GWADAR, Pakistan: Saiba Asghar Ali, an eighth-grade student at the China-Pakistan Government Middle School in Faqeer colony, Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province, dreamed of becoming a doctor since childhood. Due to financial hindrances and lack of education opportunities for girls in her colony, it was a goal she feared might never be achievable. “There was no proper school in the area …

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday warned that his party would stage street protests across the country if the federal government didn’t ensure early implementation of the madressah registration bill passed by parliament. He told a presser at his residence in Shorkot area here that he rejected the federal government’s decision on seminary registration with the education ministry. Mr Fazl …

The New Zealand government said on Friday it will pass legislation next year to prevent entities that “do not share the country’s values” from using it as a base to monitor satellites. The South Pacific nation’s location and clear skies make it a good place to launch and monitor satellites from, with the European Space Agency among those keeping an …

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) Constitutional Bench has allowed military courts to issue verdicts; however, the implementation of sentences or the release of individuals will depend on the outcome of the pending appeals. Supreme Court allowed military courts to pronounce verdicts on 85 accused. The verdict reads that those accused who can get relief in their sentences should be …

The seven-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of intra-court appeals against the decision to try civilians in military courts until Friday (tomorrow). The federal government lawyer Khawaja Haris argued that the Army Act is applicable to civilians in certain circumstances and that the Supreme Court does not have the authority to nullify the provisions of the …

Newly surfaced proposed changes to the country’s cybercrime laws on Wednesday specified that violations could result in seven years of prison term, with fines hiked up to Rs2 million. Last week, Internews reported that the government was planning ‘wholesale’ changes to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (Peca), which would see the formation of a new authority with powers to block online content …

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday revised its forecast for Pakistan’s economic growth in the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) slightly upwards, projecting it at 3 per cent. In an Asian Development Outlook (ADO) report issued by the Manila-based lending agency in September, Pakistan’s economic growth had been estimated to be struggling at 2.8pc in FY25, subject to domestic and external …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to withdraw the recently proposed amendments to the Baggage Rules 2006, which included a complete ban on bringing goods in commercial quantities from abroad. Sources revealed on Tuesday that the proposed amendments, which sparked widespread concerns, have been shelved temporarily following directives from the FBR chairman. The draft notification of the amendment, …

The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench heard the phone-tapping review petitions filed by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Yousaf Raza Gillani in 1996. Justice Jamal Mandokhel emphasized that the outcome could impact several pending cases. An additional attorney general outlined the 2013 law allowing phone tapping by ISI and IB under judicial oversight. Justice Mazhar stated that the law did …

A constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday conducted a hearing on the implementation of the landmark Asghar Khan case decision. During the proceedings, Additional Attorney General informed the court that the FIA had closed its inquiry into the case, stating that no evidence of money distribution among politicians had been found. Responding to this, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi …

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Acting U.S. Ambassador Natalie Baker to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, both sides agreed on U.S. assistance in modernizing Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to match the capabilities of the FBI. Minister Naqvi highlighted the long-standing and strong relationship between Pakistan and the U.S., …

The petition challenging the ban on the social media app X will be heard by Chief Justice Aamir Farooq in the Islamabad High Court on February 6, 2025. The petition, which was last heard on April 17, 2024, has faced several delays. Initially scheduled for hearings on May 2 and June 11, 2024, the case could not proceed on those …

The Supreme Court has formally admitted the petition filed by the PTI chairman seeking a judicial inquiry into the May 9 incidents for a full hearing. A constitutional bench of the apex court overturned the registrar’s office’s objections to the petition and directed the office to assign a case number and schedule the hearing. The PTI chairman was represented by …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached out to his Lebanese counterpart to seek assistance in evacuating Pakistani nationals stranded in Syria amid the ongoing crisis, according to an official statement. During a conversation with the Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Shehbaz Sharif highlighted that all Syrian airports were closed, hence Pakistanis in Syria could only be evacuated through Lebanon. “All airports …

NORTH WAZIRISTAN: At least 13 terrorists were reportedly killed and several others injured as militant hideouts near the Afghan border were targeted by security forces in the North Waziristan tribal district, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Although there was no official word from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), sources said 13 militants, including a key commander of the outla­wed …

ISLAMABAD: The Political Coordination Committee of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the government committee are expected to meet today (Monday) to take up the issues related to both the parties. The PPP and the government formed the committees after PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his disappointment and conveyed serious reservations to the PMLN for ignoring the PPP in consultations …

All individuals arrested for violating the presidential ordinance in Azad Jammu and Kashmir have been released unconditionally. Among the released were Sardar Liaqat Hayat Khan, leader of the Jammu Kashmir National Awami Party, and other activists. Their release was met with celebrations as Sardar Sagheer Khan Advocate, Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, and a large crowd of citizens …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Federal Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to review progress on the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. During the meeting, the PCB chairman briefed the prime minister on developments regarding the tournament. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Naqvi’s principled stance on the Champions Trophy and expressed full confidence in his leadership. “Your …

Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on Saturday firmly denied speculations about his resignation, stating he remains committed to his judicial responsibilities and reform initiatives. Addressing reporters in Islamabad, the senior Supreme Court judge said, “These are all speculations. I will not run away and will continue to do the work I can to improve the system.” The apex court …

ISLAMABAD: The New Gwadar International Airport is set to commence operations by the end of December, Acting Director General of the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed, said on Friday. During his visit to the airport, the officer was briefed about the airport’s cutting-edge features and the promising business and investment opportunities it is expected to generate …

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has commended Energy China’s unwavering commitment for successful implementation of Azad Pattan Hydro power project in Pakistan. Federal minister held a meeting with General Manager of Energy China International Group on Friday during which it was discussed that the group has delivered 21 Mega projects in Pakistan with a …

The Judicial Commission meeting, chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, has begun to discuss the appointment of nine additional judges for the Peshawar High Court. The names under consideration for the positions include three District and Session Judges—Kalim Arshad, Farah Jamshaid, and Inamullah Khan—and six lawyers, including Junaid Anwar, Mudassar Amir, and Aurangzeb. Additionally, the names of lawyers Jawad Ihsanullah, …

Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir presided over the 84th Formation Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ). The two-day event brought together corps commanders, principal staff officers, and formation commanders of the Pakistan Army to discuss operational readiness and evolving security challenges, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The conference began with a fateha and …

The fate of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy –  scheduled to be held in Pakistan – hangs in the balance as the International Cricket Council (ICC) convenes for a crucial board meeting today. The decision, anticipated to bring clarity to the event’s future, will be attended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi who has left for Dubai this …

ISLAMABAD: The Chinese embassy in Pakistan has announced that only land port between China and Pakistan, the Khunjerab Pass has begun operating year-round from December 1st, 2024. The statement released by the embassy on Wednesday, stated that this development marks a significant milestone in enhancing trade connectivity and fostering people-to-people exchanges between China and Pakistan. According to the details, the …

Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb addressed the PMRC conference Wednesday, shedding light on Pakistan’s significant economic achievements over the past 12 to 14 months. He highlighted that the country had successfully moved away from a dual deficit and has been reporting budget surpluses for several consecutive months. Minister Aurangzeb further pointed out that foreign exchange reserves, which had previously fallen …

The Finance Ministry has initiated groundwork to secure the next $1.1 billion tranche of the $7 billion bailout program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Pakistan is aiming to meet the strict conditions of the Fund for the first economic review, with an IMF mission scheduled to visit the country in early 2025, sources revealed. According to official documents, the …

Internet speed has started improving in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, however, slow internet continues to disrupt daily life and work in several other cities, including Lahore. Students, freelancers, and businesses remain severely affected by the ongoing internet slowdown, with many facing difficulties accessing social media and online platforms. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has yet to identify …

Ac onstitutional bench of the Supreme Court hearing the petition challenging the appointment of Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Justice Alia Neelum has been dissolved. Justices Aminuddin Khan and Jamal Mandokhel recused themselves from the case, citing their roles as members of the Judicial Commission, which was involved in her appointment. Justice Aminuddin Khan stated that, as a …

The finance ministry issued a notification revising petroleum product prices for the next fortnight, starting from December 1 (Sunday). According to details, petrol became costlier by Rs3.72 per litre, setting the new price at Rs252.10 per litre. High-speed diesel (HSD) saw an increase of Rs3.29 per litre, bringing its new price to Rs258.43 per litre. Conversely, kerosene became cheaper by …

KURRAM: The ongoing tribal clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s District Kurram have resulted in two more deaths and left 10 others injured in fresh firing incidents. Police said that the violence, now in its tenth consecutive day, has so far claimed 124 lives and left 178 people injured. The Kurram region is facing a communication blackout, with mobile and internet services …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi has warned that ‘imposing a ban on PTI would be a significant mistake.’ Speaking to the media during his appearance at an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Qureshi expressed concern over reports about the potential imposition of Governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), calling it tantamount to sowing division and hatred within the province. Qureshi …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s headline inflation is expected to ease to 4.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in November, marking a significant drop from the 29.2 per cent YoY recorded during the same period in 2023. This also reflects a stark decline from the 7.2 per cent YoY inflation seen in November 2022, bringing the country’s inflation rate to its lowest point since …

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur has sacked Mashal Yousafzai from the office of special assistant to KP CM. The notification was issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat regarding her dismissal. Later Mashal Yousafzai also confirmed her sacking, saying she was de-notified from the position on the basis of her statements in an interview given to …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has incurred a staggering loss of approximately Rs 220 billion over the past four and a half years due to the ban on flight operations, particularly on European routes. According to sources within the Privatization Commission, the national flag carrier has been severely impacted by the restrictions. The ban on PIA flights to European destinations …

Authorities have temporarily closed popular tourist spots Naran and Babusar Top due to heavy snowfall and hazardous road conditions. The Deputy Commissioner of Mansehra issued an advisory urging tourists to avoid traveling to Naran, Babusar Top, and surrounding higher-altitude areas, citing the unsafe condition of roads that have been rendered slippery by the ongoing snowstorm. “We advise all visitors to …

In a major breakthrough for Pakistan’s aviation industry, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has officially lifted the ban on Pakistani airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), allowing them to resume direct flights to Europe. The decision marks a turning point after a three-year suspension, which began in 2020 following concerns over licensing and safety issues. Defense and Aviation Minister …

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said “No talks are taking place between the government and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)”. The FO spokesperson made this statement in a weekly briefing, saying that the government has said on several occasions that talks with TTP would go against thousands of affected families. She said that during the visit of …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended the Anti-Terrorism Court’s decision regarding the two-day physical remand of senior journalist Matiullah Jan. The journalist has now been shifted to judicial remand. A division bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the petition challenging the Anti-Terrorism Court’s order. Advocate Riyasat Ali Azad argued that the …

The Khunjerab border, a vital land link between Pakistan and China, has been officially closed for all public traffic, trade, and tourism. The route has been closed by both sides for the next four months under a bilateral agreement. The closure, effective from November 30, will remain in place until March 30, 2025, as both countries prepare for harsh winter …