Deep under the rubble, rescuers found an 11-year-old boy alive.
Deep under the rubble, rescuers found an 11-year-old boy alive.
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KP Assembly Unanimously Opposes Federal Taxes
PESHAWAR, June 28: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly on Sunday unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the federal government’s decision to impose taxes in Malakand Division and the merged districts.
The resolution, jointly moved by government and opposition members, was presented by ruling party MPA Dr. Hamid ur Rahman.
It demands that the federal government immediately withdraw all taxes introduced in the new federal budget. The house stated that no taxes should be levied until the backward areas are brought at par with developed regions.
The KP assembly further urged the government to reverse its decision to impose all taxes, including income tax and dealer tax, in the affected areas.
Earlier, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly on Sunday approved a supplementary budget exceeding Rs121.47 billion, clearing additional allocations for both current expenditures and development projects across multiple government departments.
According to the approved budget, Rs50.49 billion has been allocated for current expenditures, while Rs71.73 billion has been earmarked for the province’s development programme.
Key departmental allocations
- Police: Rs7.53 billion.
- Administration of Justice: Rs4.12 billion.
- Home Department: Rs1.38 billion.
- Prisons Department: Rs514.1 million.
- Local Councils: Rs7.5 billion.
- Local Government Department: Additional Rs1.29 billion.
- Social Welfare Department: Rs4.43 billion.
- Relief: Rs7.35 billion.
- Merged districts: Additional Rs3 billion.
- Debt servicing: Rs3 billion.
- Transport Department: Rs1.46 billion.
- Information Department: Rs706.5 million.
- Forests Department: Rs412.9 million.
- Revenue Department: Rs323.6 million.
- Administration Department: Rs791.9 million.
- Planning and Development (P&D) Department: Rs40.2 million.
Officials said the supplementary grants are aimed at meeting urgent spending requirements, accelerating development work, and supporting security and public welfare initiatives across the province, including in the merged districts.
The assembly also approved Rs49.89 billion under revised current expenditures, in addition to the Rs71.73 billion for development schemes.
Also Read: KP Budget 2026-27: Major allocations announced for welfare, security, infrastructure
Karachi Offers Prayers for Fallen Rangers Soldiers
KARACHI: Funeral prayers for Pakistan Rangers Sindh soldiers martyred while foiling a terrorist attack were offered in Karachi on Sunday.
The Rangers personnel were killed after thwarting a cowardly attack by the banned TTP splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahraar, described by officials as an Indian proxy.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, DG Rangers, the martyrs’ families and senior civil and military officials attended the prayers in large numbers.
Participants paid tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs and expressed condolences to their families.
Interior Minister Naqvi said the attack was extremely tragic and those responsible would be held accountable. “Security forces will hunt down terrorist elements wherever they are and bring them to justice,” he said.
Governor Hashmi condemned terrorism in the strongest terms. “We will continue the struggle to eradicate terrorism from the country. We will not tolerate Indian-sponsored terrorism and will eliminate it root and branch,” he said.
Chief Minister Shah said the Rangers soldiers embraced martyrdom while foiling the terrorists’ nefarious designs. “We salute them. We stand with the security forces for the complete elimination of terrorism,” he said.
After the funeral prayers, the bodies were dispatched to the martyrs’ hometowns for burial with full military honours.
Later, Minister Naqvi and Governor Hashmi visited the site of the attack. Officials said security forces remain committed to eradicating terrorism completely.
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Karachi family comes under attack after losing way in Balochistan
QUETTA: A young man from Karachi was killed and a woman critically injured after unidentified gunmen opened fire on a family’s vehicle in the Dasht area of Balochistan’s Kech district after they reportedly lost their way, police said.
According to preliminary information, the deceased was identified as Ali Jameel, a resident of Karachi. A woman travelling with the family sustained serious injuries in the attack.
Police said the family, residents of Karachi’s Nazimabad area, was travelling to Quetta when they were allegedly misdirected by Google Maps and reached the remote Khand area of Dasht.
Officials said unidentified armed men opened fire on the vehicle after it entered the area. Two young children travelling with the family escaped the attack unharmed.
The incident occurred late Saturday night. Authorities shifted the body of the deceased and the injured woman to Karachi, while an investigation into the attack is underway.
Read more: Two Miners Killed in Balochistan Coal Mine Collapse
Earlier, two workers were killed in a fatal incident in Lakhra coalmine near Hyderabad. The incident happened in the coalmine of Sindh Lakhra Coal Company, rescue officials said.
Rescuers said that the two labourers were fall down to the 100-foot-deep pit along with the machine.
The deceased workers were identified as Nadir Rajar and Juman Rajar, sources said.
“The dead bodies of both workers were retrieved from the mine and handed over to their families.
It is to be mentioned here that a coal miner from Shangla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was killed in an accident at Lakhra coal mine in last February, highlighting persistent safety concerns faced by mine workers across the country.
DR Congo advance but Iran out as wild World Cup group stage wraps
The Democratic Republic of Congo became the latest underdogs to roar at the World Cup on Saturday, battling into the knockout rounds for the first time as Iran’s rollercoaster campaign ended in elimination.
A chaotic finale to the tournament’s expanded group phase saw Austria and Algeria fill the final two berths in the last 32 late on Saturday after battling to an extraordinary 3-3 draw in Group J — a result that dashed Iran’s hopes of advancing from their group.
A win for either Austria or Algeria would have allowed Iran to squeeze into the last 32, and it looked as if the Asian side would advance when Riyadh Mahrez scored in the third minute of stoppage time to put the Algerians into a 3-2 lead.
But Iranian joy was short-lived when Sasa Kalajdzic arrowed in a header in the sixth minute of injury time to snatch a draw for Austria and spark pandemonium in Kansas City.
Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, who scored Austria’s second goal, described the closing moments as “weird”.
“It’s a draw normally, so you think you go through and then one moment from Algeria,” he said. “We did it and we were very lucky at the end, but very happy about that.” It was the final act of another enthralling day at the tournament, which saw DR Congo emulate fellow African minnows Cape Verde by reaching the knockouts following a 3-1 defeat of Uzbekistan.
DR Congo’s win in Atlanta — their first ever victory in a World Cup match — was enough to secure third place in Group K, setting up a dream clash with England in the next round.
“We love our national team. We love what we represent. I think tonight we just showed what it means for us is just to fight no matter what,” said DR Congo striker Yoane Wissa.
DR Congo’s progression continued a stunning World Cup for African sides.
Only one of 10 African teams — Tunisia — failed to reach the second round.
Messi scores again
Elsewhere on Saturday, Argentina maestro Lionel Messi took his tally at the tournament to an incredible six goals in three matches after coming off the bench to score in the South Americans’ 3-1 defeat of Jordan.
Argentina had already assured themselves of top spot in Group J following wins over Austria and Algeria, and were always in control against the eliminated Jordanians in a dead rubber in Arlington, Texas.
Messi’s latest strike also took his career World Cup tally to a record-extending 19 goals. Earlier, England ensured their passage to the knockout rounds as Group L winners with a laboured 2-0 defeat of Panama at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored the goals that set up their date with the DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Colombia topped Group K after holding Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to a 0-0 draw in Miami — a result that means the Portuguese will now face Croatia in the last 32.
England were made to work hard by a well-organised Panama team and looked to be heading for a repeat of their lacklustre 0-0 draw with Ghana until Bellingham opened the scoring on 62 minutes before providing an assist for Kane five minutes later.
“It was what we expected: a tough match against a physical opponent,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said.
“They are a difficult team to score against and we were the only team to create this amount of chances and score twice.”
Croatia, meanwhile, made sure of claiming second place in the group behind England with a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia.
Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic scored the goals for Croatia, as Ghana were forced to settle for third.
Croatia’s win extinguished Scotland’s hopes of squeezing into the last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, sealing their elimination from the tournament. Scotland manager Steve Clarke promptly resigned.
Portugal had gone into their tussle with Colombia in Miami needing a win to top the group — and give themselves a theoretically easier route in the knockout rounds.
But after a thrilling, end-to-end battle, Portugal had to settle for a point against a Colombia team who so nearly snatched a win in the dying minutes, only to see a fractional offside decision deny them a winning goal.
The result means Portugal will face a tricky tie with the experienced Croatians in the last 32 — and potentially a meeting with European champions Spain in the last 16.
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