ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC):  Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Friday highlighted the importance of regular exchanges with Iran to advance economic and trade relations, energy cooperation, regional security and connectivity. During a meeting with Iran’s Special Representative to the President on Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi Ghomi, Bilawal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable, prosperous and connected Afghanistan. According to a statement issued by …

KARACHI, July 22(ABC): Dua Zahra’s husband Zaheer Ahmed on Friday approached the Sindh High Court for the restoration of his bank accounts and Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) after the the court ordered freezing the bank accounts and blocking the CNIC of the youngster and others accused in the high profile kidnapping case. Dua had made headlines across the country …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): The government Friday appointed Faisal Shahkar as the new inspector general Punjab ahead of the closely watched election for the province’s chief minister. According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Secretariat, Shahkar — a BS-22 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan — has been transferred and posted as a provincial police officer with the approval …

KARACHI, July 22(ABC): Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is expected to increase its employees’ salaries by 10-20% in a meeting to be held at 2:30 pm today, sources. The hike has been suggested by Human Resources (HR) and Finance departments. According to details, the decision for the hike would be made in an administrative summit to be held today at 2:30 …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Maryam Nawaz’s husband Captain Safdar has tested positive for COVID-19. According to details, Captain Sadar had to attend the hearing of a case but he could not attend due to contracting COVID-19. His COVID-19 positivity report has been submitted in court. The court accepted Captain Safdar’s plea for exemption from …

ISLAMABAD, July 22 (ABC): Chinese Embassy has donated relief goods to the families affected by rains in Qila Saifullah, reported on Friday. Bayezid Khan Kasi, Chairman of Friends of China Forum, and Malik Inayat Khan Kasi, former Balochistan Home Minister, distributed relief goods to the affected families on behalf of the Chinese Embassy. Bayezid Khan Kasi on the occasion said relief goods distributed by the …

LAHORE, July 21 (ABC): A seven-hour spell of heavy rainfall lashed parts of Lahore on Thursday as the provincial capital of the Punjab province received at most 185 mm of downpour during the period. According to details, Tajpura area of the city received the maximum rainfall of 185mm, followed by 160mm in the airport area, 149 mm in Mughalpura, 148mm …

BALOCHISTAN, July 21(ABC): Monsoon rains in Balochistan, which started on June 1, have wreaked havoc and brought misery for the people of the province, killing at least 90 people — including three in the past 24 hours — and damaging nearly 4,000 homes in the province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority said in it’s latest update. The second spell of …

ISLAMABAD, July 21 (ABC): The prevailing monsoon spell will further lash out various parts of the country as the prevailing weather system will sprawl further within next coming days. The ongoing monsoon rains are in their active phase especially in the Northern and Central areas of the country including Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore, Deputy Director Flood Forecasting Department, Pakistan Meteorological …

WEB DESK, July 21(ABC): Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, the daughter of PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, hit back at PTI Chairperson Imran Khan for levelling allegations against the former president. The former prime minister had alleged that Zardari was the “main architect” behind the alleged horse-trading in Lahore, adding that the former president has secured an “NRO for his corruption and purchases …

KARACHI, July 21(ABC): The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday ordered the authorities to transfer Dua Zahra — the teenager who had mysteriously disappeared from Karachi in April but it was later reported that she had run away from home to marry 21-year-old Zaheer Ahmed — to Karachi while announcing the verdict in the high profile case. The court had …

LAHORE, July 21(ABC): Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz Sharif has directed authorities concerned to remain alert in the wake of rains in Lahore and other cities. In a statement, he asked elected representatives to go out in the field and monitor the drainage work in their areas. Calling the need to utilize all the resources for drainage from low-lying areas, …

  MURREE, July 21(ABC): One person was killed and 18 other sustained injured when a van carrying tourists plunged into ravine in Murree in the wee hours of Thursday, reported. According to details, a van carrying members of the same family belonging to Rahim Yar Khan fell into gorge in Aliyot area of Murree while taking a sharp turn, killing …

WASHINGTON, July 20(ABC): The US State Department on Wednesday released its 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report that calls for action against domestic trafficking in human beings, in which Pakistan has been upgraded from Tier 2 “watchlist” to Tier 2. Tier 2 are countries whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA (Trafficking Victims Protection Act”) minimum standards for the …

ISLAMABAD, July 20(ABC): Minister for Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Wednesday said Pakistan and Turkiye enjoy exemplary fraternal relations based on common faith, culture, values, civilization and historical linkages, mutual trust and support. The Minister paid his regards during a call on paid by Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye Mehmet Pacaci, a news release said. While speaking to Ambassador …

ISLAMABAD, July 20 (ABC): The Pakistani passport remained the fourth-worst passport in the world, maintaining its position from last year and providing access to only 32 locations without a visa, according to the Henley Passport Index for 2022. The Henley Passport Index is a ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access …

KARACHI, July 20 (ABC): Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday announced a reduction in fares on multiple international routes, following the recent cut in fuel prices. According to a PIA spokesperson, the national flag carrier has announced 8 percent cut in fares for Canada flights while fares for UAE and Gulf routes have been slashed by 15 per cent. Similarly, …

LAHORE, July 20 (ABC): Punjab Home Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Attaullah Tarar has rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) allegations of ‘horse-trading’ ahead of Punjab chief minister (CM) election. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the provincial minister said that the PML-N has not offered any money to Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) ahead of Punjab CM elections. …

ISLAMABAD, Jul 20 (ABC): The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the transcript of the July 18 press conference where it was allegedly warned that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Punjab assembly members could “disappear” before the upcoming chief minister’s election. A two-member SC bench comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan heard the petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam …

RAHIM YAR KHAN, July 20(ABC): The death toll has reached 27 in the tragic boat capsizing incident in the Indus River, district administration said Wednesday. According to the deputy commissioner, four more bodies have been fished out of the Indus River. The search is on for 22 more missing persons with 18 divers of the Pakistan Army participating in the …

ISLAMABAD: The 49.7% voter turnout in the by-election on 20 seats of the Punjab Assembly has been termed “impressive” by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). “The elections on July 17, 2022 augurs well for an otherwise struggling democracy in Pakistan,” FAFEN said in its report, observing that the by-polls culminated with PML-N’s acceptance of defeat, a rare gesture …

ISLAMABAD, July 20 (ABC): Health experts have urged the government to impose health levy on tobacco products to save precious lives as well as generate additional Rs 50 billion annually in revenues. In a joint press statement by Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (SPARC), experts recommended the government to take this urgent step, which has been pending …

ISLAMABAD, Jul 20(ABC): The beautification work alongside the tracks of Islamabad Orange Line Metro Bus Service from Peshawar Mor to New Islamabad Airport was in full swing to make it more attractive for the commuters. The environment wing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had continued work on the project even during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, a senior official of the …

ISLAMABAD, July 20(ABC): British High Commissioner on Tuesday observed that Pakistan’s population was going to double in the next 30 years putting a huge burden on its resources that demanded proper response to address the pressing issue. The British envoy made these remarks during a ceremony to commemorate the World Population Day, a collaborative event was conducted here in a …

PESHAWAR, July 20(ABC): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Tuesday passed the Environmental Protection (Amendment) Bill 2022, putting a ban on all types of plastic bags. According to the bill, there will be a ban on the manufacture, import, purchase, sale, storage, distribution, transportation, supply, and usage of all types of plastic bags. The bill said that the manufacturers, wholesale dealers, and retailers …

LAHORE, July 19(ABC): Former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday met Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and took him in confidence over decisions taken in the meeting of ruling alliance. Asif Zardari met Chaudhary Shujaat at his residence and the meeting continued for over an hour, in which matters pertaining to …

LAHORE, July 19(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) on Tuesday decided to shift their Punjab Assembly lawmakers to hotels ahead of Punjab Chief Minister election to be held on July 22. Sources privy to the matter said that a parliamentary party meeting was held under the chairmanship of the …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): Directorate General of Immigration and Passport (DGIP) has developed an app to receive passport payments online. The DGIP said that the aforementioned development will prove ease to the masses and save their time. In this regard, the Ministry of Interior said that this online payment system will start working by the end of this month, adding that …

LAHORE, July 19(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) on Tuesday filed a contempt of court petition in the Supreme Court against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah over his recent statement. It is pertinent to mention here that earlier on Monday, the interior minister made a statement claiming that five PTI MPs could “disappear” during the voting for Punjab’s chief minister …

LAHORE, July 19(ABC): A Lahore court on Tuesday sent Karachi teenager Dua Zahra to a shelter home following a court order. Dua had made headlines across the country after she had mysteriously disappeared from Karachi but it was later discovered that she had run away from her home to marry 21-year-old Zaheer. On Tuesday, Dua appeared before a magistrate’s court …

WEB DESK, July 19(ABC): The third wife of popular TV host and anchor Aamir Liaquat Hussain, Dania Malik, has filed an application with the Sindh High Court for her husband’s exhumation and postmortem, reported on Tuesday. A hearing was held in the Sindh High Court on the late TV anchor’s family’s request to stop the postmortem after his burial, during …

KARACHI, July 19(ABC): The Sindh Government Tuesday extended the curbs imposed on market timings in the province as the power crisis persists across the country. The measure, which will remain in effect from July 17 till August 16, is in response to the prevalent outages, and load shedding of the electricity and seeks to reduce the shortfall between the supply …

LAHORE, Jul 19 (ABC): Punjab Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan said on Monday that around 1.68 million people have so far benefited from indoor medical healthcare facility under the Sehat Sahulat Programme. In a press statement issued here, he said that 1.36 million people received medical treatment from private hospitals and around 317,000 people were facilitated by the public sector …

ISLAMABAD, July 19 (ABC): Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that the result of the by-polls has no connection with general elections. Talking to media outside the National Accountability Court (NAB), the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) said that the party that wins the vote on 22 July would form the government while the loser would sit in …

ISLAMABAD, July 19 (ABC): Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over are observing the Accession to Pakistan Day, on Tuesday, with a renewed pledge to continue the struggle for Jammu and Kashmir’s liberation from Indian occupation and its complete merger with Pakistan. It was on 19th July in 1947 that the genuine representatives of …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): The duration of load shedding has reached up to eight hours as the shortfall of electricity across the country continues to increase. The shortfall of electricity has reached 6 thousand 65 MW, while the total demand for electricity has reached 28 thousand 500 MW. According to the sources, at present the total production of electricity is 22 …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): Mainly hot and humid weather is likely to prevail in most parts of the country during the next twelve hours. However, isolated rain with wind and thundershower is expected in northeast Punjab, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, lower Sindh, central and southern Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Temperature of some major cities recorded this morning: Islamabad and Muzaffarabad twenty-six degree centigrade, …

NAROWAL, July 19(ABC): At least two persons were killed and 18 other were wounded when a speeding bus overturned in Narowal on Monday, Dunya News reported. According to details the accident occurred at the Muridke Road where a bus turned turtle when the driver lost control of the vehicle due to over-speeding due to which two persons died on the …

SADIQABAD, July 18 (ABC): At least 12 women drowned Monday after a boat carrying around 60 passengers on board capsized in Indus River near Machka, Sadiqabad. According to the police, the passengers were the part of a marriage procession that was heading towards Machka from Kharor. “At least 35 people were rescued by the locals,” police said, adding that the …

ISLAMABAD, Jul 18(ABC): The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board on Monday decided to hand over metro bus service (plying between Peshawar Morr to Islamabad International Airport) operations to a private company at comparatively lowest rate of all such services being operated in the country. The board meeting presided over by the CDA Chairman Aamir Ali Ahmed had accorded formal approval …