4 d. ago Pakistan, Malaysia forge new Academic, Trade alliances to strengthen ties

ISLAMABAD – Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman met Deputy Head of

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6 d. ago Senate slams NHA for corruption in Rs170bn CAREC project, demands fresh bidding

The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs has exposed major irregularities in the Rs170 billion CAREC Tranche-III corridor project, accusing the National Highway Authority (NHA) of corruption and ghost tendering. The committee found that all four project contracts were awarded to a previously disqualified Chinese firm, Ningxia Communication Construction (NXCC), raising serious questions about transparency. […]

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7 d. ago Govt to launch AI education at primary level, expand digital access across Islamabad

ISLAMABAD – The federal government has decided to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) education at the primary level, aiming to equip young students with digital skills from an early age. Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima, shared the development during a Senate IT Committee meeting chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan. She stated that children […]

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9 d. ago Senate body discusses plight of 67,000 intending pilgrims who could not perform Hajj

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Sub-Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Saturday discussed the plight of over 67,000 intending Pakistani pilgrims who were unable to perform Hajj this year. Agenda of the Senate body meeting presided by Senator Aon Abbas Buppi focused on issues related to Mashaheer Services as well. Last month, Pakistan had admitted […]

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2 w. ago US lawmakers divided over Iran strikes, spark war powers debate

WASHINGTON – The US Congress remains sharply divided over President Donald Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, with lawmakers split along party lines and raising serious concerns over constitutional authority. Republican leaders largely supported the strikes, praising the attack as a necessary move to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Senate Foreign Relations Committee […]

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2 w. ago Senate Proposes 204 Recommendations to National Assembly for Inclusion in Finance Bill 2025

ISLAMABAD — The Senate on Saturday presented a comprehensive set of 204 recommendations to thefor consideration in the Finance Bill 2025, including key proposals for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2025-26. The recommendations, forwarded by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, cover a wide range of economic and social […]

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2 w. ago Senate committee recommends 50% salary hike, 20% pension increase

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has made important budget recommendations. They suggest increasing government employees’ pensions by 20 percent, much higher than the previous 7 percent proposal. In addition, they want to raise salaries by 50 percent instead of just 10 percent. These changes aim to help workers face rising living costs. Moreover, the […]

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2 w. ago FBR urges to end special tax treatment for banks, calls for uniform tax rules

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial has urged the Senate Standing Committee on Finance to abolish the special tax treatment given to banks. He recommended that banks be taxed under the same rules as other companies. During his briefing, Langrial questioned why banks are exempt from the normal tax regime applied […]

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2 w. ago Steel Melters Urge Senate to Link Import Tariff Cuts with Power Tariff Relief to Avert Industry Crisis

  The Pakistan Steel Melters Association has urged the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue to tie any reduction in steel import tariffs directly to a corresponding decrease in power tariffs for the industry. Mian Ahmad Hassan, Chairman of the Association emphasized that high power costs, which constitute over 70% of production expenses, already […]

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2 w. ago Govt’s Rs2.5 per litre carbon tax plan rejected by senate committee

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has rejected the government’s proposal to impose a Rs2.5 per litre carbon levy on fuel. This proposed levy, part of the federal budget, was expected to generate Rs48 billion to fund green energy projects. However, committee members expressed serious concerns over rising inflation and fuel prices already burdening the […]

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2 w. ago Taxing the luxuries: Senate supports Levy on elite clubs, offers relief to salaried class

ISLAMABAD – In a strong move towards fairer taxation, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance has backed a proposal to tax the profits of Pakistan’s elite private clubs. These high-end recreational centers, such as the Islamabad Club, serve only a few thousand wealthy members while holding billions in assets and bank reserves, the Federal Board […]

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2 w. ago “Clubs are for the elite’s luxury”: Govt approves tax on major clubs, says FBR chief

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has approved a proposal to impose taxes on elite private clubs. The meeting took place under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla. FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial said that these clubs are built for the luxury of a few thousand people. He stressed that many of them own land […]

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2 w. ago Senate panel approves tax on online educational platforms, academies in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – The Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday approved a proposal to impose taxes on online educational institutions

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2 w. ago Major relief expected for Pakistanis earning up to Rs100,000 per month

ISLAMABAD – The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has proposed increasing the minimum taxable income to Rs1.2 million in order

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2 w. ago Solar Panels to get cheaper in Pakistan after end of 18% Sales Tax

KARACHI – Relief for Pakistani households and businesses turning to solar energy amid soaring electricity rates, as Senate Standing Committee

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3 w. ago Punjab announces 10% salary hike, 5% pension increase in ‘people

LAHORE – The Punjab government has announced a 10% increase in salaries and a 5% rise in pensions for government employees under the 2025–26 provincial budget, which officials describe as “people-friendly” and focused on development. Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman shared the details during his budget speech at the Punjab Assembly on Monday. […]

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3 w. ago Senate urges FBR to set clear limits for arrests in tax fraud cases

ISLAMABAD – The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to define clear thresholds for allowing arrests in tax fraud cases under the proposed Finance Bill 2025-26. Lawmakers stressed the need for fairness and clarity before granting such powers. In the current proposal, FBR seeks powers to arrest individuals, […]

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3 w. ago Govt considers raising retirement age to 62 to tackle soaring pension costs

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has supported increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62 years. He said this move could help reduce the country’s growing pension liabilities. Speaking in a Senate Finance Committee meeting, he shared concerns about rising unfunded pensions. He noted that pension reforms had already started, including the introduction of a Defined […]

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3 w. ago Deputy PM Ishaq Dar praises committee for preserving Hazrat Bari Imam shrine

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar praised the committee for its strong commitment to preserving the Hazrat Bari Imam Shrine. He chaired an important meeting focused on the shrine’s development, management, and conservation. The meeting was held at the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, according to an official press release. The meeting […]

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3 w. ago Salary shock: Who approved the big pay raise for Pakistan’s top parliamentarians?

The salaries of the Senate Chairman and National Assembly Speaker were increased through decisions made within their own parliamentary committees. According to sources, the Senate’s House Finance Committee raised the salaries of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, while the National Assembly’s House Finance Committee increased the pay of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Both committees […]

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