Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Wednesday that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) should focus entirely on tax collection to ensure economic progress. Addressing the business community in Peshawar, he highlighted several government reforms designed to foster stability and growth in Pakistan’s economy. He mentioned that measures such as lowering the policy rate and interest rates are a result …

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday to sign a preliminary agreement on Ukraine’s mineral resources. While Zelensky has welcomed the minerals deal, he has also insisted that any economic partnership must be accompanied by US security guarantees to deter renewed Russian aggression. However, Trump has ruled out any commitments “beyond… …

Social media can often be a hub for misinformation, and recently, former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram found himself caught in an unnecessary controversy. His wife, Shaniera Akram, strongly reacted to a post on X (formerly Twitter) that included Akram’s name in a list of cricketers who have been legally separated from their spouses. The post, titled ‘Divorced XI,’ was …

Pakistani actress Bushra Ansari has been honoured with an Award of Recognition at the UK Parliament, acknowledging her outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry. The event was organized by the British Asian Society and Samara Events UK. Moment of pride for Pakistan The legendary Udaari actress expressed her joy and gratitude on Instagram, sharing a picture from the event with …

On the sixth anniversary of Operation Swift Retort, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and the Services Chiefs paid tribute to the unwavering courage, professionalism, and sacrifices of Pakistan’s Armed Forces. In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday, the military leadership reiterated their firm commitment to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while …

It seems that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s most recent visit to Azerbaijan has started a new phase in the bilateral sphere further developing and diversifying the scope, utility, pace and momentum in diverse sector of economy, investment, joint ventures, agriculture cooperation, industrial coordination, infrastructure collaboration, energy oil & gas mutually befitting propositions and last but not least, defence connections. Obviously …

It seems that horizons of Pakistan-Uzbekistan bilateral relations have now been amplified/expanded and gained immense momentum after the recent official visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to Uzbekistan. Signing of multiple agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in defence, technology, technical training, and youth empowerment vividly reflecting emerging strategic partnership covering all aspects of socio-economic …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani experts and officials said that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is all set to develop Pakistan’s knowledge-based economy through technological advancements while stressing building intellectual infrastructure in the South Asian country. Under the innovation corridor of the second phase of CPEC, Pakistan and China need to explore opportunities for enhancing technological collaboration, joint research …

HARBIN: Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, officially closed its 26th edition on Wednesday evening in the city of Harbin, capital of China’s northernmost Heilongjiang Province, attracting a record-breaking 3.56 million tourist visits, said the park’s operator. This year’s attendance surpassed the previous edition by 31.4 percent, jumping from 2.71 million visits, according to data from the …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Wednesday that the party was looking to take the opposition parties on board in the anti-government movement. Expressing his thoughts , Khan said: “We have started our campaign against the government. We hope that the media fraternity, civil society and the political parties will extend support to us in this …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that history and reality show that China and Russia are good neighbors that cannot be moved away, and true friends who share weal and woe, support each other and achieve common development. He made the remarks when having a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the latter’s request. Xi said …

President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for a successful operation against Khwarij in Bagh, district Khyber . In a statement, President Asif Zardari appreciated the security forces for killing 10 Khwarij during the operation. President Zardari said the brave armed forces of Pakistan are undertaking successful operations to eliminate Fitna Al-Khwarij. He said the …

The security forces on Sunday killed seven terrorists in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the first operation was carried out in Daraban, where security forces launched an offensive after receiving intelligence report about the presence of terrorists. During the engagement, four …

Talks with Israel through mediators on further steps in a ceasefire agreement are conditional on Palestinian prisoners being released as agreed, Hamas official Basem Naim said on Sunday. Israel said on Sunday it was delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners it had planned to free the day before until militant group Hamas met its conditions. Prime Minister Benjamin …

The Punjab government has introduced a new pension policy under which both government employees and the government will contribute to a pension fund. The Punjab Finance Department has issued a notification after an amendment to the Pension Rules, implementing the Contribution Pension Scheme across the province, which will take immediate effect. As per the new pension scheme, both the employee …

A delegation from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) met with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi to discuss judicial reforms and the legal challenges faced by the party’s leadership and workers. The Supreme Court issued a statement confirming the details of the meeting. During the meeting, PTI leader Omer Ayub highlighted the difficulties faced by the party’s jailed founder, Imran Khan, …

BEIJING: Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed orders to publish three regulations on the military’s interior order, code of conduct and military formation. The revised rules, which will take effect from April 1, are designed to fully transform the country’s military into world-class armed forces, focusing on combat readiness and addressing the concerns of the armed …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed on Thursday to develop a comprehensive and effective strategy to increase the country’s exports to $60billion in the next 5 years. According to details, he chaired a meeting aimed at boosting national exports and enhancing economic development. The prime minister instructed his economic team to introduce sustainable reforms in the tariff system. He emphasised that …

The seven-member Constitutional Bench resumed hearing of the military courts case, under Justice Aminuddin Khan. Counsel of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) founder and former chairman Imran Khan, Uzair Bhandari resumed his arguments. He said, “The armed forces have been given powers under Article 245 in the 1973 Constitution. The armed forces cannot act outside Article 245 of the Constitution.” The counsel …

 Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) rejecting the deregulation policy have threatened to shut down petrol pumps across the country. Chairman All Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association Abdul Sami Khan in his video message said we reject the de regulation formula on the prices of petroleum products. “This will only open the doors for petroleum smuggling and adulteration” he said. He said …

BEIJING/URUMQI: China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) announced Thursday that it has completed the drilling of the deepest vertical well in Asia, as a borehole reached a depth of 10,910 meters in China’s northwestern desert. Located in the heart of the Taklimakan Desert in the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the well, known as “Shenditake 1,” is a scientific exploration …

Pakistani actress Hania Aamir and Indian singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh have ignited widespread speculation about a potential collaboration after being spotted together in the United Kingdom. The buzz began when Hania Aamir attended Dosanjh’s concert in the UK, where the Punjabi superstar invited her on stage—a moment that quickly went viral across social media. Now, various online forums and social media …

The prolonged threat of drought has subsided as widespread rainfall drenched various parts of the country, bringing much-needed relief to both the environment and the agricultural sector. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted that the rains may continue for another two days. Several areas, including the federal capital, received rainfall, turning the weather pleasant. Light and heavy showers were …

The BJP’s Rekha Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, is set to take oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi today at a grand ceremony at Ramlila Maidan. This marks the BJP’s return to power in the national capital after 26 years. Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers will attend the oath-taking ceremony from 20 states, top BJP …

Pakistani opener Fakhar Zaman has expressed his disappointment after being ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to injury, stating that while the setback is unfortunate, he remains hopeful for a swift recovery. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Zaman shared his sentiments, saying, “It is an honor to represent Pakistan. I have done so many times and …

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has acknowledged the financial burden on the salaried class, emphasizing that repeatedly taxing them is not a sustainable solution. Speaking at the Retail Business Council in Islamabad, he stressed that other sectors must also contribute to tax revenues, highlighting that despite their significant economic share, the agriculture and retail sectors contribute less in taxes. The minister …

BEIJING: Home prices in first-tier Chinese cities maintained an upward trend in January, adding to signs of stabilization in the country’s property sector amid active trading and improved sentiment. In the country’s four first-tier Chinese cities, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, prices of new and second-hand homes both went up by 0.1 percent from the previous month, data from …

Cricket fever has gripped Pakistan as the country hosts the ICC Champions Trophy after 29 years. The much-anticipated tournament kicks off today with an electrifying match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. Excitement is at its peak as eight top international teams battle for the prestigious title. Fans are eager, and players are charged …

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he intends to impose auto tariffs “in the neighborhood of 25%” and similar duties on semiconductors and pharmaceutical imports, the latest in a series of measures threatening to upend international trade. On Friday, Trump said levies on automobiles would come as soon as April 2, the day after members of his cabinet are due to deliver reports …

Senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and veteran politician Nawab Yousuf Talpur passed away on Wednesday at a private hospital in Karachi. He was 82 and had been undergoing treatment for a lung infection. A prominent figure in Sindh’s political landscape, Talpur was a hero of the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) and a long-time member of PPP’s …

On February 19, 2025, seven passengers were brutally killed in Barkhan, Balochistan, after being forcibly removed from a bus traveling from Quetta to Lahore. The assailants established a checkpoint near the Rarkan area, where they halted the bus, examined passengers’ identity cards, and executed seven individuals from Punjab. The victims have been identified as Muhammad Ishaq, Ashiq Hussain, Asim Ali, …

Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb said that Pakistan aims to increase its exports to $60 billion in the next five years. In an interview with Saudi Arabian media outlet, the minister said that over the past 12-14 months, Pakistan has made significant progress in economic development, According to minister, the government has taken key decisions to curb inflation and …

Pakistan’s first moon rover mission is set to launch in 2028, announced Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) on Tuesday. The development follows after Pakistan and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) allowing Pakistan’s first lunar rover to be part of China’s Chang’E 8 mission. The Chang’E 8 mission, scheduled for launch in 2028, will focus on robotic …

Pakistan’s current account, which had remained in surplus for five months, slipped into a deficit in January due to increasing imports, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The country recorded a current account deficit of $420 million in January, marking the highest level in seven months. The surge in imports pushed Pakistan’s average monthly import bill from $4.25 …

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed willingness to engage in negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “if necessary,” despite continuing doubts over Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, according to the Kremlin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the statement on Tuesday, underlining that while Putin is open to talks with the Ukrainian leader, the legal framework for any potential agreements remains uncertain. “Putin himself …

Junaid Akbar Khan, president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa presided over the first official meeting of the provincial party members on Monday. The provincial office-bearers of the party participated in the meeting. Party’s organisational matters and other important issues came under discussion during the meeting. The members expressed determination to further strengthen the party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Speaking on …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that with the cooperation of the World Bank (WB), several key development projects were completed in Pakistan, which had been playing a vital role in the country’s progress. The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with the delegation of World Bank Executive Directors, PM Office Media Wing said in a press …

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has urged the judiciary to expedite the hearing of its cases against the 26th constitutional amendment. Speaking at a press conference alongside party leaders, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar stated that the amendment was passed by a government with a ‘fake mandate’. He emphasised that all judges should hear the case and deliver a decision. Gohar reiterated …

ISLAMABAD: ASAS International School successfully hosted its “Power Play Day 2025,” an event designed to highlight the skills, teamwork, and physical abilities of its students through various sports, recreational activities, and extracurricular events. The event was graced by the presence of the School Director, Dr. Arshad Zia, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, and Branch Head Ms. Saba Mubashar. Also joining the event …

Islamabad, Rawalpindi and parts of AJK were jolted with 4.8 magnitude earthquake, Dunya News reported here on Saturday night. The epicentre of the quake was around eight kilometres southeast of Rawalpindi and its depth was reported at 17 kilometres, said Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Seismological Centre in a statement. No casualty or damage was reported. The tremors were also felt in …