Sunday, June 29th, 2025
Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill”: A Legislative Breakdown
By Qamar Bashir It is one of the greatest ironies of the American political system that the President of the United States wields near-unchecked power on the international stage—able to bomb foreign nations, greenlight wars, broker ceasefires, and tip the global balance of power without even consulting Congress. Yet, when it comes to domestic policymaking—specifically, delivering on economic promises like tax reform or welfare restructuring—the same president often appears as powerless as a ceremonial figurehead. President Donald J. Trump now faces this paradox head-on as his much-hyped “Big Beautiful Bill”Read More
Ogra notifies 50% increase in fixed gas charges for domestic consumers
Fixed charges for protected category increased from Rs400 to Rs600 DNA ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on Sunday announced revised gas prices for the fiscal year 2025-26, notifying a 50% increase in fixed gas charges for domestic consumers, effective from July 1. “The federal government, in response to Ogra’s determinations of SNGPL [Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited] and SSGCL [Sui Southern Gas Company Limited] of estimated revenue requirement for FY 2025-26, has advised revised category-wise natural gas sales effective July 01, 2025,” stated a notification issued byRead More
China ‘rolls over’ $3.4bn of commercial loans to Pakistan
Foreign loans, particularly from China, vital for stabilising Pakistan’s depleted foreign exchange reserves DNA BEIJING: China has rolled over $3.4 billion in loans to Pakistan, which together with other recent commercial and multilateral lending will boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves to $14 billion, a finance ministry source said on Sunday. Beijing rolled over $2.1 billion, which has been in Pakistan’s central bank’s reserves for the last three years, and refinanced another $1.3 billion commercial loan, which Islamabad had paid back two months ago, the source said. Another $1 billion fromRead More
Two fugitives wanted by Pakistan nabbed in Spain on Interpol’s red notice: ministry
MADRID, JUN 29: Spanish authorities have arrested two fugitives wanted by Pakistan in cases related to terrorism, murder, and abduction for ransom following the issuance of Interpol’s red notice, interior ministry said on Sunday. The proclaimed offenders will be handed over to Pakistan after formal formalities, the ministry’s spokesperson said, adding that one of the accused, Nawazish Ali Hunjra, was wanted in 23 cases of terrorism, murder, abduction for ransom, and others. Furthermore, the second fugitive arrested in Spain was Haroon Iqbal. Iqbal was also wanted by Pakistani authorities inRead More
SAMARKAND The Blue City
Written by Munaza Kazmi When we read the name Samarkand, unconsciously our mind took us to the blue gigantic monuments, glittering Domes, spices bazaars and to the Kingdom of Timur. Besides, travelling, Samarkand can be more than this, beside it dated back to 6th Century BCE as ancient Afrasiab, when it served the capital of Sogdian Dynasty, with which the city is associated with many archeological sites and a couple of mystical Persian legends. However, much of the significant development it took was under the region of Timur from 14thRead More
AG accuses PIA aviation medical safety standards with non-doctor in key role
By Nazir Siyal KARACHI, JUN 29 /DNA/ – In a startling revelation, the Auditor General of Pakistan has raised serious concerns over Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) appointment of a senior cargo official to lead its Medical Services Department—bypassing long-standing requirements for medical qualifications and aviation health expertise. According to the official audit report for the period 2022–2024, PIA appointed Mr. Tariq Hussain Khan, formerly General Manager (GM) Cargo, won the role of GM Medical Services. The position was historically held by a Chief Medical Officer (CMO)—a role requiring a specializedRead More