Pakistan

The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that powerful and influential individuals are involved in drug smuggling across the country, as it dismissed the bail plea of an accused in a narcotics case.

US President Donald Trump’s doubling of tariffs on goods from India to as much as 50 per cent took effect as scheduled on Wednesday, escalating tensions between the world’s two largest democracies and strategic partners. A punitive 25pc tariff imposed due to India’s purchases of Russian oil adds to Trump’s prior 25pc tariff on many products from India. It takes total duties to as high as 50pc for goods such as garments, gems and jewellery, footwear, sporting goods, furniture and chemicals — among the highest imposed by the US and on par with Brazil and China. The new tariffs threaten thousands of small exporters and jobs, including in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat. India’s Commerce Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, a Commerce Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said exporters hit by tariffs would receive financial assistance and be encouraged to diversify to markets such as China, Latin America and the Middle East. A US Customs an...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said Pakistan values its diplomatic and economic cooperation with Japan and is committed to renewing and strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in trade and industry.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to present the complete record in a case concerning a teacher, Sifatullah, accused of possessing a fake degree.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday visited the National Police Academy, where he inspected ongoing construction of an eleven-storey hostel comprising 126 rooms.

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja Wednesday, said that artificial intelligence (AI) will not eliminate jobs but will significantly reshape the global employment landscape, stressing the need for youth to acquire skills in modern technologies.

Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Wednesday announced that plans are underway to utilise solar energy to power Balochistan’s Gwadar port in a bid to improve its efficiency, a press release issued by his ministry said. Gwadar Port, built more than a decade ago, still remains a non-starter, prompting the federal government to speed up efforts aimed at the maximum utilisation of the port. Earlier this month, Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and a Chinese company agreed to boost investments at the port, in an attempt to develop it as a “regional transhipment centre”. In a meeting aimed at enhancing the port’s operations, Chaudhry announced that “efforts are underway to implement solar-based solutions” to enhance the operational capability of the Gwadar port. In that regard, a sub-committee has been established, which will be responsible for planning and implementing an “efficient solar panel utilisation plan, recommending the installation of solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage solutio...

Indian spin great Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League and plans to play in other global franchise tournaments. The 38-year-old, a master off-spinner who quit international cricket in December during India’s Test tour of Australia, ends as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the IPL with 187 scalps. He played for five IPL franchises and won the tournament with Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2011, where he also played in this year’s edition. “They say every ending will have a new start,” Ashwin wrote on social media. “My time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today.” The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not allow any current player in Indian international or domestic cricket to feature in overseas leagues. The feisty Ashwin finished his India career with 537 wickets in 106 Tests at an average of 24.00. He also played 116 one-day and 65 T20 internationals.

Floodwaters gushing through mountain villages, cities rendered swamps, mourners gathered at fresh graves — as Pakistan’s monsoon season once again delivers scenes of calamity, it also lays bare woeful preparedness. Without better regulation of construction and sewer maintenance, the annual downpours that have left hundreds dead in recent months will continue to kill, experts say. Even Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appeared to agree as he toured flood-stricken Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province last week, where landslides killed more than 450 people. “Natural disasters are acts of God, but we cannot ignore the human blunders,” he said. “If we keep letting influence-peddling and corruption control building permits, neither the people nor the governments will be forgiven.” Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with limited resources for adaptation. In the devastated mountain villages the prime minister visited, and beyond, residential areas are erected near riverbeds, blocking “natural stor...

ISLAMABAD: Google has launched its new ‘AI Mode’ in Pakistan, offering users access to its most advanced AI-powered search experience. First introduced in the United States this year, the feature is now expanding globally, with Pakistan among the latest countries to gain access. The tool, powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.5, enables people to ask longer and more complex questions that previously required multiple searches. Available in English, AI Mode can be accessed via the Google app on Android and iOS, as well as on mobile and desktop web. In a statement, Google said that early testers have shown that queries are already two to three times longer than traditional searches, highlighting the tool’s usefulness for exploratory tasks such as comparing products, planning trips, or tackling “how-to” questions. “It dives deep to answer multiple questions at once, with helpful links for further exploration,” the company said. Google explained that Pakistani users can use ‘AI Mode’ for different use cases, in...

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Wednesday announced the abolition of physical stamp papers across the province, replacing them with a new e-stamping system effective September 1, 2025.

Flour prices have sharply increased across the city, with a 20-kilogram bag now costing up to Rs300 more, sparking concern among consumers and traders.

Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned the deadly Israeli airstrikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, which left at least 21 people dead, including four journalists and a rescue worker.

Sialkot has witnessed record-breaking rainfall of 364mm over the past 24 hours, surpassing the previous maximum of 299.

Pakistan and Iran have reaffirmed their commitment to eliminating terrorism and boosting security cooperation along their common border, following a telephonic conversation between Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi.

In Quetta’s Kali Ismail area, near the Balochistan Board office on Samungli Road, 12-year-old Salman, a seminary student, rummaged through a garbage dumping site to pick up a baseball. He needed it for his next fastball to Akram, who stood poised to bat — right in the middle of the trash. “We’re used to playing here,” Salman shrugged. “We wash our hands with regular water.” Like many children in the area, he had no idea how hazardous the dumping ground could be to his health. “It’s been five months, and there’s been no action from the authorities,“ lamented Jameel Langove, who runs a flour mill nearby. “The dumping ground has become a haven for drug addicts and immoral activities. It’s affecting our neighbourhood and our children.” He recounted how a recent storm had blown heaps of garbage into nearby homes. Living so close to the site, residents, particularly the elderly, now struggle with asthma and other breathing problems caused by dust and waste polluting the air. Quetta, once fondly referred to as “Litt...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed federal ministers to immediately visit flood-affected districts of Punjab and personally supervise evacuation and relief operations amid the threat of very high-level flooding in the Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi rivers.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has taken a lead to raise voice for the Palestinian people as the world struggles to stop Israeli aggression.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Faisal Amin Gandapur, who is also the brother of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, has resigned from three standing committees of the National Assembly.

The Pakistan Army has been called in to assist the civil administration in Punjab after India released water into the River Ravi, triggering a sharp rise in water levels and creating a potential flood situation.