Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Govt, Awami Action Committee reach agreement in Azad Kashmir

Govt

MUZAFFARABAD: The government’s negotiation committee and the Awami Action Committee have successfully reached an agreement, bringing an end to the recent standoff in Azad Kashmir. The announcement was made during a joint press conference held in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, attended by members of both the government and the committee. Rana Sanaullah, Adviser … Read more

Govt issues warning over unfair Solar Panel price hikes

Govt issues warning over unfair Solar Panel price hikes

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has warned individuals against arbitrarily raising solar panel prices and has threatened strict action against those who do. During a National Assembly session, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb addressed the issue, stating that the government reduced the GST rate on solar panels to promote affordability. He expressed concern over traders arbitrarily raising … Read more

Govt plans 10% surcharge on electricity bills to curb circular debt

Good News: Govt announces big relief in electricity bills

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is planning to impose a 10 percent surcharge on electricity bills as part of efforts to reduce the growing circular debt in the power sector. According to official sources, the proposed surcharge will be implemented through amendments to the NEPRA Act, enabling the legal framework required for its enforcement. Reports suggest … Read more

Govt rejects proposal to raise sales tax on locally assembled small cars

Budget 2025-26: Toyota Yaris, Corolla Expected Prices after New Tax

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has rejected a proposal to increase the sales tax on locally manufactured or assembled cars up to 850cc in the upcoming Budget for FY 2025–26. According to sources in the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had proposed raising the sales tax rate from 12.5% to 18% on … Read more

Govt to present Rs17.6tr federal budget for FY26 today

Govt

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is set to unveil the budget for fiscal year 2025–26 today, with the total outlay estimated at Rs17.6 trillion. According to sources in the Ministry of Finance, as per initial estimates, the federal revenue target is projected at Rs19.3 trillion, out of which the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is expected … Read more

Govt issues cybersecurity advisory on wearable device risks

Govt

The Cabinet Division has issued a cybersecurity advisory, cautioning against the security risks posed by wearable smart devices in sensitive environments. The advisory warns that smartwatches and fitness trackers could unintentionally expose classified information, making them potential threats in high-security offices, meetings, and critical locations. Such devices could lead to data breaches, unauthorized tracking, and … Read more

Govt to announce major electricity price cut, Rs. 9-10 deduction expected

Big relief: electricity prices expected to reduce

The federal government is set to announce a significant reduction in electricity tariffs, as Power Distribution Companies (Discos) request a negative adjustment of Rs. 52.123 billion, roughly Rs. 2 per unit, for the second quarter of FY 2024-25 under the Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA) mechanism. This reduction, which is expected to take effect from March … Read more

Govt to collect Hajj fees in three installments

Hajj

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to receive Hajj  package fees  from intending pilgrims in three installments.

The good news for the pilgrims who wish to go to Hajj Baitullah through the government scheme is that it has been decided to introduce a scheme for receiving the Hajj package in installments in the Hajj Policy.

According to Ministry of Religious Affairs sources, Hajj package fees will be collected in three installments instead of one lump sum. Initially Rs 200,000 will be collected along with Hajj request.

After getting the name in the Hajj balloting,  it will be mandatory to pay another Rs 400,000 , while the remaining amount will be received in the second week of February, however, people suffering from various serious diseases will not be able to go for Hajj.

Ministry of Religious Affairs will receive Hajj applications for the government scheme under the new Hajj policy in mid-November.

Under the government scheme, 89,605 pilgrims will go for Hajj, 5,000 of them will go under the sponsorship scheme and the rest will go under the regular scheme.

Minister of Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain will formally announce the Hajj policy next week.

A health policy was prepared for Pakistani Hajj pilgrims according to the conditions of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Saudi Arabia, according to which people undergoing dialysis will be banned from going to Hajj this year.

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Govt, opposition finalize ‘representatives’ for Judicial Commission of Pakistan

Govt, opposition finalize ‘representatives’ for Judicial Commission of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The government and opposition have finalized their representatives for the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), restructured to include parliamentarians following the recent 26th Constitutional Amendment. According to sources, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) member Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari from the National Assembly (NA) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui will represent the ruling coalition in … Read more

Govt unveils smartphones on easy installments

Govt unveils smartphones on easy installments

The government will provide smartphones on easy installments and cheap rates. Every cellular phone user in Pakistan must have a smart mobile phone, which will help boost the economy and ensure the use of e-commerce by the common man, including businessmen. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication said that the government will provide smartphones … Read more

Govt unable to manage economy despite IMF support: Hammad Azhar

Hammad Azhar

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar on Wednesday said that despite the IMF programme, the federal government is unable to manage the national economy. The former federal minister said in a press conference that if Imran Khan gives a call, the whole nation will be closed. He said PTI wants to run the country … Read more

Govt faces $4b financing gap despite IMF deal

IMF

Pakistan still has a $4 billion financing deficit that will be filled by selling shares of publicly traded government enterprises to a friendly nation. The finance minister’s comments lend validity to rumours that friendly countries would only assist Pakistan after the resurrection of the IMF rescue package. Saudi Arabia will increase it to $2.4 billion … Read more

Govt, IMF conclude staff-level negotiations on 7th, 8th reviews

IMF

The Pakistani authorities and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have concluded the staff-level negotiations on the policies to complete the combined 7th and 8th reviews under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme. The agreement is subject to the approval by the IMF’s Executive Board. The IMF highlighted that the high international prices, and a delayed … Read more

Govt decides to appoint new governor of central bank

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to appoint a new governor of the State Bank of Pakistan as Reza Baqir’s three-year tenure as governor of the central bank expires on Wednesday (tomorrow). Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in a tweet said Reza Baqir was an exceptionally qualified man and he wanted to thank him for his service … Read more

US durable goods orders resumed growth in March: govt

US durable

According to US government data issued Tuesday, orders for big-ticket manufactured items picked up the pace again last month, as businesses reported increased demand for a variety of commodities. The Commerce Department said that durable goods orders rose 0.8 percent in March, which was less than economists expected but a reversal from the over two … Read more

Sindh House attack: Govt should refrain from lawlessness, says Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Condemning the attack on the Sindh House in Islamabad, Pakistan Muslim League-N President and Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said the government should refrain from lawlessness. The Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI)’s attack on the Sindh House and its own MNAs was a confession of Prime Minister Imran Khan that he … Read more

Govt ensuring smooth disbursement of house loans: Tarin

Govt ensuring smooth disbursement of house loans: Tarin

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin, presided over a meeting on Low Cost Housing at the Finance Division on Monday. Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA) Chairman Lt Gen Anwar Ali Hyder (Retd), the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor and other senior officers attended the meeting. NAPHDA chairman shared the … Read more

Govt taking all possible steps to provide relief to masses: PM Imran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said the government was taking all possible steps to provide relief to the masses. PM Imran Khan was talking to former federal minister Ijaz-ul-Haq who called on him in Islamabad and discussed overall political situation in the country. Sardar Abdul Sami was also present in the meeting. During … Read more

Govt taking unprecedented steps to facilitate overseas Pakistanis: Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said overseas Pakistanis were Pakistan’s precious asset and the government was taking unprecedented steps to facilitate them. Chairing a meeting of Roshan Digital Accounts in Islamabad, he said the government’s measures like granting voting rights to overseas Pakistanis and online issuance of certificates of power of attorney and … Read more

Govt to distribute health cards in Sindh soon: Ali Muhammad

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan on Tuesday informed the Senate that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government would distribute health cards in all the districts of Sindh province soon. On a point of order, Ali Muhammad Khan said the government had already distributed health cards among the people in Tharparkar that … Read more

Govt wants talk with political parties for reforms: Fawad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Monday said the government wanted to talk to the political parties including the opposition for reforms in different sectors. “We want electoral reforms, reforms of the judiciary and accountability system. This is not possible without the opposition. However, the corrupt leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-N … Read more

Govt taking practical measures to provide relief to common man: Asad Umar

Inflation hits 11-year high in the first month of PML-N govt, claims Asad Umar

LASBELA: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said the government was taking practical measures to provide relief to the common man along with development of economy. He said this while talking to a delegation of local industrialists during his visit to the world’s third largest ship breaking yard at Gadani in Balochistan. Read … Read more

Govt earmarks Rs400bn for health card scheme in Punjab: Farrukh Habib

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib has said the government has earmarked Rs400 billion for the Health Card scheme to facilitate 120 million people of Punjab. “The Health Card facility has already been provided to the people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said talking to newsmen at Dogar House in Multan, after … Read more

Fawad calls for reducing bitterness between govt, opposition in 2022

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said that at the beginning of the new year 2022, there was a need to reduce the bitterness between the government and opposition. In a tweet, Chaudhry said that the government and the opposition should hold consultations about elections, economy, political and judicial reforms. … Read more

PM Imran Khan satisfied with govt’s policy to protect wildlife

PM Imran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed satisfaction over his government’s strict policy of protecting the natural habitat of wildlife. The prime minister shared a video of snow leopards on his twitter handle, saying that he had received more videos of the leopards shot this year. “MashaAllah the numbers (of leopards) are increasing due to … Read more

Govt to ensure sugar sales at fixed price

Govt

LAHORE: The government will ensure implementation of the ex-mill and retail price of sugar, an official said on Tuesday. Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), Punjab chief secretary Kamran Ali Afzal said that the sugar sale at more than Rs90/kg would not be allowed. The secretary urged the sugar mill-owners to … Read more

Govt going to increase electricity price by Rs4.33 per unit: Sherry

Sherry Rehman

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Vice-President and member of Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Sherry Rehman on Monday said the government was going to increase electricity price by Rs4.33 per unit in terms of fuel adjustment. “This will rob the people of more than Rs40 billion. A burden of billions of rupees is passed … Read more

Govt urged to continue getting corporate guarantee in provisional assessment dispute cases

LCCI

LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the government to continue the practice of getting corporate guarantee in provisional assessment dispute cases. In letters to the prime minister, adviser to PM on finance and its secretary, LCCI president Mian Nauman Kabir, senior vice president Mian Rehman Aziz Chan and vice president … Read more