Pakistan

Saudi Arabia plans to open two new alcohol stores, including one serving non-Muslim, foreign staff at state oil giant Aramco, as the kingdom further eases restrictions, according to people briefed on the plans. The launch of outlets in the eastern province of Dhahran and one for diplomats in the port city of Jeddah would be a further milestone in efforts, led by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open up the country. The kingdom last year opened an alcohol store serving non-Muslim diplomats in the capital Riyadh — the first such outlet since a ban was brought in 73 years ago. Store planned in Aramco compound, says source The new store in Dhahran will be set up in a compound owned by Aramco, one of the three people who talked to Reuters said. That store would be open for non-Muslims working for Aramco, the source added, who said Saudi authorities had informed them of the plan. Two of the sources said a third liquor store was also in the works for non-Muslim diplomats in the city of Jeddah, whe...

Lawmakers press for inclusive talks in Islamabad, Kabul and action on peace jirga plan

Govt alleges ECP manipulated NA-18 results

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Encroachments, lack of alternative routes and poor planning stall remodelling

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Encroachments, lack of alternative routes and poor planning stall remodelling work for months

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Agreement offers concessions on pathology, radiology and cardiac tests

Authorities continue to monitor situation to ensure safety of aviation and coastal regions along its projected path

China claims Taiwan and won’t rule out force, but the island says only its people can decide their future.

Three Federal Constabulary (FC) men were martyred in a suicide attack on the force’s headquarters in Peshawar’s Saddar area on Monday morning. The attack occurred on one of the city’s busiest roads just after 8am. Video footage of the incident showed one terrorist, clad in a chaddor, approaching the gate and detonating himself. Seconds later, two other terrorists tried to enter the compound. The attack occurred as an assembly for the first working day of the week was being held at the main compound. “Initially, three militants tried to attack the headquarters. One terrorist blew himself up at the gate, while two others tried to enter the premises but were gunned down by FC personnel,” Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Dr Mian Saeed Ahmad said while speaking to reporters. He further said that three FC men had been martyred in the suicide attack at the gate, while two others were injured. He added that a clearance operation had been carried out. Asked whether a threat alert had been issued prior to th...

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, has confirmed that Iran’s National Security Adviser and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, is visiting Pakistan as part of ongoing high-level engagement between the two neighbouring countries.

Among Pakistan’s many challenges — from economic fragility and security pressures to the accelerating impacts of climate change — population growth stands out as one of the most consequential. With more than 241.5 million people today, the country is on course to cross 300 million within the next five years and edge towards 400 million by 2050, a trajectory that demands far more serious national attention than it has so far received. Data compiled by research organisation Population Council, UK Aid and the United Nations Population Fund shows the average annual growth rate — based on data from 2017 to 2023 — is 2.55 per cent, resulting in the population of 241.5 million, making Pakistan the fifth most populous country in the world. The consequences of this growth are visible across every sector, such as malnutrition and a demand for jobs, infrastructure and healthcare that cannot be kept up with. Here are some statistics from across the country. National The total fertility rate, defined as the average number...

Punjab has ushered in a new era of environmental management by shifting from reactive measures to a fully data-driven smog control system powered by a province-wide network of Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS)—the first IT-enabled setup of its kind in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed to accelerate work on the construction of all proposed medical treatment centers of the Jinnah Medical Complex (JMC), hoping that the project will be completed soon through collective efforts.