on the rains’ devastation Thursday, told journalists that as many as 111 people have lost their lives so …

  KARACHI, July 28(ABC): The Pakistani rupee plunged to a new low on Thursday while continuing its downward spiral against US dollar in the interbank market despite Finance Minister Miftah Ismail assuring investors that the pressure on local currency will soon “vanish”. Data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed that the local unit closed at a historic …

LAHORE, July 28(ABC): The Punjab Assembly passed a no-confidence motion against deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari after his ties deteriorated with the ruling PTI. PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other party leaders severely criticised the deputy speaker for his ruling, which deprived Pervez Elahi of becoming the chief minister after he rejected 10 votes from the PML-Q — enabling Hamza …

ISLAMABAD, July 28(ABC): The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chiefs are holding a meeting Thursday to chalk out a future strategy after the coalition parties suffered a major setback in Punjab. The Supreme Court has instated PTI Chairman Imran Khan-backed Pervez Elahi as Punjab’s chief minister and removed PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz from office, whose party is the major stakeholder in …

WEB DESK, July 28(ABC): PTI chairman Imran Khan has strongly condemned the arrest of Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh a day after he was held by the province’s Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE). ACE Sindh had arrested the PTI leader in a property transfer case on Wednesday when he went to the agency’s office in Jamshoro to …

ISLAMABAD, July 28(ABC): Already overburdened by inflation, increased oil prices, food items, Pakistanis were in for a shock when the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Thursday decided to increase the power tariff by Rs9.89 per unit. According to the regulatory authority, the hike in tariff has been made under fuel adjustment for the month of June. This decision …

GALLE, July 28(ABC): Sri Lanka spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis snared nine wickets between them to help the hosts to a 246-run series-levelling victory against Pakistan on the fifth and final day of the second test in Galle on Thursday. It was the fourth five-wicket haul in only his third test for left-arm spinner Jayasuriya, who picked up 12 …

WEB DESK, July 28(ABC): Former president Asif Ali Zardari has tested positive for coronavirus, his son Bilawal Bhutto confirmed Wednesday, as the infection continues to spread again globally. Foreign Minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal said that the party’s co-chairman was not only vaccinated but had also received booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine — which enhances immunity against the virus. …

ISLAMABAD, July 28(ABC): Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that all state organs should act within the domains stipulated by constitution for a smooth and effective working of democratic system. In a tweet on Thursday, he said it was also the core of his argument during the speech at the National Assembly. Shehbaz Sharif said we will be …

KARACHI, July 28(ABC): Heavy rain stormed various parts of Karachi last night, which led to flooded streets in several areas of the city. It rained in different areas of the city including Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Malir, Shahrah-e-Faisal, PECHS, Liaquatabad, Old City Area, Saddar, Keamari and Defence. After the rain, the dark clouds remained in the sky while the rain stopped after …

WEB DESK, July 28(ABC): The Pakistani rupee continued its downward spiral against the US dollar in the interbank market during intraday trade Thursday, despite assurances by Finance Minister Mifta Ismail that pressure on the rupee will soon “vanish”. The rupee was trading at Rs239.50 against the US dollar in the interbank market during intraday trade amid the ongoing economic and political …

ISLAMABAD, July 28(ABC): Pakistan reported the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in the last 20 days as eight people succumbed to the virus in a single day, National Institute of Health, Islamabad’s (NIH) data showed Thursday morning. The country reported nine deaths in a single day on July 7. As per the latest stats, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Pakistan …

ISLAMABAD, July 28(ABC): PTI Chairman Imran Khan Wednesday claimed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), in connivance with PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz, tried to defeat us [PTI] in the Punjab by-polls. In a televised speech, Khan said that they [coalition government] “disrespected the public” by considering them “sheep and goats” and tried imposing “corrupt people” on them. The former …

ISLAMABAD, July 28(ABC): Federal Minister Javed Latif said Wednesday the federal government had no intention of imposing governor’s rule in Punjab. “After the 18th Amendment, it is difficult to impose governor’s rule, therefore no one has the intention to impose it in Punjab,” he added. “I have been saying during cabinet meetings that action be taken against the beneficiary of …

ISLAMABAD, July 27(ABC): The federal cabinet Wednesday approved the withdrawal of the curative review petition against a top court order in the Justice Qazi Faez Isa case. After the cabinet meeting, which was held under the chair of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said there was no precedent for the curative review filed against Justice Isa, adding …

ISLAMABAD, July 27(ABC):  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday addressed a session of the National Assembly during which he took a swipe at the judiciary, calling it out for its “dual standards” towards the coalition government. His comments came in response to the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision of declaring Pervez Elahi the new chief minister of Punjab and removing …

ISLAMABAD, July 27(ABC): The newly elected Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Wednesday said that he would dissolve the Punjab Assembly immediately on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman (PTI) Imran Khan’s call. Punjab Chief Minister Elahi visited former Prime Minister Imran Khan at his Banigala residence, where the two leaders made important decisions including the election of Sabtain Khan as the …

ISLAMABAD, July 27(ABC): Federal cabinet on Wednesday decided to legislate regarding the suo motu authority of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and the authority to form a bench. A meeting of the federal cabinet was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in which various issues came under discussion. During the meeting, the federal cabinet removed DG …

ISLAMABAD, July 27(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced maximum relief to the masses affected by rains in Balochistan and other parts of the country. Addressing a National Assembly session in the federal capital, the prime minister talked about the country’s faltering economy, the troubles that the government faced in a bid to rectify the situation and the devastation …

WEB DESK, July 27(ABC): The CEO of Instagram Adam Mosseri revealed that the application will shift towards video content over time, however, it will continue to support photos as well. Mosseri’s statement came following the negative feedback from celebrities Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian, saying “make Instagram, Instagram again” and that it was becoming more like the famous video-sharing application …

ISLAMABAD, July 27(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government is taking serious steps to promote cooperation with the Chinese companies to attract investment. Talking to a Chinese delegation, he said all necessary steps are also being taken for the protection of workers and engineers of the Chinese companies. The Prime Minister noted that China Pakistan Economic Corridor project …