KARACHI, Nov 01 (Internews): The World Culture Festival continued to draw large crowds on its second day on Saturday, as artists from around the globe showcased cross-cultural collaborations through music, traditional craft, theatre and visual arts. Visitors thronged the festival venue throughout the day to attend interactive workshops, live art demonstrations and fusion performances, featuring Pakistani artists performing alongside participants …

The Punjab government has drawn up a major plan to construct 1,000 Groundwater Recharge Wells across Lahore to help restore and maintain the city’s rapidly depleting groundwater levels. According to media reports, the initiative aims to introduce large-scale modern solutions to replenish underground water. Secretary Housing Punjab Noor-ul-Amin Mengal visited the Liberty Chowk Groundwater Recharge Well site, where WASA Managing …

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced that two major infrastructure projects in the federal capital, the T-Chowk Flyover and the Shaheen Chowk Underpass will be opened to the public in early December. During a visit to review construction work on both projects, the minister expressed satisfaction over the pace of development. The CDA Member Engineering briefed the minister on …

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Punjab has arrested 18 terror suspects during 386 intelligence-based operations conducted across multiple districts over the past month. According to a CTD Punjab spokesperson, those arrested include a highly dangerous member of a banned militant outfit who had allegedly completed planning for a major terror attack in a city of Punjab. The operations were …

Air pollution in central Punjab has surged to hazardous levels due to polluted eastern winds blowing in from India, environmental authorities warned on Saturday. According to the Punjab Environment Department, toxic winds from India are severely affecting Lahore’s air quality, with the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) expected to remain between 320 and 360. The department said Lahore currently …

Pakistan has reopened the Torkham border crossing after 20 days, solely to facilitate the deportation of undocumented Afghan nationals residing in the country. Hundreds of Afghan refugees reached the Torkham border to return to Afghanistan, but the crossing remains closed for trade and pedestrian movement, officials confirmed. According to Khyber Deputy Commissioner Bilal Shahid, the border has been opened exclusively …

Farmers in Sindh who lost their land and livelihoods in the devastating 2022 floods have announced their intention to file a lawsuit against German companies alleged to be among the world’s biggest industrial polluters. Farmers have issued formal legal notices to German energy giant RWE and cement manufacturer Heidelberg, warning that if compensation is not paid for their losses, a …

Students from Karachi secured the top positions in the MDCAT 2025 entrance test conducted by IBA Sukkur University, outperforming candidates from across Sindh. All top three positions in the MDCAT 2025 were clinched by Karachi students, while 41 of the 124 candidates placed in the Top 10 lists belonged to Karachi. According to the initial results, a majority of students …

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON, Engineer Ameer Muqam, extended heartfelt congratulations to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan on the occasion of GB Independence Day being observed on November 1. He said it was a unique honour for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan that they celebrate their independence twice on August 14 and again on November 1. Terming the day …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has upheld the jurisdiction of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to inquire into deceptive marketing and anti-competitive conduct in the telecom sector. The court dismissed the petitions filed by Pakistan’s leading telecom operators including Jazz, Telenor, Zong, Ufone, Warid, PTCL, and Wi-Tribe. Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas, in a detailed 19-page judgment, ruled that the …

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level inter-ministerial committee meeting to review government efficiency, particularly the operations of Pakistan Missions abroad. The committee presented its findings, while the DPM/FM underscored the need to strengthen Pakistan’s diplomatic footprint, ensure Mission outputs are fully aligned with national strategic objectives, and elevate institutional performance abroad through enhanced synergy …

Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has resumed training after recovering from injury, as he begins preparations for the upcoming World Islamic Games. Arshad, who had been facing fitness issues since the World Athletics Championships in Japan, confirmed that he has made significant progress in rehabilitation. He said he has returned to the training field after overcoming the injury setback. …

Pakistan’s national hockey team is set to tour Spain as part of its preparations for the upcoming FIH Pro League, with fixtures scheduled in Barcelona next month. According to sources, Pakistan will play two matches against Spain on 29 and 30 November in Barcelona. The squad is expected to depart for Spain on 26 November, following its tour of Bangladesh. …

Cricket Australia has decided to proceed with the privatisation of the Big Bash League (BBL), a move aimed at revamping the competition and boosting its commercial value. According to foreign media, speaking at the board’s Annual General Meeting in Melbourne, Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg outlined the benefits of privatising the BBL, stating that the initiative would inject fresh life …

An inquiry has been initiated into the controversial lifetime ban imposed on Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem’s coach, Salman Butt, with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) summoning all relevant parties for a hearing. According to official details, the PSB Adjudicators have summoned the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP), along with javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem and his coach Salman Butt, for …

Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has reaffirmed his commitment to facilitating smoother cross-border movement of goods between Pakistan and Iran. He expressed his views in a meeting with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, who called on him in Islamabad. During the meeting, Minister Abdul Aleem Khan conveyed his optimism that bilateral …

Pakistan is set to undertake a major restructuring of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) under a Strategic Reform and Cooperation Plan developed with technical support from China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a high-level meeting with Chairman …

The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) has taken a major step toward improving customer service and operational efficiency through the large-scale rollout of smart meters across electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) in Pakistan. A spokesperson of the Power Division stated that metering plays a vital role as the key interface between the customer and the service provider. In line with the …

The Punjab prisons department has introduced a mobile application to facilitate advance booking for meetings with inmates across jails in the province, including Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. According to official details, the new app allows citizens to book appointments in advance for meeting prisoners and under-trial detainees. The application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. The Inspectorate of Prisons …

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced a major revision to the Umrah visa policy, reducing the pre-travel validity period from three months to 30 days. According to Arab media, under the new rules, pilgrims must enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days of the visa being issued. If the traveller fails to arrive within the specified timeframe, the …

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has barred the Peshawar Cantonment Board from issuing property tax notices to the Evacuee Trust Property (ETP) Board, suspending a ruling of the Peshawar High Court (PHC). A five-member constitutional bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the case. During the proceedings, the apex court suspended the PHC decision and also issued a notice to …

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has issued a notice to police in a case filed against senior journalist Matiullah Jan, who faces charges of terrorism, narcotics possession and assaulting law enforcement personnel. The case was registered on 28 November last year at Margalla Police Station, alleging that the journalist snatched official weapons from police, rammed his vehicle into a …

Air pollution and smog levels across Punjab have reached alarming levels, with Faisalabad topping the global pollution index as the most polluted city of the day, followed by Gujranwala and Multan. According to global air quality monitoring organisation IQAir, Faisalabad recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 554, Gujranwala 546, Multan 478, Lahore 471, and Bahawalpur 389. Meanwhile, official provincial …

The federal government has approved an 85% increase in the house rent ceiling for government employees across the country to help them cope with rising accommodation costs. The increase was approved by the federal cabinet through circulation, following recommendations from the Ministry of Housing and Works. The revised house rent ceilings will come into effect from November 1, 2025. According …

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has seized over Rs 15 million (US$55,000) worth of foreign currency during a crackdown against illegal hawala-hundi and unlicensed currency exchange operations in Karachi. According to an FIA spokesperson, the operation was conducted by the FIA State Bank Circle Karachi on the instructions of the Director General (DG) FIA. The FIA arrested suspect Bilal Saleem …

The five-day 19th International Symposium on Advanced Materials (ISAM-2025) concluded successfully at the National Centre for Physics (NCP) in Islamabad, drawing participation from leading scientists, engineers, and industry professionals from around the world. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi attended the closing ceremony as the chief guest and underscored the importance of empowering young researchers and scientists …

Pakistan’s junior tennis players Hamza Roman and Ahtesham Humayun secured the Boys’ Doubles title at the ITF Pakistan Ali Embroidery World Junior Tennis Championship J-30 (Leg 2) – 2025, being held at the PTF-SDA Tennis Complex in Islamabad. The pair registered a straight-set victory over fellow Pakistanis Zohaib Afzal Malik and Abubakar Talha, winning 7-6(6), 6-2 in the final. In …

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has referred to fellow megastar Salman Khan as the “best brother” during an online fan interaction held on the occasion of his 60th birthday. According to foreign media, as part of his birthday celebrations, Shah Rukh hosted a special Q&A session on social media under the hashtag #AskSRK, where fans from around the world sent …

Popular Bollywood actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh has faced racial stereotyping during a recent visit to Australia, where he was performing as part of his global tour. According to international media reports, the most notable aspect of the incident was not the racial remarks themselves, but Dosanjh’s composed and dignified response, which earned him widespread praise from fans across the …

The Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, has announced the launch of the World Culture Festival 2025, with a formal ceremony and press conference held to share event details and preparations. Arts Council President Mohammad Ahmed Shah and Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi briefed the media, stating that the festival will bring together artists from 141 countries across six continents, making …

BUSAN, South Korea: Under global gaze and before flashing cameras, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, shook hands here Thursday for a highly anticipated meeting, the first since Trump was sworn in as U.S. president again earlier this year. Later, as their 100-minute meeting drew to an end in South Korea’s second-largest city, Xi and Trump …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday in Busan, South Korea, offers a vital opportunity for both countries to strengthen their relationship. In a world full of uncertainties, the consensus reached between the two leaders provides a clear path forward for stabilizing China-U.S. ties and promoting global stability. This highlights the important role the …

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, held a meeting with Barneby Plowright, a leading gemstones exporter, in Islamabad on Friday to discuss the formulation of the upcoming National Gemstones Policy. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to strengthen Pakistan’s gemstone sector through policy reforms, formalisation, and international collaboration. The Special Assistant also …

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) held an awareness session on Competition Law at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), to educate students on the principles of fair market competition and consumer protection. The session began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by welcome remarks from Dr. Aziz-ur-Rehman, Director, School of Law, QAU, who highlighted the importance of Competition Law in …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a thorough investigation to identify all institutions, companies, and individuals involved in a major sales tax fraud, directing the inquiry committee to submit its report within three weeks. He also instructed that strict legal action be taken against those found responsible. According to a report by state nedia, the prime minister issued these directives …

Pakistan’s rising tennis talent Mikaeel Ali Baig stormed into the boys’ singles final of the ITF Pakistan Ali Embroidery World Junior Tennis Championship J-30 (Leg-2), being played at the PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad. Lithuania’s Kristijonas Milasausks also booked his place in the title clash after winning his semi-final encounter. According to details shared by the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), junior …

Pakistani actress Rabia Kulsoom has said she will no longer take up roles that do not contribute to her artistic identity or professional recognition, stressing that she has worked too hard to settle for projects that fail to acknowledge her talent. Speaking as a guest on a private TV channel’s entertainment show, Rabia shared that despite coming from an artistic …

South Africa women’s cricket team captain Laura Wolvaardt produced a record-breaking performance to steer her side into the ICC Women’s World Cup final for the first time in history, according to international sports media. In the first semi-final, South Africa defeated England, with Wolvaardt becoming the first South African captain to guide the women’s team into a World Cup final. …

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level meeting to review the country’s economic diplomacy strategy and enhance trade. The meeting was attended by Ministers for Commerce and Law & Justice, SAPM Tariq Bajwa, Foreign Secretary, Secretary Commerce, and senior officers from concerned departments. The meeting reviewed progress since the last session of the Committee. …

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the men’s domestic cricket contracts for the 2025–26 season. According to a press release issued by the PCB, a total of 157 domestic cricketers have been awarded contracts for the upcoming season. The contracts will remain valid from August 2025 to July 2026. This year, the PCB has introduced four categories instead of …