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Agriculture sector to be transformed on modern lines: PM

Prime Mi­­n­is­ter Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated the government’s determination to transform the country’s agriculture sector on modern lines, emphasising that the sustainable development of this key sector of the economy is inevitable. Speaking at a ceremony here on Wednesday to send off the first batch of 300 agricultural graduates on capacity-building visit to China the prime minister said t

Govt asked to debate wheat policy in Council of Common Interests

Criticising the government’s wheat policy, Pakistan Business Forum on Wednesday warned of a looming crisis and demanded the matter be thoroughly debated by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) immediately. In a statement, PBF — a non-profit association of country-wide trade and industry — urged the government to immediately reconsider its decision to abolish the wheat support price. It warned

Dismal outlook for trade as US-China standoff deepens

Global trade is expected to plummet this year following US President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive, fuelling uncertainty that threatens “severe negative consequences” for the world, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) warned on Wednesday. Since returning to office, Trump has imposed staggering tariffs on the imports of goods from around the world. But while he placed a brief pause on made a U-

KE urges Nepra not to pass on full benefit of fall in fuel cost to consumers

K-Electric asked the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Wednesday not to pass on the full benefit of Rs6.62 per unit decrease in fuel cost in February to consumers and instead settle it against its past claims. The Nepra was holding a public hearing on monthly fuel cost adjustments (FCA) for electricity consumed in February, which showed the consumer had been overcharged to

Punjab announces Rs15bn package for wheat farmers

The Punjab government announced on Wednesday a package of Rs15bn for farmers amid reports of falling wheat prices at the time of harvesting, with growers holding rallies in different parts of the province. Under the Wheat Support Fund, 550,000 wheat farmers will be given direct financial support through the Kisan Card. The government also announced an exemption for wheat farmers from paying