Pakistan

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has paid tribute to Pakistan’s security forces for successfully eliminating 14 terrorists affiliated with the Indian-backed militant group "Fitna Al-Khawarij" during a security operation in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted hot and dry weather in most plain areas of the country during the upcoming Eidul Azha holidays, which will be observed from June 6 to 9, as announced by the federal government.

In a major step towards fully implementing the M-Tag system, the National Highways Authority (NHA) has announced that non-M-Tag and low-balance vehicles will be charged 50% additional toll tax on all motorways starting June 15, 2025.

Minister of State for Crypto & Blockchain and CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) Bilal Bin Saqib met with the Executive Director of US President Donald Trump’s Council on Digital Assets Robert ‘Bo’ Hines at the White House to discuss strategic alignment on digital assets, a press release said on Wednesday. During the meeting, the two officials also spoke about “Bitcoin integration, and the future of decentralised infrastructure”. Bo Hines was appointed by President Trump in January 2025 to lead the national policy development on digital asset innovation, regulation, and emerging financial technologies, according to the statement. In May, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) Chief Executive Officer Bilal Bin Saqib as his special assistant on blockchain and cryptocurrency, with the status of a minister of state. Saqib is now responsible for developing a comprehensive, FATF-compliant regulatory framework for digital assets, launching Bitcoin mining initiatives, and over...

Fourteen terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij were killed in an operation by security forces in North Waziristan district’s Datta Khel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday. Despite heightened military tensions between Pakistan and India last month, militant groups were unable to significantly escalate their activities in the country, according to data released by an Islamabad-based independent think tank. The monthly security assessment issued by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) recorded 85 militant attacks in May as compared to 81 in April, resulting in 113 fatalities. These included 52 security forces personnel, 46 civilians, 11 militants, and four peace committee members. “On June 2-3 2025, an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the Security Forces in the general area Datta Khel, North Waziristan District, on the reported presence of khwarij belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna-al-Khawarij,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) ...

Security forces have killed 14 Indian-sponsored terrorists in a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across North Waziristan and Balochistan, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD: The capital police on Tuesday announced the arrest of the suspect in the murder case of a social media influencer, who was gunned down at her house in G-13 on Monday. Addressing a hastily-called news conference, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said after the murder of 17-year-old Sana Yousuf, seven police teams were formed under the supervision of DIG Operations Jawad Tariq. These teams conducted a technical investigation, analysing social media accounts and more than 300 call records. Footage from Safe City Islamabad and private cameras was also obtained. The suspect was arrested from Faisalabad within 20 hours of the incident. Additionally, the victim’s mobile phone and the murder weapon were recovered from his possession. “The ruthless killer took the phone with him after the murder to destroy evidence. In order to apprehend the accused, raids were conducted at over 11 locations in three cities. The accused is a 22-year-old unemployed man who repeatedly attempted to contac...

ISLAMABAD: The Planning Commission has conceded that policy decisions and government measures at both the federal and provincial levels have caused a substantial contraction of 13.5 per cent in major crops this fiscal year, which may lead to increased food imports next year at the expense of precious foreign exchange. In a working paper for the federal budget 2025-26, the Planning Commission also attributed the lower-than-targeted GDP growth to a poor performance of the agriculture sector. “GDP growth for FY25 is recorded at 2.7pc against the target of 3.6pc, primarily due to a massive contraction in key commodity-producing sectors, including important crops, which witnessed a 13.5pc contraction due to adverse weather conditions, reduced rainfall, input challenges, and policy shift”, the Planning Commission candidly placed on record. Last year, the government announced a lucrative minimum support price (MSP) for wheat, but the Punjab government subsequently withdrew its support for farmers, leaving them at th...

• PM Shehbaz addresses Peshawar jirga, calls on authorities to fast-track work on Bhasha dam • NFC meeting in August, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to keep receiving funds to fight terrorism • CM Gandapur wants tribal districts’ share in finance award, KP’s input in talks with Afghanistan PESHAWAR: As India’s move to place the Indus Waters Treaty into abeyance puts Pakistan’s water security in peril, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday asked authorities to speed up construction of the Bhasha Dam, while also hinting at inter-provincial consultations to increase the country’s storage capacity. The premier made these remarks while addressing a jirga at the Corps Headquar­ters Peshawar, in which he stressed the need for tough decisions for the development and prosperity of the country. PM Shehbaz, while talking about the hostile measures taken by the Modi government, said that under the Indus Waters Treaty, every drop of water was the right of the Pakistani people. He said that India had tasted its own medicine after a...

ISLAMABAD: In a significant move, incarcerated founding cha­ir­man of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has decided to become patron-in-chief of the party ahead of the planned nationwide protest movement. This was revealed by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday. Talking to media persons outside Adiala Jail after meeting the former prime minister, he said Mr Khan would himself lead the protest campaign announced by the party, from jail. He said all instructions regarding the protest would be conveyed through opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan. Mr Khan, through a message shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, had called on the public last week to prepare for a countrywide protest movement. Gohar denies reports he is being removed from party chairmanship; says Gandapur won’t lead upcoming protest The post had come a day after his sister, Aleema Khan, had proposed a “give-and-take formula” for his release. Although the ex-premier does not have direct access to his social media ac...

Shehbaz Sharif says there is need to expand existing water storage capacity Modi frustrated and in a state of panic after defeat KP received Rs700b since 2010 under NFC Award Directs to remove impediments for early completion of Diamer Bhasha Dam.

KARACHI - More than 100 prisoners escaped from a prison and at least one was killed in a shoot put late Monday night in Karachi after being temporarily moved out of their cells due to mild earthquakes, officials said Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD - The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday accused the ruling coalition of orchestrating a plan to disqualify the party’s 52 lawmakers in the National Assembly in a move to strengthen its parliamentary majority and sideline coalition partners.

ISLAMABAD - Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that India’s strategic delusions have been reduced to dust.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired the 26th meeting of the provincial cabinet on Tuesday which discussed and approved 101 agenda items.

LAHORE - Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has called for political unity and consensus to ensure national stability and economic recovery.

ISLAMABAD - Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Tuesday said the newly established cybercrime investigation body has busted an international gang involved in sexual exploitation of children.

ISLAMABAD - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an $800 million program to strengthen fiscal sustainability and improve public financial management in Pakistan.

RAWALPINDI - Security forces killed seven terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan in two separate operations in Balochistan.

ISLAMABAD - The government has convened a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) today in order to approve the National Development Outlay and GDP growth target for the next Fiscal Year 2025-26, it is learnt reliably here.