In a bid to enhance the quality of education and address the issue of out-of-school children, the Punjab government has unveiled plans to outsource thousands of government schools across the province. This initiative aims to revamp 13,219 schools with poor educational conditions and bring them up to par with private institutions under the government’s school restructuring programme. The outsourcing plan …

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti apologised on Friday for the unfortunate incident where actress Mahira Khan was pelted with objects during a literature festival in Quetta. The incident occurred when Mahira Khan was addressing the Pakistan Literature Festival (PLF) organized by the Karachi Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) in Quetta. A video of the event showed the actress being hit …

Liverpool announced on Friday that Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip will leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of the season. Thiago, 33, joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in 2020 for £20 million ($25 million). Despite his technical prowess, injuries have restricted the Spain international to just 98 appearances, including only one this season. “Before he even …

Pakistan’s debt crisis has reached alarming levels, with interest payments on loans exceeding the government’s income by a staggering Rs 205 billion in just nine months. The country’s total debt and liabilities have ballooned to over Rs80,086 billion, according to the State Bank’s statistics. As negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new bailout package continue, the government …

Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi said on Friday that the facilities for the issuance and renewal of identity cards will be provided at the union council level nationwide. According to details, Naqvi visited the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) headquarters in Islamabad. On this occasion, he toured the operational room and received a briefing on the digital monitoring …

The Supreme Court has issued contempt of court show-cause notices to Senator Faisal Vawda and MNA Mustafa Kamal over their allegedly derogatory speeches against the judiciary. A three-judge bench of the court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Irfan Saadat and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, took up a suo motu case on Faisal Vawda’s …

KARACHI: The Consul General of China in Karachi Yang Yundong, Thursday, reiterated his commitment to work together with Pakistan to further strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership of both friendly countries and jointly build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.  He, while addressing a seminar held here by the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi …

ISLAMABAD: China is ready to work with Pakistan to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, said Chinese Ambassador H.E. Jiang Zaidong at a well-attended symposium on Transformation of China’s Economy to High Quality Development Model organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS). Noting that “the keenness on Pakistan’s side to greatly enhance the ongoing …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Thursday. The two sides had a comprehensive review of the successful experience in developing the China-Russia relationship, and had an in-depth exchange of views on the relationship as well as major international and regional issues of mutual …

A Supreme Court hearing on Thursday on a case about changes in the accountability laws turned out anticlimactic as ex-premier Imran Khan appeared via video link but did not get a chance to speak as a petitioner in the matter. The development came after the SC on Tuesday, hearing the case about the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws, had ordered …

WhatsApp, the popular messaging platform, is set to revolutionize user experience with its latest customization feature aimed at iOS users. In a move to enhance user engagement, WhatsApp is reportedly testing a beta version that allows users to personalize the color themes of their chat bubbles. The upcoming feature, revealed through reports from Business Standard, will enable users to select …

In a high-level meeting between Turkey and Pakistan, both nations have agreed to strengthen their economic partnership. Led by Turkey’s Ambassador, Mr. Mehmet Pekasi, and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Ahad Khan Cheema, the meeting aimed at bolstering the long-standing brotherly relations between the two countries. The focus of the discussions centered on various strategies to enhance cooperation, including …

When images of Rakhi Sawant in a hospital appeared on social media, the internet was shocked. Rakhi, who frequently makes headlines for her controversial remarks and deeds, has not been feeling well. Her former husband, Ritesh Singh, has now disclosed information about her health and told fans that she has a tumor in her uterus. Ritesh Singh, Rakhi’s ex-husband, gave …

The Supreme Court administration has launched an investigation into the unauthorized dissemination of a photo featuring PTI founder Imran Khan during his appearance via video link from Adiala Jail in the NAB amendments case. The image gained traction on social media platforms, prompting the court to take action. Later, the authorities found out who had leaked the viral photograph. After …

As Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) continue to be engaged in negotiations for a new bailout package, the discussions also focus on extending poverty alleviation and social security programs to address the needs of vulnerable segments of society. The IMF has demanded an expansion of coverage for poverty alleviation programs such as the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), …

New Zealand coach Gary Stead exuded confidence as the squad gear up for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean and United States. Despite setbacks due to injuries, both Finn Allen and Devon Conway show promising signs of recovery, raising hopes for their participation in the tournament. Allen, known for his explosive batting, has been recuperating from a back …

On the Pacific island of New Caledonia, France on Wednesday declared a state of emergency following the deaths of three young Kanak indigenous people and a police officer in riots over electoral reform, according to Reuters. At 5 a.m. local time (1800 GMT), the state of emergency was declared, giving authorities more authority to prohibit gatherings and prevent anyone from …

It has been decided to ban smoke-emitting vehicles in Lahore. The Traffic Squad of the environment department has installed checkposts at different locations across the city. The teams of the provincial environment department have started cracking down on and seizing vehicles hostile to the environment at the entry and exit points of the city. The traffic authorities have started issuing …

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong emphasized the significance of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and outlined the nation’s strategic goals for the future. Ambassador Jiang highlighted China’s commitment to high-quality development and modernization, as well as the country’s dedication to fostering bilateral cooperation with Pakistan. “This year marks the 75th anniversary …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to let more people know about the Great Wall and engage more people in its protection to pass on the ancestors’ precious heritage to future generations. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply …

BEIJING: An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on deepening reform and opening up across the board will be published on Thursday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year’s 10th issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin Gandapur has ‘banned’ entry of Governor Faisal Karim Kundi in the KP house as a block reserved for the governor has been abolished. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Saif has confirmed the development. Saif said the decision, taken during the latest meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet, aims to address the pressing accommodation issues faced …

The US issued a warning just hours after India agreed to a 10-year deal to run Iran’s Chabahar port, saying that “anyone” thinking about doing business with the Islamic Republic should be “aware of the potential risk” and that its sanctions against Tehran will remain in effect. Vedant Patel, the principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, announced at the …

ISLAMABAD, May 15 (Internews): Electricity generation in Pakistan is subject to seasonal fluctuations, heavily influenced by weather patterns. During the summer months, as glaciers melt, the river flows swell, leading to increased water levels in dams and consequently a rise in hydroelectricity production. Despite the surge in production, electricity consumption also escalates to counteract the intensity of hot weather. Conversely, …

As temperatures soar, the Met Department issues warnings of scorching heat and dry conditions prevailing across most parts of Pakistan. Residents in central and southern regions are advised to brace for extremely hot weather, with temperatures reaching record highs. In the central districts of Balochistan, there’s a possibility of relief in the form of rain accompanied by thunder in the …

The internet has been harboring claims for a long time that former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar once threatened to “kidnap” Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre if she turned down his proposal for marriage. In response to the widely shared statement, Sonali has now expressed her doubts about its veracity. The actor was asked about Shoaib’s remark during a podcast interview with …

In an important announcement has been made by the Power Division, the news of an increase in electricity tariff is not true. Power Division has clarified that there was no talk of raising electricity prices with the International Monitory Fund (IMF). Power Division said the news in this regard was baseless and wasn’t true. The power division declared that the …

Pakistani singer Asim Azhar has disclosed his impending marriage plans with actress Merub Ali. The announcement came forth during a candid moment on a local TV show, wherein a curious fan inquired about the duo’s future together. Addressing the fan’s inquiry with grace, Asim Azhar disclosed, “The date of our wedding has not been finalized yet, but both of us have …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted bail to PTI founder Imran Khan in the £190m Al-Qadir Trust case against one million rupees surety bonds. A division bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq, and Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangir heard the case. The IHC verdict directed the authorities to release the PTI founder Imran Khan from Adiala Jail. Separately, Islamabad District …

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the fifth round of the Foreign Minister-Level China-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Wednesday, with the two sides pledging to enhance pragmatic cooperation in various fields. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, …

BEIJING: Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, in Beijing on Wednesday. Noting China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and iron-clad brothers, Ding said China is willing to work with Pakistan to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, maintain high-level strategic communication, …

BEIJING: China will introduce legal measures to punish diehards whose actions and rhetoric aggressively promote “Taiwan independence,” targeting activities that attempt to split the country or incite separation, a spokesperson said Wednesday. “Taiwan independence” is a betrayal of the righteous cause of the Chinese nation and goes against the will of the people, seriously endangering the country’s sovereignty, security, and …

MOSCOW: On the eve of his two-day state visit to China, which starts on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in a written interview with Xinhua that Russia and China are promoting the prosperity of both nations through expanded equal and mutually beneficial cooperation in economic and cultural fields. In the interview, Putin emphasized that the coordination of foreign policies …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping has appointed the following ambassadors in accordance with a decision from the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, an official statement said on Tuesday. Xu Feihong was appointed ambassador to India, replacing Sun Weidong. Fu Cong was appointed permanent representative to the United Nations, replacing Zhang Jun. Cong Peiwu was appointed …

BEIJING: At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China from May 16 to 17, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Tuesday. This is Putin’s first state visit after he was sworn in as Russian president for a new term, Wang Wenbin, another foreign ministry spokesperson, told a regular …

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday allowed PTI founder Imran Khan to attend court proceedings in the NAB amendments case via video link. On September 15, 2023, the Supreme Court of Pakistan struck down amendments made to National Accountability Bureau laws as it announced its reserved verdict on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder’s plea. A five-member bench headed by Chief …

Bangladesh have included seasoned all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in their 15-member roster for the upcoming T20 World Cup, slated to happen jointly in the West Indies and the United States. The team, spearheaded by batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto, has faced recent uncertainties surrounding Shakib’s availability due to an eye problem. However, with his return, Bangladesh looks to capitalise on his …

Negotiations between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have intensified as the IMF has called for significant changes in the country’s tax regime. Sources reveal that the IMF has demanded an end to tax exemptions, incentives, and privileges, with a focus on increasing taxes on privileged sectors. Among the proposals put forward by the IMF are increases in taxes …

Legendary Indian actress Tabu has been cast in a recurring role in the Max prequel series ‘Dune: Prophecy’, Variety exclusively learned. The show was first ordered in 2019 under the title, ‘Dune: The Sisterhood’ inspired by the book, ‘Sisterhood of Dune’, by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Under the official logline, “Set within the expansive universe of ‘Dune,’ created …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced the privatisation of government-owned enterprises apart from strategically important state-owned enterprises. According to the details, the premier chaired a review meeting on matters in line with the Ministry of Privatisation and the Privatisation Commission in the federal capital city. On this occasion, a roadmap for the Privatisation Programme 2024–2029 was presented during the …