Pakistan

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday warned that while Pakistan seeks peace, it will not hesitate to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity if provoked, asserting the country’s readiness to respond to any threat.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread rain, wind, and thunderstorms with isolated hailstorms across various parts of the country from May 8-12, due to the influence of a westerly wave and incoming moist currents.

ISLAMABAD - Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police’s arrested two dacoits in injured condition following an exchange of fire during a late-night operation in the jurisdiction of Golra Police Station on Wednesday.

Panic gripped parts of Lahore on Thursday as sounds of gunfire and explosions were reported in the Walton and Burki Road areas, following a wave of Indian drone attacks on multiple Pakistani cities.

• Four missiles struck Jamia Masjid Ummul Qura in Muridke, killing three civilians • 13 people, including two girls, martyred in Subhan mosque strike • Funeral of Bahawalpur victims held at Dring Stadium LAHORE: Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified after a series of Indian air and drone strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 31 Pakistani civilians, with many others injured, including 16 martyred only in Muridke and Bahawalpur. As many as three civilians were kil­led when four Indian missiles struck Jamia Masjid Ummul Qura and an ad­­joining house in Muridke, some 40 kilometres from Lahore. The decea­sed were identified as Abdul Malik (from Jhang), Mohammad Alam (Samundri), and Midasar (Chunian). Two others were injured and shif­ted to local hospitals. Sources said that the area had reportedly been evacuated earlier due to warnings of a possible strike, which helped reduce further casualties. The mosque was des­troyed and local authorities later arr­a­­­nged visits for both international an...

PESHAWAR - Like other parts of the country, massive protest demonstrations were held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to condemn the aggression of Indian forces.

Peshawar - An emergency meeting of the provincial cabinet was held on Wednesday in response to India’s unprovoked aggression against Pakistan, with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, in the chair.

ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad Electric Supply Company IESCO on Wednesday cancelled leaves of officers and staff, as the company announced that it fully stands in full solidarity with Pakistan Army and law enforcement agencies.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Italy on Wednesday agreed to expand cooperation in trade, security, and labour mobility during talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for showing solidarity and support with Pakistan at this “critical time” following the Indian missile strikes in Pakistan.

Ongoing security concerns in the country have begun to impact flight operations across Pakistan, according to official sources.

Amid rapidly escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and reiterated its support for Pakistan’s economic reform agenda.

In a significant move to enhance emergency preparedness, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has initiated mock drills by Civil Defense and Rescue 1122 teams across the province.

Gujranwala Cantt air defense system shot down an Indian drone which entered the Pakistan airspace in the wee hours of Thursday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has called for restraint between India and Pakistan upon landing in New Delhi, state media reported, a day after India targeted what it says are “terrorist camps” in Pakistan in retaliation for a deadly attack on tourists in occupied Kashmir last month, Reuters reports.

The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) said on Thursday that flight operations at Lahore and Sialkot airports have been temporarily suspended, in light of the current tension between Pakistan and India.

ISLAMABAD: Against high hopes, the government has sought revision in the base electricity tariff for next fiscal year, proposing only 30 paise to a maximum of Rs2.25 per unit reduction in consumer rates under seven different scenarios. Only in one unlikely case of normal circumstances and stable exchange rate at Rs280, the average base tariff would reduce by Rs2.25 per unit in fiscal year 2025-26 to Rs24.75 from prevailing rate of about Rs27 per unit. In case of local currency depreciation to Rs300, the base tariff reduction would be around 30 paise per unit. The reduction mainly stems from lower capacity payments. The average Power Purchase Price (PPP) would be on top of about Rs8.16 to Rs9.52 per unit fuel cost, taking the total electricity price to range between Rs34 and Rs35 per unit excluding taxes, fees, duties and surcharges. 30 paise to Rs2.25 reduction depends on rupee-dollar parity The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) of the Power Division has formally submitted a request for projected PPP for...

KARACHI: The foreign players participating in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) will continue their stay in the country despite the ongoing military stand-off between Pakistan and India, an official of the country’s cricket board has said. India launched a devious attack on Pakistan late on Tuesday night before the latter’s retaliation escalated the situation. But while things got serious along the border, the foreign players had a meeting with the PSL leadership. “The foreign players met PSL chief Salman Naseer at a dinner last night and they had a ‘gup shup’ [informal chat],” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesperson Amir Mir told Dawn on Wednesday. “Naturally the current scenario may have come under discussion. “There is no chance of the foreign players leaving the country anyway with airspace issues, but they are living under a heavy security blanket of Pakistan Army. “There have been surgical strikes on both sides of the border but we don’t expect that affecting the PSL. But if, God forbid, things do e...

ISLAMABAD: In an attempt to combat disinformation in the wake of hostilities with India, Pakistan on Wednes­day blocked over a dozen Indian YouTube channels, 31 video links, and 32 websites for disseminating “false info­rmation and anti-Pakistan propaganda”. “This action has been taken in light of the prevailing regional situation to safeguard national security and protect Pak­istan’s digital ecosystem,” the Pakistan Telecommuni­ca­tion Authority said, adding that the content it blocked was spre­ading misleading and harmful narratives aimed at manipulating public perception and undermining national unity. On the other hand, IT minister Shaza Fatima said that the government foiled several cyberattacks, which she blamed on India, while an advisory by a cybersecurity body asked citizens to remain vigilant against possible cyberattacks in light of tensions with India. Amid all this, the social media platform X, which was blocked in Feb last year, came back to life without any official word from the government, ac...

LAHORE: In response to India’s brazen pre-dawn attack, the Punjab government has mobilised all departments, directing them to maintain maximum preparedness in accordance with the ‘War Book’ protocols. Rescue services have been put on high alert and a central control room established to ensure seamless monitoring and coordination. While the armed forces ferociously responded to the attack, the Punjab government swiftly took measures to ensure public safety, announcing the immediate closure of public and private sector universities, colleges, and schools, as well as the suspension of ongoing examinations at various academic levels. As 26 civilians have been martyred and 46 sustained injuries in Indian missile attacks, the Punjab government cancelled staff holidays and called all law-enforcement agencies officials to handle any eventuality. Despite high alert, educational institutes allowed to function normally; social media flooded with memes after damages to India In line with the `War Book’ protocols, the Pun...