Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - The federal government has decided to establish separate immigration counters for for-eign passengers at all international airports in the country.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Iran on Saturday reaffirmed commitment to strengthen bilateral ties and promote peace and stability in the region.

Karachi - First Lady and Member of the National Assembly, Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, on Saturday, said that today is a day of pride for all of us.

Rawalpindi - The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a complaint under anti-money laundering laws with an accountability court here on Saturday against property tycoon Malik Riaz, his family and key officials of Bahria Town housing society.

ISLAMABAD - In the world of politics, timing is not just important; it is considered everything.

On the special directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, province-wide celebrations for Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day have commenced with fervour, dignity, and national pride.

Witnesses firepower demonstration by newly-inducted Z-10ME helicopters at Muzaffargarh Field Firing Ranges.

PESHAWAR - The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on Saturday initiated a series of regional jirgas following an All Parties Conference (APC) hosted by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Saturday said that the government was heavily prioritising major infrastructure development in Pakistan Railways, particularly the ML1 Railway corridor.

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar Saturday met with Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi here and discussed matters of mutual interest.

Islamabad - Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar says Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit is highly significant and will give a boost not only to Pak-Iran trade but entire gamut of bilateral relations.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and the World Health Organization have agreed to accelerate fight against Hepatitis C.

In a significant move to promote equal rights and civic inclusion, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched a nationwide minority registration drive, set to run from August 4 to August 11, 2025, in connection with National Minorities Day.

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast more rain, with wind-thundershowers in the upper and central regions of the country over the coming week. The department has asked provincial disaster management authorities and district administrations to take preventive measures against possible urban flooding. According to the PMD, weak monsoon currents continue to move into the upper and central regions of the country and are expected to intensify from Aug 4. A westerly wave is forecast to strengthen on Aug 5. From Aug 4 to 7, rain, wind and thundershowers, with isolated heavy falls, are expected in Kashmir. In Gilgit-Baltistan, hea­vy rainfall with occasional gaps is predicted from Aug 5 to 7. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is expected to experience rain, wind and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls from Aug 4 to 7. In Punjab and Islam­abad, rain and thundershowers, with scattered heavy falls, are predicted in several areas. Balochistan is forecast to experience mainly hot and humid weather, ...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said that the regime, terrified by the prospect of the incarcerated PTI Patron-in-Chief Imran Khan’s children returning to Pakistan, resorted to blatant “lies” — a clear reflection of its weakness. In a statement on Saturday, PTI CIS lashed out at the government for labelling the PTI founder’s sons as foreigners. He made it clear that they were Pakistani nationals who possessed National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs), and therefore have every legal and constitutional right to visit Pakistan and see their father. “The oppressive and tyrannical government was forced to lie out of fear of Imran Khan’s children coming to Pakistan, which shows how weak and cowardly they are,” Mr Waqas stated. He emphasised that both were issued tracking numbers for their visa applications submitted to the Pakistan High Commission in London — with Sulaiman’s tracking ID being 88005575178 and Kasim’s 88005575782. Asserts both ...

• The dam is holding 4.3MAF of water against its capacity of 7.3MAF • Below average inflows in Jhelum mean water in reservoir increases only a few inches each day LAHORE: Despite record rainfall and flooding in rivers, experts have warned of a 25 per cent water shortage in a few months due to a significant decline in Jehlum River’s inflows. The drop in inflows has also slowed the filling of the Mangla Dam, one of the country’s two biggest reservoirs. Inflows in the Jhelum River on Saturday dropped to 25,200 cusecs, 47 per cent less than its recorded average. On the corresponding day last year, the inflows were 39,700 cusecs. The last five-year average for the day was 47,900 cusecs and 44,200 cusecs for the last 10 years. Due to lesser inflows, water in the Mangla dam was only increasing a few inches each day. According to water experts, this could result in a 25pc water shortage in the coming Rabi season. From Thursday to Friday, the dam’s storage only increased from 1,200.65 feet to 1,201.20 feet, 41ft below...

• Report says faulty intelligence about range of PL-15 missile gave Rafale pilots ‘false sense of security’ • Pakistani officials say electronic assault on Indian communications systems reduced situational awareness ISLAMABAD: India’s intelligence failure was central to the hour-long air battle between Pakistan and India in May, which led to the downing of Rafale aircraft by the Pakistan Air Force’s J-10 fighters using PL-15s missiles, according to a report. Reuters interviews with two Indian officials and three of their Pakistani counterparts found that the performance of the Rafale wasn’t the key problem: central to its downing was an Indian intelligence failure concerning the range of the China-made PL-15 missile fired by the J-10 fighter. China and Pakistan are the only countries to operate both J-10s, known as Vigorous Dragons, and PL-15s. The faulty intelligence gave the Rafale pilots a false sense of confidence that they were out of Pakistani firing distance, which they believed was only around 150km, ...

ROME: Thousands of young Catholics began assembling on Saturday for an evening prayer led by Pope Leo XIV, the culmination of a week-long pilgrimage and a key event in the jubilee year that is expected to draw up to a million people. The “Jubilee of Youth” — when the Vatican invites Catholics aged 18 to 35 to the seat of the global Church’s power — has seen young pilgrims from around the world flood Rome, waving flags, singing or praying in groups. It comes nearly three months after Leo, 69, the first American pontiff, began his papacy, and 25 years after the last such massive youth gathering in Rome under Pope John Paul II of Poland. On Saturday morning, thousands of young pilgrims had already gathered at the vast open space in Rome’s eastern Tor Vergata neighbourhood where the pope will lead the vigil, the ground already dotted with blankets and mattresses. Elsewhere in the “eternal city”, numerous groups of young people were seen preparing to set off for the venue. On the plaza outside the Basilica of St J...

FBR warns businesses of penalties, account freezes; KCCI slams move

WASHINGTON: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called recent moves of France, the United Kingdom and Canada to recognise Palestine as a state, saying their efforts are useless if Israel does not approve it, ARY News reported. Marco Rubio highlighted that the Palestinian state recognition cannot be reformed as this ‘requires’ Israeli consent. Marco […]