Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee was informed on Thursday that Pakistan plans to digitise all payments by the federal, provincial, and local governments, as well as state-owned enterprises, by June 2026. This initiative is part of a broader move towards a cashless economy. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad briefed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, outlining the country’s progress in developing a digital payments ecosystem. He discussed the current infrastructure, achievements, and emerging trends, noting that 88 per cent of retail transactions are now conducted digitally. He added that Pakistan’s digital infrastructure supports 226 million accounts and 46m RAAST IDs across the country. Efforts are ongoing to increase the value of these transactions and improve security, including the introduction of a bank liability framework and a two-hour transaction cooling-off period to reduce fraud. Mr Ahmad highlighted the successful launch of Mashreq Bank’s digital op...

• Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir argues the case fell outside workplace harassment law, should be dealt by SJC • Justice Saman Imtiaz defends assuming jurisdiction, says courtroom is a workplace ISLAMABAD: Two judges of the Isla­m­abad High Court (IHC) have written letters expressing conflicting views over the proceeding on the harassment complaint filed against the chief justice by Advocate Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, who was part of the now-defunct committee constituted to examine harassment allegations against IHC CJ Justice Sarfraz Dogar, aligned himself with the top judge, asserting that such allegations did not fall within the ambit of the workplace harassment law. In a letter, Justice Tahir clarified that the appropriate forum to address such grievances was the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). He maintained that the competent authority had erroneously assumed jurisdiction over the matter, according to sources familiar with the development. The letter was circulated among judge...

• Four terrorists eliminated in Khuzdar operation, says ISPR • Two FC men injured in Kalat grenade attack • Suicide bomber strikes convoy near Kech QUETTA: At least six people lost their lives in a powerful bomb explosion in the border town of Chaman, a suicide bomber targeted a convoy in Kech district, while security forces killed four militants in Khuzdar during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on Thursday. Separately, four people, including two Frontier Corps officials, were injured in a grenade attack and firing by unknown armed men in the Mangochar area of Kalat division late in the evening. Officials said the Chaman blast ripped through a crowded taxi stand near the Pak-Afghan border in the evening, killing four people instantly and injuring two others. The wounded later succumbed to their injuries, raising the death toll to six. “The explosion took place near makeshift shops,” Assistant Commissioner Chaman Imtiaz Baloch told Dawn. Police and Levies forces rushed to the scene and shifted the dead a...

ISLAMABAD - Terrorism emanating from Afghanistan remains the gravest threat to Pakistan’s national security, top Pakistani diplomat told the UN Security Council yesterday.

QUETTA - At least five people were martyred and another one injured in a bomb blast in Balochistan’s Chaman district, police sources said on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan Thursday wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan wherein he expressed grievances over several matters, including the conditions he has been kept in Adiala Jail.

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned hearing till Friday in a case pertaining to the imposition of super tax by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

ISLAMABAD - Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said Pakistan greatly values its close ties with the Maldives, describing the relationship as one founded on goodwill, trust and Islamic brotherhood.

ISLAMABAD - The members of the National Ulema and Mashaikh Council on Thursday warmly welcomed the signing of the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, describing it as a ‘historic milestone’ in bilateral ties and a source of strength for the entire Muslim Ummah.

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Defense Khawaja M Asif on Thursday said that defense pact with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not against any country.

KARACHI - Pakistan’s External Current Account Balance recorded a deficit of US$ 245 million during August 2025 while the cumulative deficit of the current account in the first two months of fiscal year 2025-26 reached $624 million.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that he is deeply touched by the heart-warming welcome, accorded to him by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Moham-med bin Salman during his visit to Riyadh.

TOKYO: The night was Keshorn Walcott’s from the start. Right from the second throw, he had the lead in the men’s javelin final. The highly-anticipated clash of the South Asian titans — Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra — failed to gain momentum in the sold-out Japan National Stadium that turned its attention to Walcott on his way to winning his maiden world title. Walcott’s win, thanks to a season’s best 88.16m throw, was pleasantly surprising but not entirely unexpected given he was ranked fourth in the world coming into the World Athletics Championships. Anderson Peters of Grenada was the favorite for gold after an “unexpected’ 89.53m throw in the qualifiers. Curtis Thompson was another surprise of the night as he took bronze in an event the US hasn’t medalled in since 2007. But the burden of expectations was largely on Arshad and Chopra; one an Olympic champion, one the reigning champion, both poster boys for sporting excellence and Pakistan-India rivalry outside of cricket. A brotherly relationship kindled ...

• NCCIA team makes second attempt in a week to interrogate PTI founder over social media activity; Imran insists on his lawyers being present for questioning • IHC moved for conjugal rights of Imran Khan and his wife at Adiala Jail; security around ATC beefed up ahead of today’s hearing RAWALPINDI: Despite repea­ted attempts by National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to interrogate PTI founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, officials have been unable to extract any information as he has consistently refused to meet them. Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking permission for the former prime minister and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to exercise their conjugal rights while confined in the same jail. According to sources, a three-member NCCIA team, headed by Additional Director Ayaz Khan, visited the Central Jail Adiala on Thursday for the second time during this week to question the PTI founder about his “X” handle. However, the sources said Mr Khan told the team to bring...

QUETTA - Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, has reaffirmed that the repatriation of Afghan refugees will be conducted in a transparent, organized, and respectful manner, with special care extended to women, children, and the elderly men.

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