Pakistan

Hong Kong planned to evacuate thousands of residents on Friday as a bomb left over from World War II was discovered at a construction site. Police said that the bomb measured approximately 1.5 metres in length and weighed about 450 kilogrammes (1,000 pounds), adding that they believed it remained “fully functional”. “Due to the extremely high risks involved in dismantling and disposing of the bomb, we must activate the emergency evacuation plan,” said Hong Kong Police District Commander Andy Chan. About 6,000 people from 18 residential buildings in the Quarry Bay area will be evacuated on Friday night, with demolition work set to begin early on Saturday morning, police added. Hong Kong was an early target in what would become a full-blown Asian campaign for imperial Japan during the Second World War. The city saw fierce fighting between Japanese and Allied forces during wartime, and hikers and construction workers still occasionally discover unexploded bombs in the territory nearly 100 years later. In May 201...

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said the recent agreement with Saudi Arabia was the outcome of months of diplomatic engagement rather than a sudden development.

Pakistan and China have signed Memorandums of Understanding to enhance cooperation in the areas of textile, livestock industry and advanced emergency equipment.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan has said that the leadership of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is committed to elevating bilateral relations, stressing that the newly signed strategic defense pact is purely defensive and not directed against any other state.

The recently signed Strategic Defence Mutual Agreement (SDMA) between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has been widely welcomed across Pakistan as a major milestone in bilateral relations and a significant step towards regional peace and security in the region.

Applications for the private Hajj scheme have officially begun today, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a “longstanding” relationship with the United States, stating that “there is no either-or in our relations with other countries”. The DG ISPR expressed these views during an interview, which was aired by Pakistani television channels on Friday. According to television channels, the interview was purportedly given to a German media house. During the interview, the military spokesperson was asked about Army Chief Asim Munir’s visits to the US and whether they had helped with “warming up” relations between Islamabad and Washington. In his response, Lt-Gen Chaudhry appreciated the US and President Trump’s role in mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May after a four-day escalation. He said, “Over a period of time, we have been able to enhance and amplify on our convergences (with the US) and deftly managed the divergences.” @dawn.today Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated the electric bus project in Sargodha, announcing free travel for senior citizens and students.

The Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court has issued arrest warrants for eight absconding suspects in connection with two May 9 cases.

Virgin Atlantic Airways has announced that it will resume flight operations to Pakistan later this year, reconnecting the United Kingdom with major Pakistani cities after a hiatus of nearly two years.

Director General of the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali Kathia, on Friday announced that the 2025 monsoon season has officially concluded, with river flows across Punjab returning to normal levels.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi dismissed on Friday the PTI’s plea that contested the decision to make incarcerated party founder Imran Khan appear in trial proceedings of the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case via video link. Imran’s arrest on May 9, 2023 sparked violent protests across the country, during which state buildings and military installations, including the GHQ, were torched and vandalised. He was expected to attend today’s hearing at the ATC via video link, but his counsel argued before Judge Amjad Ali Shah against this arrangement on the PTI’s application. For his part, prosecutor Zaheer Shah contended that trial proceedings were transferred to the ATC from Adiala Jail — where Imran is imprisoned — on the Punjab government’s executive order. “The authority to review the executive order lies with the constitutional court,” he added. He further argued that in 2016, the Code of Criminal Procedure was amended to allow suspects to appear in courts via video link. Shah also cited Sect...

Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has strongly criticised India and its state institutions, including the Army, for being driven by extremist political ideologies and Hindutva nationalism.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that he put forward a “fair and balanced” nuclear proposal to European powers to prevent the return of United Nations sanctions on the Islamic republic. Iran is “introducing a creative, fair, and balanced proposal which addresses genuine concerns and is mutually beneficial,” Araghchi said on X. He added that the proposal was made on Thursday to Britain, France and Germany — known collectively as the E3 — as well as the European Union. “Turning this idea into action can be prompt and resolve the respective bottom lines to avert a crisis,” Araghchi said, arguing that “Iran cannot be the sole responsible actor”. The comments were made as the United Nations Security Council was set to vote on Friday on reimposing biting economic sanctions on Tehran over its contested nuclear programme. Diplomatic sources expect that Iran does not have the nine votes needed to maintain the status quo and prevent the punitive measures from being reimposed by the end of the month...

The federal government has launched efforts to secure maximum concessions from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the ongoing review talks, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directing authorities to negotiate relief in light of recent floods and heavy rains, sources said on Friday.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday announced that his party will launch peace marches across all four provinces, vowing to unite the nation on a single platform for the protection of citizens’ rights.

LAHORE: The Punjab government’s support for a controversial YouTuber — who recently sparked outrage with remarks aimed at Sindh — has not only angered the PPP but also triggered a war of words between the two coalition partners on social media. A Senate standing committee recently summoned YouTuber Rizwan Razi, also known as Razi Dada, and grilled him for making derogatory remarks about the people of Sindh. The panel subsequently directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block his YouTube channel over what it termed “hate speech” against the people of Sindh. Committee members also questioned how a presenter who appeared on the state-run PTV News could make such remarks on his personal YouTube channel. In one of his recent vlogs, Razi considered close to the CM made unsavoury, racist remarks. CM Maryam backs Razi’s apology after PPP terms his remarks a slight to Sindh However, the Punjab government and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz openly came out in support of Razi, with a social media campaign...

Peshawar - Adviser to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, has stated that the Commonwealth Report is a slap in the face of those who chant the slogan “Respect the Vote.

• US vetoes resolution calling for immediate Gaza ceasefire, Democrats table resolution for recognition of Palestine • Focus on Middle East may affect scheduled Trump-Shehbaz meeting • PM heads to London, will attend UN moot on two-state solution WASHINGTON: With world leaders expected to converge on New York for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the escalating crises in Gaza and Qatar are reshaping global diplomatic priorities, with significant implications for Pakistan’s engagement with the United States. In addition to his address at the General Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also expected to take part in the high-level international conference for the ‘Peaceful Sett­lement of the Question of Pales­tine and the Imple­men­tation of the Two-State Solution’. The conference, which will take place on Monday, would require the Pakistani delegation to hold close consultations with Arab and Muslim leaders during the UNGA. At a news briefing this week, UN Secretary General Antonio...

RAWALPINDI - Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said that educational reforms are a top priority for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, crediting her for ensuring merit and transparency in the education system.