Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Concerns over rising drug use among students have prompted calls for routine screening and counselling in Pakistan’s schools, colleges, and universities. She urged authorities to introduce screening programs with parental consent. Speaking at a committee meeting chaired by Raja Khurram Nawaz, Kamran called for trained psychologists to be appointed in institutions to provide counselling and support for students struggling with drug use. “We currently have no system for rehabilitation within educational institutions. It is time to act before more children are harmed,” she said. “From colleges to the National Assembly, this should apply universally. Children’s lives…

By our correspondent KARACHI: With online shopping becoming an everyday habit in Pakistan’s fast-expanding digital economy, fraud linked to e-commerce is emerging as a serious and persistent concern. Against this backdrop, the Karachi Press Club, in collaboration with the online marketplace Daraz, organized a one-day workshop for journalists focusing on online shopping, digital scams and ways to stay safe. The session aimed to raise awareness about common fraud tactics and highlight the precautions consumers and media professionals should take in the digital marketplace. During the workshop, participants were briefed on how fraudulent sellers operate, the warning signs of online scams…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior, Senator Talal Chaudhry, has claimed that Pakistan is the fifth-largest country in the world and that Lahore is safer than London. The discussion also touched on the use of tinted car windows, which are subject to additional fees abroad. The committee chairman noted that despite prior guidance to refrain from enforcement until a formal policy was established, fines of PKR 50,000 had been imposed on vehicle owners. Chaudhry explained that action was being taken under an excise act, and defended the fines, noting that tinted windows had become a fashion trend,…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The federal government has issued a directive to resolve cases involving the illegal occupation of property belonging to overseas Pakistanis within seven days. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that the rights of Pakistanis living abroad will be fully protected and no one will be allowed to seize their assets. Naqvi instructed the Islamabad district administration to address complaints from overseas Pakistanis promptly, ensuring decisions are made within the stipulated week. He stressed that Pakistan welcomes investment from its diaspora and is committed to providing a secure environment for their investments. “The government will guarantee 100% protection…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The fashion industry holds significant potential to strengthen Pakistan’s economy and earn substantial foreign exchange, according to Mirza Ishtiaq Baig, Honorary Consul General of Morocco in Pakistan. Speaking at an event held at Baig House in honor of internationally acclaimed fashion designer Mahmood Bhatti, he emphasized the role of Pakistani fashion in promoting the country globally and creating opportunities for young talent. The event was attended by Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, film star Javed Sheikh, fashion designers Nadeem Maazji and Mahmood Bhatti, Hameed Aslam, Azhar Zia, Zulfiqar Halipota, Athar Javed Sufi, Chairman of the Pakistan Film and…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The mercury in Karachi has fallen to single digits as the city experiences a persistent cold spell. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the weather is expected to remain dry and chilly over the next 24 hours. The department has forecast a minimum temperature of 9°C, while the maximum is likely to reach 23°C. Earlier today, the minimum temperature was recorded at 12.8°C, with humidity at 47%. Winds from the east are currently blowing at 8 kilometers per hour, intensifying the cold and making the chill more noticeable. Residents are being advised to take precautions as…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman has said that increasing renewable energy in Pakistan is achievable, even under challenging circumstances. Speaking on World Clean Energy Day, she noted that in the last fiscal year, 53 per cent of the country’s electricity generation came from renewable sources. She highlighted that global cooperation, financial support, and technology transfer are key to promoting clean energy in developing countries. Sherry Rehman stressed that the transition to renewable energy should be fair and people-centered to ensure environmental justice, adding that clean energy not only reduces pollution but also…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Religious Affairs has proposed that each member of parliament be allocated a Hajj quota for ten individuals. The recommendation came during a meeting chaired by PPP lawmaker Shagufta Jamani, with Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf participating online. PPP’s Jamani suggested that each MP should submit the names of ten pilgrims on official letterhead to the ministry. She emphasized that every committee member should have the authority to send people for Hajj without the allocation being labelled as a “quota,” allowing MPs to facilitate their constituents while earning spiritual…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Tensions flared during a National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination meeting, as MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan and PPP lawmaker Shahla Raza engaged in a sharp verbal exchange over the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) elections and related scrutiny issues. Khawaja Izharul Hassan accused Shahla Raza of representing a private company whose stakeholders had previously been barred by the PHF. He argued that certain matters had already been designated for the Public Accounts Committee and criticized repeated claims questioning the legitimacy of the PHF president. MQM-P leader emphasized that if the Prime Minister had appointed the…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s engagement with the international Peace Board has caused a significant reaction in India, according to Senator Mashahid Hussain Syed. Speaking at a seminar titled “Black Day” organized by the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Service on India’s Republic Day, he said that India is uneasy over Pakistan’s inclusion in the board, which extends beyond Gaza-related issues. Senator Syed highlighted that Kashmir and Palestine remain central to Pakistan’s foreign policy and noted that as a member of the United Nations Security Council in 2026, Pakistan will promote the Kashmir cause on the global stage. He criticized India’s…