Pakistan

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against the Netherlands in the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground on Saturday, as overcast conditions and the threat of rain loomed large over the contest.

The United States and India moved closer to a trade pact on Friday, releasing an interim framework that would lower tariffs, reshape energy ties and deepen economic cooperation as both countries seek to realign global supply chains. The framework reaffirms a commitment to negotiations toward a broader bilateral trade agreement, the two governments said in a joint statement, while noting that further negotiations were needed to complete the pact. US President Donald Trump announced a deal with India on Monday to cut US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50pc in exchange for India halting purchases of Russian oil and lowering trade barriers. Half of the 50pc rate had been imposed separately by Trump as punishment for India’s purchases of Russian oil, which he said were fuelling Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine. Trump signed an executive order on Friday rescinding that 25pc portion after India agreed this week to shift its oil buying to the US and Venezuela. However, the statement indicated that New Delhi...

QUETTA: A police of­­fi­cer was martyred when armed terrorists opened fire on a polio vaccination team in Union Council Roghani 3 of Chaman, Balochistan, on Friday. According to Chaman Dep­uty Commissioner Ha­bib Ahmed Bangulzai, the polio team was carrying out routine vaccination activities when motorcycle-riding assailants launched the attack. As a result, police constable Nizamuddin was martyred on the spot while protecting the team. The polio workers rem­ained safe as they were inside a house administering vaccines to children at the time of the attack. The body of the martyred officer was shifted to Civil Hospital Chaman for legal formalities. Following the incident, police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace the attackers. The deputy commissioner said security measures had been further tightened, while the polio campaign continued on its final day under strict protection. Funeral prayers for the martyred officer were of­­f­ered at Chaman City pol­ice station. District Police O...

• Proposes fixed monthly electricity charges of Rs200-675 for over 28.5m households • Aims to raise Rs125bn to fund Rs4.04-per-unit relief for industry • Nepra okays fuel adjustment; Feb bills to rise by Rs1.21 per unit ISLAMABAD: The government has proposed imposing a monthly fixed charge of between Rs200 and Rs675 on more than 28.5 million residential electricity consumers to raise around Rs125 billion and fund a relief package of Rs4.04 per unit for industrial users. The revised Schedule of Tariff (SoT) was submitted to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Friday evening and was immediately put on notice for a customary public hearing on the first available date after the weekend for immediate implementation within the current month. “This is just a procedural formality. The government guidelines are binding on Nepra,” an official said when asked about a short notice for a public hearing. The power division told Nepra that the imposition of a fixed charge on almost all residential co...

KARACHI: Although the government raised over Rs24 trillion through borrowing and enhanced revenues during the past two and a half years, heavy bank borrowing reduced the availability of credit for the private sector, constraining economic growth. Official data released by the State Bank showed the government borrowed Rs8.519tr from banks in FY24, Rs5.434tr in FY25 and Rs2.1tr in the first seven months of the current fiscal year (FY26). Total borrowing from banks during this period reached Rs16tr, almost 50 per cent of the total stock of government borrowing (Rs32.3tr) at the end of June 2025. The country’s revenues nearly doubled in two years, marking a major turnaround, as the government’s total revenues jumped from Rs9.6tr to almost Rs18tr. This increase was driven by higher tax collection, new taxes and support from the central bank. Revenues nearly doubled from Rs9.6tr to almost Rs18tr in two years During this period, the government raised additional liquidity of Rs24.5tr through bank borrowing and higher...

ISLAMABAD: Harrowing scenes were witnessed at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), where the dead and injured from the Imambargah Khadijatul Kubra terror attack were brought in amid rainfall after Friday prayers. An inconsolable scene was witnessed at the hospital, as family members, including women and children, of the injured and deceased, started arriving. They were wailing and loudly praying. Some women even expressed helplessness while crying, saying their main breadwinners had been hit in the terror attack. The grieving families, friends and emergency responders struggled to manage the chaotic situation, while the rescue teams rushed the wounded into the emergency wards. Ambulances arrived in rapid succession from the blast site in Tarlai situated in the outskirts of the federal capital with rescue workers rushing the wounded into emergency and doctors and paramedics providing immediate medical care. Hospital administration hands over 28 bodies to relatives; 105 injured under treatment Off...

ISLAMABAD: The Friday’s suicide blast at the Tarlai Imambargah is the second major terrorist attack in the federal capital in less than three months despite heightened security measures adopted by the police and the capital administration. On November 11 last year, a lone suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the main entrance of the Judicial Complex in G-11 after a couple of unsuccessful attempts to enter the premises, killing a dozen people and injuring at least 36 others. Soon after the incident, a number of police pickets were established on different roads of the capital. In addition, the Islamabad Traffic Police narrowed some of the busy roads in the capital during rush hours by placing barricades on a daily basis to monitor suspicious activities, causing much difficulties for the commuters. After the Tarlai Imambargah attack on Friday, some of the grief-stricken people, who had reached Pims hospital to trace their missing relatives, expressed their anger over the alleged failure of the police and ...

Suicide bombing at Islamabad Imambargah kills 32; Over 160 injured; President, PM condemn blast

Even Federal Minister Amir Muqam raises concern after travelling on the road

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Fire hydrants, alarm systems and clearly marked emergency exits made mandatory

WASA imposes ban on washing vehicles and courtyards

Manual checking system abolished, CCTV cameras mandatory at exam centres

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Visitors make most of long weekend by enjoying last of snow season before ice melts away

Police launch manhunt as suspects remain at large

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Gold prices fall by Rs21,400/tola on global dip; rupee inches up

Govt moves to recover fixed costs without raising subsidy outlay; hearing set for Feb 10

KSE-100 index slides below 185k as Islamabad blast triggers market rout