ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lost an estimated $5 billion worth of gemstones due to rampant smuggling, as disclosed by a parliamentary subcommittee on commerce during a session on Friday. The meeting, chaired by Atif Khan, head of the National Assembly’s subcommittee on commerce, shed light on the dire state of the gemstone sector. Officials revealed that … Read more
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is addressing the National Assembly session on June 20, 2024. — APP Asif leaves committee after argument with PTI’s Gohar, Hamid Raza. It seemed committee was only formed to remove PTI concerns: Asif. Defence minister says he does not want to be part of the committee. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on … Read more
An inside view of the National Assembly. — APP/File Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Hamid Raza, Gohar Ali are part of committee. Body will present recommendations regarding parliament’s matters. Khawaja Asif terms arrival of masked men in parliament “shameful”. ISLAMABAD: In pursuance of the motion adopted by the National Assembly, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday constituted … Read more
France’s Oscars committee has shortlisted four movies, including Jacques Audiard’s redemption thriller “Emilia Perez” and “The Count of Monte Cristo,” an epic adventure film adapted from Alexandre Dumas’ classic, as well as Payal Kapadia‘s “All We Imagine as Light” and Alain Guiraudie’s “Misericordia.” All four movies word premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. “Emilia Perez” … Read more
BEIJING: China’s top legislature on Tuesday started a regular session to review several bills, including a draft revision to the National Defense Education Law and a draft amendment to the Statistics Law. Zhao Leji, chairman of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presided over the first plenary meeting of the committee’s 11th session. … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Steering Committee for Gems and Stones has approved several key reforms aimed at promoting the sector during a meeting chaired by Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, who also serves as the Chairman of the Steering Committee. The meeting was attended by federal ministers, secretaries, senior officials, and representatives from the private … Read more
US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has issued a subpoena to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, demanding that he testify on America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The subpoena, announced Tuesday, requires Blinken to appear before the committee on Sept. 19 or face contempt charges. “The Committee is holding this hearing because the … Read more
ISLAMABAD: A committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday decided that the Council of Common Interests’ (CCI) decision allowing E&P companies to sell up to 35% of their gas to third parties will be fully implemented without revision. According to sources, in order to secure the investment of five billion dollars, a … Read more
Former Pakistan fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed has taken a sharp jab at Waqar Younis and the selection committee after the exclusion of Abrar Ahmed and Kamran Ghulam from the squad for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. In a surprising move, the selectors dropped leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and all-rounder Kamran Ghulam from the squad ahead … Read more
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting of cabinet committee. — APP/File Committee provides briefing on reforms for five federal ministries. Meeting focuses on reducing public sector size, expenses, more. PM says curtailing government expenditure was his top priority. ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet committee on Institutional Reforms Friday recommended for curtailing 150,000 vacant positions, banning … Read more