NATIONALP@SHA has urged the government to clearly separate genuine freelancers from full-time remote employees in the tax system. The association says misuse of the current framework is distorting earnings data and disadvantaging formal IT firms.
WorldThe United States and Mexico have completed their first bilateral round of talks on revising the USMCA trade pact. Further meetings are planned in Washington in June and in Mexico City in July.
WorldCentral bank independence is coming under fresh pressure as policymakers confront rising inflation and political demands. Officials warn that interference could undermine trust and make inflation harder to control.
NATIONALAn ICMA report says Pakistan’s dependence on imported oil and LNG is increasing fiscal and energy security risks as domestic gas reserves decline. It says structural reform and faster renewable investment are needed to reduce vulnerability.
NATIONALPakistan’s auto sector is expected to add 23 new vehicle models between June and December 2026, with nearly 87% of them electrified. Industry data points to Chinese brands playing a central role in the shift.
NATIONALThe Peshawar High Court has said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities have failed to fully implement a larger bench ruling on the criminal justice system. The court warned it may issue a strict order if effective steps are not taken.
NATIONALTalks between the federal government and JAAC ended without a deal late on Saturday, with the committee saying its June 9 strike will go ahead. The abolition of 12 refugee seats remained the only unresolved issue.
NATIONALThe PSQCA has ordered flour mills across Pakistan to immediately stop using substandard and unregistered woven sacks for flour packaging. The directive follows an Islamabad High Court ruling and mandates the use of PSQCA-certified bags.
WorldTurkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Israel could join a regional platform if it recognises a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders. Gaza’s health ministry says the death toll in the enclave has climbed to 72,938.
NATIONALA truck carrying Afghan families returning from Pakistan overturned in eastern Afghanistan, killing 20 people, including 12 children, and injuring 33 others. The crash took place on the Jalalabad-Kabul road, officials said.
NATIONALThe IMF has asked Pakistan to raise the standard GST rate to 19pc in Budget 2026-27, according to a Geo National report. The FBR chairman, however, denied that any such proposal was under consideration.
BusinessFPCCI executive committee member Adeel Siddiqui has criticised Sindh’s industrial infrastructure, questioning how over Rs1.5 trillion in infrastructure cess was used. He said Hyderabad and Kotri industrial estates continue to face broken roads, water shortages and poor drainage.
