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PM’s nod sought for lawmakers’ pay hike

After criticism of a proposed increase in the salaries of parliamentarians, the issue has been sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for approval, Dawn has learnt. “The issue has been sent to the PM because being the chief executive, he can ask the finance ministry for a raise even if it’s not covered in the money bill,” a government insider said. The PM is now expected to consult the federa

150,000 federal posts vacant after rightsizing

Punjab has largest share of federal employment at 46pc, but below its 53pc population share • KP’s share exceeds its population ratio with 28pc; Sindh holds 13.8pc, Balochistan 4.99pc of federal jobs ISLAMABAD: The government has estimated that around 150,000 more posts were still vacant in the Centre and its autonomous bodies, after the recent abolition of an equal number of positions by the

Stocks recover 594 points on select buying

The Pakist­­an Stock Exchange (PSX) snapped the two-session losing streak as bulls drove bears out on Thursday despite a highly volatile session. The benchmark KSE-100 index hit an intraday high of 114,319.62 and a low of 113,234.31. Ultima­tely closing with a gain of 594.36 points or 0.52 per cent at 114,037.79 day-on-day. Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation said stocks recovered in the

Saudi Arabia plans $600bn in new US investment, trade over four years

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told President Donald Trump that the kingdom wants to put $600 billion into expanded investment and trade with the United States over the next four years, the Saudi State news agency said early on Thursday. In a phone call between the two leaders, the crown prince said the Trump administration’s expected reforms could create “unprecedented economic

PM hails $20bn World Bank partnership to boost growth

Prime Mini­ster Shehbaz Sharif on Thu­rsday hailed the $20 billion Country Partnership Frame­work (CPF) as a landmark initiative, even as a World Bank official acknowledged they were ‘taking a risk’ by offering Pakistan the unusual decade-long partnership. Addressing the launch ceremony of the decade-long CPF, the prime minister described it as a transformative partnership marking the longest d