ISLAMABAD, JUL 18: The federal government on Friday announced a fresh increase in petroleum prices, raising petrol by Rs5.44 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs31.05 per litre.

The fresh hike has raised petrol price from Rs310.71 to Rs316.15 per litre, and diesel from Rs323.30 to Rs354.35 per litre.

The Petroleum Division issued a notification stating that the new fuel prices will take effect on July 18 and remain applicable until July 20.

The revised fuel prices were announced after the federal government enforced a daily review mechanism for the petroleum products rates.

The move to daily price reviews follows the government’s earlier decision to conduct weekly petroleum price adjustments after tensions escalated following the US-Israeli conflict with Iran on February 28.

In the previous weekly review, the government increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs13.18 and Rs13.80 per litre, respectively.

According to a previous notification, new petrol and HSD prices have been set at Rs310.71 and Rs323.30 per litre, respectively.

Petrol is mainly used by commuters in small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers. Higher fuel prices significantly impact the budgets of middle and lower-middle-class households, who rely on petrol for daily travel.

On the other hand, a significant portion of the transport sector relies on high-speed diesel.

Its price is considered inflationary since it is predominantly used in heavy goods transport vehicles, trucks, buses, trains, and agricultural machinery such as tractors, tube wells, and threshers.

The consumption of high-speed diesel particularly contributes to the increased prices of vegetables and other food items.

ISLAMABAD: Official data from the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) revealed that registrations for the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination decreased by nearly 48% over the last four years, with 18,139 applicants registering for the exams in 2025 compared to 35,059 in 2022.

The number of candidates appearing in the examination also declined from 20,262 to 12,792 during the same period. Despite the fall in applicants, nominations remained limited, declining from 239 in 2022 to 170 in 2025, The News reported.

CSS is one of the country’s most prestigious competitive examinations, conducted by the FPSC to recruit officers for Pakistan’s civil service. Currently, the CSS exam, conducted annually to assess candidates through a uniform set of tests, with successful applicants allocated to different service groups regardless of their academic background.

FPSC’s official data shows that even in general recruitment, candidates are applying for federal government jobs in smaller numbers than they did just a few years ago. However, securing a job remains rare.

FPSC recruitment analytics for 2022-2025, reveal a sharp decline in applications for both the prestigious CSS examination and general recruitment, while the number of successful candidates has remained only a tiny fraction of those who apply.

The statistics indicate that only 0.94% of registered CSS applicants and 1.33% of those who appeared were finally nominated in 2025. In 2022, the nomination rates stood at 0.68% of registered candidates and 1.18% of those who appeared.

The trend is similar in general recruitment. Registrations peaked at 436,757 in 2023 before falling sharply to 196,193 in 2025, a decline of more than 55% in just two years. Candidates appearing in recruitment examinations also fell from 199,234 in 2023 to 80,633 in 2025.

Despite fewer applicants, recruitment remained highly selective. In 2025, only 3,005 candidates were nominated out of 196,193 registered applicants. In 2023, the selection rate was very low, with only 1,436 nominations from more than 436,000 registrations. The data also shows a persistent gap between registration and appearance.

Only about 45% of registered CSS candidates appeared in the examination in 2023, while the proportion improved to around 71% in 2025. For general recruitment, the appearance rate increased from around 32% in 2022 to 41% in 2025, although a majority of registered applicants still did not sit in the examinations.

The data shows that while fewer Pakistanis are applying for federal jobs, the competition remains intense because vacancies continue to be far outnumbered by applicants.

Even in 2025, nearly 18,000 candidates competed for just 170 CSS nominations, while almost 200,000 applicants sought only 3,005 recommendations in general recruitment.

KARACHI, JUL 18: Pakistan marked a significant milestone in its campaign against extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence as leading religious scholars and spiritual leaders from all schools of thought offered Maghrib prayers behind a single Imam at Jamia Tur Rasheed, Karachi, in an unprecedented demonstration of religious harmony and national unity.

This historic demonstration was observed during an official visit to Jamia Tur Rasheed, organized by the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee and brought together eminent Ulema and Mashaikh, representatives of major religious seminaries and leaders from different faith communities.

The congregation is being regarded as the first of its kind in Pakistan’s history, where scholars representing all schools of Islamic thought assembled at a leading religious institution to offer congregational prayers behind one Imam, sending a strong message of unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Among those who attended the event were Prime Minister’s Coordinator for the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee and Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Allama Arif Wahidi, Allama Muhammad Hussain Akbar, Mufti Abdul Rahim, Allama Syed Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, Mufti Muhammad Karim Khan, Dr. Asif Mir, Mufti Yousaf Kashmiri, Allama Tauqir Abbas, Allama Asad Zaidi, Hafiz Maqbool Ahmed, and representatives of various federations of religious seminaries.

Addressing the media, Ashrafi described the occasion as a historic achievement in promoting religious harmony in Pakistan.

“By the grace of Almighty Allah, the day we had long awaited has finally arrived. We wished to see Muslims in Pakistan, just as in the Two Holy Mosques, standing behind one Imam in prayer. Alhamdulillah, this blessed journey has begun from Jamia Tur Rasheed. God willing, the nation will continue to witness such practical manifestations of unity, peace, tolerance and brotherhood,” he said.

He said the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee was committed to implementing the objectives of Paigham-e-Pakistan by countering extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence while promoting unity, tolerance, mutual respect and national cohesion across the country.

Ashrafi appreciated the participation of scholars and religious leaders from all schools of thought, saying their collective presence reflected a shared commitment to peace, harmony and national solidarity.

MUZAFFARABAD, JUL 17: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday urged the federal government to reopen Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), calling for relief for residents affected by ongoing disruptions.

“If the state of Pakistan can help bring peace between the United States and Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, then it should also reopen Kashmir,” Bilawal said while addressing an election rally in AJK’s Dadyal.

The US and Iran signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17, largely mediated by Pakistan.

The 14-point Islamabad MoU declared an end to the war and the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial vessels.

Bilawal’s remarks came amid a surge in violence linked to ongoing sit-ins and protests in parts of AJK ahead of the July 27 elections.

The AJK government on June 5 declared the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a proscribed organisation under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), saying the group was engaged in terrorism.

The ban was imposed days ahead of the banned outfit’s planned June 9 protest seeking the abolition of 12 seats in the AJK reserved for refugees from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) who migrated to Pakistan after 1947.

Calling the upcoming elections the most important in the region’s history, Bilawal said they would be a test for Pakistan and an opportunity for the people to make their voices heard.

He said politicians had failed to adequately convey Kashmiris’ concerns to Islamabad, adding that if voters entrusted the PPP with the responsibility, he would become their voice.

Referring to the ongoing unrest in the region, the PPP chief said that there was no issue that could not be resolved through political and peaceful means.

According to Bilawal, demonstrators had written to him, after which he proposed the formation of a truth and reconciliation commission to address the dispute.

“I have suggested establishing a truth and reconciliation commission. If it is formed, I will ask the protesters to suspend their protest,” he said, adding that he had yet to receive a response to the proposal.

The PPP chairman urged both the protesters and the authorities to avoid causing hardship to ordinary citizens, saying disruptions preventing the supply of food and essential goods ultimately harmed the public.

“The government has a responsibility to maintain its writ, but it cannot punish all Kashmiris for the actions of a few individuals,” he said.

Bilawal resolved to convene a constitutional convention after the elections, saying proposals would come from the people, while decisions on refugee seats and voting would be made by constitutional institutions.

He also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to clarify the federal government’s policy following remarks made by federal cabinet members, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, regarding Kashmir and refugee seats.

“If the defence minister’s remarks did not reflect the government’s policy, then remove him from office,” he said.

Bilawal also criticised another federal minister’s reported claim that “12 Kashmir seats are in our pocket”, saying such a mindset showed a lack of concern for the electoral process in the region.

“The decision on Kashmir is not in anyone’s pocket. It lies only in the hands of Kashmir’s youth,” he said, urging voters to support the PPP in what he described as the last election for refugee seats in both AJK and Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 17: The federal government has decided to review fuel prices on a daily basis amid a surge in global oil rates, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Malik said the decision was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet.

Renewed military strikes in the Middle East were also weighing on risk sentiment, keeping oil prices elevated and reigniting concerns about inflation and growth.

Oil prices were on the rise, with Brent crude futures LCOc1 up 0.6% at $84.75 a barrel, while US crude CLc1 advanced 1.1% to $79.8 per barrel.

He said the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) would determine fuel prices daily, with updated rates to be published on its website.

Expressing concern over renewed tensions in the Middle East, the minister said the conflict heightened uncertainty in global energy markets. He noted that international diesel prices had risen sharply following the latest hostilities, increasing from around $110 per barrel to $140 per barrel.

Malik said the government continued its targeted fuel subsidy programme, but acknowledged that consumers were still feeling the impact of higher fuel costs.

He added that petroleum and carbon support levies on petrol and diesel remained lower than previous levels, while the government was also moving towards the deregulation of petroleum products.

Addressing the news conference, Tarar said the latest increase in domestic fuel prices was linked to regional developments and volatility in international oil markets.

He added that Pakistan’s energy requirements were met through imported cargoes from various countries.

The information minister said the country had not experienced any energy shortages due to the government’s policies.

He stressed that oil marketing companies (OMC) were operating under strict regulatory oversight and warned that no one would be allowed to engage in hoarding.

Tarar added that many countries immediately pass changes in petroleum prices on to consumers, describing the practice as a common feature of global energy markets.

The move to daily price reviews follows the government’s earlier decision to conduct weekly petroleum price adjustments after tensions escalated following the US-Israeli conflict with Iran on February 28.

During the last review, the government raised petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices by Rs13.18 and Rs13.80 per litre, respectively, taking the rates to Rs310.71 and Rs323.30 per litre.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 17: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged participants of the URAAN Overseas Pakistan Summer Scholars Program to utilize their education, research, and global experience for the country’s development and prosperity.

The prime minister met with the scholars here. The participants are currently undergoing a six-week internship under the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives to research issues facing Pakistan

The prime minister welcomed the Pakistani students studying in leading universities of the world to avail internships in the country, and underlined that the youth plays a key role in national development as they are bringing laurels to the country all over the world.

The prime minister briefed the scholars on the government’s reform agenda and responded to their questions. “In the past, when the country was on the verge of default, economic stability was achieved through emergency economic reforms. The comprehensive reforms include digitization of the FBR and increasing revenue, ease of doing business, increasing productivity, development of the agricultural sector, empowerment of youth, promotion of renewable energy and sustainable economic development reforms,” he said.

PM Shehbaz Sharif added that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected more than Rs 800 billion in additional revenue during the last fiscal year as a result of effective enforcement measures. The government’s economic reforms aimed to lay the foundation for a strong, self-sufficient and export-oriented economy, he said.

The prime minister also paid tribute to the Field Marshal Asim Munir for his leadership and strong support of the nation that helped Pakistan defeat India in May 2025 conflict. He added that Pakistan’s role in mediating in stopping the ongoing war between the US and Iran is a prominent chapter in Pakistan’s diplomatic history.

PM Shehbaz said Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts resulted in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (Islamabad MoU), which is a significant step forward for world peace.

In the meeting, students expressed their views on improvements in various fields.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervez Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for National Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar and senior officers of relevant institutions.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 17: President of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Abdul Aleem Khan has vehemently condemned the armed attack on the election convoy of IPP Azad Kashmir President, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas.

According to reports, miscreants associated with the Action Committee opened fire on the election convoy at Tain Dalkot in Azad Kashmir, said a press release issued on Friday.

Expressing deep grief and sorrow over the incident, Abdul Aleem Khan extended his heartfelt condolences on the martyrdom of a security guard who lost his life in the line of duty during the firing. He also expressed intense concern for former advisor Sardar Imtiaz Shaheen and another security guard who sustained injuries during the attack.

“This attack by malicious elements is an extremely cowardly act,” stated the IPP President. “There is absolutely no room for violence in democratic politics.”

Abdul Aleem Khan assured the grieving families that the party stands firmly by them in this tragic hour. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our martyred guard and with those who were injured.

News Desk

MUZAFFARABAD: A personal security guard of former Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas was shot dead on Friday after his convoy came under fire while travelling through his native constituency via the Tain-Dhalkot area, according to officials and his aides.

Officials said that the convoy of Ilyas, who now heads the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) in the region, had travelled around one-and-a-half kilometres beyond the Tain-Dhalkot bridge over the Jhelum River, when unidentified assailants opened fire from the mountainside at around 1:30pm.

Muhammad Asif, a retired commando from Sudhnoti district serving as one of Ilyas’s security guards, was struck in the head after reportedly moving to shield the former premier. He was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries while being moved to a hospital in Rawalpindi.

Officials said Ilyas remained unharmed and in a video message released later in the day, he alleged that the attack had been carried out by armed members of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a claim that could not be independently verified.

Faisal Sheikh

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to review fuel prices on a daily basis amid a surge in global oil rates, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Malik said the decision was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet.

Renewed military strikes in the Middle East were also weighing on risk sentiment, keeping oil prices elevated and reigniting concerns about inflation and growth.

Oil prices were on the rise, with Brent crude futures LCOc1 up 0.6% at $84.75 a barrel, while US crude CLc1 advanced 1.1% to $79.8 per barrel.He said the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) would determine fuel prices daily, with updated rates to be published on its website.

Expressing concern over renewed tensions in the Middle East, the minister said the conflict heightened uncertainty in global energy markets. He noted that international diesel prices had risen sharply following the latest hostilities, increasing from around $110 per barrel to $140 per barrel.

Malik said the government continued its targeted fuel subsidy programme, but acknowledged that consumers were still feeling the impact of higher fuel costs.

He added that petroleum and carbon support levies on petrol and diesel remained lower than previous levels, while the government was also moving towards the deregulation of petroleum products.

Addressing the news conference, Tarar said the latest increase in domestic fuel prices was linked to regional developments and volatility in international oil markets.

He added that Pakistan’s energy requirements were met through imported cargoes from various countries.

The information minister said the country had not experienced any energy shortages due to the government’s policies.

He stressed that oil marketing companies (OMC) were operating under strict regulatory oversight and warned that no one would be allowed to engage in hoarding.

Tarar added that many countries immediately pass changes in petroleum prices on to consumers, describing the practice as a common feature of global energy markets.

The move to daily price reviews follows the government’s earlier decision to conduct weekly petroleum price adjustments after tensions escalated following the US-Israeli conflict with Iran on February 28.

During the last review, the government raised petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices by Rs13.18 and Rs13.80 per litre, respectively, taking the rates to Rs310.71 and Rs323.30 per litre.