The Sindh Cabinet has approved a bill to criminalize refusal to vaccinate children against vaccine-preventable diseases across the province. Out of about 40 items on the agenda, the cabinet approved the Sindh Immunization and Epidemic Control Act 2023 along with eight other health-related matters. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over the meeting at CM House where provincial ministers, …

As the world faces alarming increases in temperatures and heat waves, cities are taking steps to protect their citizens from the growing climate crisis. The situation is becoming increasingly troubling, with records showing that this year’s temperature rise is only the beginning of an alarming trend. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), temperatures will continue …

The total cost of generating electricity in the country decreased significantly by 35%, hitting Rs9.63 KWh in June 2023 compared to Rs14.72 KWh registered in the same period of the previous year. On a YoY basis, the significant decline is attributed to the following reasons; “Coal-based cost of generation decreased by 32% YoY due to cheaper local coal-based power plants …

KARACHI: A baby monkey caused chaos in a Pakistan court after escaping from a troop presented as evidence in a case of wildlife smuggling, officials said. Two men were intercepted outside Karachi Thursday trying to smuggle 14 baby monkeys in crates usually used to transport mangos. But when they were brought to court on Friday, one of the monkeys escaped – causing …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone on Saturday of road projects at Sharqpur in district Sheikhupura, reported state-run Radio Pakistan. These projects include a 19-kilometer-long Lahore bypass, connecting Kala Shah Kaku to the Lahore-Karachi Motorway, and expansion of the Lahore-Karachi Motorway up to Sigian Road and Main Ravi Bridge. It also includes Esaan Sharqpur Interchange at Abdul Hakim Motorway. Addressing …

Shariq Jamal, a deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, was found dead at his residence in Lahore’s DHA neighbourhood in the early hours of Saturday, police said in a statement. He was initially brought to National Hospital in Lahore where the doctors confirmed the death. Upon receiving the news, the deceased officer’s family members, including his daughter and wife, rushed …

Michael McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, hoped the economic alliance between Pakistan and the US would bring the two countries closer to each other. He made these comments while speaking to journalists after attending a barbeque reception and mango festival, hosted by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington …

Flash floods wreaked havoc in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chitral district for the second consecutive day on Saturday, with villages Danin, Kari and Ayun besides Koghuzi Valley inundated as the Yarkhun River swelled due to melting glaciers and snow. Rescue efforts were impeded as bridges in Koghuzi Valley and Kari village were damaged and rendered inaccessible by the flood water. A stretch …

The past 10-year record shows that the highest number of highly skilled nationals of Pakistan left the country in 2022 in search of jobs. Accumulatively, in the past decade, approximately 150,059 highly qualified nationals of Pakistan left the country for jobs abroad. The Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment record unfolds that the lowest number of highly qualified nationals left Pakistan …

Heavy rain with thunderstorm is being witnessed in different parts of Lahore, while the weather division has forecast intermittent rain in the city throughout the day. Two boys have been killed due to the excessive rainfall in Lahore. A 17-year-old boy drowned in rainwater under the Do Moria Pull, while a 12-year-old boy drowned near Thokar Niaz Baig. Lahore Deputy …

The federal government struck the inflation-ridden masses with a powerful jolt, as it decided to exorbitantly raise the power tariff in the middle of the night. The electricity price has been hiked by Rs7.50 per unit. The basic tariff has been increased from Rs3 to Rs7.50 per unit. The federal cabinet approved the summary for this massive price hike through …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan hopes its national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) can resume flights to Britain in the next three months, Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Friday. Rafique made the announcement in parliament, saying new legislation this week has removed the last hurdle for the national carrier to fly to the United Kingdom. “God willing, PIA flights will resume …

Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Friday announced in the National Assembly that the Islamabad Airport will be outsourced for 15 years. “The navigational services and runway operations will not be outsourced. The CAA will continue to do it,” he said on the floor of the house. “The rest will be outsourced.” He added that the International Finance Corporation (IFC), …

Moving on to the situation in Afghanistan, Baloch revealed that Pakistan has raised concerns with the Afghan interim authorities regarding the use of Afghan soil for carrying out terrorist activities inside Pakistan. Pakistan expects Afghanistan to honor its commitments to the international community and prevent any individual or group from using its territory to threaten regional peace and security. Regarding …

Pakistan has convey its readiness to contribute to the promotion of dialogue with the aim of ending the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Foregin Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said on Friday. During her weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Friday, the spokesperson mentioned the ongoing visit of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to Pakistan, which marked a historic …

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Friday during the hearing of petitions challenging the government’s decision to conduct trials of civilians in military courts of civilians remarked that the top court will intervene if a martial law-like situation emerges. A six-member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial is hearing multiple petitions …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the city administration to take action against unlawful parking on an urgent basis to reduce traffic in Punjab’s busy metropolis. Justice Shahid Karim heard Haroon Farooq’s petition against unauthorized parking spots. The LHC insisted that eateries without parking places be sealed immediately during the plea hearing. The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered …

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority has approved an increase in the price of electricity by Rs1.90 per unit for the month of May. A notification has been issued in this regard. The increase will be applicable to all customers of the electricity distribution companies except lifeline consumers and electric vehicle charging stations. The hike will not be applicable to …

In a progressive move towards providing enhanced services and convenience to citizens, the Directorate of Passports and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) have joined forces to introduce a joint initiative for passport renewal . Under this initiative, citizens seeking to renew their passports can now utilize the newly introduced online renewal facility. To take advantage of the online …

The deadline for allotting election symbols to political parties by the Election Commission of Pakistan has ended. The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party has submitted an application for the ‘eagle’ as its election symbol. So far, 131 political parties have submitted applications to the election commission, as per sources. The Jamaat-e-Islami has submitted an application for the ‘scales’, while the PML-N has applied …

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has emphasized the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts through dialogue and engagements, and that Pakistan is ready to support peace initiative for lasting stability in the region. Speaking at a joint news conference along with his Ukrainian Counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Islamabad on Thursday, he said as a country in a volatile …

The Punjab government has taken a significant step towards strengthening local governance and empowering communities by reintroducing the Numberdar system after a hiatus of 20 years. This historic decision aims to provide 12,000 new job opportunities as Numberdars enabling competent individuals to actively contribute to the progress and development of the state. To expedite the recruitment process for the vacant …

The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has announced an indefinite distribution shutdown. The association will begin the strike from 6 AM on Saturday, July 22, 2023. According to the official notice issued by PPDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan, the association is facing crushing losses due to the rising sales of petrol and diesel smuggled from Iran. The notice adds that …

ABA press release said: “His ruling not only resolves the thorny question of a potential conflict between Islamic and democratic ideals but also provides a way forward for a country that is committed to upholding Islamic values but can still provide a voice for its marginalized communities.” Reflecting on the question of the increasingly radicalized youth in the country, the …

Salman Sufi, Head PM Strategic Reforms, said on Thursday that authorities will continue their operation and identify further loan apps that are “built for the sole purpose of citizen exploitation”. “Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) continue to identify further apps which are built for the sole purpose of citizen …

Three policemen were martyred and at least seven people were injured on Thursday in a blast in the Bara Bazaar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Khyber district, a police official said. KP Inspector General (IG) Akhtar Hayat confirmed that the attack took place in a tehsil office’s compound. Each district has a tehsil office, which is where local government officials perform their …

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday stated that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) might arrest former prime minister Imran Khan if he fails to cooperate with their investigation into the cipher. The minister’s warning comes a day after Imran’s ex-principal secretary in an alleged confession that surfaced on Wednesday accused his former boss of using a cipher from Pakistan’s mission …

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday that the reported confession of ex-principal secretary Azam Khan was a “charge sheet” against PTI chief Imran Khan. His remarks came as an alleged confession of Azam, Imran’s principal secretary when he was prime minister, surfaced on social media wherein he claimed that the narrative behind the cipher which the PTI chief has …

Punjab Home Department on Wednesday decided to impose section 14 during first 10 days of the month of Muharram and maintain law and order and summoned Pakistan Army to ensure public safety. In this regard, official notification has also been issued, implementing Section 144 across Punjab during the first 10 days of Muharram-ul-Haram. The notification outlines several other restrictions to …

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday directed Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan to seek the government’s directives on Pakistan Army Act 1952, saying that “the Army Act does not apply to all”. The law applied to a “specific class”, CJP Bandial said during the hearing of a set of pleas against trials of …

Pakistan’s passport retained its position as the fourth-worst in the world, according to The Henley Passport Index a London-based immigration consultancy as it released its Q3 2023 Global Ranking on Tuesday. Pakistan was ranked at the same position in the same period of the previous year as well as in December 2022, coming ahead only of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. …

At least 11 people were killed and six others were injured on Wednesday after a building’s wall under construction collapsed at Islamabad’s Peshawar Road during the heavy rains. The wall was 100-foot wide and 11-foot high, under which they had set up a tent to live at the construction site. The bodies of the deceased were shifted to the Pakistan …

Water ambulance, a groundbreaking initiative has been launched Tuesday (today) ensuring timely medical transportation for the island’s residents. The long-standing healthcare challenge faced by the inhabitants of Baba, Bhit, and Shams Pir islands off the coast of Karachi has finally found a solution following a collaborative effort between NGOs, government authorities, and local communities. The absence of a hospital on …

The recent surge in fines for motorcycle riders without helmets has taken a toll not only on the wallets of the violators but also on those seeking to comply with the law. As authorities tighten their grip on road safety regulations, the prices of helmets have skyrocketed, further burdening riders who are already facing the consequences of hefty penalties. Authorities …

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has clarified that the date of dissolution of the National Assembly has not been decided yet amid reports that the two major parties in ruling coalition – PML-N and PPP – had agreed to dissolve the lower house on August 8. “The date [of dissolution of National Assembly] will be decided in …

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast that Pakistan will likely experience widespread rains as monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea will likely penetrate the country’s upper and central parts from today (Tuesday). These currents are expected to intensify on July 19. The weather forecast department has advised all authorities concerned to remain ‘alert’ during the forecast period, as the country …

A suicide blast took place near security forces’ vehicle in Peshawar’s Hayatabad area, police said on Tuesday. At least 10 people including seven sustained injuries in the blast, Security forces have cordoned off the area. Superintendent of Police (SP) Cantt Waqas Rafiq confirmed the suicide blast saying that the explosion took place near Frontier Corps (FC) vehicle. The target of …

China has rolled over a $600 million loan to Pakistan, helping shore up the country’s foreign exchange reserves on the back of an IMF deal, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday. This was in addition to over $5 billion in loans that longtime ally China has rolled over for Pakistan in the last three months, the prime minister said …

Three minor girls were found brutally murdered near their residence in Muzaffargarh on Tuesday with law enforcers tracing the culprit, a senior police official said. It is not clear if there was more than one killer involved at this stage. District Police Officer (DPO) Muzaffargarh Syed Hasnain Haider stated that the police were informed about the disappearance of three sisters …

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the federal government’s request to constitute a full court bench to hear a set of pleas challenging the trial of civilians in the country’s military courts. The development came as a six-judge larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and consisting Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya …