Pakistan

In a significant step toward improving public health access, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the government of Pakistan have announced the establishment of 26 new vaccination centres across the country, aimed at reaching over 750,000 people in underserved areas.

TAXILA: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, criticised the Indian government’s refusal to issue visas to Sikh pilgrims intending to perform religious rites in connection with two religious events next month in Pakistan. He was addressing a press conference at Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hassanabdal on Friday. Chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board Dr Muhammad Sajid Chau­han, Additional Secretary Shrines Saifullah Khokhar, Rawalpindi Zone Administrator Tanveer Hus­sain, Deputy Administrator Yasir Asghar Monga, and other leaders of the Sikh community were also present on this occasion. He strongly condemned the Indian government’s move to not allow Indian Sikh pilgrims to offer religious rituals in June on the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The minister stated that the Modi-led government is rattled by Pakistan’s diplomatic success and is now resorting to religious restrictions in clear violation of...

Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry says initial findings confirm attack was part of a broader pattern of violence sponsored by India Warns any attempt to alter water flows will be met with diplomatic, strategic response.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said after the success of Marka-e-Haq, the government of Pakistan and the whole Pakistani nation were determined for success and historic victory in the economic field.

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday defended its decision to release a $1 billion tranche to Pakistan, despite India’s objection, by pointing out the country had met all requisite targets under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

ISLAMABAD - The federal government has announced to present the annual budget for the next fiscal year 2025-26 on June 10 as the talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have yet to conclude.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday warned India against any aggression and reaffirmed commitment to peace and ceasefire.

QUETTA - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Friday that India wanted to destabilise Balochistan through its proxies and its nefarious designs will never succeed.

ISLAMABAD - Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening strategic, multi-faceted ties with the African continent, describing Africa as a vital partner in Pakistan’s present and future diplomatic, economic, and developmental vision.

ISLAMABAD - Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, met with Federal Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi here on Friday to discuss the law and order situation in the province, with a particular focus on public and commercial challenges at the Torkham and Taftan border crossings, as well as security concerns related to the.

LAHORE - Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) achieved yet another landmark on Mohmand Dam Project, as construction work has commenced on the main dam.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed grief over the deaths caused by landslides that hit southwest China’s Guizhou Province.

RAWALPINDI: The in­­vestigating officer in the case of violent protests out­­­side the General Head­quarters on May 9, 2023, testified before an Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday. Former prime minister Imran Khan is one of the accused in the case. The protests, triggered by Mr Khan’s arrest in a corruption case from the Islam­abad High Court, turned violent as protesters torched and vandalised government buildings and military installations. Following the violence, the government launched a crackdown on PTI leaders and supporters, making several arrests. Mr Khan was indicted in the case on Dec 5, 2024. The PTI founder, who has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail since August 2023, was arrested by the Rawalpindi police in the protest case in January 2024. He, however, filed an application seeking acquittal, which was also rejected by the ATC earlier this year. Special Prosecutor Raja Ikram Ameen Minhas produced the IO before the trial court. The investigating officer informed the court about the ...

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar yesterday spoke with the Foreign Minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

ISLAMABAD: Alibaba.com on Friday announced the launch of a comprehensive suite of online logistics services tailored to assist Pakistani exporters in optimising their international trade processes. Alibaba will offer essential tools to help Pakistani businesses tap into significant growth opportunities in global markets. The logistics services aim to support Pakistani exporters by providing solutions to overcome traditional barriers in international trade. The statement by the company has added that amid the explosive growth of cross-border e-commerce, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan are presented with new opportunities to participate in global trade. However, they also face significant challenges, particularly in optimising their export processes. Will help SMEs overcome barriers in sending goods worldwide Alibaba.com has partnered with leading international express delivery companies to support exporting Pakistani goods to over 200 countries and regions worldwide. As logistics has been...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan received $16.08 billion in foreign loans and grants in the first 10 months of 2024-25, compared to an annual target of $19.2bn by June 30. While half of this portfolio was legacy rollovers from China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, fresh loans and grant inflows amounted to $6.086bn in July-April, almost 15 per cent lower than the comparable period of last fiscal year. In its monthly report on Foreign Economic Assistance (FEA) released on Friday, the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) said that against its annual target of $19.4bn, FEA in July-April amounted to $6.086bn compared to $7.142bn in the same period last year with an annual target of $17.6bn. This does not include about $1bn disbursed by the IMF in October as an upfront payment under the $7bn ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF) that is accounted for separately by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). This also does not include the subsequent $1bn IMF inflow last week. With three rollovers and fresh disbursements, the total e...

• Warn any unilateral move to be treated as act of war • Zafar says ‘ticking water bomb must be defused before it goes off’ • Caution advised when ministers discuss water issue • Shibli decries ‘tyranny of majority’ in Senate ISLAMABAD: Senators on Friday made it clear that India would not be allowed to suspend or amend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) warning that any unilateral move to this effect would be treated as an act of war. They said the treaty was a settled matter and international law would justify Pakistan’s military response if India blocked the water. Speaking on a motion on the unilateral suspension of IWT by India, PTI parliamentary leader Ali Zafar said the impending water crisis was as serious a threat as terrorism. “This is also a war thrust on us. The ticking water bomb must be defused before it goes off,” he remarked. The PTI lawmaker said international law and UN resolutions have called water a fundamental human right for the lower riparian regions. Noting that India was violating internat...

• Interior secretary says NAP being reinvigorated • FO slams Modi’s allegations • UNSC condemns school bus attack ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities on Friday said they would continue with intelligence-based operations (IBOs) to combat terrorism in Balochistan, instead of launching a large-scale kinetic military campaign at this stage. “The intelligence-based operations would continue,” said Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during a joint press briefing with Federal Interior Secretary Khurram Agha near the military headquarters in neighbouring garrison city of Rawalpindi. The joint appearance of military and civilian officials underscored the government’s unified approach to counterterrorism, especially in the wake of escalating regional tensions with India and aggravating security situation in Balochistan. Their remarks come days after a suicide attack in Khuzdar targeted a school bus carrying children of military personnel, in which eight people, includ...

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan Friday said that President of Pakistan has constitutional power to transfer judges from one High Court to another.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has inaugurated the Jinnah Square Murree Road Underpass project, aiming to ensure hassle-free travel for commuters.