ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has rejected the opposition’s objections to the federal budget, saying that allegations of discrepancies in budget documents were based on “incorrect interpretation”. While wrapping up the days-long budget debate in the National Assembly on Saturday, the finance czar said that the GDP and other key economic indicators were presented before the National Accounts Committee, which includes representation from all provinces, the federal government, and relevant institutions. He said some parliamentarians had expressed reservations over the budget, but added that the overall process was conducted transparently.Read More

BANNU: At least seven people were martyred and three others injured in two explosions in the Merka Bera area of Bannu, on Saturday, District Police Officer (DPO) Yasir Afridi said. The first blast occurred when explosives planted along a roadside detonated, hitting a passenger van travelling from Hathi Khel village to Bannu. Five passengers in the van were martyred in the explosion, the DPO said. A second explosion occurred shortly afterwards at the same location. Two individuals involved in rescue efforts were martyred in the second blast, while a vehicleRead More