Pakistan

US President Donald Trump is weighing options against Iran that include targeted strikes on security forces and leaders to inspire protesters, multiple sources said, even as Israeli and Arab officials said air power alone would not topple the government. Two US sources familiar with the discussions said Trump wanted to create conditions for “regime change” after a crackdown crushed a nationwide protest movement earlier this month. To do so, he was looking at options to hit commanders and institutions that Washington holds responsible for the violence, to give protesters the confidence that they could overrun government and security buildings, they said. One of the US sources said the options being discussed by Trump’s aides also included a much larger strike intended to have a lasting impact, possibly against the ballistic missiles that can reach US allies in the Middle East or its nuclear enrichment programmes. The other US source said Trump has not yet made a final decision on a course of action, including ...

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed significant volatility on the fourth trading day of the week, as the benchmark KSE-100 Index fell sharply after opening on a strong positive note.

Sri Lanka will deploy elite armed units to protect teams at next month’s T20 World Cup, part of enhanced security measures with a special emphasis on matches between perennial rivals India and Pakistan, officials have told AFP. The island is co-hosting the biennial cricket tournament with India and will hold 20 games between February 7 and March 8. The Indian and Pakistani teams will play each other at least once, in their Group A clash in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on February 15. Cricket matches have long been a stage for expressing political tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, which fought a four-day conflict last year. Sri Lanka has given the “highest priority” to ensuring the tournament runs smoothly and is “paying special attention to the India-Pakistan matches”, sports minister Sunil Kumara Gamage told AFP late on Wednesday. Elite commando units, usually assigned to guard visiting heads of state, will be deployed to protect all participating teams, police and security officials said. “Fr...

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday granted police time until February 9 to recover a girl reported missing from Sahiwal while hearing a petition seeking her recovery.

Severe snowfall and rain have continued to disrupt daily life in Pakistan’s upper regions, blocking key roads and triggering shortages of food and fuel in several areas, officials said on Tuesday.

The federal government has issued a nationwide health alert amid concerns over the possible spread of the deadly Nipah virus (NiV) to Pakistan, directing all relevant authorities to adopt strict preventive measures at the country’s entry points.

Pakistan has told the UN Security Council that the realisation of Palestinian statehood through a credible, time-bound political process remains the central objective of international efforts. Speaking at a Security Council open debate on the Palestinian question on Wednesday, Pakistan emphasised that the establishment of “an independent, sovereign, and contiguous state of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital” is the ultimate goal supported by the international community and essential for regional stability. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the unresolved Palestinian question lies at the heart of Middle East instability. He highlighted decades of Israeli occupation marked by dispossession, repression, and the denial of Palestinians’ inalienable rights, including self-determination. Referring to continued Israeli aggression in Gaza, Ahmad noted that over the past two years, the crisis has escalated to an unprece...

President Asif Ali Zardari met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, at Zabeel Palace to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and expanding economic, trade and investment cooperation.

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet has approved the launch of a Health Card scheme across the state to expand access to medical treatment for citizens.

ISLAMABAD: Disposing of a batch of appeals, petitions and transfer cases, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has upheld the vires of the super tax, holding that Sections 4B and 4C of the Income Tax Ordinance (ITO) 2001 are neither discriminatory nor violative of fundamental rights. In a judgement pronounced on Jan 27 and uploaded on Wednesday, the FCC ruled that Section 4B does not create any unreasonable or hostile classification among persons forming the same class. The court held that parliament was fully competent to impose, abolish, remit, alter or regulate such taxes through a Finance Act as part of a Money Bill under Article 73(2)(a) of the Constitution. The court observed that the classification introduced under Section 4B is income-based, rests on an intelligible differentia and bears a rational nexus with the object sought to be achieved. The provision, it said, suffers from no lack of legislative competence and does not, on its face, transgress any fundamental right warranting judicial invalida...

ISLAMABAD: Power Minister Sardar Awais Leghari on Wednesday withdrew an order issued by the Power Planning and Monitoring Company (PPMC) that had completely deprived net-metered solar consumers of the benefit for electricity exported to the grid. In a statement, the power division said the minister had taken notice of the “non-crediting of units of net-metering consumers under PPMC instructions”, which had been reviewed “with immediate effect”. Informed sources said power distribution companies (Discos) had complained that some net-metered solar consumers — commonly referred to as “prosumers” — had installed solar systems significantly larger than permitted under the rules, which allow generation capacity up to 150 per cent of sanctioned load. The Discos argued that such installations created challenges for grid stability and financials. They said the PPMC had directed Discos and the Power Information Technology Company (PITC), which handles billing for all Discos, to stop counting export units for consumers ...

WASHINGTON: The US State Department has urged American citizens planning to travel to Pakistan to reconsider their plans, citing security concerns. The department updated its travel advisory for Pakistan on Jan 26, advising travellers to think twice before visiting due to crime, civil unrest, terrorism, and the risk of kidnapping. Pakistan has been placed under a Level 3 advisory, a category that indicates a high risk where terrorist attacks may occur without warning. According to the State Department, typical targets include “transportation hubs, hotels, markets, shopping malls, military and security sites, airports, trains, schools, hospitals, places of worship, tourist locations, and government buildings”. Some regions, including parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have been designated Level 4: Do Not Travel areas. The advisory urges US citizens not to travel to Level 4 areas “for any reason”, warning that assassination and kidnapping attempts are common, particularly against government officials and private citi...

LAHORE: Officials said early on Thursday said that the body of a woman who fell into open an open sewerage line along with her minor daughter near Bhatti Chowk had been found. Speaking to the media, Lahore Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran said that the body was found from the disposal station on Outfall Road. Asked about the various reports about the water flow not being fast enough to carry away a person, he said, “You should also look at the time difference. When it happened, the water flow was fast; those are peak hours.” He said that the water flow receded as the night progressed. Asked whether the family would register a case, Kamran said, “Whatever the family says and whatever their opinion is, we will act according to that.” Meanwhile, Lahore Operations SSP Mohammad Tauqir told Dawn that police had taken the woman’s husband into custody, adding that he was the one who had alleged that his wife had fallen into the sewerage line along with their minor daughter at around 7...

Approves supplementary grant of Rs29.6b to ensure uninterrupted procurement of vaccines, syringes

Trump warns 'time is running out' for nuclear deal; Tehran hits back, says it will fight back as never before

500,000 tons to be sold below cost, including imported stock

Federation denies operation; CM cites stranded families

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Fiscal policy report shows public debt at 70.7% of GDP as deficit breaches limit