Pakistan

Heatwave conditions are likely to persist across the country from May 25 to May 31, with the mercury expected to touch 50°C in some parts of the country, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Thursday. Pakistan will celebrate Eidul Azha on May 27 (Wednesday), while the federal government has announced a three-day public holiday from May 26-28 (Tuesday to Thursday). In an advisory, the department predicted that “high pressure is likely to develop in the upper atmosphere on May 25 and likely to strengthen on May 26”, under the influence of which, “moderate to severe” heatwave conditions are expected to develop from May 25 to May 31. It said the maximum temperature is likely to remain 4-6°C above normal and may rise to 47-50°C in the following districts: Sukkur, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Larkana, Mohenjo Daro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Badin, Sujawal, Thatta, Hyderabad, Matiyari, Tando Muhamad Khan, Umerkot, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro, Sang...

The Islamabad High Court and subordinate courts will remain closed from May 26 to 28 on account of Eid al-Adha holidays, according to an official notification issued by the court administration.

The Excise Taxation and Anti Narcotics Department Balochistan and the Pakistan Navy have seized narcotics and foreign liquor worth an estimated Rs31 billion during a joint operation in Balochistan’s coastal region.

Army Chief and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir is set to visit Tehran on Thursday amid ongoing mediation efforts between Iran and the US, according to Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency.

The court has accepted the federal government’s appeal for a hearing and issued notices to all parties involved in the case, while also seeking the complete record from the High Court.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday praised His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V for his commitment to promoting peace, stability and constructive engagement with governments and international partners.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran during a high-level visit focused on regional developments and ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran.

The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 around Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases and commercial airports across the province, tightening security measures to safeguard flight operations and prevent potential threats.

Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V on Thursday expressed the desire to continue cooperation with Pakistan in various human development initiatives during a breakfast meeting hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. Prince Rahim is undertaking his first visit to Pakistan since being named the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community last year. According to a statement by the PMO, the premier warmly welcomed Prince Rahim and appreciated his commitment to fostering peace, stability, and constructive engagement with governments and international partners. The prime minister also assured him of Pakistan’s shared commitment to these ideals. PM Shehbaz also highlighted the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), and commended the organisation’s contributions in rural development, healthcare, education, disaster resilience, climate adaptation, renewable energy, digital skills training, and youth entrepreneurship, it said. He part...

Pakistan strongly criticised India at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), accusing New Delhi of sponsoring terrorism, violating international law, suppressing minorities and continuing its “illegal occupation” of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Punjab government on Thursday banned multiple activities near airports and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases, which may pose a “serious risk” to flight operations and aviation assets, under Section 144 for 30 days. A notification issued by the Home Department dated May 19 said that, according to reliable sources, certain activities — including pigeon homing, the use of laser lights, and throwing of meat (sadqa) for the consumption of carnivorous birds around air bases and airports — may “pose a serious risk to flight operations and aviation assets”. It said that there were sufficient grounds to proceed under Section 144 as an “immediate prevention to disturbance of public peace, safety of lives and property of public and tranquility”. Therefore, the government banned pigeon homing; the use of laser lights by hotels, malls, or shops, etc.; and throwing of meat (sadqa) in open areas or on rooftops. The Home Department secretary, under Section 144(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), banned the activiti...

A wanted terrorist ringleader was killed along with four other militants in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Spinwam area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, security sources said on Thursday. As per security sources, Kharji Umar alias Jan Mir alias Tor Saqib had a bounty of Rs3 million on his head. It said that the Fitna al Khawarij ringleader was the mastermind of several attacks on security forces and civilians. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The security sources said that he had also laid down a network of underground bunkers, tunnels and explosive traps in the area around Bubali Mosque in Spinwam. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi lauded the security forces for the operation, particularly the elimination of the ringleader, terming it a “major success,” as per a statement issued via the interior ministry. Naqvi vowed that “terrorists and their facilitators will not be allowed to thrive under any circumst...

“I’m not a toy … I don’t want to be married to someone forcibly.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader and Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has been made a member of the Economic Coordination Committee, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Thursday. The statement said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had approved an increase in the number of ECC members. “Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has been included as a member of the ECC,” the statement said. “I am hopeful that Siddiqui will play an active role as a member of the ECC and contribute fully to the progress and development of the country and the nation,” PM Shehbaz was quoted as saying. The development comes a day after an MQM-P delegation, led by Siddiqui, called on the premier and presented the party’s proposals for the upcoming budget. According to the PMO, detailed discussions were also held on public welfare and development projects being carried out in Sindh and Karachi under the federal government. The meeting also discussed the overall political situation in the count...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visiting Pakistan has concluded talks with authorities focusing on economic developments, fiscal plans for the next financial year, and progress on reforms under the country’s IMF-supported programmes, it said in a statement issued early on Thursday. The statement said that the mission visited Islamabad from May 13 to May 20, with the visit focusing on “recent economic developments, reform implementation, and the budget strategy for fiscal year 2027”. Iva Petrova, who led the IMF mission, was quoted as saying that “constructive discussions” were held with authorities on economic developments, including disruptions from the Middle East conflict, the upcoming budget formulation and progress on the reform agenda under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). “The authorities reaffirmed their commitment to a primary surplus target of two per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in FY2027, which will support fiscal sustaina...

United States President Donald Trump’s administration threatened to revoke the visas of the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations if the Palestinian ambassador refuses to end his candidacy for the vice presidency of the UN General Assembly, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters. In a cable dated Wednesday, US diplomats in its embassy in Jerusalem are instructed to deliver the message that Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour’s general assembly bid “fuels tensions”, risks undermining Trump’s Gaza peace plan and would therefore face consequences from Washington if it went ahead. “To be clear, we will hold the PA responsible if the Palestinian delegation does not withdraw its VPGA candidacy,” the cable, marked sensitive but unclassified, said, referring to the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank. Among the talking points provided in the cable to US diplomats, the State Department’s September 2025 decision to waive visa sanctions for...

Pakistan has responded to claims by India during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying that the neighbouring country stands exposed by “terrorism, occupation, aggression, repression and disregard for international law”. The development came during a UNSC debate on the protection of civilians. During the debate, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, accused Pakistan of ignoring international humanitarian obligations, targeting civilians and a “long-tainted record of genocidal acts”, Times of India reports. He also reiterated the Afghan Taliban’s claims of targeting a hospital in Kabul earlier this year. The statement by India came after Pakistan earlier highlighted the plight of the people of occupied Kashmir. In response to the Indian envoy’s remarks, Pakistan’s representative Saima Saleem said, “India once again came to this council wearing the mask of a victim — but the world can see the face behind that mask. “It is the face of a state that exports terro...

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met a delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) led by Federal Minister for Education and MQM Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and discussed the upcoming federal budget, public welfare projects in Sindh and Karachi, and the overall political situation in the country.

ISLAMABAD - A day after staging hours-long protest sit-in at a main intersection of Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday warned of serious consequences if incarcerated PTI chief Imran Khan was not treated in the presence of his physicians at a hospital of his choice.

ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday received Prince Rahim Aga Khan V upon his arrival at Nur Khan Airbase on an official visit to Pakistan, where First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari accompanied the President.