ISLAMABAD (Internews):  The Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Nurlan Yermekbayev, underscored China’s pivotal role in advancing global governance and multilateral diplomacy within the SCO framework during a webinar titled “Post-Tianjin SCO Summit: Achievements and Prospects for Multipolar Regional Cooperation.” organised by Centre for SCO Studies– Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) and Pakistan SCO Friendship Forum. …

BEIJING: A think tank report released on Thursday hailed the practical achievements of rural development in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region since its founding 60 years ago. The achievements can be summarized as rapid economic growth, robust cultural preservation, enhanced safeguard for livelihoods, strengthened ecological protection, and enhanced ethnic unity, according to the report. “These accomplishments reflect the vivid grassroots …

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a strong upward trend on Wednesday as the benchmark KSE-100 Index continued its rally, gaining more than 1,500 points in early trading and surpassing the 167,000-point mark. The bullish momentum follows a historic trading session on Tuesday, when the index soared by 7,000 points, closing at 165,476 points—one of the largest single-day gains in …

Pakistan has earned global recognition by winning two international awards at the Osaka Expo 2025 in Japan, celebrating the country’s creativity, culture, and innovation on the world stage. According to official sources, the Pakistan Pavilion received the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Bronze Award and the Exhibitor Online Editors’ Choice Award, marking a proud moment for the nation. Built on …

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has stopped the by-election process in the NA-1 Chitral constituency while hearing a petition filed against the disqualification of Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Abdul Latif Chitrali. The case was heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Waqar Ahmad. During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Muazzam Butt, argued …

In a major economic development, Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a staff-level agreement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), paving the way for the disbursement of $1.2 billion after approval from the IMF Executive Board. According to an IMF statement, Pakistan’s economic reform program, supported by the Fund, is steadily progressing toward stability and restoring market …

Pakistan’s Power Division has reported that net metering capacity across the country has reached 6,000 megawatts (MW), a milestone that officials say is both a success for renewable energy and a challenge for the national grid’s stability. During a briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Power, the Secretary Power Division said that the rapid expansion of solar energy …

In light of recent viral images showing her ex-husband, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a close moment with American singer Katy Perry aboard a yacht near California, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau has issued a public response. According to international media, the images show Trudeau and Perry sharing affectionate moments, which drew significant attention on social media. Though she has appeared …

After earning millions at the box office in Pakistan, the Pakistani horror-thriller film “Deemak” has now captivated audiences in the United States, where it received an overwhelming response at a special screening held in Dallas, Texas. The screening took place at the renowned Angelika Film Center, accompanied by a red carpet event attended by members of the Pakistani, Indian, and …

Air pollution in Lahore and several other cities across Punjab has reached dangerous levels as cooler temperatures and winds from India have worsened smog conditions across the region, according to the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Fresh data from the EPA and the province’s advanced Smog and Climate Monitoring System shows that Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has climbed to …

The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Rawalpindi has announced the results of the first-year annual examinations, showing an overall pass percentage of 43.46 percent, with female students once again outperforming their male counterparts. According to the official results, 63,494 candidates appeared in the exams, of whom 28,442 passed while 35,052 failed. A total of 1,213 students were marked …

Lionel Messi has achieved yet another historic milestone in his illustrious career, becoming the all-time leader in international football assists with his 60th for Argentina by surpassing Neymar’s previous record of 59. The record-breaking assist came during Argentina’s latest international fixture, where Messi once again demonstrated his unmatched vision and playmaking ability. With this achievement, the Argentine captain now holds …

Pakistan’s junior hockey team suffered a narrow 2-3 defeat against New Zealand in the Sultan of Johor Junior Hockey Cup held in Johor Baru, Malaysia. Both of Pakistan’s goals were scored by Sufyan Khan, who continues to shine as the team’s key striker. The tournament has seen competitive matches, with Pakistan previously playing a thrilling 3-3 draw against India, showcasing …

Pakistan defeated South Africa by 93 runs in the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, to take a 1–0 lead in the two-match Test series, thanks to a brilliant all-round bowling display led by Nauman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Resuming on the fourth day, South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi began their side’s chase, but early breakthroughs …

Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Nauman Ali has etched his name into cricket history by breaking a 37-year-old record previously held by legendary spinner Abdul Qadir, following a match-winning performance against South Africa in the first Test at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Nauman claimed 10 wickets in the match, six in the first innings and four in the second, helping Pakistan secure victory …

Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, called on Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, at the Ministry in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. During the meeting, both dignitaries reviewed the state of bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE, underscoring the importance of further …

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has completed an inquiry into the controversial appointment and extraordinary salary increases of the former Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Reinsurance Company Limited (PRCL), declaring that the company’s board violated multiple corporate laws and governance rules. According to the inquiry report, SECP found that the PRCL board appointed the former CEO without …

An audit report has revealed that officials of the Punjab Board of Revenue caused a loss of more than Rs2.82 billion to the national exchequer by failing to enforce mandatory banking procedures for property transactions. According to the report, around 4,700 properties were purchased through non-banking channels without any fines or penalties being imposed by the department. Under the law, …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who is in Beijing for the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women. Noting that China and Sri Lanka boast a long traditional friendship, Xi said that China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to carry forward this friendship, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly build a …

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations General Assembly today elected Pakistan to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for a three-year term, commencing on 1 January 2026. Pakistan secured its seat with a resounding majority of 178 votes. This election to the Council marks the sixth time Pakistan has been chosen for this role since the HRC’s establishment in 2006. This …

Iran on Tuesday said that US President Donald Trump’s call for a peace deal with Tehran was inconsistent with Washington’s actions, referring to its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June. “The desire for peace and dialogue expressed by the US president is at odds with the hostile and criminal behaviour of the United States towards the Iranian people,” the …

Torrential rains that lashed Mexico last week killed at least 64 people and 65 more are missing, the government said on Monday, after a tropical depression triggered landslides and flooding in parts of the Gulf Coast and central states. The unnamed depression came toward the end of the rainy season, battering land and bursting rivers that had already been soaked …

On the sidelines of GITEX 2025, Federal Minister for IT & Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, met with H.E. Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, to discuss collaboration in digital governance, AI innovation, data infrastructure, and startup development. The Minister highlighted Pakistan’s Digital Nation Pakistan Act, National Data Exchange Layer, and initiatives promoting …

Pakistan and Vietnam have officially signed and launched negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two countries. The announcement and signing took place during a high-level bilateral meeting and the Pakistan–Vietnam Business Forum held in Islamabad, co-chaired by Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and H.E. Nguyen Hong …

Pakistan and Rwanda have discussed strengthening bilateral trade through maritime-linked corridors connecting Karachi Port with key East African ports in a bid to boost access to regional markets and reduce shipping costs. The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and Rwandan Ambassador Harerimana Fatou, who called on the minister at …

The Sindh High Court has issued notices to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and other relevant parties in response to a petition filed by Dr. Sarah Gill, Pakistan’s first transgender doctor, over the non-issuance of her medical registration and practicing license. During the hearing, Dr. Gill’s counsel informed the court that she had completed her MBBS degree from …

Pakistan secured foreign loans worth $10.1 billion during the last fiscal year, according to official data presented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EAD) before Parliament. The report, covering the period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, reveals that the government obtained 29 international loans from multilateral and bilateral development partners as well as commercial banks. According to …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Tuesday urged political and security actors to pursue talks with Afghanistan, saying enduring peace cannot be achieved without settling outstanding disputes between the two neighbours. Speaking to reporters in Peshawar, Raja also dismissed suggestions that PTI plans to march on Islamabad, saying the party has no intention of staging such a …

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has directed universities across the country to conduct the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) in accordance with the approved curriculum and examination guidelines. According to a PMDC spokesperson, all question papers will be reviewed in advance to ensure the removal of out-of-syllabus questions, and universities have been instructed to strictly maintain …

Renowned Indian lyricist and author Javed Akhtar has sharply criticized the Indian government’s reception for Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, calling it a moment of “national shame” and expressing deep embarrassment over the visit. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Akhtar said he was “ashamed as an Indian” to see those who once promoted terrorism being welcomed …

Renowned Pakistani actress Sarwat Gilani has spoken out against what she described as unprofessional behavior by the team behind the hit film franchise “Jawani Phir Nahi Aani”, including producer Humayun Saeed and his team. In a recent interview, Gilani revealed that she has declined to take part in the third installment of the popular comedy series, despite having acted in …

A unique record was created during the ongoing Test match between India and the West Indies in Delhi, where India declared their first innings at 518 for five, without a single run coming from byes or leg byes. After winning the toss, India chose to bat first and played 134.2 overs before declaring their innings. Remarkably, throughout the entire innings, …

Rawalpindi’s health authorities have announced the successful completion of the first day of the city’s anti-polio campaign, achieving a major milestone with 989,924 children targeted for vaccination. According to the District Health Department Rawalpindi, vaccination teams managed to administer polio drops to 272,696 children across various areas. As part of the door-to-door campaign, health workers visited 207,427 households, completing 88 …

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb had a busy first day of his official visit to the United States with a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) in Washington D.C. according to the official statement, the Finance Minister and his …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the dismissal of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Grade-20 officer Ranaa Waqar Ali after charges of incompetence, misconduct, and corruption were proven against him in an official inquiry. Following the prime minister’s approval, the FBR issued a formal notification confirming the officer’s removal from service. According to the notification, the inquiry committee found substantial …

The Rawalpindi Solid Waste Management Company (RSWMC) has imposed a new “garbage tax” on residents, shopkeepers, and commercial property owners, triggering widespread protests across the city. According to official sources, the tax has been implemented from September 1, and the company has begun sending bills ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 to households, shops, and plazas. The collection process …

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has invited US companies to invest in Pakistan’s oil, mineral, agriculture, and information technology sectors, highlighting the country’s improving economic fundamentals and ongoing reform initiatives. According to the Ministry of Finance, the finance minister met with US Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Robert Kaproth and other senior officials in Washington, where he briefed them on …

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the Afghan Taliban are simultaneously issuing threats and expressing a desire for dialogue, urging them to first act on their threats before talking about negotiations. Speaking on a private TV program, Khawaja Asif stated that if any country launches an attack on Pakistan, Islamabad has the right to respond. He made it clear …

Pakistan’s stock market witnessed another steep decline on Monday, as political uncertainty, renewed border tensions with Afghanistan, and delays in the IMF loan program continued to rattle investor confidence. The benchmark KSE-100 Index plunged 4,654.77 points, or 2.85 percent, to close at 158,443.42, marking the sixth consecutive session of losses. The market has now lost over 9,500 points in just …

The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has announced that all proceeds from the upcoming football match against Israel will be donated to Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) to support humanitarian relief efforts for the people of Gaza. In a statement, the NFF said the decision reflects Norway’s commitment to “solidarity with civilians suffering from the ongoing conflict.” The donation …