MQM-P calls for new province in Sindh
KARACHI: With discussions on the 28th Amendment gaining momentum, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P) has once again pressed its long-standing call for a new province in Sindh, unveiling plans for a public mobilisation campaign and legal steps to “secure constitutional rights” for urban residents.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
NCCIA warns youth against joining illegal call centres for lucrative salaries
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Saturday warned that loopholes in the existing system are being exploited by illegal call centres, online betting operators and international fraud networks to launder money and trap victims.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
AJK Announces Digital Attendance System for Schools
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has announced plans to fill vacant teaching positions and introduce a digital attendance system in schools as part of efforts to improve the education sector.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
10 New Electric Bikes and Scooters Launched in Pakistan
Super Power has expanded its EMOTO electric two-wheeler lineup in Pakistan, introducing several electric motorcycles and scooters with introductory prices ranging from Rs 197,000 to Rs 899,999.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
KP Ends Trainee Registrar Posts
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Policy Board of Medical Teaching Institutions has scrapped Trainee Registrar positions across the province’s medical teaching institutions.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Pakistan urges Gulf de-escalation as US, Iran trade accusations at UN
Pakistan on Friday called for an immediate end to military provocations in the Gulf and renewed regional diplomacy as the United States, Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries exchanged sharply conflicting accusations at a UN Security Council meeting on attacks against shipping and threats to maritime security.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
CDA Revises Office Allocation Plan for MCI Complex in Islamabad
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has revised its office accommodation plan for the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) Complex at the Old Naval Headquarters Building in Sector G-6.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Punjab Completes Rs 13.5 Billion Road Project After 5 Years
The 128-kilometre Lillah-Jhelum Road project has been completed five years after its launch in 2021, improving connectivity for residents of Jhelum and Pind Dadan Khan in Punjab.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Islamabad’s Traffic Signals Are Getting a Major Upgrade at 35 Locations
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is upgrading 35 traffic signal intersections and installing modern pedestrian crossing systems at 18 locations across Islamabad, with the entire project scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Heavy Snowfall Leaves Tourists Stranded at Khunjerab Pass
Heavy snowfall has disrupted traffic at Khunjerab Pass along the Pakistan-China border, leaving tourists, passengers, and dozens of cargo containers stranded on the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Punjab’s Wheat Cultivation Surges as Province Reaches 51% of Target
Punjab has achieved 51 percent of its wheat cultivation target, with the area sown increasing by 7.7 percent compared with the corresponding period last year, according to the Punjab Agriculture Department.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Balochistan Assembly Rejects Resolution to Abolish Tribal System
The Balochistan Assembly on Friday rejected a resolution seeking the abolition of the Sardari (tribal chieftaincy) system and effective implementation of a 1976 law aimed at ending the practice, with six members voting against it and five supporting it.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
PHC orders recovery of missing boy
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday directed the police to take immediate and effective measures for the recovery of 12-year-old Oman, who went missing from the Faqirabad area of the city, and to produce the child before the court at the next hearing.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
EVs to replace Sindh govt's official vehicles
The Sindh government is planning to phase out conventional vehicles used by provincial departments and replace them with electric vehicles (EVs) in a move aimed at cutting fuel costs and promoting environment-friendly transport.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
How PML-N got Punjab is open secret: Talpur
PPP Women's Wing President Faryal Talpur has urged party workers to capitalise on the weakness of the PML-N led Punjab government, saying the way the PML-N secured its mandate in the province in the February 8, 2024 general elections was an open secret.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
'Parliament cannot be bypassed on provinces'
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Friday said that parliament and provincial assemblies could not be "bypassed or negated" in the process of creating new provinces, saying any move to determine public opinion through a referendum must follow constitutional procedures.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
SC says time cannot erase inheritance rights
The Supreme Court has ruled that an heir's right to inheritance takes effect immediately upon the death of the property owner and does not require the acceptance or consent of other heirs.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Islamabad Airport and Motorway Connectivity to Improve
Islamabad International Airport is expected to become easier to access through the Margalla Avenue Extension project, which has achieved 36 percent overall progress, while the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has completed the structural work of the Sangjani Interchange underpass.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Pakistan Confirms $5 Billion Trade Target With Turkey
Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the agreed $5 billion bilateral trade target with Turkiye and wants more Turkish investment, especially in its Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Balochistan Assembly seeks compulsory Arabic in primary schools
The Balochistan Assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution recommending the introduction of basic Arabic as a compulsory subject in all government primary schools across the province.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
COP31 must deliver climate justice, not empty pledges, says Sherry
Senator Sherry Rehman Friday called for COP31 in Antalya to move beyond declarations and deliver a credible, accessible and equitable climate financing framework, warning that Pakistan and other climate-vulnerable countries were being pushed into a dangerous cycle of disasters, debt and declining development opportunities.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Islamabad to become Pakistan's first cashless city by Dec 31
Islamabad will become Pakistan's first fully cashless city by December 31, with cash payments set to be discontinued in all departments of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) after November 30.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
ECP warns of orders if PMO fails to submit request for cantonment polls
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) a fortnight to submit the federal government’s formal written request for local government elections in cantonment boards, warning that it would be constrained to pass appropriate orders in case of no response.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
PM Shehbaz calls for mineral development alongside environmental protection
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for Pakistan's mineral resources to be developed alongside environmental protection, stressing that mining projects must follow international standards and use modern technology to safeguard water resources and workers' health and safety.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Pakistan announces 13 mineral cooperation deals
Pakistan on Friday announced over a dozen mineral cooperation agreements with foreign companies and countries, declaring that it would move away from exporting raw materials and unprocessed minerals as it seeks to reshape its economic and development priorities.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
IHC suspends local government elections in Islamabad
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended the upcoming local government elections in the federal capital, putting the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) latest election schedule on hold until the next hearing.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Karachi’s Busy Flyover’s Pillars Show Visible Damage
The deteriorating condition of the Jauhar Morr flyover in Karachi has raised safety concerns, as damaged concrete, exposed steel reinforcement bars, and cracks have been spotted on its supporting pillars.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
US lawmakers laud Punjab govt's initiative to modernise brick-kiln
The Congressional Pakistan Caucus has applauded Punjab’s drive to modernise its brick-kiln sector, saying the reforms could serve as a pilot for eliminating bonded labour and attracting ethical foreign investment.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Canadian Mining Giant Enters Pakistan With Mari Energies Deal
Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pakistan’s Mari Energies, marking its entry into South Asia as the country steps up efforts to attract foreign investment in its mineral sector.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Five committees, 619 accidents: Canal Road remains a death trap
Despite the formation of five technical committees by the divisional administration over the past eight years, the Canal Road has witnessed 619 accidents during the ongoing year, including 129 in October.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Lioness mauls teenage farm worker
A 19-year-old farm worker was mauled to death by a lioness at a farmhouse in the Kahna area, prompting police to arrest the property owner and a TikToker who was reportedly visiting the premises to record a video.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Traffic chaos grips Karachi
For Karachiites, traffic jams are a familiar ordeal but on Thursday evening, the city's notorious gridlock pushed commuters' patience to the limit.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Erdogan, Shehbaz stress adhering to Islamabad MoU
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a bilateral meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye on Thursday on the sidelines of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP31 Leaders Summit.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Islamabad, Rawalpindi shrouded in toxic haze
As the smog season reaches its peak, the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the Queen of Hills Murree and major cities across Punjab have come under the grip of alarming air pollution.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Punjab, Sindh face severe water shortfall
Punjab and Sindh are facing a projected 22 per cent irrigation-water shortfall during the ongoing Rabi season, raising concerns over the availability of water for wheat and other winter crops as the country's three major reservoirs currently hold a combined 6.167 million acre-feet of usable water.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Naqvi meets Zardari in Nawabshah
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made an unscheduled visit to Nawabshah on Thursday night and held a nearly hour-long meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari at Zardari House, amid speculation over discussions on key political developments.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Work in full swing to plug crater at Tarbela project site
HARIPUR: The civil work, meant to plug the crater caused by the collapse of a weak rock mass in the intake pit area of the Tarbela Dam 5th Extension Hydropower Project (T-5), is in full swing.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
PTI founder Imran Khan brought to Pims, undergoes eye procedure
Former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan was again taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for tests and follow-up treatment for his eye condition, a hospital official said on Wednesday.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Rain, snow in northern parts of the country from today
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain, wind and thunderstorms, with snowfall over the hills, in the upper parts of the country over the next two to three days, urging the authorities concerned to take precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident, particularly in hilly areas.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Journalist Rabia Ahsan's husband sent for polygraph test
A Rawalpindi court on Tuesday granted four-day physical remand of Ahsan Tahir, husband of slain anchorperson and journalist Rabia Ahsan, as police prepared to conduct his polygraph test in Lahore to verify his account of the fatal shooting.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Punjab Changes CM E-Bike Scheme Distribution Date
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a revised distribution schedule for electric bikes under the CM E-Bike Scheme for students.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
BHC overturns ex-MPA Achakzai's acquittal, hands him 10 years in traffic officer's death case
The Balochistan High Court on Tuesday accepted the provincial government's appeal against the acquittal of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) leader, former provincial lawmaker and Public Accounts Committee chairman Abdul Majeed Achakzai, sentencing him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in the case involving the death of traffic sub-inspector Haji Ataullah.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)
Trump nominates Natalie Baker as next US ambassador to Pakistan
US President Donald Trump nominated charge d’affaires Natalie A Baker as the next US ambassador to Pakistan, paving the way for the appointment of a permanent envoy to Islamabad after a gap of nearly two years, it emerged on Tuesday.
By Tariq Mehmood · National & Policy Editor (Islamabad–Rawalpindi)