Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has claimed that the quality of Pakistani olive oil now surpasses that produced in Spain, arguing that the country is well placed to build strong export markets if it invests in processing and branding. Speaking at an event in Islamabad on a new commercialization strategy for tea production, Iqbal said more than 600,000 hectares of land across Pakistan were suitable for tea cultivation. He stressed that boosting domestic tea production would play a critical role in reducing the country’s import bill and expanding exports. Pakistan spends around $650 million a year on…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial said individuals flaunting expensive lifestyles on social media were under close scrutiny as part of the revenue authority’s intensified nationwide campaign against tax evasion. He revealed that 30 people who had publicly showcased wealth but reported low incomes in their tax returns had already been issued notices, with daily progress reports being compiled on operations targeting tax evaders. Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Langrial highlighted significant improvements in revenue collection, noting a Rs40 billion rise in sales tax from the sugar industry over the past year. He said…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected an appeal by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti to postpone the long-delayed local government elections in Quetta, confirming that the polls would be held as scheduled on December 28. These elections, originally due in 2022, have faced repeated delays over the past three years. In a written decision, the ECP noted that Bugti’s request to defer the elections had been formally submitted and subsequently dismissed. The commission instructed the provincial government to ensure foolproof security and adequate logistical arrangements for voters, underscoring its constitutional mandate under Article 220,…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Oil and gas reserves have been discovered in the Nizha block of Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) announced on Thursday, marking a significant boost to Pakistan’s domestic energy resources. According to an OGDCL spokesperson, the Baragzai-1X well is expected to produce around 2,280 barrels of oil per day and 5.6 million cubic feet of gas daily. The discovery, the company said, represents the first hydrocarbon find from the Kingriali formation in the Nizha block. Drilling at the well reached a depth of 5,170 meters. OGDCL holds a 65 percent stake…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Experts emphasized that the use of modern technology enables timely and informed decision-making in the public interest, provided real-time data is available. These views were expressed at the final workshop for Phase-I of the Hydro-Agro Informatics (HAI) Program, held under the Sindh Water & Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) project — a World Bank-funded initiative implemented by the Irrigation Department, Government of Sindh, in collaboration with the US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W), Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (MUET), Jamshoro. Secretary Irrigation Zarif Iqbal Khero stated that the Government of Sindh supports technology-driven projects that…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Pakistan celebrated a remarkable achievement at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2025 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where a delegation led by the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) returned home with seven awards. The team represented 27 technology companies, startups, and student teams, making it the largest-ever Pakistani delegation at the event, comprising 55 participants in total. All delegates had earned their place through the highly competitive HBL P@SHA ICT Awards 2025, which had recognized 104 outstanding projects, including 37 winners, 58 runners-up, and nine special appreciation recipients. The week-long event, inaugurated by Hou Yi-Hsiu, Deputy…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), one of Sindh’s most influential media bodies, hosted a training program for its members on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen journalists’ voices and enhance their digital media skills. The event, held at the Karachi Press Club, was organized under the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia–Pacific–NED Program, reflecting a growing recognition of the need to adapt traditional journalistic practices to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The session was led by Madiha Javed Qureshi, Corporate Trainer and Head of Corporate Communication at Bank Alfalah, who conducted a detailed training on digital media.…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) announced a mixed adjustment in electricity tariffs this week, offering modest relief to consumers while simultaneously raising costs through a quarterly revision. Under the October fuel price adjustment, NEPRA approved a reduction of 88 paisa per unit, which is expected to ease the burden on households and businesses in their December electricity bills. However, the relief will not extend to K-Electric customers, who remain subject to separate tariff structures. At the same time, NEPRA sanctioned a quarterly tariff adjustment that will see electricity prices rise by 33 paisa per…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Police officials engaged in tense negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Aleem Khan, who had staged a sit-in near Adiala Jail along with her sisters and a contingent of party workers after being denied a meeting with the party’s founder. The protest, which unfolded in the late hours of the previous day, drew attention to the growing political friction surrounding the treatment of opposition leaders in the capital. The discussions primarily centered on the fate of vehicles that had been seized by the authorities in the days leading up to the demonstration. According to sources close…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), one of Sindh’s most influential media bodies, hosted a training program for its members on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen journalists’ voices and enhance their digital media skills. The event, held at the Karachi Press Club, was organized under the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia–Pacific–NED Program, reflecting a growing recognition of the need to adapt traditional journalistic practices to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The session was led by Madiha Javed Qureshi, Corporate Trainer and Head of Corporate Communication at Bank Alfalah, who conducted a detailed training on digital media.…