President approves confirmation, extension of additional judges in three high courts

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday approved the confirmation and extension of the tenure of additional judges of the Sindh, Lahore and Peshawar High Courts, in line with the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. For the Sindh High Court, the president approved the confirmation of 10 additional judges. They include Justices Miran Muhammad Shah, Tasneem Sultana, Riazat Ali Sahar, Muhammad Hasan, Abdul Hamid Bhurgi, Jan Ali Junejo, Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro, Ali Haider ‘Ada’, Muhammad Osman Ali Hadi and Muhammad…

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UAE becomes early supporter of Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ with formal acceptance

The United Arab Emirates has accepted an invitation to join United States President Donald Trump’s newly proposed “Board of Peace”, the UAE foreign ministry said on Tuesday, making Abu Dhabi one of the first governments to publicly endorse the initiative. The ministry said the UAE stood ready to “contribute actively to the mission of the Board of Peace, supporting greater cooperation, stability and prosperity for all”, marking formal alignment with Washington’s new conflict-resolution effort. Read More: Trump invites more global leaders to join Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ The acceptance comes as…

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Erdogan, Trump discuss Syria ceasefire and Gaza in phone call

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed developments in Syria and Gaza in a call with US President Donald Trump, his office said on Wednesday, as Syria’s Turkey-backed government announced a ceasefire with US-allied Kurdish forces after days of clashes. Syria’s government this week seized swathes of territory in the northeast and gave the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces four days to agree on integrating into the central state. The SDF’s main ally, the United States, said in a statement that the partnership with the group had changed in nature after Syria’s new…

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Trump floats ‘Board of Peace’ – then says UN must go on

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, “You got to let the UN continue,” when asked about his plans for a so-called “Board of Peace” that has alarmed international experts. Governments around the world have reacted cautiously to Trump’s invitation to join that initiative that the U.S. president says aims to resolve conflicts globally, a plan that diplomats said could harm the work of the United Nations. Read: Russia, India invited to join Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ “Might,” Trump said when asked by a reporter if he wanted the “Board of Peace to replace the UN.”…

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OGDC boosts daily crude output by 14.5%

ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC), the operator of the Nashpa Exploration Licence, on Tuesday announced another oil and gas discovery at its exploratory well Baragzai X-01 (Slant), located in Kohat district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa(K-P). According to a statement issued by OGDC, the discovery was made in the Samana Suk and Shinawari formations. The well tested positive during a cased-hole drill stem test (CHDST-03), flowing 3,100 barrels of oil per day and 8.15 million standard cubic feet of gas per day through a 32/64-inch choke at a wellhead flowing…

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UK backs GSP capacity building

ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom has indicated support of up to $400,000 to enhance capacity building of the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP). Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a meeting with British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott to discuss enhanced bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas as well as minerals sectors. During the meeting, High Commissioner Jane Marriott remarked that the potential in Pakistan is tremendous and noted that significant reforms are underway in the economic realm. She expressed the United Kingdom’s keen interest in strengthening…

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Pakistani rice loses edge to India

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has said that rice exporters will receive support through the Export Development Fund (EDF) to help address pricing challenges in international markets. In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, Kamal Khan said that effective utilisation of the EDF could potentially generate $1-1.5 billion in foreign exchange for the country. He noted that Pakistani rice is currently priced higher in the global market, which is creating difficulties for exporters. According to the minister, Indian Basmati rice is being exported at around Rs1,000…

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Islamic Development Bank to fund road, livelihood projects in AJK

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on Tuesday signed three loan agreements worth about $603 million to finance the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, Poverty Graduation of Extremely Poor and Flood-Affected Households (PGEP) project and Out-of-School Children project for Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The agreements were formalised following high-level talks between Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema and an IsDB delegation, led by Vice President Dr Rami Ahmad. The project agreements were officially signed by IsDB VP Dr Rami Ahmad and Economic Affairs Division Secretary Muhammad Humair Karim. Federal…

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PSX hits all-time high of 188,000 points on back of improved investor sentiment

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) stretched its positive momentum on Tuesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index rising by 860 points, or 0.46%, to close at an all-time high of 188,621.78 on the back of improved investor sentiment. The market remained active throughout the session, supported by sustained buying interest. However, trading was marked by volatility, as the index moved between an intraday high of 188,958.38 and a low of 187,192.02. Despite intermittent profit-taking, the index managed to hold gains and finish in positive territory. Market sentiment remained constructive, underpinned by…

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MWM chief Raja Nasir Abbas appointed Senate opposition leader

ISLAMABAD: Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas was officially appointed as the leader of the opposition in the Senate on Tuesday, filling a position that has been vacant for the past five months. The announcement came during a session chaired by Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, where Abbas secured 22 votes from opposition members. The Senate Secretariat was instructed to issue the official notification immediately. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarrar and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah welcomed the new opposition leader in the House while other senators also congratulated Abbas at his seat.…

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