Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the devolution of power is “inevitable”, while also accusing the PPP of having a contradictory stance on the issue of new provinces. “When there is talk of a Saraiki province in Punjab, the PPP supports it or shows a soft corner on this issue. And when there is talk of multiple provinces or administrative units instead of four, talk of […]

ISLAMABAD: The capital police recovered four Chinese nationals kidnapped for ransom after an encounter with a gang of criminals. Earlier, the suspect was arrested in connection with a case registered at Shalimar Police Station and was being interrogated by the robbery and dacoity unit of the capital police. During interrogation, the suspect disclosed that he, along with his accomplices, […]

PAKISTAN has raised a record $3bn in its single largest international capital market transaction through a dual-tranche Eurobond sale that drew nearly $6bn in total orders. When international investors offer to lend a country almost twice what it is asking for and are willing to do so for as long as 10 years, they are betting that Pakistan will still be solvent, still servicing its debt, and […]

“You must never lose your sense of shame. If one is past all shame, what is one fit for? One lives like a bird in moult, shedding virtues like plumes all pointing down to hell” — Wolfram von Eschenbach (German poet.) I’VE been wrestling with this idea — the essentiality of shame for retaining humanity — for some time now. But I am reminded of it every time I read in the news about how […]

DESPITE hurdles, doubts, speculation, a protest movement and delayed polls on seven out of 45 directly contested Legislative Assembly seats, the task of installing a new government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has finally been accomplished. There had been serious questions about the fairness of the elections. The bitterest criticism was from the PPP, the PML-N’s ally in the national parliament. […]

• Chief Minister Hussain says satellite connectivity essential to monitor 7,000 glaciers, protect region from catastrophe• Senate committee directs measures to improve internet, oil and LPG supplies in the region GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain informed a parliamentary committee on Friday the poor state of cellular connectivity in the region not only affected tourism but […]

WASHINGTON: Intelli­gence agencies in the United States believe that six months of war may have made Iran more, not less, confident in its ability to withstand American pressure and continue the conflict. A New York Times report, published on Friday, says “Iran has grown more confident in its ability to attack targets in the Middle East and appears determined to continue the conflict for […]

ISLAMABAD: The Paki­s­tan Peoples Party on Friday blocked parliamentary proceedings on two government bills dealing with natural gas-related revenue adjustments amid the latest political bickering in the ruling coalition over recent elections in Azad Kashmir and discourse on the proposed creation of new provinces. At a meeting of the National Assembly’s Stan­ding Committee on Petroleum, […]

GENEVA: The United Nations warned on Friday that Israel’s forced displacement of the entire Palestinian populations of three West Bank refugee camps last year could amount to crimes against humanity. The UN rights office described how a military operation launched in the north of the occupied territory in January 2025 had forcibly displaced over 33,000 people. At […]

• Fuel adjustment adds Rs2.06 per unit to Sept bills• 52 paisa per unit quarterly charge to continue through Nov; Rs45.6bn additional burden imposed on users• Some relief for lifeline consumers, EV charging stations, prepaid users ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Friday notified about Rs46bn additional burden to electricity consumers by allowing Rs2.06 […]

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development for Pakistan’s counter-terrorism framework, a key official of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Major General Faisal Naseer, has been appointed nati­onal coordinator of the National Counter Terro­rism Authority (Nacta). According to a notification issued by the establishment division on Fri­day, Maj Gen Naseer’s, HI(M), T. Bt & Bar, […]

Police on Friday registered a first information report (FIR) against a woman’s husband and his cousin after her body was found inside a house in Rawalpindi. According to a statement issued by Saddar Baruni police, the woman’s body was found inside a room of the residential premises in the garrison city. “A case has been registered under murder charges on the complaint of the woman’s […]

The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday for a resolution spearheaded by several African countries to adopt a map that makes their continent bigger while shrinking North America and Europe — aiming at “a more accurate representation” of world geography. The resolution was backed by 164 countries while the United States voted against it and six other states abstained. The new map […]

The government on Friday reduced the price of petrol by Rs3.13 per litre while increasing the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs3.74 per litre. Following the revision, petrol will retail at Rs345.87 per litre while HSD will cost Rs378.05 per litre. The government continues to levy Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel. According to the Petroleum […]

Interim Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson hopes his drastically revamped squad can come through some all too familiar “chaos” with a much-improved showing against England in next week’s third and final Test in Birmingham. Pakistan suffered an innings and 103-run loss in the series opener at Headingley, before going down by 194 runs at Lord’s on Sunday as England took an unbeatable 2-0 lead […]