Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announced plans to strengthen its indigenous vaccine production capacity by 2030, aiming to reduce reliance on imported doses and collaborate closely with other member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The announcement came during the inauguration of the fourth meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group in Islamabad, where health officials and international representatives discussed strategies to enhance vaccine availability and resilience across the Islamic world. Addressing the gathering, Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan currently relies on thirteen imported vaccines, highlighting the urgent need to develop domestic capabilities.…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a government employee accused of spreading extremist propaganda linked to “Fitna‑e‑Hindustan.” Officials said the suspect, Zafar Iqbal, had been employed as a junior staff member at Radio Pakistan. Following an internal inquiry, he was dismissed from his post. The NCCIA said Iqbal had obtained a stay order from the National Identity Registration Centre (NIRC) and posted 13 provocative messages on Facebook supporting a banned militant group. Action against the suspect was taken under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). A court approved a three-day physical remand…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, held a telephonic conversation with his Canadian counterpart, Maninder Sidhu, to review and advance bilateral trade and investment cooperation. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to expanding partnerships for mutual economic benefit. The Canadian side welcomed Pakistan’s decision to facilitate the resumption of Canadian canola shipments, calling it an important step towards strengthening agricultural trade flows. The ministers also discussed the need for trade diversification and agreed to explore cooperation beyond traditional sectors. Pakistan highlighted its emerging focus on the minerals and mining sector as a new priority for investment…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, was once known for its lush greenery. In recent years, however, the widespread felling of trees for infrastructure projects has triggered public anger and even legal action. Built in the 1960s, Islamabad was designed as a green city. Its planners envisaged wide avenues, parks and tree-lined residential sectors. Many residents now fear that vision is being steadily eroded. Concrete is increasingly replacing green spaces across the city. Muhammad Naveed took the authorities to court this year over what he described as “large-scale tree cutting” linked to infrastructure development. He accused officials of felling…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Farman Ali Bosan, brother of Dr Altaf Bosan, National Technical Advisor for the anti-polio program, was killed in the recent Tarlai suicide bombing during Friday prayers. A retired government officer of the Sindh Education Department, Farman Ali Bosan was attending prayers when the blast occurred. His son and several cousins were injured. Funeral prayers will be held in Islamabad, where he will be laid to rest. Upon learning of his brother’s death, Dr Altaf Bosan travelled immediately from Karachi to Islamabad, suspending official activities. In a statement, he condemned the attack, calling it a reminder of…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The government has decided to strengthen its intelligence network and raise a special force to guard Balochistan and its borders with Iran and Afghanistan, a provincial official said. The move, reported by The News citing Arab News, comes days after Canadian miner Barrick Mining Corporation said it would immediately review all aspects of the multibillion-dollar Reko Diq copper-gold project in Balochistan. Barrick’s decision followed coordinated attacks by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) last Saturday, which killed 36 civilians and 22 security personnel across several districts. “In light of these terrorist events, the provincial government, in tandem…

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 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…