Pakistan

QUETTA - Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhel on Monday took the oath as Acting Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court (BHC).

ISLAMABAD - Four newly designated envoys presented their credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari at a ceremony held on Monday at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

MUZAFFARABAD - Newly elected Prime Minister of Azad Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, has said that he is grateful to Allah Almighty for entrusting a political worker like him with the responsibility of the premiership, calling it a great honour.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Monday gave credit of Pakistan’s global turnaround to the ideal civil-military relations the country has under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Shehbaz Sharif vows to modernise Pakistan Railways Inaugurates new Shalimar Express, Karachi Cantt Railway Station Visits residences of Aftab Shaban Mirani, Abdul Qadir Patel, Nawabzada Jam Karam.

Peshawar - Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi, distributed scholarship cheques worth Rs64 million among 347 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in various universities.

Peshawar - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Syed Fakhar Jehan on Monday said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi, the provincial government is prioritizing transparent governance, public welfare and timely completion of development projects.

Peshawar - Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah on Monday said that the provincial government is committed to improving the service delivery system through departmental reforms, effective governance, and digitization.

Peshawar - Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Monday assured a representative delegation of the minority community that a Christmas Day event would be arranged at the Governor House Peshawar.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday said that a 28th Constitutional Amendment, dealing with “public issues”, could be introduced if there is political consensus. Last week, President Asif Ali Zardari gave his assent to the contentious 27th Constitutional Amendment, enacting it into law. Speaking to reporters in Chiniot, the PM’s aide said that the amendment would deal with “public issues, such as local bodies, population, the National Finance Commission … health-related issues”. “There is a need to review how we can better serve the people according to the present needs of the provinces and the Centre,” Sanaullah stated. “This is being debated and if there is any consensus, then we can bring the 28th Amendment forward,” said the PML-N leader. Referring to the recent resignations by judges of the Supreme Court and LHC, the PM’s aide said that “those who stepped down did so due to their personal motives”. He maintained that the parliament has the constitutional right to p...

Lahore, once celebrated as the City of Gardens, now chokes each winter under a grey shroud of smog — its skies thick with toxic haze that has become the city’s defining feature. Every November, as the monsoon fades, a suffocating layer of smoke and dust engulfs Lahore, India’s capital New Delhi and much of northern South Asia. The mix of crop burning, vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions drives air pollution to deadly levels, forcing authorities to shut schools, businesses and highways. This winter, as air quality plummets again, the Punjab government is betting on an unconventional ally to fight back: artificial intelligence (AI). Authorities say they are deploying one of the region’s most technologically advanced clean-air programmes, with AI systems at the centre of forecasting, enforcement and public response. Some 100 AI-powered air-quality monitoring stations have been established across Punjab, home to nearly 130 million people, according to Punjab Environment Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb. These sma...

The government on Monday revised the compensation package for martyred and injured Civil Armed Forces (CAF) personnel, according to a notification issued by the interior ministry. CAFs are defined as a federal paramilitary force working under the interior ministry, according to Section 18, sub-section 21 of Schedule II of the Rules of Business, 1973, such as the Federal Constabulary, Frontier Corps, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts and Pakistan Coast Guards. The decision to revise compensation to be on par with the Islamabad police was made by the interior ministry in August this year and approved by the cabinet on August 25. According to today’s notification, the minimum compensation will be Rs10 million (Grade 1-9), while the maximum is now Rs20m (Grade 20 and above). “If a member of the CAFs is shaheed (martyred), permanently disabled, injured with serious injury or minor injury, as the case may be, while on bona fide government duty, an award under these rules may be granted to him or his family, as the case may b...

Trade deficit widens to $11.26b as rising imports, slowing exports reverse gains

Rupee edges up; gold prices hold steady despite international drop

Instead of showing growth, manufacturing output shrinks, says ex-minister

Different sectors owe govt gas infrastructure development cess worth over Rs450b

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DIG defends penalties as life-saving deterrent, while people demand road repairs

Committee formed to expedite drug certification; NBP branch in Tashkent to strengthen ties

Urges govt to promote local manufacturing, protect industry from used car imports