The first in-camera session of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and coalition government negotiating committee has been kicked off under the chair of the National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq at the speaker’s chamber.  Asad Qaiser, Hamid Raza, Allama Nasir Abbas are attending the meeting while Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Irfan Siddiqui are part of the government negotiating committee. …

As 2024 draws to a close, Pakistan finds itself at the edge of a climate crisis buckling under the weight of the overwhelming impacts of an environment that is changing far too fast. From blinding heatwaves that left the country scorched to devastating floods that submerged communities, this has been a year of extreme weather events that have reshaped the …

Dense fog has intensified the cold wave in Lahore, with the city’s minimum temperature recorded at 8°C and a maximum of 19°C expected, according to the Meteorological Department. Air pollution remained a persistent issue, with the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 303. The Meteorological Department forecasted dry cold weather for the coming week, with rain expected tomorrow …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the formation of a negotiation committee comprising members of the ruling coalition to address proposals regarding the National Assembly. The decision comes after PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar requested the Speaker of the National Assembly to play a mediatory role in initiating dialogue. The committee includes key figures from the government and coalition parties Senator …

WEB DESK: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicts cold and dry weather for most parts of the country on Sunday, with the northern areas to be particularly chilly. Clouds and fog are also predicted for Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Upper Sindh in the morning and evening hours. Going region by region, the PMD says that in Punjab, the weather will …

Security forces foiled an attack on a checkpoint in the Makeen area of South Waziristan, killing eight terrorists, while 16 soldiers embraced martyrdom during the exchange of fire. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), terrorists attempted to attack a security checkpoint, but forces repelled the assault, eliminating eight attackers. The ISPR stated that 16 soldiers …

Senior Supreme Court judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has expressed reservations over the involvement of intelligence agencies in the process of judicial appointments. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Judicial Commission, ahead of the commission’s meeting, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah argued that a defined mechanism for appointing judges to constitutional benches must be established within the Judicial …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong on Thursday called on President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed with him ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly countries.  Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and senior government officials also attended the meeting. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on matters of bilateral importance. The Chinese ambassador expressed his happiness over …

A senior White House official on Thursday said Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missile capabilities that eventually could allow it to strike targets well beyond South Asia, making it an “emerging threat” to the United States. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer’s surprise revelation underscored how far the once-close ties between Washington and Islamabad have deteriorated since the 2021 US …

Earthquake tremors were felt in Malakand district and its surrounding areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sparking panic among residents. The National Seismic Monitoring Centre in Islamabad confirmed that the earthquake’s epicentre was located in the Hindu Kush mountain range, Afghanistan. It said the magnitude of the earthquake was 3.5 on the Richter Scale with a depth of 133 kilometres. Citizens rushed …

The ICC Board has confirmed that India and Pakistan matches in ICC events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at neutral venues, regardless of which country is hosting.   This arrangement will apply to the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled for February and March 2025 in Pakistan, as well as the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, …

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) staged a walkout in the National Assembly during the question hour session, protesting the absence of ministers in the House. PPP members voiced their dissatisfaction with the lack of ministerial presence, demanding accountability for the absence. Along with PPP, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member Hanif Abbasi also joined the protest and walked out of the …

Pakistan has called the US decision to impose sanctions on National Development Complex and three commercial entities as unfortunate and biased. According to a Foreign Office statement, the decision defied the objective of peace and security. The statement said Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are meant to defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia. It further said such …

The government has begun implementing stringent measures to boost tax revenue under the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) conditions. The Tax Laws Amendment Bill 2024 proposes the strictest penalties yet to crack down on tax evasion and enforce compliance with tax laws. Crackdown on non-filers Under the proposed measures, individuals who fail to file taxes will face severe restrictions. Non-filers will …

The threat of polio cases looms as fresh cases reported in the parts of the country. According to details surfaced on Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO), a child from Jacobabad had contacted the polio. The number of cases reported in Jacobabad reached four. Balochistan had reported 26 cases, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh reported 18 polio cases each. Punjab …

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party reiterating the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 and November 26 incidents have expressed their desire to come on the negotiating table. PTI in a statement after the meeting on Wednesday, condemned the raids on the homes of its lawmakers and urged authorities to cease pressure tactics against members …

Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has issued an additional note in the presidential reference on the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto case, highlighting that the requirements of a transparent trial were not met and also partially agrees with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s earlier observations. Justice Afridi emphasized that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto did not receive a fair trial. He noted that the …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan claimed on Tuesday that nobody could dictate Imran Khan. Expressing his thoughts, Khan said: “We are ready to negotiate with anybody. The talks will move forward only if his party’s demands will be fulfilled and reservations addressed.” He stated: We do not take any decision. The PTI founder understands everything and give …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Tuesday stated that the civil disobedience movement will commence only after receiving instructions from PTI founder Imran Khan. Speaking to the media in Peshawar, Gandapur stressed his readiness to implement the movement based on Khan’s directives, adding that it would be carried out as soon as the orders were given. Gandapur also …

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has approved exorbitant salary increases for its members and officials, raising concerns amid economic challenges in the province. Under the newly passed bill, the monthly salaries of Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) will see a sharp rise from Rs76,000 to Rs400,000 — a staggering 426% increase. The bill, which will now b cited as ‘Punjab …

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the government was the biggest obstacle to the registration of madrasas, and warned to take to the streets if any changes to the provisions of the “Madrasa Registration Bill” were made. Speaking in the National Assembly, he expressed reservations about the House’s representation but acknowledged the parliamentary responsibilities shared …

BEIJING (Internews): Chief minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif introduced Punjab’s important position in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its economic advantages to the Chinese investors during the event held in Guangzhou. According to the details, Maryam delivered the remarks at the “China-Pakistan Punjab Province Roundtable Conference” co-organized by Q Group (qgroup.co) and Beijing Overseas Returnees Association for Science and Technology. …

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja has admitted to the slow internet speed in Pakistan, promising improvement with the adoption of the upcoming “fabrication policy and the rollout of 5G technology. Speaking at the National Broadband Network Forum in Islamabad, the minister acknowledged the existing connectivity challenges, emphasising that faster internet services are critical for the country’s digital …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s efforts to curb illegal foreign-exchange trading have led to a significant boost in remittances, according to a report by Bloomberg. Citing data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the report revealed that remittances surged by 34 per cent to $14.8 billion in the five months leading up to November, compared to the same period last year. The …

Online fraud cases are on the rise in South Punjab as advanced technology and social media misuse create opportunities for scammers. In 2024, over 1,500 cases of online fraud have been reported in Multan, with unsuspecting citizens frequently targeted. One such victim, Muhammad Daniyal, shared his ordeal: “I ordered a cellphone online, and the vendor promised delivery within five days. …

GWADAR, Pakistan: Nadia Akram Ali’s life took a devastating turn when a health worker informed her that her five-year-old son was showing symptoms of acute typhoid fever and urgently needed to be hospitalized to save his life in the Gwadar district of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. “I felt utterly helpless. I didn’t have the resources to take him to big …

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) cut its key policy rate by 200 basis points to 13 per cent on Monday, for a fifth straight reduction since June as the headline inflation declined to 4.9 per cent year-on-year basis in November 2024. The new rate will be effective from December 17 (Tuesday), SBP’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) said in …

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has vacated the stay order regarding the execution of the death sentences of five ex-navy officers, who were sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial. These ex-naval officers were court-martialed for their alleged involvement in the attack on the Karachi-based Naval Dockyard. IHC judge Justice Babar Sattar heard the plea of the ex-navy officers …

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Maj-Gen (retd) Hafeezur Rehman on Monday claimed that no Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been blocked in the country. Speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad, Rehman said, “We have not blocked any VPNs to date. I earlier told the National Assembly that while we have the ability to block VPNs, we have no intention …

A policeman was martyred and a polio worker injured when unidentified attackers targeted a polio team in the Banda Daud Shah tehsil of Karak district on Monday. The incident occurred in the Shakarkhel area of Teri police precincts, where unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on the team during an ongoing anti-polio campaign. According to the Kohat DIG, the martyred policeman, identified …

Monday marks the tenth anniversary of the Army Public School (APS) tragedy, a day that remains etched in Pakistan’s history as one of its darkest. On December 16, 2014, six terrorists from the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban launched a cowardly attack on APS, resulting in the deaths of 132 students and 17 staff members. The tragedy not only devastated families but also revitalized the …

Another devastating incident of human trafficking has claimed lives as a boat carrying illegal migrants capsized near a southern Greek island. The tragic accident resulted in the deaths of five Pakistani nationals, with dozens reported missing. Some survivors have been rescued, according to initial reports. President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have expressed deep …

Senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, journalist, and writer Siddiq-ul-Farooq passed away in Islamabad after battling a prolonged kidney ailment. The funeral prayers for the late Siddiq-ul-Farooq will be offered tomorrow at 11 am at the H-11 Cemetery in Islamabad. A Life of Service Siddiq-ul-Farooq, a seasoned journalist and author of two books, joined the PML-N in 1993 and remained …

The Federal Inves­tigation Agency (FIA) has initiated action against over 150 individuals — including journalists, vloggers and anchorperson Harmeet Singh — for allegedly promoting a false narrative against state institutions, particularly the security agencies, over the Nov 26 crackdown on PTI supporters in Islamabad. The FIA Cybercrime Wing has so far arrested over 20 social media activists across the country for controversial posts about …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar has reiterated that dialogue is essential for resolving political disputes in Pakistan, a stance previously taken by the party’s faounding chairman Imran Khan as well. Speaking to the media at the District Courts, Gohar said, “Imran Khan has called for negotiations before, and dialogue should definitely take place,” Express News reported. He emphasised that …

The World Bank has approved $240 million in funding for the Second Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP-2) to enhance water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Karachi. The project aims to provide safely managed WASH services to nearly 16 million people with improved water supply and to 7.5 million with sanitation services by 2030. “Safely managed WASH …

A Pakistani delegation, including members of parliament and a psychiatrist, visited Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in her high-security Texas prison. The visit, which lasted for nearly three hours, was conducted following instructions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the meeting, Dr. Aafia shared the challenges she faces in prison and expressed hope for justice. The delegation’s visit is part of Pakistan’s continued efforts …

A lion from Kasur underwent a successful jaw surgery in Daska after sustaining injuries in a fight with another lion. The operation, performed by renowned livestock surgeon Dr Rizwan Bashir, involved the installation of an iron plate to repair the broken jaw. Following the surgery, the lion began eating normally. Dr Rizwan Bashir stated, “The lion is now able to …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced the Fee-Less Customs Assessment (FCA) system in Karachi as part of its broader reform programme, approved by Prime Minister of Pakistan. The system, effective from midnight on 15 December, mandates that all import declarations filed at Karachi’s Appraisal Collectorates will be routed to the Central Appraisal Unit (CAU). The CAU, established under …

The government has decided to call joint session of Parliament, with the possibility of reintroducing the controversial Madrassa Bill. A summary to summon the joint session has been sent to the President of Pakistan for approval, with the approval expected soon. The joint session is likely to be held on 17 December, sources said. The Madrassa Bill has been at the …