ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan and China are working to further strengthen economic ties, particularly in the fields of agriculture, information technology, mining, and infrastructure, according to a statement by Prime Minister’s Office. Speaking on Friday to the representatives of foreign companies operating in Pakistan, including those from China, in the country’s southern port city …

ISLAMABAD: At least three soldiers and four terrorists were killed in fire exchanges on Friday in Khyber district of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said the Pakistani military. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement that the fire exchanges took place between security forces and the terrorists at three different locations …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that his country is committed to completely eradicating poliovirus by 2025 and special measures are afoot to further enhance the vaccination coverage. “A whole-of-government approach has been adopted to eradicate polio. We are doing our best to eradicate this deadly virus by 2025,” said the prime minister while chairing a review meeting …

Sindh Governor Mohammed Kamran Khan Tessori announced that renowned singer Atif Aslam, among others, will perform at the upcoming Independence Day concert. Speaking at a press conference, he highlighted that Pakistan will celebrate Independence Day on August 14 with great enthusiasm. Tessori added that the record-breaking event will feature 100,000 people singing the national anthem to demonstrate their patriotism. According …

PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that he has been active in politics for 40 years, but no cases were registered against him for the first 39 years of his career. In an informal conversation with journalists at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, he, however, lamented that dozens of cases have been filed against him in the past …

Financial irregularities worth billions of rupees have come to light in Pakistan Baitul Maal, as revealed in the latest report by the Auditor General of Pakistan. The report highlights objections totalling over Rs2 billion, raising serious concerns about the management and distribution of funds within the organization. According to the auditor general, Pakistan Baitul Maal, an institution established to provide …

The Election Amendment Act 2024 barring independent lawmakers from switching parties has been challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC). As per details, a petition was filed by citizen Mushkoor Hussain through advocate Nadeem Sarwar and named the federal government, Election Commission, President, and Prime Minister as respondents. The petition argued that the amendments to the Election Act were made …

At least 38 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) planes were hit by birds in the first six months of 2024, local media reported on Friday. According to details, PIA has issued a report regarding aircraft hit by birds in 2024 so far. According to the report, 38 bird-hit incidents were reported from January to June. The incidents were reported in Islamabad, …

Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) has rejected statements alleging its involvement in the affairs of Bangladesh in the wake of toppling of Sheikh Hasina government. Foreign Office spokesperson clarified during the weekly briefing that Pakistan maintains positive relations with Bangladesh. Indian claims regarding Pakistan’s involvement in the situation there are baseless and founded on lies. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated …

In a high-profile case concerning commercial activities in Islamabad’s Margalla National Park, the Supreme Court has voiced strong criticism regarding the management and recent administrative decisions related to the park. Heading the bench, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa questioned the constitutionality of the decisions, stating that the Constitution had been undermined. The chief justice expressed disbelief that the …

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday stressed the need to reorient the country’s diplomatic initiatives from conventional diplomacy to economic diplomacy to ensure that Pakistan’s development agenda was also advanced. “The conventional diplomatic times are over. Along with the conventional diplomacy, we will have to focus more on economic diplomacy,” the Deputy PM said while …

Amir Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Hafiz Naeemur Rehman called off the protest after the govt reached a consensus on several critical issues. The Naib Ameer of JI, Liaquat Baloch, addressed the sit-in participants, providing details of the discussions and the agreements made. Members of the government committee, including Atta Tarr and Punjab’s Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsen Naqvi, were present on stage as …

ISLAMABAD: A total number of 1,630 cases of child abuse have been reported all over Pakistan during the first six months of 2024, according to a report released by local non-governmental organization Sahil on Friday. Based on the cases reported in 81 daily national and regional newspapers from January to June 2024, the data showed 862 cases of child sexual …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a nationwide monsoon tree plantation drive on Wednesday by planting a sapling at a ceremony. He announced that he had instructed relevant departments to plant at least 100 million saplings across Pakistan, including in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, to mitigate the effects of climate change, which severely impacted the country in 2022. The …

The president of Pakistan has signed the recently passed Election Act (Second Amendment Bill) 2024 into law. After the signatures of President Asif Zardari, the Elections Act (Second Amendment Bill) 2024 has officially been enacted into law. The bill had previously been passed by majority votes from both the National Assembly and the Senate. The Senate Secretariat had sent the …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that there is a need for national unity, consensus and togetherness in Pakistan, adding that the army chief and the government share the best interest of Pakistan. Addressing the Ulema and Mashaikh Conference in Islamabad, the prime minister said that Pakistan came into being after lots of bloodshed, and a supreme movement was launched …

ISLAMABAD: The successful completion of the Back Feeding process at the Suki Kinari Hydropower Station, an investment and construction project of China Energy Overseas Investment Co., Ltd. (Energy China) marked the official countdown to grid-connected power generation for the station on Thursday. According to the details, located on the Kunhar River in Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northwest Pakistan, SK …

BEIJING: China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have significantly alleviated Pakistan’s energy shortages, reduced electricity costs, and bolstered socioeconomic development. During a press briefing in Beijing earlier, Mao Ning reaffirmed China’s unwavering support for Pakistan, emphasizing the enduring strategic partnership between the two countries. “China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative …

Pakistan on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the people of Bangladesh and hoped for a “peaceful and swift return to normalcy” after deadly protests led to the end of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s rule two days ago. The statement comes as a caretaker government is expected to be formed under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus after student protest …

The PTI on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against a law that would bar independent lawmakers from joining a political party after a stipulated period. A bill, titled “Elections (Second Amendment) Act, 2024” proposes changes to the Elections Act 2017 and is apparently aimed at circumventing the Supreme Court’s July 12 ruling, which granted the PTI reserved seats and set …

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday launched the countrywide monsoon tree plantation drive by planting a sapling here. Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said he had directed the concerned departments and institutions to plant at least 100 million saplings across the country including Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) to save the country from the …

The FIA Immigration and Anti-Human Smuggling Wing has released its performance report for the first 7 months of the year. According to the report, immigration officials have detected 27 cases of fake visas and prevented 27 individuals with fake passports from traveling abroad. Additionally, 86 passengers were stopped from entering Pakistan due to various reasons. The report also stated that …

Lahore Police Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana said Police arrested three accused involved in looting a German tourist. Police sources claimed police recovered a camera and mobile phone from the accused. All accused have previous records and an investigation has been launched. The accused were arrested from Barki and Ghaziabad. Two robbers looted a German tourist near …

The National Assembly has passed the Elections Act (Amendment Bill) 2024 by a majority vote. According to details, under the decision of the Supreme Court regarding reserved seats, the government has been able to carry out important legislation. The bill for further amendment to the Elections Act 2017 has been approved by the National Assembly byy a majority vote. The …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will emphasize the urgency of peace and provision of relief assistance for Gaza in the upcoming Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) meeting, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry has said. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will attend the Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC convened at the request of Palestine and Iran in the Saudi Arabian city …

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani military said on Monday that 139 soldiers, including officers, lost their lives in the ongoing fight against terrorists during the first seven months of 2024. Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan army, Ahmed Sharif briefed journalists on the security situation, highlighting the extensive counter-terrorism efforts and professional activities of the …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted an eight-member task force to oversee the implementation of structural reforms in the power sector. According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the task force has been formed to reduce the financial burden on the power sector being borne by the government, and to enable the establishment of an …

The evacuation of tourists and locals from Kaghan Valley has been completed, with over 10,000 tourists safely returned. According to Deputy Commissioner Mansehra, the valley is now empty, with all hotels from Kaghan to Naran fully vacated. However, around 110 to 120 vehicles remain stranded in Mahandri. The DC said that efforts are being made to clear the stranded vehicles, …

Provincial Election Commissioner Punjab Ijaz Noor Chauhan has been made Officer on Special Duty (OSD). The Election Commissioner has issued a notification to form OSD. Ejaz Anwar Chauhan is a grade-20 officer. Joint Provincial Election Commissioner Punjab Sain Baksh will take over the office of Provincial Election Commissioner. On January, Ijaz Anwar Chohan took charge of his responsibilities as Punjab …

President Asif Ali Zardari said India took illegal steps to undermine the recognized disputed status of Occupied Kashmir and continuous campaign to change the demographic structure and political landscape of Held Valley. “Indian actions are a violation of international laws, including the resolutions of the Security Council, the 4th Geneva Convention,” the President said President Asif Ali Zardari said India’s …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif honored the martyred officers and personnel on Police Martyrs’ Day, describing it as a day to remember the courage and bravery of the police. He noted that “the sacrifices of the police who laid down their lives while suppressing crimes are eternal.” Sharif acknowledged the police’s role as the frontline in the war against terrorism, praising …

Punjab Police which claimed to apprehend major robbers and murderers guilty of serious crimes has failed to secure convictions for any of the criminals arrested this year. Robbery, murder, rape, and other serious crimes have led to numerous arrests by the Punjab Police. However, the investigation process is so flawed that many accused individuals escape punishment. The Punjab Police has …

The process of repatriation of Afghans living illegally in different cities of the country continues. As per official data, the total number of illegal Afghans leaving Pakistan has reached 675,190 by August 3, 2024. According to the report, 6345 men, 4963 women and 4229 children out of 15,537 Afghans left their country from July 21 to August 3. Even before …

In the last 24 hours, more than 12 people have died due to monsoon rains and floods in Pakistan. In Sindh, five people died in various accidents related to the rains, and many others were injured. Numerous villages were submerged after the Murad Wah canal broke in Kandhkot. The Kirti Dam also broke in Khairpur, severing the land connection to …

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said that Pakistan fully supported Iran’s call for an “extraordinary meeting” of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) after the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in a strike in Tehran, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a press release. The Islamic Republic’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had earlier threatened a …

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned about the possibility of urban flooding in parts of Punjab and Sindh due to expected heavy rainfalls and thunderstorms. The National Emergencies Operation Center of the NDMA has forecasted rainfall and thunderstorms in southern and northeastern Punjab over the next 24 hours. Rainfall and thundershowers are also anticipated in the northeastern regions …

For the first time in history, the salaried class of Pakistan has taken a unified stance by writing a letter to the prime minister, urging for tax relief and a revision of current tax policies. The letter was sent by Salary Alliance Pakistan, a representative organization of the salaried workforce, and a copy was also dispatched to the finance minister. …

Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi met with a high-level Iraqi delegation led by Commander of Iraq’s Rapid Response Unit Lieutenant General Dr. Tahmeir Ismail here on Saturday. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, including not taking passports from Pakistani pilgrims in Iraq and providing more facilities to them were discussed in detail. Moreover, training of Iraqi police in Pakistan, …

As the protest entered its ninth day, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) escalated its campaign by announcing on Saturday a series of nationwide sit-ins to denounce soaring electricity bills and rampant inflation. Addressing a large gathering at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stressed the urgency of addressing public grievances and criticised the government for its failure to respond to …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led tributes to the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, saying the entire Pakistan and the broader Muslim world mourned the loss. In a heartfelt address to the National Assembly, Prime Minister Sharif condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and demanded that Israel be held accountable for it. He emphasized the need for international accountability and support …