Author: i2wtc

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court judges are bound to obtain a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) for travelling abroad. Recently, a Presidential Order has been promulgated by President Asif Ali Zardari, which is called as Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 2025, wherein an amendment has been made in para 14 of President’s Order 2 of 1997. The amended para 14 says that the CJP has been empowered to grant or refuse leave, within Pakistan, or to revoke or curtail leave already granted to the judges. Following the amendment, a General Standing Order…

PAKISTAN captain Ammad Butt in action during the FIH Nations Cup match against New Zealand at the National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.—courtesy FIH KUALA LUMPUR: In a pulsating contest at the National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday, Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the FIH Nations Cup remained intact despite a heart-wrenching 4-3 defeat at the hands of table-toppers New Zealand in their final Pool ‘B’ outing. With qualification hanging in the balance, the Green Shirts knew that a victory would seal their progression. However, they were up against a New Zealand side that had exhibited perfect form throughout the…

Girls dressed in traditional costumes walk on a street in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, June 29, 2024.BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) — Let’s discover Central Asia’s rich history and tourism resources. With its proximity, affordability, and exotic charm, Central Asia is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination.This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows carpets in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.An aerial drone photo taken on May 2, 2025 shows the scenery of the Charyn Canyon in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan.This photo taken on Sept. 13, 2023 shows plates of pilaf at the restaurant Besh Qozon in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan.This photo taken on…

Listen to article ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday claimed a drastic 52% cut in import duties will lead to exports rising faster than imports, while revenues will grow by one-tenth. However, it admitted these projections are based on calculations by the World Bank. Proceedings of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance revealed that the government is venturing into uncharted territory, largely relying on the World Bank’s Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model. The committee was briefed by the Ministry of Commerce on the new National Tariff Policy, which is being described as “Pakistan’s East Asia moment” aimed at increasing exports and…

Listen to article Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday Iran had the “legitimate” right to defend itself in the face of Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign, now in its sixth day. “It is a very natural, legitimate and legal right for Iran to defend itself against Israel’s thuggery and state terrorism,” the Turkish leader said, a day after referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “the biggest threat to the security of the region”. The long-range blitz began early Friday, when Israel launched a massive bombing campaign that prompted Iran to hit back with missiles and drones, including hypersonic missiles. “These…

Listen to article ISLAMABAD: Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance has recommended exempting income tax for individuals earning up to Rs1.2 million per year. In addition, it approved a proposal to increase the limit for property purchases by non-filers from 130 per cent to 500 per cent of their declared assets. The committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwala on Wednesday and conducted a section-wise review of the Finance Bill 2025. During the meeting, FBR officials informed the committee that a new section has been introduced in the Finance Bill to bring e-commerce businesses and recreational clubs into the tax net.…

BERLIN, GERMANY – MAY 12: Israeli President Isaac Herzog speaks during a press conference with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (not pictured) at Schloss Bellevue presidential palace on May 12, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. Carsten Koall | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesIsraeli President Isaac Herzog said Wednesday that his country was not pursuing regime change in Iran, and its attack on Tehran was aimed at eliminating its nuclear capabilities.Speaking to CNBC’s Dan Murphy, Herzog said that regime change was “not an official objective of ours,” and the goal was “to remove the Iranian nuclear program.”Herzog, who accused Teheran of “cheating”…

Listen to article ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has secured a $1 billion syndicated term finance facility, partially guaranteed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), marking its return to Middle Eastern financial markets after more than two years, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday. The facility is backed by the ADB’s Policy-Based Guarantee under its “Improved Resource Mobilization & Utilisation Reform” programme, aimed at supporting Pakistan’s long-term fiscal resilience. Dubai Islamic Bank served as the sole Islamic global coordinator, while Standard Chartered Bank acted as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner. Other participating banks include Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Ajman Bank, and…

Listen to article National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued an impact-based advisory warning of an intense heatwave from June 18 to 22, urging the public to take precautionary measures to minimise health risks. The heatwave is expected to severely affect parts of southern Punjab, Sindh, eastern Balochistan, and southern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, according to the advisory issued by NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) on Wednesday. “High-pressure systems in the upper atmosphere are likely to persist, leading to extreme temperatures, particularly in Jacobabad, Dadu, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur and Nawabshah,” the advisory stated. Daytime temperatures are forecast to soar between 46°C and 48°C. In Punjab,…

Listen to article US President Donald Trump said it was an honour to meet Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir during a luncheon held at the White House on Wednesday. Speaking to the media after the event, Trump extended his gratitude to Pakistan’s military chief for visiting and acknowledged the army chief’s role in helping avert further military escalation with India. “It is an honour for me to meet Asim Munir,” Trump said. “I invited him to thank him for not going to war. He deserves appreciation for helping secure the ceasefire.” “Pakistan and India are both nuclear powers,”…