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Every Punjab budget in recent years has followed the same script: bigger numbers and the same line items inflated to keep pace with political optics. Education gets more, health gets more, the development programme gets a headline figure, and a finance minister stands up in the assembly to call it historic. This year’s Rs5.9 trillion budget does more or less the same. But buried in it is something the province’s budgets have not really attempted before: an actual strategy for what Punjab’s economy is supposed to become. The strategy called PIVOT — or Punjab Innovation for Value, Opportunity and Transformation — is the one part that makes this budget more than a routine fiscal housekeeping exercise. PIVOT is structured as a three-year plan through FY29 worth close to Rs2tr, split between roughly Rs1.1tr in public investment and upward of Rs905 billion the government expects to leverage from the private sector. Within that, Rs193bn has been set aside as subsidised financing for specif...

Belgium were held to a scoreless draw by Iran in a frustrating encounter Sunday that saw the Red Devils reduced to 10 men and facing the possibility of group-stage elimination for a second straight World Cup. A star-studded though ageing lineup including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku was if anything fortunate to leave Los Angeles with a point, controlling possession yet ceding the game’s best chances to a resolute Iran team. Iran’s Mehdi Taremi had the ball in the net from a well-worked first-half free kick that was overturned for offside by VAR, while Nathan Ngoy was sent off after the break for hauling down the striker after a badly mis-hit backpass. The result means all three games so far in Group G have ended in draws. Stuck on two points, Belgium at least have the comfort of playing the tournament’s lowest-ranked team, New Zealand, in their final group game. Iran will also need at least a point against Egypt next Friday. Having been frustrated by visa issues as they trav...

Qatar’s interior ministry said an explosion resulting from a “technical accident” occurred on Sunday at a factory in Ras Laffan, an industrial city north of the capital Doha and site of the country’s core LNG processing operations. It said several injuries were reported but no leak that “threatens safety”. The ministry did not give the exact location of the explosion. But, QatarEnergy confirmed that the operational incident during the start-up of operations at Ras Laffan Industrial City, saying it resulted in an explosion at its Barzan gas supply facility. QatarEnergy said fire at the factory was under control after the deployment of emergency response teams to contain the blaze. From 20 kilometres south of Ras Laffan on Qatar’s north coast, an AFP journalist saw flames illuminating the night sky and a plume of smoke rising from the area, home to the world’s largest liquefied natural g...

ISLAMABAD: The opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Sunday demanded the removal of Minister of IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja over a controversial telecommunication bill and sought representation in an inquiry committee investigating the matter “to ensure impartiality”. The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill 2026 , which seeks changes to a 1996 act and was tabled by the IT minister, was approved by the National Assembly (NA) on June 11 by a majority vote. It is currently pending before the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication, where it was referred on June 15. The proposed changes have been the subject of discussion on social media, with some users voicing concerns over provisions relating to the use of private property for infrastructure such as telecom towers. TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad Yousufzai said the bill — presented in Senate for final approval after passage through the cabinet an...

THE fate of Lebanon could determine whether the recently signed MoU between the US and Iran survives. True to form, Israel is doing all possible to ensure the nascent peace deal is destroyed before the proverbial ink dries, as it continues to mercilessly pound Lebanon . While a supposed ceasefire was announced on Friday, Israeli attacks in Lebanon continued yesterday, with a large number of casualties reported, as the Zionist state hit both the southern and eastern parts of the Arab state in apparent pursuit of its arch-foe Hezbollah. Tragically, a large number of non-combatants have also been killed in Tel Aviv’s murderous forays, with even steadfast supporters like US President Donald Trump expressing displeasure over its bloodstained tactics. But the Israeli leadership seems very clear on what it wants to do. For example, the Israeli prime minister has refused to end the occupation of southern Lebanon, while the extremist national security minister...

• Allocations in all climate heads face cuts, except for disaster management • Experts call for transparency in climate spending, structural reforms ISLAMABAD: Climate allocations in the next fiscal year’s federal budget again fall short of putting Pakistan on a path towards a climate-smart future and inclusive growth despite the immediate risks it poses to the country. Except for disaster management finance, allocations in almost all climate categories have decreased compared to the outgoing financial year. The mitigation funds have been reduced from Rs603 billion to Rs124 billion, while adaptation money has been slashed from Rs85bn to Rs70bn. The “green component” of subsidies also experienced budget cuts, with the energy sector’s allocation declining to Rs423 billion from Rs529 billion. Similarly, the food, industry, transport, and agriculture sectors also faced cuts in the proposed budget presented by the government on June 12. Giovanni Maurice Pradipta, who is a policy advis...

A punishing heatwave sweeping across much of Europe prompted a partial alcohol ban in France, nationwide warnings in Germany and the closure of a soccer fan zone in Spain, as temperatures climbed towards record levels. France was expecting 35 of its 96 departments or regions to declare red heatwave alerts on Sunday, with temperatures of 39 to 40 degrees Celsius expected from the southwest through the Paris region into Burgundy, with some areas possibly reaching 41°C. After a crisis meeting, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu pre-emptively banned alcohol consumption on Sunday at the annual Fete de la Musique festivals and other public events to be held in those 35 regions on Sunday. Authorities in Paris ordered parks to remain open around the clock, however. A woman protects herself from the sun under an umbrella on the Trocadero square near the Eiffel Tower as temperatures rise in Paris during a second heatwave affecting a large part of France, June 20, 2026. — R...

THOUGH uncertainty may surround the fate of the US-Iran MoU , throughout this episode — from the start of the war on Feb 28 to the electronic signing of the document this week — Pakistan has played a crucial role in securing a diplomatic off-ramp. Other states, such as Qatar, Egypt, Turkiye etc. have also played a significant part, but it is Pakistan that has secured top billing in this geopolitical drama. This country’s efforts, both public and those behind closed doors, have helped prevent the war from metastasising into an even more brutal conflict. Nations across the world have appreciated Islamabad’s proactive diplomacy. The US president has often expressed his fondness for this country’s political and military leadership, while the Iranian president has warmly recognised Pakistan’s role in securing the MoU. The fact is that despite its limitations, Pakistan has been punching above its weight for decades, bringing together disparate powers in a bid to ease global tensions. An of...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will offer a lucrative 18-20 per cent return, along with complete freedom for investors to buy and sell electricity in a competitive market, as it targets the privatisation of three of the most viable distribution companies (Discos) in October, November and December. “We will provide in the transaction structure terms and conditions that protect consumer interests but also ensure investor comfort. We will do it upfront as part of transaction structure, before bidding (of the first Disco), otherwise privatisation will not be possible,” Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatisation Muhammad Ali told Dawn after a meeting of the Privatisation Commission board, which approved a restructuring plan for Faisalabad Electric Supply Company – the first of five Discos to be sold in 2026-27. Mr Ali said the Privatisation Commission had completed domestic soft marketing of three Discos of Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Islamabad in seven major cities, with chambers of commerce and in...

• Calls for better coordination to tackle ‘climate polycrisis’ as funding drops to Rs2.48bn from Rs3.5bn • Terms monsoon preparedness ‘immediate’ priority • Questions need for proposed Climate Authority ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination chairperson Senator Sherry Rehman on Thursday called recent reductions in climate-related budget allocations “shocking,” warning that Pakistan is entering a period of heightened environmental vulnerability marked by worsening climate extremes. Presiding over a committee meeting, Rehman said the country is facing intensifying heatwaves, accelerated glacier melt, erratic rainfall patterns, increasing water scarcity, and deteriorating urban environmental conditions. She stressed that monsoon preparedness must remain an immediate national priority, calling for stronger institutional coordination to address what she described as a growing “climate polycrisis”. Expressing ...

Teboho Mokoena’s penalty kept South Africa’s dream of reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time alive after a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in Atlanta on Thursday. Michal Sadilek’s early opener had the Czechs on course for just their second World Cup win as an independent nation. But Mokoena’s late spot-kick kept both teams in the hunt for the last 32, although they will almost certainly have to win their final Group A fixture to advance. Both sides move onto one point, two behind co-hosts Mexico and South Korea, who face off later on Thursday. South Africa next face South Korea, while the Czech Republic take on the daunting task of playing Mexico in the Estadio Azteca. Both sides started with disappointing performances and defeats on the World Cup’s opening day, but the Czechs quickly set about making amends. Patrik Schick is the biggest name in a Czech side lacking the star quality of previous generations but the Bayer Leverkusen forward missed a glorious cha...

Admitting the Crime Control Department’s (CCD) mistake in the shooting of a young girl in Chakwal earlier this month, the Punjab police and the CCD said on Thursday that the incident would neither be defended nor covered up under “any circumstances”. They also described the shooting as a case of “criminal negligence”, saying that the CCD official’s lack of training had contributed to his inability to assess the situation correctly. A nine-year-old girl, Hania, was killed and her father and brother were injured last week after officials of the CCD opened fire on their car in the Chakwal city area, mistaking it for that of robbers. Addressing a press conference on the incident on Thursday, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Karim described the incident as “deeply tragic”. He said it would be thoroughly investigated and that the negligence behind the CCD’s actions would be placed on record to ensure those responsible were brought before a court of law. Karim added that ...

Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-equalling sixth World Cup got off to a disappointing start as the Democratic Republic of Congo secured their first ever point at the finals, drawing 1-1 with Portugal in their Group ‘K’ match in Houston on Wednesday. Yoane Wissa’s header cancelled out Joao Neves’s early goal and the African side — appearing in their first World Cup since 1974 when it was known as Zaire — more than held their own. Ronaldo, 41, was largely a peripheral figure throughout the match — failing to make the impact his great rival Lionel Messi had done on Tuesday in scoring a hat-trick against Algeria. The DRC’s achievement was even greater given their preparations had been disrupted by the Ebola outbreak back in their country. Some Portugal players were wearing wrist bands, given to them by their Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, in tribute to late team-mate Diogo Jota, who was killed in a car crash last year. Portugal got off to the perfect start, with Neves powering home a heade...

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial on rape charges in Britain, lost a court challenge on Tuesday that would have allowed him to enter Canada for his side’s World Cup opener in Toronto. Ottawa denied the Villarreal player a visa over the British charges, blocking him from playing for Ghana against Panama on Wednesday. Accra filed a request for an injunction in federal court on Tuesday seeking to set aside Ottawa’s decision. But broadcaster CBC said Judge Roger Lafreniere had dismissed the challenge. Shortly before the decision was handed down, Ghana’s veteran coach Carlos Queiroz told reporters in Toronto that his side would be ready, regardless of the court outcome. “My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me,” Queiroz said. “When the decision comes, we are ready.” Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen, also asked about Partey’s possible exclusion, said he believed Ghana would pose strong competition even if the former Arsenal player was not...

The United States on Wednesday read out the text of the interim US-Iran agreement to halt the war in Iran and open the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Reuters report. The agreement, read to reporters by a senior US official, outlines in 14 points a high-level understanding that defers many of the most difficult issues, such as how to wind down Iran’s nuclear program, until a final deal is reached. It paves the way for a broader 60-day negotiation period due to begin in Switzerland on Friday. Here is the full document, titled “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran”, as it was read out: 1. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war, by signing this MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military opera...

The vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane is expected to reopen on Friday after nearly four months, following the signing of a US-Iran agreement to end the Middle East war. AFP examines how the reopening could work and why a return to normal is likely to take time. Are ships ready? Once formal approval is given to reopen, stranded ships could theoretically begin to move through the strait almost immediately. Crews that have been idle for months will most likely have “performed regular onboard drills and maintained the ships’ machinery, technical installations and equipment”, Jakob Larsen, head of security at shipowners’ association Bimco, told AFP . However, some ships may require underwater hull cleaning to remove barnacles and other marine growth accumulated during the shutdown. The strait, through which roughly 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil supply normally transits, was effectively closed by Iran after it came under fire from the United States and Israel. ...

AFTER the temporary peace deal between the US and Iran is physically signed in Geneva on Friday, an arduous process of negotiations begins between both parties to flesh out the nitty-gritty of a long-term arrangement for peace. At present, there are many unanswered questions that have been deferred for later, such as the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and the future of the Iranian nuclear programme. Suffice it to say, both parties must exercise a degree of flexibility if there is to be long-term peace between them. Yet both sides, as well as members of the international community, must keep a vigilant eye on one particular party that will do all possible to make sure the peace process collapses: the state of Israel. The reaction from Tel Aviv to the cessation of hostilities between the US and Iran has been negative, for it was fervently hoped by the Zionist regime that America would once and for all destroy their biggest nemesis in the region. That ...

• Party claims budget differs from figures shared during pre-budget consultations • Questions provinces’ capacity to meet IMF-linked revenue targets • Another round of talks expected soon ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday once again conveyed his concerns over the federal budget to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, indicating that he would not speak during the ongoing budget debate in the National Assembly unless all of the party’s reservations were addressed. “Bilawal sahib has decided that he will not deliver his speech unless all promises made by the government with the PPP regarding the budget are fulfilled,” a source close to the PPP chairman told Dawn after the meeting. In the huddle with Dar held at Parliament House, Mr Bhutto-Zardari was accompanied by senior PPP leaders, including Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Ijaz Jakhrani. The source said Bhutto-Zardari appeared upset with the budget, stating that it ...

Microsoft is changing how it charges for its software for the first time in two decades, moving to bill customers with a pay-as-you-go model each time they use its new AI agent. The change, prompted by the soaring cost of artificial intelligence, came Tuesday as the company launched Copilot Cowork — an AI “agent” that can independently carry out office tasks like drafting documents, building spreadsheets and sending emails. The tool still requires a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription, but now every task it runs is billed separately, based on how much computing power it consumes. Copilot Cowork is Microsoft’s take on so-called “agentic” AI, a wave that has gripped Silicon Valley and turned the simple chatbot into an assistant capable of acting on a user’s behalf. Like rival tools on Google’s and Amazon’s enterprise platforms, it can be handed an assignment and run with it on its own, sometimes for several hours. Microsoft says one customer used it to compare nearly 4,000 docum...

• Technical talks to begin this week • Geneva framework will be precursor to 60-day negotiations on N-programme, sanctions • Iran looks to administer Hormuz alongside Oman, wants ships to pay ‘maritime service’ fees MEDIATED by Pakistan and Qatar, a peace deal to end more than 100 days of war between the Iran and the United States is likely to be formally signed in Geneva on Friday. On Monday, US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz, which has been under a de facto Iranian blockade, will open to all shipping by June 19, while Tehran said the US naval blockade on its ports will be lifted immediately. In a statement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said that negotiations for a final agreement will be postponed until after the US has fulfilled its obligations. US Vice President J.D. Vance hoped the peace agreement would usher in “a new era with the Iranians”. Meanwhile, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, confirm...

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan ( Unama ) until June 17, 2027, while highlighting concerns over Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, terrorism threats , human rights situation and regional stability. The resolution, drafted by China and adopted by all 15 UNSC members, reaffirms the UN’s central role in supporting peace and stability in Afghanistan and maintaining engagement with the country’s de facto authorities and other stakeholders. Although Pakistan is not mentioned by name in the text, several provisions of the resolution carry direct implications for Islamabad, particularly on refugee returns, regional security, counterterrorism cooperation and economic connectivity. The Security Council directed Unama to support efforts to create conditions conducive to the “voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return and reintegration of internally disp...

FOR a few hours on Saturday, it appeared that the long diplomatic effort led by Pakistan to end the US-Iran war was approaching its culmination. President Donald Trump spoke of signing an agreement on Sunday, while Pakistani and Qatari mediators echoed the same with high confidence. Interestingly enough, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also remarked that a deal had never been closer. Still, within hours, Tehran publicly pushed back against reports that a signing ceremony was imminent, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei making it clear that no agreement would be signed that day. Still, as these lines were being written, it was not clear whether the delay was temporary or whether the negotiators were struggling to bridge differences that remain unresolved. Such uncertainty, in any case, isn’t unusual in diplomacy especially when it is taking place between arch rivals like the US and Iran. MoU looks driven less by reconciliation th...