Pakistan

PTI leaders on Monday rejected the proposed revival of the jirga system in the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that making such decisions was the prerogative of the provincial government. Earlier in the month, a meeting of top federal and provincial government officials discussed and stressed the need to revive the jirga system in the merged districts. A jirga is a traditional form of conflict resolution, primarily found in Pashtun societies of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where a council of male elders gathers to settle disputes based on local customs and traditions The meeting discussed ways to promote an effective alternative justice system in tribal districts. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad along with other party leaders, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said: “In none of the committee meetings was reviving the jirga system discussed for the tribal areas, and after the 18th Amendment, that right was with the provincial government. “After the 25th Amendment, when the tribal ar...

The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday announced that Sweden has resumed visa services in Islamabad and Pakistani nationals will be able to apply for a Schengen visa from today onwards Sweden in April 2023 indefinitely closed its embassy in Islamabad, citing the security situation as the reason. As a result, the Migration Section was unable to handle requests, nor could any documents be sent to consulates, Gerry´s, or applicants’ addresses. “We understand that this will cause inconvenience; however, the safety of our applicants and staff members are of highest priority,” a notice placed on the embassy’s website had read at the time. The embassy reopened in April this year, according to its website. According to the FO, the Swedish and Pakistani foreign ministries held bilateral consultations in Stockholm on July 2, where the decision to resume visa services was announced by the Swedish side. “Effective July 7, 2025, Pakistani nationals can apply for a Schengen visa from within Pakistan for visits to Sweden of up t...

Some 18 lions kept illegally as pets have been confiscated in Punjab, authorities said on Monday as they launched a crackdown after one escaped from a house and attacked a woman and two children in Lahore. The woman suffered scratches and bruises, and the two children, aged five and seven, were hospitalised after the attack last week, but their injuries were not life-threatening, provincial wildlife officials said. The lion, which was kept without a licence in a house in Lahore, was confiscated and sent to a local safari park, said Mubeen Elahi, Director General of the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department. The owner was later arrested, police said. Keeping exotic animals as pets has been fueled by social media, with owners often showing off their animals online as status symbols. “According to the new regulations for keeping big cats, no individual is allowed to keep a lion without a licence, without adhering to the required cage size and without following other standard operating procedures,” Elahi said, add...

The Sindh government on Monday suspended Sindh Building and Control Authority (SBCA) Director General Ishaque Khuhro over the recent building collapse in Karachi that claimed 27 lives. The five-storey building on Fida Husain Shaikha Road in Lea Market collapsed on Friday morning, with the rescue operations concluding yesterday. The building had already been declared uninhabitable by authorities due to its dilapidated structure, with the SBCA saying it had issued multiple prior notices to residents to vacate the structure since 2023. A notification issued by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, stated that the SBCA DG’s services were “placed under suspension with immediate effect for the reason of misconduct and inefficiency”. It added that Khuhro’s headquarters during the suspension period would be at the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department. He would “draw his salaries and allowances during the suspension period as admissible under the rul...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Monday chaired a meeting to review the domestic situation of essential commodities and food items.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued a high alert for potential flooding in major rivers and urban areas of the province, warning of a significant rise in water levels from July 7 to 9.

A person was killed and 15 others were injured in two separate accidents on Monday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district, rescue officials said. According to Rescue 1122 Swat spokesperson Niaz Khan, “Eleven seminary students were injured when a pickup vehicle lost control and crashed near the Kedam police checkpoint in Swat’s Bahrain town. “The students, who hailed from Kalam, were on their way home after their holidays in Batkhela Town.” He said the Rescue 1122 medical team swiftly arrived at the site of the incident after receiving a report. “After administering initial medical aid, the injured were transferred to nearby hospitals. Three students, who were declared severely injured, were safely transported to the Civil Hospital in Madyan.” In another incident, he said a man was killed while four others sustained injuries when a three-wheeler plunged into a deep ravine after its brakes failed. The driver died on the spot, Khan said. Fatal accidents are common on roads in the mountainous regions of the countr...

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) soared to new highs on Monday as shares crossed the 133,000 barrier, with analysts attributing the optimism to a “favourable” taxation regime for equities following the passage of the federal budget. The benchmark KSE-100 index rose by 1,771.48 points (1.34 per cent), to stand at 133,720.54 points at 11:21am, from the previous close of 131,949.06 points. It reached an intraday high of 133,862.01 points, before closing at 133,370.14 points — 1,421.08 points (1.08pc) higher than yesterday. The PSX commenced the new fiscal year on a bullish note last week, as the KSE-100 index posted a robust 6.1pc gain during the outgoing week. Continuing that momentum, the market extended its record-setting rally for the seventh consecutive session today. Awais Ashraf, director of research at AKD Securities, noted: “A favourable taxation regime for equities and the increasing likelihood of equities outperforming other asset classes, amid improving macroeconomic indicators and lower inflation, ...

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar asserted on Monday that the Speaker of the Assembly holds extensive authority and serves as the head of the house, likening their role to that of a household leader.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), under the direction of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, has, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, introduced the Artificial Intelligence-based Custom Clearance and Risk Management System (RMS).

Justice Anwar Hussain of the Lahore High Court, acting as an election tribunal, has ruled that tribunals possess the authority to reinstate appeals dismissed due to non-appearance.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has expressed strong reservations regarding the recently formed federal committee on the merged tribal districts, citing a lack of provincial consultation.

The Sindh government has suspended the Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) following the tragic building collapse in Karachi’s Lyari Baghdadi area that claimed 27 lives.

New captain Shubman Gill was hailed on Monday for leading from the front after India recorded their maiden Test win at Edgbaston to level the series against England 1-1. Gill, who notched a century in a losing cause in the first Test at Headingley, hit new heights in scoring 269 and 161 to set up a crushing victory by 336 runs which leaves the five-match series finely poised. It was India’s first win in nine Tests at the Birmingham venue, following seven previous defeats and one draw. “New captain, new India”, The Indian Express newspaper splashed across its front page. Gill, 25, became the youngest Indian Test skipper to register an overseas win in just his second match in charge following the retirement of Rohit Sharma. He eclipsed Sunil Gavaskar, who was 26 when he led India to victory over New Zealand at Auckland in 1976. Gill came into the series with concerns over his batting average overseas, which had been less than 30, but he has shut down all the noise by stroking a remarkable 585 runs from four inn...

The International Cricket Council on Monday named Sanjog Gupta as its new chief executive officer, a senior official at India’s key broadcaster of the game. Gupta, the ICC’s seventh CEO, succeeds Geoff Allardice, who resigned from the post in January after four years in office. Gupta was broadcaster JioStar’s chief executive for sports and live experiences. ICC chairman Jay Shah said Gupta “brings extensive experience in sports strategy and commercialisation, which will be invaluable for the ICC”. The role attracted more than 2,500 applications from candidates across 25 countries, the ICC said. “These are exciting times for the sport as marquee events grow in stature, commercial avenues widen and opportunities such as the women’s game scale in popularity,” Gupta said in a statement. “Cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the rapid acceleration of technology deployment/adoption could act as force-multipliers for the cricket movement around the world,” he said. According to the ICC’s web...

Water experts have raised alarms over Pakistan’s worsening water situation, warning that despite strong national defense capabilities, the country remains highly vulnerable on the water front.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep appreciation for the exemplary peace and outstanding public service maintained across the province during the holy month of Muharram.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has expressed heartfelt gratitude to Almighty Allah and lauded the tireless efforts of Pakistan’s security forces and government institutions for ensuring a peaceful and secure environment during Ashura across the country.

ISLAMABAD - Chairman CDA, Chief Commissioner Islamabad and DG Civil Defence, Muhammad Ali Randhawa paid a surprise visit of Markazi Imam Bargah Asna Ashri G-6 on Saturday.

ISLAMABAD - Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi had finalized a comprehensive security plan for the central 9th Muharram procession, deploying over 3,000 personnel from district police, Special Branch, and Traffic Police.