WASHINGTON (Internews Pakistan) – A US interagency delegation will arrive in Pakistan today for a dialogue on developing approaches to countering terrorist threats both countries have in common, the State Department said in a press release. “Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Christopher Landberg will lead a US interagency delegation to Pakistan March 6-7 to participate in the Pakistan-US Counterterrorism Dialogue,” the …

PESHAWAR (Internews Pakistan) – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Ghulam Ali on Saturday said that the election date for the KP Assembly is expected to be announced on March 6. Talking to journalists in Peshawar, the governor said the Election Commission of Pakistan’s letter to his principal secretary was received at 8 pm on Friday, and the secretary will open the letter …

ISLAMABAD, March 3 (Internews Pakistan) – Industrial and Commercial Bank of China ((ICBC) on Friday approved a rollover of a $1.3 billion loan for cash-strapped Pakistan, which will help shore up its depleting foreign exchange reserves, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said. The facility will be disbursed in three instalments. The first one of $500 million has been received by Pakistan’s …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Mussarat Jamshed Cheema rejected the rumors regarding the party tickets and said the news regarding tickets was baseless and against facts. Taking to Twitter, she said PTI chief Imran Khan himself would announce the news of tickets and the party would hold a press conference in this regard. He said no PTI leader …

ATTOCK (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, secretary general Asad Umar and other leaders and workers have been released from different jails in Punjab on late Friday night, Dunya News reported. Shah Mahmood Qureshi was released from Attock District Jail on late Friday night. PTI local leaders and workers showered flower petals as he was …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Sardar Masood Khan on Saturday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. During the meeting, the premier said that Pakistan valued its mutually beneficial ties with the United States and was determined to further enhance its trade and investment in multi-dimensional fields of IT, agriculture and industry. PM Shehbaz directed …

KARACHI (Internews Pakistan) – The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced its flight operation for this year’s Hajj with its first flight scheduled for Saudi Arabia on May 21. The national flag carrier will operate pre and post-Hajj flights from May 21 to August 2, a PIA spokesperson said in a statement. The PIA will use Boeing-777 and Airbus A-320 …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi criticized the Pakistan Dempcratic Movement for sticking to government despite the failing economy. Talking to the media, he said there was crisis like situation in the country and the PDM wanted to pardon off its NAB cases by avoiding the elections while highlighting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was always ready …

NEW DELHI (Internews Pakistan ) – At around 11 a.m. on Feb 14, some 20 Indian tax officials and police burst into the BBC’s offices in New Delhi, shouting at staff to step away from their computers and hand over their mobile phones, according to two people present. At the company’s bureau in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, tax officials launched …

ISLAMABAD (National Times) – President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday gave assent to April 30 date to conduct the all-important elections in Punjab. The president’s announcement comes minutes after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) proposed dates for holding general elections in Punjab following a landmark verdict of the Supreme Court. April 30 falls on Sunday. In a letter to …

ISLAMABAD (Internews Pakistan) – Finance Minister Ishaq Dar schooled on Friday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, saying the country was facing severe challenges due to the latter’s “cheap” politics. Addressing a press conference, the finance czar took a dig at the deposed premier, saying, “Imran wants to see the country go into default. But the country will not default …

ISLAMABAD (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry on Friday distanced himself from an audiotape that contains his alleged conversation about judges of the country. His reaction comes as an audio leaked online wherein the former information minister can purportedly be heard instructing his brother Faisal Chaudhry to arrange a meeting between the Lahore High Court (LHC) chief …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan vowed on Friday to not give up by any means. Expressing his thoughts during his meeting with a delegation of journalists, Mr Khan cleared the air over his relations with the establishment, saying, “I don’t have any tussles with the establishment. I am ready to hold talks with the COAS …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – The Lahore High Court (LHC) quashed on Friday the notification of the detention of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders. On the request of PTI stalwart Fawad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Saleem suspended the detention of all the PTI leaders and ordered their release. The court had sought a response from the Punjab government and other parties in …

ISLAMABAD (Internews Pakistan) – An anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge on Friday remarked that despite carrying the emblem of justice in its name, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chanted slogans against the judiciary inside the courts. Judge Raja Nasir Abbas remarked this in a case against PTI leaders Asad Umar and others over protesting outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The …

KARACHI (Internews Pakistan) – Shares at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) surged by over 400 points on Friday after Finance Minister Ishaq Dar pinned expectations that the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would reach an agreement next week. The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 443.22 points, or 1.09 per cent, to reach 41,114.10 points at 11:40am. The KSE-100 closed …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – The US dollar depreciated by Rs8.34 against the Pakistani rupee in the interbank market in early trading session on Friday. The greenback is being traded at Rs276.75 during the intra-day trade. However, the local currency recorded historic plunge on Thursday as it lost Rs18.98 against the dollar that was closed at Rs285.09 yesterday. The strengthening of …

ISLAMABAD (Internews Pakistan) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is expected to meet on Friday to announce the date for elections in Punjab following the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s (SCP) order directing the ECP to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The commission is expected to suggest last week of April as the date for elections. Sources …

WASHINGTON (Internews Pakistan) – US State Department spokesperson Ned Price, while briefing the newsmen in Washington on Thursday said that we support Pakistan’s democratic, constitutional, and legal principles, Dunya News reported. Ned Price refrained from answering a question regarding the arrest warrant issued against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former prime minister Imran Khan and said that these questions for …

ISLAMABAD (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistani forces arrested a serving Indian army officer, Kulbhushan Jadhav, for spying in southwestern province of Balochistan on March 3, 2016. Today mark the completion of seventh years of the arrest of RAW agent, reminding the world how India is involved in carrying out terrorist activities in Pakistan. The RAW operative, Commander Kulbhushan alias Hussain Mubarek …

RAWALPINDI (Internews Pakistan) – Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed warned on Friday that an attempt to arrest or disqualify PTI Chairman Imran Khan would further worsen the political situation in the country. Earlier this week, a court in Islamabad issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Mr Khan over no show up in the Toshakhana case while the ministers …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – Sikandar Raza’s masterclass batting and unreal fielding helped Lahore Qalandars to a miraculous 17-run win over Quetta Gladiators on Thursday night at the Gaddafi Stadium in the Punjab capital. Shaheen Afridi’s side was seven down for only 50 at the halfway stage of their innings, but Sikandar’s surreal inning of 34-ball 71 propelled them to 148 …

GENEVA (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, has voiced concern over the “generous” supply of conventional and non-conventional weapons to India, saying it was severely straining South Asia’s strategic stability , and threatening “our national security”. “The largest country in the region continues to be a beneficiary of nuclear exceptionalism, in violation of …

KARACHI (Internews Pakistan) – Bowing down to another demand of International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced an interest rate hike of 300 basis points, taking it to 20%. This is the highest level of the key policy rate since October 1997. “At its meeting held on 2nd March 2023, …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – The US dollar spiralled out of control as the Pakistani rupee depreciated Rs18.89 against the greenback during intra-day trade on Thursday amid political and economic uncertainty. The greenback was being traded at Rs285 in the interbank market around 11:30am. The historic plunge in the value of the local currency followed the monetary policy review and delay …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Thursday the masses were facing a heavy price of regime change. Taking to Twitter, the deposed premier went on to say, “A bunch of criminals have been foisted upon the nation by the former COAS.” Lamenting the persistent depreciation of the rupee, Mr Khan said, “The rupee has …

ISLAMABAD (National Times) – Pakistan’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are about to conclude and Staff Level Agreement with the fund is expected next week, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar said here on Thursday. In a tweet, the finance minister said some Anti-Pakistan elements were spreading malicious rumours that Pakistan may default. He …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior vice president Maryam Nawaz slammed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan over the latter’s tweet on the economic situation. Taking to Twitter, Ms Nawaz took a jibe at the deposed premier and accused him of dragging the country into a quagmire. Berating Mr Khan for negotiating with the International Monetary Fund …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – Quetta Gladiators opted to field first against Lahore Qalandars in the 18th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Qaddafi Stadium on Thursday. In the last five encounters, Qalandars won on three and Gladiators on two occasions. Gladiators made three changes in their squad, while the Qalandars were unchanged. SQUADS Quetta …

BEIJING (Internews Pakistan)- Beijing accused Washington on Wednesday of harming its own credibility after a top US intelligence official said his agency believed the pandemic “most likely” caused by a laboratory incident in Wuhan, China. FBI Director Christopher Wray told Fox News on Tuesday that the Bureau has now assessed the source of Covid-19 was “most likely a potential lab …

ISLAMABAD (Internews Pakistan) – Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza on Thursday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Dunya News reported. The CJCSC and premier exchanged views on overall security situation in the country and professional matters of Pakistan’s armed forces during the meeting at the Prime Minister’s House. Gen Sahir, who was promoted to …

ISLAMABAD (Internews Pakistan) – A district and sessions court on Thursday acquitted retired Lt Gen Amjad Shoaib in a case related to incitement against state institutions. Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the verdict reserved earlier in the day after hearing arguments from prosecution and defence lawyers. The former army officer was produced before the court following the completion …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday turned down a petition seeking contempt proceedings against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for allegedly scandalising the judiciary through an audio leak involving former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and his lawyer. LHC Justice Abid Aziz Shaikh issued a written verdict, stating that the petitioner did not provide any …

ISLAMABAD (Internews Pakistan) – A district and session court in the federal capital deferred the indictment of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in a case pertaining to allegations against former president Asif Ali Zardari till March 21. As Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabbir resumed hearing in the case, the former premier through his lawyer filed a plea seeking …

LAHORE (Internews Pakistan) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior vice president Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday the surcharge of Rs3.23 per unit of electricity was punishment for paying the bill. His statement comes in the wake of the government’s imposition of a power surcharge of up to Rs3.23 per unit on electricity consumers throughout the country from July 1, 2023, kowtowing …

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court, in a split verdict, ruled on Wednesday that elections for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab assemblies should be held within 90 days. The direction was given by the apex court in the suo motu notice verdict which was announced by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial today. A five-member bench headed by CJP Bandial and comprising Justice …

GUJRANWALA, Pakistan, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) — On a sunny February morning, the air in a small village in Pakistan’s east Gujranwala district carried the sweet scent of canola flowers, which were dancing gently in the breeze. Bees whirling on the profuse yellow blossom beaming with lush green pods were not only a view to behold, but also heralded the beginning …

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 27: No Pakistani player has been named in the Upstox Most Valuable Team of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. Meanwhile, four Australians, three South Africans, and two English, one each from West Indies and India have been selected for the team, said a press release. Player of the Tournament Ashleigh Gardner was joined by Alyssa Healy, …

A recent report by The Wall Street Journal, targeting several China-built global mega-projects, was filled with distorted facts, one-sided stories, and unfounded accusations — an attempt to discredit the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. What’s the real picture of these projects? Are they really “falling apart” as sensationally claimed by the WSJ? Xinhua reporters traveled there, studied the cases and …

BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) — China will continue to strengthen opening-up and cooperation in science and technology, while also promoting bilateral and multilateral inter-governmental sci-tech cooperation for mutual benefits, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology on Friday. China has established sci-tech cooperation relations with more than 160 countries and regions, and signed 116 inter-governmental agreements on sci-tech cooperation, …