Pakistan

LAHORE - The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has granted a Senate ticket to the senior party leader Rana Sanaullah Khan for a general seat from the Punjab Assembly.

ISLAMABAD: Fitch Ratings on Monday projected improved prospects for Pakistan’s banking sector, citing stabilising macroeconomic indicators, falling inflation, and a return to economic growth. The global credit agency expects Pakistan’s GDP to grow by 3.5pc in FY27, with inflation averaging 5pc — a significant shift from the turmoil and high inflation of recent years. In a brief commentary, Fitch said banks are well-positioned to capitalise on improving operating conditions as macroeconomic headwinds ease. It noted that stronger business volumes, driven by economic recovery and better credit demand, would support banking performance in the near term. The outlook follows Pakistan’s upgraded sovereign credit profile, with Fitch raising its Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘B-’/Stable from ‘CCC+’ in April 2025. The upgrade reflects ongoing reforms, fiscal improvement, and greater economic resilience. The agency pointed out that consumer price inflation, which had peaked at 38pc in May 2023, eased to 4.1pc...

QUETTA: The Gover­nment of Balochistan on Monday dispatched a sizable consignment of relief goods to assist families affected by flooding in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The shipment, which includes essential items and non-food supplies, is designated for 1,500 families in GB and 1,000 families in KP. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti issued special directives to send the relief to address the urgent needs of those impacted by the disasters, according to Government spokesperson Shahid Rind. “Balochistan stands with the people of the flood-hit provinces in this difficult time,” Mr Rind said. Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2025

• Over 20 rescued; local govt shuts down schools in light of extreme weather • Flooding continues to afflict GB areas; govt says 39 people killed, 1,000 homes damaged since July People, including foreign tourists, make a hazardous crossing after a flood swept away the bridge in Ghanche.—Dawn MUZAFFARABAD/GILGIT: At least five pe­ople were killed in Azad Jammu and Kash­mir on Monday in different rain-related incidents as monsoon-induced floods ravaged multiple areas in the Ghizer district of Gilgit-Bal­tis­­tan, blocking roads and destroying infrastructure. In Neelum Valley, a vehicle with tourists on board skidded off the “slippery road” and plummeted almost 250 feet down the ravine. Three people were killed on the spot, while the fourth succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. Neelum Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Ahmed Janjua said a Karachi-based couple along with their two-year-old daughter — who survived the accident — and a helper were coming back from Taobutt when they met the accident near Shu...

Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open after top seed Jannik Sinner retired as he was feeling unwell on Monday, raising concerns about the Italian’s fitness just days before he is due to begin the defence of his US Open title. The Spanish second seed snapped the world number one’s 26-match winning streak on hardcourts when his ailing rival signalled he could no longer continue while trailing 5-0 in the first set of the final. “This is not the way that I want to win trophies, I just have to say sorry, I can understand how you must feel now,” Alcaraz told Sinner during the presentation ceremony after capturing his third Masters 1000 crown of the season following his success in Monte Carlo and Rome. “As I said many times, you are a true champion and I am sure from these situations, you are going to come back even stronger, as you always do. That’s what true champions do.” View this post on Instagram Sinner had been bidding to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2015 to win back-to-back Cincinnati titles ...

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread rains on Tuesday across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad, with heavy to very heavy showers expected in several areas.

BERLIN: German foreign ministry spokesman Josef Hinterseher has said more than 200 Afg­hans waiting to be offered sanctuary in Germany had been deported by Pakis­t­­an to their Taliban-run home country in re­cent days and the German government was urging Isla­m­­abad to allow them back. The deportees are part of a group previously offered refuge in Germany but now caught between Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s tougher immigration policy and a wave of expulsions from Pakistan. Hinterseher told reporters that Pakistani police re­­cently arrested “around 450” Afghans who were pre­viously accepted under the German scheme for peo­ple at risk from the Taliban. Of those, “211 peo­ple, according to our current information, have been deported to Afgha­nistan,” he added. Another “245 people were allowed to leave camps” in Pakistan where they had been gathered prior to their scheduled deportation, he said. “We are continuing to talk to Pakistan to facilitate the return of those who have already been deported.” Last week, tw...

• Awan refers to SC ruling on no-trust motion against Imran Khan as ‘complex matter’ requiring adjudication • PTI’s counsel rejects AGP’s view, says parliament is sovereign and not subordinate to courts • Senators alarmed by rising cases of gender-based violence in 2024; conviction rates below 1pc ISLAMABAD: Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan on Monday called for keeping the doors open for judicial intervention in parliamentary proceedings. Making a rare appearance before the Senate, some three weeks after being summoned for an explanation on the alleged interference of the judiciary in internal parliamentary processes, the AGP referred to Article 69 of the Constitution, under which the validity of any proceedings in parliament cannot be called in question on the ground of any irregularity of procedure. However, he insisted that the bar was not absolute. “There is a lot of sanctity attached to it, but it is not absolute,” he remarked. He also referred to April 4, 2022, judgement of the Sup...

ISLAMABAD: Amid strong opposition from Balochistan senators, the Senate Standing Com­mittee on Petroleum on Monday reluctantly cleared with narrow majority vote a government bill — The Petroleum (Amendment) Act, 2025 — already passed by the National Assembly last week to digitalise petroleum products at every stage. Senators Maulana Abdul Wa­­say of JUI-F and Manzoor Kakar of BAP from Balochistan alleged the bill would deprive citizens of a livelihood as authorities plan crackdown on small petroleum related businesses with closures and heavy fines, open floodgates of corruption, thus further alienating the people of Balochistan while large tankers would keep flowing smuggled products across mainland. PML-N Senator Sadia Abbasi also initially appeared unimpressed by the proposed bill and suggested a meeting with FBR and Customs authorities for the senators from Balochistan. She said there was no point in passing the bill while senators from Balochistan opposed it and recalled that a bill about federally admini...

WASHINGTON: The administration of President Donald Trump has revoked more than 6,000 student visas for overstays and breaking the law, including a small minority for “support for terrorism,” a State Department official said on Monday. The move, first reported by Fox Digital, comes as the Trump administration has adopted a particularly hard-line approach toward student […]

VERNON: In a viral incident in Vernon, Connecticut, a 40-year-old man trapped inside a playground tube slide in Northeast Elementary School on Saturday. Emergency responders were sent to the school in afternoon to rescue him as this was also a surprising situation for them. According to the fire department of Vernon, the incident took place […]

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued guidelines for the public on password security to protect their financial and social media accounts. “Your password is your first line of defense in the digital world. A strong password not only safeguards your personal data but also keeps cyber threats at bay,” the PTA said in […]

A documentary about the life of late Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne was pulled just hours before its scheduled release on Monday. Click here to read more Lifestyle stories According to UK media outlets, BBC was set to air ‘Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home’ today, August 18, however, it was removed from the schedule without any […]

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government launched a mobile app–based digital payment system to ensure transparent and timely compensation for flood victims. Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur formally inaugurated the app, Digital Disaster Compensation Management, developed by the KP Information Technology Board and integrated with the government’s central service delivery platform “Dastak.” Through the system, […]

The provincial government on Monday released Rs800 million in relief funds for all affected districts, with an additional Rs 500m specifically for worst-hit Buner, as flash floods continue to ravage Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the death toll at 341. The recent catastrophic floods in KP have claimed at least 341 lives as of data from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Monday at 7pm and injured 178 people. Meanwhile, data from the National Disaster Management Authority showed the nationwide toll from rain-related incidents since late-June rose to 660 deaths and 935 injured. The KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Monday announced Rs800m in relief funds to the administrations of affected districts on the instructions of the provincial government. A separate relief fund of Rs500m has been earmarked for Buner district, which accounts for the majority of casualties with 222 deaths and 120 injuries, according to a PDMA report released today. Buner was followed by Shangla, with 36 death...

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Monday announced that over 114,500 applications have been received so far under the Government Hajj Scheme 2026, with only around 3,500 seats still available. According to Ministry Spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt, designated banks have been directed to continue accepting applications until the remaining quota is […]

ISLAMABAD: Private Hajj tour operators on Monday wrote to Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, assuring their readiness to refund the full amount to pilgrims who were unable to perform Hajj this year. According to the operators, around 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims missed Hajj 2025 due to delays in agreements and […]

LAHORE: The Boards of Secondary Education (BISE) Bahawalpur will officially announce 9th Class annual examination results on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 10:00 AM. Along with BISE Bahawalpur class 9 results, BISE Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, and Sargodha will also announce their results soon. Students who appeared in BISE Bahawalpur […]

LAHORE: The Boards Secondary Education (BISE) D.G Khan will officially announce the Class 9 annual examinations results on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 10:00 AM. Along with BISE DG Khan class 9 results, BISE Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, and Sargodha will also announce their results soon. Students who appeared in BISE DG […]

Microsoft is finally addressing the discrepancies in dark mode of Windows, almost after a decade of its initial rollout in Windows 10. The leading tech company has launched a preview build of upcoming Windows 11 dark mode containing expanded theme support, suggesting at a broader visual overhaul predictable in the upcoming 25H2 update. The recent […]