A terrorist attack on a Levies check post in Kalat resulted in the martyrdom of one officer, while two others sustained injuries. According to Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, the Levies personnel responded swiftly, forcing the attackers to retreat and flee. He added that a search operation is underway to apprehend the perpetrators, and the injured officers have been shifted …

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir addressed students in a special session, emphasizing the critical role of youth in national unity and defense. Army chief expressed his delight in engaging with young minds and reaffirmed that as long as the nation, especially the youth, stands with the Pakistan Army, the country will never be defeated and Pakistan Army …

BEIJING: As the Year of the Snake unfolds, China’s economy is setting the stage for dynamic growth, with consumption, high-quality development and the capital market presenting new growth drivers, signaling a strong recovery and a shift toward more sustainable and innovation-driven development. BOOMING CONSUMPTION China saw vibrant consumer spending during the recent Spring Festival holiday, with standout sectors including tourism …

On Saturday, two separate bus accidents involving pilgrims traveling to the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine claimed 16 lives and left 25 others injured near Khairpur and Qazi Ahmed. In the first incident, a passenger bus carrying pilgrims from Punjab overturned on the National Highway near Khairpur’s Ranipur area, killing 10 and injuring 15 people. Police officials attributed the accident to …

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said on Saturday that 20 per cent of the Americans stand with Hamas and Palestinians. Expressing his thoughts, Rehman said, “The doctors have claimed that the children in Palestine had been martyred through target. Israel faced defeat on October 7. It is necessary to extend support to Hamas.” “Israeli occupation of Palestine is not …

Security forces conducted two separate intelligence-based operations in the areas of Dera Ismail Khan and North Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the elimination of 15 terrorists in total. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan paid rich tributes to the fallen heroes of the Pakistan security forces who aid down their …

The Senate has passed three key bills aimed at imposing strict punishments on individuals involved in human trafficking, forced begging, and sending underage girls abroad for prostitution. During the session, presided over by Senator Sherry Rehman, the question-hour was postponed due to the absence of ministers and members. Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Azam Nazeer Tarar, presented the three …

With the appointment of new judges to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the seniority list has been updated. Following Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has now become the senior-most judge. According to the revised seniority rankings: Justice Munib Akhtar is second, followed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan in third place. Justice Jamal Mandokhail ranks fourth, and Justice Muhammad …

Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has given a strong response to Prime Minister’s Advisor Rana Sanaullah’s statement regarding a potential reference against two senior judges. He asserted that if the government wants to file a reference, it should go ahead, adding, “Why fear when nothing is wrong?” During an informal conversation with journalists at the oath-taking ceremony of newly …

BEIJING: China’s economy is expected to maintain stable growth in 2025, according to the Q4 2024 monetary policy report released by the People’s Bank of China on Thursday. Stimulus measures rolled out in late 2024 have already begun to revitalize production, demand, and market sentiment, which will further sustain the recovery momentum, according to the report. Domestic demand has shown …

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived at the Prime Minister House on Thursday morning, where he was warmly received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The First Lady of Türkiye, Emin Erdoğan, accompanied the president, and both were greeted with love and sincerity, reflecting the deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye. As part of the official welcome ceremony, the national anthems …

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 …