LAHORE: India has released more water into the Sutlej River without formally notifying Pakistan through the Indus Water Commission, instead using irregular channels of communication. The development has triggered a high flood alert in nine districts of Punjab, while authorities fear very high flood level in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers until September 5. According to the Director General …

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has intensified relief operations in flood-affected areas, ensuring the delivery of essential food supplies in coordination with provincial governments. According to NDMA’s media wing, an eight-truck convoy carrying relief packages was dispatched to Chiniot on Tuesday. Each ration bag weighs 46 kilograms and contains 22 essential food items. Relief supplies have already been …

ISLAMABAD: The Power Division has issued an update on the restoration of electricity in flood-affected areas, confirming that out of 48 damaged grids and 455 feeders, 170 have been fully restored and 256 partially restored. According to the report, PESCO areas of Swat, Buner, Shangla, Swabi, and D.I. Khan saw 12 grids and 91 feeders hit. Of these, 85 feeders …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here on Tuesday. Xi said that as global changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a quicker pace, a strong China-Pakistan relationship is conducive to safeguarding regional peace and development. The two sides should accelerate building an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the …

BEIJING (Internews): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on an official visit to China, met His Excellency President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, earlier today. During their most warm and extremely cordial meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment and resolve to further strengthen the …

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to set up an autonomous Climate Action Board to strengthen policy-making and practical measures against climate change. A draft law in this regard will soon be presented in the KP Assembly. According to the draft, the board will operate with full independence and decision-making powers. It will comprise eight administrative secretaries along …

Islamabad: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has signed an agreement with the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resource Research & Development Board. (BBSHRRDB) to provide skill training to 3,000 deserving beneficiaries under the Benazir Hunarmand Programme. Under the partnership, BBSHRRDB will initially train BISP beneficiaries in various vocational fields, equipping them with market-driven skills for meaningful employment and entrepreneurship. Speaking …

Rawalpindi: The Punjab Highway Patrol (PHP) Rawalpindi Region has released its performance report for August 2025, highlighting major achievements under the supervision of Regional Officer DSP Muhammad Irfan Butt. According to the report, police registered 85 FIRs, recovering a pistol with five rounds, two stolen vehicles, one motorcycle, and liquor. During the month, 43 proclaimed offenders and 42 court absconders …

Islamabad: The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has intensified its enforcement campaign on the directions of Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Captain (R) Hamza Humayun, issuing thousands of challans and taking strict action against traffic rule violators across the federal capital. According to the weekly performance report, action was taken against 2,236 vehicles and motorcycles during the past week. A total of …

Tianjin: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), stressing dialogue, peace, and regional connectivity as the way forward for South Asia. Speaking at the 25th SCO Heads of State Council Meeting, the prime minister highlighting Pakistan’s support for multilateralism, said the SCO remained a platform that best represents Pakistan’s abiding commitment …

Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi police have finalized foolproof security arrangements for the ongoing four-day polio vaccination drive, deploying nearly 1,800 officers and personnel across the district. According to the police spokesperson, security has been provided to 554 polio teams, as well as 304 transit points and 207 fixed centers. To ensure smooth operations, police stations’ mobile units, the Elite Squad, and …

Islamabad: The Ministry of Energy’s Power Division has issued a detailed report on electricity restoration efforts in flood-affected regions, showing significant progress but warning that full recovery will take more time. According to the report, a total of 48 grids and 437 feeders were impacted by recent floods across the country. Out of these, 169 feeders have been fully restored, …

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday paid glowing tribute to Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on his fourth death anniversary, calling him a “symbol of sacrifice and steadfastness” in the struggle for the right to self-determination. In a statement issued by the Presidency, President Zardari said Geelani devoted his entire life to the Kashmiri people’s struggle against Indian …

ISLAMABAD: A powerful earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and several districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) – including Peshawar, Mansehra and Abbottabad – in the early hours of Monday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The PMD reported that the Seismic Network of Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded the 6.0 magnitude earthquake at 12:08 on September …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Armenia on Sunday formally established diplomatic relations in what officials described as a historic step in Islamabad’s diplomatic outreach. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar exchanged a joint communiqué with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, during a meeting in Tianjin, China, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office. The two leaders reaffirmed …

LAHORE: At least 33 people have lost their lives, and more than 2 million have been affected as severe flooding continues to inundate vast areas of Punjab, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said. While speaking to the media on Sunday, Kathia said that all three major rivers, including the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab, are witnessing …

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday accorded his assent to the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025, according to a statement issued by the President’s House. The bill, which seeks to improve counterterrorism efforts while ensuring legal oversight and safeguards, was passed by both the lower and upper houses of parliament — the National Assembly and the Senate — this month. …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s contiguous geographies gave them a historic opportunity to work together for economic connectivity, address common challenges such as poverty, climate change, and biodegradation. “We have to make common efforts to address the challenges of poverty, and inequality. Only then we will be able to usher in …

BEIJING (Internews): Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar visited the Luban Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Exhibition Hall in Tianjin today, where he was briefed on the operations of Luban Workshops and their existing cooperation with Pakistan. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister also had exchanges with the Chinese hosts on further deepening cooperation under the Luban …

As authorities press on with arduous rescue efforts across Punjab amid devastating floods, the death toll from deluge caused by swelling rivers has risen to 30, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Saturday. “The floods have affected 15,016,603 people [while] more than 481,000 people have been evacuated and shifted to safe locations from the flood-affected areas,” Aurangzeb said. Multiple rivers …

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will pay an official visit to China from August 30 to September 4, 2025, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit being held in Tianjin, the Foreign Office announced Friday. During the visit, the prime minister will hold meetings with President …

In a major diplomatic breakthrough, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday announced that Pakistan and Armenia have agreed to consider establishing diplomatic relations. He announced the development following his telephonic conversation with Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan. “Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan and I held a cordial conversation on phone today, and agreed …

LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that a comprehensive strategy is being developed to build water reservoirs and improve water management across all four provinces, as well as in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB). His remarks came as Pakistan is battling torrential monsoon rains that have unleashed flash floods, swelled rivers, and filled dams, …

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Friday assured the Sikh community of complete restoration of all religious sites, including Durbar Shaib Kartarpur, affected during the ongoing devastating floods. The army chief made these remarks during his visit to flood-affected areas in the Sialkot sector, including Shakargarh, Narowal, and Kartarpur, to review the ongoing relief operations and …

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday visited the Ravi River at Shahdara where she boarded a boat to inspect the flood situation more closely. Later, talking to the media after visiting the flood situation at Shahdara, she said that the province has experienced severe and continuous rainfall in recent weeks, leading to dangerous water levels in all three major …

NAROWAL: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday underscored the urgent need to build more water storage infrastructure to minimise the devastating impact of flash floods and protect lives and livelihoods in the country. Pakistan is battling torrential monsoon rains that have unleashed flash floods, swelled rivers, and filled dams, with more than 800 deaths reported since late June. Amid the …

An unusual flood situation has developed in the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers, prompting the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to issue a high alert, warning of possible damage in multiple cities of Punjab. According to NDMA, an extremely high water flow of 901,000 cusecs was recorded at Qadirabad on the Chenab River and 859,000 cusecs at Khanki. The overflowing …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday underscored the urgent need to build new water reservoirs and small dams to tackle the growing challenge of climate change, as devastating floods continue to sweep through parts of Punjab. Addressing Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, federal ministers, and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officials in Narowal, the prime minister said Pakistan has repeatedly …

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations (UN) has allocated 600,000 U.S. dollars to support Pakistan’s response to the devastating 2025 monsoon season, according to a UN spokesperson. Speaking at a press briefing in New York, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that according to local authorities, heavy rains and flash floods over the past 10 days have killed at least 400 people and …

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Jeddah on Tuesday to express appreciation for his chairmanship of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Organisation Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers. The two parties reaffirmed firm solidarity with the Palestinian people. Dar also stressed on “strengthening our [Pakistan and Turkey’s] multifaceted cooperation”. Earlier, Dar also held meetings …

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja on Tuesday asserted that party founder Imran Khan had refused to accept his resignation from party’s secretary general post. This was the third instance the political leader has submitted his resignation and the PTI founder has rejected it. The senior lawyer was appointed as PTI secretary general last year in September, following …

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has requested the Rawalpindi city police officer (CPO) to lodge a case against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz along with eight police officials, alleging denial of facilities in Adiala jail. The request, submitted by the jailed ex-prime minister’s lawyer, Tabish Farooq, to CPO Khalid Hamdani, seeks the registration of a case against Maryam …

The Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni has expressed sorrow and condolences over the loss of lives due to the torrential rains and floods in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Gilgit Baltistan (G-B). Momeni held a telephonic conversation with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives. He offered cooperation and …

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced on Monday senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz and 57 others each to 10 years in prison in the May 9 case about an attack on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah’s residence. Of the 59 persons convicted in the case, 17 were PTI leaders. Sixteen other accused were …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced the launch of a nationwide anti-encroachment campaign around rivers, streams and natural waterways, saying that the protection of water channels was critical to averting future flood disasters. Chairing a high-level meeting to review the damage caused by the ongoing monsoon rains and floods, the prime minister directed immediate relief and recovery operations, …

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir visited Turbat to review the security situation, assess development projects, and strengthen civil-military coordination for Balochistan’s stability and prosperity, the military’s media wing said on Saturday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the COAS was received by the Balochistan Corps Commander Lt Gen Rahat Naseem Ahmed Khan. It was …

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka on a two-day official visit. He was received at the airport by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, Pakistan’s High Commissioner, Imran Haider, and other senior Bangladeshi officials. The trip, described as long overdue, had earlier been postponed twice — once in May following heightened Pakistan-India tensions after the …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to supporting flood-affected families and expediting rehabilitation efforts, particularly in the worst-hit districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister expressed deep concern over the devastation caused by recent heavy rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods in Swat, Swabi, Mansehra, Shangla, and …

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir here on Thursday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the Pakistani army serves as the foundation of national stability and a staunch defender of China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation. Wang pointed out that the Pakistani …

Under pressure from the International Monetary Fund, the federal government has begun work on a plan to slash expenditures in an effort to reduce the budget deficit, officials said. According to sources, the government is preparing to cut provinces’ share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. The move is aimed at ensuring debt repayments and narrowing the fiscal gap. …