Author: Our Correspondent

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…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The 2026 convocation of Jamia Banuriya Alamia was held at the university’s Site Area campus in a ceremony marked by a scholarly and respectful atmosphere. The event saw the participation of Sindh’s Provincial Minister for Auqaf, Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr, Syed Riaz Hussain Shah Shirazi, representing the provincial government under the instructions of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. Addressing the gathering, Minister Shirazi emphasized the pivotal role of religious seminaries in promoting education, character development and moral training across the country. He praised Jamia Banuriya Alamia for consistently fostering moderate, tolerant, and research-oriented religious…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Dow University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) has terminated Professor Dr Irfan Ali Chandio, Chair of the Department of Telecommunication Engineering and Associate Professor, following the recommendations of an investigative committee on harassment. According to the official notification issued by the university on 26 January 2026, the decision was made under the Women Protection Act and is effective immediately. In an interim arrangement, the Vice-Chancellor of DUET has assigned additional responsibilities to Dr Mohammad Rauf, Chair of the Department of Electronic Engineering, who will also perform the duties of Telecommunication Engineering Chair until the next syndicate…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The School Education and Literacy Department on Sunday extended the revised school timings across Sindh until February 4, as the province continues to experience a severe cold wave. Under the adjustment, all public and private schools are required to start classes at 9am, while closing hours remain unchanged. The Sindh Education Department had first announced the revised timings on January 10. In its latest notification, it stated that the adjustment for all educational institutions under its administrative control would remain in effect until February 4. A spokesperson for the department said the decision was taken in…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain and snowfall across various parts of the country over the coming days. According to the Met Office, Islamabad, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, and Galiyat are likely to receive rainfall, while snowfall is expected in mountainous regions. A cold wave continues to affect several areas, with a new series of westerly winds expected to enter western parts of the country on Sunday night, moving towards the northern regions by Monday. In Balochistan, rain, wind, thunderstorms, and scattered snowfall are expected in districts including Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin,…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Amid its ongoing privatization drive, the federal government has announced the inclusion of Islamabad International Airport (IIAP) in its active privatization program. The Ministry of Privatization said the move aligns with the ongoing privatization of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport (JIAP) and Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIAP). The aim is to enhance efficiency, improve service delivery, maximize revenue, upgrade infrastructure, and attract both domestic and international private-sector investment. Officials told The News that the decision effectively ends months of stalled talks with the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan has engaged with potential partners from the UAE, Turkey,…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors, following a telephonic discussion between senior officials from both countries. The conversation took place between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain. During the call, they reviewed the state of bilateral relations, with particular focus on trade and economic collaboration. Both officials highlighted the potential for deeper engagement to boost commercial ties and mutual development. The discussion also covered recent regional and international developments, with the two sides sharing perspectives on challenges and opportunities in South Asia…

By our correspondent HYDERABAD/KARACHI: Senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), Haider Abbas Rizvi, has sharply criticized the Sindh government for what he described as widespread mismanagement, corruption, and neglect in Karachi and Hyderabad. Speaking at a press conference at the MQM district office, he said that Karachi no longer appears to be the provincial capital, accusing authorities of shifting public funds to Dubai instead of addressing local crises. Rizvi highlighted the aftermath of the Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi, describing the scene as a “crime scene” where human remains were being indiscriminately dumped. “People in Karachi have literally…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, Monem Zafar Khan, took part in the funeral prayers of four of the six members of a family who died in the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, following the identification of their bodies. The prayers were held at the Eidgah Ground in Delhi Colony on Sunday. Ameer District South Sufyan Dilawar, JI Karachi Secretary Information Zahid Askari, Secretary of the Public Aid Committee Najeeb Ayoobi, and other party members also attended. Speaking to the media, Monem Zafar Khan criticized the Pakistan Peoples Party’s provincial government, which has been in power for 18 years,…