Pakistan

The Balochistan government has decided in principle to introduce gender-neutral primary schools as part of a broader reform programme aimed at improving the province’s education sector.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that his country’s adversaries had turned to “hybrid warfare”, aimed at creating divisions among Iranians, after receiving a “decisive blow”. Mojtaba, who has not appeared publicly since being named as the supreme leader on March 8, made these remarks in his message on the death anniversary of Iran’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The message shared on his official X account and reported by the Iranian media. Mojtaba’s message stated, “The malicious enemy has been defeated in its confrontation with the armed forces. Since it has received a decisive blow both in military combat and in Iran’s public squares and streets, it’s experiencing a profound and significant humiliation. “The enemy has focused its schemes in hybrid warfare on two points: the resilience of the Iranian people and trying to create errors in the assessments of the country’s officials. The instrument it’s using for both is sowing the seeds of doubt, despair, fear, mistrus...

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Thursday ruled that directions to the high courts for expeditious decisions in pending matters by superior courts should be issued sparingly and couched in appropriate words. The judgement comes against the backdrop of a recent petition by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) before the Supreme Court challenging its May 12, 2026 direction to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for deciding in two weeks the sentence suspension pleas of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial social media posts case. The NCCIA had also requested the SC to recall and withdraw that order to help preserve the “sanctity and independence of the judiciary, maintaining equality among citizens and avoiding discrimination”. According to a three-page order by Justice Aamer Farooq, issued in deciding a dispute between the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) and Master Tiles and Ceramics Industries Ltd, it was held that h...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday held separate meetings with Members of the National Assembly Gul Asghar Khan and Raja Osama Sarwar in Islamabad.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday congratulated Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe on their election as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027–2028 term. “We wish them every success in discharging this important responsibility,” he said in a post on X. “As Pakistan continues its tenure on the UNSC through 2026, we remain committed to advancing peace, security, dialogue, and multilateral cooperation,” he added. Dar further stated, “We look forward to working closely with the incoming members in pursuit of our shared objectives and a more peaceful, secure, and equitable world.” Only 10 out of the 15 members of the council are elected, with no election for the five veto-wielding permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday elected Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe to the 15-member UN Security Council for ...

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Thursday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting minority rights, saying consultations with minority communities were essential for ensuring that legislation and public policies reflected the needs and concerns of all citizens.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for an “exponential” expansion of the country’s atomic arsenal during a visit to a newly operational nuclear material production factory, state media agency KCNA said on Thursday. Kim said production capacity for weapons-grade nuclear material had reached more than double its previous level over the past five years and instructed officials to further increase output to meet long-term strategic goals. During the visit, he was briefed on new production processes incorporating more advanced technology and reviewed current output targets and future plans, KCNA reported. Photographs published by state media showed Kim walking between rows of cylinder-shaped equipment inside the facility, which some analysts said could indicate the location is at the country’s main nuclear complex in Yongbyon. Kim said the expansion was necessary given what he called worsening security threats and long-term confrontation with “the most ferocious enemies” and reaffirmed the country’s policy of ...

Israel and Lebanon agreed on Wednesday to implement a ceasefire but said it would require a “complete cessation” of fire by Hezbollah, according to a joint statement after US-led talks in Washington. The two sides, which do not have formal diplomatic relations, also agreed to create “pilot zones” in which the Lebanese armed forces “will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors”. The development came despite continued cross-border attacks earlier in the day, with Hezbollah saying it targeted Israeli troops and Israeli strikes killing at least ten people in southern Lebanon. Just hours after the agreement was announced, air raid alarms sounded in northern Israel with a “suspicious aerial target” identified without causing any casualties. The joint statement said the ceasefire was “contingent on a complete cessation” of fire by Hezbollah as well as evacuation of the group’s operatives from southern Lebanon. The meetings in Washington were the fourth round of direct talks b...

The repatriation of illegally residing foreign nationals from Punjab is continuing under the federal government’s ongoing policy, with more than 35,000 individuals deported from the province so far, according to Punjab Police.

Sarfraz Bugti has directed authorities to provide desks in all functional government schools across the province, aiming to end the practice of students sitting on mats during classes.

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar on Thursday assured the Christian community of the government’s commitment towards the protection of the rights of religious minorities, state broadcaster PTV reported. The information minister, along with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, met a delegation of the Christian community, during which they discussed the state of minority rights and the welfare and well-being of the Christian community. As per PTV, the delegation “commended the government’s continued commitment to protecting the rights of minority communities”, welcoming a recent legislation by the Punjab government — Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026. They also commended the government’s efforts to promote equal opportunities for religious minorities. During the meeting, the participants discussed resolution of issues faced by the Christian community, stressing the need for “effectively addressing the issues of the community through relevant law and policies”. According to the report, the meeting also reached an a...

ISLAMABAD - Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi called on Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and discussed the overall political situation, parliamentary affairs, and key issues facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr.

Shehbaz Sharif says measures being taken to bring informal economy into tax net Directs timely completion of Pakistan Railways’ mega projects PM, Chinese Ambassador discuss evolving regional situation.

CHILAS - Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed an election rally in Chilas Tehsil of Diamer district on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday announced that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party would stage a protest sit-in outside Parliament House on June 10 in an attempt to increase political pressure on the ruling alliance during the federal budget session.

ISLAMABAD - Leaders of major political and religious parties in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Wednesday unanimously adopted a comprehensive resolution at an All Parties Conference (APC) in Muzaffarabad, reaffirming support for the Kashmir freedom movement, democratic stability and constitutional governance while rejecting the June 9.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday extended his heartiest felicitations to Mr Mette Frederiksen on becoming the Prime Minister of Denmark for the third consecutive term.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday held separate meetings with Members of the National Assembly Malik Abrar Ahmed, Malik Suhail Khan, and Hafiz Mian Nauman.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that more than 832,000 farmers across the province had been issued Kissan Cards, describing the initiative as a major step towards improving farmers’ access to agricultural financing and reducing their dependence on traditional middlemen.