Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent KARACHI: Faryal Talpur issued strict instructions to the Sindh inspector general, telling him to report any political interference in cases involving drug dealers. She said if any member of the provincial or national assembly, or any office-bearer of the Pakistan Peoples Party, called to recommend leniency for narcotics offenders, the request must be ignored and reported to her immediately. She added that the party would take swift and strict disciplinary action against anyone found involved. The remarks were made during a key meeting of the Sindh assembly’s standing committee on home affairs, where Talpur held an exchange…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) held an awareness seminar at its head office in Karachi for representatives of the All Pakistan Security Agencies Association (APSAA), aimed at improving understanding of social security laws and employer obligations. The program was organized on the instructions of SESSI Commissioner Hadi Bakhsh Kalhoro, following a request made during an earlier meeting with APSAA representatives. A large number of participants from various security agencies attended the session, including APSAA chairman Munir Ahmed and members of his executive body. SESSI vice commissioner Sikandar Baloch also participated in the event. Speaking…

By our correspondent PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched an ambitious plan aimed at bringing an estimated 4.9 million out-of-school children into classrooms through a coordinated, province-wide enrolment drive backed by detailed data collection and inter-departmental cooperation. A high-level meeting held at the Chief Secretary’s Office in Peshawar reviewed the proposed strategy, which was jointly chaired by Education Minister Arshad Ayub Khan and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah. Representatives from multiple departments as well as UNICEF also attended the session. Officials said the initiative will rely on a comprehensive village council–level survey to identify children aged between five and…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has held a series of high-level telephone conversations with senior leaders in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, France and Egypt, as diplomatic efforts continue to stabilize a fragile regional ceasefire and reduce wider tensions. According to Arab media reports, Araghchi spoke separately with Qatar’s prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty, shortly before his arrival in Islamabad. The calls focused on the evolving situation surrounding the ceasefire, with particular attention to its durability and…

By our correspondent WASHINGTON:Donald Trump said a shooting at the was not connected to tensions with Iran, as he confirmed the suspect had acted alone. Speaking at a press conference after the incident, Trump said the attacker had multiple weapons and was wearing a bulletproof vest. He added that the suspect, identified as a resident of , had been taken into custody after resisting arrest. The president said a security officer was struck by a bullet but was protected by a vest and did not suffer serious injury. He said he had spoken directly to the officer. Trump said the…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has issued a special traffic plan for the federal capital, announcing a complete closure of the Red Zone and extended Red Zone, along with the suspension of traffic on the Islamabad Expressway from Korral to Zero Point. According to the advisory, traffic on the Srinagar Highway may also be halted at different times due to security arrangements. Iranian state media reported that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will depart on Friday for a three-nation tour, including visits to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow. “The purpose of this visit is to hold bilateral…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Sources revealed that Executive Director Karachi Institute of Heart Disease Professor Dr Riffat Sultana had faced an incident of political interference in the government-run body. They claimed that some KIHD doctors and lower staff, under the umbrella of a political party, wanted to have their illegal demands fulfilled. Sources further said, on condition of anonymity, that the Executive Director of KIHD was convening an official emergency meeting in the institute’s boardroom when, during the meeting, Dr Kamal Nasir, a politically backed KIHD employee, forcefully entered without permission and approached Dr Riffat Sultana. He confronted her aggressively…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday announced that his government had approved a comprehensive financial package worth Rs7 billion for victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy, describing it as one of the most devastating commercial disasters in recent memory for Karachi’s business community. Speaking at a ceremony held at the CM House, he said Rs5.6 billion of the approved package had already been secured, while compensation cheques amounting to Rs511 million had been distributed among 200 verified affectees. The event was attended by provincial ministers and representatives of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce…

FBR misses its end-December 2025 tax collection target, while data gaps leave two other indicative benchmarks unverified, officials say By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has achieved 14 of the 17 quantitative performance and indicative benchmarks set under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program for end-December 2025, The News reported on Friday. The Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) tax collection target for end-December 2025 could not be met, while for two other indicative targets the relevant data was not available. Income tax revenue collected from retailers could not be provided to the IMF, as the FBR had agreed with the Fund…

News Desk LONDON: Global oil prices slipped on Friday after markets reacted to signs that a second round of Middle East diplomatic talks could resume, raising cautious hopes of de-escalation in a conflict that has severely disrupted energy flows from the Gulf. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell back below the $100-a-barrel mark as traders adjusted positions on reports that Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi was due to arrive in Islamabad late on Friday. The development fuelled speculation that Pakistan’s capital could again serve as a venue for indirect engagement between Tehran and Washington, although it remained unclear whether US…