Pakistan

The three-day celebrations of the 982nd annual Urs of the great Sufi saint Hazrat Data Ali Hajveri (RA) began in Lahore on Wednesday under tight security arrangements.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exporters are poised to gain a significant competitive advantage in the US market after the government successfully negotiated a reduction in reciprocal tariffs — from 29pc to 19pc — the lowest rate in the region. An official statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday noted that the reduced tariff will create new opportunities for Pakistani exporters to expand their footprint in the US. The development was discussed during a high-level meeting on US reciprocal tariffs, chaired by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan. The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce Rana Ihsaan Afzal, Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul, senior officials from the Commerce and Industries Divisions, and more than 30 leading exporters and SMEs from key sectors including apparel, textiles, rice, salt, surgical instruments, sports goods, electronics, food and agriculture, and leather. Commerce M...

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Tuesday informed provincial cabinet that security forces were conducting targeted operation in Bajaur tribal district after failure of negotiations between a local jirga and terrorists. An official statement issued here said that Mr Gandapur chaired the meeting of cabinet and talked about law and order situation and condemned anti-state elements attempting to destabilise the country. He said that terrorism was unequivocally unacceptable as it impacted all people equally. He said that provincial government adopted a proactive strategy and established jirgas to build public trust and enlist community support in the fight against terrorism. He said that proliferation of terrorism would not be tolerated and writ of government would be upheld without compromise. The chief minister said that operations and forced displacement of civilians were not his government’s policy. He confirmed that no authorisation was given for such actions. He said that Section 144 was im...

LAHORE: Police claimed on Tuesday to have busted a gang involved in looting citizens through online taxi apps and arrested its four members. As per a handout, the gang had been operating by using fake ride-hailing apps to target passengers. According to details, a citizen was robbed of valuables worth millions of rupees after booking a ride on Jail Road, Lahore. The driver fled with the victim’s belongings. The victim quickly contacted Police Helpline 15. A virtual patrolling officer at Punjab Safe Cities Authority immediately traced the suspects’ vehicle using advanced surveillance cameras and AI-powered tracking systems. The data was shared with Lahore police, who swiftly apprehended the suspects. Upon arrest, police recovered vehicles, luxury items, weapons, and more than 200 SIM cards from the gang. Initial investigations revealed that the gang had been defrauding citizens by posing as drivers through fake taxi apps. Authorities have urged the public to use only authentic and reliable platforms when booki...

TOBA TEK SINGH: An alleged serial rapist and blackmailer of children, who was arrested on Monday, was killed in an “encounter” with Faisalabad’s Lyallpur Division Crime Control Department team on Tuesday. According to police, suspect Mohsin Yasin, a refrigerator mechanic, residing in Kot Khan Muhammad locality, would rape minor boys and girls, record their pornographic videos and blackmail them. He was arrested on Monday. The police claimed that the suspect escaped from their custody. The CCD teams chased the suspect, who entered a house located on Satiana Road, from where he and his accomplices opened fire on the policemen. A crossfire took place between the criminals and the CCD teams, following which Mohsin was found lying injured in the house, allegedly in the firing by his accomplices, who fled. The police said the suspect was shifted to the Allied Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile, as per the police, a suspected cattle thief was allegedly killed in an encounter with a CCD tea...

• 47 killed while trying to infiltrate from Afghanistan, three neutralised in subsequent operation; PM, president laud forces • Nine personnel martyred in ambush near Iran border; attack on police station repulsed • FO welcomes US decision to declare BLA, Majeed Brigade as foreign terrorist groups • Police vehicles targeted in Sibi, Quetta QUETTA: Security forces have gunned down 50 terrorists over the past four days, as they foiled an attempt by militants to cross over from Afghanistan into Balochistan’s Zhob district, said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement on Tuesday. In the Sambaza area of Zhob district, 47 terrorists were killed following “successful engagements by security forces” from Aug 7 to 9, it said. In the same area along the Pak-Afghan border, three more “Indian-sponsored” terror­ists were killed during a “saniti­sation operation” on the night of Aug 10-11, it said, adding that arms and ammunitions were seized from their possession. The statement referred to these militants as...

Senator Sherry Rehman on Wednesday called for strict accountability over reported losses of Rs.

Islamabad: PM Shehbaz Sharif addresses a ceremony.

Joint statement issued after US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue in Islamabad underscores critical importance of developing effective approaches to BLA, ISIS-K, TTP Islamabad welcomes Washington’s move to blacklist BLA, Majeed Brigade.

HYDERABAD - Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday said that after designation of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Majeed Brigade as terrorist outfits attempts are afoot to secure an identical declaration from the United Nations.

PESHAWAR - The Peshawar High Court (PHC) yesterday barred the Senate chairman and National Assembly speaker from appointing leaders of opposition in their respective Houses.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb Tuesday met with the Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, at the Supreme Court.

ISLAMABAD - Senate Chairman Muhammad Yousaf Raza Gillani on Tuesday praised young people worldwide, especially in Pakistan, calling them the “bright future of the nation.

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that Pakistan has achieved significant economic milestones, marking a robust turnaround in the macroeconomic framework - a foundation for long-term growth.

ISLAMABAD - First Lady Ms Aseefa Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday called for united action — involving government institutions, health professionals, media, and communities — to raise awareness to combat breast cancer, the most common cancer among women in Pakistan and the highest in prevalence in Asia.

PDMA warns of possible flooding in rivers due to upper-area rains.

ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan and Morocco enjoy fraternal ties, based on common faith, shared values, and mutual respect, which need to be further strengthened for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

ISLAMABAD - The opposition and the treasury on Tuesday traded barbs in the Senate over ‘convictions and disqualifications’ of the PTI lawmakers, with the former questioning the integrity of judiciary and the latter advising the convicts to adopt legal recourse.

The United States said on Tuesday that it was committed to countering terrorism in all its forms with Pakistan amid strengthening ties between the two countries. The statement comes a day after the US State Department added the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, the Majeed Brigade, to its Foreign Terrorist Organisation list. The US said the move, long-desired by Pakistan, demonstrated its commitment to countering terrorism, while signalling strengthened cooperation and international coordination in the fight against terrorism. A post from the US Embassy in Islamabad on X said the Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Gregory LoGerfo and Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker participated in the US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue, advancing their shared resolve to combat the global threat. “We remain committed to countering terrorism in all its forms,” the embassy said. The Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement the dialogue was co-chaired by Special Secretary (UN) Ambassador Nabeel Mun...

The taekwondo team will be in action on August 14