Punjab’s cabinet has announced a budget for local‑government elections that were constitutionally due in April 2022, signalling a move to restore grassroots democracy while critics highlight that the province’s law gives elected councils limited real authority.
Aug 10, 2026, 3:40 AM
A new autopsy ruled suicide unlikely in the case of businessman Mir Raza Ali’s murder, prompting the Sindh home ministry to order a judicial inquiry led by a high‑court judge.
Dawn
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urges creation of more provinces, asserting Pakistan’s governance system has collapsed. His proposal, supported by the military, faces widespread political criticism and legal challenges.
Dawn
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Since the US‑Israel war with Iran began in late February, the world lost more than 2.6 billion barrels of oil, but prices have stayed in double digits.
Dawn
The new automotive policy, which should have replaced the previous one before its June 30 expiration, sees competing interests: legacy assemblers seek protection for internal combustion engines, while hybrid and EV manufacturers push for continued subsidies and stronger localisation mandates.
Dawn
Voting has begun in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts during the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections. 10,300 troops have been deployed alongside regular police to safeguard 803 polling stations, most classified as sensitive or highly sensitive. The earlier phases gave the PML‑N 24 seats and PPP 10 seats.
Dawn
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government led by the Pakistan Peoples Party appointed seven new members to its Public Service Commission (PSC) days before its term ends. The move, made under constitutional provisions, has raised concerns about the propriety and timing of the appointments. Opposition leader Shahid Mehmood Wani criticized the decision, urging the new elected government to decide such matters.
Dawn
Tarbela Dam, Pakistan's second largest reservoir, topped out at 1,549.48 feet on Sunday, a rise from the 1,549‑foot reading taken at 6 am. The live storage was 5.523 million‑acre‑feet, the highest level the dam has reached in this season.
Dawn
The government has quietly cut the amount of resilient homes for over 134,000 families hit by the 2022 floods in Balochistan, shrinking the housing component of a Rs115 billion World Bank‑funded program to about 69,000 homes and removing $180 million of proposed extra financing.
Dawn
Pakistan’s government is working toward creating between seven and twenty‑seven new provinces, but the effort confronts constitutional requirements and political opposition that could cause backlash.
Dawn
The Pakistan banking sector recorded a 15 % rise in total deposits to Rs39.8 trillion in FY26, while SME loans grew 37 % to Rs1.046 trillion, marking a significant expansion.
Dawn
The Express Tribune reports that Pakistan has committed to more than 150 international treaties, covering labour, environmental, and maritime standards. The country ratified 38 ILO conventions and adds import rules to ban forced‑labour goods, signalling a sustained effort to align domestic law with global expectations.
The Express Tribune
Pakistan’s growing tax revenue shows progress, but structural fiscal gaps remain. A tax professional highlights the need for a wider tax base, disciplined spending and economic growth to achieve fiscal independence.
The Express Tribune
The U.S. Treasury bought yen to support Japan’s currency and has yet to answer a standing swap line request from the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the selective nature of dollar liquidity access.
The Express Tribune
Pakistan and Iran have agreed to lift formal trade to $10 billion, using new transit arrangements and barter mechanisms to overcome sanctions, after a decade of declining formal traffic.
The Express Tribune
A debate ignited by a senior cabinet member highlights Pakistan’s need for stronger local governments, restored border trade and a balanced security strategy.
The Express Tribune
A trilateral defence agreement signed in Mecca adds Turkey to existing Saudi‑Pakistan ties. Tehran says the pact signals a shift away from U.S. influence but does not presently threaten Iran.
Al Jazeera
Dawn reports that authorities in Lower South Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan and Tank have imposed Section 144 for August 10, curbing movement between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. and closing markets to address security concerns.
Dawn
