Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability in the region and beyond during a meeting with China’s ambassador in Islamabad on Monday, as diplomatic channels remained active against the backdrop of a shifting regional landscape. Dar held talks with the Chinese envoy, Jiang Zaidong, at a time when tensions across parts of the Middle East and South Asia had placed renewed emphasis on strategic coordination between longstanding partners. According to officials familiar with the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and broader geopolitical…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Security forces reported significant gains in their ongoing campaign against the Afghan Taliban, with 435 insurgents killed and more than 630 others wounded, according to updates from the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar. The operation, named Ghazab lil-Haq, has so far destroyed 188 Taliban check posts, while a further 31 were seized by Pakistani forces, demonstrating the scale and intensity of the offensive. Officials said 188 tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery guns were also destroyed during the operation, crippling much of the Taliban’s military infrastructure. Air strikes targeted 51 locations across Afghanistan, further weakening…

By our correspondent KARACHI: A Khatam-ul-Quran ceremony took place at the residence of Big Buy Chief Executive Mohammed Sajid Mughal on the 10th of Ramazan in Karachi. The recitation was led by young scholar Qari Mohammed Fahad Yousuf and concluded with a collective dua. The 10th of Ramazan marks the completion of the first Ashra (ten days) of the holy month, a period considered especially blessed in Islam. Prayers were offered for the prosperity and unity of the Muslim Ummah, coinciding with the death anniversary of Hazrat Khadija-tul-Kubra (R.A). The event was attended by notable business figures, including Chairman of…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan held a large rally in Orangi Town No. 5 to express unwavering support for Pakistan’s armed forces. The event was attended by party workers, office-bearers, and members of the public, demonstrating the city’s strong commitment to national defence. Senior party leaders, including Farooq Sattar, addressed the gathering, highlighting Karachi’s historic role in standing for Pakistan’s security and stability. Sattar described the participants as “descendants of the founders of Pakistan,” emphasizing the city’s readiness to make sacrifices for the country. He also criticised India and Afghanistan, alleging a coordinated effort to destabilize Pakistan,…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Sohail University in Karachi launched its Youth Innovation Challenge 2026 with a dynamic roadshow and opening ceremony, creating a platform for young entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into practical ventures. The initiative, coordinated by the university’s Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), is part of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, aimed at nurturing entrepreneurial skills and supporting student-led projects. During the launch, founder Muhammad Mahad Arif and Managing Director Sheeza Zahid signed contracts with youth innovation fellows, providing merit-based employment opportunities for promising projects. Students received hands-on guidance from University President Dr. Waseem Laghari and…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Petrol and diesel prices in Pakistan are expected to increase from 1 March due to a rise in international fuel rates, sources confirmed on Friday. Petrol may see a hike of Rs4.58 per liter, while high-speed diesel is likely to increase by Rs4.73 per liter. Kerosene and light diesel oil prices are also expected to rise by Rs6.88 and Rs5 per liter, respectively. In the previous fortnightly review on 15 February, the federal government had already increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs5 and Rs7.32 per liter, bringing petrol to Rs258.17 per liter and diesel to…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has begun considering a proposal to replace the Rs10 note with a coin, a move officials say could save the national exchequer between 40 and 50 billion rupees over the next decade. The proposal follows a currency management review submitted to the cabinet. A high-level committee headed by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb was tasked with examining whether the Rs10 banknote should be discontinued. According to sources, the committee has now submitted its currency management report to the cabinet after reviewing recommendations prepared under the relevant laws by the State Bank and the Security…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, over alleged denial of medical and legal access for party founder Imran Khan. The leaders urged the Supreme Court to ensure Khan receives proper treatment while in custody. In a letter sent through their lawyer, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mahmood-ur-Rashid stated that the former prime minister has been repeatedly denied access to his personal doctor, family members, and legal counsel. The appeal follows Khan’s second eye injection at the Pakistan Institute of…

By our correspondentLAHORE: The government of Pakistan has amended passport regulations to allow married women to enter their father’s name on their passports by choice, replacing the long-standing practice of using the husband’s name. The reform has been introduced to support women’s independent legal identity and dignity. In the past, married women were generally required to include their husband’s name on travel documents, a practice that often created legal and identification difficulties in cases of separation, divorce or other personal matters. Officials said the change was implemented after directions from the Lahore High Court, which emphasised the need to give…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of planning to form a “release force” for the jailed founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf while remaining silent on terrorism. In a statement, Asif said the provincial administration was avoiding participation in the funerals of martyrs despite daily casualties among police personnel. He claimed that for the party leadership the release of its founder had become the “first and last priority”, while all other matters, including national security, had lost importance. The defence minister said the province was being run only to protect the chief minister’s…