Both the houses of Parliament on Monday unanimously passed separate resolutions condemning the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France and resurgence of Islamophobic acts in some countries, with parliamentarians suggesting the government to announce official boycott of French products and cut off diplomatic ties with the European country. According to a resolution read out by […]
Senate approves services chiefs’tenure bills amid minor protest
The Senate on Wednesday passed three separate bills to amend Pakistan Army Act, 1952, Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953, and Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961, allowing for extension in the tenures of the three services chiefs. The Upper House of Parliament accorded approval to all the three bills – the Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020, […]
Pakistan won’t be party to US-Iran conflict: govt
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Monday said Pakistan will not allow use of its soil against any other country, and urged the United States and Iran to abide by the United Nations Charter and international laws for peaceful settlement of the differences. The minister, in a policy statement in both the houses of the Parliament […]
Bill tabled in Upper House to amend accountability laws
A legislative proposal seeking amendments in the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999, was presented in the Upper House of parliament on Monday. The National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2019, seeks amendment in Section 5 of NAO to ensure that only offences of Rs 500 million or more are to be prosecuted by NAB. Amendments in sections […]
Asad Umar asks govt to review tax on sugar, cooking oil, cars
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former finance minister Asad Umar on Thursday asked his party’s government to reconsider the increased tax on sugar and cooking oil in the recently announced federal budget for fiscal year 2019-20. “It is not suitable to increase taxes on sugar whose prices are already rising. It [raise in tax] should […]
$6-8bn IMF bailout deal ‘almost done’: Pakistan
Finance Minister Asad Umer Monday revealed that the bailout package ‘agreed in principle’ with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be around $6-8 billion. Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, Asad Umer said the IMF has finalised a bailout package for Pakistan during talks between the two sides at […]
Eradication of corruption the biggest mission: president
ISLAMABAD: In his maiden speech to the joint session of the parliament on Monday, President Arif Alvi said the newly elected government is on a path to build a ‘Naya Pakistan’, with core focus on ridding the society of corruption. “The biggest reasons of issues facing Pakistan are corruption and group interests. July 25 elections […]
Pakistan rejects BRICS claims on terror havens
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday rejected a claim by the BRICS Summit that militant groups based in Pakistan were a concern for the regional security, with country’s Foreign Office and the defence minister saying none of the named group operates freely inside Pakistan. “We have already said that there are no terrorist sanctuaries in Pakistan,” Minister […]