Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council said Eid al-Adha was expected to be observed in Pakistan on Wednesday, 27 May, according to scientific calculations. The council’s secretary general, Khalid Ijaz Mufti, said that based on astronomical data there was a strong likelihood that Eid al-Adha would be celebrated in the country on 27 May. He said the new moon would be born on the night between 16 and 17 May at 1:15am Pakistan time. He added that at sunset on 17 May, the age of the moon in most parts of Pakistan would be slightly more than 18…

By our correspondent LAHORE: The Punjab School Education Department has decided to extend its outsourcing policy from primary schools to middle schools as well. According to the department, the decision will be based on the 2025 school census. Schools with unsafe buildings will be shut immediately, while those with poor facilities or weak performance will be outsourced. Officials said schools with enrolment between 100 and 150 students are being considered for inclusion in the outsourcing list. The department has already outsourced around 13,000 schools. Some schools will also be upgraded under the “Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence” category. Authorities said…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Police in District West said a key facilitator had been arrested in connection with the killing of a police officer in Orangi Town, marking a significant development in the case. According to SSP West Tariq Ilahi Mastoi, Mominabad police arrested the suspect involved in planning the murder and helping the main accused escape. The officer, P/ASI Abrar, was shot dead on 22 April 2026 in the MPR Colony area. During the investigation, police arrested Umar, son of Saeed, identified as the facilitator in the case. Authorities said the motorcycle used by the suspects to flee had…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Two new cases of polio have been confirmed in Bannu and North Waziristan districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, taking the total number of reported cases in the country this year to three. According to the National Emergency Operations Centre, the latest cases involve two girls aged five months and two years. Officials said both children belong to high-risk areas where poliovirus transmission remains a concern. Health authorities said emergency response measures had been launched in the affected regions to prevent further spread of the virus. Surveillance has been intensified, and vaccination teams have been mobilised to contain…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Police in District West said they had arrested three suspected armed robbers after an exchange of fire in the Gulshan Zia area within the jurisdiction of Pakistan Bazaar police station on 1 May 2026. According to SSP West Tariq Ilahi Mastoi, a two-way gun battle took place during which two suspects were injured, while a third was arrested unharmed. The suspects were identified as Kamran, son of Afzal, and Mir Muhammad, son of Bashir, both injured, and Shah Mir, son of Maqsood, who was arrested without injury. Police said illegal pistols with ammunition, spent bullet casings,…

By our correspondent KARACHI: A Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) audit officer has been suspended and ordered to report to head office after a registered employer lodged a written complaint alleging a demand for bribe during an inspection. The SESSI commissioner took action against audit officer Faraj Ali Qureshi following allegations that he had pressured a private company for illegal payment in connection with a social security records inspection. The suspension order was issued after the complaint was formally submitted by the company owner. Officials said the move came under a broader push for stricter accountability within the institution,…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Trade unions and civil society representatives on Wednesday called on the court to vacate a stay order that had effectively blocked the participation of workers’ representatives on the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) board, warning that the move had begun to undermine efforts aimed at safeguarding labor rights and ensuring institutional accountability. Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, labor leaders said a series of legal petitions had been filed in recent weeks with the apparent intent of paralyzing the functioning of the newly constituted board. The body, they noted, had only recently been notified…

By our correaspondent RIYADH: Saudi authorities have intensified a crackdown on violations of Hajj regulations and arrested six Pakistani citizens, according to reports. One individual was taken into custody for staying in Mecca without a Hajj permit, while five others were arrested on allegations of assisting pilgrims without official authorisation. Security has been tightened in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Hajj season, with current rules allowing only holders of Hajj visas to enter and stay in Mecca. According to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, fines for violating Hajj permit rules can range from 20,000 to 100,000 Saudi riyals. Authorities had…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Greenwich University has established a state-of-the-art Student Facilitation Center at the Sindh Board of Technical Education (SBTE), aimed at streamlining student services online and enhancing administrative efficiency. The center is designed to assist students in processing applications, submitting documents, and accessing essential academic services in a more organized and accessible environment. The Student Facilitation Center was formally inaugurated by Minister for Universities and Boards Ismail Rahoo with Secretary for Universities and Boards Abbas Baloch, and the Chancellor of Greenwich University Dr Seema Mughal in Karachi. Speaking on the occasion, Ismail Rahoo highlighted the importance of modernizing…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Media employees are facing growing financial strain following the suspension of government advertising to Dawn newspaper, according to journalist and workers’ representatives who have urged authorities to restore the flow of ads immediately. The representatives warned that the move has unsettled livelihoods across one of Pakistan’s most established media institutions. The concern was voiced during a joint meeting of the All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation and the Karachi Union of Journalists, held at Dawn’s union office in Karachi. Participants said the suspension of advertising revenue had created significant pressure on thousands of media workers, many of…