The Punjab government has stepped up efforts to tackle worsening air pollution with the launch of 38 air quality monitoring systems across the province. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Smog Steering Committee chaired by Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb. Officials briefed the committee that 12 drone squads and eight “e-squads” have already been deployed, while a three-kilometer …

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, inaugurated the 14th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Beijing, calling it the beginning of a new era of high-quality, inclusive, and people-centered development under Phase II of the project. In his opening address, the Minister described Pakistan and China as …

Launched in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in just over a decade evolved from a visionary concept into the world’s most ambitious and transformative infrastructure and development framework. As of early 2025, more than 150 countries representing nearly 75% of the global population and over half of the world’s GDP have formally joined the BRI. This widespread participation …

URUMQI: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday attended a grand gathering in celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Urumqi, capital of this region in northwest China. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined local officials and members of the …

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar inaugurated the newly renovated Consular Services Area at the historic Consulate General of Pakistan in New York, originally established in 1948. In his remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed that the foremost responsibility of Pakistan’s Missions abroad is to serve overseas Pakistanis with dignity, efficiency, and the best possible services. …

Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi has taken suo motu notice of the rising number of stray dogs in Islamabad and the growing reports of children and elderly citizens being bitten and harassed. The Ombudsman expressed concern that negligence on the part of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has allowed the situation to deteriorate into …

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik met with Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik on Thursday to finalize the formulation and implementation of the National Resilience Plan 2025–2026. The initiative is designed to strengthen preparedness for the upcoming 2026 monsoon season and mitigate the destruction caused by natural disasters. Dr. …

Federal Minister for Energy, Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari, announced a significant breakthrough in Pakistan’s efforts to reduce circular debt, unveiling a new financing scheme aimed at cutting Rs. 1.225 trillion. In a video message on the occasion of the scheme’s signing ceremony, Leghari said that when the current government assumed office, circular debt had reached Rs. 22.4 trillion. Since …

The Power Division has released a detailed report on electricity restoration in flood-affected regions, showing significant progress across multiple power distribution companies. According to the report issued on Thursday, 51 grid stations and 588 feeders were affected nationwide. Out of these, 382 feeders have been fully restored and 203 partially restored, while complete restoration is expected once floodwaters recede in …

Islamabad Police have decided to launch a major crackdown against criminals involved in murder, attempted murder, robberies, and dacoities. The decision was taken at a crime meeting chaired by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Muhammad Jawad Tariq on Thursday in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by SSP Operations Muhammad Shoaib Khan, SSP CTD, AIG General and Development, zonal SPs, …

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Finance, Revenue and Investment, Haroon Akhtar Khan, chaired a high-level meeting with tractor manufacturers and investors to discuss plans for setting up a Belarus tractor assembly line in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by representatives of private tractor investors, Margalla Heavy Industries Limited, Heavy Industries Taxila, and Green Corporate Initiatives. Discussions focused on establishing an …

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has directed that the government’s immediate focus should be on establishing an Expo-cum-Display Center in Islamabad and identifying new land for the Quetta Expo Centre as part of Pakistan’s broader plan to build a nationwide network of modern exhibition and display facilities. The Minister gave these instructions during a detailed briefing by the …

ISLAMABAD: China has expressed readiness to work closely with Pakistan to implement the key outcomes of President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit and advance the Joint Action Plan 2025–29, aimed at building an even closer China–Pakistan community with a shared future. In an article published after the visit, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong wrote that President Zardari’s trip “added …

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a flood advisory, warning of possible heavy rains over the next 24 hours in the upper catchment areas of the Indus and Kabul rivers, as well as in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) has released updated details regarding river flows and potential flood situations across different regions. According …

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar addressed the first meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in the brotherly country. He stressed that Afghanistan cannot remain isolated, urging OIC members to secure unconditional humanitarian funding, revive trade and banking systems, enhance regional connectivity and promote dialogue for …

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Mr. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group (WBG), on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Prime Minister appreciated Mr. Banga’s leadership in transforming the World Bank into a faster, more efficient and impactful development partner, with renewed focus on simplifying operations and mobilizing private sector …

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Prime Minister appreciated the IMF’s longstanding constructive partnership with Pakistan, which under Ms. Georgieva’s leadership had strengthened further. He acknowledged the IMF’s timely support under various instruments, …

Pakistan selectors have held initial consultations on the national squad for the upcoming Test series against South Africa, with the final team expected to be announced within the next two to three days after approval from the PCB Chairman. According to sources, preparations for the two-match Test series will begin with a training camp in Lahore, likely to start on …

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the latest T20 player rankings, with Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed making a remarkable leap from 12th to 4th position among bowlers. India’s Varun Chakravarthy continues to lead the T20 bowling rankings, followed by New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy in second and West Indies’ Akeal Hosein in third. Abrar’s rise to fourth marks his best-ever …

Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Secretary General Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari has proposed fixing the wheat support price at Rs 4,500 per maund, urging the federal government to prioritize agriculture and protect farmers from losses. In a statement on Wednesday, Bukhari termed the federal minister for food security’s remarks about importing wheat worth $1.5 billion “alarming,” warning that such imports …

Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday set an ambitious target of achieving $30 billion in pharmaceutical exports within the next five years, reaffirming the government’s full support for the industry. He was addressing the 8th Pakistan Pharma Summit and the 4th Pharma Export Summit and Awards (PESA 2025) today in Islamabad. The …

The Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) successfully concluded the second edition of the Best of Entrepreneurship Series in Asia (BOE Asia 2025) at Karachi Expo Centre on September 24, held on the sidelines of the 26th ITCN Asia. As part of its strategic vision to propel the Asian entrepreneurial landscape and expand opportunities within tech-driven entrepreneurial cultures and …

By Jiang Tao — Seventy years ago, Xinjiang was a landlocked frontier struggling against poverty, desertification, and geographic isolation. Today, it has become a vivid case study of China’s “common prosperity” agenda. More than three million people there have been lifted out of poverty; all 35 impoverished counties have shed their labels. Life expectancy has more than doubled, rising from …

URUMQI: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged concerted efforts to better build a beautiful Xinjiang in the process of Chinese modernization, when he met with representatives from all ethnic groups and all walks of life in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the …

Bollywood power couple Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal have announced that they are expecting their first child, calling it “the best chapter of our lives.” The news was shared on September 23, 2025, with a heartfelt note and a photo of Vicky tenderly caressing Katrina’s baby bump. The couple, who tied the knot in December 2021 in Rajasthan, has been …

Oscar-winning actor Angelina Jolie has expressed concern about the state of freedom of speech in the United States while promoting her latest film at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in Spain. Asked if she fears for free speech, Jolie said she loves her country but feels she “does not recognize” it at this moment. She described the increasing division …

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar underscored the timeless values of peace, justice, compassion and tolerance exemplified by the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) while addressing a Special OIC High-Level Event on the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Tolerance at the UN Headquarters in New York. The event was held to commemorate the …

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf Saeed Al-Malki, inaugurated four buses donated by the Saudi government to the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI). Speaking at a ceremony held at the university’s new campus, the ambassador highlighted the “brotherly and exemplary” ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, saying the university holds a special place in the hearts of the Saudi leadership. …

President of Pakistan has extended warm greetings to Saudi Arabia’s leadership and people on the occasion of the Kingdom’s National Day, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties. In his message, the President congratulated King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and the Saudi people, praising the Kingdom’s remarkable progress and stability under …

The Ministry of Law and the Attorney General’s Office have declared the nomination of Tariq Bugti as President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) legally valid. The decision came during a meeting of the National Assembly’s sub-committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination, chaired by Sheikh Aftab. Officials informed the committee that Bugti’s appointment by the former caretaker prime minister was lawful and …

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has kicked off a major nationwide Schools Talent Hunt Program 2025–26 aimed at discovering young cricket talent across the country. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi formally inaugurated the program at Crescent Model Higher Secondary School, where he also unveiled the tournament trophy and distributed PCB kit bags to participating teams. He was introduced to players from …

Pakistan is preparing to secure $750 million (Rs2.11 trillion) in external financing over the coming weeks through two initiatives the issuance of Panda Bonds in China’s market and commercial financing from international banks. According to media reports, the government is considering raising $300–500 million in commercial loans through a consortium of international banks, including Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered. The …

A new report by the World Bank has revealed that poverty in Pakistan has increased significantly over the past three years, with the rate rising by 7 percentage points. World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, Bholoruma Amgaabazar, told a press briefing that Pakistan’s poverty rate currently stands at 25.3%, compared to 18.3% in 2022. The rate climbed to 24.8% in …

The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has announced October 1 as the deadline for motorists to obtain valid driving licenses. Chief Traffic Officer Captain (R) Hamza Humayun warned that from October 1, strict action will be taken against those driving without a license. Offenders will face registration of cases, arrest, and vehicle impoundment, he said. “The action will be indiscriminate, regardless …

BEIJING: China has made new breakthroughs in delivering inclusive and high-quality public education services in recent years, with its basic education development reaching the average level of high-income countries, Huai Jinpeng, China’s minister of education, said Tuesday. According to Huai, the country has steadily expanded access to high-quality compulsory education, with 2,895 county-level regions nationwide achieving balanced development in this …

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha admitted his side still has work to do after their six-wicket defeat to India in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. While ruing missed chances, he emphasized that the team is edging closer to a “perfect game”. Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal raises questions Speaking …

Pakistan is planning to prepare spin-friendly pitches for the upcoming two-Test home series against South Africa, sources confirmed on Monday. The series will also mark Pakistan’s first outing in the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. Spin to play key role in Tests According to sources, the preparation of the Gaddafi Stadium pitch in Lahore will begin tomorrow …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated a crackdown against jewellers who are either paying less tax or remain outside the tax net. Notices have been served in several major cities, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Multan, with officials warning that tax evaders will face strict action. Thousands of jewellers outside tax net According to FBR officials, Pakistan’s jewellery …

          This photo taken on Sept. 21, 2025 shows the exterior view of the venue of the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China’s Gansu Province. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on …

ACCRA: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ghana, Najeeb Durrani, presented his credentials to President John Mahama on Friday, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its relations with the West African nation. During the meeting, both sides discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors, including trade, manufacturing, defense, and counter-terrorism. President Mahama welcomed Pakistani investment in Ghana and encouraged Pakistani companies to explore opportunities, …