Pakistan

GILGIT: A Polish cyclist, granted permission by the Gilgit-Baltis­tan Chief Court to cycle up to the K2 basecamp, will start his journey within the next few days. Paweł Małaszko arrived in Gilgit on Saturday as part of his adventure to cycle across Pakistan — from the shores of the Arabian Sea to the K2 Base Camp. However, his adventure was stalled as the required permit to go to the popular tourist destination couldn’t be issued due to an ongoing legal battle. On Friday, the GB Chief Court ordered the government to issue the trekking permit to Mr Małaszko. Last year, the GB government hiked permit fees for mountaineering and trekking expeditions by 300 per cent under the GB Finance Act, 2024. The region’s tour operators challenged the decision in court, which issued a stay order, effectively suspending the issuance of new permits. Mr Małaszko had filed an appeal in the GB Chief Court for the trekking permit, according to Asghar Ali Porik, a tour operator. View this post on Instagram An official of the GB tou...

Pakistan will strike any Indian structure built to divert water: Kh Asif PM says Pakistan will cooperate fully with neutral international probe into Pahalgam incident Shehbaz Sharif says India yet to respond to Pakistan’s offer to have a credible, transparent investigation Dar discusses regional security situation with.

Islamabad - Following the failure of the Pahalgam False Flag Operation, Indian media has aired yet another fabri-cated and baseless report.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif formally launched the ‘Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar’ programme by pressing its e-portal button here on Saturday.

ISLAMABAD - Noted religious and political leader, Senator Prof Sajid Mir, head of Jamiat Ahle Hadith Pakistan Saturday passed away at 86 following a heart attack.

ISLAMABAD - Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday called for an action plan to align the National Police Bureau with modern requirements.

Islamabad - Five Khawarij were killed and two apprehended during three separate operations conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on April 30 and May 1.

FAISALABAD - Senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Adviser to Prime Minister (PM) on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that the Pak Abdali missile has the potential to deliver a decisive response to any Indian aggression.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry will hold an important background briefing on the national security for representatives of all political parties on Sunday (tomorrow).

• Experts diverge on anticipated rate cut quantum, businesses demand substantial reduction to revive economy • Some see status quo after tomorrow’s meeting as war-like situation expected to hike food prices KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Despite a long-term decline in inflation and real interest rates above 11 per cent, opinions on the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) likely decision on the policy rate are divided, with trade and industry sectors advocating for a significant cut. Researchers conducted polls to gauge market sentiment, but the 0.3pc inflation in April has caused division among those who were confident there would be no change in the interest rate. The SBP’s Monetary Policy Committee will meet on Monday to set the key interest rate for the next two months. The central bank had delivered a surprise by leaving its policy rate unchanged in the last review, disappointing the business community, which was demanding a substantial cut of at least 500bps. Many experts were expecting a slight cut of up to 50bps. Howev...

Islamabad - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday directed all relevant departments to expedite efforts for early and efficient finalization of project for solarizing tubewells in Balochistan.

LONDON: A large pro-Pakistan demonstration was held on Saturday outside the Indian High Commission in Aldwych, London, under the aegis of Pakistan Muslim League-N’s UK chapter. The protest came in the wake of the deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Occupied Kashmir, which left 26 people dead and reignited tensions between India and Pakistan. India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, an allegation Islamabad has firmly denied, instead calling for an independent and impartial investigation into the incident. Waving Pakistan flags and placards, demonstrators chanted slogans including, “Gen Asim Munir Zindabad”, “Pakistan Zindabad”, “Kashmir belongs to Pakistan” and “We condemn Indian terrorism”. The protesters also denounced India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Hindutva ideology, with chants of “Modi is terrorist” and “Down with Hindutva ideology” echoing through the streets. PML-N UK President Ahsan Dar addressed the protesters, saying:“ This huge show is a reflection of the sentiment Pakist...

DHAKA: Thousands of activists of Bangladeshi religious parties rallied in Dhaka on Saturday, one of their biggest public shows of strength in years. Religious groups have gained strength after the toppling of the iron-fisted regime of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, opposing attempts at reforms they say are un-Islamic. Hefazat-i-Islam — an influential group made up of multiple political parties, Muslim organisations and religious schools — issued a string of demands at Saturday’s rally, including the abolishment of a government women’s commission seeking equality. “Men and women can never be equal: the Holy Quran outlines specific codes of life for both genders,” said Mohammad Shihab Ud­din, 53, leader of a women’s mad­­rassa, a religious school. “There is no way we can go beyond that.” No date has been set for elections, but caretaker leader Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who heads the interim government, has promised polls will be held by June 2026 at the latest. Muhammad Umar Faruq, 30, another...

PESHAWAR: Seven terrorists, including a high-value target, were killed and two other militants were arrested in separate encounters in Khyber Pak­htunkhwa (KP), official sources said on Saturday. Also, a security official embraced martyrdom in a bomb attack on a convoy of security forces. In separate clashes bet­ween security agencies and militants, two terrorists were killed in North Wazir­istan, three were shot dead in Bajaur, while two others were gunned down in retaliation by police after they atta­cked a security post on Bannu-Dera Ismail Khan Road in Lakki Marwat district. Five terrorists, including a high-value target, were killed and two others, inc­luding one wanted by po­l­ice, were arrested in sep­arate operations carried out by security forces in KP on April 30 and May 1, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing. The ISPR said during an intelligence-based operation (IBO), troops effectively engaged militants’ hideout in Bajaur. In an inte...

• Steps up efforts to ensure two-month flour reserves in vulnerable regions • Food depots being relocated from exposed areas to safer zones • Officials asked to develop contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted food supply MUZAFFARABAD: The Food Department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has accelerated efforts to replenish wheat flour stocks in vulnerable areas along the Line of Control (LoC), amid heightened tensions with India and fears of possible incursion from across the divide. In snowbound and remote areas of AJK — many of which lie adjacent to the LoC — the Food Department traditionally stocks specially treated wheat flour with an extended shelf life to sustain local populations from December through May. In comparatively safer areas, routine storage is limited to a 15-day supply due to easier accessibility. However, in response to fresh directives from AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, the department has begun increasing reserves in forward locations to meet the needs of residents for at leas...

MULTAN - In a dignified ceremony, City Police Officer (CPO) Sadiq Ali Dogar honored officers who have recently been promoted to the ranks of Inspector, Sub-Inspector, and Assistant Sub-Inspector.

QUETTA - Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Saturday said that the government of Balochistan would make every effort to protect the rights of journalists.

ISLAMABAD - The Capital Development Authority (CDA) held a a meeting on Friday to assess progress on infrastructure projects, including road expansions, electric buses, and park upgrades.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for National Health Services, Syed Mustafa Kamal, has announced the allocation of 333 additional medical and dental college seats for students from Baluchistan and erstwhile FATA for the 2024-25 academic session.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his firm support for Pakistan amid the current tensions in South Asia and his call for peace in the region.