ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has approved the import of 500,000 tonnes of sugar to tackle a domestic shortage and stabilise skyrocketing prices, a move that comes after a massive export boom left local supplies depleted and consumers facing a 36 percent price hike.
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Pakistan approves four bidders for stake in debt-laden PIA
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has cleared four parties, including prominent business groups and a military-backed conglomerate, to bid for a controlling stake in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), advancing a high-stakes privatization tied to a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout.
Islamabad court blocks 27 YouTube channels tied to opposition PTI party, journalists under cybercrime law
ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad court has ordered the blocking of 27 YouTube channels, including those linked to Pakistan’s main opposition party and prominent journalists and political commentators, for allegedly spreading anti-state propaganda and false information, heightening concerns over freedom of expression in the country.
Pakistan launches virtual assets regulator to boost digital economy
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally established the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to oversee its rapidly expanding digital assets sector, a move aimed at aligning the country’s regulatory framework with international standards and attracting foreign investment.
Pakistan faces deadly monsoon rains as death toll climbs to 79
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is reeling from catastrophic floods triggered by relentless monsoon rains, with the death toll rising to 79 and authorities bracing for more rainfall that could worsen the crisis in the coming days.
Sindh suspends building authority head after deadly collapse in Karachi
KARACHI: Sindh province’s chief minister suspended the head of the building control authority on Monday after a five-story building collapsed in Karachi, killing 27 people, as the government confronted growing accusations of negligence tied to the disaster.
Pakistan accelerates debt retirements, cuts debt‑to‑GDP to 69 percent in FY25
KARACHI: The government has retired Rs1.5 trillion in public debt ahead of schedule in fiscal year 2025, a move that slashed the debt-to-GDP ratio to 69% from 75% in FY23 and saved Rs 830 billion in interest costs.
SBP says current policies to deliver sustained growth
KARACHI: Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Jameel Ahmad said the country’s current economic policies are poised to deliver lasting growth, a sharp departure from the boom-bust cycles of the past, while spotlighting women entrepreneurs as a cornerstone of inclusive development.
Ahmadi man arrested in Pakistan for distributing free food on Ashura
ISLAMABAD: An Ahmadi man was arrested in Gujranwala, Punjab, for distributing food during Ashura, a revered Muslim holy day, in a case that has reignited tensions over Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and the treatment of religious minorities.
Army chief rejects Indian claims of Chinese aid in May conflict
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief on Monday dismissed Indian allegations that China provided real-time military support during the May 2025 clash between the two nuclear-armed rivals, calling the claims baseless and a tactic to mask India’s battlefield shortcomings.