Pakistan

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab said the first spell of monsoon rains has begun and it will continue until July 1.

LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has issued directions for a crackdown on those involved in spreading hateful content on social media. Presiding over a meeting to review arrangements regarding Muharram here on Tuesday, the CM sought an emergency plan from the administration. “Those found involved in spreading hateful content on social media should be arrested forthwith,” the CM said and directed the authorities to ensure a complete ban on displaying banners, posters and wall-chalking throughout the province. She also directed to arrest of those violating the ban on flying drones during Muharram. She asked the ministers, commissioners, deputy commissioners, RPOs and DPOs to personally oversee the security arrangements for Muharram. The CM sought the strict implementation of the code of conduct and a zero-tolerance policy. She asked the officer to launch mock drills of security arrangements and install sabeels for processions and gatherings of Muharram. She also directed to provide refreshing drinks, lemon w...

Peshawar - Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Saif, met with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in a significant meeting focused on political developments and the provincial budget.

KARACHI: The Indian aggression against Pakistan has not hurt, strangely enough, the inflow of foreign investment into treasury bills, while outflows from the equity market has been much higher than inflows during the same period. The State Bank’s latest update for May shows that foreign inflows in T-bills during the month (up to May 23 of FY25) reached $73.6 million. This was strange since India attacked Pakistan on May 6. It is believed that foreign investment quickly leaves a country during an international crisis. The war did not hurt inflows in t-bills, but outflows from the equity market reflected its negative impact. The State Bank data for May shows that while inflows in T-bills were $73.5m, outflows amounted to $66m. The highest inflow of $50 million came from UAE, while Britain received the biggest outflow of $62m But figures for foreign investment in equity market show that during May, inflows were $38.7m and outflows totaled $64.6m. Although the situation has remained calm in Pakistan so far despit...

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker and self-described democratic socialist, was poised on Tuesday to win New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary in a surprising upset over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. In brief remarks to supporters, Cuomo, 67, who had been seeking a political comeback four years after resigning amid sexual harassment allegations, said he had called Mamdani to congratulate him. “Tonight is his night,” Cuomo said while conceding the race to Mamdani. Mamdani, who entered the campaign as a virtual unknown, was ahead of Cuomo 43.5 per cent to 36.4pc with nearly 95pc of ballot scanners reporting, according to the city’s elections board. Nine other Democratic candidates trailed far behind. The outcome will not be final until next week, due to New York’s ranked-choice system that allows citizens to pick up to five candidates in order of preference. But Mamdani’s lead in Tuesday’s preliminary results appeared too large for Cuomo, or any other candidate, to overcome, particularly...

KOHAT: At least 10,000 personnel of army, police and other agencies would perform security duty during Muharram in Kohat division with the restive Kurram district to be handed over to the army. This was decided at a meeting of the Kohat divisional jirga presided over by General Officer Commanding of the Army’s 9th Division Maj-Gen Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti. The handing over of Kurram to army was because the district has witnessed worst sectarian killings in the past. Held at the Kohat Police Club, the jirga was also attended by chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah, IGP Zulfiqar Hameed, regional police officer Abbas Majeed Marwat, divisional commissioner Syed Mutasim Billah Shah, deputy commissioners, and district police officers of Kohat, Hangu, Orakzai, Karak, Kuram districts, and prominent elders of the Shia and Sunni sects. Jirga also decides to deploy 10,000 personnel across Kohat division Provincial law minister Afab Alam Advocate, MNAs Shehryar Afridi, Hameed Hussain, and Yousaf Khan, MPAs Shafi Jan, Aurangzeb Ora...

• Gandapur says any delay could have led to ‘governor’s rule’ • Salman Akram Raja ‘blindsided’; Saif claims Imran okayed budget from Adiala PESHAWAR: The midnight passage of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa budget has exposed deep divisions within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), with Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur claiming that any delay could have paved the way for the imposition of governor’s rule in the province. The KP Assembly approved the budget around midnight on Monday, bulldozing cut motions on demands for grants, prompting opposition lawmakers to boycott the proceedings. On Tuesday, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja expressed his surprise at the move. “Passing of the KP budget yesterday has come as a complete surprise to me. On June 22, the Political Committee of the PTI endorsed the decision of the KP parliamentary party to pass the budget, if no meeting with (Imran) Khan Sb is allowed, by the latest date possible to prevent financial chaos,” he wrote on X. Mr Raja said that a meeting...

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif applauded Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his delegation for their successful diplomatic tour to the United States and Europe and exposing recent India’s propaganda against Pakistan.

WANA/PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD - At least five persons including three security personnel and two women were martyred in a fierce exchange of fire between security forces and unidentified armed assailants in the Raghzai Mandikol area of Birmal Tehsil, South Waziristan, on Tuesday.

LAHORE - A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday dismissed post-arrest bail petitions filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in eight cases related to the May 9 riots.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review and finalise arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram, with a strong emphasis on ensuring foolproof security, religious harmony, and public welfare.

ISLAMABAD - Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Tuesday commended the government of Pakistan for its close coordination and tireless efforts in facilitating Hajj pilgrims, calling it a reflection of the deep-rooted brotherly relations between the two countries.

ISLAMABAD - Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said Pakistan’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is based on shared faith, history, and mutual respect, rather than transactional interests.

ISLAMABAD - National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC)’s Chairman Justice (retd) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui on Tuesday said that judges should be appointed in Islamabad High Court (IHC) from Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar Tuesday said that Pakistan warmly welcomed today’s ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

ISLAMABAD - Aleema Khan, sister of the incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, said on Tuesday that ‘minus Imran Khan’ — a reference to losing relevance — has happened within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed the provincial budget for the next fiscal year.

ISLAMABAD - The treasury benches in Tuesday’s National Assembly proceedings managed to get approved 69 demands for grants pertaining to multiple ministries and their attached departments for the next fiscal year.

ISLAMABAD - Five members of the same family drowned after a boat capsized in Tarbela Lake near Tamrai in Haripur district on Tuesday.

Vehari - Deputy Commissioner Vehari Imrana Touqeer is taking commendable and proactive steps to ensure both public safety and community welfare across the district.

MULTAN - In a determined bid to ensure peace and harmony during Muharram-ul-Haram, the Punjab Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, led by Provincial Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, visited Multan where it held a high-level meeting with the Divisional Peace Committee and inspected key processional routes and Imam Bargahs.