A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has come into effect in Lebanon, marking a significant pause in months of cross-border hostilities. The agreement is reported to have been implemented at 4pm local time. The development follows intense diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region. According to Israeli media, the truce was brokered through […]
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PM Shehbaz signals major cut in petroleum prices amid global oil decline
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that a “significant” reduction in petroleum prices will be unveiled later in the day, citing a sharp fall in global crude oil rates following recent geopolitical developments and a US-Iran understanding. Addressing the National Assembly, the prime minister said the government would pass on the benefit of lower […]
US vice president cancels Iran peace talks trip amid uncertainty
WASHINGTON/DUBAI: US Vice President JD Vance has cancelled a planned trip to Switzerland for talks with Iranian negotiators, highlighting ongoing uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the recently signed US-Iran peace agreement. According to a White House spokesperson, Vance and a US delegation were prepared to travel to Geneva to begin discussions on carrying out the […]
PM Shehbaz welcomed signing of MoU between US and Iran
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran, describing the agreement as a historic step toward peace and stability in the Middle East. In a statement shared on social media, the prime minister said the memorandum had been electronically signed by the presidents […]
UK praises Pakistan role in easing regional tensions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) have agreed to deepen cooperation in security, migration management and law-enforcement capacity building, while reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. The understanding was reached during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and British Deputy Foreign Secretary Hamish Falconer in Islamabad on Wednesday. The two sides reviewed […]
Punjab cuts development budget by 40% for FY27
LAHORE: The Punjab government has unveiled a significantly reduced Annual Development Programme (ADP) of Rs752 billion for the fiscal year 2026-27, marking a nearly 40 per cent decline from last year’s Rs1.24 trillion development budget. The reduction comes after the province surrendered Rs749 billion to the federal government, resulting in tighter fiscal space for development […]
Punjab unveils Rs5.9tr budget for 2026-27
Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman on Tuesday unveiled a Rs5,903 billion provincial budget for 2026-27. The tax-free budget proposes salary and pension increases while allocating significant funds for development projects. The budget directly affects government employees, pensioners, students, patients, and millions of Punjab residents. Presenting the budget in the Punjab Assembly, the finance minister announced […]
PM orders fast-track of 100MW solar project in GB
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to accelerate work on a 100-megawatt solar power project in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), calling for its early completion to ensure improved and sustainable electricity supply in the region. Chairing a review meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, the prime minister instructed officials to speed up implementation of the project […]
Aurangzeb sees economic upside after US-Iran deal
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has expressed cautious optimism about the country’s economic outlook following the reported agreement between the United States and Iran to end hostilities, saying there could be positive implications for growth next year but that it is too early to revise official projections. In an interview with Reuters, Aurangzeb said the […]
Iran-US MoU to include Lebanon ceasefire
Iran has said the emerging memorandum of understanding with the United States includes a ceasefire in Lebanon as a core component. The development is significant as it links broader regional stability to ongoing US-Iran negotiations. Lebanon, regional actors, and global mediators are directly affected by the proposed framework. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said […]