Pakistan

• Sharjeel terms relocating utility connections a major challenge in construction • Says govt aims to digitise entire transport department by 2026 KARACHI: Replying to lawmakers’ written and verbal queries during the Question Hour in the Sindh Assembly, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon informed the house on Friday that the provincial transport department was not responsible for delays in completion of the much-awaited Red Line-Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Mr Memon, who also holds the portfolios of transport and information department, said every aspect of the Red Line project was being monitored by local experts and international consultants. He said that work was underway on major development schemes in the city, and progress was being made rapidly on two sections of the Yellow Line BRT with a bridge expected to be completed by August. In reply to a verbal question raised by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan Dr Fouzia Hameed, the minister acknowledged that occasional delays might occur due to te...

KARACHI: Local auto parts manufacturers have warned of a potential shutdown of Pakistan’s car assembly industry within the next two years if the government proceeds with plans to liberalise the commercial import of used vehicles from September. Former chairman of the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM), Aamir Allawala, raised concerns during a media briefing at various vending units, stating that used vehicles already account for 25pc of the market — over 40,000 units annually. In contrast, used car market share stands at zero in India, 0.3pc in Vietnam, and 1.2pc in Thailand, he noted. Allawala said import duties on completely built-up (CBU) units in Pakistan range from 50–100pc, compared to 125pc in India, 52pc in Vietnam, and 80pc in Thailand. The negligible used car imports in these countries are the result of both tariff and administrative measures, he added. He asserted that used vehicles, as a category, now form the second-largest segment of Pakistan’s car ma...

ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi on Friday directed the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan to appoint senior liaison officers in all provinces and formally integrate Bar Associations into planning and implementation mechanisms to strengthen justice delivery and reform efforts across the country.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday released a new patriotic song titled "Dil Se Pakistan" to mark the Independence Day.

In a major step toward environmental sustainability, the Punjab government, in collaboration with Pakistan Railways, has launched the Punjab Green Corridor project—a transformative initiative aimed at reducing pollution and improving the urban landscape of Lahore.

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Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has reiterated the Pakistan Army’s unwavering resolve to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

ISLAMABAD - The kick-off ceremony of the Central Asia Tour 2025 held here on Friday as an international motorbike rally was promoting tourism, peace, and cultural integration across Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

TORONTO: The US has temporarily limited visits by government personnel to high-end hotels in Karachi after receiving a report of a threat, the State Department said on Friday. “The US Consulate General Karachi received a report of a threat directed at high-end hotels in Karachi,” the department said in a security alert. “The US Consulate General in Karachi has temporarily limited visits by official US government personnel to these hotels.” The State Department said it sometimes declares areas in foreign countries, such as tourist attractions, hotels, markets, shopping malls and restaurants, off-limits to official US government personnel in response to such threats. The security alert urges people to avoid the areas and crowds, keep a low profile and to stay alert in places frequented by tourists and citizens of Western countries. The State Department currently has a travel advisory in place for Pakistan that advises US citizens to reconsider travelling there due to the risk of terrorism and the potential for ...

ISLAMABAD - The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Division on Friday gave the National Highway Authority a two-week deadline to submit complete financial and contractual records related to the dualisation of National Highway-55, a multi-billion rupee project awarded under the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation.

GILGIT: Traders in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) on Friday continued their protest for a 23rd consecutive day, blocking a key trade route with China and vowing to continue until the government scraps federal taxes they call illegal. The protest on the Karakoram Highway has halted all Pakistan-China trade and travel through the border crossing, leaving thousands of people, including Chinese nationals and foreign tourists, stranded in the area. Protesters, who have gained the support of local political, youth and religious parties, argue that the region’s disputed constitutional status exempts it from federal taxation. “The federal government is reluctant to solve the genuine demands of local people,” said Mohammad Ishaq, one of the protest organisers. Protesters argue that federal taxes are illegal due to region’s disputed status “They are just demanding how federal taxes can be collected from the people who are not constitutional citizens of Pakistan and the region is a disputed status area.” He added that protesting...

GILGIT: The Vice Chairman of GB Awami Action Committee, Javed Iqbal, commonly known as Javed Naji, and a married woman were shot dead in the name of honour on Thursday in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Tangir area, the home constituency of Chief Minister Gulbar Khan. This was the second such honour killing incident in the Tangir district within a week According to FIR registered with Jaglot Police Station, Javed Iqbal, his wife and children were washing clothes on a river near their home when two men, Afsar Khan and Dar Khan, reached there and allegedly shot Javed Iqbal dead. The two accused, after killing Javed Iqbal, also killed a married woman in the name of honour. HRCP denounces second such incident in Tangir area within a week In the same area on July 21, a man Bareem from Frori village, allegedly shot dead his wife, the mother of four children, and another man in the name of honour. The incident sparked protest over social media by rights and civil society activists. Local community leaders and activists of politi...

SARGODHA/ RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court in Sargodha on Friday sentenced PTI worker Muham­mad Ismail to rigorous life imprisonment in May 9 cases related to attack on judicial complex in Mianwali and declared 50 others, including former opposition leader in Punjab Ahmad Khan Bhachar as well as PTI MNAs Ahmad Chatha and Bilal Ijaz, proclaimed offenders. Judge Muhammad Naeem Sheikh dir­ected the Mianwali police chief to ensure the arrest all 51 fugitives of law within a month and produce them in the court. The ATC in Sargodha handed down a rigorous life sentence to Mr Ismail for his role in the May 9, 2023 riots, which saw attacks on a judicial complex and other government installations in Mianwali. The verdict, delivered by Judge Muhammad Naeem Sheikh, also declared 50 other PTI leaders and workers as proclaimed offenders. Warrants out for arrest of 18 party leaders in Nov 26 protests case Among those named as fugitives are prominent figures such as former Punjab opposition leader Ahmad Khan Bhachar and s...

QUETTA: Pakistan has issued a new call for Afghans living in the southwest to leave the country, triggering thousands to rush to the border, officials said. “We have received directives from the home department to launch a fresh drive to repatriate all Afghans… in a respectful and orderly manner,” Meharullah, a senior government official in Quetta, the capital of Balo­chistan province, told AFP. On Friday, there were “around 4,000 to 5,000 people at the Chaman border” waiting to return, said Habib Bingalzai, a senior government official in Chaman. Abdul Latif Hakimi, the head of Refugee Registration in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province across the border, said they were aware of an increase in returning Afghans on Friday. Millions of Afghans have poured into Pakistan over the past several decades, fleeing successive wars, as well as hundreds of thousands who arrived after the return of the Tali­ban government in 2021. A deportation drive first launched in 2023 was renewed in April when the government rescinded h...

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed that the early warning system of the Meteor-ological Department be made more effective and fully operational on an emergency basis to mitigate the damages caused by severe weather conditions.

ISLAMABAD - A multi-party conference hosted by opposition alliance ‘Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan’ (TTAP) on Friday called for a consensus-based new charter of democracy (CoD), through a national dialogue, among all political forces of the country to safeguard parliamentary democracy and human rights.

Foreign ministry hails new tariff under US trade deal Says tariff agreement with US opens new avenues for Pakistani exports Calls Trump move a balanced and forward-looking approach.

ISLAMABAD - The 98th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China was commemorated at GHQ on Friday.

• After Tirah tribesmen, Bajaur peace Jirga tries to convince militants to quit the area • Elders assure army, FC of full support for anti-militancy efforts BAJAUR / NORTH WAZIRISTAN: A complete curfew was imposed across North Waziristan in view of the security situation, while a peace jirga tried to prevail upon local militant leaders to leave Bajaur. The moves were part of efforts to restore peace to these merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which have witnessed a spike in militant activity of late, especially along the border with Afghanistan. On Friday, a peace march was held in the Shewa tehsil of North Waziristan district against the deteriorating law and order situation in the area. Tribal elders, representatives of all political parties, the Utmanzai Jirga, Youth of Kabul Khel, and activists of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) attended the gathering. Addressing the participants, Utmanzai jirga spok­esman Mufti Baitullah and other speakers expressed concern over rising lawlessness across the dist...

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday firmly reiterated its consistent stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, declaring there is no change in Islamabad’s policy position and that the region’s final status is to be determined strictly in line with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the.