Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent KARACHI: A Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) audit officer has been suspended and ordered to report to head office after a registered employer lodged a written complaint alleging a demand for bribe during an inspection. The SESSI commissioner took action against audit officer Faraj Ali Qureshi following allegations that he had pressured a private company for illegal payment in connection with a social security records inspection. The suspension order was issued after the complaint was formally submitted by the company owner. Officials said the move came under a broader push for stricter accountability within the institution,…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Police in District West said they had arrested three suspected armed robbers after an exchange of fire in the Gulshan Zia area within the jurisdiction of Pakistan Bazaar police station on 1 May 2026. According to SSP West Tariq Ilahi Mastoi, a two-way gun battle took place during which two suspects were injured, while a third was arrested unharmed. The suspects were identified as Kamran, son of Afzal, and Mir Muhammad, son of Bashir, both injured, and Shah Mir, son of Maqsood, who was arrested without injury. Police said illegal pistols with ammunition, spent bullet casings,…

By our correaspondent RIYADH: Saudi authorities have intensified a crackdown on violations of Hajj regulations and arrested six Pakistani citizens, according to reports. One individual was taken into custody for staying in Mecca without a Hajj permit, while five others were arrested on allegations of assisting pilgrims without official authorisation. Security has been tightened in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Hajj season, with current rules allowing only holders of Hajj visas to enter and stay in Mecca. According to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, fines for violating Hajj permit rules can range from 20,000 to 100,000 Saudi riyals. Authorities had…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Greenwich University has established a state-of-the-art Student Facilitation Center at the Sindh Board of Technical Education (SBTE), aimed at streamlining student services online and enhancing administrative efficiency. The center is designed to assist students in processing applications, submitting documents, and accessing essential academic services in a more organized and accessible environment. The Student Facilitation Center was formally inaugurated by Minister for Universities and Boards Ismail Rahoo with Secretary for Universities and Boards Abbas Baloch, and the Chancellor of Greenwich University Dr Seema Mughal in Karachi. Speaking on the occasion, Ismail Rahoo highlighted the importance of modernizing…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Media employees are facing growing financial strain following the suspension of government advertising to Dawn newspaper, according to journalist and workers’ representatives who have urged authorities to restore the flow of ads immediately. The representatives warned that the move has unsettled livelihoods across one of Pakistan’s most established media institutions. The concern was voiced during a joint meeting of the All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation and the Karachi Union of Journalists, held at Dawn’s union office in Karachi. Participants said the suspension of advertising revenue had created significant pressure on thousands of media workers, many of…

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…