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Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Government increases petrol price for next fortnight
The federal government on Saturday announced an increase of Rs1 per litre in the price of petrol, while the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) was maintained at the existing rate. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, the price of petrol has been raised from Rs252.63 per litre to Rs253.63 per litre, while the price of HSD remains unchanged at Rs254.64 per litre. The new prices will take effect from midnight and will remain in place for fifteen days. Earlier in May, the government had kept petrol prices unchanged for two weeks but cut the price of HSD by Rs2 per litre, effective from May 16.
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PM amenable to dialogue with ‘misled people' in Balochistan
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is willing to sit across the table with 'those who have been misled… who have been led astray' in Balochistan as he promised 'social and economic justice' to the people of the impoverished province which has been caught up in a spiral of deadly violence since 2006. 'We must strive to win back the people who were misled [by terrorists] to the wrong track. If there are any grievances, they should be resolved through dialogue in the spirit of brotherhood,' he said while referring to chronic grievances in the dirt-poor province which have been exploited by Baloch terrorist groups to promote their violent narrative. The prime minister was addressing a grand jirga in Quetta on Saturday which brought together tribal elders, lawmakers, and key stakeholders for consultations aimed at resolving long-standing issues, particularly those related to security and development. Field Marshal Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir, Baochistan's Acting Governor Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and high ranking military and civil officials were also in attendance. کوئٹہ: وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف کا بلوچستان گرینڈ جرگہ سے خطاب! — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) May 31, 2025 Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome he received at the jirga, the prime minister described Balochistan as 'a beautiful province of brave people and the heart of Pakistan.' There has been an uptick in terrorist violence in the province which civil and military officials have blamed on India. 'The bloodthirsty terrorists, who are against the progress prosperity of Pakistan, are carrying out heinous acts of terrorism at the behest of foreign elements,' Premier Shehbaz said while referring to India. 'They must be stopped. We all must defeat their nefarious designs. If there are shortcomings in our response, these could be addressed with your guidance,' he told the jirga participants. 'All provinces are like brothers and will equally share resources of the country,' PM Shehbaz said, adding that the federal government was spending Rs70 billion on a solarisation project in Balochistan. Similarly, Rs150 billion would be diverted for building N25 highway, which is commonly referred to as the 'bloody highway' due to its precarious condition. Money for these projects would be acquired from the amount which the government was collecting after the drop in the prices of petroleum products in the international market. Prime Minister @CMShehbaz has called upon all stakeholders in Balochistan to join hands with the government and armed forces of Pakistan for lasting peace and prosperity in the province@dpr_gob @PakPMO #RadioPakistan #News — Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) May 31, 2025 The prime minister said that the government would allocate Rs1,000 billion for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) this year and 25 per cent, or Rs250 billion, from the fund would be for projects in Balochistan. He said federal funds were the right of people of Balochistan and every penny would be spent transparently on the progress and prosperity of the province. He recalled that during his tenure as the chief minister of Punjab, he had allocated 10 per cent quota for students of Balochistan in different schemes of Punjab, including laptop schemes and scholarships in foreign and provincial educational institutions. In the past, Rs2 billion was allocated for a cardiac hospital in Balochistan, he added. The prime minister also recalled that Punjab had agreed to give part of its share from the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award to Balochistan in view of its development needs as the province is the largest in terms of area. 'In today's value, the funds diverted to Balochistan amount to Rs160 billion,' he explained. Read More: PM Shehbaz 'ready for talks' with India on water, trade The NFC award was signed in Lahore in 2010 after three days of discussions among the national leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Nawaz Sharif, he added. He said that during Nawaz Sharif's tenure as prime minister a lot of development projects were undertaken in Balochistan and President Zardari had initiated Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package. Talking about the recent conflict with India, Premier Shehbaz said that on the night between May 6 and 7 and May 10 India attacked Pakistan but with the grace of Allah, the armed forces bravely defeated the enemy, who will remember its defeat forever. He thanked people of Pakistan for showing unity and standing shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan Army during the conflict. Read More: India's 'hydro terrorism' untenable: COAS 'As the prime minister I was witness to all the events of the short duration war,' he said, adding that 'as a brave and sagacious leader Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir led Pakistan armed forces to a victory against India and made the nation proud.' He said that the triumph over India was akin to avenging the events of 1971. 'Now the enemy is scared and Pakistan's friendly countries are more confident after Pakistan's military victory over India,' he claimed.
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Issues of Balochistan to be resolved amicably: PM Shehbaz
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said the issues faced by the people of Balochistan would be resolved amicably and funds would be made available for the development and progress of the largest province. Addressing a grand jirga of Balochistan, he said the four provinces were like brothers and would equally share resources of the country. The federal government was spending Rs70 billion on the solarisation project in Balochistan, he said, adding Rs150 billion would be diverted for the building of highway N25 in Balochistan. India has intensified 'terrorism campaign' inside Pakistan through proxies, says PM Shehbaz The funds would be acquired from the amount, which the government was collecting after the lowering down of prices of petroleum products in the international market. The prime minister said the government would allocate Rs1,000 billion for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) this year and 25% or Rs250 billion from the fund would be for projects in Balochistan. He said federal funds were the right of people of Balochistan and every penny would be spent transparently on the progress and prosperity of the province.
Express Tribune
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Shoaib Akhtar faces legal action from Dr Nauman Niaz over televised remarks
Listen to article Television host and former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official Dr Nauman Niaz has served a defamation notice of Rs1 billion to former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar. The notice follows a televised statement made by the former Pakistani pacer during an appearance on a TV programme on May 25. During the broadcast segment titled The Dug Out, Shoaib stated that Dr Nauman 'used to carry our bags' and that 'he was kept for that purpose.' The remark was circulated on social media and received widespread attention. A legal notice, dated May 29, was issued by Dr Nauman's legal counsel. The document states that the comment was factually incorrect, and that it was intended to harm Dr Nauman's professional standing. The notice demands a public apology and formal retraction within 14 days, failing which legal proceedings will be initiated under the Defamation Ordinance 2002. Dr Nauman has previously held positions within the Pakistan Cricket Board, and has written articles for various national and international publications. The notice states that the comment by Shoaib reduced his professional history to a claim unsupported by evidence. The statement is described in the legal document as part of a broader pattern of conduct that Dr Nauman alleges has continued for the past three years. Shoaib has not issued a response to the notice as of the date of reporting. A previous incident involving Shoaib and Dr Nauman occurred in October 2021, during a live broadcast of PTV (Pakistan Television Corporation) Sports' programme. The panel also featured international cricket personalities including Sir Vivian Richards, David Gower, Sana Mir, and Umar Gul, and was focused on Pakistan's five-wicket win against New Zealand in a T20 World Cup match. READ MORE: Niaz, Akhtar taken off air after on-screen spat During the discussion, Shoaib credited the Pakistan Super League's Lahore Qalandars franchise for discovering fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. Dr Nauman interrupted the exchange, stating on air that Shoaib was 'being a little rude' and added, 'If you're being over-smart then you can go. I am saying this on air.' Following a commercial break, Shoaib apologised to the other panel members and announced his resignation from PTV Sports, stating that he could not continue due to the manner in which he had been treated on national television. Subsequently, the PTV issued a Rs100 million recovery notice to Shoaib in relation to the incident and his resignation. Shoaib described the move as disappointing and said he would contest the matter legally. Shoaib Akhtar clocked the fastest delivery in cricketing history at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) during a 2003 World Cup match versus England - a speed record that stands unbeaten.
United News of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
SC slams Orissa Public Service Commission for evaluation error in judicial exam
New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday came down heavily on the Orissa Public Service Commission (OPSC) for its refusal to admit a mistake in evaluating a judicial service aspirant's answer sheet in the 2022 Odisha Judicial Service Examination. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Vijay Bishnoi was hearing an appeal filed by the OPSC challenging an Orissa High Court order directing it to pay Rs 1 lakh in compensation to the affected candidate. Expressing serious concern over the Commission's conduct, the Supreme Court stated that such blunders in examination evaluation cannot be taken lightly and that public bodies must be held accountable. 'You, as an examination body, commit these kinds of blunders, you should be taken to task. How will the young generation have faith and trust in you? This Commission is adamant. Some arrogant elements are sitting there. You are still insisting there is no mistake. The Commission thinks too highly of itself. Case dismissed,' Justice Kant remarked sharply during the hearing. The counsel for OPSC urged the Court to at least expunge the adverse observations made against the Commission by the High Court. To this, Justice Dipankar Datta observed, 'Had you at the first instance accepted that 'there is something wrong on our part and we would examine it,' the matter would have ended.' While dismissing the appeal, the Supreme Court clarified that the adverse comments made by the High Court in its judgment should not be treated as precedent. 'The observations made in the impugned judgment are in the context of the mistake detected in the evaluation of one of the question papers and are not to be treated as precedent for future cases,' the bench stated. The case arose after a candidate who took the 2022 Odisha Judicial Service Examination approached the Orissa High Court, claiming she had narrowly missed the cut-off for the interview stage because one of her answers was left unevaluated. Independent expert assessment ordered by the High Court confirmed the error. Although the re-evaluated marks did not qualify her for the interview round, the High Court strongly criticised the OPSC for the lapse. It emphasised that such errors are unacceptable in competitive examinations, which are career-defining and involve significant personal and financial sacrifices by candidates. It further stressed that the evaluation process must meet the highest standards of diligence and fairness. The High Court ordered OPSC to pay Rs1 lakh as compensation for the negligence, a directive that has now been upheld by the Supreme Court with its dismissal of the OPSC's appeal. UNI SNG RN
