ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain on Friday emphasized the significance of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and fostering industrialization, noting that the relocation of Chinese industries presents a significant opportunity for Pakistan. While addressing a report titled ‘Aligning Special Economic Zones Policies of Pakistan and China’ the minister said that …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the international community to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and bring it to justice. In a statement on Saturday, the prime minister strongly denounced the ongoing Israeli atrocities in Khan Younis area of Palestine, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Israel tells Gazans to temporarily vacate southern Khan Younis areas PM Shehbaz voiced concerns …

ISLAMABAD: Days after Supreme Court of Pakistan set aside the Peshawar High Court and election commission verdicts and declared the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) eligible for reserved seats, the party has submitted a list of reserved seats to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The party has submitted a comprehensive list of reserved seats to the Election Commission of Pakistan, comprising …

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman says that negotiations and fascism cannot go together, adding that if the arrested party workers are not released, they will be forced to change the direction of the sit-in. While addressing the sit-in in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on Saturday morning, Hafiz Naeem expressed reservations about the names included in the government committee for negotiations. …

After granting customs duty and sales tax exemption to diplomats in Pakistan, the government has now extended federal excise duty (FED) exemption on imports of diplomats, diplomatic missions, privileged persons, and privileged organizations. The revised Federal Excise Act 2005, updated up to June 30, 2024, revealed that the conditional exemption of FED would be available on the imports made by …

Mr. Rizwan Anwar Global Youth Ambassador to United Nations and Ms. Maha Jamil UN Youth Advocate represented the Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP) at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva during the 22nd International Sustainability Conference. The Mr Rizwan Anwar underscored the proactive involvement of Pakistan’s youth in driving social transformation. Speakers emphasized that, under the visionary leadership of Prime …

In a series of coordinated raids since late Wednesday night, police conducted extensive operations targeting members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) across various cities in Pakistan after they announced a protest sit-in at Islamabad’s D-Chowk after Friday prayers. The PTI is holding demonstrations in various cities across the country, including several spots in Lahore, outside the Islamabad …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Tehran on Tuesday to attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian. At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad today, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the visit underscores the commitment by the two countries to strengthen leadership engagement and bilateral relations. When asked about the recent statement made by US …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday nullified PTI founder Imran Khan’s 10-day physical remand granted over his alleged involvement in May 9 violence. A two-member bench comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Anwarul Haq announced the reserved verdict on Imran Khan’s plea against the physical remand. The court also declared the notification pertaining to the attendance of the …

Amid security concerns, section 144 has been imposed across Punjab and Islamabad prohibiting assemblies, processions, or protests. This measure comes as part of heightened security protocols due to anticipated protests and the prevailing threat of terrorism. The capital administration has warned that any violations will be met with strict action. “Violation of Section 144 cannot be allowed under any circumstances,” …

The Election Commission of Pakistan has commenced the implementation of the Supreme Court’s July 12 decision, issuing notifications confirming 39 MNAs as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members in parliament. This decision was taken in a key session of the commission presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja on Thursday. According to the notification, these 39 Members of the …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reconstituted boards of six power distribution companies over unsatisfactory performance. The prime minister reconstituted six boards including Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), Peshawar Electri Supply (PESCO) Hazara Electric Supply Company (HAZECO) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO). Amer Zia, a power sector consultant, was …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has constituted a larger bench to hear cases of missing persons. After wrapping up the plea seeking recovery of missing poet Ahmed Farhad, on June 7 IHC judge Mohsin Akhtar Kiani stated his intention to write to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to constitute a larger bench for cases involving missing persons, ensuring that multiple …

Justice Athar Minallah of the Supreme Court, while defending the decision to open the Islamabad High Court on the night of April 9 when he was the chief justice, said courts should remain open whenever there is a threat of a martial law. Addressing the New York City Bar Association on ‘Independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law in Pakistan’, …

The Punjab government has announced the abolition of all government commerce colleges across the province, with plans to convert these institutions into information technology (IT) colleges. The Punjab Department of Higher Education has initiated work on this project, which is supposedly aimed at revitalizing the province’s educational landscape and addressing the evolving needs of the job market. The decision will …

A meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Water Resources under the chairmanship of Khalid Magsi wherein the Secretary of the Water Resources ministry briefed the participants that Pakistan objected to the design of the Kishan Ganga hydroelectric power plant. “India says the design is correct,” the Water Resources ministry secretary said. “There are currently two cases …

The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, convened to discuss a six-point agenda, which included key national and international issues. The cabinet, however, deferred the decision to discuss a possible ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and implement Article 6 against three of its leaders, opting instead to consult with coalition partners, particularly the Pakistan People’s Party, first. …

Pakistan People’s Party has pleaded to the Supreme Court to suspend its decision on reserved seats and review it. The apex court had on May 12 overturned the denial of reserved seats to the PTI. The PPP plea filed by Barrister Farooq Naik in the apex court also sought to keep the July 12 order in abeyance till decision on …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has voiced dissatisfaction with the performance of federal ministries and the bureaucracy, and also taken notice of the ministries’ inability to develop and implement effective plans for development. In response to these issues, Prime Minister Sharif has taken decisive steps to address the shortcomings. He has authorized the appointment of consultants in 10 key ministries, including …

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued a concerning report confirming the presence of the poliovirus in environmental samples from 52 districts nationwide. The latest findings have identified poliovirus in 10 environmental samples collected from seven additional cities, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This recent discovery highlights the persistent threat of polio in various parts of the country. Polio virus …

Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation sealed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central office once again on Tuesday. The building has been sealed due to a lack of fire and life safety arrangements. This development came after PTI senator Shibli Faraz Monday claimed that Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ICT) encircled the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secretariat in Islamabad and arrested PTI chairman Barrister Gohar and …

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced a symbolic hunger strike outside the Parliament House today. Talking to media, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar that party lawmakers will set up a hunger strike camps outside Parliament House and Punjab Assembly. He said that Opposition leader in the NA Omar Ayub will lead the camp outside parliament. The symbolic hunger strike will be …

The ecological conditions of Pakistan today are a complex tapestry woven from centuries of natural evolution, colonial interference, and modern industrialization. The country’s environmental landscape bears the scars of historical exploitation and contemporary mismanagement. Colonial rule left an indelible mark on the environment of South Asia. Colonialism has destroyed the ecology of many countries, and Pakistan is no exception. The …

Jamaat-e-Islami announced a sit-in at D Chowk on July 26. Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeemur Rehman in his address to the Islamabad Bar Association said that we are coming to Islamabad not for ourselves but against the unnecessary taxes imposed on the people. JI Cheif said the country should have a government of form 45, not 47. “The people have the …

In a significant policy shift, the government has decided to immediately withdraw the circular that suspended the Pakistani passports of asylum seekers abroad. This decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Dar was briefed on various issues concerning the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. It …

The spokesperson of the armed forces has said that there will be increased interactions and press conferences to dispel what he called an increase in anti-army propaganda and campaign. This was stated by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in a press conference on Monday. He started off by claiming that the event was …

PTI senator Shibli Faraz Monday claimed that Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ICT) encircled the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secretariat in Islamabad and arrested PTI chairman Barrister Gohar and party spokesperson Rauf Hasan. A large contingent of Police reached outside the PTI secretariat along with women police personnel. Shibli Faraz claimed that the PTI chairman and Rauf Hasan were arrested by the …

Pakistan strongly condemned attack by a gang of extremists on its consulate in Frankfurt, Germany and the failure of the German authorities to protect the sanctity and security of the premises of its consular Mission. As per the statement issued, FO spokesperson said: “Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 it is the responsibility of the host government to …

Incarcerated former premier Imran Khan has claimed he is being “caged like a terrorist”,and is being “denied basic prisoner and human rights”, British publication The Sunday Times reported. His remarks came during a rare interview from behind bars with the outlet, conducted via his lawyers, as according to the article he is not allowed pencil and paper. Imran, 71, has …

In an unexpected turn of events, a woman gave birth to twin girls in a rickshaw outside the emergency department of Lahore General Hospital. As per details, the security supervisor of the hospital noticed the woman’s distress and immediately informed the doctors, who rushed to the scene. The medical team, including doctors and nurses, provided timely assistance, ensuring the safe …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shafqat Mahmood announced his ‘retirement’ from politics. Shafqat Mahmood said he decided to leave politics after much ‘thought’. “34 years ago today, I stepped into politics by resigning from the government job. I want to devote the rest of my life to writing and teaching,” Shafqat Mahmood said. “This decision was not made due to any pressure, …

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq rejected the chairman’s Standing Committees’ demand for new vehicles, National Assembly Secretariat sources. Several chairmen complained that the vehicles provided were old and inefficient, to which  Ayaz Sadiq replied, the vehicles provided to them were from 2017 and 2019 models. “The vehicle I am using is also of 2015 model,” Speaker Ayaz Sadiq replied as …

The deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh has caused concern among the parents of Pakistani students studying in Dhaka and other cities as around 140 Pakistani students have been left stranded due to the unrest and subsequent imposition of curfews in various parts of Bangladesh. Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina extended curfew as tensions simmer ahead of court hearing …

The inaugural flight of the Rescue Air Ambulance from MM Alam Base in Mianwali successfully landed in Rawalpindi, transporting a patient in need of urgent medical care. The first patient, suffering from a severe red bone fracture, was referred from DHQ Hospital in Mianwali to Rawalpindi. The air ambulance led by Dr Atiq Ahmad Khan aimed to provide rapid medical …

ISLAMABAD: The poliovirus was detected in a child in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, taking the total number of reported polio cases in the South Asian country to nine, an official has said. Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Regulations and Coordination Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath said Saturday that wild poliovirus type 1 was detected in samples collected …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday welcomed the historic International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. “The ICJ ruling that Israel must end its occupation & illegal settlements is vindication of the legitimate struggle of the brave Palestinian people,” the prime minister wrote on his official X handle. He urged the international community and United …

In a recent statement regarding the Bannu situation, the adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on information, Barrister Saif, reassured the public that the provincial government has taken effective measures to bring the situation under control. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was monitoring the situation personally and remains in constant contact with the administration and officials in …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently visited the Technology Park project in Islamabad to review the progress of the ongoing construction. He said the project is set to become Pakistan’s first technology park of Category 3, built to meet international standards. During his visit, Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the importance of continuous work on development projects. “As soon as the government …

The Supreme Court has released its second quarterly performance report, covering the period from December 17, 2023, to March 31, 2024. During this timeframe, approximately 4,000 cases were settled, although the total number of cases increased by 1,453. The report highlights that 5,427 cases were registered and 3,974 cases were disposed of in the three months. Despite the considerable number …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has submitted the party affiliation forms of 38 independent members to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), sources revealed on Friday to media. This move signifies PTI’s efforts to consolidate its position and expand its influence within the political landscape. According to sources, a PTI representative submitted the affiliation forms to the Election Commission of Pakistan. However, …