ISLAMABAD: The wireless and internet service providers have said that the proposed revisions in their licensing regime by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will lead to mismanagement and distortions in the industry. The Wireless & Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (Wispas) has expressed concerns that the new proposed licensing template for Data Class Value Added Services (CVAS) will foster …

CHITTAGONG: A top-order batting blitz took Sri Lanka to 314-4 and left the tourists firmly in command on the opening day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Saturday. Kusal Mendis top-scored with 93 in Chittagong, while openers Dimuth Karunaratne (86) and Nishan Madushka (57) also helped power the innings. “Of course we are happy,” Karunaratne said. “That’s …

LONDON: Son Heung-min’s late winner fired Tottenham Hotspur into the Premier League’s top four with a 2-1 win over Luton Town as Chelsea twice blew a lead against 10-man Burnley in a 2-2 draw on Saturday. An action-packed afternoon also saw Newcastle United come from 3-1 down to stun West Ham United 4-3 and Fulham hit back for a 3-3 …

BELGRADE: Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo and Beatrice Chebet of Kenya successfully defended their world cross country titles in Belgrade on Saturday. It’s just the fifth time in history that both the senior men’s and women’s champions have retained their titles at the championships — the first since Ethiopian duo Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba did in (2005/06). Kiplimo, 23, made it …

Batsman Babar Azam made a return to the captaincy of the men’s cricket team on Sunday after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that he would lead the Green Shirts in ODIs and T20s. In a post on social media platform X, the PCB said, “Babar Azam appointed as white-ball captain.” It said the decision was made following a “unanimous recommendation” from …

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced the commencement of a sweeping registration drive under the Tajir Dost Scheme, designed to integrate traders and wholesalers into the formal tax framework by April 30. Scheduled to start on April 1, this initiative facilitates free registration and extends a variety of tax-related benefits to incentivise participation. The FBR has warned that failure …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan could face up to 30-35 per cent water shortages during the upcoming kharif cropping season starting April 1. This could negatively affect some of the key cash crops like cotton and revive inter-provincial controversy over water allocations. A clear picture of water availability for the season is expected to emerge on April 2 provided the Advisory Committee of …

KARACHI: The stock market maintained a bullish trend in the outgoing week due to aggressive value-hunting, propelling the KSE 100-share index to an all-time high, closing above 67,000, on persistent optimism about economic stability, PIA privatisation and expected inflows from the IMF next month after reaching a staff-level agreement. AKD Securities Ltd said the first four sessions cumulatively added around …

KARACHI: The higher dollar influx in Ramazan has compensated for the lower inflows through exchange companies in February, currency dealers said on Saturday. “We sold about $300 to $350 million to banks in March, which is significantly higher than the preceding month,” said Zafar Paracha, General Secretary of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan. They said remittances through banking channels …