Stories by Amjad Mahmood

Cotton production moderates amid heatwave concerns

Early hopes for a bumper harvest fade after heatwave causes cotton bolls to open prematurely.

Published 04 Oct, 2026 06:18am

PA committee okays bill raising Christian marriage age to 18

Marriages to require Nadra, UC registration under proposed law

Published 01 Oct, 2026 07:02am

Lahorites to celebrate 10-day Basant fest

LAHORE: The Punjab capital will celebrate a 10-day-long Basant festival -- from Jan 29 to Feb 7 -- next year, with a...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 07:02am

Punjab Assembly panel approves Christian Marriage Bill that paves way for Nadra registration

Once passed by assembly, the bill will also raise the minimum legal age of marriages among Christians to 18 years.

Published 30 Sep, 2026 09:34pm

Punjab rolls out 33 mobile police stations offering 14 services, including FIR registration

Services provided through these units also include online e-tagging, tenant registration, employee verification and criminal record checks.

Published 30 Sep, 2026 07:03pm

Lahore to celebrate 10-day Basant festival from Jan 29 to Feb 7 next year

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directs the administration to ensure better arrangements for public safety and convenience than during the previous year.

Published 30 Sep, 2026 03:12pm

Cotton arrivals rise 19pc to 2.4m bales by September mid

Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association reports Punjab production jumps 24.7pc and Sindh’s 16.25pc.

Published 20 Sep, 2026 07:23am

Punjab Assembly begins evaluation of AI use in public services

Committee discusses constitutional and legal implications of emerging digital technologies, including digital harms and deepfakes.

Updated 17 Sep, 2026 11:34pm

Sugar glut threatens crushing season, warns PSMA

Millers demand permission to export at least 1m tonnes of sugar.

Published 17 Sep, 2026 07:04am

KP CM wraps up Lahore trip amid ‘crackdown’

• Afridi claims 2,000 workers detained by police, reiterates ‘abduction’ allegations • Bokhari asks CM to focus on KP, terms

Published 16 Sep, 2026 06:49am

Repeated ‘experiments’ behind crises in Pakistan: Saad Rafique

PML-N leader says the country’s “biggest problem” is its repeated departure from constitutional and legal principles.

Updated 15 Sep, 2026 09:11am

New provinces debate may take eight months, says PM’s aide

“There is still a lot of time before the issue of provincial division comes before parliament,” he says.

Published 14 Sep, 2026 07:05am

The sugar merry-go-round

SF: The script is all-too familiar: a surplus is declared and exports allowed, then prices climb and sugar is imported back. As

Updated 07 Sep, 2026 08:20am

Kissan Ittehad seeks 1m tonnes in sugar exports

Highlights that a record bumper sugarcane crop covering over 3.5m acres is ready for harvest, with production projected to rise by 10 to 15pc year-on-year.

Published 05 Sep, 2026 04:02am

Cotton arrivals surge 27pc

Higher cotton arrivals significantly improves crop quality and reduces reliance on imports.

Published 04 Sep, 2026 07:03am

Wheat quality row erupts in Punjab

Flour mills association says laboratory tests and inspections reveal that the supplied wheat contains over 21pc moisture, whereas normal wheat standard moisture levels should range between 9-11pc.

Updated 03 Sep, 2026 08:23am

Punjab Assembly condemns India for violating Indus Water Treaty

Demands strict implementation of the treaty and urges the government to employ all available means to secure Pakistan’s legitimate share of river waters.

Updated 02 Sep, 2026 08:52am

Punjab Assembly passes resolution seeking ban on social media for under-16s

House adopts resolution seeking equal religious education facilities, remission in sentences for minority prisoners.

Published 01 Sep, 2026 08:51pm

Punjab clears controversial anti-terror bill amid uproar

LAHORE: The Punjab Asse­mbly on Monday passed the controversial Punjab Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2026 despite...

Published 01 Sep, 2026 07:07am

Opposition walks out as Punjab Assembly passes controversial Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2026

Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi condemns legislation as "draconian", calls it "bill to crush citizens of Punjab".

Updated 01 Sep, 2026 12:18am