Saturday | Pakistan

LAHORE: Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a weather alert forecasting dust-thunderstorms and rain in several districts of the province from Monday night to Saturday. According to a PDMA advisory issued on Monday, a westerly weather system is expected to affect the upper parts of the country from the night of May 18 and is likely to persist till May 23. The authority predicted rain, windstorms and isolated hailstorms in Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Bhakkar, Layyah, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Okara, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot and Narowal with occasional gaps during the forecast period. PDMA Director General Umar Javed said that alerts had been issued to all commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province to ensure a timely response to any untoward situation. The advisory warned that strong winds and lightning could damage vulnerable structures, including electricity poles, billboa...

Pakistan’s Hajj flight operation is set to commence on Saturday, launching a large-scale travel effort to transport thousands of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage.

Chairman of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted anywhere in the country, confirming that Eidul Fitr will be observed on Saturday.

The sighting of the Shawwal crescent in Pakistan has confirmed that Eid al-Fitr will be observed nationwide on Saturday, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Ramazan.

The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee said on Thursday that the Shawwal moon had not been sighted and Eidul Fitr would be celebrated on March 21 (Saturday). Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad made the announcement while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. The press conference followed a meeting of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, and zonal and district committee meetings at their respective headquarters. He said that the skies remained cloudy over most parts of Pakistan, while in some areas it was clear. He said that no credible moon sighting testimonies were received. The Ruet-i-Hilal Committee chairman said that the 1st of Shawwal would fall on Saturday. Subsequently, a notification was also issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, which stated that Shawwal moon had not been sighted and the month would commence from March 21. However, there were reports that Eid would be celebrated in some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur, Bannu and Lakk...

Chairman of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted anywhere in the country, confirming that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Saturday.

KARACHI: Parts of Karachi received rain on Thursday under the influence of a westerly wave, which the Met Office said was expected to lead to a dip in temperatures till Saturday. Reports of rain were received from Surjani, North Karachi, Scheme 33, Super Highway, Defence Housing Authority, Sohrab Goth, Clifton, Sharea Faisal and Gulistan-i-Jauhar. Data from the Met Office showed that the highest amount of rainfall in Karachi fell in Surjani Town, with 26.3 millimetres (mm) of rain recorded as of 5pm. The lowest readings were in Kemari and the old airport area, with trace amounts of rainfall, while Orangi Town, Quaidabad, Saddar and Bin Qasim saw no rain at all. In other parts of Sindh, Jacobabad and Sukkur experienced the most rainfall, with each recording 10mm of rain. The least fell in Shaheed Benazirabad and Sakrand, with both recording 1mm each. Karachi only received trace amounts of rainfall, according to the data. Meanwhile, an alert by the traffic police at 3:49pm said Hub River Road had been closed fo...

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced that all commercial bank branches, including National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) branches handling customs duties, will remain open on Saturday, 29 November 2025, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm to facilitate taxpayers.

The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) announced on Friday that all partner schools will now observe Saturday as a weekly holiday.

The Punjab government on Thursday imposed Section 144 across the province to ban public gatherings for two days while also saying that it would recommend the Centre to ban the religiopolitical party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) following its violent protests. According to a statement issued by the Punjab Home Department, Section 144 was imposed across the province until Saturday, banning all kinds of protests, meetings, processions, rallies, sit-ins, and gatherings. The development follows a large-scale pre-dawn operation by law enforcement agencies on Monday to dismantle TLP’s protest camp in Muridke, which sparked violent clashes, widespread chaos, and multiple arrests. The party had set out for what it described as a “Gaza solidarity” march, pledging to reach Islamabad and protest outside the US embassy. As per the official figures, as many as 2,716 people have been arrested after the Muridke operation. Out of these, some 251 were taken into custody by Lahore police and 178 by Sheikhpura police. The go...

Defence and Martyrs Day will be observed across the country on Saturday to honor the martyrs and Ghazis of the 1965 war and to reaffirm the nation’s resolve to defend Pakistan against all threats.

The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Friday forecast the 10th spell of monsoon rains, expected to begin on Saturday (September 6) and continue until September 9, urging citizens to take precautionary measures.

The federal government on Tuesday announced a public holiday for September 6 on account of Eid-i-Miladun Nabi. The notification was issued by the Cabinet Division. Last week, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee had announced that the Rabiul Awwal moon had not been sighted; therefore, Eid-i-Miladun Nabi was set to fall on the coming Saturday. Muslims around the world celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), known in Arabic as the Mawlid al-Nabawi holiday, on the 12th of Rabiul Awwal — the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar. September 6 is also when the country will mark its 60th Defence Day to commemorate the sacrifices of fallen heroes of the 1965 war against India.

The Foreign Office on Friday confirmed that Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian will pay a state visit to Pakistan over the weekend. Iran’s IRNA news agency had reported on Wednesday that the Iranian president’s political adviser, Mehdi Sanai, had said Pezeshkian was due to visit Pakistan on Saturday for a two-day trip with discussions with “cultural and commercial elites” on the agenda. In a statement today, the FO confirmed the development, saying the Iranian president “will pay a state visit to Pakistan on August 2-3, 2025” at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation. Dr Pezeshkian will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, senior ministers and other high-ranking officials. The FO said Dr Pezeshkian will meet President Zardari and also hold delegation-level talks with PM Shehbaz. “This marks Dr Pezeshkian’s first official visit to Pakistan as president of Iran. It may be recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last visited Iran on May 26, 202...