The Punjab Environment Department has officially banned washing cars and using water pipes at home, enforcing a fine of Rs10,000 for violators. The move comes as part of the Lahore High Court’s directive to curb excessive water wastage amid declining rainfall in the province. According to a notification issued by the department, all illegal service stations have been ordered to …

The National Selection Panel (NSP) has named a final 15-player Australian squad for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy. Australia: Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) (c) Sean Abbott (NSW/Parramatta District Cricket Club) Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club) Ben Dwarshuis (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) Nathan Ellis (TAS/Lindisfarne Cricket Club) Jake Fraser-McGurk (SA/ West Torrens Cricket Club) Aaron Hardie (WA/Willetton Cricket Club) Travis Head …

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva wherein both sides discussed Pakistan’s ongoing IMF program and the macroeconomic stability achieved through the government’s comprehensive reform agenda. The meeting held on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2025 in Dubai, highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to implementing structural reforms …

ISLAMABAD: The abrupt U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 left behind billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment, which has since fallen into the hands of terrorist organizations that have been exploiting these advanced weapons, escalating violence in Pakistan and across South Asia, destabilizing the region, and fueling cross-border terrorism. Since the start of the withdrawal, Pakistan has been raising …

Pakistan has fallen two positions to rank 135th among 180 countries in Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI), according to the watchdog’s 2024 report released Tuesday. The South Asian nation scored 27 out of 100 points, down from its previous rating, making it the 46th most corrupt country globally. This marks a continued decline from 2023, when Pakistan ranked 133rd …

Light rain and snowfall continue to transform the upper regions of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) into a winter wonderland, dropping temperatures and attracting tourists from across the country. In Azad Kashmir, Neelum Valley has been experiencing light snowfall since the morning, while lower areas, including Leepa Valley and Jhelum Valley, are witnessing light rain. Snow has …

Pakistan and Qatar held the second round of political consultations in Doha, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties across various sectors. The meeting was led by Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Marakhi. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the discussions covered a wide range of topics, including political, economic, …

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, highlighted Pakistan’s security concerns at the UN Security Council meeting, questioning why global discussions on terrorism threats often overlook the dangers Pakistan faces. He urged the UN General Assembly to establish a dedicated institution to counter terrorism more effectively. During the session, Pakistan raised concerns about the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) …

BEIJING: On a balmy afternoon on the first day of the Chinese Spring Festival, a queue of nearly 40 people, over half of them being Chinese tourists, snaked around the plain ice cream stall of “Uncle Chieng” on Orchard Road, Singapore. “Recently, more than half of the customers are Chinese tourists. Around the Spring Festival, I sell about 20 percent …

Another migrant boat has capsized near the coast of Libya, with Pakistani nationals reportedly among the passengers, according to the Foreign Office spokesperson. Authorities are currently gathering information regarding the incident. The spokesperson further stated that the Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli has been informed about the boat accident. The vessel, which overturned near Marsah Della port in Zawiya city, was …

Pakistani actor Feroz Khan is under fire after a heated argument with a female journalist at a press conference, where he arrived two and a half hours late. The video of the confrontation has gone viral on social media. The press conference was organized for Khan’s upcoming boxing match with YouTuber Rahim Pardesi. The journalist criticized him for his tardiness, …

Islamabad witnessed a large-scale protest by lawyers against the 26th Constitutional Amendment and the Judicial Commission meeting scheduled for today. The demonstration, called by the National Action Committee, saw lawyers from Sindh and other regions gathering outside a private hotel in the capital. Chanting slogans against the amendment, the protesting lawyers expressed strong opposition, claiming that the amendment is an …

The federal government’s non-tax revenue witnessed a significant increase of Rs. 1,623 billion during the first six months of the current fiscal year, according to official documents. From July to December, non-tax revenue surged to Rs. 3,602 billion, compared to Rs. 1,979 billion recorded in the same period last fiscal year. A major portion of the increase came from the …

New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is recovering well after sustaining a forehead injury during a warm-up match against Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy, the team management confirmed on Saturday. Ravindra suffered a laceration on his forehead after misjudging a catch under the floodlights in the 38th over of Pakistan’s innings at Gaddafi Stadium. The ball struck him directly on …

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation has arrived in Pakistan to evaluate efforts to strengthen anti-corruption institutions and improve governance reforms. The delegation will stay in Islamabad until February 14 and hold meetings with key officials. According to sources, the IMF team will meet with representatives from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Ministry of Finance, State Bank of Pakistan, and …

Supreme Court Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar has stated that the 26th amendment could only be repealed by a parliamentary decision or a Supreme Court ruling. In a 20-page note issued in the bench powers case, Justice Mazhar agreed with the constitutional bench’s decision. He emphasised that only a constitutional bench has the authority to review the constitutionality of laws, and …

Facebook owner Meta Platforms plans to carry out its expected company-wide layoffs next week while pushing ahead with the expedited hiring of machine learning engineers, it told staffers in internal memos seen by Reuters on Friday. Notices will go out to employees losing their jobs starting at 5 a.m. local time Monday in most countries, including in the U.S., according …

Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers including Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s daughter Meher Bano Qureshi and Javed Hashmi’s son-in-law Makhdoom Zahid Bahar Hashmi were arrested in Multan on Saturday. According to police officials, PTI leaders and supporters took out a rally despite restrictions imposed under Section 144, which prohibits public gatherings. The rally, led by Meher Bano Qureshi, Makhdoom Zahid …

The federal government’s expenditure exceeded Rs 8,200 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year, significantly outpacing its net income of Rs 5,887 billion According to a report released by the Ministry of Finance on Saturday, the shortfall has resulted in a budget deficit of Rs 2,313 billion. The report highlights that a substantial portion of the expenditure—Rs …

The Supreme Court’s constitution bench on Friday dismissed objections of the registrar office to the petition filed by PTI founder Imran Khan against the Official Secrets Act and the Army Act. A five-member bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the petition, with Shoaib Shaheen representing the former prime minister. During the proceedings, the court sought arguments on whether the …

Just days ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 which would see Pakistan as host of a mega-event after quite a hiatus, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated the newly renovated Gaddafi stadium. Speaking on the occasion, the PM said the project saw the light of the day at a rapid pace. The renovation, he stated, was an example of …

The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) have expressed reservations over the government’s decision to allow third parties to sell up to 35% of their gas. However, officials from the Petroleum Ministry have clarified that this move will not cause any financial loss to the Sui companies. According to the Petroleum Ministry, the Sui …

The security forces eliminated three terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). According to the ISPR, the operation took place in Dattakhel during the night between February 6 and 7. A fierce clash erupted, resulting in the deaths of three militants. The eliminated insurgents had attempted to escape under the guise of female …

Four senior judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan have written a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, requesting him to postpone the appointment of new judges amid ongoing legal and constitutional challenges. The letter, signed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Athar Minallah, highlights concerns regarding the pending petitions …

BEIJING: China hopes Panama can become free from external interference and make the right decision, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday, responding to reports that Panama would suspend participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Lin said at a regular news briefing that China firmly opposes the United States’ actions to smear and sabotage Belt and …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games, which will be held on Friday in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. The top leader will also declare the Games open. Xi will host a welcome banquet for foreign leaders attending the opening ceremony, including Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Kyrgyz …

BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Beijing on Thursday. Noting that bilateral cooperation is expanding in scope and achieving more and more positive results, Li said that the ironclad friendship between the two sides has been renewed and deepened. Li added that China stands ready to work with Pakistan to implement the important …

            Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 5, 2025. Xi held talks with Zardari, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with …

BEIJING: Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Beijing on Wednesday. China is willing to work with Pakistan to continue the traditional friendship, implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future …

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced its decision to issue licenses for the provision of Fixed Satellite Services (FSS), aimed at enhancing the country’s satellite communication infrastructure. A draft policy outlining the terms and conditions of the new licensing regime has been prepared and released for public consultation. According to the draft, the license will be valid for a …

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday held a high-level meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. During the meeting, several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed to enhance cooperation between the two countries across various sectors. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah were also along with the president during the huddle. During …

BEIJING: Ice and snow have become an essential element in the Chinese people’s quest for a more fulfilling life, driven by a booming winter tourism sector, experts noted during a recent economic roundtable. The growth of ice and snow tourism has transformed how Chinese people perceive and experience winter, according to Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, who …

BEIJING: From winter sports to snow tourism, China is actively tapping into its ice and snow resources to create new growth drivers for the world’s second-largest economy, according to multiple officials and experts at a recent roundtable. Tourists are now more willing to pay for leisure and cultural activities related to ice and snow tourism, said Dai Bin, president of …

HARBIN: Located in China’s northernmost province of Heilongjiang, Harbin Ice-Snow World, a breathtaking ice-themed park known for its dazzling ice sculptures, is now one of China’s hottest tourist destinations. During the eight-day-long Spring Festival holiday that ended Tuesday, over 610,000 trips were made to the park. Daily trips on Saturday exceeded 100,000, setting a new record for single-day attendance. Since …

In the wake of Bianca Censori’s controversial appearance at the 2025 Grammy Awards, Kim Kardashian has reportedly taken decisive steps to safeguard her children from exposure to her ex-husband Kanye West’s current wife. Sources close to the reality star revealed that Kardashian, who has been co-parenting her four children with West since their 2021 divorce, has set clear boundaries for …

The New Zealand cricket team arrived in Lahore on Wednesday after traveling from Auckland via Dubai to participate in the upcoming tri-nation series in Pakistan. According to media reports, the team was escorted to their hotel under tight security measures, ensuring the safety of players ahead of the series. The New Zealand squad is scheduled to take a complete rest …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on India to move beyond its August 5, 2019, stance and engage in meaningful and productive talks to resolve the longstanding Kashmir dispute. Addressing a special session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Kashmir Solidarity Day in Muzaffarabad, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri people, stressing that dialogue was …

BEIJING: China’s film industry set a new record during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, as the box office for the period from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 reached a staggering 9.51 billion yuan (1.33 billion U.S. dollars), the China Film Administration announced Wednesday. The number of moviegoers also soared, with 187 million people attending theaters during the holiday, marking both …

Tickets for the highly-anticipated Pakistan-India match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be held in Dubai, were sold out within minutes, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC). While tickets for the semi-finals are now available for purchase, the overwhelming demand for the Pakistan-India clash reflects the intense rivalry and excitement surrounding the event. Ticket prices varied by …

Four years after being dumped from the Australian team during a bleak period with the bat, Travis Head has risen to the top of the heap as a devastating power hitter in all three formats. The popular lefthander was awarded the Allan Border Medal late on Monday as Australia’s top men’s cricketer in 2024, crushing second-placed paceman Josh Hazlewood in …