Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of working groups composed of private sector experts and business leaders to discuss reforms aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s economy, with a focus on tax reforms and export-led growth. The meeting was held in Islamabad and specifically addressed measures to enhance business competitiveness and facilitate investment. The Prime Minister emphasized that the government …

India continues to block humanitarian assistance from Pakistan to Sri Lanka. The special aircraft carrying Pakistan’s humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka continues to face delay for over 60 hours now awaiting flight clearance from India. According to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the partial flight clearance issued by India last night, after 48 hours, was operationally impractical: …

Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, held a cordial meeting in Tehran with Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Seyed Abbas Salehi, reaffirming the longstanding cultural and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Iran. According to the official statement, during the meeting, both sides expressed their commitment to further strengthening cultural cooperation and enhancing people-to-people linkages. …

The Embassy of Pakistan in Japan and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) jointly hosted the Pakistan Business Seminar 2025 at the Embassy of Pakistan in Tokyo today. The event brought together more than 50 participants from leading Japanese corporations, trading houses, financial institutions, and innovation-focused agencies. According to the official statement, the program commenced with welcome remarks by Abdul …

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Musadik Malik, met with the Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Tarik Ali Khan. Also present in the meeting was Secretary Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Aisha Moriani. The meeting focused on various aspects of the trade of GM Canola between the two countries, particularly the limitations associated with Harmonized System (HS) …

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE received the credentials of several newly appointed ambassadors to the UAE including Shafqat Ali Khan, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The ceremony took place at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman …

Pakistan witnessed a rise in terrorist incidents in November, with terrorists increasingly targeting civilians, according to a new report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICS). The think tank noted that while terrorist strategies of groups like Fitanah Al-Hindustan and Fitanah Al-Khawarij have shifted, attacks on soft targets—ordinary citizens—have surged. In November, 97 terror incidents were reported …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi held a high-level meeting with US Consul General Thomas Eckert at the Chief Minister’s House, focusing on trade, investment, minerals, energy, and security cooperation. The discussion also included strategies for counter-terrorism and anti-narcotics efforts. Eckert emphasized that trade diplomacy is a cornerstone of US foreign policy and said promoting economic diplomacy strengthens overall peace …

A deadly gun attack claimed the lives of the Assistant Commissioner of North Waziristan and two police personnel, along with another civilian, when unidentified assailants opened fire on their vehicle on Miranshah Road. Police said on Tuesday the AC’s official vehicle came under sudden fire near the flour mills area. The attackers shot the occupants at close range, snatched weapons …

Balochistan is facing an escalating environmental emergency, with unusually low rainfall pushing much of the province into a state of prolonged drought. Water management failures and shrinking agricultural resources have deepened the crisis, affecting rural communities on a wide scale. According to a recent assessment published on the Asian Development Bank’s Development Asia platform, Balochistan’s cultivable land has reduced sharply …

In a move tied to the strategic importance of the Reko Diq copper-gold project, Pakistan Railways has decided to upgrade the 600-kilometre rail line running from Nokundi to Sibi, officials confirmed on Sunday. Divisional Superintendent Railways Imran Hayat Khan said the department would procure new railway tracks from abroad to ensure durability and compliance with international standards. He said the …

The Balochistan Education Department has decided to introduce major changes to the school curriculum for the upcoming academic year, officials confirmed on Saturday. Under the new plan, Nazra Quran and Quran translation will become a formal part of the syllabus from Grade 1 to Grade 12, integrating religious education more comprehensively across all levels. The department has also approved new …

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has approved the appointment of Justice Mian Gul Hassan Orungzeb as a permanent judge of the Supreme Court. The decision came during a meeting chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, where Justice Orungzeb, who has been serving as a special judge for the past year, was confirmed for a permanent position. However, according to …

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned that individuals spreading fake news on social media, including from abroad, will face strict legal action. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, he emphasized that misinformation threatening national security or public order will not be tolerated. “Those sitting abroad, spreading fake news through social media thinking they are safe, should know this …

Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a meeting today with the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye to Pakistan, Irfan Neziroglu, to finalize preparations for the high-level Turkish delegation arriving tomorrow, led by the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar. Secretary Petroleum Momin Agha and Managing Director OGDCL Ahmed Hayat Lak were also present during …

The Senate has issued a comprehensive 51-point agenda for its upcoming session, outlining an extensive list of legislative actions, including the presentation, approval and withdrawal of multiple bills. According to official details, the agenda includes a total of 21 bills, reflecting a packed legislative calendar. Out of these, 10 bills will be presented before the House, while nine bills are …

Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has carried out a series of major operations across the country, seizing more than 2,296 kilograms of narcotics and arresting five suspects, according to official statements. The most significant recovery came from a private housing society in Mardan, where a large stockpile of drugs smuggled from Afghanistan was uncovered. ANF spokespersons confirmed that 426 kilograms of …

The Sindh High Court has received a detailed report on the quality of milk in Karachi, revealing that samples tested were unsafe for human consumption. The report was submitted to the court by a member of the inspection team following judicial orders. The constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court was hearing a petition challenging recent increases in milk prices. …

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced plans to recruit medical professionals to serve Pakistani pilgrims during Hajj 2026. The ministry will hire a team of 98 doctors, pharmacists, and 196 paramedics, who will perform duties under the federal Hajj mission in Saudi Arabia. Applicants must be between 25 and 55 years of age and in good health, with chronic …

Pakistan’s mineral sector is set for a major transformation as the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has released a comprehensive report outlining the far-reaching economic impact of the Reko Diq project and ongoing reforms supported by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). According to the report, Pakistan is richly endowed with rare minerals, including gold, silver, copper, platinum and a …

Education authorities in Punjab and Balochistan have announced the winter holiday schedule for schools across the two provinces. In Punjab, winter vacations will commence on December 23, 2025, and continue until January 11, 2026. Government and private schools in the province are scheduled to reopen on January 12, marking the beginning of the new academic session. In Balochistan, the Ministry …

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has ordered the defreezing of bank accounts belonging to Shaukat Khanum Hospital and Namal University. The decision came during the hearing of a case related to protests on November 26 against Aleema Khan. The proceedings were presided over by ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah. Lawyers representing Shaukat Khanum Hospital appeared in court, while government …

The Islamabad High Court has announced the winter holidays schedule for district courts in the capital. The notification, issued by Registrar Muhammad Yar Walana with the approval of the Chief Justice, states that district courts will remain closed from January 1 to January 8, 2026. According to the notification, district courts will resume regular operations on January 9, 2026. During …

The Sindh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, has approved the extension of Pakistan Rangers’ deployment in Karachi for an additional year, officials confirmed. The decision was taken during a high-level cabinet meeting to ensure continued support for law enforcement and security operations in the city. According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s spokesperson, the Rangers will …

A suicide attack targeted a police mobile in Lakki Marwat, resulting in the death of one officer and injuries to five others, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred near Katokhel Adda, close to Tajori, where the bomber detonated explosives on the police vehicle. Remnants of the attacker were found scattered at the scene. The police mobile had seven officers on board …

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has rejected Aleema Khan’s request to remove terrorism charges under Section 7 ATA in the Sadiqabad case, affirming the court’s jurisdiction and the validity of the charges. The verdict was delivered by ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah, who confirmed that the police had correctly applied the terrorism provision in the case arising from protests …

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Social Welfare Department has introduced a new registration form for transgender individuals, aiming to facilitate their inclusion in official records and improve access to welfare programs, social protection schemes, and government assistance. The initiative is a collaborative effort between Blue Veins, the Social Welfare Department, and the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR). The launch event was …

Punjab Chief Minister Mariam Nawaz Sharif officially launched Phase Two of the Lahore Development Plan, marking a new phase in the city’s urban transformation. The launch follows a high-level meeting chaired by the CM, where detailed briefings were presented and instructions for smooth implementation were issued. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the project aims to upgrade 6,284 streets across …

Major infrastructure projects in Islamabad, including the T-Chowk Flyover, Shaheen Chowk Underpass, and Faizabad Interchange remodeling, are approaching completion, with construction work accelerated in recent weeks. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi inspected all three projects, reviewing ongoing construction and progress. He expressed satisfaction with the developments and instructed officials to expand Loop One and Loop Two at Faizabad Interchange to …

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch a formal inquiry into complaints of alleged rigging in the recent by-election held in Haripur’s NA-18 constituency, senior officials confirmed on Saturday. According to Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information, Shafi Jan, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has directed authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly, with scrutiny extending from Class-IV employees …

Investigations into the suicide bombings at the Federal Constabulary (FC) headquarters in Peshawar are ongoing, with authorities confirming that all three attackers held Afghan citizenship, according to officials. Investigators said the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) verified the attackers’ nationality, although further details about them are still pending. Over 100 suspects have been questioned so far as part of …

Pakistan has expressed strong rejection of what it described as a baseless statement by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concerning the 27th constitutional amendment adopted by a two-third majority in the Parliament. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan notes with deep concern the ungrounded and misplaced apprehensions aired on behalf …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has seized 62 cartons of illegal cigarettes and sealed a cigarette factory in Mardan during a raid conducted by its Inland Revenue team. According to FBR officials, the confiscated cigarettes were not taxed, prompting the closure of the factory and the registration of a case against its owners. The operation was carried out despite …

The federal government has released Rs43 billion in development funds to Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from the treasury benches under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP). The funds will be used during the ongoing fiscal year 2025–26 to execute small-scale development schemes across the country, officials said. According to sources, the SAP steering committee, chaired by Deputy …

Pakistan has initiated a large-scale humanitarian relief mission to support Sri Lanka after devastating floods, following direct instructions from the Prime Minister. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), working in close coordination with the Pakistan Armed Forces, has completed preparations for the immediate dispatch of aid and a specialized Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team. According to NDMA officials, the …

Under the “Safe Punjab Vision,” the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has introduced a new feature allowing citizens’ mobile phones to act as live cameras for the Safe City control room, enhancing emergency response and public safety. The initiative, integrated into the Safe City Public Safety app, enables residents to share live video feeds from their phones directly with authorities …

Police in Lahore successfully rescued a 14-year-old girl who was abducted while on her way to school, recovering her from the Chunghi Amarsidhu area. Authorities said the operation was launched immediately after the girl’s parents filed a complaint, highlighting the urgency of the case. Using modern tracking technology, police traced the suspect and carried out a timely intervention to recover …

The District Police Officer (DPO) of Vehari, Muhammad Afzal, has taken notice of a sexual harassment scandal at Faisalabad Agricultural University’s Burewala campus, leading to the arrest of Professor Yahya Khan. According to police, a case has been registered against the professor under five different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including 509, 292, 293, 294, and 354, with Sub-Inspector …

The Balochistan Education Department has introduced an Early Warning System to identify and support students at risk of dropping out of school. According to officials, the new system will use specialized software to monitor student performance and flag children showing signs of disengagement. School administrations, in coordination with parents, will take timely measures to encourage continued attendance and prevent students …

The Punjab government has issued directives for the use of color-coded waste bins across markets, shopping malls, commercial centers, government offices, and educational institutions, aiming to modernize garbage collection similar to practices in developed countries. The order follows last year’s approval of the “Smart Waste Management Process,” initially implemented in public and private educational institutions across the province. Authorities said …