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Newsdesk

Pakistan cuts Jet fuel price by Rs48.80 per litre

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Pakistan cuts

ISLAMABAD: The government has provided major relief to airlines and the aviation sector by reducing the price of jet fuel used by commercial aircraft by Rs48.80 per litre.

According to aviation sources, the latest reduction has brought the price of jet fuel down to Rs283.52 per litre. Fuel expenses constitute a significant portion of an airline’s operating costs, and the decrease is expected to ease the financial burden on carriers.

The development comes after the government also announced a Rs22 per litre reduction in petrol and diesel prices, offering broader relief to consumers and businesses.

Industry experts believe the lower fuel costs could pave the way for reductions in both domestic and international airfares. However, any decision regarding ticket prices will ultimately be made by individual airlines.

Aviation sources said the government has cumulatively reduced jet fuel prices by as much as Rs283 per litre, describing it as a significant step for Pakistan’s aviation industry.

Before the conflict in the Middle East, jet fuel was priced at Rs188 per litre on February 28. Despite the recent reduction, current prices remain substantially higher than pre-conflict levels.

FBR misses 11-month tax collection target

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FBR misses

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has remained unable to achieve its tax collection targets during the first 11 months of the ongoing fiscal year, with the cumulative revenue shortfall reaching Rs869 billion, according to official sources.

Sources said the FBR collected Rs11.226 trillion in taxes against the 11-month target of Rs12 trillion, leaving a significant gap in revenue generation.

For May 2026, the tax authority is also expected to miss its monthly target by around Rs185 billion. The FBR is likely to collect approximately Rs965 billion during the month, compared to the assigned target of Rs1.15 trillion, sources added.

The FBR’s overall tax collection target for the current fiscal year stands at Rs13.979 trillion.

Meanwhile, following approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the tax authority’s collection target for the next fiscal year has been set at Rs15.3 trillion, reflecting the government’s efforts to strengthen revenue mobilization and fiscal stability.

US signals readiness for Iran strikes if nuclear talks fail

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US signals

SINGAPORE:US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has described Pakistan as a “sincere friend” of the United States, while expressing cautious optimism over ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran and reiterating Washington’s concerns about China’s expanding military capabilities.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said discussions with Iran had been constructive and that “good talks” had taken place. He maintained that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, adding that the United States remained prepared for all scenarios if diplomacy fails.

“Pakistan is a sincere friend of the United States,” he said, while noting that any potential agreement with Iran would be positive if it contributed to regional stability.

Hegseth said the U.S. continues to pursue regular defense-level engagements and expects monthly meetings between military teams. He added that President Donald Trump would pursue agreements based on American national interests.

The U.S. defense chief also confirmed recent talks with China’s defense leadership, saying military communication channels remained open and that relations between the two countries were currently at their most stable level in years.

However, he warned that China’s rapid military modernization remains a concern for Washington and its allies, urging Indo-Pacific partners to increase defense spending to 3.5% of their GDP.

He stressed the need for a stronger alliance network to maintain balance in the region, saying no country should be allowed to impose dominance in the Indo-Pacific.

Hegseth also reiterated that the United States is prepared to resume military action against Iran if diplomatic efforts fail, while emphasizing that negotiations are ongoing to resolve disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program.

On broader security commitments, he said the U.S. would continue arms sales and defense cooperation with allies including Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, while maintaining strategic focus on both the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region.

France withdraws from Miss Universe 2026 for first time in history

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France withdraws

PARIS: France has announced that it will not participate in the 2026 edition of the Miss Universe 2026 pageant, marking the country’s first withdrawal from the competition in more than 70 years.

According to international media reports, the dates for Miss Universe 2026 have yet to be announced. However, the organization behind Miss France confirmed that France will not send a representative to the upcoming edition.

France has participated in the Miss Universe competition continuously since 1952, making the decision a significant break from a tradition spanning seven decades.

In a statement shared on Instagram, the Miss France organization said the decision applies only to the next edition of the pageant. The organization added that it remains attentive to the future development of the competition and hopes to resume participation in the near future.

Meanwhile, organizers of Miss Universe have also confirmed that France will not be represented at the 2026 contest.

No detailed reason for the withdrawal has been publicly disclosed, and the Miss France organization has indicated that it will continue monitoring developments related to the international competition before making future decisions regarding participation.

Pakistan opt to field against Australia in historic 1,000th ODI

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Pakistan opt

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against Australia in the opening match of a three-match One-Day International series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said the occasion was particularly significant as Pakistan was playing its 1,000th ODI, becoming one of the few teams to reach the milestone in international cricket.

“It is an honor to captain Pakistan in its 1,000th ODI,” Afridi said at the toss. “It is a historic moment for the entire team, and we will try to deliver a strong performance and secure a victory.”

Pakistan handed an ODI debut to Arafat Minhas, one of several young players included in the lineup.

Pakistan Playing XI:

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Sahibzada Farhan, Moaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed.

The match marks the beginning of a three-game ODI series between Pakistan and Australia, with the hosts aiming to celebrate their milestone appearance with a victory.

PSX rallies on Iran–US deal hopes, KSE-100 gains over 6,000 points

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PSX rallies

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange extended its bullish momentum during the week, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index rising sharply amid optimism over a potential US-Iran agreement.

According to weekly market data from the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the index surged by 6,118 points to close at 173,962 points.

The KSE-100 traded within a 3,944-point range during the week, reaching a high of 174,106 points and a low of 170,161 points.

Market activity remained strong, with approximately 1.06 billion shares changing hands in deals worth Rs72 billion over the week.

The overall market capitalization increased by Rs549 billion during the week, reaching Rs19.166 trillion.

Analysts linked the positive sentiment to growing investor optimism over a possible US-Iran deal, which is expected to improve regional geopolitical stability and support emerging market equities.

The strong weekly performance reflects sustained investor confidence and continued upward momentum in Pakistan’s equity market.

Over 20 PTI MPAs express discontent with KP chief minister

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Over 20 PTI

PESHAWAR: More than 20 lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi over governance and administrative issues, according to sources.

Sources said the disgruntled members have raised concerns about deteriorating law and order in the province, alleging that the chief minister has been unable to assert authority over the bureaucracy. They claimed that several officials are reportedly more responsive to the federal government than the provincial leadership.

The lawmakers also complained that their repeated concerns had not been addressed, including issues related to uneven distribution of development funds and dissatisfaction over the expansion of the provincial cabinet.

According to sources, the dissatisfied members may soon convene a meeting to discuss their concerns and formulate a joint strategy.

However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan rejected reports of internal divisions, calling them false, fabricated, and baseless.

He said all PTI members of the provincial assembly are united under the leadership of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and remain committed to party discipline. Shafi Jan added that those hoping for divisions within the party would be disappointed, stressing that the chief minister enjoys full confidence from the party’s founding leadership.

Pakistan proposes sharp tax hike on solar, electric and hybrid vehicles in budget

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Pakistan proposes

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is considering significant tax increases on solar panels and electric and hybrid vehicles in the upcoming fiscal year 2026–27 budget, according to official sources.

Under the proposed measures, the General Sales Tax (GST) on solar panels is expected to be raised from 10% to 18%. Similarly, the GST on electric vehicles may be increased from 1% to 18%, while hybrid vehicles could see tax rates rise from 8% to 18%.

Officials said the proposals also include higher taxation on motorcycles, rickshaws, trucks, buses, electric pickups, tractors, and double-cabin vehicles, which could result in a broad increase in transportation and renewable energy costs.

Sources indicated that the planned tax hikes are likely to make solar panels and electric and hybrid vehicles more expensive for consumers if approved.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to sources, has opposed granting tax exemptions. However, the government is still attempting to persuade the lender to allow relief for the renewable energy sector.

The IMF has reportedly maintained that any tax exemptions must be offset through alternative revenue measures to ensure fiscal balance.

Officials further said that, based on current proposals, prices across the electric mobility and solar energy sectors are expected to rise if the new tax structure is implemented.

The IMF has also reportedly suggested increasing GST on electric vehicles to 18% and raising tax rates on hybrid vehicles to the same level.

In addition, industry stakeholders have urged the government to release Rs327 billion in pending tax refunds to the textile sector and have called for reductions in electricity and gas tariffs. Exporters could potentially receive relief of up to Rs100 billion, although officials say prospects for a large-scale relief package remain limited.

Actress Neha Dhupia recalls casting director’s remark

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Actress Neha Dhupia

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia has shared a painful early-career experience, saying a casting director’s harsh comment deeply impacted her self-confidence.

The actress said that during an audition, she smiled while speaking, after which the casting director told her not to smile because she “looked bad” doing so. Neha Dhupia said the remark stayed with her for years and affected her self-image.

She added that despite later winning the Miss India title, she struggled for a long time to feel comfortable smiling in photographs.

In the same discussion, actress Huma Qureshi also spoke about the impact of social media trolling, saying harsh online criticism affected her mental health and led her to seek psychological support.

Both actors highlighted the emotional pressure faced by public figures and the long-lasting impact of negative remarks in the entertainment industry.