Pakistan

KARACHI: A fire that broke out at a chemical factory in Karachi’s SITE on Tuesday was brought under control, Rescue 1122 said. In a statement, the Rescue 1122 spokesperson said the fire had been brought under control, and the cooling process was underway. Earlier, the spokesperson said that efforts were underway to control the fire, which erupted in a factory located near Valika Chowrangi. “A fire brigade truck, along with rescue teams, was immediately dispatched to the site of the incident, as soon as the Rescue 1122 received report of the incident,” the spokesperson added. A contingent of Sindh Rangers personnel was also dispatched to the site of the incident, their spokesperson said in a statement. “Rangers personnel are actively participating in the relief activities and rescue operation along with the fire brigade and rescue personnel,” the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab took notice of the incident. In a post on X, Mayor Wahab said, “KMC fire team is attending to the fire incid...

Pakistan’s benchmark index, KSE-100, closed in the red on Tuesday, down 1303.52 points from its previous close of 174,453.93 points. The index experienced a volatile trading session, reaching a high of 176,131.35 points and a low of 171,693.39 points. Trading volumes stood at 424,959,530 at a value of Rs32,759,788,353. Top active stocks were led by K-Electric Limited, falling 3.81pc to Rs7.82 at a volume of 122,541,564, followed by Bank of Punjab, rising 2.62pc to Rs34.12 at a volume of 79,835,860, and Worldcall Telecom Limited, which fell 0.65pc to Rs1.52 at a volume of 35,505,622. Top advancers were led by Itanz Technologies Limited, rising 11.78pc to Rs9.49, followed by Metropolitan Steel Corporation Limited advancing 10.02pc to Rs23.05, and 786 Investments Limited rising 10.01pc to Rs19.67. Top decliners were led by LSE Capital Limited, falling 38.76pc to Rs1.09, followed by Mirpurkhas Sugar Mills Limited, declining 10.01pc to Rs31.82, and Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited, falling 10.01pc to Rs27.69. Accor...

An Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi has once again ordered the arrest of Aleema Khan in connection with the November 26 protest case registered at Sadiqabad police station.

Spinner Usman Tariq said on Tuesday he was confident that Pakistan can bounce back from their T20 World Cup drubbing against India and seal qualification for the next round. India’s 61-run romp means Pakistan must beat Namibia in their final match in Colombo on Wednesday to qualify for the Super Eights. A defeat would eliminate Pakistan, who are third behind the USA on net run rate in Group A. It would also leave an outside chance for the Netherlands to qualify, but they would need a big win over co-hosts India in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. “Lifting the team is only difficult when you don’t work on your mistakes committed in the last game,” Tariq told reporters. “We have worked on our mistakes, so I think it will not be a tough task. “We have a resolve not to commit the same mistakes again.” Pakistan were criticised for asking India to bat then folding meekly for 114 in 18 overs chasing a stiff 176 target. “We can feel their (fans’) disappointment because the match is watched by the whole nation,” Tariq said. “S...

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has refuted circulating reports about the alleged deterioration of the eyesight of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), describing them as unfounded and politically motivated.

The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday voiced serious concern over prolonged road blockages linked to protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), directing authorities to restore traffic without delay and submit a compliance report by the next day.

KARACHI: The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has issued a gas supply schedule for Karachi and the surrounding areas for the holy month of Ramazan. The announcement by the utility said that gas would be available from 3am to 9am for Sehr and from 3:30pm to 10:00pm for Iftar, with the supply expected to be suspended outside these hours to manage overall demand. “To ensure improved gas pressure, SSGC would be carrying out gas pressure profiling from 9am to 3:30pm,” it said, “and then during nighttime from 10pm to 3am during Ramazan,” said the utility. The SSGC added that “an approximate 10 percent annual decline in the country’s gas reserves has widened the gap between gas demand and supply”. The announcement said that timings had been worked out for providing convenience to people for food preparations for Sehr and Iftar. SNGPL proposes supply from 3am to 10:30pm The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has also proposed providing gas from 3am to 10:30pm daily during the upcoming holy month across Punjab....

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the attempt by Indian-backed Fitna al-Khawarij to attack a joint check post of security and law enforcement agencies in Bajaur district.

KARACHI: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) said on Tuesday it conducted a raid in the city’s Shah Latif Town, as a result of which four suspected terrorists died while two cops sustained injuries. According to information provided by CTD Deputy Inspector General Ghulam Azfar Mahesar, the encounter began when CTD personnel surrounded a house in Shah Latif Town based on the identification of previously arrested suspects. The men inside opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire, the CTD said. Additional police contingents were then called to the scene. The four alleged terrorists were injured by firing “from their own accomplices” during the crossfire and later died at a hospital, CTD claimed. Three of the suspects were identified as Jaleel alias Farid, Niaz alias King and Hamdan alias Farid, while efforts were underway to determine the identity of the fourth. A Kalashnikov and a hand grenade were recovered from the possession of one of the suspected terrorists. Two CTD officials — Head Constable Muham...

The first solar eclipse of 2026 is set to take place on Tuesday; however, skywatchers in Pakistan will not be able to observe the phenomenon.

A terrorist attack, involving an explosive-laden vehicle, on a checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district martyred 11 security personnel, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), “On February 16, a cowardly terrorist attack was attempted on security forces and law enforcement agencies’ joint check Post in Bajaur District by Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij”. Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term that the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The statement added that 12 terrorists were eliminated after security forces retaliated and “engaged the fleeing khwarij with precision”. “In their desperation, the attackers rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall. Due to the blast impact infrastructure at check post collapsed resultantly eleven brave sons of soil, rendered the ultimate sacrifice and [embracing] martyrdom.” ISPR elaborated that the blast affected residential buildings in the area as well, “leading...

LAHORE: A suspected serial killer, accused of kidnapping and murdering at least four people, was reportedly killed by gunfire from his own accomplices during an alleged encounter with the Gujranwala police on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Gujranwala police said that the suspect, who was caught while attempting to flee from Lahore to Karachi via train, had been in the custody of the Gujranwala police on physical remand. He claimed that the police team was taking the suspect to an area he had identified to recover the murder weapon, when unidentified armed accomplices of the suspect intercepted the police party. The police spokesperson further claimed that four armed accomplices opened fire on the police in an attempt to free the suspect from custody. “However, the suspect was killed by gunfire from his own accomplices while trying to flee,” the spokesperson added. The attackers fled the scene shortly afterward, he said. The police later moved the suspect’s body to the Gujranwala District Headquarters Hospita...

The Punjab government has unveiled a large-scale relief initiative aimed at assisting more than four million families during the holy month of Ramazan.

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has promulgated two new ordinances, the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance and the Immovable Property Ownership Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, aimed at overhauling the province’s land administration framework and reinforcing safeguards for property owners.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has projected mixed weather conditions across the country over the next 24 hours, with rain and thunderstorms expected in several regions.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is scheduled to assemble in Peshawar on Wednesday to observe the crescent marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would be involved “indirectly” in high-stakes talks between Iran and the US over Tehran’s nuclear program set for Tuesday in Geneva, adding he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal. “I’ll be involved in those talks, indirectly. And they’ll be very important,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. Tensions are soaring ahead of the talks, with the US deploying a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. The US military is preparing for the possibility of a sustained military campaign if the talks do not succeed, US officials have told Reuters. Asked about the prospects for a deal, Trump said Iran has long sought a tough posture in negotiations but learned the consequences of that approach last summer when the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites. Trump suggested Tehran was motivated this time to negotiate. “I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” Trump said. Washington pushes Tehran to forego enrichment Prior to the US strikes in June, U...

French President Emmanuel Macron begins a three-day visit to India on Tuesday, with talks focused on artificial intelligence cooperation and a potential multibillion-dollar Dassault Rafale fighter jet deal. France is seeking to expand its military partnership with New Delhi, with discussions expected on a potential contract for 114 additional French fighter jets. Macron and his wife Brigitte arrived around midnight on Monday in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, for his fourth visit to India since taking office in 2017. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Tuesday. Macron will then travel to New Delhi for an artificial intelligence summit on Wednesday and Thursday. The visit follows New Delhi’s confirmation last week that it intends to place a major order for Rafale jets, as well as the signing of a landmark free trade agreement between India and the European Union in January. ‘Contract of the century’ New Delhi has sought over the past decade to reduce its dependence on Russia, its t...

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday termed his visit to Austria as of special significance, noting it was the first high-level visit in more than three decades and coincided with the 70th anniversary of Pakistan-Austria diplomatic relations.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi met Sri Lanka’s Secretary of Defence, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.