Pakistan

Amid the ongoing monsoon spell sweeping across the country, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued fresh warnings of further rainfall and possible urban flooding in several cities of the province.

Pakistan has urged a stronger role for the United Nations peacekeeping missions in conflict resolution, stressing that their enhanced involvement is urgently needed to settle long-standing disputes such as Kashmir. Pakistan joined the United Nations shortly after gaining independence in 1947 and has played a prominent role in peacekeeping efforts, contributing to 48 missions in 29 countries since 1960. Islamabad has repeatedly called for enhancements in UN peacekeeping, with Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad in April urging the integration of the use of advanced technologies to boost effectiveness. Ambassador Ahmad, while addressing the 15-member UN Security Council on Tuesday, said: “Nowhere is this more urgently needed than in Jammu and Kashmir, a longstanding dispute on the UN Security Council’s agenda. “This Council, which mandates the missions, must ensure that missions are deployed with an accompanying credible political process that addresses the root causes of conflicts, and that mission mandates are dem...

The federal government of Pakistan has decided to withdraw from active intervention in the sugar sector as part of commitments made to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The World Day Against Human Trafficking is being observed today across the globe, including in Pakistan, to raise awareness about the global fight against human trafficking, bring perpetrators to justice, and protect millions of victims who fall prey to this crime through deception, coercion, or desperation.

Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding fighter group Hamas by setting out plans to recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace. The sight of emaciated Gaza children has shocked the world in recent days, and on Tuesday, a hunger monitor warned that a worst-case scenario of famine was unfolding there and immediate action was needed to avoid widespread death. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s ultimatum, setting a September deadline for Israel, prompted an immediate rebuke from his counterpart in Jerusalem, who said it rewarded Hamas and punished the victims of their 2023 cross-border attack. US President Donald Trump said he did not think Hamas “should be rewarded” with recognition of Palestinian independence. Asked about that criticism, British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander — designated by the government to respond to questions in a series of media interviews on Wednesday — said it was not the right way to characterise Bri...

Lahore - Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, chaired a consultative meeting at the Human Rights Camp Office on Tuesday to review strategies for promoting interfaith harmony and social cohesion across the province.

ISLAMABAD - Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has participated in the high-level event titled “Upholding the UN Charter and International Law to Ensure International Peace and Security”, hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran during the sidelines of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in.

VEHARI - Rising incidents of gender-based violence, harassment, and early child marriages were discussed at a seminar held under the SPO’s Aawaz II program at a local hotel, where speakers called for urgent collective action to tackle these serious social issues.

• IHC bench explains reasons for suspending earlier order directing govt to form probe body • Mysterious woman accused of ‘trapping’ accused men surfaces in court ISLAMABAD: A two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has said any commission formed to investigate the alleged misuse of the blasphemy law could interfere in cases pending before other courts. The judges on Tuesday explained the reasons for suspending a single bench’s order in the high-profile case. The now-suspended judgement was issued by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan after 42 hearings in the case whose proceedings were streamed live, in a divergence from the norm. It directed the federal government to establish an inquiry commission within 30 days to investigate the allegations of entrapment, custodial deaths, flawed investigations and violations of fundamental rights. The order, issued on July 15, said nearly 400 FIRs and around 700 individuals were implicated for allegedly committing blasphemy online. The court also flagged irregular...

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has accused India of launching a hybrid war against Pakistan following its defeat in Ma’arka Haq, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

• Panel told recent price fluctuations yielded Rs300bn profit for mills; chairman says ‘only 42 families’ benefitted • Officials’ reluctance to share names of mill owners with lawmakers draws rebuke • Committee told Rs150m spent out of Rs1.95bn allocated for flood awareness campaign, rest of the money diverted ISLAMABAD: Amid a hike in sugar price, the Public Accounts Committee was informed on Tuesday that the sugar mills have earned Rs300 billion due to recent fluctuations in the rates of the essential commodity. The Auditor General of Pakistan made these revelations during the meeting of the apex parliamentary panel, which convened the high-stakes session to review the sugar import and export policy, rising prices, and the lack of transparency in the sugar industry. The PAC met under the chairmanship of Junaid Akbar Khan and it was briefed by Industries and Production Secretary Saif Anjum, who stated that price regulation and relevant laws fell under provincial jurisdictions. He revealed that from 2013 to 2...

The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is set to roll out a new payment system for its beneficiaries starting next month, aimed at improving financial access and transparency.

UNITED NATIONS: Arab countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt joined calls on Tuesday for Hamas to disarm and end its rule of Gaza, in a bid to end the devastating war in the Palestinian territory. Seventeen countries plus the European Union and Arab League threw their weight behind a seven-page text agreed at a United Nations conference on reviving the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. “In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international enga­gement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Pales­tinian State,” said the declaration. It followed a call on Monday by the Palestinian delegation at the United Nations for both Israel and Hamas to leave Gaza, allowing the Palestinian Authority to administer the coastal territory. The text also condemned the Hamas raid against Israel of Oct 7, 2023. France, which co-chaired the conference with Saudi Arabia, called t...

Shehbaz Sharif says New Delhi during recent ‘short but highly dangerous’ war believed Islamabad could only rely on nuclear deterrence Launches Pakistan-Business Express train between Lahore and Karachi PM lauds Pak-Kyrgyz accords, progress in cooperation Appreciates Power Division for reduction in losses.

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar yesterday said Pakistan was ready for composite dialogue with India.

ISLAMABAD, GILGIT, LAHORE - As monsoon rains continue to lash large parts of the country, Punjab’s flood-hit regions remain in distress, while water levels are rising at major barrages in Sindh with fresh alerts issued for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

LAHORE: Thousands of people from more villages of Taunsa and Layyah had to leave their homes to find safer places on Tuesday due to medium level flood in the Sindh river. The people had to leave different villages in Taunsa, including Mauza Moor Jhangi, Bait Kachhela, Panj Darain, Bait Channar, Bait Ashraf, Jarh Leghari and Mouza Baloch Khan. In Layyah, the people were evacuated from Mouza Lohaj, Thori, Samra Jhok Khan, Basti Kanjo Mohana, Darkhan Khokhar, Panwar, Alliyani Basti, and Rakhwan. A double-storey police check post built in Rakhwan was also submerged completely by floodwater and all its structure demolished. A high school in Basti Alliyani also submerged by water and cracks appeared in its building. In Karor Lal Esan, Bait Mongar was also flooded and all its houses and mosque were also destroyed. The floodwater entered cultivated lands, making it a part of the river in Layyah and Karor Lal Esan. In Dera Ghazi Khan, several villages were submerged by floodwater including Jhok Utra, Kot Chuta, Malkan...

Omar Ayub says ‘integrity of Pakistan’s judicial process is under grave threat as these trials, which are supposed to exemplify justice, have instead become a means of political persecution”.

ISLAMABAD - Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid, has announced a landmark initiative to open personal bank accounts for beneficiary women across Pakistan, aimed at ensuring the transparent, efficient, and dignified delivery of financial assistance.

ISLAMABAD - Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur surrendered before a local court in Islamabad in connection with a case related to alleged possession of alcohol and illegal weapons.