4 h. ago Punjab MPAs suspension: PTI to mobilise public against illegal, undemocratic move

LAHORE: As a fresh political storm brews in Punjab, PTI on Friday announced that it will challenge the suspension of 26 of its MPAs from the Punjab Assembly through legal channels and public mobilisation. The opposition party decried the speaker’s “unconstitutional and partisan” conduct, asserting it was left with no choice but to escalate both […]

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7 h. ago ECC demands fair access for farmers left out of Rs37.5bn loan scheme

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has expressed concern over the exclusion of small farmers from Punjab and Sindh in a new Risk Coverage Scheme. The scheme, developed to provide financial support to farmers in underserved areas, currently covers only Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The ECC has now asked the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to […]

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8 h. ago Punjab unveils Rs3,000 monthly ration card scheme to support 1.2 million families

The Punjab government has launched a landmark ration card subsidy programme to assist 1.2 million low-income families across the province. Under this scheme, each registered household will receive a monthly ration subsidy of Rs3,000 to meet their basic food needs. Punjab Labour Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar called it the biggest welfare initiative in the […]

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10 h. ago Yusuf Baloch: “Shelter arranged for Lyari victims in hotels”

In Karachi’s Lyari area, a five-storey residential building in Baghdadi collapsed suddenly, killing at least 16 people and injuring others. The tragic incident has left many families homeless and shocked the local community. According to MPA Yusuf Baloch, displaced residents are being temporarily housed in nearby hotels. He stated that the Sindh government is coordinating […]

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11 h. ago Punjab unveils Rs52 billion package for farmers, youth, and roads

Punjab’s Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) has approved nine major development projects worth more than Rs52.35 billion, aiming to support farmers, young graduates, and urban infrastructure. The second PDWP meeting for fiscal year 2025–26, chaired by Dr. Naeem Rauf, focused heavily on agriculture reforms and rural uplift. One of the biggest projects is the solarisation […]

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18 h. ago NA committee suggests increasing MDCAT weightage for medical college admissions

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Health, chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, proposed significant reforms to the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) on Thursday. The committee recommended raising the weightage of MDCAT scores for admissions to medical colleges to ensure that deserving students have a fair opportunity to pursue medical education. […]

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22 h. ago Pakistan, Russia to expand road, rail connectivity for warm waters access

In a significant development on regional connectivity, Pakistan and Russia have agreed to collaborate on establishing a robust rail and road network to link Pakistan with Central Asia and Russia, providing landlocked states direct access to warm waters through Pakistan. The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem […]

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28 h. ago Govt to lay off 4,000 USC staff through Voluntary Separation Scheme

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to lay off nearly 4,000 permanent employees of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) through a Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) before proceeding with its privatisation. The regular employees will be transferred to the federal government’s surplus pool prior to the privatisation process. The decision was made during a meeting of […]

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32 h. ago Danish Taimoor’s ‘Sher’ psych ward scene sparks meme fest and mental health debate

Danish Taimoor has once again taken social media by storm, this time for his over-the-top portrayal of mental illness in a recent episode of Sher. The now-viral psych ward scene, where his character Sher Zaman breaks down in a scribbled-up room, has left viewers laughing—and questioning the drama’s portrayal of mental health. From dramatic lines […]

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49 h. ago ‘Cash for Plastic Bottles’: Punjab unveils unique scheme under Green Credits Programme

CM Maryam says use of eco-friendly cloth, paper bags being promoted instead of plastic bags in Punjab LAHORE: The Punjab government has partnered with a private firm to manage the recycling of single-use plastic bottles throughout Lahore and reward citizens with cash under the Chief Minister’s Green Credits Initiative. As per the signed agreement, locally […]

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49 h. ago China and Pakistan join forces to modernize agriculture under CPEC

China and Pakistan have renewed their pledge to strengthen agricultural cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The announcement came during a high-level forum held in Islamabad. The event focused on boosting food security, sharing agricultural technology, and expanding trade through long-term partnerships. Officials stressed the need for sustainable practices to meet growing food demands. […]

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51 h. ago PHC demands accountability over Swat tragedy, seeks reports on rescue operations

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has called for detailed reports on the availability of helicopters and safety measures for tourists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the tragic drowning incident in the Swat River. A two-member bench, led by Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah, presided over the proceedings, examining the lapses that led to the loss […]

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52 h. ago Brad Pitt Opens Up About Getting Starstruck By Two women And It’s Neither Jennifer Nor Angelina

Brad Pitt, the iconic Hollywood actor, revealed that only two women have ever left him starstruck, and surprisingly, neither are his former wives, Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie. During his appearance on the July 2 episode of the New Heights podcast with NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce, the 61-year-old Oscar-winning actor opened up about […]

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53 h. ago Afghan refugees left in limbo as Germany suspends resettlement programme

ISLAMABAD/BERLIN – Hundreds of Afghan refugees stuck in Pakistan are facing uncertainty after Germany halted its humanitarian admission programme that once promised them safety and a new start. The programme, launched in October 2022, aimed to bring vulnerable Afghans — including women’s rights activists, journalists, and at-risk minorities — to Germany. However, after political changes […]

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54 h. ago France urges Iran to release detained couple held for over three years

PARIS – The French government has demanded the immediate release of Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, two French citizens who have been imprisoned in Iran for more than three years. Officials in Paris say the case against the couple is baseless and politically motivated. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that the couple’s detention is […]

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57 h. ago Fireworks warehouse blast leaves seven missing in California

A massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Esparto, Northern California, has left seven people missing and two injured, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The incident occurred Tuesday evening when a fire broke out inside the facility. California’s firefighting agency, Cal Fire, said rescue efforts are ongoing but dangerous. Firefighters have not yet entered the warehouse, […]

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3 d. ago FTT slams Rs400 billion illegal cigarette trade loss in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is losing Rs400 billion every year due to the illegal cigarette trade, warned Fair Trade in Tobacco (FTT) Chairman Ameen Virk during a seminar in Islamabad. He described the issue as a “structural crisis”, not just minor tax leakage, and urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to maintain pressure on violators […]

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3 d. ago Russia calls on Azerbaijan to mend ties amid worsening diplomatic standoff

MOSCOW/BAKU – Russia on Wednesday urged Azerbaijan to repair strained diplomatic ties, warning that the current crisis could damage long-standing cooperation between the two nations if left unresolved. Tensions escalated after two ethnic Azerbaijanis died during police raids in Russia last week. In response, Baku arrested two Russian journalists and around 15 other Russian nationals […]

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3 d. ago Oil prices remain flat as OPEC+ supply boost, dollar weakness balance outlook

Oil prices remained mostly flat on Wednesday as traders weighed rising supply expectations from OPEC+ against a weakening U.S. dollar and mixed economic indicators. Market sentiment remains cautious amid global demand uncertainty. Brent crude edged up just 2 cents to $67.13 a barrel by 0345 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped 1 cent […]

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3 d. ago Trump hints at trade deal with India, warns of higher tariffs for Japan

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has expressed hope for a potential trade agreement with India, saying the South Asian country appears ready to lower trade barriers for American companies. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said if India allows more U.S. business access, both sides could finalize a deal with reduced tariffs. He noted that […]

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