Pakistan

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday suspended an order by the provincial ombudsman for protection against harassment of women removing K-Electric (KE) Chief Executive Officer Moonis Alvi from his position over allegations of sexual harassment. A day prior, the ombudsman ordered the removal of KE CEO Alvi after finding him guilty of workplace harassment. Alvi, along with other KE employees, was accused of workplace harassment by the company’s former chief marketing and communication officer, Mahreen Aziz Khan, read the order issued by provincial ombudsman retired Justice Shahnawaz Tariq. According to a petition Alvi filed with the SHC today — available with Dawn.com — his lawyers argued that Khan has neither levelled any allegations of “harassment of a sexual or physical nature” before the ombudsman, nor presented any evidence of gender discrimination within KE. “There was no allegation that the petitioner, being in a position of authority, sought out any sexual favour, nor any gender based discrimination was...

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) crossed the 141,000 barrier on Friday on the back of a new trade deal with the United States and securing a lower tariff rate. The PSX regained its bullish momentum after dipping by as many as 433 points in the morning. The benchmark KSE-100 index rose by 483.07 points (0.35 per cent) to reach 139,873.49 points at 12pm, from the previous close of 139,390.42 points. The index rose by 1,644.56 points, or up by 1.18pc, to close at 141,034.98. Having witnessed heavy selling pressure on Tuesday due to corporate earnings and political noise, the PSX had bounced back above the 139,000-mark yesterday, driven by the trade agreement with the US. Late on Wednesday night, a Pakistani delegation led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Washington, DC, finalised a trade agreement with the US, expected to lower tariffs, although no figure was announced. US President Donald Trump had also said Washington would help Islamabad develop “massive oil deposits”. In its statement issued today,...

United States President Donald Trump has introduced tariffs on exports from dozens of trading partners, including a 19 per cent tariff on Pakistani goods — revised from the previous 29pc — a day after the two countries finalised a trade agreement. According to an executive order detailing the tariffs, it was announced that Pakistan is set to face a 19pc tariff rate as Trump’s tariff deadline comes to an end on August 1 (today). The order listed higher import duty rates of 10 to 41pc starting in seven days for 69 trading partners as the 12:01am EDT (9:01am PKT) deadline approached. What we know so far: Pakistani goods exported to US to now be taxed 19pc as part of Trump’s global tariffs The rate is lower than the proposed 29pc after trade talks with US Finance ministry sees major opportunity to expand Pakistan’s footprint in US market Official notes Pakistan ‘possibly only country’ offered investments alongside Levies for 68 other trading partners range from 10-41pc, with India facing 25pc tariff Canada’s duti...

Former Prime Minister and Awam Pakistan Party Chairman Shahid Khaqan Abbasi delivered a scathing critique of the country’s governance during his address at the All Parties Conference held in Islamabad.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja announced on Friday that the party will initiate a nationwide movement aimed at “restoring” democracy in the country.

Rescue officials recovered the car of retired Colonel Ishaq Qazi that was swept away by an overflowing rainwater drain along with him and his daughter last week in Rawalpindi, an official said on Friday. The car, a grey Honda City vehicle, was recovered from the Kak Bridge. Search teams found Qazi’s body last Friday, who was aged approximately 62–64 years and a resident of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase 5. The body of the colonel’s daughter, Muneba, however, has not been found yet. “The body of the girl who drowned in the floodwater will also be found soon,” District Emergency Officer (DEO) Sibghatullah told Dawn.com. The retired colonel and his daughter headed to the gate in their car, despite heavy rains and waterlogged streets. According to a statement by Islamabad’s Sihala police station, “Due to heavy rainwater accumulation on a nearby road, their vehicle stalled. While Colonel Ishaq attempted to restart the car, the flow of water intensified, and both individuals were swept away by the rainwater ...

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday successfully built political consensus for the upcoming Independence Day celebrations, following a key meeting held under his chair at CM House.

The Foreign Office on Friday confirmed that Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian will pay a state visit to Pakistan over the weekend. Iran’s IRNA news agency had reported on Wednesday that the Iranian president’s political adviser, Mehdi Sanai, had said Pezeshkian was due to visit Pakistan on Saturday for a two-day trip with discussions with “cultural and commercial elites” on the agenda. In a statement today, the FO confirmed the development, saying the Iranian president “will pay a state visit to Pakistan on August 2-3, 2025” at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation. Dr Pezeshkian will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, senior ministers and other high-ranking officials. The FO said Dr Pezeshkian will meet President Zardari and also hold delegation-level talks with PM Shehbaz. “This marks Dr Pezeshkian’s first official visit to Pakistan as president of Iran. It may be recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last visited Iran on May 26, 202...

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Friday stressed that the “enduring partnership” between Pakistan and China will continue to play a pivotal role in regional stability. Pakistan and China share a longstanding strategic partnership rooted in mutual trust, economic cooperation and regional connectivity. Over the decades, ties have expanded across different sectors — including trade, energy, defence and infrastructure — with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) symbolising a shared vision for development. The army chief made the remarks at the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, which was commemorated at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi today, according to a press release by the military’s media affairs wing. “He emphasised that their enduring partnership will continue to play a pivotal role in promoting regional stability and safeguarding shared strategic interests,” said the statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). China...

The Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has announced a new oil discovery at the Chakrun-1 exploratory well in the Chakar–One Oil Field, located in Tando Allah Yar, Sindh.

Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday showed that consumer inflation accelerated to 4.1 per cent year-on-year in July, up from 3.2pc in June, driven by rising prices for food items, fuels and medicines. July’s consumer price inflation month-on-month was 2.9pc, the bureau said. The finance ministry on Monday had projected consumer inflation for July to remain in a range of 3.5-4.5pc, citing stable prices and improved supply conditions, as price pressures ease further after the previous fiscal year’s sharp decline. The higher inflation reading follows the State Bank of Pakistan’s assessment of a deteriorating inflation outlook, leading it to leave the key interest rate unchanged at 11pc. The bank’s monetary policy committee said on Wednesday that energy prices, particularly for gas, had risen more than expected, and it considered the real policy rate should be adequately positive to keep inflation in the 5-7pc target range. Short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Index, had r...

Five cops were martyred after bandits of the Katcha area attacked a police checkpoint in Rahim Yar Khan, a statement from the Punjab police said on Friday. For decades, dozens of bandit gangs armed with sophisticated weaponry have operated with impunity in northern Sindh as well as southern Punjab. Kidnappings for ransom, extortion rackets that cripple local businesses, brutal killings and looting people on the major highways have become a daily reality. According to a statement from the office of the Inspector General of Punjab, almost 40 bandits, using rocket launchers and grenades, attacked the Sheikhani police picket in the Katcha area, situated between Chowk Sewetra and Chowk Mahi near the Guddu-Kashmore Road on Thursday night. “During the attack, policemen of Elite Force, including Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Saleem and Nukhail of Bahawalnagar, together with Khalil and Ghazanfar of Rahim Yar Khan, were martyred,” the statement said, adding that a bandit was also killed when the police retaliated. Following...

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has strongly condemned the attack on police check post near Sadiqabad.

As Pakistan and the United States wrap up a historic chapter in economic diplomacy with the successful conclusion of trade negotiations, the two nations are now setting their sights on a new frontier of digital finance and blockchain innovation.

Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has reaffirmed the deep-rooted strategic partnership between Pakistan and China, describing it as a model of mutual trust, unwavering support, and shared commitment.

During his weekly media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan firmly rejected what he described as provocative and misleading statements made in the Indian Lok Sabha regarding the so-called "Operation Mahadev.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti met with President Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi on Friday to discuss the province’s development and prevailing political climate.

Senior lawyer and legal expert Advocate Khawaja Shamsul Islam was shot dead in a brazen firing incident near a mosque in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase 6 on Friday, police confirmed.

In a significant development for Pakistan’s export economy, the Government of Pakistan has successfully concluded tariff-related discussions with the United States, resulting in a 19% tariff on Pakistani exports to the American market.

A glacier burst in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Bagrot Valley caused the death of one person on Friday, while his father was injured, according to the regional government’s spokesperson. A glacial burst, or glacial lake outburst flood (Glof), refers to an outburst of water from a glacial lake which could lead to severe flooding downstream. Pakistan is home to over 13,032 glaciers, the largest reservoir of glaciers outside of the polar regions. However, experts have warned that about 10,000 glaciers in Chitral and GB have been reported to be receding due to climate change–induced temperature rise. GB’s government spokesperson, Faizullah Faraq, said that the father and son had fallen into a ravine and been buried under the debris of the Bagrot glacier as it burst, injuring both. “Locals and Rescue 1122 saved the father while the son was killed,” he said. Former member of the Bagrot Valley Assembly, Captain (retd) Muhammad Shafi, said that the father and son had been travelling on foot on the glacier in Barchi village whe...