KARACHI: Amid high exchange rate volatility, the local currency lost more than one-fourth of its total value during 2018 with rupee’s slide worsening during the second half of the year. On Monday — last day of the year — dollar traded at Rs139 compared to Rs110.64 on Jan 3 translating into dollar’s appreciation of 25.6 per cent. During the outgoing …

ISLAMABAD: Despite introduction of supplementary finance bill in September, the revenue collection for the first half of current fiscal year is estimated to have shown less than 2 per cent growth, leaving a shortfall of more than Rs170 billion against the target. A senior official at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said the field formations had reported about Rs1.784 …

KARACHI: Despite a fall of $19 per ounce in international market, local gold consumers witnessed a sharp jump of Rs11,600 and Rs9,957 in one tola and 10 grams prices during 2018. The prices of one tola and 10 grams were Rs56,200 and Rs48,171 on December 30, 2017, based on world price of $1,303 per ounce. A year later, these are …

WASHINGTON: The former commander of US and international forces in Afghanistan said on Sunday he would not work for President Donald Trump because he believed the president was “immoral and dishonest”. In an interview to ABC News, retired general Stanley McChrystal accused Donald Trump of trading away “the biggest leverage” America had in Afghanistan by hinting that he intended to pull …

TEHRAN: Iran said on Monday that the Afghan Taliban have visited Tehran for a second round of peace talks in just a few days aimed at bringing an end to 17 years of conflict. Iran has made a more concerted and open push for peace in neighbouring Afghanistan since US President Donald Trump indicated there would be a significant withdrawal …

BAGHDAD/DUBAI: Iraqi warplanes hit a meeting of leaders of the militant Islamic State group near Deir al-Zor in Syria on Monday, destroying the building they were gathered in, the military said in a statement, without giving further details about the militants targeted. The statement said F-16 fighter jets carried out the raid around al-Sousa village in eastern Syria, as “30 …

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump reignited the pullout debate on Monday with a series of tweets, reiterating his pledge to call back all American troops from “never-ending wars.” Last week, Mr Trump ordered the Pentagon to execute the “full” and “rapid” withdrawal of US military from Syria, while his aides said that the president also plans to withdraw half of the …

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court granted interim pre-arrest bail to the owner of a restaurant in a case pertaining to the death of two siblings after consuming poisonous food. Owner of the restaurant Nadeem Mumtaz through his lawyer had moved an application before the SHC to avoid his arrest since a sessions court had dismissed his pre-arrest bail application. After …

HYDERABAD: A police team led by Cantonment ASP (additional superintendent of police) Abdullah Lak on Monday picked up managers of four different eateries located in the Cantt market in the city and collected samples of the food being offered by them. The action was taken following the death of a four-year-old boy, Umer, who along with his twin sister, Aleeza, …

SUKKUR: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan has said that his party will not support any unconstitutional or undemocratic move to bring change in Sindh’s political setup, including imposition of governor’s rule. Mr Haq told journalists at circuit house on Monday that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had not yet taken his party into confidence over ‘the change’ though the ruling …