Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) reported that Nepal welcomed over 1.15 million foreign tourists in 2025, marking a one percent increase compared to 2024. A total of 1,158,459 tourists visited Nepal, representing a 97 percent recovery compared to the pre-COVID pandemic level of 2019, according to NTB. While the Himalayan country witnessed steady growth in tourist arrivals throughout the year, political …

The Sri Lanka Navy arrested 11 Indian fishermen for alleged illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters on Thursday night, the navy said, according to foreign media. Navy Media Spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath told the media on Friday that the suspects were arrested off Jaffna in the country’s Northern Province during a search operation. He said the fishermen were taken to …

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government on Friday launched a military operation against the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the southeastern oil-rich province of Hadramout, provincial Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi said. In an address broadcast from Riyadh on state-run television, Al-Khanbashi said the operation aims to restore state authority and ensure security and stability in the province, particularly around key government institutions and …

England has called up Matthew Potts and Shoaib Basheer for the final Ashes Test. The England Cricket Board announced a 12-member squad for the Sydney Test. With key fast bowlers Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, and Gus Atkinson unavailable, Matthew Potts could get an opportunity in the playing XI. However, the final playing XI will be decided based on the pitch …

Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) has unanimously elected Colonel Nabeel Ahmed Rana as its new president, while Najia Rasool was chosen as the general secretary. During the PTF General Council meeting, Secretary of the Army Fitness and Sports Directorate, Colonel Nabeel Ahmed Rana, was elected president unopposed. Known for his strong command in sports administration and effective management, his election is …

Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket, while also reflecting on instances of racial discrimination and expressing his disappointment with past treatment by former players and the media. Speaking at the announcement, Khawaja said, “I have always felt different within the Australian team, even until now, and it was largely because of my background. I …

The Peshawar Institute of Cardiology (PIC) emerged as the leading heart hospital in Pakistan in 2025, performing more than 2,500 cardiac surgeries in a single year, including 316 open-heart surgeries on children. According to PIC spokesperson Riffat Anjum, the hospital’s outpatient department (OPD) examined 127,748 heart patients during the year, including 22,563 children. In total, 19,583 patients underwent angiography and …

The Higher Education Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has directed universities to terminate 645 employees hired during the caretaker period within 10 days, issuing instructions for immediate compliance under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Removal from Service Act 2025. The department has requested universities to submit detailed reports on the affected employees without delay. The recruitment took place across 18 universities during the …

Despite severe winter conditions, Frontier Works Organization (FWO) teams are working tirelessly to keep key mountain routes open, ensuring smooth commercial activity and public access. Sources said the FWO successfully cleared the critical Khunjerab Pass, situated at an altitude of 15,397 feet between Pakistan and China. Using advanced snow-clearing machinery, FWO crews have maintained the Karakoram Highway open to all …

A parliamentary committee comprising members of the Senate and National Assembly has shortlisted two candidates for the position of PEMRA Chairman. According to sources, the committee meeting faced delays, with MNA Shahbaz participating via video link. The four-member committee included Choudhry Shahbaz Babar, Syed Raza Ali Gilani, Senator Sarmad Ali, and Senator Ali Zafar, though opposition members boycotted the meeting …

Pakistan recorded the highest-ever tax collection for the month of December, as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs1,427.1 billion in December 2025, prompting praise from Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb who directed the tax authority to further accelerate revenue collection efforts. Commending the performance of FBR field formations, the finance minister said the record-breaking collection reflected the success …

Local government elections in the federal capital are likely to be delayed once again, as the government has decided to introduce an ordinance to amend the Islamabad local government law, sources said on Friday. The decision was discussed during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in which the cabinet endorsed the decisions of the Cabinet Committee …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that arresting an individual without following the prescribed legal process amounts to kidnapping, issuing strong observations on police excesses and abuse of authority. According to court proceedings reported by local media, the high court held that if legal process is misused and justice is compromised, such action becomes void under settled legal principles. …

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has sentenced Adil Raja and several other accused to multiple life terms in a digital terrorism case involving content against state institutions. The verdict was announced on Friday by Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra after the conclusion of the trial related to incidents of May 9. The judge pronounced the reserved judgment shortly after …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said the privatization of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) was a core component of the government’s broader economic reform vision, as he expressed satisfaction over the successful privatization of a 75 percent stake in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). According to an official statement, the prime minister was addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet, where he …

PTCL Group has approved an investment of Rs15 billion, equivalent to around $53 million, in U Microfinance Bank Limited (U Bank), marking one of the largest equity injections in Pakistan’s microfinance banking sector. PTCL, the parent company of U Bank, said the investment is aimed at supporting the bank’s sustained growth and strengthening its digital banking platform to improve outreach …

Pakistan and India have exchanged the lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities, officials confirmed on Thursday. The exchange was conducted under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between the two countries. The list of Pakistan’s nuclear installations and facilities was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission in …

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA) has collected 23.26 billion rupees in sales tax on services during the first six months of the financial year 2025-26 (July–December), marking a 30 percent increase compared to 17.92 billion rupees collected in the same period last year. According to KPRA’s media wing, the 5.34 billion rupees growth reflects the expansion of the tax …

More than half a million people took to the streets of Istanbul on New Year’s Day to show solidarity with Gaza, organizers and police said. The rally, organized by the Humanity Alliance and the National Will Platform, a coalition of around 400 civil society organizations was held under the slogan “We will not retreat, we will not remain silent, we …

At least 12 people have died and 11 others were injured after heavy rainfall and snowfall triggered severe flash floods across multiple provinces in Afghanistan over the past three days, officials said Thursday. Hafiz Mohammad Yusuf Hammad, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority, reported that the floods affected Kapisa, Parwan, Daykundi, Uruzgan, Kandahar, Helmand, Badghis, Faryab, Badakhshan, Herat, and …

The Government of Pakistan on Thursday handed over a list of 257 Indian prisoners, including 58 civilians and 199 fishermen, to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. The move follows the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May 2008, which requires both countries to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice …

NADRA has launched a pilot project allowing selected E-Sahulat franchises to provide national identity services, including reprinting and renewal of lost ID cards, officials said. The initiative aims to bring NADRA services closer to citizens’ homes by offering an alternative service channel. The pilot has begun in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi. Initially, 18 E-Sahulat franchises will offer NADRA services, …

Lahore witnessed 116 reported suicide cases during 2025, with men accounting for the majority of victims, according to data compiled by local authorities and Edhi Foundation officials. Of the total, 83 were men and 33 were women. Poverty and financial distress were reported as the leading factors behind male suicides, while women were primarily driven by failed relationships and domestic …

The Airports Security Force (ASF) has released its annual figures for 2025, highlighting significant operations against smuggling at airports across Pakistan. According to the ASF, its personnel successfully intercepted numerous attempts at drug smuggling through professional and vigilant operations throughout the year. During these actions, 26.863 kilograms of heroin, 88.7 kilograms of hashish, and 3.113 kilograms of ice heroin were …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced that he will visit Karachi on January 9, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Afridi, who recently completed a three-day visit to Lahore, said his upcoming trip to Karachi is to deliver a message from former party chairman Imran Khan. Taking to Twitter, Afridi stated: “9 January, Friday! Karachi, Sindh, are you ready? InshaAllah, …

Authorities in Peshawar have launched a major initiative to regulate private taxis, curb illegal transport, and improve traffic flow across the city, officials said on Thursday.? Under directives issued during a meeting chaired by Commissioner Peshawar Division and Chairman Regional Transport Authority Riyaz Khan Mehsud, all private taxis operating in the district must now be registered with the Excise Department. …

Small traders have declared calendar year 2025 as one of the worst years in Pakistan’s history in terms of business activity, investment, unemployment and inflation, citing prolonged political instability and economic uncertainty. According to traders, commercial activity during 2025 remained below 60 percent, while uncertainty about the future eroded investor confidence in local markets. They said no significant new commercial …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) failed to achieve its monthly and half-yearly tax collection targets for the first half of fiscal year 2025-26, official sources said on Thursday. According to the sources, FBR faced a revenue shortfall of approximately Rs21 billion in December 2025. Total net tax collections for the month stood at Rs1,425 billion against the target of …

Pakistan’s economy has shown clear signs of recovery and stability over the past year, with key sectors recording strong growth following strategic policy reforms under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), official data and government statements indicate. According to economic figures for the current fiscal year, Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3.71 percent, an increase of 2.15 percentage …

Pakistan Railways’ freight sector has recorded a historic performance by generating Rs17 billion in revenue during the first six months of the current fiscal period, officials said on Thursday. A spokesperson for Pakistan Railways said the freight division continued to post strong earnings despite operational challenges, including strikes. According to the spokesperson, the department earned more than Rs3 billion in …

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Wednesday conferred the “Best Foreign Journalist of the Decade in Pakistan (2015–2025)” award on Jiang Chao, Bureau Chief of Xinhua News Agency, in recognition of his decade-long contribution to objective journalism and promotion of Pakistan–China friendship. Speaking at the award-giving ceremony in Islamabad, PFUJ President Muhammad Nawaz Raza said the decision …

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired the second meeting of the National Wheat Oversight Committee to review wheat sowing progress for Rabi 2025–26, assess the current wheat stock position, and examine implementation mechanisms under the Integrated National Wheat Policy (INWP). During the meeting, provinces were advised to constitute Provincial Implementation Units to ensure effective …

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan chaired a high-level meeting on local manufacturing of vaccines, marking a major step toward health security and industrial self-reliance in Pakistan. The meeting was co-chaired by Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Mustafa Kamal. The meeting was attended by the federal secretary of the …

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision of a safer province is taking shape as the government signed agreements to establish smart Safe Cities in 98 tehsils across the province. The signing ceremony took place at the Central Police Office, where Brigadier Azmat Shabbir, Managing Director of National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), and Muhammad Ahsan Yunus, Managing Director of …

The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sohail Afridi has directed the provincial transport department to complete the printing of over 117,000 pending driving license cards across the province within one month. The transport department has issued a district-wise schedule for the printing and delivery of the licenses. According to the official notice, the concerned authorities have been instructed to …

Following difficulties faced by citizens in fingerprint verification, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced a new face-recognition biometric verification service. The facility aims to assist elderly individuals and those with medical issues who face challenges in fingerprint-based verification. According to a NADRA spokesperson, on the directives of the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, several measures were taken, …

Revolutionary reforms by the Securities and Investment Finance Commission (SIIFC) have strengthened Pakistan’s financial and investment sectors, placing the country’s Islamic finance market on a trajectory toward global prominence. Pakistan’s Islamic financial market has emerged as a hub for unprecedented investment opportunities, with the government working to develop a stable and sustainable framework for the future. In 2025, Pakistan achieved …

The Punjab government has approved two major projects worth a total of Rs9.4 billion aimed at wildlife conservation and promoting eco-tourism across the province. The projects cover areas including Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Mianwali, Changa Manga, Lal Suhanra (Bahawalpur), the Cholistan Desert, and the hilly regions of Koh-e-Suleman in Dera Ghazi Khan. The first initiative, the Punjab Wildlife Conservation and Habitat …

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 series against West Indies and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The national selection committee confirmed that Afghanistan will host a three-match T20 series against West Indies from January 19 to 22 in the United Arab Emirates as a warm-up ahead of the World Cup. Rashid …

The 11th Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Championships 2025 commenced today at the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Tennis Complex in Islamabad and will continue until January 7, 2026. Organized annually in memory of the late Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan, mother of Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, the tournament holds special emotional significance for the family. Senator Salim Saifullah Khan …