Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Defence minister Khawaja Asif has said that those who kill worshippers inside a mosque are enemies of both religion and the state, condemning the deadly attack in the strongest terms. In a statement posted on X, Asif said investigations had established that the terrorist involved in the attack had travelled to and from Afghanistan. He claimed there were emerging links pointing to coordination between India and the Taliban, though he did not provide further details. The defence minister said security guards had challenged the attacker, who then opened fire before carrying out a suicide bombing. He…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to deepening engagement with Iran across key priority sectors, as he met the Iranian ambassador in Islamabad amid a renewed emphasis on regional cooperation and security. Dar made the remarks during a meeting with Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Raza Amiri Moghaddam, who called on him to review the state of bilateral relations and ongoing institutional engagement between the two neighboring countries. Officials said the discussion focused on strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest, reflecting Islamabad’s stated policy of enhancing ties with regional partners through…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Sohail University and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening ties between academia and the business community, in a move intended to promote research, innovation and skills development in Sindh. The agreement was signed at a ceremony held in the presence of the governor of Sindh, Kamran Tessori, who welcomed the initiative and described it as a step towards bridging the long-standing gap between education and industry. He said closer collaboration between universities and the private sector was essential to equip young people with skills…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken a significant step toward its first human spaceflight mission after the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) successfully completed the secondary phase of astronaut candidate selection, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Saturday. The milestone marks a major development in Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Program. Following an initial screening in Pakistan, two candidates were shortlisted after undergoing comprehensive medical, psychological, and aptitude assessments at the Astronauts Centre of China (ACC), in accordance with international standards for human spaceflight. The two shortlisted candidates will now enter a six-month period of advanced astronaut…

By our correspondent KARACHI: A women’s convention organized by the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) drew a large turnout in Karachi’s Central district on Saturday, including a significant number of university students. Addressing the gathering, party chairman Afaq Ahmed reiterated his party’s opposition to the division of Karachi and the Mohajir community, describing recent calls for a separate province as the agenda of what he termed the “Punjab establishment,” backed by those in power through Form 47. Ahmed said his party’s position was clear: it would not allow the Mohajir people or their land to be divided. He described Karachi and…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan inaugurated the International Medical Education Conference 2026 at its Karachi headquarters, drawing senior medical leaders from Pakistan and abroad. Held under the theme “Enhancing Competence, Compassion, and Resilience through Innovation and Collaboration,” the conference focused on technical excellence alongside human values, ethics, empathy, and resilience as core elements of modern medical education. The opening session began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the national anthem. In his welcome address, Professor Dr Khalid Masood Gondal underlined the need to train physicians who are not only clinically competent…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the site of the suicide bombing at Tarlai Imambargah in Islamabad on Friday. He was accompanied by Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, the Federal Secretary for Interior, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, and IG Islamabad Police. The delegation offered Maghrib and Isha prayers at the site and prayed for the highest ranks of those killed in the blast. They also inspected the area and reviewed the situation. Naqvi met with the management of the imambargah and directed the Chairman of the Capital Development Authority to fully restore the building as soon as possible.…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The medical report of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has been shared with his family, following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday. In a post on X, Attaullah Tarar said the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) executive director sent the report to the superintendent of Adiala Jail, “which has been handed over to the family.” He noted that the Leader of the Opposition had written to the prime minister, and PTI leaders also approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding Khan’s medical check-up. The announcement comes…

By our correspondent LAHORE: Sona Center organized a ‘Kissan Convention’ at a local hotel to highlight its support for farmers across Pakistan. In just one year, around 244 stores have been opened nationwide. The initiative, which aligns with global trends in sustainable agriculture, seeks to ensure that international farming standards are adopted in Pakistan with the support of government and stakeholders. Punjab’s Secretary of Agriculture, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, attended the event as chief guest. He commended Sona Centers for their pivotal role in serving farmers and contributing to the development of Pakistan’s agriculture sector through timely delivery of quality inputs…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Power regulator has approved an increase in electricity prices under the fuel cost adjustment mechanism, adding further pressure to households already struggling with high living costs. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has raised the price of electricity by 28 paisas per unit for December’s fuel price adjustment, according to an official notification. The increase will be charged to consumers in February’s electricity bills and will apply across the country, including customers of K-Electric. Nepra said the higher tariff would not apply to lifeline consumers or to electric vehicle charging stations. Fuel price adjustments are…