President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid rich tribute to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Air Force Day, acknowledging its historic sacrifices, professionalism, and decisive role in safeguarding the nation’s airspace. In his statement, President Zardari said the PAF played a crucial role in the “Marka e Haq,  Bunyan un Marsoos,” giving a befitting reply to the …

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday gave his approval to the Anti-Dumping Duties Amendment Bill 2025, which provides legal clarity on the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Chinese-aided projects. Following presidential assent, the amended law will take effect retroactively from July 1, 2020. The measure ensures that duties imposed on projects under Chinese assistance carry a clear legal framework. Background …

The Power Division has released its latest report on the restoration of electricity in flood-affected regions, confirming that more than 1.36 million out of 1.64 million affected consumers have had their power supply restored. According to the report, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) faced major disruptions as 27 grids and 80 feeders in Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Sargodha, …

KARACHI: A five-member team from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has arrived in Pakistan for a crucial audit of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), raising hopes for the resumption of direct flights between Pakistan and the United States after several years. According to media reports, the US team landed in Karachi on a foreign airline flight from Dubai. The …

LAHORE: Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shehrbano Naqvi has earned a historic honor by being selected for the prestigious Asia 21 Next Generation Fellowship. She is the first female police officer from Pakistan to be chosen for this fellowship. According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, Shehrbano Naqvi was selected for the Class of 2025 in recognition of her dedicated efforts …

LAHORE: Senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has confirmed that the death toll from the devastating floods in Punjab has risen to 56. Briefing the media in Lahore, the minister said that the floods have destroyed crops on 1.496 million acres of land. She added that since August 22, over 2.2 million people have been moved to safe locations under one …

LAHORE: Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, Irfan Ali Kathia, has confirmed that 25 districts and 4,155 villages across Punjab have been affected by the recent floods. Speaking to the media in Lahore, the DG said that since August 26, floods have caused 56 deaths in Punjab due to different incidents. He noted that between 60,000 …

In response to the ongoing flood situation, the United States of America through Army Central Command (US ARCENT) has extended humanitarian assistance for the flood-affected population of Pakistan. According to ISPR, a total of six flights carrying relief consignments are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan, comprising essential items including tents, dewatering pumps and generators. The first flight arrived today. The …

The flood situation across Punjab has worsened, with rising water levels at major rivers and barrages causing devastation in dozens of districts. At Head Panjnad, the water flow, which had earlier decreased from 310,000 cusecs to 206,000 cusecs, rose again to 306,000 cusecs on Friday, raising fears of a massive flood wave. Rising water levels across dams and rivers According …

On Defence Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged to modernize Pakistan’s defence capabilities and take decisive action against foreign-sponsored threats. In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz said September 6 marked “a day of bravery, unity and determination” as the country commemorates six decades since its armed forces, with public support, repelled external aggression. “Our brave armed forces, with the full …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): Chinese Embassy Charge d’Affaires Shi Yuanqiang has said that the media’s role is significant in communicating bilateral relations and projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He expressed these views while addressing participants of the training titled “Capacity Building Workshop for Journalists and Social Media Influencers from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on CPEC Reporting and Media Ethics”, which …

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan in the weekly briefing on Friday, shared details of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State (CHS) Summit and the SCO CHS Plus meeting in Tianjin, China, held from August 31 to September 1, 2025. The SCO CHS Summit brought together Heads of …

ISLAMABAD: The National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) of the NDMA has issued a flash flood and urban flooding alert for parts of Punjab and Islamabad, warning of heavy rains between September 7 and 9. According to the alert, intense rainfall may trigger urban flooding in Murree, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Chiniot, Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, …

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar have reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the people of Palestine during a meeting with a high-level Palestinian delegation on Friday in Islamabad. The delegation was led by Advisor to the President and Supreme Judge, H.E. Mahmoud Alhabash. In the meeting, Dar said Pakistan stood firmly with the Palestinian people …

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar told the National Assembly on Friday that the recent spell of torrential rains and floods has claimed 884 lives and destroyed over 9,200 homes across Pakistan. Winding up a debate on the flood situation, the minister revealed that 1,180 people have been injured, while 6,180 livestock perished in the disaster. …

ISLAMABAD: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has paid glowing tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces and people on the occasion of Defence Day of Pakistan 6 September, terming the 1965 war as a symbol of faith, resilience, and unity not only for Pakistan but also for the people of Kashmir. In his media statement, APHC’s Secretary Information, Mushtaq Ahmad Butt, …

ISLAMABAD: The Power Division has released its latest report on the restoration of electricity in flood-affected regions, confirmed that more than 1.3 million out of 1.63 million affected consumers have had their power supply restored. According to the report, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) areas including Swat, Buner, Shangla, Swabi, and D.I. Khan were among the hardest hit with …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of religious affairs with a focus on interfaith harmony, scholarly exchanges, and joint initiatives. Bangladeshi President’s Adviser on Religious Affairs, A.F.M. Khalid Hussain met Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf in Islamabad along with a delegation. The Bangladeshi side expressed deep sorrow over the loss of …

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has dismissed the bail petition of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official Tahir Hassan, who was arrested on charges of facilitating drug smuggling. A two-member bench comprising Justice Hassan Rizvi and Justice Shehzad Malik heard the case. During proceedings, Justice Rizvi remarked that Saudi authorities had intercepted a woman at Jeddah Airport with 35,000 narcotic …

LAHORE: The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued an alert ahead of the 10th spell of monsoon rains, warning of heavy downpours across the province from September 6 to 9. According to the PDMA spokesperson, strong thunderstorms and heavy rains are expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujrat, and Sialkot. Showers are also forecast …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has identified nine major shortcomings in Pakistan’s public financial management system, warning that weak budget monitoring and governance gaps are undermining fiscal discipline. The government, however, assured the lender that it is taking concrete steps to improve transparency and curb corruption. IMF report highlights major concerns According to the IMF’s Corruption and Diagnostic Assessment Report, …

LAHORE: Director General of Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali Kathia, has revealed that the devastating floods have inundated nearly 4,000 villages and submerged around 1.3 million acres of agricultural land across the province. Speaking to a private TV channel, Kathia said the situation in Gujrat remains particularly challenging due to relentless rainfall. “Unexpected downpours in Gujrat are …

A dramatic scene unfolded in the Supreme Court as a drug trafficking suspect, Mazhar Iqbal, was arrested inside the courtroom after withdrawing his bail application. His lawyer claimed the suspect feared being killed in a staged police encounter if taken into custody outside. Lawyer raises fear of fake encounter During the hearing, the defense lawyer argued that his client faced …

Pakistan is facing a worsening flood threat after India released large volumes of water into the Sutlej, Tawi, and Chenab rivers, triggering emergency alerts across Punjab. Authorities have warned that a large volume of water is likely to flow into the Sutlej and Tawi rivers today also. They warn that water levels continue to rise dangerously, putting lives and property at …

Islamabad: Political turbulence inside the National Assembly deepened on Monday as 28 more lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) resigned from the membership of various standing committees. With the latest move, the total number of PTI members quitting committee work has risen to 47. According to parliamentary sources, the resignations were formally submitted to the Speaker’s Office. The lawmakers cited lack …

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ombudsman, Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, has summoned the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, SSP Traffic, and Director General Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on September 4 over unsatisfactory reporting on vehicle environmental clearance at D-Chowk. Registrar Muhammad Saqib Khan has issued notices to the concerned officials after the Ombudsman expressed displeasure at their failure to submit a satisfactory report during the …

LAHORE: India has released more water into the Sutlej River without formally notifying Pakistan through the Indus Water Commission, instead using irregular channels of communication. The development has triggered a high flood alert in nine districts of Punjab, while authorities fear very high flood level in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers until September 5. According to the Director General …

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has intensified relief operations in flood-affected areas, ensuring the delivery of essential food supplies in coordination with provincial governments. According to NDMA’s media wing, an eight-truck convoy carrying relief packages was dispatched to Chiniot on Tuesday. Each ration bag weighs 46 kilograms and contains 22 essential food items. Relief supplies have already been …

ISLAMABAD: The Power Division has issued an update on the restoration of electricity in flood-affected areas, confirming that out of 48 damaged grids and 455 feeders, 170 have been fully restored and 256 partially restored. According to the report, PESCO areas of Swat, Buner, Shangla, Swabi, and D.I. Khan saw 12 grids and 91 feeders hit. Of these, 85 feeders …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here on Tuesday. Xi said that as global changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a quicker pace, a strong China-Pakistan relationship is conducive to safeguarding regional peace and development. The two sides should accelerate building an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the …

BEIJING (Internews): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on an official visit to China, met His Excellency President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, earlier today. During their most warm and extremely cordial meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment and resolve to further strengthen the …

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to set up an autonomous Climate Action Board to strengthen policy-making and practical measures against climate change. A draft law in this regard will soon be presented in the KP Assembly. According to the draft, the board will operate with full independence and decision-making powers. It will comprise eight administrative secretaries along …

Islamabad: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has signed an agreement with the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resource Research & Development Board. (BBSHRRDB) to provide skill training to 3,000 deserving beneficiaries under the Benazir Hunarmand Programme. Under the partnership, BBSHRRDB will initially train BISP beneficiaries in various vocational fields, equipping them with market-driven skills for meaningful employment and entrepreneurship. Speaking …

Rawalpindi: The Punjab Highway Patrol (PHP) Rawalpindi Region has released its performance report for August 2025, highlighting major achievements under the supervision of Regional Officer DSP Muhammad Irfan Butt. According to the report, police registered 85 FIRs, recovering a pistol with five rounds, two stolen vehicles, one motorcycle, and liquor. During the month, 43 proclaimed offenders and 42 court absconders …

Islamabad: The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has intensified its enforcement campaign on the directions of Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Captain (R) Hamza Humayun, issuing thousands of challans and taking strict action against traffic rule violators across the federal capital. According to the weekly performance report, action was taken against 2,236 vehicles and motorcycles during the past week. A total of …

Tianjin: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), stressing dialogue, peace, and regional connectivity as the way forward for South Asia. Speaking at the 25th SCO Heads of State Council Meeting, the prime minister highlighting Pakistan’s support for multilateralism, said the SCO remained a platform that best represents Pakistan’s abiding commitment …

Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi police have finalized foolproof security arrangements for the ongoing four-day polio vaccination drive, deploying nearly 1,800 officers and personnel across the district. According to the police spokesperson, security has been provided to 554 polio teams, as well as 304 transit points and 207 fixed centers. To ensure smooth operations, police stations’ mobile units, the Elite Squad, and …

Islamabad: The Ministry of Energy’s Power Division has issued a detailed report on electricity restoration efforts in flood-affected regions, showing significant progress but warning that full recovery will take more time. According to the report, a total of 48 grids and 437 feeders were impacted by recent floods across the country. Out of these, 169 feeders have been fully restored, …

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday paid glowing tribute to Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on his fourth death anniversary, calling him a “symbol of sacrifice and steadfastness” in the struggle for the right to self-determination. In a statement issued by the Presidency, President Zardari said Geelani devoted his entire life to the Kashmiri people’s struggle against Indian …

ISLAMABAD: A powerful earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and several districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) – including Peshawar, Mansehra and Abbottabad – in the early hours of Monday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The PMD reported that the Seismic Network of Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded the 6.0 magnitude earthquake at 12:08 on September …