Pakistan

• Interior minister holds separate meetings with religious leaders at Mufti Muneeb’s residence, meets Muttahida leaders at Governor House • Evades question about ban on TLP, says action against those carrying weapons is ‘non-negotiable’ KARACHI: In a strong message, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made it clear on Tuesday that the federal government would take decisive action against any armed group operating in the country, regardless of its location or affiliation. He also issued a firm rebuttal to the growing perception on social media, clarifying that the federal government was not targeting any specific religious sect. The interior minister held a meeting with leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan at the Sindh Governor House. Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, MQM-P Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and senior leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Aminul Haque lauded Mr Naqvi’s recent role in handling the law and order situation and in upholding the writ of the state across the four provinces. Later, accom...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday launched an initiative under which over 7,000 professionals would be trained in semiconductor design and research. The prime minister said the initiative, to be known as INSPIRE, was “a milestone in Pakistan’s transition to a knowledge-based digital economy” and signalled its entry into the $600 billion global semiconductor ecosystem. Under the programme, 7,200 professionals would be trained in semiconductor design and research. Shehbaz Sharif kicked off the “initiative to nurture semiconductor professionals for industry, research & education” (INSPIRE) to mark Pakistan’s transformative step toward technological self-reliance and global competitiveness. PM unveils ‘INSPIRE’ to train 7,200 professionals, aiming for a share in the $600bn global market In his address, the prime minister said the launch of INSPIRE was a milestone in the country’s transition toward a knowledge-based digital economy, where innovation, research, and human capital drive sustainable ...

• Azma says 3,800 of group’s ‘financiers’ identified; assets frozen • Expects ban on party to be enforced ‘within a few days’ • ‘Due diligence under way’ on Punjab’s summary, says Talal • Claims govt ‘making arrangements’ in light of JUI-F’s ‘possible’ march on capital • Khawaja Asif calls for ‘hard state’ approach to curb extremism LAHORE: Individuals providing “financial or political support” to Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) will face terrorism charges, the Punjab government warned on Tuesday, as it pressed the federal government to proscribe the group. “Some 3,800 TLP financiers have been identified. Their funding sources have been blocked and legal action will be initiated against them under anti-terrorism laws,” Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari told a press conference in Lahore on Tuesday. She said the Punjab cabinet had forwarded a summary to the federal government seeking a ban on the TLP and expected a decision soon. “We expect the ban on TLP to be enforced within a few days,” s...

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday night said tremors of a 5.3-magnitude earthquake were felt in the twin cities and the northern areas of the country. The PMD stated that the epicentre of the quake was located in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan at a depth of 234 kilometers and occurred at 11:15pm local time. It added that the quake was felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Chitral, Swat, Dir and Malakand. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) registered a 5.1 magnitude quake 34km west of the Ishkashim border town in Badakhshan province at a depth of 243.9km. A screenshot of a map showing three earthquakes registered north and west of Pakistan. — Screengrab via USGS Two Reuters witnesses said strong tremors were felt in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul. The twin cities and other northern areas were similarly jolted by tremors on Friday when a magnitude of 5.6 struck at a depth of 120km at 5:15pm in the Hindu Kush mountains.

ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday is­sued stay orders on the auction of PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari’s property.

26TH AMENDMENT CASE HEARING.

TLP’s seminaries being brought under Auqaf dept control.

ISLAMABAD - The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) yesterday once again cancelled the scheduled local government elections in Punjab, as now the LG polls in the province will be held under the newly enacted Punjab Local Government Act 2025.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday launched INSPIRE as Pakistan’s National Semiconductor Initiative, which he believed was a milestone in Pakistan’s transition toward a knowledge-based digital economy and also marked its entry into over $600 billion global semiconductor ecosystem.

ISLAMABAD - Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, interacted with participants of the 17th National Workshop Balochistan at General Headquarters (GHQ) on Tuesday.

Pakistan were already staring at defeat before the relentless rains, stop-start in manner, in Colombo sealed their fate. Fatima Sana’s side crashed out of the ICC Women’s World Cup on Tuesday after a crushing 150-run defeat (DLS method) to South Africa in their penultimate match of the league stage at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Pakistan needed a victory to have any chance of staying alive in the last-four race and already-qualified South Africa, but chasing a target that was revised with every downpour, they stood little chance after the Proteas amassed 312-9 in 40 overs. Speaking after the match, skipper Fatima said: “I think today is the day bowlers didn’t perform well. We have to accept it. They played very well, but we needed to be calmer in those situations. “I think after the second over, and after the rain, it was a different situation because the conditions and the ball were wet.” The pacer added that the bowlers tried to find rhythm, but it was very difficult to bowl in those conditions. The first sho...

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on Tuesday rubbished reports of a fuel shortage in the country, saying the situation is “fully under control”. Earlier, media reports claimed that oil companies warned of a nationwide fuel shortage due to new taxation requirements by the Sindh government. They added that the new regulations added to delays in clearing fuel shipments at ports and also added costs that could not be passed on to consumers. The Oil Marketing Association of Pakistan also approached the federal energy ministry over the matter and urged the government to intervene. “There is no situation of fuel shortage in the country. Some clearance delays were experienced earlier with imported petroleum products; however, the situation is now fully under control,” said Ogra in a statement released today. It added that Pakistan State Oil’s diesel vessel and a petrol vessel of Wafi Energy, the majority shareholder of Shell Pakistan Ltd (SPL), were also cleared today. “Fuel supply operations across the cou...

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The deadlock over the Asia Cup trophy — which India refused to collect at the closing ceremony last month amid Pakistan-India hostilities — continued on Tuesday as the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) contacted Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head Mohsin Naqvi to hand over the trophy, Indian media reported citing sources. Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, told reporters in Karachi on Tuesday that the ACC has informed the BCCI that a formal ceremony will be held in Dubai on December 10 to present India with the trophy. Dawn.com understands that Naqvi, as ACC chief, is keen on handing over the trophy himself following the farcical scenes that followed after last month’s final between Pakistan and India. Defending champions India edged Pakistan by five-wickets in a last-over thriller to win the Asia Cup title at the Dubai International Stadium last month. However, the closing ceremony descended into farce as the Indian cricket team refused to collect the winners’ trophy from Naq...