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Pakistan has successfully achieved its key tax targets set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The tax-to-GDP ratio has reached 10.8%, surpassing this year’s target of 10.6%. According to the Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Shahzad, this is the highest tax-to-GDP ratio recorded in the past four years. The tax target of Rs6,009 billion for the first half of the fiscal year was also achieved by 94%, he added. In the first half of the fiscal year, from July to December, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs5,624 billion in taxes, reflecting a 26% increase compared to the…

KARACHI  – Bulls continued to rule the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as KSE-100 index surged to another historic high during intraday trading on Thursday. The benchmark 100 index gained 1,359.73 points to reach intraday high of 118,367.81 points compared to previous close of 117,008.08. The massive buying spree by traders comes amid expectations of economic stability in the country as the federal government has unveiled its ambitious plan to reform the national economy. On Dec 31, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated ‘Uraan Pakistan’ – a five-year national economic plan aimed at achieving sustainable development and economic stability. Addressing the gathering,…

The second round of negotiations between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will take place today at 3:30 PM in a closed-door session at the Parliament House, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. This follows the first round of talks on December 23, which ended on a positive note with both sides expressing their willingness to continue discussions. According to reports, PTI has prepared a comprehensive charter of demands, which will be formally presented to the government team. The demands are reportedly based on the instructions of PTI’s founding chairman, Imran Khan, and include the release of…

Anti-Terrorism Court has suspended non-bailable arrest warrants issued against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in connection with a case registered in Hassan Abdal. The warrants were suspended following a petition filed by Muhammad Faisal Malik, Gandapur’s lawyer. The case concerns charges of arson and vandalism. The petition argued that the Peshawar High Court had already granted bail to Ali Amin Gandapur in all cases against him. The lawyer also submitted the Peshawar High Court’s order to the court. In response, the court suspended the arrest warrants and canceled the process of declaring Ali Amin Gandapur a proclaimed offender.

The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD has continued to gain momentum, closing the gap with Tesla as it aims for the top spot in global EV sales for 2024. With a notable surge in sales, the company sold 207,734 EVs in December, pushing its total for the year to 1.76 million vehicles. The December performance came as a result of strategic discounts and government-backed subsidies, which BYD said helped attract a larger customer base. The company’s total vehicle sales jumped by over 41% compared to the previous year, with much of the growth driven by its hybrid car models.…

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Relief Department has completed a comprehensive survey of the villages affected by the recent deadly conflict in Kurram that had claimed the lives of more than 100 people from both groups. Now the peace agreement broke between both fighting groups. The compensation process for the affected residents will commence shortly. Additionally, to ensure the security of the main Kurram highway, the government has approved the recruitment of 400 police personnel. Two platoons of Frontier Corps (FC) will also be deployed to maintain law and order in the area. Efforts to resolve conflict According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Advisor for…

The bodies of two more young men who lost their lives in the Greece boat accident have been brought back to Pakistan. The deceased have been identified as Sufyan from Pasrur and Abdullah from Daska. Their bodies arrived last night. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confirmed that the remains of Haji Ahmed, Muhammad Abid, and Rehman Ali had already been handed over to their families. So far, the bodies of five Pakistani migrants who perished in the tragic incident have been repatriated to Pakistan, the FIA added.

A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred during a counter-terrorism operation in Khyber district on May 27, 2024. Sepoy Muhammad Yasin, who hailed from Khushab District, engaged militants in combat before embracing martyrdom. The fallen soldier is survived by his parents and siblings. His father expressed pride in his son’s actions, stating that Muhammad Yasin fought until his last breath and fulfilled his duty to the nation. His mother, remembering her only son, shared that Muhammad Yasin was devoted to his religious obligations and regularly offered prayers five times a day. She recalled conversations where he spoke about martyrdom, saying he…

Pakistan’s economic narrative in 2024 reflected cautious optimism as the country navigated challenges and moved towards recovery. The year marked a pivotal moment with the approval of a $7billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package, providing crucial support to the national economy. The IMF forecasted a 3.2% GDP growth rate for Pakistan in fiscal year 2025, a slight but encouraging improvement over previous estimates. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) also revised their growth predictions for fiscal year 2025, raising them to 2.8% and 3% respectively, signalling positive economic signs. The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a historic…

Pakistan and the US strengthened their historic cooperation, which spanned decades, with both nations playing critical roles in global security. The collaboration had proven resilient over time, supporting both peace and wartime efforts. During the Cold War, Pakistan emerged as a key ally for the US, providing assistance in efforts against Soviet expansion. This partnership peaked in the 1980s during the Afghan War, where Pakistan’s strategic positioning and commitment proved vital to American objectives. Following the 9/11 attacks, Pakistan played a pivotal role in the US-led war on terrorism, offering extensive support across various sectors. Pakistan offered comprehensive cooperation in…