Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar confirmed that the 17-year prison sentence in the Toshakhana-II case against former PTI leader Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi will begin only after they complete the 14-year term in a separate £190 million case. Speaking to a local TV channel, Atta Tarar described the court’s verdict as fair, stating that the couple had …

The Sindh government has written to the federal authorities seeking assistance in apprehending extortionists operating from abroad, following an increase in complaints from builders and traders in Karachi. Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, said that extortionists will not be allowed to evade the law, and the federal government has been contacted to coordinate actions against those based overseas. …

BEIJING: China’s unprecedented renewable energy expansion has drawn global scientific acclaim, with top academic journals Science and Nature highlighting this week the country’s clean power transition as one of 2025’s most inspiring milestones. The renewables have helped bring the growth of greenhouse emissions to a virtual standstill in China and put a global carbon peak within reach, said Science magazine, …

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Friday’s session in the red as investors resorted to profit-taking ahead of the upcoming roll-over week, despite the benchmark index touching a fresh all-time intra-day high earlier in the day. “PSX witnessed a profit-taking day today as the market headed into the Roll-over week starting Monday,” said Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at …

Pakistan hockey team manager Anjum Saeed was allegedly offloaded from a flight while returning from an overseas tour after being accused of smoking onboard, according to sources. Sources said the national team was returning to Pakistan from Argentina when the aircraft made a transit stop at another airport. During the stopover, reportedly in Brazil, Anjum Saeed allegedly smoked inside the …

The Islamabad High Court has dismissed a petition filed by the Pakistan Athletics Federation challenging the removal of a lifetime ban imposed on coach Salman Butt, who is associated with Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the case and ruled that the Athletics Federation’s plea against lifting the ban was not maintainable. The court directed the Pakistan …

Registration of foreign players has officially begun for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board. Officials said foreign players can register for PSL 11 until January 20, 2026. The upcoming season of the league will be played from March 26 to May 3, 2026. As part of the league’s expansion, the auction for …

Senior Pakistani actress Nadia Afghan has expressed strong anger over the cutting of trees in Punjab, criticising the provincial government in a video shared on social media. In the video, Nadia Afghan questioned the policies of the Punjab government, saying she finds it difficult to understand its approach. She remarked that one day she praises the government, and the next …

Renowned Pakistani actress Mawra Hussain has revealed that she was the first to develop feelings for actor Ameer Gilani, sharing personal details about their relationship in a recent interview. Speaking candidly, Mawra said she was initially drawn to Ameer Gilani’s innocence and good looks. As she got to know him better, she discovered qualities that deepened her feelings, describing him …

The promotion of the digital economy is a top priority of the government and concrete steps are being taken to advance and strengthen it, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Friday while addressing a ceremony marking the first anniversary of easypaisa’s digital banking operations. Speaking as chief guest at easypaisa digital bank’s annual stakeholder …

Pakistani YouTuber Saad Ur Rehman, widely known as Ducky Bhai, has made a high-profile return to YouTube following his release on bail earlier this year. Ducky Bhai was arrested a few months ago at an airport over alleged promotion of gambling apps. He was released on bail at the end of November, but the case sparked widespread debate and speculation …

Cristiano Ronaldo, the world-famous football star, is set to appear in the latest installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise. According to media reports, Ronaldo has been cast in Fast X: Part 2, which is expected to be the final film in the long-running series. The film is scheduled for release in April 2027 and will conclude the central storyline …

Ambassador Tim Kane, the newly appointed High Commissioner of Australia, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House today. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, SAPM Tariq Fatemi, and the Foreign Secretary were also present. The Prime Minister felicitated the High Commissioner on his appointment and expressed confidence that his tenure …

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister has called on the international community to take urgent action against India over what Islamabad describes as material breaches of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that recent developments threaten regional peace and stability. Addressing the diplomatic corps in Islamabad, the Deputy Prime Minister said the briefing was called to highlight a situation …

President Asif Ali Zardari has welcomed the report issued by United Nations human rights experts, which raises serious concerns over India’s military actions against Pakistan in May this year and its wider conduct affecting global peace and stability. The President said the report reinforces Pakistan’s long-standing position that the unilateral use of force across international borders constitutes a violation of …

In response to a rising number of financial fraud and transaction-related cases, the Islamabad Inspector General (IG) has announced a major procedural change. Under the new decision, Station House Officers (SHOs) can directly register cases involving financial transactions up to Rs 2.5 million without requiring citizens to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) or appear before multiple officers. Previously, complainants had …

Flour prices in Quetta have surged dramatically, adding to the hardships of citizens already burdened by rising inflation. Market sources reported that in a single day, the price of a 20-kg flour bag increased by Rs 200, rising from Rs 2,350 to Rs 2,550. Shopkeepers and flour mill owners said that over the past four months, the price of a …

Quetta Customs Enforcement has seized smuggled goods valued at approximately Rs 240 million, officials said on Friday. The confiscated items included skimmed milk powder, auto spare parts, flavored pan masala, power banks, and a Hino truck. The operation was conducted based on verified confidential intelligence under the directions of the Collector of Customs Enforcement, Quetta. Customs teams, with the assistance …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Friday that the lack of development in tribal districts is due to the federal government’s failure to release funds. Addressing the provincial cabinet, Afridi stated that funds promised under the NFC Award for the fiscal year 2025-26 have not yet been released, causing severe financial difficulties for the province. He said ongoing …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that cities and towns cannot be properly designed or provided with improved infrastructure unless encroachments are removed, stressing that eliminating illegal occupations is essential to resolving urban problems. The prime minister made these remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Iqbal Flyover and the signal-free expressway corridor at T-Chowk in Islamabad. He …

The Punjab government has finalized preparations for strict new legislation aimed at curbing land grabbing and fraud in the buying and selling of residential plots, officials said on Friday. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at the Board of Revenue, chaired by Punjab Housing Minister Bilal Yasin. Senior officials, including Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) Nabeel …

The Islamabad High Court on Friday approved a request for early hearing filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf against a sessions court verdict related to allegations made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif concerning Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar heard the miscellaneous application seeking an early hearing. Counsel for the petitioner, Umar Ziauddin Advocate, appeared before …

Karachi authorities have uncovered large-scale forgery in property records at the Sub-Registrar Office in Jamshed Town. A high-level inquiry revealed 24 fake sale deeds were illegally registered using forged stamps, signatures, and altered records. The Chief Minister’s Inspection Team submitted its report to the Sindh Chief Minister, highlighting that important registers and official documents were missing from the office. The …

Lahore police said three suspected drug dealers were killed in alleged encounters with the Counter Crime Department (CCD) in Batta Pur and Iqbal Town on Friday. The deceased were identified as Nadeem, Hayat, and Ali. Police stated that two suspects opened fire on a CCD team near Saifon Bridge. During the exchange, the suspects were hit by bullets from their …

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging the government to immediately stop the privatisation process of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). According to media reports, the letter was sent by the ITF’s General Secretary, who expressed serious concerns over the ongoing privatisation plan. The federation said the process is being carried out …

Islamabad police have arrested the leader of an inter-provincial criminal gang after he was injured during a police encounter in the limits of Tarnol Police Station, officials said on Friday. According to police, three armed suspects opened indiscriminate fire on a police raiding team during an operation conducted on information about the presence of the Nedo gang. Police personnel remained …

Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, held a high-level consultative meeting with leaders, traders, and community representatives from Chaman District and the Chaman Chamber of Commerce & Industry to discuss issues related to cross-border trade. The meeting focused on the challenges arising from frequent and prolonged closures of the Pak–Afghan border crossing at Chaman. Stakeholders highlighted the severe socio-economic …

Work has begun on the Circular Rail Project aimed at connecting major cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the provincial capital through a modern rail network, according to official documents. The project plans to link four major cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Peshawar in two phases. Under the first phase, Mardan, Nowshera, and Charsadda will be connected to Peshawar through a …

LAHORE: Climate change is no longer just an environmental concern but a growing economic and governance challenge for Pakistan, speakers warned at the launch of a new policy report in Lahore. The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) hosted the unveiling of the 18th Annual Report of the Shahid Javed Burki Institute of Public Policy (BIPP), titled “The State …

It seems that the fate of the CPEC Phase 2.0 urgently demands policy readjustments putting it again on the fast track. Unfortunately, whims and wishes of the incumbent government has not achieved any substantial development on CPEC Phase 2.0 because of many “multidimensional” reasons ranging from structure flaws, unproductive bureaucratic system, imbalanced policy making, isolated safety & security of the …

The Pakistan national hockey team will participate in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers next year in Egypt. The main FIH World Cup is scheduled to be held in Germany and the Netherlands, where Germany will defend its title. Four-time champions Pakistan have been placed in Pool B of the qualifiers alongside England, Australia, host nation Egypt, Malaysia, the United …

FIFA has announced that the winning team of the 2026 World Cup will receive a record $50 million in prize money, marking the highest financial reward in the tournament’s history. According to international reports, the total prize fund for the 2026 World Cup is $655 million, a nearly 50 percent increase over the $440 million distributed during the 2022 World …

Pakistan has withdrawn from the 2025 US Open Junior Squash Championship and the 2026 British Open Junior Squash Championship, officials confirmed, in protest against decisions by the tournaments’ organizers. According to informed sources, the Pakistan Squash Federation decided not to participate after organizers questioned the age eligibility of several Pakistani players and reclassified their categories. The US Open Junior Championship …

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squad for the upcoming Under-19 tri-nation series and the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Farhan Yusuf will continue to lead the team as captain in both events. The tri-nation series will be held in Zimbabwe from December 25, 2025, to January 6, 2026, featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and host nation Zimbabwe. The ICC Under-19 …

Several Pakistani cricketers are reportedly willing to leave the Big Bash League (BBL) to join the upcoming series against Sri Lanka in preparation for the World Cup. Sources say that players currently representing different teams in the BBL have contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressing their desire to participate in the Sri Lanka series. They believe that the pitch …

Pakistan has reached a significant milestone in the field of sports as Member of National Assembly Syeda Amna Batool has been appointed to FIFA’s prestigious Institutional Reforms Committee. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Syeda Amna Batool is currently the only representative from Pakistan serving on various FIFA committees. Her appointment marks an important …

Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and Empower Sports Academy signed a Landmark Letter of Intent (LOI) to establish a National Women’s Sports Initiative aimed at advancing young female athletes across Pakistan. The LOI was signed by Dr. Muhammad Ali Malik, Joint Secretary, PMYP, and Junaid Qureshi, Founder and Executive Director of Empower Sports Academy, in the presence of senior representatives …

Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Severe fog in parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has disrupted traffic, prompting authorities to close several motorway sections. According to officials, low visibility forced the closure of the following motorways: M-1 from Peshawar to Sawabi, M-4 from Sher Shah to Shum Kot, M-5 from Sher Shah to Rohri, and M-11 from Lahore to Sambahial. Motorway …

The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has recovered drugs worth over Rs77 million during a nationwide crackdown on smuggling, officials said. Two suspects, including a woman, were arrested in three separate operations, and a total of 33.62 kilograms of narcotics were seized. In the first operation at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, authorities recovered 14.912 kilograms of ice hidden in a passenger’s …

Police have begun a formal investigation into suspects arrested for violence, disorder and resistance against law enforcement during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest outside Central Jail Adiala. According to police officials, Saddar Bairooni police station has started interrogating 16 arrested suspects who are currently in police custody on a three-day physical remand. The arrested individuals include Muhammad Hasnat, Muhammad Yar …