Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Division on Friday gave the National Highway Authority a two-week deadline to submit complete financial and contractual records related to the dualisation of National Highway-55, a multi-billion rupee project awarded under the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation.

GILGIT: Traders in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) on Friday continued their protest for a 23rd consecutive day, blocking a key trade route with China and vowing to continue until the government scraps federal taxes they call illegal. The protest on the Karakoram Highway has halted all Pakistan-China trade and travel through the border crossing, leaving thousands of people, including Chinese nationals and foreign tourists, stranded in the area. Protesters, who have gained the support of local political, youth and religious parties, argue that the region’s disputed constitutional status exempts it from federal taxation. “The federal government is reluctant to solve the genuine demands of local people,” said Mohammad Ishaq, one of the protest organisers. Protesters argue that federal taxes are illegal due to region’s disputed status “They are just demanding how federal taxes can be collected from the people who are not constitutional citizens of Pakistan and the region is a disputed status area.” He added that protesting...

GILGIT: The Vice Chairman of GB Awami Action Committee, Javed Iqbal, commonly known as Javed Naji, and a married woman were shot dead in the name of honour on Thursday in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Tangir area, the home constituency of Chief Minister Gulbar Khan. This was the second such honour killing incident in the Tangir district within a week According to FIR registered with Jaglot Police Station, Javed Iqbal, his wife and children were washing clothes on a river near their home when two men, Afsar Khan and Dar Khan, reached there and allegedly shot Javed Iqbal dead. The two accused, after killing Javed Iqbal, also killed a married woman in the name of honour. HRCP denounces second such incident in Tangir area within a week In the same area on July 21, a man Bareem from Frori village, allegedly shot dead his wife, the mother of four children, and another man in the name of honour. The incident sparked protest over social media by rights and civil society activists. Local community leaders and activists of politi...

SARGODHA/ RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court in Sargodha on Friday sentenced PTI worker Muham­mad Ismail to rigorous life imprisonment in May 9 cases related to attack on judicial complex in Mianwali and declared 50 others, including former opposition leader in Punjab Ahmad Khan Bhachar as well as PTI MNAs Ahmad Chatha and Bilal Ijaz, proclaimed offenders. Judge Muhammad Naeem Sheikh dir­ected the Mianwali police chief to ensure the arrest all 51 fugitives of law within a month and produce them in the court. The ATC in Sargodha handed down a rigorous life sentence to Mr Ismail for his role in the May 9, 2023 riots, which saw attacks on a judicial complex and other government installations in Mianwali. The verdict, delivered by Judge Muhammad Naeem Sheikh, also declared 50 other PTI leaders and workers as proclaimed offenders. Warrants out for arrest of 18 party leaders in Nov 26 protests case Among those named as fugitives are prominent figures such as former Punjab opposition leader Ahmad Khan Bhachar and s...

QUETTA: Pakistan has issued a new call for Afghans living in the southwest to leave the country, triggering thousands to rush to the border, officials said. “We have received directives from the home department to launch a fresh drive to repatriate all Afghans… in a respectful and orderly manner,” Meharullah, a senior government official in Quetta, the capital of Balo­chistan province, told AFP. On Friday, there were “around 4,000 to 5,000 people at the Chaman border” waiting to return, said Habib Bingalzai, a senior government official in Chaman. Abdul Latif Hakimi, the head of Refugee Registration in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province across the border, said they were aware of an increase in returning Afghans on Friday. Millions of Afghans have poured into Pakistan over the past several decades, fleeing successive wars, as well as hundreds of thousands who arrived after the return of the Tali­ban government in 2021. A deportation drive first launched in 2023 was renewed in April when the government rescinded h...

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed that the early warning system of the Meteor-ological Department be made more effective and fully operational on an emergency basis to mitigate the damages caused by severe weather conditions.

ISLAMABAD - A multi-party conference hosted by opposition alliance ‘Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan’ (TTAP) on Friday called for a consensus-based new charter of democracy (CoD), through a national dialogue, among all political forces of the country to safeguard parliamentary democracy and human rights.

Foreign ministry hails new tariff under US trade deal Says tariff agreement with US opens new avenues for Pakistani exports Calls Trump move a balanced and forward-looking approach.

ISLAMABAD - The 98th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China was commemorated at GHQ on Friday.

• After Tirah tribesmen, Bajaur peace Jirga tries to convince militants to quit the area • Elders assure army, FC of full support for anti-militancy efforts BAJAUR / NORTH WAZIRISTAN: A complete curfew was imposed across North Waziristan in view of the security situation, while a peace jirga tried to prevail upon local militant leaders to leave Bajaur. The moves were part of efforts to restore peace to these merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which have witnessed a spike in militant activity of late, especially along the border with Afghanistan. On Friday, a peace march was held in the Shewa tehsil of North Waziristan district against the deteriorating law and order situation in the area. Tribal elders, representatives of all political parties, the Utmanzai Jirga, Youth of Kabul Khel, and activists of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) attended the gathering. Addressing the participants, Utmanzai jirga spok­esman Mufti Baitullah and other speakers expressed concern over rising lawlessness across the dist...

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday firmly reiterated its consistent stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, declaring there is no change in Islamabad’s policy position and that the region’s final status is to be determined strictly in line with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the.

LAHORE: United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi calls on PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Friday announced that it had found serious procurement issues like collusive practices and conflicts of interest in multi-billion-rupee road projects being executed by the National Highway Authority (NHA) through foreign loans. In a detailed report released by the Senate Secretariat, the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs “uncovered significant concerns” regarding NXCC’s (one of the contractors) prior disqualification, arbitration conflicts, payment discrepancies, document manipulation, and collusive bidding practices. The meeting presided over by Senator Saifullah Abro discussed serious allegations of irregularities, collusive practices, and potential corruption in the awarding of contracts for the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Tranche-III corridor project by the NHA. The panel chief said contracts were initially awarded based on auditor sheets without verifying the credentials of M/s Dynamic Constructors, M/s Rustam Associates, and M/s Ningxia Com...

ISLAMABAD: Amid a deadlock in negotiations over the government’s decision to ban land travel to Iran for pilgrims during Arbaeen — the chehlum of Imam Husain — the Maritime Mini­stry is planning to launch a ferry service to facilitate travel of Zaireen (pilgrims) to Iran and Iraq. However, the detailed road map for the service is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks. On Friday, Minister for Mari­time Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry called for the swift launch of Pakistan’s first ferry service, stressing the need for immediate reforms to licensing procedures and financial facilitation for operators. These reforms aim to ensure affordable sea travel, support pilgrims and boost maritime connectivity. In a meeting with Shipping and Ports Director General Alia Shahid, the minister highlighted the benefits of sea travel, pointing out that ferry services could offer a reliable and cost-efficient travel option for Zaireen heading to Iran and Iraq. “Beyond tourism and business, this service can greatly ...

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday reiterated its firm support for a peaceful resolution of Ukraine conflict.

ISLAMABAD - Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian will undertake his first official visit to Pakistan from today, signalling renewed momentum in bilateral ties between the two neighbouring nations.

LAHORE - At least 50 passengers were injured when four coaches of the 107-Up Islamabad Express derailed near Kala Shah Kaku on Friday evening, officials said.

KARACHI - President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday directed Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti to further improve peace and security in Balochistan, besides taking measures to uplift people’s living standards there.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Friday dismissed the narrative of the disintegrated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a pack of lies.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) have pledged to intensify efforts to eliminate hepatitis C, aiming to avert 850,000 deaths and 1.