Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has accused the PTI of undermining Pakistan, saying the party “defeated itself on 9 May and the country’s interests on 10 May,” while claiming that PTI aims to weaken national defence. Speaking in Lahore, Tarar criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, alleging it has turned the province into “ruins” and highlighting the failure of PTI’s rally at Peshawar’s Sunday Bazaar. He added that PTI has ruled the province for 12 years without completing a single project. Tarar said the current government is fulfilling all promises made during the election…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) premiered Pakistan’s first healthcare-focused web series, Precision Meets Purpose, at Neuplex Cinemas on Sunday, December 7. The series highlights real patient journeys, following individuals who arrive at SIUT with severe and complex illnesses and undergo advanced robotic surgeries that transform their lives. Rooted in authenticity, the series aimed to spark a nationwide dialogue on healthcare accessibility, emphasizing that world-class treatment options must be available to everyone in need. It reflected SIUT’s ongoing commitment to medical innovation and its pioneering role in introducing and adapting cutting-edge technologies. SIUT is…

By our correspondent LAHORE: Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department carried out more than 360 intelligence-based operations across the province this week, arresting 24 suspected terrorists and recovering explosive material. In a statement, the CTD said it had launched 364 operations in cities including Lahore, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Sargodha, Muzaffargarh, Sialkot, Rajanpur, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin and Attock. Officials said the arrests included Shakir, described as a dangerous member of the terrorist network the authorities refer to as Fitna-e-Khawarij. According to the department, the suspects had planned to carry out attacks at various locations in an effort…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Federal planning minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that the IPACS exhibition in Lahore is crucial for Pakistan, arguing that architecture and design play a central role in shaping the identity of cities and communities. Speaking at the Expo Centre, Iqbal said Pakistan possessed a rich cultural heritage that should be preserved even as the country embraces modern architectural trends. “Architecture gives a settlement its identity. We are moving towards contemporary design, but we must also develop our heritage so the world can clearly recognize who we are,” he told the audience. He noted that Karachi was…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has intensified operations against illegal cigarette manufacturing across Pakistan, seizing more than 200 cartons in Mardan and shutting down multiple factories. Authorities said the operation targeted a factory equipped with clandestine machinery producing cigarettes for well-known brands. The facility, capable of producing six to seven tons of tobacco daily, was reportedly generating around Rs45 million worth of illicit cigarettes each day. Some of the tobacco was sent to units in Hyderabad and Azad Kashmir. FBR sources warned that the proliferation of untaxed cigarettes causes an annual loss of Rs250–300 billion…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with acting US Ambassador Natalie Baker to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. The meeting, attended by senior officials from the Interior Ministry, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), and the US embassy, focused on counter-narcotics operations, curbing illegal immigration, and intelligence sharing. During the briefing, Naqvi highlighted the ANF’s recent operations, noting that under the annual counter-narcotics campaign, authorities seized 134 tons of drugs and arrested 2,001 suspects, including 75 foreign nationals, with an estimated street value of $12.8 billion. Officials also reported the clearance of over…

By our correspondent LAHORE: Lahore remains the world’s most polluted city for the fourth consecutive day, with air quality levels reaching hazardous levels across the province. Meteorologists said that north-western winds have contributed to a further spike in pollution in the city. According to a global environmental monitoring website, Lahore recorded a particulate matter (PM2.5) level of 328, while nearby Kahna Nau registered 542. Rahim Yar Khan also saw unsafe air quality, with PM2.5 levels hitting 378. Senior provincial minister Maryam Aurangzeb said the Punjab government is implementing the region’s most comprehensive anti-smog plan. She added that smog-control machinery, water…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Defence minister Khawaja Asif has accused PTI founder Imran Khan of using “inappropriate and damaging language” even during periods of military tension with India, saying such behavior reflected an “anti-Pakistan identity”. Speaking to reporters, Asif said the military’s spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, had used careful language in his recent briefing, but he himself was not bound by the same restraint. “If they throw a brick, I have the liberty to respond with a stone,” he said, warning that political conduct would be met in kind. Asif criticized a recent interview given by Khan’s sister…

By our correspondent QUETTA: More than a hundred men, including a senior commander of a banned terrorist group, surrendered their weapons in Balochistan’s Sui area in a move that officials described as one of the most significant reconciliatory breakthroughs in recent months. Provincial authorities said the group renounced violence, pledged allegiance to Pakistan, and ceremonially hoisted the national flag during an event attended by tribal elders and security officials. The terrorists, led by commander Wadera Noor Ali Chakarani, handed over rifles and ammunition to provincial minister Mir Aftab Ahmed Bugti. Footage from the ceremony showed stacks of firearms and rounds…

By our correspondent DHAKA: A six-member delegation from Pakistan, led by Jehanzeb Khan, Project Director of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, visited Dhaka University on Monday, 1 December 2025, seeking to strengthen academic ties and research collaboration between institutions in the two countries. The delegation, which included representatives from several Pakistani universities, was warmly received by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan at his office. During the meeting, both sides explored areas of mutual interest, focusing particularly on opportunities for joint academic programs, research partnerships, and student and faculty exchanges. Jehanzeb Khan emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to…