Latest News

LAHORE: The court today (Monday) proceeding on an appeal filed by Pakistan Railways against the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) tax notice, halted any action against the state institute till a decision on the appeal was made by the court, ARY News reported. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had sent Pakistan Railways a tax notice worth Rs 170 million which was appealed against by the state institute in the court of law. The court issuing orders to the commissioner for land revenue has asked for a decision on the query in 30 days time. The Pakistan Railways in its appeal has maintained that they have been paying taxes diligently. Read More: PM Imran to inaugurate Sir Syed Express on July 3: Sheikh Rasheed   Whereas, the FBR has contended that the state institute was sent tax notices after an audit of their past 3 year record. Showing his happiness over the Supreme Court’s judgment regarding handing over Royal Palm Club to the Pakistan Railways, Sheikh Rasheed reached Prime Mini

Seven people were injured in the resulting fire from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2Yo3a3F

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Spokesperson, Dr Shahbaz Gill on Monday said 15 lawmakers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) did not attend the budget session of the Punjab Assembly. In his tweet, Gill said those who met with Prime Minister Imran Khan are separate 15 members from the PML-N ranks, while he claimed there are 31 other lawmakers on the board. “Rana Sahab said he will surround the houses of those who leave the party, Rana Sahab make arrangements to surround houses of 46 people”, he said in his tweet. پنجاب اسمبلی بجٹ اجلاس میں سے 15 ارکان غائب تھے۔ وہ ان 15 سے مختلف ہیں (جنکی وزیراعظم سے ملاقات ہوئی)۔ اسکے علاوہ 31 لوگ اور ہیں، [15+31=46] رانا صاحب (نے کہا تھا کہ پارٹی چھوڑنے والوں کے گھروں کا گیھراؤ کرونگا) تو 46 لوگوں کے گھروں کا گھیراؤ کرنے کا انتظام کرلیں۔ pic.twitter.com/kcgbUCqGYo — Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) July 1, 2019 On Sunday, Dr Gill had said that PML-N was going through the tussle of leadership between Hamza Shehbaz and Maryam Nawaz. Read m

Notes from the newsroom from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2XkTE4M

LAHORE: Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Usman Ahmad Buzdar today (Monday) said that the opposition may never develop trust amongst each other, ARY News reported. The Chief Minister claimed that the opposition’s union was unnatural and would not last long. “Those who were trying to create anarchy are in fact facing anarchy within their ranks,” said Buzdar. Buzdar also claimed that the All Parties Conference (APC) proved to be a massive failure and had desecrated whatever credibility the opposition had. Speaking about the Punjab government, Buzdar opined that the government was squarely focused on human development. Read More: CM Buzdar deploys Dolphin force in Murree for tourists’ security He stated: “The Punjab government is not working for personal pomp and show projects which are done for the sake of optics, rather focusing on raising the standards of living and empowering the common man.” Earlier, Chief Minister of Punjab, Sardar Usman Ahmed Khan Buzdar addressing the Punjab

WASHINGTON: Afghanistan will continue to grapple with multiple extremist organisations even if the United States and Taliban reach a peace settlement, warns John Spoko, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). SIGAR has a mandate from the US Congress to monitor the 18-year-old war in Afghanistan and submit a quarterly report to the lawmakers on Washington’s efforts to restore peace and stability to the war-torn country. SIGAR’s “High-Risk List” for 2019 was highlighted by the US media this weekend as US and Taliban representatives resumed their talks in Doha, Qatar. “With or without a peace settlement, Afghanistan will likely continue to grapple with multiple violent-extremist organisations who threaten Afghanistan and the international community,” the SIGAR report warns. The report refers to the “capability challenges” of the official Afghan forces while referring to the recent increase in Taliban attacks on their positions. “The Afghan National De

He shot them then set the house on fire from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2J0GL7c

LAHORE: Taking notice of increasing crime and misbehaviour with the tourists in Murree, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has deployed Dolphin Force in the area in order to ensure the safety of citizens and tourists. Recently, the videos of tourists being harassed by local traders in Murree had gone viral on the various platforms of social media. Not only the force will take prompt action against criminals, but will also help the administration in controlling traffic problems. Soon after the deployment, the personnel of the Dolphin Force has started patrolling in the area. The CM said that a comprehensive plan to be set up and executed in order to ensure smooth flow of traffic in Murree. It will not only facilitate tourists but also address miseries of citizens, he added. He said that the shortage of parking area is a chronic issue of Murree and directed further to devise a permanent solution for it as he will not tolerate any complaint by tourists in this regard. Read more: ‘B

KARACHI: Light drizzle in parts of Karachi on early Monday morning turned weather pleasant, reported ARY News. Drizzling was reported in several parts of the city, Saddar, North Karachi, New Karachi, Malir, Korangi, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and other parts of the city. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, there are chances of drizzle with overcast skies during the day. The routine sea-breeze (southwestern winds) have returned to the port city providing some relief to the citizens suffering from a spell of hot and humid weather. Rain with gusty winds is expected at isolated places in Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sahiwal division and other parts of Punjab. Seasonal low lies over north Balochistan and a westerly wave is present over upper parts of the country. Recently it was drizzled in several parts of the city, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, Baloch Colony and Karsaz. During last 24 hours, Malakand, Peshawar, Rawalpindi,

Low attendance recorded across the province from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/324dT5F

Karachi: The government and private schools in Sindh reopened after summer vacations, ARY News reported on Monday. The new educational session would also begin in all private and government institutions from today. Due to climate change, the summer vacations in Sindh were given in the month of May and June. Earlier, Secretary School Education Department of Sindh had clarified that the government has not made any extension in summer vacations. It is pertinent to mention here that it emerged earlier on  April 24  that the schedule for summer vacations was revised for educational institutes of Sindh. Read more: SHC bars private schools from charging July’s fees In the latest statement, the secretary of school education had said that all government and private educational institutions will be reopened from July 1(today) as there is no extension made in summer vacations by the provincial government. The secretary had advised parents to send their children to schools in accordance w

GUJRAT: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has killed three terrorists in an encounter in Gujrat, while three others managed to flee away, ARY News reported on Monday. According to the CTD spokesperson, the CTD personnel foiled a terror bid in Gujrat by meeting an encounter with the terrorists and killing three of them on the spot, while their three accomplices fled away from the scene. The terrorists identified as Tayyab, Bilal, and Nadir, were trained from Afghanistan and were also named in the red book. Arms and ammunition along with maps were also confiscated from the killed terrorists, said the CTD. The killed terrorists were wanted to police in different cases including attacks on Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base in 2007, Sargodha Police Training School and Mianwali Police Chowki. Earlier on April 12, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in a  police encounter  had shot dead three suspects allegedly involved in kidnapping for ransom in Peshawar. Read more: CTD kills two sus

The Dr Kaiser Bengali formula for Sindh’s cities from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2xorLt7

ABU DHABI: UN chief Antonio Guterres said climate-related devastation was striking the planet on a weekly basis and warned on Sunday that urgent action must be taken to avoid a catastrophe. “We are here because the world is facing a grave climate emergency,” Guterres told a two-day Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting to prepare for a Climate Action Summit in New York in September. Guterres said destructive climate change was moving at an increasingly fast pace. “Climate disruption is happening now... It is progressing even faster than the world’s top scientists have predicted,” the UN secretary general said. “It is outpacing our efforts to address it. Climate change is running faster than we are,” he said. “Every week brings new climate-related devastation ... floods, drought, heatwaves, wildfires and super storms,” Guterres said. He warned the situation would only deteriorate unless “we act now with ambition and urgency”, but some of the world’s decision-makers still did not realise the d

QUETTA: Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Syed Amjad Shah has said that the attorney general cannot cancel the show-cause notice issued by the PBC to the federal law minister. Speaking at a press conference after PBC’s general body meeting here on Sunday, he said the federal law minister and attorney general had no right to use their offices for personal interests. He said the show-cause notice was issued to the law minister as according to rules a lawyer who is holding portfolio of a minister should have surrendered his licence, but he is continuing his practice, which is illegal. Says attorney general’s action is ‘against the rules’ “The bar council has sent the show-cause notice to the law minister but the attorney general has cancelled it which is against the rules.” He said using their offices by the minister and the attorney general for their personal interests will harm the law system in the country. He said the PBC and lawyers’ community across the country

ISLAMABAD: Conceding numerical weakness of the ruling partners to protect Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani on Sunday appealed to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) not to exercise its constitutional right for removal of Mr Sanjrani from the post in the larger interest of Balochistan. Read: Opposition leaders reach consensus on removal of Senate chairman 'through lawful means' “Though it is the political right of every party to change the government and remove the chairman of Senate, different perspectives in Balo­chis­tan should also be considered. I suggest that the PPP, which was the initiator to elect Mr Sanjrani as Senate chairman, not to become part of the move, as it will not only give a bad imp­ression to the people of the ­province, but will also affect the Aghaz-i-Huqooq-i-Balochistan Package. “Moreover, there are different dynamics of Balochistan and it is not going to give a positive impression if any decision would be mad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said on Sunday that due to strong political base and vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan parliamentarians from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other opposition parties had started leaving their parties. Addressing a press conference here, he said, “We did not try to convince them or plan any lobbing for this, but they were well aware of the future political situation and the political career of PML-N”. Mr Chaudhry said the PTI was not involved in any grouping of PML-N, but actually their leadership was the reason behind all this. There was a fight of leadership in the PML-N and the Sharif family. He said PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif had resigned from all committees and just held the office of the leader of the opposition in the National Assem­bly. He claimed that no one paid attention to Shahbaz Sharif in the PML-N. Claims country has been put on road to progress, prosperity He said Shahbaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: The opposition on Sunday slammed the government over its decision to increase prices of gas and electricity terming it another “anti-people” step at the behest of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and warned against a possible public agitation. Read: Up to 200% increase in gas prices for domestic consumers sought According to the sources, first meeting of the Rehbar Committee formed by the opposition at the recent Multi-Party Conference to devise the future strategy for launching an anti-government movement and to find a suitable candidate for the office of the Senate chairman would be held in the next few days in Islamabad. In its first meeting, the sources said the members of the 11-member committee might elect its convener. Most of the parties have already nominated their representatives for the ­committee. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will be represented by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and former Senate chairman Nayyar Hussain Bokhari whereas form

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations has found mixed situation on institutional developments in areas of transparency, accountability, anti-corruption, participation and non-discrimination. According to the World Public Sector Report 2019 published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs recently, despite a surge in the number of laws and initiatives adopted by countries around the world over the past two decades to strengthen and improve governmental institutions, progress on accountability and non-discrimination is uneven, and these developments may be causing new problems. The report says the institutional landscape has significantly changed in some areas, with countries rapidly moving to develop open government data systems and national anti-corruption initiatives. Read: Pakistan makes slight improvement in Corruption Perceptions Index 2018 As of 2018, 139 countries had implemented open government data initiatives that make data available to the public through central por

ISLAMABAD: The Pakis­tan Bar Council (PBC) will observe July 2 as a black day during the hearing by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) of two references against Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court and Justice K.K. Agha of the Sindh High Court (SHC). The PBC urged lawyers’ fraternity to ensure their presence at the building of the Supreme Court during the hearing of the two references. In a statement, PBC president Amanullah Kanrani on Sunday asked representatives of different bar councils and bar associations to observe black day on July 2 when the five-member SJC would sit to hear the references. He said that lawyers would wear black armbands and carry black flags with them during the hearing of the references. The statement said that the PBC would decide its future line of action in the light of the final decision of the SJC. Council asks lawyers to ensure their presence during hearing of references He said the council had not given any call for closure of courts keepi

ISLAMABAD: Petroleum prices will remain unchanged for the month of July as the government has made adjustments in tax rates, according to an official announcement. The decision was taken to provide relief to the consumers, said a statement issued by the finance ministry. It said the government had decided not to increase the prices of petroleum products for July 2019. However, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) earlier during the day issued a notification increasing the General Sales Tax (GST) on petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) from 13pc to 17pc to absorb requirement for a price cut. The crude price in the international market had come down from April’s $72 per barrel to $64 per barrel on June 28. Based on standard 17pc GST rate (instead of 13pc notified rate for HSD and petrol), the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had recommended about 77 paisa per litre reduction in the price of petrol (motor spirit) and Rs2.94 per litre cut in kerosene price. It also proposed increa

WHEN the polio vaccination drive in April 2019 outside Peshawar had to be abandoned because parents refused to have their children vaccinated, it was a reminder that the challenges to eradicate polio remain as large as ever. On the surface misinformation about the vaccine and resulting panic played a role in failure of this vaccination drive, the reality is that the actual failure is that of the vaccine delivery system. During the drive in Punjab, Nasreen, a 30-year-old mother of three from a middle-class family, had refused to have her two-year-old son — born after two daughters — given polio vaccine, because no one had addressed her concerns regarding the vaccine. She had heard rumours that expired vaccine was being used. Also how did these ‘little drops’ protect against such a ‘big’ disease? The vaccinator came back in the evening with a police officer threatening arrest. The issue was resolved when Nasreen’s father-in-law, a schoolteacher, reprimanded Nasreen. The household will f

LAHORE: As two members of the Punjab Assembly from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Sunday confirmed having met the prime minister, the opposition party warned the ‘turncoats’ that they would have to resign before shifting loyalties while some PTI ministers claimed that more ‘defections’ would surface in near future. Read: 15 PML-N MPAs meet Imran at Banigala: PTI Naeemul Haq, special assistant to the prime minister, had in a tweet on Saturday evening, claimed that 15 PML-N MPAs accompanying the Punjab chief minister held a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan at the latter’s residence in Islamabad. He won’t disclose names of these MPAs, though the identity of some of the ‘deserters’ were doing the rounds on social media. Mr Haque said these PML-N MPAs expressed their full confidence in the PM and Punjab CM Usman Buzdar. Those who visited the PM say they discussed with the prime minister development projects of their constituencies. The acknowledgement endorses the r

KARACHI: The met office on Sunday forecast chances of drizzle in night and early morning in Karachi as weather will remain cloudy with occasional gusty winds, ARY News reported. Seasonal low lies over north Balochistan and a westerly wave is present over upper parts of the country. The rainfall in various parts of Punjab, including Faisalabad, Sargodha, Jhang, Noorpur Thal and Bhakkar, turned the weather pleasant. Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast dust-thunderstorm/rain with gusty winds at isolated places in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faislabad, Lahore and Sahiwal divisions, Islamabad, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. The weather has also turned pleasant with clouds hovering over the horizons of Karachi. Recently it was drizzled in several parts of the city, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, Baloch Colony and Karsaz. Mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country on Sunday and Monday, while very hot in plain areas of

SEOUL: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un both want to meet at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas later in the day, raising hopes for an encounter that could jump-start stalled nuclear talks. Trump arrived in Seoul late on Saturday for talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in after attending the Group of 20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, during which he made a surprise, spur-of-the-moment offer to meet Kim. If Trump and Kim meet, it would be for the third time in just over a year, and four months since their second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam broke down. “Well, we’ll see. He very much wants to,” Trump said when asked by a reporter whether Kim would meet him at the DMZ later on Sunday when Trump is scheduled to visit the heavily armed border. “They’re trying to work it out. We both want to do it,” he said after a meeting with South Korean business leaders including the heads of Samsung, Hyundai Motor, Lotte, SK and Poongsan

He was killed on Saturday afternoon from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2LrzFu8

No identification made yet from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2xktTCf

This amnesty is the carrot without the stick or even the fear of one from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2IWmqQm

ISLAMABAD: The deadline for the government’s Asset Declaration Scheme will end today, ARY News reported on Sunday. It had been hinted earlier that the Prime Minister of Pakistan had been deliberating upon a possible extension in the scheme’s deadline but all rumors and speculations regarding a possible extension were put to bed by Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)  Shabbar Zaidi. Zaidi has urged the countrymen to benefit from the scheme, while the offices of Pakistan’s supreme tax collection body to remain open tonight till 11pm to facilitate the taxpayers in payment of duties and taxes and filing of the income tax return. Hamid Atiq Sarwar, the member of FBR, said so far 26,000 people have declared their assets in the scheme, while more than 36,000 cases are under process with the FBR. He expected that the number of people getting benefit from the assets declaration scheme to cross 80,000. Read more: Massive traffic crashes FBR portal of assets declaration The federal gov

LEEDS: The International Cricket Council has said it will take action against any fans involved in “scuffles” before the Cricket World Cup match between Pakistan and Afghanistan at Headingley on Saturday. Videos shared on social media showed supporters of both countries fighting outside the venue and security personnel being forced to intervene, while ESPNcricinfo reported that at least two fans had been evicted from the ground. “We are aware of some scuffles among a minority of fans and are currently working with the venue security team and the local police force, West Yorkshire Police, to ensure there are no further incidents,” an ICC spokesperson said. “We do not condone this type of behaviour, and will take appropriate action against any anti-social behaviour that spoils the enjoyment for the majority of fans.” Police were forced to intervene as violent clashes between rival supporters marred the World Cup match between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Leeds on Saturday.Eyewitnesses

LONDON: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton will undertake an official visit to Pakistan this autumn, announced the Kensington Palace. The trip, which is being carried out at the request of the U.K.’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will take place in the autumn. According to a tweet published by Kensington Palace, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Pakistan this autumn, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Pakistan this autumn, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Further details will be advised in due course. pic.twitter.com/z8M1hnpfWS — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) June 29, 2019 It will be the first official visit by a member of the British royal family to Pakistan since 2006 when Prince Charles and Camilla traveled to Pakistan. Previously, the Queen visited in 1961 and 1997, and Princess Dian

BIRMINGHAM: England can rely on playing their must-win game in front of the noisiest, most passionate, drum-banging, trumpet-blasting cricket fans in the land who will cheer every mistake by the opposition. But the World Cup hosts will also have some supporters of their own at Edgbaston in Birmingham. India’s so-called Bharat Army fans are expected to outnumber England’s Barmy Army supporters in a Sunday sellout at the around 25,000-capacity Edgbaston in what will feel like a home game for India. India, who have been dominant throughout the tournament apart from one close-call against winless Afghanistan, will join Australia in the semi-finals with a win. They have 11 points from six games. Fourth-place England have eight points from seven games and face New Zealand in their last group match. England were ranked No. 1 at the start of the tournament and were the early title favourites. Eoin Morgan’s team is not out of contention if they lose to India, but their fate will no longer

It's a party! from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2ZVRtkZ

MUREE: Pakistan Army has rescued all the tourists, who were stuck in the air after a chair lift wire detached from the pulley due to typhoon in Muree, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.  A popular visiting spot in Muree, the elevated chairlifts met with a malfunction resulting in hundreds of getting stuck in the air precariously. The rescue operation to retrieve and rescue all chair lift riders was completed by the army contingent along with the civil administration, and all the tourists were safely evacuated. “Army engineers repaired the cable tower to rescue the tourists”, the army’s military wing said. The Patriata chair lifts in Muree are a main tourist attraction, It is the highest point in the area and the hills stand 7,500 feet above sea level. In 2017, at least 10 people were killed and two injured when a chairlift cable broke and it plunged into a ravine. The accident occurred some 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Islamabad in the Charra Pani vi

No one was hurt from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2X90Snr

This is the first visit by a royal since 2006 from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2YvgkvX

It was launched on Saturday from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2JcRj22

Says Afghanistan played with grit and determination from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2Xh96PA

ABBOTTABAD: At least five were dead and three others sustained injuries when a jeep plunged into a gorge in Abbottabad, ARY News reported on Sunday. As per details, the ill-fated jeep carrying eight people was returning from a marriage function, where it met an accident. The bodies and the injured were moved to Garhi Habibullah Hospital, said the local police. The cause of death could not be ascertained. In a similar road crash on October 29, last year, as many as 17 people were killed as a passenger coach plunged into a ravine on Karakoram Highway. According to details, the coach was heading to Rawalpindi from Gilgit-Baltistan when it skidded off the road and fell into the ravine within the limits of Lotar Police Station. Read more:  17 killed as coach plunges into ravine on Karakoram Highway The District Police Officer (DPO) had confirmed 17 causalities in the accident and added that faced difficulties in rescue operation due to darkness and steep rocks. Police and rescue of

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has ruled that under the federal and provincial laws, adherence to disability job quota extends to both public and private sectors. A three-judge SC bench headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed issued the ruling in a case related to the rights of disabled people. Earlier, the court had asked government officials to devise a detailed action plan coupled with a time frame to implement the 3pc job quota for people living with disabilities. Govt officials directed to devise action plan to implement job quota, federal, provincial govts to furnish report on disabled employees in private sector In its June 20 order, the bench explained that the private sector would also have to adhere to the job quota and compensate to the concerned social welfare funds in the absence of such recruitments. However, before postponing further proceedings for six weeks, the court asked the federal and the provincial governments to furnish a comprehensive report on the employment

QUETTA: Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, who also heads the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), has said that a no-confidence motion planned by the opposition parties against Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani will increase the sense of deprivation among the people of his province. Read: Opposition leaders reach consensus on removal of Senate chairman 'through lawful means' Talking to journalists after administering the oath to the newly-elected office-bearers of the Quetta Press Club here on Friday evening, he said that there were rumours about removing Sadiq Sanjrani from the chairmanship of the Senate. He urged all political parties to honour the representation of Balochistan in the Senate as its chairman was a symbol of the federation. Mr Alyani said the replacement of the Senate chairman was not removal of a councilor or a chief minister and it should not be made a joke. Former chief minister and deputy chairman of the Senate Jan Mohammad Jamali, Balochistan Finance Minis

KARACHI: Pakistan on Saturday received the first tranche of $500 million from Qatar under the $3 billion package consisting of a foreign currency deposit and direct investment. State Bank of Pakistan’s chief spokesman Abid Qamar told Dawn that a deposit of $500m had been received from the gas-rich nation. Qatar had announced the package a day after its ruler Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s two-day visit to Islamabad last week. Qatar is the fourth country which offered a support package to Pakistan making the combined bilateral loans from all these friendly countries during the current fiscal year to more than $12.7bn before Pakistan formally enters an International Monetary Fund programme for $6bn financing next month. So far, Saudi Arabia, China and the United Arab Emirates have extended about $9.7bn in loans and cash deposits to Islamabad since the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf came to power in August last year. However, it is unclear how much of the Qatari bailout would incl

GUJAR KHAN: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has described the recently passed finance bill as ‘selected’ and anti-public budget. Speaking at a rally on Saturday, he criticised the government’s policies and claimed that another four million people were being pushed below the poverty line. He said the price hike was going to wreck havoc with the country’s economy and the poor were being turned into homeless and helpless people. Responding to slogans chanted by party workers against Prime Minster Imran Khan, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said the end of what he called puppet government was near and the rise of a new Bhutto would be there. He said that leaders and workers of PPP were always punished for confronting dictators and oppressors. PPP slams government for devaluation of the rupee and increase in prices of edibles, medicines, petroleum products and gas The PPP chairman said his father Asif Ali Zardari faced jails and torture but never bowed before the dic

ISLAMABAD: A fresh round of talks between the US and the Taliban began in Qatar on Saturday, just days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington is hoping for an Afghan peace agreement before Sept 1. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that negotiations had begun in Doha. Originally scheduled to begin in the morning, the two sides sat down mid-afternoon for the seventh time in a series of direct talks that began last year following the appointment of US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. As in previous talks between Khalilzad and the Taliban, the focus is on the withdrawal of US troops and Taliban guarantees to prevent Afghanistan from again hosting militants who can stage global attacks. Both sides say they have come to an understanding on the withdrawal and the guarantees but details have yet to be worked out. In Kabul last week, Pompeo said “real progress” had been made on a draft agreement with the Taliban to ensure “that Afghan soil never again becomes a saf