The flood situation in Punjab is gradually normalizing as water levels in major rivers recede, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). However, the United Nations has warned that Pakistan faces a “grave humanitarian crisis,” with millions of people displaced by record monsoon rains and flooding. Water flow in Punjab rivers returning to normal A PDMA spokesperson said water …

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Pakistan’s recently signed defense agreement with Saudi Arabia will extend beyond bilateral cooperation, opening doors for other regional countries to benefit from the pact. In an interview with Arab media, Asif stressed that the accord carried no secret clauses and reflected mutual trust and shared security interests. Scope of defense agreement Khawaja Asif …

RIYADH: The signing of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Wednesday marks a significant turning point in regional security, analysts said. Under the agreement, any attack on either country will be considered “an aggression against both,” the Saudi Press Agency reported. The agreement comes at a critical time, as two years of war in Gaza …

BEIJING (Internews): Yangtze River Civilization Forum was successfully convened in Chongqing. Centered around the theme “Bridging Rivers and Seas, Sharing Wisdom of Civilizations,” the forum gathered renowned experts and scholars from both China and abroad. Attendees engaged in in-depth discussions focusing on the preservation and inheritance of Yangtze River civilization, high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and mutual …

URUMQI (Internews): President Asif Ali Zardari visited the Urban Operations and Management Centre of Urumqi where he was received by the Mayor of Urumqi and the Vice Governor of Xinjiang. The President and his delegation were briefed about the Centre, which digitally links more than 30 municipal departments and delivers over 200 services to citizens. Officials explained how the Centre …

Islamabad is gearing up for the arrival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) review mission on September 25, with officials confirming that Pakistan has already fulfilled most of the 51 conditions tied to the $7 billion loan program. According to official documents, Pakistan has successfully implemented several major IMF requirements. These include the adjustment of gas tariffs on a six-monthly …

  The federal government has received initial estimates of flood losses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, with damages reaching Rs 63.79 billion, according to official sources. The devastating monsoon floods have also ravaged Punjab’s agricultural belt, where rice and sugarcane crops have been hit the hardest. Initial damage assessments Sources said reconstruction needs in the three …

The federal government is preparing to introduce a mini-budget aimed at raising at least Rs50 billion to support flood victims’ rehabilitation and address a widening tax shortfall. Officials confirmed that new levies on luxury items and cigarettes are under consideration. The proposed mini-budget seeks to impose additional taxes on luxury vehicles, cigarettes, and imported electronic goods. A levy equivalent to …

According to the report, a total of 51 grid stations and 543 feeders were impacted nationwide. Out of these, 320 feeders have been fully restored, while 215 have been partially restored. Under the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), 28 grid stations and 81 feeders were affected. So far, 38 feeders have been fully restored and 42 partially restored. Power for …

SHANGHAI (Internews): President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday met Yin Tongyue, Chairman of the Board of Chery Holding Co., Ltd. and Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., in Shanghai. During the meeting, President Zardari assured the Chairman that the Government of Pakistan would provide policy support for new energy vehicles, electric buses and local production of components. The president encouraged Chery to …

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has said that as a nuclear power and a member of the Muslim Ummah, the country will fulfill its responsibilities to protect regional peace and sovereignty. He made the remarks in an interview with Al Jazeera, strongly condemning Israel’s strikes on Qatar after Lebanon and Syria. Dar stressed that there is no justification for targeting …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the immediate removal of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman ruling that his appointment was not made in accordance with the law. Justice Babar Sattar announced the decision while issuing a reserved judgment spanning 99 pages. The court accepted a petition challenging the PTA Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman appointment, observing that …

The Meteorological Department has forecast more rains across Pakistan starting tonight and continuing until September 19, raising fears of further flooding and landslides. Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also warned of potential glacier outbursts in the northern districts as the country continues to grapple with devastating monsoon losses. Fresh weather forecasts across provinces According to the Meteorological Department, humid winds …

SHANGHAI, (Internews): President Asif Ali Zardari today met Mr Wu Lei, Chairman of Shanghai Electric, and later visited the company’s facilities in Shanghai. He was accompanied by First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Mr Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Senator Saleem Mandviwalla. The Chairman of Shanghai Electric gave a briefing on the company’s projects in Pakistan, including …

 The floodwaters, advancing from South Punjab, have now started causing destruction in Sindh as hundreds of villages in the riverine (Kacha) areas have been submerged. Due to the continuous rise in the water level of the Indus River, pressure on protective embankments is increasing while several more villages have been submerged. At Kotri Barrage, a low-level flood situation persists, while …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday left for Qatar to participate in an emergency Arab-Islamic summit convened after Israeli airstrikes on Doha and amid escalating tensions over Palestine. The summit, hosted in Doha under the auspices of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), brings together heads of state, governments, and senior officials from across the Muslim world. According to …

BEIJING, (Internews): President Asif Ali Zardari’s ongoing official visit to China has been long-expected by the Chinese people, and this visit bears great significance. This was stated by Prof. Cheng Xizhong, Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Institute, a non-governmental Chinese think-tank on diplomacy and international studies based in Beijing. During the first leg of his visit, President Zardari attended …

BEIJING, (Internews): President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday reaffirmed that Pakistan and China would continue to expand collaboration in defence production and aviation, further deepening their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. He said the J-10 and JF-17 had greatly strengthened Pakistan Air Force, a fact clearly demonstrated during May 2025’s Ma‘raka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. On the 128th day since the ceasefire …

BEIJING, (Internews): President Asif Ali Zardari Sunday travelled from Chengdu to Mianyang by a high-speed train, covering the journey in around half an hour. During the journey the president was briefed on the train’s operations, service, safety systems and environmental advantages, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release. The president was accompanied by Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil …

Pakistan’s battle against polio has suffered a major setback after international donors slashed funding by up to 20 percent, forcing health authorities to revise their eradication strategy and set a 12-month deadline to wipe out the crippling disease. The cut comes as the United States reduces contributions to global health organisations, affecting the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in Geneva, …

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has released its latest damage assessment report, revealing the scale of destruction caused by ongoing floods across the province. According to PDMA, over 4,700 villages (mauzas) have been affected due to flooding in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers. The Chenab River remains the worst hit, with 2,475 villages inundated, followed by 1,458 …

Southern Punjab continues to face a devastating flood situation as hundreds of villages in Shujaabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Ahmadpur Sharqia, Rajanpur, and Vehari remain submerged, displacing tens of thousands of residents and destroying vast stretches of farmland. According to the Federal Flood Commission, the Chenab River at Panjnad Headworks is experiencing a “very high flood level,” with forecasts warning that …

Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which claimed the lives of several Pakistani soldiers. Both nations extended condolences to the families of the martyrs and expressed unwavering support for Pakistan in its fight against terrorism. Saudi Arabia’s condemnation In a statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Riyadh expressed deep regret over …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has informed the government of Pakistan about its position regarding electricity bill relief for flood victims and a proposed aid package for farmers. According to Finance Ministry sources, the IMF mission will carefully review budget expenditures and emergency measures before approving the next tranche of funding. Relief for flood victims and farmers Pakistan has sought …

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani announced on Saturday that around 4.1 million girls in Sindh will be given the cervical cancer vaccine (HPV vaccine) as part of a nationwide campaign starting September 15 and continuing until September 27. Speaking as the chief guest at an Advocacy Seminar on HPV Vaccination organized by the District Health Office South, …

RAWALPINDI: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed that from 10–13 September, thirty-five Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy group Fitna al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. According to ISPR, on reported presence of Khwarij, an intelligence based operation was conducted by the Security Forces in Bajaur District. During the conduct of operation, own troops …

ISLAMABAD: The District and Sessions Court of Islamabad has fixed September 20 as the date to formally indict Umar Hayat, the prime suspect in the murder case of TikToker Sana Yusuf. The hearing was conducted by Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, who handed over copies of the case challan to the accused. The police later took back …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has approved the Foreigner (Long Term Residency) Order, 2025, a major step under the country’s investment visa policy aimed at attracting global investors and skilled professionals. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Long-Term Residency Policy, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, held a telephone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed. During the call, both leaders strongly condemned Israel’s unprovoked and illegal strikes on Doha and expressed solidarity with the victims of the attacks. The two foreign ministers also discussed …

ISLAMABAD: The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) is continuing its emergency relief efforts in flood-hit areas of Punjab, reaching thousands of displaced families with food, hygiene kits, and medical care. According to TİKA, relief operations are ongoing in the districts of Kasur, Jhang, Bahawalnagar, and Muzaffargarh, where hot meals and Family Hygiene Kits are being distributed to families affected …

LASBELA: In a landmark development for the education sector of Balochistan, Lasbela has become the first district in the province to reactivate all of its previously closed government schools. According to officials, a total of 72 non-functional schools have been reopened, ensuring that no government school in the district remains closed. The initiative, led by MPA Zarain Khan Magsi with …

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) has released its latest report on electricity restoration efforts in flood-affected regions across Pakistan, showing significant progress in reconnecting millions of consumers to the national grid. According to the report, a total of 51 grid stations and 542 feeders were impacted nationwide. So far, 307 feeders have been fully restored and 227 partially …

Twelve soldiers embraced martyrdom while 35 Indian-sponsored terrorists were killed during two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday. According to ISPR, the operations were conducted between September 10 and 13 based on intelligence reports. In the first operation in Bajaur, security forces launched an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on confirmed reports of terrorist presence. …

The federal government has decided to shift the headquarters of the Federal Constabulary (FC) from Peshawar to Islamabad in a major administrative reshuffle aimed at improving operational efficiency. According to a press release from the Interior Ministry, the decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at CDA Headquarters. The meeting was attended by …

Petroleum prices in Pakistan are expected to increase from September 16, as the oil industry has proposed a temporary hike for 15 days. The proposed adjustments cover petrol, high-speed diesel, kerosene, and light diesel. According to industry sources, the following price adjustments have been suggested: Petrol: Increase by Rs 1.54 per liter High-Speed Diesel (HSD): Increase by Rs 4.79 per …

Punjab’s devastating super flood has engulfed 28 districts, affecting over 4.5 million people and submerging thousands of villages, according to PDMA DG Irfan Ali Kathia. Speaking at a press conference in Bahawalpur on Saturday morning, Kathia said this was the largest rescue operation in the province’s history. Punjab flood: Millions displaced, hundreds of villages submerged Kathia confirmed that 4,744 villages …

In a landmark development for the education sector of Balochistan, Lasbela has become the first district in the province to reactivate all of its previously closed government schools. According to officials, a total of 72 non-functional schools have been reopened, ensuring that no government school in the district remains closed. The initiative, led by MPA Zarain Khan Magsi with the …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Finance to initiate talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a possible complete waiver or some relief of electricity bills for one month in areas hit hard by recent floods. Relief for flood victims across cities, villages Official sources confirmed that the proposed relief will not be limited to rural …

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed strong solidarity with the people of South Punjab, who are among the hardest hit by the devastating floods. In a statement issued from the Presidency, the President conveyed his deep sympathy to families displaced from their homes and those whose livelihoods have been destroyed by the calamity. He assured that the government will …

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) has issued its latest report on electricity restoration in flood-hit regions, confirming that power supply has been restored for 1.45 million out of 1.75 million affected consumers across the country. According to the report on Friday, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) areas including Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Sargodha, Mianwali and Dera …