Pakistan | News

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, on Sunday, acknowledged the media’s crucial role in shaping Pakistan’s global narrative, reaffirming the government’s commitment to a “free, responsible, and vibrant media” in the country.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has alleged that India is conducting a proxy war against Pakistan through Afghanistan, intensifying already strained regional security rhetoric.

• Analysts say inflation may exceed 11pc, CAD could rise above $8bn • GDP expansion may slow to 2.5-3.0pc in FY27 KARACHI: Pakistan’s inflation is likely to remain in double digits if the surge in oil prices persists amid the unresolved Middle East conflict, analysts warned, adding that rising costs and disrupted imports are already straining the country’s external position. Topline Securities Ltd released its latest “Pakistan Strategy” report on Saturday, analysing the impact of soaring oil prices amid regional tensions and their implications for Pakistan’s economy and stock market. The brokerage said the situation is prolonged and evolving, with outcomes hinging on whether the conflict ends or a peaceful resolution is reached. The report projected that if current conditions persist, Pakistan’s inflation over the next 12 months could average 9-10 per cent, with fourth-quarter FY26 inflation surpassing 11pc. These forecasts are based on an oil price of $100 per barrel, with every $10 increase adding roughly 5...

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ambassador Tahir Andrabi said Saturday that no temporary ceasefire is currently in place with Afghan Taliban.

The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday slammed a social media post by British Special Representative for Afghanistan Richard Lindsay regarding developments along the Pak-Afghan border, saying that the remarks were “devoid of a deeper understanding of the situation”. Early on Friday, Lindsay had shared a post by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on the social media platform X, which said it had documented “tens of civilians killed or injured” in strikes in eastern Afghanistan, including a university. “Concerned by further violence along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, including strikes in Kunar. All steps must be taken to protect civilians and avoid further escalation. I continue to urge dialogue and restraint, including in meetings in Afghanistan this week,” Lindsay said. It is worth mentioning that earlier this week, the information ministry had rubbished reports by the Afghan media alleging Pakistan carried out attacks targeting a university and residential areas in the neighbouring country’s K...

The United States Air Force has awarded a $488 million contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation to deliver engineering and technical support for F-16 radar systems under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, with Pakistan included among the recipient nations.

WASHINGTON: The United States Air Force has awarded a $488 million contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. for long-term engineering and technical support of F-16 Fighting Falcon radar systems, with Pakistan among the countries covered by the deal. According to an official award notice, released this week, the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract will support the APG-66 and APG-68 radar systems used on F-16 fighter aircraft. Work will be carried out in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is scheduled to continue through March 31, 2036. The contract covers support for multiple partner countries under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, including Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, South Kor­ea, Morocco, the Nether­lands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portu­gal, Romania, Thailand and Turkiye. The award was issued on a sole-source basis by the US Air Force Lifecycle Mana­gement Centre in Utah. An initial $2.64 million in fi...

The government of Punjab has launched Pakistan’s first virtual women police station, aimed at making it easier for women to report harassment and seek protection.

Pakistan recorded a second consecutive month of improving security indicators in April 2026, with militant attacks and related casualties declining markedly, according to a report released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). The Islamabad-based think tank documented 85 verified militant attacks in April, down from 146 in March, a 42 per cent decrease. As per the data, fatalities resulting from militant attacks fell from 106 in March to 60 in April, continuing a downward trend that began the previous month, when overall combat-related deaths dropped by 35pc. The report said that the improvement follows Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign targeting militant groups and Taliban positions between February 26 and March 18, which concluded with a suspension and subsequent talks in Urumqi, China. Pakistan had launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on the night of February 26, following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border. According to the PICSS report, tota...

Pakistan has reported two new polio cases, raising the total number of infections recorded this year to three.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the labour force of Pakistan the “backbone” of society and a “pillar of national strength” in statements commemorating International Labour Day on Friday. As the world commemorated the international holiday observed annually on May 1, the president and the premier issued separate messages to mark the occasion. PM Shehbaz paid tribute to Pakistan’s labour force as well as its overseas workers, appreciating their “dedicated service” and terming them a national pride. “On this occasion, I pay tribute to workers across the world, and especially to the hardworking labour force of Pakistan, for their selfless contributions and dedicated service,” he said in a statement on X. He termed labourers, farmers, artisans, factory workers, and professionals across all sectors the “backbone of our society”. “Their sacrifices, hard work and perseverance keep the wheels of life moving, from fields to factories, construction sites to workshops, at local level a...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported two polio cases on Friday from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), bringing the total number of cases for the ongoing year to three. An official of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) has confirmed two new cases of wild poliovirus — one in Bannu and another in North Waziristan. He added that access constraints in these areas continue to facilitate transmission of the virus, posing an ongoing risk to children’s health and well-being. “The two new cases were reported through the poliovirus surveillance network and confirmed by the WHO-accredited Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH).” he added. The first case of the year was reported from Sindh, while the detection of two cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has raised the polio tally to three. The official said that, with the sudden increase in heat, it seemed that the hi...

Foreign ministers from 12 countries, including Pakistan, on Thursday strongly condemned Israel’s reported assault on the Global Sumud Flotilla, describing the incident as a violation of international law.

Pakistan and 10 other countries condemned on Friday in “strongest terms” the Israeli assault on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which they said was as a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. A joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Brazil, Jordan, Spain, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Colombia, Maldives, South Africa and Libya said the Israeli attacks against the vessels and the unlawful detention of humanitarian activists in international waters constituted “flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law”. “The ministers are deeply concerned about the safety of the civilian activists and urge the Israeli authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure their immediate release. “The ministers also call on the international community to fulfil their moral and legal obligations to uphold international law, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for th...

Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Pakistan remained actively engaged with Iran and the United States to “achieve a resolution” of the conflict between the two sides. “As such, the status of talks now is that we remain actively engaged with both sides to achieve a resolution of this issue. The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. We remain hopeful of a negotiated settlement of this issue, and we will continue our sincere efforts for the cause of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond,” he said during a weekly FO briefing. The conflict, which is now almost two months old, began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. And while hostilities have paused following a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire on April 8 — which has now been extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump — the world continues to face its consequences. It has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply used to pass in peacetime, re...

Pakistan has stepped up diplomatic efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif holding contacts with the leadership of several countries, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.

This month, Israel and Pakistan supplied a quieter test for crypto than the one playing out in US capital markets. What if the more important 2026 shift is happening where digital assets meet local money and bank accounts? Israeli crypto firm Bits of Gold said Israel's Capital Market Authority approved the issuance and distribution of […] The post Everyone is watching America’s crypto boom but Israel and Pakistan may be showing what comes next appeared first on CryptoSlate.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that Pakistan was still continuing its efforts to maintain peace in the region, highlighting the country’s proactive diplomatic role in easing tensions and promoting stability.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was continuing its efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region through active diplomatic engagement.

The Iranian Rial continued to trade at a significant premium in Pakistan’s informal currency markets, with one crore Iranian rials currently exchanging between PKR 8,000 and PKR 10,000 in Karachi, Quetta and Lahore.