Pakistan

Air India said on Monday it had grounded one of its Boeing Dreamliners after one of its pilots reported an issue with the fuel control switch, which is at the centre of an ongoing probe into a deadly air crash last year. “We have grounded said aircraft and are involving the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) to get the pilot’s concerns checked on a priority basis,” the airline said, adding that the matter has been communicated to India’s aviation regulator. Boeing and India’s civil aviation ministry, which houses the aviation regulator, did not immediately respond to a Reuters’ request for comment. The Tata Group and Singapore Airlines-owned carrier has faced intense scrutiny since a Dreamliner crash in June last year killed 260 people. Air India said on Monday it had checked the fuel control switches on all Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet after a directive from the regulator last year, and had found no issues. A cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the June 12 Air India flight suggeste...

Agree to fast-track PTA concessions, labour working group and regional transport corridors

KSE-100 adds 883 points, supported by selective index-heavy stocks

Govt to facilitate 610 exporters for international exhibitions under action plan

Chief of Defence Staff (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Libya, according to the military’s media affairs wing. In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Libyan Arab Armed Forces Commander-in-chief Field Marshal Khalifa Abu-al-Qasim Haftar and Deputy Commander-in-chief Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar called on CDF Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. “During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, with particular focus on security dynamics in respective regions and professional cooperation,” the statement said. “The discussion underscored the importance of continued engagement and collaboration between the armed forces of Pakistan and Libya,” it said. CDF Munir welcomed the distinguished guests and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Libya, it said. “He emphasised Pakistan’s support for peace, st...

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said on Monday the Nordic country’s crown princess, Mette-Marit, displayed poor judgement in having contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, following fresh reports of her ties with the late US sex offender. New files related to Epstein published by the US Justice Department on Friday included extensive email correspondence between Mette-Marit and Epstein after he was found guilty of child sex crimes in 2008. On Saturday, Mette-Marit, the spouse of the heir to the throne Haakon, apologised for maintaining contacts, saying she showed poor judgement. On Monday, Stoere agreed with her. “I am really using her own words. She says she has showed bad judgement. I agree and I think it is worth saying that when I am asked my opinion about this,” Stoere told reporters. Asked whether he had been in contact with the royal palace about the matter, Stoere said he had not. The prime minister added that Mette-Marit, and other prominent Norwegians who were named in the latest Epstein documents...

The federal government has declared a nationwide public holiday on February 5 in observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day, reiterating Pakistan’s unwavering support for the people of Indian-administered Kashmir and their right to self-determination.

KARACHI: PTI on Monday challenged in the Sindh High Court (SHC) the alleged detention of over 180 party workers during raids in Karachi and other parts of Sindh under the controversial Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance. On Sunday, the PTI alleged that the Sindh police carried out pre-dawn raids on the houses of its workers and leaders and picked up around 180 of them. The provincial government has denied the allegations of detention. A two-member constitutional bench comprising Justice Muhammad Saleem Jessar and Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro took up the plea for hearing on Monday. Advocate Ali Tahir appeared as the petitioners’ counsel. However, Justice Bhanbro recused from hearing the case. Subsequently, the bench ordered the registrar’s office to fix the hearing for Tuesday as the “counsel pleads urgency”, according to a short order available with Dawn. The case will now be fixed before another two-member bench of the SHC. The petitioners — PTI Sindh General Secretary Mansoor Ali and Insaf Lawyers ...

ISLAMABAD: World Bank Group (WBG) President Ajay Banga called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday as Pakistan acknowledged the group’s valuable support, which has been instrumental in advancing the country’s economic development and reforms. According to the PM Office, the prime minister welcomed Banga for his first official visit as the president of the WBG. The premier appreciated the group for its long-standing partnership with Pakistan and its commitment to supporting the development priorities of the country, especially through the 10-year WBG Country Partnership Framework (CPF). Shehbaz also appreciated Banga’s leadership in transforming the WBG into a more impactful development partner. He said that the government of Pakistan was vigorously working on an economic reform agenda, with a multi-pronged, comprehensive, structural, homegrown programme aimed at sustainable economic stability. The prime minister also appreciated the support of the global financial institution in resilient infrastructure...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan is vigorously pursuing its economic reform agenda through a multi-pronged, comprehensive, home-grown structural programme aimed at achieving sustainable economic stability.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday said his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif focused entirely on cooperation against terrorism, stressing that no political matters were discussed.

Pakistan’s first polio vaccination campaign of the current year was launched on Monday across the country. The nationwide drive is being held from February 2 to February 5 in most cities, while Sindh is conducting a week-long campaign until February 8. Strict security measures have been taken in various districts, keeping in view past attacks on polio teams. First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, in a post on X, said: “The first nationwide polio vaccination drive of 2026 is underway, with health workers going door to door.” “This campaign is a vital step towards protecting our children and eliminating polio once and for all,” she stressed. The first lady encouraged all parents with children aged five years or below to ensure their kids receive the vaccine every time it is offered, pointing out that this was the “only way to eliminate polio for good”. Speaking at the formal inauguration of the drive in Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah noted that the campaign aimed to vaccinate 10.5 million children in t...

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain was shifted to a hospital in London late Sunday after his health condition worsened, the party confirmed.

ISLAMABAD: After a noticeable decline in violence in December 2025, the first month of the new year witnessed a renewed surge in anti-state violence, leading to higher fatalities among militants, civilians and security personnel, according to official statistics. Data released by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) shows that combat-related deaths in January 2026 rose by 43 per cent compared to December 2025. During the month, 242 militants were killed, while 73 civilians and 46 security force personnel lost their lives. Twelve militants were injured, while at least 71 civilians and 52 security personnel were also wounded. PICSS reported that January saw 87 militant attacks nationwide, marking a 28pc increase from the 68 attacks recorded in December 2025. Of these, 38 attacks took place in mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 20 in the province’s tribal districts (erstwhile Fata), 27 in Balochistan and two in Punjab. Balochistan emerged as the primary theatre of militant a...

First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has termed the anti-polio campaign a crucial step towards protecting children and eradicating polio once and for all.

Director General United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), H.

The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Monday condemned the spate of attacks in Balochistan last week, and called it “a security failure on the part of the provincial government and law enforcement agencies”. On Saturday, the military’s media affairs wing said terrorists of Fitna-al-Hindustan carried out a spate of attacks across Balochistan. 18 civilians and 15 personnel of security forces were martyred in the attacks on Saturday. In a statement, posted on X, the TTAP condemned the attacks and expressed sorrow with the martyrs. It noted that “a terrorist attack in the province on such a large scale was a failure on the part of the provincial government and LEAs”. The opposition alliance stated that the series of attacks showed the “extent to which the rule of law has become limited in the province and the lack of concern for the lives and property of citizens.” “For how long will we turn a blind eye to the fact that the provincial government — which does not have the public’s supp...

Security forces killed 22 more terrorists during the ongoing security sweeps in Balochistan, taking the tally of terrorists killed over the past two days to 177, said security officials. Terrorists carried out a large-scale coordinated attack in the province on Saturday. The military’s media affairs wing said terrorists of Fitna-al-Hindustan carried out a spate of attacks across Balochistan on Saturday, responding to which the security forces killed more than 150 terrorists. The state has designated Balochistan-based terrorist groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. The terrorists were killed overnight as security sweeps continued across the province following Saturday’s attack, with security officials adding that the “noose is tightening”. Mobile internet services remain suspended Residents of Quetta and other cities in Balochistan continued to face difficulties on Monday as mobile internet services remained suspended for the third day ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday held a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House to review the law and order situation in the province, amid ongoing counterterrorism operations.

The Australia Awards programme has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan through education-focused development initiatives by offering fully funded scholarships for master’s level studies at Australian universities.