Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - The top election regulatory body yesterday once again gave the Punjab province a four-week deadline to complete new delimitations for the upcoming local government polls in the province.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Senator Dr.

ISLAMABAD - After complaints by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi regarding bul-letproof vehicles provided by the federal government, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Wednesday that the vehicles in question would be sent to Balochistan instead.

ISLAMABAD - Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail of Supreme Court has said that the apex court and high courts cannot be barred from hearing cases even if their powers are curtailed.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the PML-N-led govern-ment is strong and there is no imminent threat to it and issues with PPP have been sorted out.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain said that Pakistan has the potential to become a reliable supplier of quality agricultural products, particularly in halal meat, fruits, vegetables, rice, and animal feed.

Peshawar - Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, has strongly condemned Punjab government’s move to restrict transportation of wheat and flour, calling it a blatant violation of the Constitution and an attack on the rights of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

ISLAMABAD - Outgoing Foreign Office spokesperson and Ambassador-designate to the United Arab Emirates Shafqat Ali Khan on Wednesday paid a farewell call on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar here.

Peshawar - Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to promoting the province’s honey industry and addressing the challenges faced by beekeepers and traders.

Rawalpindi - As many as 45 Chinese electric buses have arrived in the garrison city of Rawalpindi to operate on 10 routes starting this week.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday held a meeting with lawmakers and political leaders from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and discussed the “overall political landscape” in the country with them, said a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). “PM Shehbaz discussed the current overall political landscape with KP lawmakers and leaders, as well as reviewed progress on ongoing development projects in the province,” said the statement. “The meeting focused on federal efforts to boost socio-economic development in KP and enhance coordination between the Centre and provincial stakeholders,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. The premier stressed the “need for sustained political engagement to ensure stability and growth in the province,” the report said. During the meeting, PM Shehbaz “emphasised that KP remains a key priority in the national agenda”. The prime minister also “directed relevant authorities to expedite key infrastructure and welfare projects”. The PTI-led KP ...

Three teams are chasing the last vacant spot in the ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final after South Africa, Australia and England booked their place during the knockout stage and finished top three in the league’s standings. India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are chasing the coveted spot with four points each; Bangladesh and Pakistan are out of contention and at the bottom of the standings with two points each, with the latter crashing out of contention after a crushing defeat by South Africa on Tuesday. How India can qualify (currently in fourth position; +0.526 NRR) India have two remaining matches against New Zealand on Thursday and Bangladesh on Sunday. If they win both, they progress to the semi-finals. Even if they win against New Zealand but not Bangladesh — which gives them six points and a total of three victories, they can still qualify for the semis. If India lose to New Zealand but defeat Bangladesh, they will be relying on England defeating the White Ferns on Sunday in order to make the semis. Losing ...

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Wednesday that unchecked population growth and climate change are hindering Pakistan from becoming a $3 trillion economy. Pakistan is home to a vast population of over 251 million, according to World Bank figures. In 2023, the population growth rate was reported to have reached around 2.55 per cent. However, almost 45pc of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line, according to a World Bank report. At the same time, Pakistan has been ranked as the most vulnerable country to climate change in 2022, according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2025. “I have been clear right from the beginning that we have two existential issues because if we don’t tackle them correctly … there are two reasons that could derail us from becoming a $3tr economy and those are climate change and population growth,” said the finance minister in an interview on Geo News show ‘Capital Talk’. Aurangzeb said the former was no longer merely “an academic discussion” but something “we are l...

Private tour operators in Pakistan have completed Hajj 2025 bookings under their officially allotted quota, sources said on Wednesday.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation on Wednesday finalised its decision to not send its team to India for next month’s Junior World Cup, slated to held from Nov 28 to Dec 10. The decision came after a high-profile meeting in Islamabad where the security issues and India’s hostile approach towards Pakistan in the sports sector, particularly the conduct of its cricket team during the recent Asia Cup, came under discussion. “The PHF will convey its decision to Hockey India soon,” a PHF official told Dawn.com. “The PHF and the government don’t want to compromise on security of players, therefore we decided not to send our team.” International Cricket Council, the sports global body, has arranged for neutral venues for both Pakistan and India during tournaments held in either country. Hockey’s governing body, the FIH, however, hasn’t made any such hybrid arrangement. Pakistan skipped the Asia Cup in India last month despite the tournament being a qualifier for next year’s World Cup. Meanwhile, the issue of PHF election...

The High Commission of Canada in Pakistan, in collaboration with the Department of Digital Media, University of the Punjab, hosted a high-level Strategic Dialogue on Media Literacy and Digital Resilience to advance collective efforts in strengthening media freedom, digital inclusion, and information integrity in Pakistan.

The United Nations’ top legal body, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on Wednesday said Israel has an obligation to ensure the basic needs of the civilian population in Gaza are met. The panel of 11 judges added that Israel is forced to support the relief efforts provided by the United Nations in the Gaza strip and its entities, including the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Israel has not substantiated its claims that a significant number of UNRWA’s employees are members of Hamas, the judges said. The ICJ said that Israel was obliged to ease the passage of aid into Gaza, stressing it had to provide Palestinians with “basic needs” essential to survival. The wide-ranging ICJ ruling came as aid groups are scrambling to scale up much-needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza, seizing upon a fragile ceasefire agreed earlier this month. The ICJ’s “Advisory Opinion” is not legally binding but the court believes it carries “great legal weight and moral authority”. Is...

A new United Nations secretary-general will be elected next year for a five-year term starting on January 1, 2027. Here are the potential candidates so far and how the successor to current UN chief Antonio Guterres will be chosen: When does the process start? The race will formally start when the 15-member Security Council and the president of the 193-member General Assembly send a joint letter soliciting nominations. That letter is due to be sent by the end of the year. A candidate has to be nominated by a UN member state. The job traditionally rotates among regions, but when Guterres — who is from Portugal — was elected in 2016, it was supposed to be Eastern Europe’s turn. Next on the list is Latin America; however, some diplomats expect candidates from other regions. Who wants to be the next secretary-general? While the race doesn’t formally begin until the letter is sent by the presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly, there are already several publicly declared candidates: Michelle Bac...

Sindh releases PSO oil cargo Relaxes cess rules till Oct-end Efforts on to find permanent solution

Six killed as gunmen ambush vehicle in Waziristan