Federal government will release the Economic Survey for the fiscal year 2024-25 on June 9. According to official sources, while several economic targets were missed, the overall performance shows ‘moderate improvement’ compared to the previous year. The targeted GDP growth of 3.6% could not be achieved, with actual growth recorded at 2.7%. However, inflation remained significantly below expectations, recorded at …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded on Wednesday United States President Donald Trump’s efforts in promoting peace and praised his role in facilitating a ceasefire, saying the latter has proven to be a proponent of peace and economic cooperation. Speaking at an event held at the US Embassy in Islamabad to mark the 249th Independence Day of the United States, the …

Pakistan has been appointed as the co-chair of the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee for the year 2025, with Algeria serving as Chair. According to details surfaced on Wednesday, in addition, Pakistan will also chair the Security Council’s Sanctions Committee on the Taliban, which oversees the implementation of measures such as asset freezes, travel bans and arms embargoes …

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, has approved a series of technical supplementary grants for various ministries and divisions. However, the summary related to the Mashke, Thalian, and Tarujba white oil pipelines, submitted by the Petroleum Division, has been postponed for further deliberation. According to an official statement released after the …

A total of 216 prisoners escaped from Karachi’s District Jail Malir — commonly known as “Bacha Jail” — in a dramatic incident on Monday night. According to police and jail officials, the escape occurred amid chaos reportedly triggered by a series of tremors in the city. The prisoners, many of whom were already outside their barracks, took advantage of the …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the immediate removal of all hurdles in the way of Diamer-Bhasha Dam and ordered that the project be completed on a priority basis, terming it essential for the country’s economic self-reliance. Chairing a high-level meeting on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and other national water resources, the premier said that Pakistan’s path to economic stability …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the record-breaking performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), terming it a promising start to the new fiscal year and a reflection of growing confidence in the government’s economic policies. The PSX made history on the first trading day of the 2025–26 fiscal year, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index surging by …

President Asif Ali Zardari hosted a dinner in honour of the national cricket teams of Pakistan and Bangladesh, following their recent cricket series. The event, organized by Federal Minister Mohsin Naqvi, brought together players and officials from both teams in a spirit of sportsmanship and regional friendship. President Zardari warmly greeted the players and team officials, acknowledging the Pakistani team’s …

HONG KONG: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday that China is willing to work with Pakistan and like-minded countries to enhance the unique advantages of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed). When meeting with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who attended here the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of …

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) clarified that it has never declared virtual assets (VAs), including cryptocurrencies as illegal. In a press release issued by the central bank, the SBP stated that the advisory directed banks, microfinance institutions, development finance institutions (DFIs), electronic money institutions (EMIs), and other financial service providers to refrain from dealing in VAs purely as a …

Pakistan has strongly condemned the rising incidents of Islamophobia in India, urging New Delhi to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and rights of its Muslim citizens. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Foreign Office expressed deep concern over what it termed as the “state-sponsored targeting” of Muslims in India, citing increased incidents of hate speech, discrimination, and …

US President Donald Trump confirmed that a high-level delegation from Pakistan is scheduled to arrive in the United States next week for critical trade negotiations. The talks come as Islamabad seeks to resolve a tariff dispute with Washington, which has placed Pakistan at risk of facing up to 29% tariffs on its exports. Pakistan’s trade surplus of $3 billion with …

A joint operation by police and law enforcement agencies in the Rawalakot area resulted in the killing of four terrorists, while two police officials lost their lives and 8 others sustained injuries during the encounter. According to SSP Poonch Riaz Mughal, the operation was launched after receiving credible intelligence about the presence of the terrorists in the forested region of …

On the occasion of Youm-e-Takbeer, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the nation’s historic achievement of becoming a nuclear power in 1998, emphasizing the day as a symbol of national unity and unwavering commitment to Pakistan’s freedom and sovereignty. In his message, the premier recalled the bold decision by then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who, despite facing economic sanctions, international …

SpaceX’s ninth test flight of its towering Starship rocket ended in failure on Wednesday, after the vehicle lost control and disintegrated roughly 30 minutes into its uncrewed mission, US-based media outlets reported. The rocket, developed by billionaire Elon Musk’s commercial space venture SpaceX, was launched from the company’s test facility in Boca Chica, Texas. According to a report by Reuters, …

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Tuesday rejected key legislative proposals, including a ban on underage marriage and the mandatory thalassaemia test before marriage, declaring them contrary to Islamic principles. A statement issued after a meeting chaired by CII Chairman Raghib Hussain Naeemi stated that the ‘Prohibition of Underage Marriage Bill’, introduced by PPP MNA Sharmila Faruqui, was deemed …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended heartfelt congratulations to Lahore Qalandars on clinching their third Pakistan Super League (PSL) title. In a statement issued from Istanbul, the premier also praised the Quetta Gladiators for their spirited display in the high-stakes final, acknowledging the competitive spirit shown by all teams in the tournament. The Qalandars secured a six-wicket victory over …

In one of the largest global data breaches in recent history, sensitive information, including passwords, of over 180 million users from major companies such as Google, Facebook, and Apple have been compromised. The alarming incident has prompted Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (N-CERT) to issue an urgent advisory to all users and institutions across the country. According to the …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): The Chinese embassy in Pakistan has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and injuries resulting from the devastating storm that struck Punjab Province. In an official statement released on Sunday, the embassy said, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives and injuries caused by the devastating storm in Punjab Province. Our heartfelt …

The Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani has taken stern action against police personnel found involved with drug dealers, resulting in the forcible dismissal of 17 officials from the force. An internal inquiry led by senior police officers uncovered the alleged links and support extended by these personnel to narcotics traffickers operating in Rawalpindi. The dismissed officers include …

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast cloudy conditions and rain accompanied by strong winds in Islamabad and adjoining areas over the next 24 hours. According to the latest advisory, rain and gusty winds are expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, and Jhelum. Similar weather conditions are likely to affect various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, …

The Met Department has issued a heatwave alert for Karachi and southern districts of Sindh starting May 25, as a low-pressure system in the Arabian Sea is expected to push temperatures higher. According to Director General Anjum Rizvi, the mercury in Karachi may reach up to 40 degrees Celsius, with the heat intensity feeling three to four degrees hotter due …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission has concluded its latest visit to Pakistan, setting a primary budget surplus target of 1.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for the fiscal year 2025-26. However, Pakistan and the IMF have not yet reached full consensus on the upcoming budget targets, with negotiations expected to continue in the coming weeks. Led by Nathan …

The Senate, under the chairmanship of Yousaf Raza Gillani, unanimously passed a resolution to observe May 25 as Pakistan-Africa Friendship Day. The resolution highlighted the potential for increased trade between Pakistan and African nations, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bilateral ties. It also acknowledged Africa’s consistent role in promoting peace in the region.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has stressed the urgent need to eliminate the scourge of terrorism, warning that a clear future strategy must be devised to counter India’s ongoing proxy war. Speaking during a Senate session, Dar strongly condemned the recent attack on children in Khuzdar, terming it a cowardly act. He urged India to learn from its past failures …

Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared a staff member of the High Commission of India, Islamabad, as persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his privileged status. The concerned official has been directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours. According to MOFA spokespersons, the Indian Charge d’Affaires was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey this …

ISLAMABAD: (Internews) Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong has said that they strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Balochistan and express deepest condolences to the deceased and sincere sympathy to the injured and the bereaved families. In a statement released by the embassy, at the event of 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan on Wednesday, Chinese …

At least four children lost their lives while 38 others sustained injuries when an explosion struck a school bus near Zero Point on the Karachi-Quetta National Highway in Khuzdar on Wednesday. According to local authorities, the blast occurred when a school bus carrying children passed by a vehicle rigged with explosives parked along the roadside. The incident took place around …

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the death sentence of Zahir Jaffer for the 2021 gruesome murder of Noor Mukadam dismissing his appeal. Noor, aged 27 years, was found murdered at Zahir’s Islamabad residence in July 2021, with the investigation revealing that she was tortured before being beheaded. The trial court sentenced Zahir to death, a verdict later upheld by the …

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has authorised the disbursement of honorariums amounting to crores of rupees to employees of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over the course of five months. According to the documents, ECP employees received four rounds of honorariums in January, February, March, and May 2025. The disbursements were made from the Commission’s allocated annual budget, …

National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. Asim Malik and Iranian NSA Ali Akbar Ahmadian held a detailed telephone exchange on Monday. The conversation touched on a range of shared concerns, with both sides expressing interest in strengthening economic engagement and jointly addressing regional security challenges. Ahmadian stressed that Iran and Pakistan “will not allow regional peace to be undermined by external …

A severe heat wave continues to blanket much of the country, with temperatures soaring to uncomfortable and potentially hazardous levels. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted that Lahore will experience a scorching maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius today, while other major cities such as Islamabad and Peshawar are also expected to reach highs of 41 degrees Celsius. Quetta …

Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has accused India of hiding behind a false narrative to distort facts and divert attention from its alleged acts of aggression and sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan. In an exclusive interview with RT Arabia, Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that it was the Indian Ministry of Defence that requested …

The government has prepared a comprehensive plan to increase prices of electricity, gas, and petroleum products in the upcoming fiscal year, fulfilling key assurances made to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before the new budget. According to an official document, the public should bracefor a significant additional financial burden as the government moves forward with tariff adjustments across the energy …

United States President Donald Trump has admitted that Pakistan cannot be ignored, stressing the importance of maintaining engagement with the South Asian nation. During his interview with American news outlet, Trump stated that Pakistan and India were dangerously close to a nuclear conflict. “The situation had escalated to the point where nuclear war could have broken out,” he said. Trump …

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir has praised the role of Pakistani media, stating that it has responded courageously and wisely to Indian propaganda. In an informal conversation with journalists, Gen Munir said, “We have concealed nothing; everything has been presented to the nation in a clear and transparent manner. The Pakistani media has demonstrated a strong …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that United States President Donald Trump had played a substantial role in maintaining peace following heightened tensions between Pakistan and India. Speaking at an event at the Pakistan Monument in observance of Youm-e-Tashakur, the prime minister said: “The entire nation is standing firmly behind the Pakistan Armed Forces with full strength. On May …

KARACHI (Internews): Yang Yundong, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China said that Pakistan and China has enduring friendship so no one can undo our relation. He said this while talking to a delegation of Pakistan Tanners Association, South Zone, headed by its Chairman Dr Danish Aman, at the Consulate premises. On the occasion, Hamid Zahur, Chairman PTA, Central, …

As part of the ongoing discussions for the 2025-26 federal budget, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Pakistan to increase the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on property transactions. Sources say the proposed hike could raise the CGT rate from the current 15% to as high as 40%, bringing it in line with the corporate income tax rate. The virtual …

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed that two more brave soldiers, who were wounded during Operation Bina al-Marsous, have embraced martyrdom. This raises the total number of martyred personnel in the operation to 13. According to ISPR, 78 military personnel have also sustained injuries while defending the nation against Indian aggression. Among the martyrs is Havaldar Muhammad Naveed of the …