ISLAMABAD: China and Pakistan reaffirmed dedication to deepening ties across various sectors, with a particular focus on advancing economic collaboration and security, said a statement on Friday. Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in economic and security domains. The meeting highlighted the enduring partnership between the two nations and …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar rejected on Thursday Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer of forming the parliamentary committee. Speaking exclusively to Samaa TV, Barrister Gohar termed it unrelated to the party’s demands. “The prime minister spoke on an irrelevant subject today,” stated Gohar. He maintained that the prime minister’s statement did not align with PTI’s demands. Gohar clarified that …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has played a frontline role in combating terrorism, making immense sacrifices to restore peace and stability in South Asia and beyond, said experts on Thursday. The Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA) at National Defense University (NDU), Islamabad, hosted an international seminar on “Pakistan’s Role in Counter-Terrorism: Promoting Peace and Stability.” The event brought together renowned …

Two army personnel, including a major, were martyred during a gun battle with terrorists in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali area on the night between January 29 and 30 as part of an intelligence-based operation. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the incident on Thursday, stating that security forces were conducting the operation when they engaged a terrorist stronghold, resulting in …

ISLAMABAD: (Internews): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has extended heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to Chinese President Xi Jinping, the people of China, and Chinese nationals residing in Pakistan on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. In a video message on Wednesday marking the Chinese New Year, the Prime Minister expressed his best …

The president has signed the controversial PECA Act Amendment Bill 2025 and the Digital Nation Bill 2025 into law. Both bills had previously been passed by the National Assembly and the Senate, paving the way for their enactment. The PECA Act Amendment Bill 2025, which amends the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), has been a subject of intense debate …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Gandapur has been removed from his post, and replaced with Zulfiqar Hameed. According to two separate notifications issued by the federal government, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief has been changed. Akhtar Hayat has been directed to report to the Establishment Division, one said, while the other one notified the posting of …

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday continued hearing an intra-court appeal challenging the trial of civilians in military courts. The seven-member bench –  headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan – deliberated on the legality of such trials as the Ministry of Defense presented the military trial records to the constitutional bench. At the start of the hearing, Ministry of Defense …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram stated on Tuesday that the government fears being exposed if an independent judicial commission is formed. Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, he criticised the delay in negotiations, calling it a “waste of time”. Akram maintained that the government avoided creating a judicial commission to address key issues. He noted that the …

The fourth round of negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains uncertain as the PTI has refused to participate, citing unmet demands and lack of progress on key issues. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has called a meeting of the negotiating committees at Parliament House on January 28 (today). In preparation, Sadiq contacted PTI leaders Omer Ayub and …

Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik held a press conference on Monday to address concerns about gas pricing and explain the government’s initiatives aimed at easing economic challenges. The minister revealed that discussions have been held with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to introduce uniform gas rates for industries across the country. He highlighted disparities in gas pricing, stating, …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): The Chinese embassy in Pakistan has strongly refuted claims made in a recent article published by The Guardian. Responding to media inquiry on Monday, the embassy spokesperson dismissed the article’s alleged quotation of a Chinese diplomat as “completely untrue” and lacking credibility. The statement criticized the article’s rhetoric and claimed the author failed to demonstrate a basic understanding …

Lahore district administration seemed to be helpless in controlling the encroachment mafia, as illegal structures and stalls continue to occupy major roads despite ongoing operations. Punjab chief minister had directed the district administration to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against encroachments, yet key areas such as Yateem Khana, Bhati Chowk, Shah Alam Market, and Haji Camp remain cluttered with illegal encroachments. Even after …

A proposal recommending that the salaries and benefits of lawmakers be aligned with those of a federal secretary has been submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to sources, the National Assembly’s finance committee approved the proposal after which, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq forwarded the recommendations to the prime minister. The proposa; suggests fixing the monthly salary and allowances of MNAs and …

The government negotiation committee spokesperson, Senator Irfan Siddiqui had asked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to review its decision of ending the fourth round of the negotiations. Speaking to media outside the parliament house , Siddiqui said: “The seven-day deadline will be ended on January 28. Our committee has been formed and the work is being underway. It took six weeks …

The total number of registered voters in Pakistan has surpassed 132.6 million, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The official figure now stands at 132,668,515 voters, with a notable gender distribution. https://www.samaa.tv/images/whatsapp-image-2025-01-23-at-10-30-18-am-1.jpeg Out of the total, the number of male voters is 71,275,222, while female voters account for 61,393,293. The province-wise breakdown of registered voters is as follows: …

PTI leader and lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat was denied entry into Adiala Jail on Thursday to meet party Founder Imran Khan. The jail administration informed Marwat that Khan no longer recognised him as his legal representative. According to jail officials, the PTI founder issued clear instructions prohibiting Marwat’s entry into the jail and had also provided a written statement to …

Supreme Court puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah questioned the judicial assistant, asking whether a bench could be formed by the executive rather than the judiciary, suggesting that the judicial order had been overlooked by the Judges’ Committee. Senior most judge of the apex court made these remarks in contempt of court case in the jurisdiction of regular benches that …

Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan rejected allegations that Pakistan was providing shelter to ISIS during a weekly news briefing. He emphasized that Pakistan’s stance on its “One China” policy remains clear and unchanged, adding that the country is eager to join the BRICS group. Khan also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting peace in Syria, stating that Pakistan’s position on …

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced the end of its negotiations with the government, citing a lack of cooperation and failure to announce a judicial commission as key reasons. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, disclosed that PTI Founder Imran Khan made the decision to end the negotiations after the government refused to …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound sorrow as tragic landslides and flash floods had struck Indonesia’s Java island, resulting in the loss of precious lives and leaving some individuals missing. “On behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan, I extend my deepest condolences to President Prabowo Subianto, the families of the victims and to the people of Indonesia …

In a major breakthrough, police have arrested the prime suspect in the Government College University (GCU) gang rape case in Lahore. According to the police, the suspect, Haseeb Afzal has been arrested, while raids are ongoing to apprehend his accomplices, Talha Khan and Hamza Sheikh. Police reports indicate that the three men allegedly gang-raped an MPhil student, Fatima, after she …

Pakistan is witnessing the early signs of a drought, as a severe shortage of rainfall has been recorded in multiple regions of the country over the past five and a half months. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has reported that national rainfall has dropped by 40 percent from September 1 to January 15, leading to the emergence of drought conditions …

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday issued a comprehensive advisory after a gap of 20 years aimed at curbing human trafficking and ensuring stricter monitoring of passengers traveling to and from Pakistan. The move comes in light of rising concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for forced labor and trafficking purposes. The advisory, based on a detailed analysis …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday condemned acts of violence and destruction in Balochistan, stating that those responsible are not only enemies of the province but of the entire country. Addressing a federal cabinet meeting, the premier termed the opposition to Gwadar Port a direct affront to Pakistan’s sovereignty and economic future. “Those fueling violence and destruction are not just …

Three senior judges of the Supreme Court including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Aqeel Abbasi have written a letter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. All judges in a letter expressed concerns over the non-scheduling of the important “bench powers” case, terming the issue a violation of judicial orders and contempt of court. The letter also addressed …

ISLAMABAD: The New Gwadar International Airport officially commenced operations on Monday, welcoming its inaugural flight in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said in a statement. A flight of Pakistan International Airlines landed at 11:14 a.m. local time (0614 GMT), marking the airport’s first commercial arrival, the statement added. The flight was warmly received by …

ISLAMABAD: The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad announced that the Gwadar New International Airport, a Chinese-aided project, welcomed its first commercial flight, PA-503, today. In a statement released on Monday, the embassy described the airport as a “shining example of China-Pakistan friendship.” Designed to accommodate the world’s largest civil aircraft, the airport is poised to play a pivotal role in transforming …

GWADAR: Pakistan celebrated a major milestone in aviation history on Monday as the first commercial flight landed at the newly inaugurated New Gwadar International Airport, signaling the start of operations at the state-of-the-art facility. PIA flight PK-503, carrying 46 passengers, departed from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport at 9:50 AM and touched down at Gwadar at 11:15 AM. The event marked the airport’s official operational launch …

Pakistan Threek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan has said that he and his workers would prefer to be in jail rather than accepting the dictatorship of “Yahya Khan Part 2”. “Let me reiterate that our party workers, including myself, would prefer being in jail over accepting the dictatorship of Yahya Khan Part 2. I will not compromise on …

The Supreme Court was supposed to preside over the hearing of ‘powers of Supreme Court benches’ case. However, today Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha Malik were informed that the cause list for this week did not include this case. The petitioner’s counsel Barrister Salahuddin appeared before the Supreme Court and pled “I came from Karachi only for this …

Rain and strong winds have been predicted for Islamabad while the upper areas of the country are likely to receive snowfall The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued weather alerts for various regions: Balochistan: Rain is predicted in Quetta, Mastung, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, and Qila Abdullah. Areas including Chagai, Nushki, Kalat, Harnai, Zhob, Musakhel, Qila Saifullah, Barkhan, Panjgur, Turbat, Jiwani, and Gwadar …

The long-awaited New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) is now operational, marking an important step for Pakistan’s aviation and economy. The first commercial flight, PIA’s PK-503, landed at NGIA from Karachi with 46 passengers on board. Although it was delayed by 45 minutes, the flight was welcomed with a water cannon salute. Defense and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif was present to …

In a dominant performance, Pakistan defeated the West Indies in the 1st Test at Multan, wrapping up the match on January 17, 2025. The West Indies were bowled out for just 123 in their second innings, chasing a target of 251. Abrar Ahmed played a crucial role with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 27 runs, while Sajid Khan added …

Following the death of around 40 Pakistanis in the boat tragedy near Morocco’s coast, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that 21 Pakistanis have survived the ill-fated journey. The Pakistani embassy in Rabat has already given the green signal to assist citizens. The boat which capsized near the coast, had at least 86 passengers on board, including 66 Pakistanis. The …

Lahore has once again earned the grim distinction of being the most polluted city in the world, according to the latest air quality data. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at a staggering 553, categorizing it as a hazardous level of pollution. This marks another alarming episode in Lahore’s ongoing battle with deteriorating air quality, which continues to threaten public …

Supreme Court Judge Justice Athar Minallah on Sunday labelled the era of General Zia-ul-Haq as the “most terrifying” period in Pakistan’s history, describing it as a time when human rights were egregiously violated. Addressing the first International Animal Rights and Environment Conference in Lahore, Justice Minallah reflected on the harsh realities of the Zia era, citing the establishment of torture …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad announced a historic achievement in the collaboration between Pakistan and China over launch of EO-1 Satellite in a joint collaboration. According to a statement released on Saturday, the embassy stated that under the partnership of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and SUPARCO, Pakistan’s indigenous EO-1 satellite was successfully launched. The launch was …

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) has prepared a roadmap for 5G technology, documents showed . The documents said that 5G technology will be launched across the country, with the initial date given to be June 2025. The spectrum auction will be completed in five phases, the documents said. According to the details, the 5G spectrum auction process …

The Pakistani government on Saturday dispatched a high-level investigation team to Morocco to probe the tragic deaths of at least 44 Pakistani migrants in a boat accident that occurred off the coast of Morocco. The team, which left Islamabad today, will conduct an in-depth investigation into the incident thatraised serious concerns about human smuggling operations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took …