Daily News

The government of Pakistan is likely to impose additional burden on citizens by raising petroleum levy to fulfill International Monetary Fund (IMF) terms, ARY News reported on Friday, Citing sources. According to the sources, the federal government is expected to increase the petroleum levy after which the initial electricity tariff will likely to raise Rs 3 to Rs 5 per unit, adding that the gas will also become more expensive for the citizens of Pakistan. The government sources maintained that the federal cabinet will take the decision regarding the increase in electricity tariff. Simultaneously, government sources have also hinted at an anticipated decision to further increase gas prices in the near future. READ: IMF, Pakistan reach $3bn staff-level agreement Furthermore, the sources said that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) already sent a proposal to the government to raise gas tariff up to 50 per cent. The confidential sources have stated that the government posse...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed his satisfaction after Pakistan signed a staff-level agreement on a “standby arrangement” for nine months, helping to achieve economic stability in Pakistan, ARY News reported on Friday. READ: IMF, Pakistan reach $3bn staff-level agreement PM Shehbaz Sharif in a tweet stated that the signing of a $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement will help strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, enable Pakistan to achieve economic stability, and put the country on the path of sustainable economic growth. Alhamdulillah, I am pleased to announce that Pakistan has reached a Staff-Level Agreement with the IMF on a nine-month US$3 billion Stand-By Arrangement. This Arrangement will help strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, enable Pakistan to achieve economic stability, and… — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 30, 2023 This agreement will not only provide immediate financial relief but also pave the way for future economic stability ...

A tragic incident was reported from Faisalabad where four individuals from the same family were murdered on the occasion of Eid, ARY News reported on Friday. According to the details, this incident occurred in the Khurrianwala area of Faisalabad, where adversaries blinded by animosity unleashed a hail of bullets, claiming the lives of a father, daughter, and two others from the same household, while leaving three individuals, including two women, injured. READ: Three killed, minor injured over ‘personal enmity’ in Karachi According to the police, the two brothers, Imran and Aamir along with other family members, were returning home after celebrating Eid with their sister, when the armed assailants, who had already set up an ambush near Karianwala, opened fire on their car. The gunfire resulted in the instant death of three persons, including Aamir and a 6-year-old child, while four, including two women, were injured. The injured and the bodies were transported to the hospital, wh...

ISLAMABAD: International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday, announced that a “Stand-By Arrangement” between the global money lender with Pakistan has been reached successfully, ARY News reported. According to the details, a staff-level agreement has been concluded between Pakistan and the IMF, valuing $3 billion for 9 months. IMF Mission Chief Nathan Porter along with his team maintained continuous communication with Pakistani authorities and completed the agreement through virtual negotiation. Regarding the agreement, IMF Mission Chief Nathan Porter has said that the staff-level agreement with Pakistan has been made under a Stand-By Arrangement for 9 months. READ: Pakistan ‘hopeful’ of IMF deal as loan programme set to expire tomorrow The final approval of this agreement will be given by the IMF’s executive board, which is expected to take place in mid-July. After this approval, Pakistan can receive a loan of $3 billion. Nathan Porter further stated that Pakistan’s parliament playe...

LAHORE: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said a staff-level agreement for a crucial bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was “very close” and expected in the next 24 hours. Pakistan is racing against time to unlock at least $1.1 billion under the lender’s ninth review of a $6.5-billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreed in 2019. The programme expires on Friday. “We are very close to signing a staff-level agreement with the IMF,” minister Ishaq Dar told Reuters late on Thursday. “I think it should come some time tonight or maximum within 24 hours. We have finalised everything.” A source familiar with talks told Reuters that Pakistan and the global lender were also in discussions for the release of the full $2.5 billion pending under the IMF programme. The source said the staff-level agreement was to set to initially unlock around $1.1 billion and then be followed by a “standby agreement” which could release the rest after the programme finishes on Saturday. A repres...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday spoke to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Iran’s Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi on phone and felicitated the governments and the people of both countries on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Azha, ARY News reported. In a telephonic conversation, PM Shehbaz and President of Azerbaijan reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance bilateral relations in all fields. Appreciating the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during his visit to Baku earlier this month, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that important engagements at the various bilateral levels were being coordinated in the wake of decisions taken during the visit. The Prime Minister extended an invitation to the President to visit Pakistan which he most graciously accepted. Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz in his telephonic conversation with President of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi reciprocated the kind sentiments and expressed heartfelt felicitations to the...

Pakistan and the European Union have agreed to intensify cooperation in the fight against human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. The understanding to this effect was reached at the 13th Pakistan-EU Joint Commission meeting in Brussels, during which views were exchanged on all areas of bilateral cooperation. According to a statement, the joint commission was co-chaired by Secretary, Economic Affairs Division Dr Kazim Niaz and the EU’S Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific in the European External Action Service, Paola Pampaloni. The two sides emphasised the importance of comprehensive cooperation on migration management, including return and readmission under the framework of Pakistan-EU Joint Readmission Agreement. Both sides underscored the significance of Pakistan-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue which aims to open pathways for legal migration, besides curbing illegal migration. They also discussed the need to expand cooperation in the area of climate change...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned the despicable act of public burning of the Holy Quran outside a mosque in Sweden on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. “Such willful incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence cannot be justified under the pretext of freedom of expression and protest,” the foreign office said in a statement. “Under international law, States are duty bound to prohibit any advocacy of religious hatred, leading to incitement of violence,” the FO said in a statement. The statement further said that the recurrence of such Islamophobic incidents during the last few months in the West calls into serious question the legal framework which permits such hate-driven actions. “We reiterate that the right to freedom of expression and opinion does not provide a licence to stoke hatred and sabotage inter-faith harmony,” it added. Pakistan’s concerns about the incident are being conveyed to Sweden, the FO said and once again urged the international community a...

RAWALPINDI: The armed forces of Pakistan, CJCSC and services chiefs wished a very happy Eid to fellow Pakistanis. “Eidul Azha gives us a message of peace, unity, fraternity & selfless sacrifice for humanity. Let us remember and honour Shuhada of Pakistan on this day who sacrificed their lives for the motherland,” stated the ISPR, adding, “They will forever be etched in our hearts.” Pakistanis are celebrating Eidul Azha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, with zeal and fervour today (Thursday) amid prayers for an economic turnaround. The South Asian nation faces one of its worst crises as the government struggles to revive a stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for the well-being of Ummah and progress, prosperity and security of the country. Eid prayer congregations were held at mosques, Eidgahs and open places in all cities, towns and villages. Ulema, in their Eid sermons, are highlighting the significance of ...

ISLAMABAD: A magnitude 5.2 earthquake jolted the federal capital Islamabad and nearby areas on Thursday, ARY News reported on Thursday quoting National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC). According to the NSMC, the depth of the quake was 170 kilometres with its epicenter being deduced to be the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border. People came out of their houses in fear by reciting Kalma-e-Tayyaba. No loss is reported as per initial reports. Earlier, an earthquake of magnitude 6 earthquake jolted twin cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, adjoining areas, and several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Local residents out of fear and panic ran out of their homes to open space in the wee hours of Sunday morning after the temblor jolted the area. Read more:  Magnitude 6 earthquake jolts Rawalpindi, Islamabad, KP districts The earthquake tremors were also felt in Swat, Peshawar, Buttgram, Upper Dir, Swabi, Mardan, Kohat districts, and adjoining areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According ...

Pakistanis are celebrating Eidul Azha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, with zeal and fervour today (Thursday) amid prayers for an economic turnaround, ARY News reported. The South Asian nation faces one of its worst crises as the government struggles to revive a stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for the well-being of Ummah and progress, prosperity and security of the country. Eid prayer congregations were held at mosques, Eidgahs and open places in all cities, towns and villages. Ulema, in their Eid sermons, are highlighting the significance of the philosophy of great sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS). Later, people will offer sacrifice of animals to follow the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). Civic authorities have made special arrangements for disposal of offals and other solid waste during the Eid days. ‘Maximum relief’ On the occasion of Eid ul Adha, Prime Minister Shehbaz ...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has urged the people to take special care of flood-hit homeless people on the occasion of Eid ul Azha, ARY News reported.  In a message on the occasion of Eid ul Azha, 1444 Hijrah, the prime minister felicitated the Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of Hajj and Eid ul Azha, he prayed for the acceptance of all the religious rituals and sacrifices. He said that he was cognizant that Pakistan was facing price hike which was triggered by the external issues in the shape of inflation and recession. The prime minister said the incumbent government was utilizing all its resources to provide relief to the public. It had provided maximum relief to the salaried class, pensioners and labourers in the the current fiscal budget, PM Office Media Wing in a press release on Wednesday quoted the prime minister as saying. On the occasion, the prime minister prayed for the peace and prosperity of the Muslim world and for...

KARACHI: A gang of more than 12 armed individuals looted 84 sacrificial animals from a farm located near Dhabeji railway station, ARY News reported on Wednesday. The audacious criminals, who remained in the shed for approximately four hours, executed the heist, leaving the owners and employees shocked and helpless. Pervez Bari, the owner of the farm, immediately lodged a complaint with the Station House Officer (SHO) of Steel Town, seeking justice and prompt action. According to Pervez Bari, a total of 65 goats, 17 sheep, one cow, and one calf were being kept on the expansive 100-acre land farm. In a statement the victim stated that the the unsuspecting employees were present in the shed, carrying out their regular duties. Suddenly, a group of 14 to 15 armed culprits stormed into the premises, brandishing their weapons. The robbers quickly overpowered the employees, tied them up, and took control of the situation. Without any hesitation, the accused forcefully loaded all the anim...

KARACHI: In a successful tip-off operation, the Clifton division police apprehended two suspects involved in a series of house robberies in the Defense and Clifton area, ARY News reported on Wednesday. The suspects, identified as Ashraf alias Achho and Asif were allegedly leading a gang of thieves responsible for numerous thefts in the posh area of Karachi. Superintendent of Police (SP) Clifton, Ahmed Chaudhry, confirmed that the three Achho gang robbers are allegedly most wanted by the police. During the operation, the police recovered a substantial amount of jewelry and other valuable items worth millions. The police also seized the tools used in the thefts from the possession of the arrested individuals. READ: Property investor murdered in Karachi ‘target killing’ SP Clifton emphasized that the gang consisted of three members, and one of their accomplices, Khurshid, was already serving time in jail for his involvement in similar crimes. In a statement, the police official fur...

Economic expert Khurram Shehzad said that the federal government has prepared to further increase taxes on the salaried class for expanding the tax net amid the high inflation rate, ARY News reported on Tuesday. While talking to the ARY News programme ‘Bakhabar Savera’, economic expert Khurram Shehzad said that the government made the salaried class scapegoat once again for expanding the tax net. He criticised that the nationals have always borne the consequences of politicians’ mistakes and the financial burden was always imposed on the common people. “The burden of the political mistakes will be borne by the nation and the corporate sector due to vague financial decisions.” Shehzad admitted that the issue of the stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme is quite serious but the global institution has never pushed the government to do injustice to the poor nation and the corporate sector but to improve the financial matters. “The financial issues will not be resolv...

KARACHI: A property investor has been murdered in Baghdadi Lyari, Karachi in what police have termed as a target killing incident, ARY News reported. The police identified the victim as Irfan, who invest money in properties in different areas. He has several property disputes with people. Police officials said that one woman and a man who was passing by also sustained injuries when the unidentified men opened firing. According to the initial investigation, the reason behind his murder is the property disputes. The crime scene unit has reached the spot of the incident and further investigation is underway. Earlier, five people including two women were killed in separate firing incidents in Karachi in the last two hours. According to details, the shootings took place in Memon Goth, Surjani Town, Defence, and Municipal Town۔ Police officers said two people were killed when unidentified men opened fire at a car near a petrol pump in Gulshan-e-Surjani، The deceased was identified as...

Former chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja has issued a clarification statement regarding the military courts’ case being heard by the Supreme Court (SC), ARY News reported on Monday. Justice Retired Jawwad S Khawaja said that he has not adopted a new stance regarding the civilians’ trials in the military courts. He added that he had adopted the same stance in 2015 that civilians cannot face trials in the military courts. He said that those who declared his petition against the military courts a personal matter are seemingly unaware of his stance or misguiding the people by saying that he is supporting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman. He said that he and Hamid Khan knew each other for 46 years and he has not consulted him regarding the petition but it was filed in the public interest. It is noteworthy to mention here that ex-CJP Jawwad S Khawaja challenged the trial of civilians in military courts in the Supreme Court (SC), demanding to declare the move ‘unconstitutional’. ...

ISLAMABAD: Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved Rs 4.8 billion for the Ministry of Interior as Technical Supplementary Grants (TSG), ARY News reported. As per details, Minister for Finance Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet in Islamabad and approved several Technical Supplementary Grants (TSG). The grants include Rs 6.00 billion as TSG in favour of Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives for conduct of 7th Population & Housing Census, Rs 63.60 million as TSG in favour of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to meet its liabilities. The ECC approved Rs 222.037 million as TSG in favour of the Ministry of Aviation to meet its ERE expenditure, Rs 69.5 million as TSG in favour of the Ministry of Housing and Works for the Islamabad High Court building and Judges’ residences, Rs 60.0 million as TSG in favour of President’s Secretariat to meet its employee-related expenses. The grants ...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday summoned United States (US) Deputy Chief of Mission to Foreign Office (FO) and conveyed a demarche regarding the US-India Joint Statement issued after a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden, ARY News reported. “The US Deputy Chief of Mission was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) this evening and a demarche was made to him regarding the June 22 US-India Joint Statement,” the foreign office spokesperson said in a statement. The FO spokesperson noted that Pakistan’s concerns and disappointment at the unwarranted, one-sided and misleading references to it in the Joint Statement were conveyed to the US side. “It was stressed that the United States should refrain from issuing statements that may be construed as an encouragement of India’s baseless and politically motivated narrative against Pakistan,” it added. The statement concluded by saying that it was also emphasised that counter-terrorism co-operat...

LOWER DIR: Law enforcement agencies foiled a major terrorism bid in Lower Dir ahead of Eidul Azha and recovered five suicide vests, 19 remote-controlled bombs and hand grenades and three SMGs during the search operation, ARY News reported on Monday. Police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) conducted a successful search operation on the Malakand border. The LEAs recovered five suicide vests, 19 remote-controlled bombs and hand grenades and three SMGs from the suspects. Moreover, the officials also recovered 30 kg of high-explosive material, five walkie talkie, 16 SMG magazines and hundreds of rounds. During the search operation, the officials seized medicines, clothes, bags, chargers, mobile phones, food and other weaponry. DPO Ziauddin told the media that terrorists were planning to carry out a major terrorist activity on Eidul Azha which was foiled by the law enforcement agencies. A search operation is underway in the district to arrest the terroris...

KARACHI: An unidentified man stole a sacrificial cow within seconds in Karachi, the video of the incident is going viral on social media, ARY News reported. As per details, the stealing of sacrificial cow in Ancholi in Karachi’s Federal B Area, was caught on CCTV camera. The man can we seeing coming out of an expensive car in the street to steal the cow. The man can be seen taking away the sacrificial cow after untying it within 10 seconds. The thief can be seen walking towards the vehicle parked on the corner of the street. Read more: Man along with family caught stealing sacrificial goats in Karachi Earlier it was learnt that more than 60 sacrificial animals were stolen and snatched in Karachi ahead of Eidul Azha in a few days. In the North Karachi Sector 7-A area, 40 goats were stolen from an empty plot. In the Yaseenabad area, thieves broke the shutter of a shop and stole two goats, whereas, a cow was stolen from an apartment near Frere police station. from Latest Pakistan...

OKARA: A teenage girl was rapped and then murdered in the premises of Saddar, Okara, ARY News reported. As per details, the brother of the 17-year-old rape victim said that several boys of the village abducted her from the home. He claimed that the boys then raped her before they murdered her and hanged her dead body from a tree. Furthermore, police took the dead body in their custody and carrying out further investigation. Earlier, a TikToker girl was allegedly gang raped by three men in the Matiari district of Sindh.  Read more:  TikToker girl allegedly gang raped in Sindh As per details, a TikToker girl was called by some men to New Saeedabad tehsil of Sindh’s Matiari district where they gang raped her. The girl alleged that Waqas Mallah along with his friend raped her. Police lodged a case against the suspects, however, no arrest was made so far. The victim girl complained about police inaction to arrest the nominated persons. She said that she is receiving threats...

ISLAMABAD: Federal government has hiked the excise duty on the registration of vehicles over 2000 CC in the finance bill, ARY News reported. As per details, a six percent fixed tax has been imposed on the value of 2001CC and 2500CC vehicles whereas the tax for the filers on the 2001CC and 2005CC was Rs 0.25 million. The government has imposed an eight percent fixed tax on the registration of 2501CC and 3000CC vehicles, the tax for the filers was earlier Rs 0.2 million and 0.4 million for the non-filers. Furthermore, ten percent fixed taz has been imposed on the registration of 3000CC vehicles. Read more: National Assembly passes Finance Bill 2023-24 Earlier, the National Assembly passed the Finance Bill 2023-2024, giving the go-ahead to the budgetary proposals for the upcoming financial year. The bill with a total outlay of Rs14,480 billion was moved by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the house. The House passed the federal budget with the revised targets to appease the Internation...

NAROWAL: A lightning strike killed four persons and injured four others in a suburban village of Punjab’s Narowal city, ARY News reported on Sunday. Amid heavy rainfall in different parts of the country, lightning strike killed four persons including a five-year-old boy Saqlain Shah, 18-year-old Bilal and a 71-year-old elderly man in Shakargarh – Narowal today. نارووال: آسمانی بجلی گرنے سے 4 افراد جاں بحق #ARYNews pic.twitter.com/4QyrwDwL8F — ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) June 25, 2023 Four persons got injured in the lightning strike who have been shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. READ: Lightning kills two brothers in Sukkur Different parts of the country are receiving pre-monsoon rainfall including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Rainfall with thunderstorm was also predicted in Balochistan, South Punjab and Sindh from June 26 to 29. Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman warned of urban flooding in m...

LAHORE: With heatwave-like conditions across the country, the prolonged power cuts have added to the citizens’ misery as the overall energy shortfall has surpassed 6,500 megawatts, ARY News reported on Sunday. Power Division sources said the total production of electricity in the country was 20,402MW, whereas the demand had hit 27,000MW. Currently, 8,900MW of electricity was being generated by private sector plants and 6,200MW through hydropower. Similarly, 3,164MW was being produced by nuclear power plants. A total of 956MW was being generated by government thermal plants and 1245MW generated by wind projects, say sources. Read more:  RLNG cargoes arrive in Pakistan, easing gas crisis The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) yesterday predicted pre-monsoon rains with dust thunderstorm in central and upper parts of the country, saying heat wave conditions will subside from June 25. The Met Office said that moist currents from the Arabian Sea were penetrating the upper a...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has hinted at addressing the concerns put forward by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the federal budget for FY2023-24, ARY News reported, citing sources.  Pakistan’s efforts are underway to restore the stalled loan programme with the IMF and the breakthrough is likely within two days.  According to sources, Pakistan has decided to address the IMF’s concerns in the budget. Sources claimed that Pakistan has started changes upon the demands of the IMF and changes are being made in the budget speech. Pakistan has once again provided working to the IMF on $6 billion in external financing. Sources say the IMF’s demand for collecting more than Rs215 billion from the people has been accepted by the federal government. Read more: SBP lifts all restrictions on imports to fulfil IMF condition The IMF has asked Pakistan to abolish subsidies for the textile sector and increase electricity tariffs, the sources said.  According to sources, the IMF ha...

NAWABSHAH: At least six persons were killed and over 60 others were injured in a road accident in Sindh’s province of Shaheed Benazirabad in the wee hours of Sunday night. According to police, the incident occurred near Balochpur Stop in Nawabshah, when two passenger buses collided, leaving six persons dead on the spot and over 60 injured including children and kids. The injured have been shifted to the People’s Medical University Hospital. Police further say that one bus was travelling from Karachi to Punjab whereas the other was going to Punjab from Karachi. Read more: 10 killed in bus accident on M-2 motorway Last week, at least 13 people, including five women, were killed and 31 others injured when a bus veered off the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway and overturned near Kallar Kahar. The police, in a statement said, driver lost control over the steering apparently due to a ‘brake failure’.  It was around 3.30pm when the Jhang-bound bus (BBA452) was passing through Kallar Kahar...

KARACHI: The system of cheque-clearance institution, the National Institutional Facilitation Technologies (NIFT) remains non-functional as cyber attackers managed to breach its security and force the banking system to resort to a manual system despite the prevalence of digital technology. Even after seven days since the cyberattack occurred last week, NIFT is still in the process of fully restoring its normal operations. Cheques are being cleared manually nationwide, and digital payment services remain halted. Last Friday (June 16), the attack forced the national institution to shut down both its data centres in Islamabad and Karachi. Read more: SBP lifts all restrictions on imports to fulfil IMF condition The private banks said their cheque-clearance operation is badly affected as they are going for manual clearance and due to staff shortage, it is taking more time for clearance of cheques, which were earlier being cleared in seconds through NIFT. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP...

SIALKOT: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was the mastermind of May 9 violence, ARY News reported. As per details, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Khawaja Asif said that they could not serve the people as they should have.  He lambasted the PTI chief, saying that he has challenged the state for his power thirst and his entire family is in London. The PTI chief sisters were present when the May 9 violence was taking place and he was taking updates on the incidents, Khawaja Asif added. The defence minister further said that the PTI chief was behind the May 9 violence but he is not standing behind his workers. The PTI chief never talked to politicians about solving the country’s problems.  The PTI chief is paying the price for his wrong decisions and if he did not dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies, it would have been a political nightmare for us, he added.  Furthermore, he maintained ...

ISLAMABAD: A district and session court in the federal capital on Saturday deferred the indictment of former information minister Fawad Chaudhry in the sedition case after he skipped today’s proceedings, ARY News reported. Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra resumed hearing to frame charges against the former PTI leader. During the hearing, Fawad’s lawyer informed that his client could not appear before the court due to illness and sought an exemption from hearing today. At which, the judge remarked whether the former minister had been hit by heatstroke. Later, the judge accepted the exemption plea and ordered Mr Chaudhry to appear before the court on July 7 for indictment. It is pertinent to mention here that the Islamabad police arrested former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry from his residence earlier inn January for ‘threatening’ Election Commission of Pakistan members. A case against Chaudhary was registered at the Kohsar police station in Islamabad on the complaint...

MULTAN: Prime Minister’s Advisor on Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan and PPP’s senior leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Friday that the party would decide whether to contest the next general polls in alliance with the PDM or separately. Talking to newsmen at the residence of a trader Sheikh Akram Hanif, Kaira said that the Assemblies would complete their term in August 2023 and elections would be held within 60 or 90 days adding that everything would be done in accordance with the constitution. To a question on Karachi Mayor elections and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) protest, the PPP leader said that Jamat Islami has received a clear response from all, adding that the election process has been completed. He said that no party had a clear majority in Karachi Mayor elections but added that PPP emerged as the single largest party, reported the state news agency. Kaira said that they (JI) cannot get what they desire by using pressure tactics. So many days have passed since the mayor elections but...

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has lifted all restrictions on imports to fulfil one more condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), ARY News reported on Friday. The central bank issued a circular to end all restrictions on imports in order to fulfil another IMF condition. The federal government granted permission to banks for providing remittances to release more than 6,000 containers. The SBP stated in the circular that remittances will be provided for all imports after the enforcement of the latest order. The authorised dealers have been given instructions to provide remittances following the recommendations of the stakeholders, said the central bank. Yesterday, it was learnt that Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are facing challenges in reviving a loan program, leading to conflicts between the IMF and the Ministry of Finance. READ: In last-ditch effort, PM Shehbaz Sharif meets IMF MD in Paris Sources revealed that the plan to bridge the ...

ISLAMABAD: Kohsar police station on Friday booked Umme Hasaan, the wife of Lala Masjid’s Abdul Aziz on treason and terror charges for inviting banned TTP for attacks in Islamabad, ARY News reported. According to FIR, Umme Hasaan incited proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to launch attacks in Islamabad and termed the security institution the ‘enemy’ of Islam. The wife of Maulana Abdul Aziz in her speech tried to incite civil war against Counter-Terrorism Department and other institutions, the FIR stated. The female students of Jamia Hafsa blocked several roads, including Jinnah Avenue and the bridge near Kulsoom Plaza, to protest against the attempted arrest of Maulana Abdul Aziz. Read more: Supreme Court wraps up suo motu case on Lal Masjid operation Umme Hasaan said the Maulana fired several rounds at the CTD team and there was crossfire. He was pinned down by the CTD officials after his AK-47 ran out of bullets. However, he was able to break free and with the help of t...

KARACHI: Three senior officers of Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) have been arrested on charges of extortion, while one officer remains at large, ARY News reported on Friday.  According to the police officials, the four suspects have allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 4 million from a builder, after which three out of four senior SBCA officers have been arrested, while one officer remains at large. The police stated that the case has been registered under ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act) Section 7 and instances of extortion against the suspects at the Preedy Police Station, meanwhile the investigations have been initiated. Last year, the Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered to register FIRs against the builder, plot owner and the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) officials in a case related to illegal constructions in Karachi’s North Nazimabad Block C. At the outset of the hearing, the bench showed resentment over desealing the sealed plot in North Nazimabad Block C. Justice Z...

Over two thousand Pakistanis who were attempting to move to Italy illegally have been detained in Libyan jails, ARY News reported  Speaking to ARY News, Ihsan Ullah whose brother is arrested in a Libyan jail, said huge number of Pakistani nationals have tried to move to Italy illegally recently. He said that his brother Aman Ullah has been arrested for more than a month. The agent named Usman who belongs to Hafizabad has also fled Pakistan. Last week, an Italy-bound fishing trawler reportedly carrying at least 800 people — including hundreds of Pakistanis — capsized off Greece. Only 104 people are known to have survived and the chance of finding more survivors was seen as virtually nil. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has assured that the government would take strict action against Greece boat tragedy and an investigation report would be submitted within a week by duly fixing responsibility on those involved in negligence. In response to the Greek ship accident, a committee ...

SWAT: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed’s brother has been arrested by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police, ARY News reported. As per details, the PTI leader’s brother Kaleem Saeed was arrested by the KP police. The police said that several cases were registered against him. Police have taken Kaleem Saeed to an unknown location. Sources said that he was booked in case on May 10 in Mingora police station. Earlier, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police raided Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed’s house in Swat but the PTI leader was not present at his home during the raid, according to police. Judicial magistrate Malakand issued a bailable arrest warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former federal minister Murad Saeed. The case against Murad Saeed was registered at Levies police station Durgai on April 28. The judicial magistrate civil 2 released a bailable arrest warrant for Saeed under section 204. May 9 events Violent clashes broke out...

ISLAMABAD: Ex-Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Jam Kamal Khan along with other politicians met Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz on Thursday, ARY News reported. Jam Kamal Khan, MNA Malik Sohail and former MPA Ikhtiar Wali from Balochistan held a meeting with PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz in which they discussed matters related to party organisation and future political strategy. Maryam said Nawaz Sharif wants prosperity and development in Balochistan besides making the citizens partners in the province’s development. She added that the PML-N government aims concrete steps to end the sense of deprivation of the Balochistan people. READ: Maryam Nawaz lauds PML-N leaders, workers for ‘standing by party’ The PML-N leader said that PM Shehbaz Sharif took several steps for Balochistan people including the establishment of Daanish schools and vocational training centres. The premier announced Rs1,150 billion development budget. She said that the gover...

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has approved the Maternity and Paternity Leave Bill, 2023 to enact it as a law, extending leaves for working parents, ARY News reported on Wednesday. Arif Alvi gave his assent to the bill under Article 75 of the Pakistani constitution, under which bills that are sent to the president are formally enacted as laws after his approval. صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی نے زچگی اور پدریت کی چھٹی کے بل، 2023ء کی توثیق کر دی۔ pic.twitter.com/HMDeY2CujV — The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) June 20, 2023 “President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday gave his assent to the Maternity and Paternity Leave Bill, 2023,” a statement from the President House said. The bill, which was passed by the country’s parliament last month, had been in the works for several years after being initially moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Quratulain Marri in 2018. Read More: NA body approves maternity, paternity leave bill Under the Bill, the women employees of the public...

KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan, on Wednesday, issued revised regulations for electronic money institutions (EMIs) for enhancing outreach and scope of the innovative fintech-enabled payment companies, ARY News reported.  As per details, the updated regulations now allow EMIs to offer their customers, including minors and freelancers, increased monthly wallet limits along with offering new payment services such as Payments Aggregation, Bill/Invoice Aggregation, Payment Initiation, Account Information, Escrow Services for domestic e-commerce transactions, Services via APIs to financial institutions (FIs), Fintechs and Third-Party Service Provider (TPSPs) and Inward cross border remittances to their customers, said a statement issued here. There has been increasing interest by local and foreign fintech companies to work as an EMI in Pakistan since the issuance of earlier EMI Regulations in 2019 and the central bank has given approval to four EMIs to launch commercial operation to d...

ISLAMABAD: The countrymen have advised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman to hold negotiations with the incumbent government instead of the Pakistan Army۔ According to a public survey, the stance of the former prime minister to hold talks with the Army is a ‘tactic’ to avoid negotiations, and dragging the armed forces into politics is completely wrong۔ According to public opinion, the PTI chairman is advised to negotiate with the government and politicians as his demand for talks with the military is not right even as per the constitution of Pakistan.  Read more: PTI chief summoned in Advocate Abdul Razzaq Shar murder case “PTI chairman should avoid dragging Pakitan Army into politics and should talk to the politicians if he wants negotiations.”  Public survey participants further said solutions to problems and issues always come through talks. It may be noted that the former prime minister and PTI chief had been showing his consent to hold negotiations with the C...

Islamabad police on Wednesday arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan in May 9 riots case, ARY News reported. According to police, Ghulam Sarwar Khan his son Mansoor Hayyat and nephew, Ammar Siddiqui were taken into custody from his friend’s house in Islamabad’s F-8 Sector. The PTI leader his son and nephew were wanted to police in May 9 riots case and attack over Judicial Complex, the police said and added cases against the accused are registered in Islamabad, Taxila and Rawalpindi. It may be noted that the police had been raiding for the arrest of Ghulam Sarwar Khan and had sealed his petrol pump too. Read more: May 9 Riots: Parliament passes resolution of condemnation May 9 riots Violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers are agitated due to...

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has assured that the government would take strict action against Greece boat tragedy and an investigation report would be submitted within a week by duly fixing responsibility on those involved in negligence. In response to the Greek ship accident, a committee had been constituted under strict directives of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif commenced its investigation, he said while talking to a private news channel. “The investigation committee will present its report in a week and further action will be taken by the federal government”, Rana Sanaullah added. He said the committee will ascertain facts of the Greece boat tragedy besides identifying loopholes and lapses in the legal mechanism in Pakistan that exposed precious human lives to the vagaries of human trafficking in this particular case and similar incidents in the past. The committee will also analyze similar past incidents and actions will be taken according to the legal framewor...

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Government on Tuesday approved Rs462.426 billion expenditure for four months (July 1 to October 31, 2023) and announced 35 percent adhoc relief allowance for its employees BS 1 to 16 and 30 percent from BS 17 and above and 17.5percent in pension of all pensioners. Presenting the salient features of authorized expenditure for the above four months, Adviser to the chief minister for finance and energy, Himayat Ullah Mayar here said that Rs350.041 billion was fixed as total authorized current expenditure, Rs309.498 bln for settled current expenditure, Rs40.543 bln for newly merged areas (NMA) current expenditures for the said four months, the state news agency reported. On the development side, he said the authorized development expenditure for July 1 to October 31, 2023, is Rs112.385 billion, the settled development expenditure is Rs92.122 bln and NMA’s Rs20.263 bln for the said months. As many Rs8.667 bln expenditure for the Annual Developm...