Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Rainfall was reported across several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Mansehra, Swat and Malakand, while light to heavy showers also occurred in Muzaffarabad, Nikyal in Azad Kashmir and the Neelum Valley. The weather activity triggered disruptions in the northern regions, as a major highway near Marnat was blocked due to landslides. In Jagran Nala, flooding led to the shutdown of the Kundal Shahi hydropower station, while electricity supply was suspended in several nearby areas. In Lower Kohistan near Jijal, the Karakoram Highway was also closed after rain and landslides made the route unsafe for traffic. Authorities…

New tariff incentives have been introduced to stimulate transit and transshipment cargo, in a move aimed at strengthening trade flows and enhancing port competitiveness By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has announced sweeping reductions in tariff rates at Gwadar Port, in a move aimed at strengthening the deep-sea facility’s role as a competitive regional logistics and transshipment hub. In a statement, the minister said the revised policy is designed to significantly increase transit and international transshipment container traffic through Gwadar while attracting global shipping lines and boosting overall port activity. Under the new tariff structure,…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif strongly condemned the recent militant attack on a police post in Bannu, describing the incident as deeply tragic and warning that the state would respond firmly to the growing wave of violence confronting the country. Speaking to Metro Morning at Parliament House, the defence minister said Pakistan would hold accountable those responsible for “every drop of blood” shed in acts of terrorism, signaling that the government and security institutions were prepared to take decisive action against militant networks operating inside the country. Without referring to specific incidents in detail, Khawaja Asif…

By our correspondent DOHA/ISLAMABAD: A second Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker has transited the Strait of Hormuz days after the first such cargo crossed under an arrangement reportedly involving Iran and Pakistan, underscoring how energy shipments are now moving through the strategic waterway on a case-by-case basis amid ongoing conflict risks. The vessel Mihzem, with a capacity of 174,000 cubic meters, departed Ras Laffan and is heading towards Port Qasim in Pakistan, where it is expected to arrive on May 12, according to LSEG shipping data. It marks the second successful passage of a Qatari LNG tanker through Hormuz since…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has directed that all possible measures be taken to provide relief to the public amid the ongoing Middle East crisis. The president made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. He instructed the government to take steps to curb inflationary pressures and ensure the availability of essential commodities. He said that despite a difficult geographical and regional environment, including tensions in the Middle East and disruptions in global supply chains, maximum relief should be extended to the people. The military escalation in the Middle East…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Government of Sindh has launched a renewed polio booster dose campaign across 89 high-risk union councils, aiming to vaccinate nearly 1.8 million children aged up to 10 years between May 12 and 24. Alongside oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops, eligible children will also receive an additional booster dose intended to strengthen immunity against the virus. Health authorities say Karachi remains a key concern due to its dense population, high levels of migration and repeated environmental detection of poliovirus, despite broader national progress towards eradication. Speaking during outreach activities linked to the campaign, Karachi Mayor Murtaza…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Rotary Club of Karachi Nexus organized its Annual Governor Visit program at Ramada Creek, where District Governor Shakeel Qaimkhani attended as the chief guest. A large number of members participated in the event, including district officials and newly inducted members. The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a high tea session and the national anthem. Fawad Sheikh delivered the welcome address, while Ali Haider formally welcomed the Governor. Both speakers highlighted the club’s annual progress and ongoing community initiatives. According to organizers, the program was attended by District Nominee Fahad…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Sindh Education Department has announced that summer vacations for schools across the province will be observed from June 1 to July 31. In a statement, officials said the decision would apply to all public and private schools throughout Sindh. The announcement came hours after Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat unveiled the summer vacation schedule for the province. In an earlier statement, the provincial education minister said the holidays would begin on May 22 and continue until August 23, giving students more than three months off. The Meteorological Department has warned that heatwaves, flash floods,…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Iran has formally sent its response to the latest United States proposals aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, using Pakistan as a mediator, according to Iranian state media reports. The move comes as diplomatic channels continue to operate quietly despite rising tensions between Tehran and Washington. Reports said discussions on ending the conflict remain the central focus at this stage. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baqaei previously stated that Iran’s position, including its concerns and reservations about the US proposals, would be communicated after a full review process and final internal consultations. Officials indicated that Tehran…

By our correspondent LAHORE: Pakistan’s debutant batter Azan Awais said he was delighted after scoring a century on his Test debut, becoming the 14th Pakistani player to achieve the milestone. He made the comments after the third day of the opening Test against Bangladesh on Sunday. Awais thanked God for his performance and said he faced initial difficulty but settled down to play with confidence. He said his partnership with Imam-ul-Haq was crucial, adding that the senior batter guided him throughout the innings and helped reduce pressure during key moments. The young batter said Pakistan would aim to restrict Bangladesh…