The military’s top brass on Monday vowed to fully support the “strategic initiatives of the government” for the revival of the economy by providing all possible “technical and management assistance” for the overall well-being of the people of Pakistan, the military’s media wing said. According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the resolve was expressed at the …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday suspended its previous ruling which stopped the Punjab caretaker government from leasing land in three districts to the Pakistan Army for corporate farming on a 20-year lease. In March, the Punjab government had signed an agreement to hand over at least 45,267 acres in three districts, Bhakkar, Khushab, and Sahiwal, to the Pakistan …

After several reports, the government’s Ministry of IT and Telecom has finally decided to take action against illegal loan apps, and banned over 40 of them, signalling just how widespread the issue had become. As per a statement released by the IT and Telecom ministry on Monday, Federal Minister Aminul Haq also directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday thanked Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe for supporting and helping Pakistan to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the report, premier made the remarks in a telephone conversation with the president of Sri Lanka, which had secured a preliminary agreement with the IMF in September last year after defaulting …

The Lahore deputy commissioner (DC) has issued a 30-day detention order for PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), it emerged on Monday. The order, which was issued late last night, stated that Elahi would be held at Lahore’s Camp Jail, where he has been incarcerated since last month. It came after …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered a fine of Rs. 5,000 for motorcyclists without helmets to improve road safety. Due to the unsatisfactory performance of the authorities, the court has decided to intervene. Justice Shahid Karim issued this ruling after hearing petitions about the city’s smog. He ordered the traffic police to administer strict helmet rules during the hearing. …

Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and ex-Imran Khan aide Pervez Khattak officially launched his political party on Monday, naming it Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTIP). A significant number of provincial and national assembly members, totaling 57, have joined PTIP to support Pervez Khattak’s leadership.Notable members include Ishtiaq Armar, Ziaullah Bangash, Ghazan Jamal, Agha Gandapur, Ahtesham Javed, Akbar, and Ahmed Hussain Shah. …

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) voiced strong concerns against the decision of the government in the center to hold general polls based on the 2017 census. MQM-P Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui whose party is a stakeholder in the government told journalists during a presser that the population of Karachi is around 30 million, which was about 14.9 million in …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi lamented that, despite being a major stakeholder in the country’s political setup, his party was not being taken into confidence over election reforms. During a media talk at a district kacheri in Multan, the PTI stalwart remarked: “Section 9 of the Election Act 2017 is very vague.” The Parliamentary Committee on Electoral …

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has taken a decisive step by revoking the party membership of six individuals.The members include Haji Shaukat Ali, Mujahid Metla, Nadia Aziz, Saleem Baryar, Syed Zulfiqar, and Usman Tarakai. A formal notification was issued, bearing the signature of Secretary General Umar Ayub, to communicate the cancellation of their party memberships. The notification explicitly cites the reasons …

In a tragic incident, a tourist van carrying passengers veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine in the Thalichi area of Gilgit Baltistan’s Diamer district, resulting in the loss of at least five lives and leaving 15 others injured. The van was en route to Gilgit from Islamabad via the renowned Karakoram Highway when the accident occurred, …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the reduction in petroleum product prices has been possible due to the strengthening of the rupee against the dollar. Addressing the Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme event on Sunday, the PM attributed the price decrease to a positive impact of the recent standby agreement with the IMF. He added that if the agreement had …

Two Pakistanis emerged victorious for remarkable contributions in their respective fields at the Global Women Awards ceremony held in London. Huma Fakhar, a Pakistani businesswoman, received the Global Woman Inspiration Award, highlighting her inspiring achievements, while Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib, a philanthropist, was honoured with the Global Man of the Decade award for his efforts towards Pakistan’s welfare. Both the …

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said the government had decided not to notify the latest census and that upcoming elections would be held on the basis of the 2017 census “The CCI (Council of common Interests) has to complete its term. If this new census is not notified by then, the next elections will be [held] on the basis of the …

ISLAMABAD: Car lifting incidents and mobile phone snatching have increased manifold in the federal capital during the last week, as armed persons snatched 68 mobile phones and auto thieves stole 88 vehicles from various parts of the city. According to the data, the city police also registered 10 cases of robbery and snatching of cash at gunpoint, in which, citizens …

The Islamabad police have arrested the suspect involved in the recent alleged rape of a woman at one of the trails of the capital’s Margalla Hills, it said on Sunday. In the early hours of Friday, the Islamabad police had registered a first information report (FIR) after the woman had complained that a man had lured her with the prospect …

ISLAMABAD: While munching on traditional steamed beef dumplings and noodles during a Pakistan-China cultural event in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, 12-year-old Muhmmad Irfan could not hide his love for Chinese food. “The variety of delicious dishes the Chinese cuisine offered made it one of the most favorite cuisines in Pakistan … Especially after the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was launched, …

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar of the Supreme Court has said that the rise in population of a country has an impact on courts as well, as the number of pending cases before a judge increases. The judge gave these remarks while chairing the second day of a conference on population and resources, organized by the Law and Justice Commission at …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved on Saturday the appointment of Fuad Asadullah Khan as the new Director General (DG) of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). According to an official notification, Fuad’s appointment is on a contract basis for a period of three years. “Mr Fuad, a BS-21 officer of the IB, presently working as Commandant, IB Academy, has been posted under …

Even though the Banking Crimes Court of Lahore has issued the release order for PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in a money laundering case, his freedom from the Camp Jail may just not be possible yet. The security superintendent of police has submitted a written request to the Lahore deputy commissioner for Elahi’s detention over disturbance of peace in three …

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif while taking Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Chief Fazlur Rehman in confidence over the Dubai meeting assured to keep him in the loop on key political decisions. The assurance came during a telephonic conversation held between two bigwigs today, in which the country’s political landscape and Dubai meeting took centre stage. Sources privy …

Army chief General Asim Munir and Iranian Chief of General Staff Mohammad Bagheri have agreed to enhance bilateral military, defense, security and educational cooperation. According to an Iranian news agency, the army chief visited the headquarters of the Iranian armed forces in Tehran during his ongoing visit to the neighbouring country. Iranian Chief of General Staff Major General Mohammad Baqheri …

Heavy rainfall pounded Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Saturday, leading to the declaration of a rain emergency in the twin cities and triggering local authorities to deploy machinery along roads to drain the rainwater. Managing Director of the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Muhammad Tanveer, said a rain emergency has been declared in Rawalpindi as relentless downpours, which commenced in the …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has set aside orders to keep a Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) member’s name in the Fourth Schedule, it said in a written verdict issued on Saturday. The Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 (ATA) is a list of individuals placed under observation by the government on suspicion of their involvement in terrorism or sectarianism. Today, …

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday strongly rebuked Afghanistan for “neglecting its duties as a neighbouring and fraternal country”, and for disregarding vital obligations made in the Doha peace agreement, specifically its commitment to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities. The minister’s statement comes just a day after the armed forces of Pakistan voiced their “serious concerns …

Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari have reached a consensus on the appointment of a caretaker set-up for the highly anticipated upcoming general election. The breakthrough occurred during a meeting between top guns held in Dubai. According to sources privy to the matter, the meeting between Nawaz Sharif …

The anti-corruption court (ATC) in Lahore has summoned DIG Jails for not executing the robkar (release order) of former Chief Minister Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi – in a case of illegal appointments in the Punjab Assembly. The court has directed the DIG to appear before it on July 19, expressing dissatisfaction with the superintendent of prisons for violating court orders. …

Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari have reached a consensus on the appointment of a caretaker set-up for the highly anticipated upcoming general election. The breakthrough occurred during a meeting between top guns held in Dubai. According to sources privy to the matter, the meeting between Nawaz Sharif …

Drizzle is expected to drench the port city and adjoining areas tonight, and on Saturday night, while the rest of Sindh’s weather will remain hot and humid, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Friday. Sindh districts including Qambar Shahdadkot, Jacobabad and Larkana will likely receive isolated dust with thunderstorm and light rain during the evening and/or night. Meanwhile, drizzle …

As the instances of sexual abuse of children rise in Pakistan, the Punjab interior department has recently revealed that more boys become victims of such crimes than girls in the country’s largest province. A report based on data from January to June 15, 2023 reveals that in less than six months, 1,390 child abuse cases were reported in the province. …

The premier’s remarks came during the groundbreaking ceremony of the plant, which is expected to be completed in seven to eight years, costing around $3.48 billion. The prime minister witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the C-5 project between the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC)and the China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas Ltd (CNOS) last month. Addressing …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that Pakistan’s new $3 billion loan programme would anchor the country’s immediate efforts to stabilise the economy and ensure that the current balance of payments need was fulfilled. Earlier this week, the global lender’s executive board green-lit the nine-month standby arrangement (SBA) in order “to support the authorities’ economic stabilisation programme”. The board …

The Cybercrime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday said it has arrested nine suspects and booked 19 others for allegedly blackmailing citizens through loan-giving mobile applications (apps). The development comes a day after the agency launched an investigation into the death of a man in Rawalpindi who purportedly ended his life due to “threats” made by loan …

The armed forces of Pakistan have “serious concerns on the safe havens and liberty of action available to” the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, the military’s media affairs wing said in a statement on Friday. The Inter-Services Public Relations’ (ISPR) statement came following Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir’s visit to Quetta Garrison where he was briefed on …

Islamabad police registered a first information report (FIR) on Friday of the alleged rape of a woman at one of the hiking trails of the capital’s Margalla Hills. The FIR was registered on the complaint of the rape survivor under Section 376 (punishment for rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code at Islamabad’s Kohsar police station in the early hours of …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in an address to the nation on Thursday, said the incumbent government would hand over the country’s reins to the caretaker set-up in August. PM Shehbaz had made a similar announcement yesterday as well, in which he declared that the term of his government would end on August 14. He, however, did not clear the confusion …

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Thursday that 99 percent of work had been completed on the “much-needed” electoral reforms and hoped that an agreed-upon proposal would be drafted by the next week, Aaj News reported. He made these remarks while speaking to the media after the third parliamentary meeting on electoral reforms that examined 73 rectification proposals presented …

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday said India’s unabated repression over the last seven decades has failed to break the will of Kashmiri people for the right to self-determination. At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch urged the Afghan authorities to fulfill their promises that their soil will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan. …

The Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a crackdown on online loan apps following the tragic suicide of a 42-year-old man named Muhammad Masood from Rawalpindi. The FIA spokesperson on Thursday confirmed that two offices of loan apps located in Sector G8, Islamabad, were raided and subsequently sealed. Laptops and computers were also seized as …

The Supreme Court has finally fixed for hearing the Practice and Procedure Act case, as well as the one against trials of civilians in military courts. The Supreme Court will hear the Practice and Procedure Bill case on July 21. The apex court has issued an injunction on the implementation of the law until a decision on the case. An …