Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal directed authorities to prepare proposals for fiscal reforms and speed up development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, stressing the need for better financial planning and improved governance in the region. He issued the directives while chairing a meeting of the Prime Minister’s Review Committee in Islamabad, where officials reviewed progress on development initiatives and financial arrangements for Gilgit-Baltistan. The minister endorsed the development of an NFC-based financial framework for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, saying a structured mechanism was essential to address the development requirements of the regions. Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that ongoing…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Home and Law Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar has rejected allegations made by former finance minister Miftah Ismail against President Asif Ali Zardari regarding recruitment in the Sindh Police, calling the claims unfounded and misleading. Responding to Ismail’s remarks, Lanjar said President Zardari represented all federating units of Pakistan and that the Pakistan People’s Party was a genuinely federal political force. He said attempts to associate the president with only one province, language or ethnic group were contrary to facts and could harm national unity. The provincial minister said all government recruitments in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, were…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The All Pakistan Goods Transporters Association warned that frequent changes in petroleum prices were creating uncertainty for the transport sector and making it increasingly difficult for truck operators to manage business costs. Speaking at a press conference, association President Nabeel Mahmood Tariq said daily fluctuations in fuel prices had disrupted operational planning and placed additional pressure on transporters already facing rising expenses. He said the trucking industry played a vital role in keeping the country’s supply chain system functioning, but increasing costs of fuel, taxes and other operational requirements were making it harder for transporters to…

Pakistan had witnessed repeated incidents of mob violence over blasphemy allegations, with rights groups warning that accusations had often triggered attacks before legal processes were completed By our correspondent ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: A recent incident in Karachi, where a Christian family faced blasphemy allegations and a large crowd gathered outside their home, highlighted a shift in the way authorities were responding to religiously charged unrest in Pakistan. According to a report, police officers moved quickly to protect four women and one child who had become the target of the angry mob. Officer Sanghaar Ali Malik, who led the police response, said his…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Sindh Minister for Labor and Manpower Saeed Ghani briefed the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Regulation and Coordination about HIV cases reported at the CESE Welfare Hospital, which was working under the administrative control of the Labor Department. The committee meeting was chaired by Senator Aamir Waliuddin and attended by senior federal and provincial officials, including Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal. During the session, Saeed Ghani presented details about the reported HIV cases and informed the committee about the steps being taken by the Labor Department to address the situation. He shared updates…

By our correspondent RAWALPINDI: A high-level Somali delegation led by Defence Minister Ambassador Ahmed Moallim Fiqi held talks with Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Thursday, focusing on ways to strengthen defence ties between the two countries. The meeting covered regional security developments, matters of mutual interest and measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in the defence and security sectors. Both sides emphasized the importance of expanding military-to-military relations and increasing capacity-building programs to address shared security challenges. They said stronger coordination between the armed forces…

By our correspodet KARACHI: A girl riding a motorcycle with her parents was killed after being hit by a University of Karachi bus on Shahrah-e-Faisal, officials said. Rescue officials said the accident occurred on Shahrah-e-Faisal near Awami Markaz. According to police, the girl was travelling on the motorcycle with her mother and father when the bus approaching from behind collided with them. The girl died in the accident, while both her parents suffered minor injuries. Police said citizens caught the bus driver and handed him over to the police following the incident. The deceased girl was a resident of Chaneser…

By our correspondent LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has banned domestic cricketer Hamza Nazar for two years and imposed a fine of Rs1 million following an inquiry into information provided during a visa application. The PCB said the ban would prevent Nazar from participating in all domestic and international cricket-related activities for two years. According to the board, disciplinary action was taken after an inquiry committee examined the information provided by Nazar during the visa application process. The PCB said he had failed to provide complete and accurate information and had submitted misleading details while withholding material facts relevant…

By our correspondent LAHORE: Pakistani religious scholar and preacher Maulana Tariq Jameel has said that the growing trend of women not cooking at home could have implications not only for health but also for family and social life. Tariq Jameel made the remarks during a recent podcast in which he discussed lifestyle, food and health. He was asked about the increasing tendency among women to rely less on home-cooked meals. Responding to the question, he described the trend as “unnatural” and said he believed food and lifestyle could influence people’s behaviour. Recalling a visit to the United States in 1998,…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered a record 5,438 new companies in July, reflecting continued growth in business registrations across the country. According to the SECP, five international companies also established offices in Pakistan during the month, with firms from Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and China entering the Pakistani market. Foreign directors were included in 112 of the newly registered companies. The newly registered businesses included 3,148 private limited companies, 2,117 single-member companies and 127 limited liability partnerships. The SECP also registered 28 non-profit organisations and 18 public companies. Punjab accounted for…