Pakistan

The Sindh government has approved the procurement of another 1,000 pink electric scooters for women to promote safer and more accessible transportation across the province.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered strict action against corrupt officials of the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA), warning that those involved in illegal activities and misuse of authority could face imprisonment.

Pakistan and Iran held talks on bilateral relations, railway connectivity, and the overall regional situation during a meeting between Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi and Iranian Ambassador Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated and performed groundbreaking ceremonies of several development projects during his visit to Gilgit-Baltistan, saying he was delighted to visit one of the country’s most beautiful regions and meet talented students.

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry congratulated the nation on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq, commemorating Pakistan’s victory over India, a five-time stronger enemy.

Pakistan’s pre-Hajj flight operation is continuing at full pace, with more than 46,000 pilgrims already arriving in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Wednesday.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued an advisory to government departments regarding expected weather conditions in Punjab during May and the following two months.

The Federal Constitutional Court on Thursday declared Section 7E of the Income Tax Ordinance null and void, dismissing appeals filed by the Federal Board of Revenue seeking its reinstatement.

The government has decided to introduce a facility enabling citizens to apply for passports from their homes as part of efforts to modernise the country’s passport system.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has called for renewed national unity and rejection of division to ensure a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations on Thursday said the country’s armed forces were fully prepared for future warfare and remained ready to respond decisively to any aggression against the homeland.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has received international recognition for his leadership abilities and military diplomacy, with global observers highlighting his role in promoting regional and international peace.

The military’s media affairs wing has said that any hostile design against Pakistan will be countered with “even greater strength, precision and resolve far stronger than what was witnessed by the adversary during Marka-i-Haq”. Last year’s military conflict with India, starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Pakistan’s Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, with a ceasefire ending a military escalation between the two countries on May 10, has been called “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth) by the state. In a statement released late Wednesday night to mark the first anniversary of the conflict with India, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the armed forces, particularly the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) “proudly commemorate a defining chapter in the nation’s military history; one that strengthened national confidence, reaffirmed institutional resolve and validated PAF’s relentless pursuit of modernization and focused capability enhancement”. “This historic milestone reflects PAF’s steadfast journey ...

The PTI on Thursday expressed concern and anger over reports of Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi being “suddenly and secretly” taken to the hospital in the middle of the night and then taken back to jail. “The entire matter is shrouded in unusual secrecy, a lack of transparency, and serious human rights violations, which have raised countless questions in the minds of the nation,” the party said. The statement came after media reports emerged on Wednesday night alleging that Bushra Bibi, who is currently incarcerated at Adiala jail, was taken to a hospital under tight security for a follow-up examination of her eye. Last month, Bushra Bibi underwent eye surgery at a Rawalpindi hospital. According to prison authorities, she was diagnosed with retinal detachment in the right eye, and doctors had advised surgery. “Why is the nation not being informed about her illness, if her condition deteriorated to the extent that she had to be urgently taken to the hospital in the middle of night?” the party asked. “Which hospi...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday expressed optimism over the possibility of an agreement between the United States and Iran, saying Pakistan hoped ongoing exchanges between the two sides would lead to a positive outcome.

Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday arrived in Gilgit-Baltistan on a day-long visit to inaugurate several development projects and review administrative affairs in the region.

Doctors Without Borders on Thursday accused Israel of having deliberately restricted food and aid in Gaza, creating a “manufactured malnutrition crisis” with particularly devastating impacts on infants and pregnant and breastfeeding women. The report also examined the harm done by the US- and Israeli-backed private organisation set up last year to largely replace UN distribution of aid in Gaza. The medical charity, known by its French acronym MSF, based its case on an analysis of the situation between late 2024 and early 2026 at four health facilities it supports in the Gaza Strip. That analysis showed significantly higher levels of prematurity and mortality among infants born to malnourished mothers, and spikes in miscarriages, it said. MSF linked these outcomes with Israel’s blockade of essential goods and attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities. “Insecurity, displacement, restrictions on aid, and limited access to food and medical care have had devastating consequences for maternal...

Mohsin Naqvi paid a surprise visit to Islamabad International Airport on Wednesday to review immigration procedures for Hajj pilgrims and other passengers.

Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu on Wednesday said the role played by the Pakistan Air Force in the country’s defence during Marka-e-Haq was “historic” and would be remembered in golden words, saying the force delivered a strong response to the enemy “from Srinagar to Bathinda”.

Gunmen on motorbikes in India’s West Bengal ambushed and killed a political aide from the ruling Hindu-nationalist party days after it swept state elections, police said Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a resounding victory on Monday in the eastern state of more than 100 million people, taking 207 of the 294 assembly seats, for its first-ever state victory in West Bengal. Chandranath Rath, 41, a close aide of West Bengal’s BJP chief Suvendu Adhikari was shot dead late on Wednesday near his home in Kolkata. Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, now tipped to become the state chief minister, called it “cold-blooded murder”. Motorbikes blocked Rath’s vehicle, before the attackers opened fire in a barrage of around a dozen shots, hitting Rath multiple times in the heart. “The shooting happened at about 11 pm on Wednesday — the bikes that stopped Rath’s car have been seized,” West Bengal police chief Siddh Nath Gupta told AFP. “The bikes had fake reg...