More than Rs5.1 trillion worth of deficit federal budget was presented by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Friday in the National Assembly. The government employees get a 15 per cent increase in their salaries and an Rs2,000 monthly stipend announced for families having a household income of below Rs40,000. The Benazir Income Support Programme budget increased from Rs250 billion to Rs364 billion.

As many as Rs12 billion has been earmarked for the Utility Stores Corporation, and imported mobile phones, luxury cars, and air travel get expensive.

FBR claims that the people have been provided relief in the budget, according to FBR.

PM Shehbaz terms the budget solid for economic stability, adding that the coalition government has presented the “best budget” in the most difficult times.

PTI chief Imran Khan rejects budget and describes it as the outlay of “Purana Pakistan”. He claimed that the government shelved their programmes of Sehat Card and Kamyab Pakistan.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq announces his party’s decision to start a campaign against an interest-based economy. “End of the interest-based system is not possible in the government of thieves,” he said.

Traders describe the budget 2022-23 as “balanced” and were of the view that it would have a positive impact on the stock market.

People reject financial budget. They lamented that the incumbent government has also “not provided” any relief to the people amid the rising inflation.

PM Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Joko Widodo had a telephonic conversation. They discussed matters of mutual interest. PM Shehbaz invites President Widodo to visit Pakistan.

Imran Khan is making strategy, which will be announced within the next two days, PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari said at the Rana Mubashir show on Friday. Zulfi said the party has only called for a free and fair election.

Man killed in Karachi’s Mominabad area by unidentified persons.

Alleged police encounter near railway warehouse in Sindh’s Jacobabad: One injured suspect was arrested. Two other suspects managed to escape.

Abduction in Lahore: An adult, who came back from Dubai, was freed after paying a ransom amount of Rs200,000. Police registered a case after arresting the suspects.

Protest in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh over India’s BJP leaders’ Islamophobic remarks. Muslim protesters have demanded of the Indian government to arrest BJP spokesperson, Nupur Sharma, and other leaders.

Russia-Ukraine war still on: Fighting continues in the Severodonetsk area of Luhansk. Many houses were destroyed because of Russian strikes. Fighting is still on in Donbas city of Ukraine.

Weather to remain hot and dry in most parts of the country. Rain is expected in central and south Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Islamabad, and Potohar.

Pakistan beat West Indies in the second one-day international in Multan by 120 runs and lead the series by 2-0. Babar Azam and Imamul Haq made half-centuries.

Muhammad Nawaz’s career-best bowling figure of 4/19 leads Pakistan to a thumping victory against West Indies.

Superfan enters the ground and salutes all-rounder Shadab Khan during Pakistani batting against West Indies in the second ODI.