The domestic use of water for the people of Lahore has become more expensive as the Water And Sanitation Agency has increased the tariff up to 250%. According to the WASA managing director, the caretaker Punjab government has approved the increase in rates. For three to five marla houses, the tariff increased from Rs375 to Rs938 has been approved. The …

A Lahore district court on Wednesday sent PTI President Parvez Elahi to jail on a 14-day judicial remand in a money laundering case after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) took him into custody from district jail earlier today. Elahi had secured bail from an anti-corruption court in Lahore yesterday but could not be set free as his release orders were …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said he planned to present Pakistan’s stance on the urgent need to restructure international financial institutions to address the challenges facing humanity. He made the remarks as he was departing for France to attend the New Global Financing Pact Summit in Paris. In a tweet, the premier emphasised that the summit provided a “unique …

President Arif Alvi appointed on Wednesday Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, as the country’s next top judge. A tweet from president of Pakistan’s official Twitter handle stated “President Dr Arif Alvi has appointed Justice Qazi Faiz Isa as the Chief Justice of Pakistan The appointment will be effective from September 17, 2023 with …

Former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday in Islamabad, Aaj News reported. He was arrested in a joint raid carried out by Pindi and capital police in the capital. Sarwar was taken into custody for involvement in the May 9 incidents, the police said. Following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman’s arrest on May 9, …

Terrorist terms attacks on army installations by political party equivalent to TTP stance against state institutions. Another commander of banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) killed amid militants’ infighting. Sarbakaf Mohmand was in banned Jamaat ul Ahrar. He died in mysterious circumstances. Earlier, Jamaat ul Ahrar joined TTP. The internal differences have been intensified among militants’ factions and groups. The anti-state …

Plea calls military trials in presence of civilian courts unconstitutional, says should be declared illegal former chief justice of Pakistan Jawwad S Khawaja has also challenged the trial of civilians in military courts. A petition on behalf of the former CJP was filed in the Supreme Court through lawyer Uzair Chughtai. The petition maintains that the trial of civilians by …

The government on Tuesday announced three-day holiday on account of Eid ul Adha, which falls on June 29 (Thursday). A statement issued by the Cabinet Division stated that the offices observing six working days a week will enjoy three days off, starting June 29 to July 1. It is for general information that the Prime Minister is pleased to approve …

Global warming has intensified to a worrying extent across the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) regions’ glaciers, snow, and permafrost, including the range within Pakistan’s territories, making the changes “unprecedented and largely irreversible,” a report released Monday mentioned. According to the report conducted by an eight-nation organisation, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Pakistan’s glaciers are losing mass at an …

The PTI on Tuesday issued a statement disputing Asad Umar’s claims that he left his party positions due to Chairman Imran Khan’s “confrontational” policies. The statement issued by PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan came hours after the former party secretary general told a private news channel that he had quit his party positions over the political strategy adopted by Imran …

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah promised on Tuesday that the investigation into the Greece boat tragedy would be completed within a week as authorities arrested two more traffickers allegedly involved in human smuggling. Last week, an Italy-bound fishing trawler reportedly carrying at least 800 people including hundreds of Pakistanis  capsized off Greece. Only 104 people are known to have survived and …

Pakistan and China on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build a new unit of the 1,200 MW Chashma-5 (C-5) nuclear power project. Wang Yongge, president of the China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas Ltd (CNOS) and Muhammad Saeedur Rehman from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) signed the agreement for unit 5 of the power plant. Prime Minister …

The Foreign Office (FO) said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for a two-day official visit to France later this week to participate in a financing summit being held in Paris. The FO said that the premier was undertaking the visit at French President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation, adding that the ‘New Global Financing Pact Summit’ would be …

PPP’s Murtaza Wahab took oath as the as controversially elected Karachi mayor at a ceremony held at the city’s Polo Ground on Monday. According to updates on the PPP’s Twitter, party’s Salman Murad was also sworn in as the city’s deputy mayor at the ceremony. Sindh Election Commissioner Ejaz Anwar Chauhan administered the oath to Wahab and Salman while Sindh …

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday reserved its verdict on a set of pleas challenging the recently-enacted Supreme Court (Review of Judgments and Orders) Act 2023, which expands the scope of a review petition. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard a set of appeals challenging …

The Zilhaj moon has been sighted and Eidul Azha will fall on June 29, Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad announced on Monday evening. The announcement was made after a meeting of the committee at the main offices of the Pakistan Meteorological Department in Karachi, during which Maulana Azad said the sky remained clear in most parts of …

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast heatwave-like conditions in most parts of the country this week along with a gradual increase in day temperatures. “Due to the presence of high pressure in the upper atmosphere, the day temperatures are likely to increase gradually in most parts of the country from June 20 to June 24,” the PMD said in …

Lawmaker Mohsin Dawar has sought a “comprehensive inquiry” into the “abduction” of fellow MNA Ali Wazir, who he said was arrested by authorities in North Waziristan on Monday and taken to an “undisclosed location”. Dawar raised these concerns during a National Assembly session chaired by Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. “Speaker sahib, early morning today, we received information that our MNA …

Pakistan and Iran have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance Maritime cooperation. The MoU was signed between Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) and the Iranian border guards during the visit of Secretary Defence, Lt.Gen (Retd) Hamooduz Zaman to Iran. It will strengthen relations between PMSA and Iranian border guards. Upon arrival in Tehran, the Secretary Defence was welcomed …

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday said that heatwave-like conditions are likely to develop in most parts of the country this week. According to the Meteorological Office, due to the high pressure in the upper atmosphere, the daytime temperature of the country may gradually increase from June 20 to 24. Daytime temperatures are expected to be 4°C to 6°C …

For the past many years, Balochistan has been in the grip of a low-intensity conflict, and has experienced four insurgencies since Independence. While separatist groups continue to carry out attacks on security forces, human rights organisations have expressed concern about a growing number of missing persons cases and human rights violations. In more recent times, the ethnic Shia minority has …

Pakistan authorities arrested 10 alleged human traffickers days after dozens of migrants drowned off the coast of Greece, officials said on Sunday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also ordered an immediate crackdown on agents engaged in people smuggling, saying they would be “severely punished”. Every year, thousands of young Pakistanis embark on perilous journeys attempting to enter Europe illegally in search …

As the crisis-ridden country received its first shipment of Russian crude oil under groundbreaking agreement, Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov ruled out any sort of special discount for Islamabad on the purchase of ‘Urals’ crude from Moscow. According to foreign media, the minister told media that “Oil deliveries to Pakistan have begun. There is no special discount; for Pakistan, it …

The security forces claim to have achieved success against terrorism, with the alleged killing of a most wanted terrorist commander among three in Darra Adamkhel. Zafar alias Zafri and his two associates were killed in an alleged encounter with security forces. The forces conducted an operation on a tip-off on the night between June 16 and 17. The gunned down …

ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad sessions court on Saturday granted the police a two-day physical remand of PTI leader Shehryar Afridi over a case pertaining to the May 9 riots. Afridi was arrested on May 16 from his Islamabad residence under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960, which enables the government to arrest any person. On May …

Cyclone Biparjoy which hit India’s Gujarat coast near the border with Pakistan on Thursday weakened into a depression by Saturday morning, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said, declaring it safe for fishermen in Balochistan to venture into the sea starting today and for those in Sindh from tomorrow. Biparjoy, which means “calamity” in Bengali, had hit the state of Gujarat …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Saturday that 12 of its citizens have been identified among survivors of a shipwreck that killed at least 78 people off the coast of Greece. In a tweet, the Foreign Office (FO) said that at this stage they were unable to verify number and identity of Pakistanis among the deceased. ‘‘Pakistani Embassy remains in contact with …

ISLAMABAD: Prays Supreme Court to overthrow verdicts of anti-terrorism courts and order release of all accused held by military PPP leader and former federal minister Aitzaz Ahsan has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the trials of civilians in the military courts. Through the petition filed on Saturday, Aitzaz Ahsan prayed the court to declare trial of a …

ISLAMABAD: As many as 13 people died and 15 others were injured when an Islamabad-bound bus crashed on Motorway near Salt Range on Saturday. The driver of the bus owned by a private company lost control of the vehicle which then crossed the divider line and turned turtle. The bus BSG-055 was travelling from Chakwal to Islamabad when it met …

LAHORE: The advocate general submitted his resignation to Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, citing personal reasons. The Punjab AG has said in his resignation that he is unable to perform further his duties due to personal reasons. Shan Gul will stay in office and perform his duties till June 26. In mid-February, the Punjab government had appointed senior lawyer, Muhammad …

ISLAMABAD: Leaders of the coalition parties in the federal government have started considering the dissolution of the National Assembly a few days before its constitutional period ends. According to sources, the ruling coalition has started consultations regarding the date for general elections. Government leaders are mulling over the proposal to dissolve the National Assembly a week before its constitutional period. …

QUETTA: After learning of the ban, the CM ordered the Inspector General of Police to seize the crackdown operation, a media report stated The CM added that selling Iranian petrol feeds and supports countless families It bears mentioning here that Iranian petrol is smuggled into Pakistan, making it illegal. Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) controls Pakistani oil and gas …

ISLAMABAD: The government announced on Saturday that key issues had been settled with the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) which had set started its ‘Pakistan Bachao March’ and had set off from Karachi on May 22. The party had demanded the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from jail in the US and wanted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to write a letter …

KARACHI: Prices of sacrificial animals have gone up as Eid-ul-Azha is fast approaching, the rising cost of animals will put extra burden on those who want to participate in joint Qurbani. Up till now the cattle market was relatively dull due to high prices of animals, ever decreasing purchasing power of the general public, prevailing law and order conditions in …

ISLAMABAD: The social media profiles of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other prominent leaders have been shared with the Federal Investigation Agency for a forensic test for allegedly sharing controversial content from March 8 to May 9. A total of 23 links of Instagram, Facebook and Twitter have been dispatched to the FIA, according to the police. The police further …

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi Thursday signed the Daycare Centres Bill 2023, under which setups for minor children will be established at the public and private departments in Islamabad. The president inked the document in line with Article 75 of the Constitution, the President’s House said in a statement. According to the Bill, the federal government will ensure the setting …

KARACHI: Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman, the Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi emir who lost the mayoral elections to Pakistan People Party’s (PPP) Murtaza Wahab, has rejected the results, saying the party would observe “Black Day” on Friday. Addressing a press conference in Karachi on Thursday, Hafiz Naeem claimed that the ECP played the role of the People’s Party’s B-team, asserting he would not …

The Karachi police detained eight suspects on Thursday after clashes erupted between JI and PPP supporters outside the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) where voting for the city’s mayor elections was under way. South Deputy Inspector General (DGP) Irfan Ali Baloch said that clashes broke out after reports of PPP’s Barrister Murtaza Wahab winning the polls surfaced. According to unofficial …

ISLAMABAD: Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that till date, no case against any woman involved in the May 9 violence following the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan, has been sent to the military courts. The minimum requirements as required under different international laws, especially Article 14 of the International Covenants for Civil and Political Rights 1966 (ICCPR) that …

LAHORE: The caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has given in-principle approval for the implementation of ‘Safe City Project’ in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala using local resources. Stressing their importance as integral components of smart cities, he emphasized the need to commence these projects promptly. Expanding the scope of safe city project to other cities aims to enhance public safety …