ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has dismissed claims of US pressure for the release of the founding chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, stating it was a “baseless assumption.” He added that if the US wished, it could exchange Imran for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. In an interview, Rana Sanaullah suggested that if …
RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday once again deferred the indictment of former prime minister Imran Khan and others accused in the case related to the attack on GHQ Rawalpindi during the unrest on May 9. The GHQ attack case involving Imran Khan is linked to his arrest on May 9, 2023, at the Islamabad High Court, …
ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed a strong interest in expanding its investments in Pakistan, specifically in shipping, port efficiency, logistics, and customs digitisation. The two countries signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) focused on cooperation across several sectors. These MoUs, signed with the Abu Dhabi Ports Group, cover partnerships with Pakistan’s Ministries of Maritime Affairs, Aviation, Railways, …
ISLAMABAD: The Power Division on Friday announced a power relief scheme — called the “Bijli Sahulat” package — offering reduced electricity rates to consumers to encourage electricity use during the low-demand winter season. On Thursday, the division also announced on X that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) notified an Rs1.28 per unit decrease in electricity charges due to …
ISLAMABAD: Several renowned former parliamentarians, as well as a former president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, challenged the 26th Amendment in the Supreme Court on Friday in two separate but similar petitions, arguing that “a vote cast under coercion is no vote at all.” Month-long political negotiations concluded on October 20 as the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, also …
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reiterated the government’s resolve to meet its target of $25 billion in IT exports in the next three years, highlighting the government’s efforts to promote the telecommunications sector. In August, the PM said the completion of the Information Technology Park project would help boost the country’s exports in the sector and be a …
LAHORE: The Punjab government on Friday barred the public from entering public parks, zoos, playgrounds, and museums amid deteriorating air quality across the province. A day ago, Lahore’s air pollution reached unprecedented levels, ranking it as the world’s most polluted city for the past 48 hours, as dense smog blankets major districts of Punjab. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) …
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday emphasised that ‘non-interference’ should be the cornerstone of Pakistan-United States ties, expressing the hope for a strengthened relationship under the Trump administration. Speaking at the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch commented on Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. She conveyed that Pakistan anticipated its longstanding ties with the …
SOUTH WAZIRISTAN/KHYBER: At least Seven people, including four Frontier Corps personnel, lost their lives in three attacks across South Waziristan Upper and Tirah in Khyber. In South Waziristan Upper, a bomb disposal vehicle of the security forces was attacked with an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Karam area of tehsil Ladha. The IED was followed by shooting. As a …
ISLAMABAD: The prime minister visited the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad to condemn a firing incident in Karachi on Tuesday in which two Chinese nationals were injured and assured exemplary punishment to those involved in the incident. PM Shehbaz Sharif talks to Ambassador Jiang Zaidong during his visit to the Chinese embassy in Islamabad.—APP Talking to Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang …