Pakistan

Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the Pakistan Navy on conducting a highly successful anti-narcotics operation, praising the force’s professionalism and dedication in safeguarding the nation’s maritime borders.

South Africa beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Thursday to draw the series 1-1 with Simon Harmer taking a maiden five-wicket haul. The 36-year-old off-spinner finished with 6-50, taking his 1,000th first-class wicket in the process, on a deteriorating Rawalpindi stadium pitch. South Africa reached the 68-run target for the loss of captain Aiden Markram (42) and Tristan Stubbs (nought), both to spinner Noman Ali, who finished with 2-40. Ryan Rickelton, who scored 25 not out, hit Sajid Khan for a six to seal an emphatic win minutes before the lunch break for the World Test Championship holders. In another battle of spinners, Pakistan managed 333 in their first innings before the South African tail wagged to help them pile up 404 for a crucial 71-run lead. Spinners took 34 of the 40 wickets to fall in the first Test in Lahore, which Pakistan won by 93 runs. Thursday’s morning session saw Pakistan’s batters fold, adding just 44 runs after resuming the fourth day on 94-4. Harmer to...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's has announced "Roshan Maeeshat Power Package" for the development of country's industry and agriculture sectors.

Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned Israel’s attempt to extend its so-called “sovereignty” over parts of the Occupied West Bank, including illegal Israeli settlements, through a draft law introduced in the legislature of the occupying power.

The Indian government has reduced the number of officials who can order content to be taken down from the internet, a move that follows a bitter legal battle with Elon Musk’s X that centered around a contentious policy. X, Musk’s social media platform, had been in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2023 decision to police the internet by allowing thousands of officials to file takedown orders. In August, Reuters reported that police inspectors were issuing takedown orders on cartoons and satirical posts, sparking one of X’s most high-profile legal challenges against a government’s content-removal policy. X lost the lawsuit in Karnataka High Court in September, with a judge ruling that its challenge was without merit and X had to abide by local laws. But late on Wednesday, India’s IT ministry changed its policy by limiting the number of people who can issue such orders to top bureaucrats and police officials. Now only bureaucrats with the rank of joint secretary or higher and police officials who are...

A maiden career century at Melbourne in 1972-73 got Sadiq Mohammad, Pakistan’s dashing left-handed opening batsman, noticed in Tasmania, where Latrobe Cricket Club brought him over to both coach and play for them. He was the youngest of five brothers — Wazir, Raees, Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq — four of whom played Test cricket for Pakistan. Playing cricket in Tasmania offered Sadiq a fat pay-check, and while the standard of cricket was still wanting (they were not yet part of the Sheffield Shield, Australia’s first-class circuit), this was a real chance for him to cement his status as a professional cricketer, at a time when playing for Pakistan still meant poor pay. In 1974-75, the West Indies were coming to tour Pakistan, in one of Clive Lloyd’s first captaincy assignments, and recent debuts for two West Indies cricketers — Andy Roberts and Viv Richards. They were also on the back of a competitive 5-match series in India, which they had won 3-2. A bureaucratic struggle Sadiq and Majid Khan had already establi...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to becoming a regional hub for connectivity, saying the country is ready to coordinate transport initiatives, enhance cross-border facilitation, mobilize joint investments, and strengthen regional value chains.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has hinted at an imminent ban on the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), as the federal cabinet is set to discuss the matter in its meeting today.

The Foreign Office on Thursday condemned Tel Aviv’s attempt to “extend its so-called ‘sovereignty’” over parts of the Occupied West Bank a day after a bill applying Israeli law to the occupied West Bank won preliminary approval from the Knesset. Israeli lawmakers voted on Wednesday to advance two bills on annexing the occupied West Bank, barely a week after US President Donald Trump pushed through a deal aimed at ending Israel’s two-year military offensive in the Gaza Strip. In a statement released today, the FO said, “Pakistan strongly condemns Israel’s attempt to extend its so-called ‘sovereignty’ over parts of the occupied West Bank, including illegal Israeli settlements, through a draft law introduced in the legislature of the occupying power.” The FO said that these actions constituted a “flagrant violation” of international law, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. “Such provocative and unlawful measures undermine ongoing efforts to ...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday that regional connectivity was not optional, terming it essential for growth and shared progress. “Connectivity is not optional. It is essential for stability, growth and shared progress. Regional cooperation directly impacts the lives of millions of our people,” he said while addressing the Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference in Islamabad. Transport Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, among others, are participating in the two-day conference. Delegates from the Asian Development Bank, Economic Cooperation Organisation, International Road Transport Union, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific are also attending. In his remarks, Dar said that many countries in the region were already investing in forward-looking connectivity projects. “Central Asia is emerging as a true trans Eurasian land bridge,” he ...

Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Justice Aalia Neelum, on Thursday issued a major ruling regarding cases involving sexual assault of minor girls.

Former captain Babar Azam has made a return to Pakistan’s T20I squad as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced squads for the upcoming white-ball series. The National Selection Committee named a 15-member squad for the T20I series against South Africa to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 28 to November 1. The same squad will be playing the T20I tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe to be staged at the same venues from Nov 17-29. In the T20I squad, Babar, Abdul Samad and Naseem Shah have made a comeback to the side after missing out on previous events. Usman Tariq is the only uncapped player included in the T20I squad, according to the PCB press release. A 16-member squad has also been announced for the ODI series against South Africa and Sri Lanka. Pakistan and South Africa, who are currently playing the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, will also feature in a three-match ODI series to be held at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from Nov 4-8. The ODI series will...

ISLAMABAD - The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Wednesday booked PTI MNA Shandana Gulzar Khan on charges of propagating ‘highly offen-sive’ content against the state through her verified X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Pakistan is ready to play a constructive role in bridging differences between the United States and China, Islamabad’s Ambassador to Washington Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said on Wednesday.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to impose a complete ban on traditional brick kilns as part of its efforts to tackle environmental pollution and reduce smog levels in the province.

United States President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies on Wednesday, complaining that his talks with Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war “don’t go anywhere”. The European Union also unveiled a fresh wave of sanctions to pressure Russia to end its relentless, three-and-a-half-year invasion of its neighbor, which is allied with both Washington and Brussels. Trump has held off pulling the trigger on sanctions against Russia for months, but his patience snapped after plans for a fresh summit with Putin in Budapest collapsed. “Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don’t go anywhere,” Trump said in response to a question from an AFP journalist in the Oval Office. But Trump added that he hoped the “tremendous sanctions” against Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil would be short-lived. “We hope that the war will be settled,” he said alongside Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday evening tha...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed gratitude after the provincial government successfully met the target of providing 100,000 interest-free housing loans to low-income families under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar project.

Members of Parliament and political leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, where they discussed the overall political landscape as well as the progress of ongoing development projects in the province.

Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains suspended for nearly two weeks as key border crossings have yet to reopen following recent clashes between security forces on both sides.

Citizens urged to report presence of extremist groups, illegal foreign nationals CM Maryam chairs third consecutive meeting on law and order Warns culture of violence, mafias will no longer be tolerated.