Daily News Pakistan

Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal says IMF agreement will help to stabilize rupee and controlling inflation. In a statement on Friday, he said agreement with IMF is good news for the nation. He said this deal will help us to face economic challenges of the country. Ahsan Iqbal said Prime Minister's diplomacy played an important role to reach staff-level agreement with IMF. The Minister said we need to make efforts to free our economy for foreign aid. He said exports, digital Pakistan, water and food security, affordable energy and equitable and sustainable development are national goals of the country. Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan has the potential to become a trillion dollar economy by 2035. He said our youth are more powerful than that of atomic power. He said this agreement will also help to bring foreign direct investment.

At least 100 people have died over the past two weeks in Mexico due to heat-related causes as temperatures climbed close to 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in parts of the country, the health ministry said on Thursday. According to international media reports, a three-week-long heat wave this month strained the energy grid with record demand, forced authorities to suspend classes in some areas and left many Mexicans sweltering. Over two-thirds of the deaths came the week of June 18-24, with the remainder the previous week, the ministry said in a report on extreme temperatures. During the same period last year just one heat-related fatality was registered. Nearly all the deaths were attributed to heat stroke, with a handful from dehydration. Around 64% of the deaths occurred in northern state of Nuevo Leon. Most of the rest were in neighboring Tamaulipas and Veracruz on the Gulf coast. In recent days, temperatures have fallen as the rainy season has brought much-needed precipi...

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam continues to hold the first position in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings with 886 points followed by Rassie van der Dusen at the second spot with 777 points. South African batter Rassie van der Dussen stands second with 777 points while Pakistani batsmen – Fakhar Zaman and Imamul Haq maintain their third and fourth positions, respectively. India’s batsman Shubman Gul is in fifth position, Australia’s David Warner is in sixth while Ireland’s Harry Tector has climbed up two steps to reach seventh position. India’s Virat Kohli has descended from seventh to eighth position and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock has also dropped from eighth to ninth position. India’s Rohit Sharma has managed to remain in 10th position in the Men’s ODI Batting Rankings. There was no change in the ranking of the top 10 bowlers. Josh Hazlewood of Australia is at first spot, Mohammad Siraj of India on second while Mitchell Starc of Australia is on third spot. Shaheen Shah Afridi...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says staff-level agreement of three billion US dollars with IMF will enable Pakistan to achieve economic stability. In a tweet on Friday, he said this agreement will help to strengthen Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves and put the country on the path of sustainable economic growth. The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts and hard work of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his team at the Ministry of Finance for achieving this outcome. He also thanked Managing Director IMF Kristalina Georgieva and her team at the IMF for their cooperation and collaboration, especially during the course of last week. 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 The International Monet...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan have reached to nine-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) of around US$3 billion, according to press statement issued by the fund. “I am pleased to announce that the IMF team has reached a staff-level agreement with the Pakistani authorities on a nine-month Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) in the amount of SDR2,250 million (about $3 billion or 111 percent of Pakistan’s IMF quota)”, said Nathan Porter, who was leading IMF staff team in meetings with Pakistan. The staff-level agreement is subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, with its consideration expected by mid-July, the statement added. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar also shared the agreement on his twitter on Friday. The new SBA will support the authorities’ immediate efforts to stabilize the economy from recent external shocks, preserve macroeconomic stability and provide a framework for financing from multilateral and bilateral partn...

Former West Indies opener Chris Gayle on Thursday predicted the International Cricket Council (ICC ) World Cup 2023 semi-finalists. The Universe Boss believes that Pakistan, India, England and New Zealand will make it to the semi-final of the mega event. The 43-year-old, during an interview, also said that since the India-Pakistan match is watched by the entire world due the rivalry between the two countries, players from both teams should demand a lot more money from the ICC. "Whenever those teams [India and Pakistan] play, especially in a World Cup, the revenues they generate are humongous. One game can take care of the entire ICC event,” Gayle told. “Pakistan and India players should demand a lot of money for those games because those games are high-paid games TV-wise. I don't control the board or the ICC. If I was in their position I would want a lot more." It must be noted that the most anticipated match of the World Cup will be played between India and Pakist...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir celebrated Eid-ul-Azha with soldiers in Parachinar on Thursday. They offered Eid prayer with officers and Jawans of the army. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister lauded the high morale, readiness and professional standards of the army. He said that he is celebrating Eid with soldiers to pay tribute to the efforts and passion of our officers and Jawans who guard the borders of the motherland with courage and bravery. The Prime Minister said officers and Jawans of the Pakistan Armed Forces perform the great duty of defense and security of the motherland by sacrificing their personal comfort. He paid tribute to the services of the officers and Jawans of the Army, Air Force and Navy who are performing the sacred duty of protecting the motherland with determination while facing immense difficulties. The Prime Minister reiterated his resolve that miscreants, terrorists and their abettors will f...

Pakistan has strongly condemned the despicable act of public burning of the Holy Quran outside a mosque in Sweden on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, such wilful incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence cannot be justified under pretext of freedom of expression and protest. The Spokesperson said under international law, States are duty bound to prohibit any advocacy of religious hatred, leading to incitement of violence. 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. She reiterated that the right to freedom of expression and opinion does not provide a licence to stoke hatred and sabotage inter-faith harmony. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan's concerns about the incident are being conveyed to Sweden. She urged both the international community and the national governments to...

Unrest continued in France for a second day as security forces deployed in their thousands to quell protests over the killing of a 17-year-old by police, which French President Emmanuel Macron described as “inexcusable” while also pleading for calm as justice took its course. According to international media reports, anger over the killing spawned protests in multiple towns around Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announcing that 150 arrests had been made across the country and that town halls, schools and police stations were set on fire or attacked. “A night of unbearable violence against symbols of the Republic,” Darmanin wrote in a tweet on Thursday. “Shame on those who did not call for calm,” he added. Approximately 2,000 riot police were called up in suburbs around Paris on Wednesday night following the fatal, point-blank range shooting on Tuesday morning of the teenager during a traffic check in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. ...

Eid ul Adha is being celebrated across the country, and in some other parts of the world, today with religious fervour to commemorate the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ismail. 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). Civic authorities have made special arrangements for disposal of offals and other solid waste during the Eid days. On the occasion of Eid ul Adha, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the people to take special care and remember those who became homeless due to last year’s floods. The PM, in a statement, said that he was cognisant that Pakistan was facing rising inflation triggered by “external issues in the s...

State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik announced on Wednesday that the Bonded Bulk Storage Policy 2023, recently approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet, will end the hoarding of petroleum products, reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves and eliminate the fear of oil dry out in Pakistan. In a press conference, he said that this policy will stop the hoarding of oil because it will ensure an ample supply of fuel in the country, and “millions of tons of oil will be available in Pakistan at all times”. In case of a delay in receipt of the foreign cargo by oil marketing companies (OMCs), the government will instruct them to arrange fuel from local sources under this policy, he stated. He also stated that this policy will allow traders to choose whether they want to perform the trade transaction in rupees or dollars. The pressure on rupee and foreign exchange will fall, he said. The Bonded Bulk Storage Policy ends the fear of petroleum dry out al...

Freedom of expression is shrinking in India as the last remaining Chinese reporter has left New Delhi after authorities denied visa extension earlier this month. According to media reports, the reporter was associated with Chinese official News agency, Xinhua. The expulsion marks the first instance in the history that at the moment no Chinese journalist is present in India after 1980. This move also reflects that there is no room for journalists in Modi’s India which is called as the largest democracy and journalists are bing forced to leave India for having opinion against the government. It is also the worst example to suppress the freedom of expression and voice of journalists. The Indian authorities are taking such steps only to cover up their worst ever persecution of minorities. The world is expressing its serious concerns over worst human rights violations of monitories by the Indian authorities.

Security Forces have killed three terrorists in an Intelligence Based Operation in Inayat Qilla, Bajaur District. According to the ISPR, terrorist commander Shafi was also killed in the operation. During the conduct of operation, intense fire exchange took place between security forces and terrorists. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists, who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces as well as killing of innocent citizens. Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area. Locals of the area appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to eliminate the menace of terrorism.

The Lahore police have arrested the suspect allegedly involved in firing at the house of former Punjab governor and senior lawyer, Sardar Latif Khosa. According to media report, Punjab Police DIG Investigation Kamran Adil said the suspect, involved in the attack on the senior politician's home in Lahore, is already wanted in 14 cases of firing. "The suspect's next target was Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan," the police official revealed, speaking about the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader. He added that the suspect Mohsin, alias Lamba, is a resident of Samanabad, an area in Lahore's Millat Park. The suspect told the police that he was given money by Zubair Khan Niazi, after which he opened fire at Khosa's house. "The suspect was used to create tension in the ties between the lawyers and the government," DIG investigation said. Earlier this month, the politician's driver sustained injuries after a gun attack was launched by unidentified gun...

Federal Minister and PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif says elections will be held on stipulated time. Talking to media in Lahore on Wednesday, he said if the mastermind of May 9 and 10 gets any concession, the nation will not tolerate it because this is not an attack on an institution but on the state and security of Pakistan. Javed Latif added that those who have brought petitions of not being punished under the Army Act should be asked when the Army Act was made. He said that a new era will begin when Nawaz Sharif becomes the Prime Minister for the fourth time. Javed Latif said that the mastermind of May 9 must be punished in any case,.

The federal government directed to conduct of a special audit of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee, focused on Najam Sethi’s tenure. The government has written a letter to the auditor general of Pakistan asking for an audit of all board matters from December 22, 2022 to June 30, 2023 to be initiated without delay. This would mean an audit of the affairs of the management committee as well as an audit of Pakistan Super League season 8’s affairs as well. Audit officials will undertake a comprehensive review of the perks and privileges to all members of the committee and the chairman of the board. The management committee took charge of the PCB as the Pakistan Democratic Movement came to power and sought to reverse changes brought by Imran Khan’s government. As Ramiz Raja was shown the door as PCB chairman, the committee took over the board’s affairs, effectively under control of Najam Sethi. However, the status of he committee was said to be temporary.

Nine members of a family were gunned down in Malakand when armed men entered a house and opened fire. Levies officials claim the incident was a result of a domestic dispute. The victims include four women, three men and children. Reportedly, gunmen barged into a house in the Bagardara area on the outskirts of Malakand in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at night and started firing indiscriminately. As a result, four women, three men and children were killed. A 12-year-old child miraculously remained safe. According to the assistant commissioner, three people have been arrested over the incident. He claimed that the victim family’s son-in-law was involved in the incident, who killed his own wife among nine people. The bodies were transferred to Batkhela DHQ Hospital, and after fulfilling legal formalities, handed over to the family. A search operation is underway in the area to arrest the remaining culprits. Meanwhile, residents of Malakand protested against the firing incident by placing th...

The headlines on climate change rarely bring positivity, and yet, the recent global warming predictions unveiled by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in mid-May marked a poignant moment for human civilization. According to the WMO, there is a likelihood of the world experiencing an increase of over 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) in the next five years compared to average pre-industrial levels. This would be the first time such a threshold has been surpassed. While the United Nations' weather body's forecasts of extreme weather events capture spikes in temperatures, they also serve as ominous signs of the immense challenge in achieving the goal of limiting the average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, these warning signs have been present for some time and are intensifying. The smell of smoke from barbecues is no longer the only indication of summer's arrival. Devastating wildfires, like those that recently ravaged Canad...

Chanting Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik, nearly three million faithful are in Maidan-e- Arafat to perform the Rukn-e-Azam of Hajj, Waqoof-e-Arafat – performed from Zuhar to sunset on the 9th of Zil-Hajj. Delivering Hajj sermon at Masjid-e-Nimra at Maidan-e-Arafat, Sheikh Dr. Yusuf bin Muhammad bin Saeed called for unity among the Muslim Ummah. He said respecting and valuing humanity is compulsory for all the Msulims. He said respecting and valuing humanity is compulsory for all Muslims. “All praises are for Allah, the One and Only, who reformed humanity by sending the Prophet Muhammad to earth,” the speaker began, invoking the name of the Almighty. “Praise be to Him, for there is no god but Him.” Addressing the assembly, the sermon stressed the significance of adopting piety and fearing Allah. It urged Muslims to strive for self-improvement, recognizing that success lies in aligning one’s actions with the teachings of Islam. Sheikh Yusuf emphasized that exceeding the boundaries set...

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a request to stay the military trial of civilians arrested for May 9 vandalism, after Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan provided assurances to the court. The six-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial was hearing petitions against military courts. In addition to the CJP, the bench comprises of Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mazahar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik. The PTI chairman’s counsel Uzair Bhandari on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the ISPR director general said on Monday that trials in military courts are under way. “The press conference contradicts the attorney general for Pakistan’s statement,” he added. Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, however, insisted that he stood by his statement, adding no trial against any civilian has been started in the military courts. “We trust you,” Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial. B...

Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims crowded Saudi Arabia’s Mount Arafat on Tuesday, the climax of a potentially record-breaking Hajj pilgrimage. As dawn broke, groups of worshippers recited Quran verses on the rocky rise, where the Prophet Mohammed (Pece Be Upon Him) is believed to have given his final sermon. فيديو | استمرار تفويج ضيوف الرحمن إلى #مشعر_عرفات #بسلام_آمنين | #يوم_عرفة #يوم_التروية | #الإخبارية pic.twitter.com/BPxSYthk67 — قناة الإخبارية (@alekhbariyatv) June 27, 2023 The ritual is the high point of the annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, that officials say could be the biggest on record after three years of COVID restrictions. More than 2.5 million pilgrims were expected to join the Hajj, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. Temperatures soared to 46 degrees celsius (113 Fahrenheit) on Monday as robed worshippers shielded by umbrellas journeyed from Mecca to Mina, where they slept in a giant tented city before the rites at ...

After spending countless days and nights in anticipation, the 50-over World Cup to be hosted by India is just over three months away. And to whet cricket lovers’ appetites, the ICC on Tuesday finally released the schedule and venues where the extravaganza will take place from. Pakistan and India will lock horns on October 15 – which also happens to be Babar Azam’s birthday – at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The cricket body has announced the schedule of the ODI World Cup 2023 schedule today which takes place in India starting this October. The ODI World Cup 2023 will be played from October 5 to November 19. The fixtures list in India has been released along with the 10 venues for the mega event that will span over 46 days. The World Cup kicks off with a repeat of the 2019 Final as England take on New Zealand. The league matches will be played in 10 different cities across India, and two more cities are likely to host the warm-up games before the main event. Ahmedabad wil...

six-member bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday resumed hearing pleas against trials of civilians in the military courts. The bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, comprises of Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayisha Malik. During today’s proceedings, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan told the apex court that no civilian was being tried in military courts at the moment. The AGP reply came after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial had on Monday asked the AGP to “reassure” him that no such trial would occur as long as the case was being heard in the court. The AGP said that no trial of civilians was currently underway. Subsequently, PTI chief Imran Khan’s lawyer Uzair Bhandari in his arguments said that a civilian could not be court-martialled. Referring to yesterday’s press conference by the military, he said that ISPR Director General spokesperson Maj Gen Ahm...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to take preventive measures in the face of heavy rains in the country. Taking notice of the sufferings of people due to accumulation of water caused by heavy rains in Lahore, he directed the administration to take immediate steps for drainage of rain water in the city. The Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to fully activate rescue teams and other concerned departments and to monitor the situation constantly. He further instructed to ensure continuity of traffic movement and identification of alternate routes. The Prime Minister directed the provincial and district administrations to collaborate in rescue and relief operations and provide safety to the people. Heavy rains and thunderstorms have affected the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, leading to issues in their sewerage systems. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had forecast rainfall of 58mm in the two cities. Mea...

Acting President Sadiq Sanjrani — who has assumed the role as President Arif Alvi went on Haj — approved the amended Finance Bill 2023-24 on Monday. A day ago, the said bill for the new fiscal year sailed through the National Assembly after the government had made several changes, including fiscal tightening measures, dictated by the Internat­ional Monetary Fund (IMF) in a last-ditch effort to secure critical funding. The revised budget — now amounting to Rs14.4b trillion — aims for an additional Rs215 billion in tax revenue alongside a cutback of Rs85bn in public spending for the upcoming fiscal year. However, this does not affect the federal development budget or the salaries and pensions of government personnel. The said bill was passed during a National Assembly session that lacked quorum, with only 70 lawmakers on the treasury benches and two on the opposition benches. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, his father and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, and Leader of th...

A six-member bench of the Supreme Court started hearing the petitions against the trial of civilians in military courts after a larger bench was dismissed earlier in the day. The bench, headed by the chief justice of Pakistan, now comprises Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Ayesha Malik. The CJP told the lawyer of the PTI chairman, Hamid Khan, that instead of arguments, tactics are being employed here. “You have also made various pleas in the application,” he added. Another petitioner’s counsel Salman Akram Raja said his client’s case was also before the military courts, adding the trial was fixed under Article 175 only, which an appointed judge can do. When the FPLE case was decided, the principle of separation of powers was not clear. To this, Justice Malik asked how that case was related. “The FPLE case was related to retired army officers,” she remarked. Justice Akhtar asked the lawyer if he was ...

After getting bail from Anti corruption court (ATC), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials on Monday arrested former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. According to the details, the FIA officials have arrested Pervaiz Elahi for investigating in money laundering case. It is worth mentioning here that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi got bail from the ATC on Saturday. However, an unforeseen hurdle prevented the bail petitioner from reaching the designated camp office to complete the necessary release procedures, ultimately hindering his release. Pervez Elahi was presented before the district court by FIA ​​authorities in district Kachehri. The FIA, highlighting the significance of the ongoing investigation, requested the court to grant physical remand to further probe into the alleged money laundering case. In a significant development, the district Kachehri court in Lahore has kept the decision reserved regarding the physical remand of Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. The court...

Sweden must stop protests by supporters of outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Stockholm to get a green light on its Nato membership bid, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Nato’s Secretary-General in a phone call. According to international media reports, Erdogan told Stoltenberg that Turkiye had a constructive attitude, but Sweden’s change of terrorism laws to meet demands from Ankara was “meaningless” while PKK supporters hold protests in the country, the Turkish presidency said in a statement. “Turkey maintains its constructive stance regarding Sweden’s membership but that legislative amendments would be meaningless so long as PKK/PYD/YPG supporters organise demonstrations freely in this country,” according to a readout of the phone call between Erdogan and Stoltenberg. Erdogan also stressed during the call, “the injustices faced within the context of the F-35s and the attempts to associate Turkiye’s requests about the F-16s with Sweden’s membership would harm Nato a...

Have you ever felt down, and your first instinct was to listen to your favourite music to cheer yourself up? While listening to music alone can improve your mood, singing songs with others improves your overall health. According to a study named "Sing With Us", mentioned in an international newspaper, singing as part of a choir or group positively impacts the health of human beings. The study features 193 participants, which includes cancer patients, carers, and oncologists, but their main focus as part of the study is to come together and sing for the joy and excitement that it brings. The study was carried out from 2016 until 2018, during which the choir gathered in a London church on Wednesdays to sing together, and after every rehearsal, some participants would provide saliva samples to researchers examining whether singing affected their health and mood, which it did, but in a positive way. The "Sing With Us" study is one of many that demonstrate the adva...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed senior lawyer Farogh Naseem as his lawyer in the military courts case being heard by the Supreme Court. PM Shehbaz Sharif has appointed senior lawyer and former law minister Farogh Naseem as his lawyer in the case. Irfan Qadir will represent Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Shah Khawar will represent Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in the case. A seven-member bench — comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi, is hearing a set of petitions against military trials after a nine-member bench was dissolved as Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Tariq Masood recused themselves from the hearing. We desire to get the results by Tuesday, CJP was quoted as saying while hearing the case. The apex court also directed to avoid harassing lawyers and journalists. “Don’t want to pass judicial order...

Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Sunday urged the House not to support the Chairman Senate Salaries, Allowance and Privileges Bill passed by the Senate recently as the country could not afford such incentives in the prevailing economic situation. Speaking in the National Assembly after passage of federal budget for fiscal year 2023-24, the minister said, he has great respect for senators and the Senate as he had started his political career from the Senate. However, the people and business community are in immense difficulties due to the prevailing financial crisis, he said. He said the salary of MNA stood at Rs 168,000 per month which was lower than a federal secretary. He said such privilege in the current financial circumstance could not be afforded. Lauding the Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his entire finance teams, he said that a balanced budget was presented despite of critical situation. He expressed the hope that a new era of economic stability woul...

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said amazingly; those who ruined the national economy are crying over signs of restoration of agreement signed by them with International Monetary Fund. In a statement, the Minister said that arsonists, conspirators and enemies of the country have started crying again as they heard the news that the agreement with the IMF is being restored. Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the previous regime signed the IMF agreement on strict terms, violated it and then suspended the agreement, then hatched conspiracies against the country and the agreement. She said the foreign agents who laid economic mines and nearly bankrupted the country are today demanding the resignation of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar who has stabilized the economy. She said that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his tenure had stabilized the country's economy with the completion of the IMF program.

An increase in hair loss may result from a health-related issue, such as alopecia, a nutrient deficiency, pregnancy, or medication use. Treatment will depend on the cause, but avoiding heat treatment and other lifestyle tips may help manage it. While male and female pattern baldness is a primary cause of hair loss, there is a range of other reasons. In this article, we look at the leading causes of hair loss, the treatment available, and home care tips for preventing further loss. Androgenetic alopecia Androgenetic alopecia is another term for male or female pattern baldness. It is a very common cause of hair loss. Both male and female pattern baldness is genetic. Males tend to lose hair from the temples and crown of the head. In females, hair usually becomes thinner all over the head. Androgenetic alopecia is more likely to happen as a person ages but can start at any point after puberty. Many females who experience androgenetic alopecia develop it after going through the meno...

The National Assembly passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2023 on Sunday, which reduces the disqualification term of national and provincial assembly lawmakers under Article 62(1)(f) from lifetime to five years. The bill had already been passed by the Senate on June 16. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar presented the bill in the supplementary agenda for approval, wherein the Election (Amendments) Bill 2023 was passed unanimously by the National Assembly. The bill empowers the ECP to unilaterally announce a date for the general elections – a power that is currently vested in the president of Pakistan. The bill empowers the ECP to make modifications to the election program as necessary. It also grants the electoral body the flexibility to announce a new election schedule or a new election date if circumstances require such modifications. The bill also seeks to streamline the electoral process, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of conducting elections. With President Arif Alv...

The budget for the new fiscal year sailed through the National Assembly (NA) on Sunday, a day after the government made several changes, including fiscal tightening measures, dictated by the Internat­ional Monetary Fund (IMF) in a last-ditch effort to secure critical funding. The budget was passed during a session that lacked quorum, with only 70 lawmakers on the treasury benches and two on the opposition benches. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, his father Asif Ali Zardari and the leader of the opposition, Raja Riaz, were also absent. At the outset of the session, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had defended the government’s move to implement various reforms in the pensions scheme. He said that when a pensioner died, their widowed spouse would receive the stipend. But once the spouse died, their dependents would get the pension for 10 years after which it will end, he said. “Our pension bill went to Rs800bn in this budget. It is a huge amount. It used to be half a few years a...