Pakistan

Thursday has been designated as a meeting day for PTI founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, with six names submitted for approval to visit him.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed their deep sorrow over the martyrdom of innocent civilians in Kalat district of Balochistan, who were attacked by the Indian-backed terrorist group “Fitna-ul-Hindustan” on a passenger bus traveling from Karachi to Quetta.

At least 28 people were killed and 90 others injured in rain and storms across Punjab in the past 24 hours, provincial rescue service spokesperson Farooq Ahmed said on Wednesday. Monsoon rains fall across the region from June to September, offering respite from the summer heat and replenishing water supplies and agriculture. They are crucial to the livelihoods of millions of farmers and food security. However, they also trigger deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas. In the last 24 hours, roof collapses killed 12 people in Lahore, eight in Faisalabad, three in Sheikhupura, two in Okara, and one each in Pakpattan, Nankana Sahib and Sahiwal, according to the spokesperson. Those seriously injured in rain-related roof and wall collapses across Punjab were immediately transported to the hospital, the spokesperson added. PDMA issues Jhelum River flood warning The PDMA has issued a flood warning for the Jhelum River, reporting that “exceptio...

Evidence so far shows that actor Humaira Asghar’s death was accidental or due to natural causes, according to a police investigative report released on Wednesday. Last week, police formed a special investigation team to probe the actor’s death, whose body was found in a Karachi apartment on July 8. According to the report by South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, “Evidence so far suggests no signs of foul play or suicide. “Circumstances indicate a possible accidental or natural cause of death while she was engaged in household chores.” The report added that the double-locked door and the presence of all keys inside support the conclusion of no third-party involvement. There was also no evidence of physical assault, struggle, or weapon marks as per the initial post-mortem report. The final confirmation of the cause of death awaited toxicology, chemical analysis and forensic findings, according to the report. “A foul smell was reported by neighbours in Decembe...

Pakistan on Wednesday stressed that Iran’s envoy in Islamabad, Reza Amiri Moghadam, was “widely respected” after the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) added him to its Most Wanted list for his alleged role in the 2007 disappearance and suspected abduction of retired FBI agent Robert A. “Bob” Levinson. “As far as Pakistan is concerned, the ambassador of Iran is widely respected for his role in the promotion of Pakistan-Iran relations,” FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told Dawn.com in response to a request for comment on the matter. “He is entitled to all the privileges, immunities and respect due to [being an] ambassador, that too, from a friendly neighbouring country,” Shafqat highlighted. Levinson arrived on Iran’s Kish Island on March 8, 2007 and went missing the following day. Notably, a 2013 Associated Press (AP) investigation revealed that Levinson had been sent on a spy mission by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analysts who had no authority to run such an operation. Levinson’s fami...

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday made the auction of 10 cricket and 10 football grounds in the federal capital by the CDA, conditional on a court decision.

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has said that the recruitment quota for the children of the police martyrs to the posts of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) has been increased from 5% to 12.

The Pakistan Navy’s Command and Staff Conference concluded at Naval Headquarters under the chairmanship of Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, according to a statement from the Navy’s media wing.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the performance of ministries will be evaluated every two months following the determination of key performance indicators, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad, the prime minister said the ministries demonstrating strong performance will be commended. “From this year, we will determine key performance indicators for the ministries to evaluate their performance every two months,” he said, emphasising that enhancing ministries’ performance was ultimately about delivery and service to the nation. Expressing satisfaction over the stock market touching record levels this week, the prime minister said that the development reflected the positive business sentiment and that collective efforts were being made for the economic growth of the country. PM Shehbaz also expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in recent monsoon rains across the country. He especially regretted the incident in Swat, emphasising...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday congratulated Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on the lifting of the United Kingdom’s ban on Pakistani flights, calling it a significant milestone for Pakistan’s aviation sector and international standing.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, where the pair discussed and reaffirmed mutual support in core sectors, including agriculture, mining, industry and security, Chinese media reported. Dar was on a three-day visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin on Tuesday. According to the Foreign Office (FO), Dar and Wang were scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the event. The Foreign Office (FO) said in a post on X: “The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on key areas of mutual interest, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and multilateral cooperation.” According to Chinese state-owned broadcaster CGTN, the top diplomats reaffirmed their mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests. “China is ready to work with Pakistan to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and push forward the building of a China-Pakistan community wit...

Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, while welcoming the United Kingdom’s Air Safety Committee decision on Wednesday, termed the removal of Pakistan’s name from the British Air Safety List (ASL) as an important milestone.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with a delegation from the Beijing Police Department, led by Deputy Director General Gao Jianzan.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has blamed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership for causing billions in losses to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), citing a reckless statement by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan during the PTI government.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, has revealed that nearly 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims who traveled to Iran, Iraq, and Syria are either missing or have overstayed, with no official record of their whereabouts.

The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has approved a 15% increase in pensions for Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) pensioners, effective January 1, 2025.

The quiet energy revolution has spread from wealthy neighbourhoods to middle- and lower-income households as customers look to escape soaring electricity bills and prolonged power cuts. Down a cramped alley in Karachi, residents fighting the sweltering summer heat gather in Fareeda Saleem’s modest home for something they had never experienced before —uninterrupted power. “Solar makes life easier, but it’s a hard choice for people like us,” she says of the installation cost. Saleem was cut from the grid last year for refusing to pay her bills in protest over enduring 18-hour power cuts. A widow and mother of two disabled children, she sold her jewellery — a prized possession for women in Pakistan — and borrowed money from relatives to buy two solar panels, a solar inverter and a battery to store energy, for Rs180,000 ($630). As temperatures pass 40 degrees Celsius, children duck under Saleem’s door and gather around the breeze of her fan. Fareeda Saleem, a local resident, shows a newly installed inverter at he...

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that every government employee has the legal right to be considered for promotion based on performance, emphasizing transparency and fairness in public service advancement.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday announced a Rs100 million grant for the Asia Cup Wheelchair Cricket Tournament in major support for sports involving persons with disabilities. According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s House, aside from the Rs100m grant, Murad also announced an annual grant of Rs15 million for the Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Council (PWCC), along with a dedicated customised coaster (minibus) for the national wheelchair cricket team. PWCC is the governing body of wheelchair cricket in Pakistan and a founding member of the International Council of Wheelchair Cricket (ICWC). It focuses on providing sporting and recreational activities for people with disabilities. The Pakistan Cricket Board has previously endorsed the achievements of the Asian champion Pakistan wheelchair cricket team, according to the organisation’s website. The announcement was made during a meeting with the two-time Asian Champion Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Team at the CM House. The meeting was ...

Pakistan is witnessing a rapid shift towards solar power as citizens across income brackets turn to rooftop panels to escape soaring electricity bills and persistent power outages.