Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Months after postponing local government polls in the federal capital for the fourth time, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed the interior ministry and Islamabad administration to immediately issue notifications on town corporations’ limits and union councils for polls, warning it would fix the matter for a hearing if there was no progress. Chairing a meeting, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said holding local government elections was a constitutional requirement under Article 140(A) of the Constitution, further noting that local governments were functioning in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan, but elections could not be held in Punjab and Islamabad due to changes in local government laws. The ECP also directed the interior secretary and chief commissioner to take up the matter immediately with the relevant standing committee and cabinet. “If no progress is made, the case will be fixed for hearing in the Election Commission,” it said. “If required, this...

In the Strait of Hormuz, US warships menace Iran’s oil tankers, while in Washington, President Donald Trump demands “complete victory.” But in Tucson, they’re getting ready to welcome the Iranian football team as if nothing were amiss. The city, an oasis of civilisation in the Arizona desert, is set to be the base camp for “Team Melli” when the world’s biggest sporting spectacle opens in the US, Mexico and Canada next month. “We’re just excited to host them here, and we’re going to give them a positive experience,” Sarah Hanna, director of the Kino Sports Complex, where the team will train, told AFP. Grass is being watered and cut to FIFA-regulation height to ensure that players don’t get any surprises when they take to the field in Los Angeles and Seattle, the venues for their group-stage games. Hotel rooms and meeting spaces are locked in, and security is tight. “Right now, I’m probably averaging about 12 to 20 meetings regarding this training facility a week,” said Hanna. “From our concessionaire for food ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding education, skills development, employment, and business opportunities for young people across Pakistan.

The Iranian rial (IRR) continues to attract steady demand in Pakistan’s informal currency markets as of Wednesday, May 13, 2026, with traders reporting sustained buyer activity across major cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Wednesday launched the IBI Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters here, describing it as a powerful symbol of the enduring Pakistan-China partnership and a new chapter of digital collaboration.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to undertake a three-day visit to China, starting May 23, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday. DPM Dar made the announcement while addressing the launch ceremony of the IBI Pakistan Digital Economy Centre in Islamabad. He said that the premier would undertake an official visit to China from May 23 to 26. Dar added that premier was also set to attend a B2B forum on May 24 during the visit. Earlier this month, President Asif Ali Zardari completed a five-day visit to China, which was aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across key economic sectors. He also oversaw the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs). Pakistan and China share a longstanding strategic partnership with ties that span various sectors, including trade, energy, defence, and infrastructure. The two countries are also set to mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations on May 21. The visit comes at a time when Pakistan has remained engaged in f...

A high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry reviewed major environmental and development initiatives in Islamabad, with a focus on protecting Rawal Dam and improving urban infrastructure.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income increased in dollar terms at a modest pace, indicating a recovery in the country’s overall output compared to the previous year, the government said on Wednesday. It was revealed that the country’s economy is expected to grow by 3.70 per cent in the current fiscal year, a revision from earlier projections of 4pc, suggesting that Pakistan will fall short of its GDP target. The provisional growth rates in agriculture, industry and services in FY26 are 2.89pc, 3.51pc and 4.09pc, respectively. The 117th meeting of the National Accounts Committee (NAC) was held in the federal capital on Wednesday at the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Headquarters, Statistics House. The secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Development chaired the meeting. The committee approved the quarterly GDP growth rates for Q1 (revised), Q2 (revised), and Q3 (provisional) during FY 2025-26 and annual growth rates for 2023-24 (final), 2024-25 (revised) and 2025-26 (pro...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed that the commercial banks take steps to ensure the access of women entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to easy loans, besides assisting them in exporting their products.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday acknowledged that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was standing firmly with the Centre in combatting terrorism, hailing that they were on the “same page”. He made the remarks on the floor of the National Assembly while responding to an emotionally charged speech by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Noor Alam Khan, who had criticised both the federal and provincial governments for rising terrorism in the province. “We did not have the KP government’s cooperation for a very long time, [but] now we have [it]. They are standing firmly with the Centre and the armed forces against terrorism. There is no doubt,” Asif declared. “It is a good thing that we are all on the same page,” he added. The defence minister said, “I agree with them that a solution to this issue is needed, but it is not the centre’s responsibility; it is partially, but all provinces have to contribute to this with their resources.” Asif also strongly responded to suggestions that Islamabad hold a dial...

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has described the Pahalgam incident as a “false flag operation,” alleging that India avoided an impartial investigation while attempting to shift blame onto Pakistan.

President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday approved awarding the Sitara-i-Shujaat to a citizen who sacrificed his life while foiling a suicide attack in Attock’s Jand tehsil. The approval was granted by the president on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, state-run PTV reported. According to reports, the incident occurred on Monday near a key security post on the Punjab–Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, located in Jand, some 70km from Attock. A local shepherd, identified as Liaqat, noticed a suspicious individual in the area while grazing his goats nearby. Witnesses said Liaqat confronted the suspect after sensing something unusual about the man’s behaviour. As he approached, the suspect detonated himself, claiming Liaqat’s life in the process. A day earlier, the president and the prime minister had lauded Liaqat’s sacrifice in separate statements. PM Shehbaz said that as a responsible citizen, Liaqat stopped the terrorist and asked for his identification, who then blew himself up, resulting in the she...

Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf met Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday and briefed him on arrangements being made for the ongoing Hajj operation.

The Punjab government has decided to include lessons on patriotism and Marka-e-Haq in the province’s educational curriculum as part of efforts to promote national unity and awareness among students.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to begin preparations for the upcoming monsoon season to deal with any possible emergency situation.

The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee will meet on May 17 (Sunday) for the sighting of the Zil Hajj 1447 Hijri moon, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Wednesday.

KARACHI: A court on Wednesday granted police three-day physical remand of a woman allegedly involved in supplying cocaine and other deadly narcotics across the city. Anmol alias Pinky was arrested a day earlier from her Garden apartment in a joint raid conducted by police and a civilian intelligence agency in connection with two cases pertaining to the possession of narcotics and an unlicenced weapon. The incident gained attention when a video of her being escorted to court without handcuffs went viral on social media. Subsequently, authorities suspended the investigating officer, including two other policemen, while the accused was sent on judicial remand by a judicial magistrate. On Wednesday, the investigation officer (IO) filed a revision application against the judicial magistrate’s order. The matter was taken up by District and Sessions Judge Zahoor Ahmed Hakro. According to an order issued by the court, a copy of which is available with Dawn, said that investigating officer (IO) Saeed Ahmed contended t...

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that the Indian aircraft shot down during the brief military conflict in May last year “brought down Indian arrogance with them”. He made these remarks while addressing a ceremony held in relevance to Marka-i-Haq at Islamabad’s Institute of Strategic Studies. The conflict with India — starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos with a ceasefire between the two countries on May 10 — has been called “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth) by the state. During the conflict, New Delhi launched deadly air strikes in Punjab and Azad Kashmir on May 7. Pakistan retaliated by downing several Indian planes in air-to-air combat. The initial tally of the downed jets was announced as five and later raised to eight. In his fresh remarks on the matter, Tarar said: “When those eight planes went down — and a lot of them were Rafale planes, which are a source of pride for India — those planes brought down with them the Indian arrogance; and ...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “significantly” cut the size of his motorcade to save fuel, a government source said on Wednesday, days after Modi urged citizens to tighten their belts amid a surge in energy prices triggered by the Iran war. Modi appealed to people on Sunday to adopt austerity measures, including avoiding unnecessary foreign travel, using public transport, reducing gold purchases and cutting their use of cooking oil, as soaring global energy prices put pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Following the appeal, some critics on social media questioned the large motorcades of senior Indian politicians, Modi’s domestic flights and his upcoming Europe visit on his official aircraft. The number of vehicles in Modi’s motorcade was reduced while ensuring essential security components, in line with the protocol of the Special Protection Group that guards the prime minister, the source said, without specifying the motorcade’s actual size. Modi gets the highest level of personal ...

The superintendent of Adiala Jail has opposed a request for meetings between Bushra Bibi and her family members, citing concerns that prison visits were being used for political messaging outside the jail.