Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: As the Centre and Punjab continue to drag their feet on local government polls, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on Monday warned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister can be summoned in case the long overdue elections were not held. Heading a five-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which started hearing of the case related to the delay in the conduct of local bodies elections in Islamabad and Punjab, he called for early completion of the local government laws in Islamabad and Punjab. Mr Raja said it would be embarrassing for the government if the ECP issues an order. He declared that the ECP will issue an order at the next hearing for local government elections in Punjab. He said the Commission cannot sit with its eyes closed as it wanted to see progress. The ECP will set the timeline itself without waiting for any input from Punjab, he said. Calls for early completion of local govt laws in Islamabad, Punjab He recalled that he personal...

• Allocations for nearly all sectors slashed, except for road-building projects and parliamentarians’ schemes; funding for food, water, energy and social sectors curtailed • Govt allocates Rs880bn for the public sector development programme, down 20pc from current year • Provinces to pitch in Rs2.80tr under annual plan to boost uplift spending • Development plan prioritises Bhasha Dam, Rs120bn Balochistan highway • Ahsan Iqbal says more than 100 projects worth Rs1tr to face cuts ISLAMABAD: Under the tight control of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), next year’s federal development programme cuts allocations for almost all sectors, barring a rise in road building schemes and no changes to parliamentarians’ schemes. Despite this, the Annual Planning Coordination Committee (APCC) cleared the national development programme worth a record Rs4.083 trillion, aided by Punjab and Sindh, showing greater financial muscle than the Centre which is pauperised by greater financial devolution, debt servicing, and securi...

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Meteorological Depart­ment (PMD) has issued a forecast of rain and windstorms in the upper parts of the country from tomorrow (Wednes­day) until the Eid holidays. In light of the forecast, the disaster management authorities of Khyber Pak­h­tunkhwa and Punjab have issued an advisory to district authorities to prepare for potential emergencies. The Met Office has predicted that moist currents are penetrating the northeastern parts of the country and a westerly wave is also likely to approach northern areas on June 3. Under the influence of this weather system, rain, dust storms, and thunderstorms are expected in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Gilgit, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Mansehra, Battagram, Shangla, Kohistan, and Abbottabad from June 2 to 5, with occasional gaps. Similar weather is exp­ected in Islamabad, Raw­al­pindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mianwali, Sargo­dha, Hafizabad, Mandi Bah­a­uddin, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh...

Ryan Coogler won’t make a sequel to Sinners, saying he wanted the vampire hit to be a standalone experience.

50 Cent posts old video of Diddy slamming Trump, aiming to block potential presidential pardon for the Bad Boy mogul.

US President Donald Trump is “open” to meeting his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in Turkey, the White House said, after the two sides failed on Monday to make headway towards an elusive ceasefire. Delegations from both sides did, however, agree another large-scale prisoner exchange in their meeting in Istanbul, which in mid-May also hosted their […]

Saudi Arabia continues to be a top destination for foreign workers, offering vast opportunities in industries such as oil, construction, healthcare, education, and engineering. With an expanding economy and increasing demand for skilled and unskilled labor, thousands apply for Saudi work visas each year. Latest Updates on Saudi Work Visa Process (June 2025) Recent changes […]

On the arrival of mango season, markets overflow with lively fruit, but concerns about artificial ripening methods remain. Experts warn that some mangoes are ripened using chemicals like calcium carbide, which can pose serious health risks, including skin irritation and respiratory issues. Key Differences Between Natural and Chemically Ripened Mangoes Colour Check: Naturally ripened mangoes […]

Action star Jackie Chan, who recently featured in ‘Karate Kid: Legends,’ made shocking revelations about the secret lives of his parents. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu – Click Here In a recent interview, the 71-year-old actor recalled a shocking moment when his father, Charles, told him about his life as a spy. “My father […]

ISLAMABAD: TikToker Sana Yousuf was shot dead in Islamabad on Monday by an unknown assailant allegedly on a personal dispute, ARY News reported citing police. The incident was reported within the jurisdiction of Sumbal Police Station. According to initial reports. The victim, identified as Sana Yousuf from Chitral, was fatally shot by a man outside […]

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz hire Meghan Markle’s lawyer Jenny Afia as Beckham family tensions escalate.

Lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir won the World Expression Forum’s Young Inspiration Award 2025 on Monday for her efforts and work advocating for the rule of law and justice in the country. Based in Norway, the forum aims to act as a “driving force for global cooperation to ensure freedom of expression for all”, according to its website. The award was presented to her by Philippine Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa in the award ceremony of the forum’s annual conference in Lillehammer, Norway for her “extraordinary courage, integrity and impact in the struggle for the rule of law and justice”. The award jury said the lawyer’s work had “inspired the local community and earned global recognition-making”. “The recipient’s outspoken stance has made her a role model for a new generation of lawyers and students, especially women, and instilled hope and optimism in them. She’s shown that the legal profession can be a viable avenue for justice and systemic change, even in hybrid regimes,” Ressa said while presenting the award...

KARACHI: K-Electric (KE), Pakistan’s only vertically integrated electric utility, reiterated its commitment to dependable and sustainable energy at its corporate briefing session held at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). During the session, Muhammad Aamir Ghaziani, the Chief Financial Officer of K-Electric, presented the company’s $2 billion investment roadmap, which aims to modernise Karachi’s power infrastructure […]

Amazon MGM Studios has acquired the rights for an adaptation of the hit video game ‘Split Fiction,’ starring Hollywood actor Sydney Sweeney. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu – Click Here Filmmaker Jon M. Chu is set to direct the film, while ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick write the screenplay for […]

PARIS: More than 500 people were arrested by police during the Champions League final celebrations in France, and two people were reported dead and 192 injured, the interior ministry said as further festivities were planned on Sunday. Wild celebrations erupted across the French capital and beyond on Saturday night after Paris St Germain crushed Italian opponents Inter Milan […]

KARACHI: A man, who was tortured by a businessman named Salman Farooqi in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA), along with his sister abandoned their residence in Ranchor Line area of the city. A video showing Salman Farooqi, the chief executive officer of a private company, physically assaulting a motorcyclist in the presence of his sister […]

A top Pakistani delegation briefed elected members of the United Nations Security Council on Monday about the “threat to regional peace” posed by India’s actions amid the recent spike in tensions between the two countries. The high-level team — consisting of three former foreign ministers, two former foreign sec­­retaries, two former ambassadors to the US, and a serving federal minister — arrived in New York yesterday for consultations at the United Nations, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement today. The delegation will also visit Washington DC, London and Brussels, the FO said. Ex-FMs PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Hina Rabbani Khar and Khurram Dastgir; Senators Sherry Rehman, Musadik Malik, Faisal Sabzwari and Bushra Anjum Butt; and Jalil Abbas Jilani and Teh­mina Janjua are members of the first delegation. The PPP said in a post on X that the delegation met elected UNSC members “to expose Indian propaganda” and present Pakistan’s position to representatives from Denmark, Greece, Panama, Somal...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday ordered a crackdown against the display of weaponry and use of Toyota Hilux pickup trucks in the province. The newly formed Crime Control Department (CCD), a specialised unit dedicated to tackling crime in the province, will take “indiscriminate action” against those who create “fear and panic” through such displays. According to a statement by Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Sohail Zafar Chatha, “Spreading fear and panic in the society and displaying weapons cannot be allowed at all.” “CCD officers have been ordered to take indiscriminate action against those displaying weapons,” he said. He added that over 21,000 Safe City cameras will be used to monitor those displaying weapons and modern artificial intelligence will also be used to identify weapons. Referring to luxurious pickup trucks, the Hilux has become a symbol of power, status, and intimidation in a society marked by significant class divisions. Hiluxes part the traffic — speeding up behind c...

ISLAMABAD: In a high-level meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to engage with other globally recognised audit firms to ensure reliability and for third-party validation of FBR reforms, ARY News reported. Shehbaz Sharif emphasised that officials should review ongoing development and reforms within the Federal Board of Revenue. The Prime Minister […]

Bill Ritter exits WABC’s 5 p.m. ‘Eyewitness News’ anchor desk; Mike Marza named new co-anchor starting June 3.