The government of Pakistan has decided to provide substantial financial assistance and rehabilitation grants to the families of missing persons, offering Rs5 million per individual. According to government sources, the decision is expected to be formally announced in an upcoming cabinet meeting. Government sources emphasized that this financial assistance should not be seen as compensation, but rather as a rehabilitation …

The Punjab government has completed the privatization of 350 government schools in Rawalpindi and 5,863 across the province, dealing a significant blow to public education in the region. This decision comes despite protests and strikes by teachers’ organizations. This week, all these schools will be officially handed over to NGOs, the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF), and various purchasing groups. In …

Sharing on the dams and rivers situation after record rainfall, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Irfan Ali said: “The water flow in all the rivers and barrages of Punjab is at normal level.” The water level in Mangala Dam is 60 percent while Tarbela is 77 percent. The water level in Indian dams on Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi is up …

A 44-year rainfall record in Lahore has been broken, causing the famous highways to resemble rivers and streams. Tragically, a girl died, and five others were injured in two incidents of roof collapse. Lesco’s feeders also tripped due to the continuous rain. Offices and schools were closed to prevent damage caused by the heavy rainfall. According to the data, the …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has witnessed a significant boost in tourism this year, with a 100 percent increase in tourist arrivals compared to the previous year. This encouraging trend was discussed during a review meeting chaired by Muzamil Aslam, the Advisor to the Chief Minister for Finance. The meeting, attended by key officials including Advisor for Tourism Zahid Chanzeb, Members of …

Severe heat and the persistent rainfall and brought on flooding in Hunza River, creating an emergency situation in the Faizabad village of Gilgit. A sudden surge in the water has washed away two swimming pools, hotels, and homes, seriously damaging the property of the citizens and forcing them to relocate. The situation is dire as an electricity pole of 13kV …

Pakistan has strongly condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of the political bureau of Hamas, who was killed in Tehran on Wednesday. The Pakistani government has expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended heartfelt condolences to Haniyeh’s family and the people of Palestine. “We extend our condolences to his family and the people of Palestine,” a statement …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into 34,000 tons of wheat missing in Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) in 2022. The prime minister has ordered completion of the corruption probe in PASSCO within a week after bureaucracy’s non-cooperation with the Prime Minister’s Inspection Team since 2022 as per the official papers. PM Shehbaz has ordered tracing …

Deadly clashes that sparked over ‘land dispute’ between two tribes in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ended after six days of deadly warfare. Kurram Deputy Commissioner said security forces personnel have been deployed after clearing the fronts from the parties. There has been no firing since last night at 5 places in Karam District while further efforts are being made …

Strings of additional taxes and capacity charges have not been acceptable with electricity bills, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Hafiz Naeem here said on Monday. “What capacity charges when the government have shares in 52 percent of the IPPs,” JI chief said. He called the contracts with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) as unlawful and also demanded to make these agreements public. He also …

Justices Sardar Tariq Masood and Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel on Monday took oath as ad hoc judges of the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan. The oath was administered by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Qazi Faez Isa, where Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, law officers, lawyers, and court staff attended the oathtaking ceremony. Both judges have …

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a severe weather alert for multiple regions in Pakistan, forecasting heavy rains over the next three days. The alert covers Azad Kashmir, Malakand, Hazara, and Gujranwala divisions, with additional rainfall expected in Potohar, Mardan, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Multan, Rajanpur, Mirpur Khas, Sukkur, Karachi, Hyderabad, Umarkot, Badin, Thatta, Tharparkar, DI Khan, Koh-e-Sulaiman …

The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) filed a petition for a judicial inquiry into the May 9 incidents requesting the Chief Justice of the PHC to form a judicial commission. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister Aftab Alam has said that he has sent a letter to the Chief Justice of PHC for a judicial commission. …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) top brass on Sunday called upon the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the recent arrests of its members, following the party’s victory in a case regarding reserved seats. At a press conference in Islamabad, PTI Secretary General and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub and other PTI leaders expressed grave …

Awaam Pakistan Party leader Miftah Ismail announced his intention to file a petition against K-Electric,highlighting a sharp 350% increase in electricity rates since 2015. Addressing a protest outside K-Electric’s head office, Ismail took a jibe at the current government’s handling of electricity tariffs and the burden it places on ordinary citizens. Ismail pointed out that while the Pakistan People’s Party …

Forbes Advisor’s 2024 rankings have identified Karachi as the second most dangerous city for tourists, following Caracas, Venezuela. The study evaluated 60 global cities, focusing on crime, safety, health, infrastructure, natural disasters, and digital security. Karachi earned a safety score of 93.12, just below Caracas, which scored 100. Yangon, Myanmar, ranked third with a score of 91.67. Other cities on …

Ever wondered why some trees, especially those lining roadsides, have their lower trunks painted white? It’s not just a quirky aesthetic choice; there’s actually a scientific reason behind this curious practice. The whitewash on tree trunks is primarily a protective measure. It’s typically made from lime, which acts as a shield against a host of threats. Insects and termites, for …

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) air-hostess was caught red-handed while attempting to smuggle currency at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. The suspect had hidden Saudi riyal worth Rs140,000 in her socks. In an action by Customs officials at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, the PIA air-hostess was caught red-handed while attempting to smuggle foreign currency. According to DC …

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab has arrested 38 terrorists in a series of intelligence-based operations conducted across various cities of the province throughout the current month. The CTD’s operations, carried out in cities including Lahore, Rahim Yar Khan, Narowal, Rawalpindi, and Multan, were aimed at countering terrorism fears and preventing potential attacks. The crackdown extended to Jhang, Sargodha, Khanewal, …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the formation of a five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate an organized social media campaign targeting state institutions. The decision comes amid growing concerns over the impact of alleged coordinated disinformation efforts on public trust and the integrity of state institutions. According to sources, the JIT will be led by the Islamabad inspector …

The Ministry of Energy has decided to work on an emergency plan that includes the potential abolition of free electricity facilities in all government and semi-government institutions. Sources indicate that the ministry is contemplating cutting off free electricity to all, including bureaucrats, judges, and parliamentarians, as part of the broader strategy to address the financial challenges facing the country. Additionally, …

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain on Friday emphasized the significance of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and fostering industrialization, noting that the relocation of Chinese industries presents a significant opportunity for Pakistan. While addressing a report titled ‘Aligning Special Economic Zones Policies of Pakistan and China’ the minister said that …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the international community to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and bring it to justice. In a statement on Saturday, the prime minister strongly denounced the ongoing Israeli atrocities in Khan Younis area of Palestine, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Israel tells Gazans to temporarily vacate southern Khan Younis areas PM Shehbaz voiced concerns …

ISLAMABAD: Days after Supreme Court of Pakistan set aside the Peshawar High Court and election commission verdicts and declared the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) eligible for reserved seats, the party has submitted a list of reserved seats to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The party has submitted a comprehensive list of reserved seats to the Election Commission of Pakistan, comprising …

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman says that negotiations and fascism cannot go together, adding that if the arrested party workers are not released, they will be forced to change the direction of the sit-in. While addressing the sit-in in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on Saturday morning, Hafiz Naeem expressed reservations about the names included in the government committee for negotiations. …

After granting customs duty and sales tax exemption to diplomats in Pakistan, the government has now extended federal excise duty (FED) exemption on imports of diplomats, diplomatic missions, privileged persons, and privileged organizations. The revised Federal Excise Act 2005, updated up to June 30, 2024, revealed that the conditional exemption of FED would be available on the imports made by …

Mr. Rizwan Anwar Global Youth Ambassador to United Nations and Ms. Maha Jamil UN Youth Advocate represented the Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP) at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva during the 22nd International Sustainability Conference. The Mr Rizwan Anwar underscored the proactive involvement of Pakistan’s youth in driving social transformation. Speakers emphasized that, under the visionary leadership of Prime …

In a series of coordinated raids since late Wednesday night, police conducted extensive operations targeting members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) across various cities in Pakistan after they announced a protest sit-in at Islamabad’s D-Chowk after Friday prayers. The PTI is holding demonstrations in various cities across the country, including several spots in Lahore, outside the Islamabad …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Tehran on Tuesday to attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian. At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad today, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the visit underscores the commitment by the two countries to strengthen leadership engagement and bilateral relations. When asked about the recent statement made by US …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday nullified PTI founder Imran Khan’s 10-day physical remand granted over his alleged involvement in May 9 violence. A two-member bench comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Anwarul Haq announced the reserved verdict on Imran Khan’s plea against the physical remand. The court also declared the notification pertaining to the attendance of the …

Amid security concerns, section 144 has been imposed across Punjab and Islamabad prohibiting assemblies, processions, or protests. This measure comes as part of heightened security protocols due to anticipated protests and the prevailing threat of terrorism. The capital administration has warned that any violations will be met with strict action. “Violation of Section 144 cannot be allowed under any circumstances,” …

The Election Commission of Pakistan has commenced the implementation of the Supreme Court’s July 12 decision, issuing notifications confirming 39 MNAs as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members in parliament. This decision was taken in a key session of the commission presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja on Thursday. According to the notification, these 39 Members of the …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reconstituted boards of six power distribution companies over unsatisfactory performance. The prime minister reconstituted six boards including Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), Peshawar Electri Supply (PESCO) Hazara Electric Supply Company (HAZECO) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO). Amer Zia, a power sector consultant, was …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has constituted a larger bench to hear cases of missing persons. After wrapping up the plea seeking recovery of missing poet Ahmed Farhad, on June 7 IHC judge Mohsin Akhtar Kiani stated his intention to write to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to constitute a larger bench for cases involving missing persons, ensuring that multiple …

Justice Athar Minallah of the Supreme Court, while defending the decision to open the Islamabad High Court on the night of April 9 when he was the chief justice, said courts should remain open whenever there is a threat of a martial law. Addressing the New York City Bar Association on ‘Independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law in Pakistan’, …

The Punjab government has announced the abolition of all government commerce colleges across the province, with plans to convert these institutions into information technology (IT) colleges. The Punjab Department of Higher Education has initiated work on this project, which is supposedly aimed at revitalizing the province’s educational landscape and addressing the evolving needs of the job market. The decision will …

A meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Water Resources under the chairmanship of Khalid Magsi wherein the Secretary of the Water Resources ministry briefed the participants that Pakistan objected to the design of the Kishan Ganga hydroelectric power plant. “India says the design is correct,” the Water Resources ministry secretary said. “There are currently two cases …

The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, convened to discuss a six-point agenda, which included key national and international issues. The cabinet, however, deferred the decision to discuss a possible ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and implement Article 6 against three of its leaders, opting instead to consult with coalition partners, particularly the Pakistan People’s Party, first. …

Pakistan People’s Party has pleaded to the Supreme Court to suspend its decision on reserved seats and review it. The apex court had on May 12 overturned the denial of reserved seats to the PTI. The PPP plea filed by Barrister Farooq Naik in the apex court also sought to keep the July 12 order in abeyance till decision on …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has voiced dissatisfaction with the performance of federal ministries and the bureaucracy, and also taken notice of the ministries’ inability to develop and implement effective plans for development. In response to these issues, Prime Minister Sharif has taken decisive steps to address the shortcomings. He has authorized the appointment of consultants in 10 key ministries, including …