Following are the top stories from 8am headlines:

Aaj News Senior Assignment Editor Nafees Naeem has returned home safely. Naeem was ‘picked up’ by men in plainclothes on Monday.

Speakers in a post-budget conference, organised by Business Recorder, Aaj TV and ICAP, have said that imposing taxes on electricity bills will create more burden on people. They suggested that the government should reduce its expenses instead of increasing taxes, adding that taxes on different sectors must also be reviewed.

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has said that Pakistan would default if the government will not withdraw the subsidies on petroleum products.

The Sindh government was considering a raise in pensions and salaries of the government employees by 25% in the more than Rs1,500 billion budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 that would be presented Tuesday (today).

Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi has adjourned the budget session till 1pm Tuesday (today), with a ruling that the budget would be presented, if the inspector general and the chief secretary attended the session.

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz has said that as many as 120 million people were deprived of the budget.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Rs1,332 billion annual budget included a salary increase for the government employees, the addition of families into the food card scheme and funds for merged districts.

The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce has described the federal budget as a “surprise” as their proposal of fixed taxes on small traders was accepted. However, it added that it would be difficult to operate businesses after an increase in the prices of electricity and gas.

Nepra raised Rs3.99 per unit of electricity for fuel adjustment charges. The amount will be collected in the bills of June.

A three-point agenda for the cabinet meeting under the chair of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been issued. An inquiry report related to Daska by-poll will be presented in the meeting.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has said the Russian envoy had refuted claims of ex-PM Imran Khan on deals of purchasing cheap oil from Moscow. The former government did not sign any deal with Russia, she added.

At least two Muslims were martyred, more than 500 were arrested and multiple houses were demolished in India as the minority protested over blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

The government and opposition decided to raise blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Pakistan has secured the fourth position in one-day international ranking after clean sweeping a series against West Indies in Multan. India is in the fifth position.