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Showing posts from May, 2025

PM announces 100,000 free laptops for students PM says distribution of laptops will cover all four provinces and will be based purely on merit, without any nepotism

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the distribution of 100,000 free laptops among talented students across the country on merit, during an International Youth Day event in Islamabad on Tuesday. Premier stated that the distribution of these laptops will cover all four provinces, the federal capital Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir, and will be based purely on merit, without any nepotism. He added that these laptops would be separate from the scheme for laptops through interest-based loans. Referring to Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, the prime minister mentioned that Pakistan’s victory on May 10 against a numerically larger and more boastful enemy had instilled a new vigour in the entire nation. He urged the youth to build on the spirit of this achievement and work hard to bring honour to the country. Earlier, during the ceremony, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, Rana Mashhood, said the government’s merit-based programs for youth had enabled talented and des...

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan cannot be called a ‘Hero’: Rana Sana

  Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah Khan, on Saturday stated that Mohsin-e-Pakistan Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan cannot be termed a ‘hero’. Rana Sanaullah said that while Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan is rightfully remembered and respected as a scientist, he can not be regarded as a hero or a leader. Responding to a question about Dr A. Q. Khan being overlooked at the government level, he said, “Dr Qadeer receives the recognition he deserves. However, the real hero behind making Pakistan a nuclear power is Nawaz Sharif.” “It’s important to understand that several countries and scientists have developed nuclear bombs. The real achievement lies in taking the decision to carry out a nuclear test and declare your country an atomic power,” he explained. He added that Pakistan had developed the atomic bomb 10 to 15 years ago, and former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto deserves credit for initiating the nuclear program, however, the defining moment came on Ma...

Pakistan announces first govt-backed strategic Bitcoin reserve

  Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) Chief Executive Officer Bilal Bin Saqib has announced Pakistan’s first government-led Strategic Bitcoin Reserve During a keynote address at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Bilal Bin Saqib made the announcement. The event was attended by prominent figures, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. Saqib expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in easing recent India-Pakistan tensions and supporting cryptocurrency adoption, crediting U.S. policies as inspiration for Pakistan’s move. Saqib emphasized that the Bitcoin reserves, to be held in a national Bitcoin wallet, are intended as a long-term sovereign asset, not for speculation or sale. He stated that Pakistan’s government will never use these reserves to capitalize on Bitcoin’s price fluctuations, ensuring their stability as a national asset. Addressing global perc...

Pakistan condemns Modi’s ‘reckless provocation’ in Gujarat speech

  The Foreign Office on Tuesday condemned the recent remarks towards Pakistan by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a speech in Gujarat, calling it a “reckless provocation”. The developments follow a recent military confrontation between India and Pakistan over New Delhi’s allegations against Islamabad, without evidence, about a  deadly attack  in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam. On the night of May 6-7, New Delhi launched a  series of air strikes  in Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties. Islamabad responded by  downing five Indian jets . After  intercepting drones  sent by India and  tit-for-tat strikes  on each other’s airbases, it took American intervention on May 10 for both sides to finally drop their guns as a  ceasefire  was reached In a  video  shared by Indian news outlet  ANI , Modi says: “The people of Pakistan must come forward to rid their country of terrorism. Their youth will have to come...

Pakistan, Iran eye $10 bn bilateral trade as PM arrives in Tehran

  Tehran: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran which stood at $3 billion, would be taken to $10 billion volume in the next few years, as there was immense potential of growth. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday departed to Iran after concluding his two-day official visit to Turkiye. In an interview with IRNA, prior to his visit to Tehran on Monday, the prime minister said the bilateral trade between the two countries had witnessed a significant increase in the past three to four years. “We want to take it up to $10 billion in the next few years, but I think the potential is much larger than that as well. We are discussing signing a free trade agreement (FTA). I think in the next ten years, the trade volume between the two countries will expand a great deal. The need is to have sustained economic engagements for the long term between Pakistan and Iran,” the Iranian news wire quoted the prime minister as saying. The prim...

Health dept breaks silence on Karachi ‘COVID’ deaths

The Sindh Health Department has dismissed reports claiming four deaths due to COVID-19 in Karachi, According to the department’s spokesperson, all four deceased patients were over 60 years old and suffered from pre-existing medical conditions, clarifying that the fatalities were not caused by the virus. The patients were under treatment at a private hospital, the statement added. The health department urged the public and media to avoid spreading sensationalized reports, warning that labeling these deaths as COVID-related could cause unnecessary panic. Earlier reports had claimed that the four individuals succumbed to COVID-19 amid an unusual spike in infections during Karachi’s peak summer season, with temperatures exceeding 40°C. Prof. Dr. Syed Faisal Mahmood, a professor of infectious diseases at AKUH, had confirmed that the hospital has observed a significant rise in COVID-19 cases over the past two to three weeks. He described the trend as “unexpected” for this time of year, as th...

Pakistan Army’s top brass vows firm stance against foreign-backed terrorism

  The Pakistan Army’s top brass, in its Corps Commanders’ Conference, vowed that the country will never allow its peace to be compromised by externally sponsored terrorism, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir chaired the 270th Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi. The Corps Commanders’ Conference began with Fateha for the martyrs of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and the heinous terrorist attack in Khuzdar, Balochistan, an atrocity perpetrated through India-sponsored proxies which resulted in the loss of four innocent children and two adults. The Forum unequivocally condemned the barbaric acst, noting its deliberate targeting of non-combatants, particularly children, as a reprehensible violation of all norms of humanity and international conduct. The army’s top brass vowed that in close synergy with intelligence and law enforcement agencies, will pursue all proxies and facilitators of terrorism...

Three children among five martyred in Khuzdar school bus explosion

  The ISPR vowed that the planners, facilitators, and perpetrators of the attack would be brought to justice, emphasizing the armed forces’ commitment to eliminating “Indian-sponsored terrorism” in the region. Deputy Commissioner Khuzdar Yasir Iqbal stated that the blast occurred at Zero point and completely damaged the school bus. “As per initial investigation the explosions seems to a suicide blast” , he added . Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the bomb blast on a school bus near Zero Point in Khuzdar, which killed four innocent children and injured several others. In a statement, the minister expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic incident. “We share the pain of the grieving families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said. Mohsin Naqvi called the attackers “barbaric” and said they deserve no mercy. “The enemy has shown extreme cruelty by targeting innocent children. This is a shameful attempt to destabilize the country,” he ad...

Army Chief Asim Munir elevated to field marshal rank

The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the promotion of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal The decision was taken the federal cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to sources, the prime minister also met with President Asif ALi Zardari to brief him on the cabinet’s decision, ensuring full confidence and coordination. Additionally, the cabinet unanimously agreed to extend the services of the Air Chief Marshal upon completion of his tenure. Meanwhile, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has expressed profound gratitude to Allah, the Almighty, upon receiving a prestigious honor In his message, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir dedicated the accolade to the nation, the armed forces, and especially the civilian and military martyrs and veterans. I am thankful to the President, the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet for their trust,” Field Marshal Munir said. He added that the honor is a trust bestowed upon him by the nation, ...

Nawaz Sharif congratulates PM on operation Bunyan Um Marsoos success

  Shehbaz Sharif gave a full update on the national situation, including recent achievements in Operation Bunyan Um Marsoos. He also informed Nawaz Sharif about the role of the government and the armed forces in ensuring national security. Former PM Nawaz Sharif  praised  the professional skills and commitment of the armed forces in defending the country. He also said the Parliament of Pakistan has played a very positive and strong role during this time. He appreciated that all political forces spoke in one voice for national security, setting aside their differences. Nawaz Sharif said this unity is a welcome step. He also commended the elected representatives for supporting the armed forces and expressing the public’s emotions. Speaking on Pakistan’s recent victory against India, Nawaz Sharif thanked Allah and praised the spirit of the nation. He also appreciated the role of Pakistani media during this period. Earlier, PM Shehbaz Sharif has formed a steering committee to...

FDI in Pakistan rises to $141m in April 2025

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in April 2025 reached $141 million, recording a significant drop of 64 percent compared to $395 million in April 2024. According to the data shared by central bank, this marks a notable year-on-year decline, despite a month-on-month increase from $26 million in March 2025. For the first 10 months of the current fiscal year (July 2024–April 2025), FDI totaled $1.785 billion, marking a 3percent decrease compared to $1.837 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year. Despite the drop in FDI, overall foreign investment (including portfolio investments) surged by 16percent, reaching $1.209 billion over the same 10-month period Pakistan’s total foreign exchange reserves stood at US$15.61 billion during the week ended on May 9, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported on Thursday. Pakistan’s reserves held by the SBP increased by US$ 71 million to reach US$ 10.4 billion during the same period, the centra...

Somali Forces Defeat Al-Shabaab in Massive Border Attack

MOGADISHU - In a devastating setback to terror activities, Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers killed 50 Al-Shabaab militants in intense fighting on Saturday along the crucial border of Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions. According to Ministry of Defense reports, the violence escalated after a disastrous al-Shabaab raid on an SNA military camp. Government soldiers, aided by local community defense forces, not only drove back the attack but pursued the retreating militants, inflicting many casualties. "The Khawarij enemy attempted to launch an attack against the local allied forces and army but were repelled and defeated," the Defence Ministry spokesman Abukar Mohamed said. "We confirm 30 dead bodies in forest areas where the battle occurred and another 20 who were earlier killed." The battlefield victory was during battles in several contested positions including Muqliga Ali, El-Hareeri, Hareeri Madoobe, and Garas Magan - regions where there is increased military a...

Rickshaw ban to be enforced on seven more roads in Karachi

The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Traffic, Pir Muhammad Shah, has announced that rickshaws will soon be banned on seven more major roads in Karachi as part of an expanded crackdown on traffic violations and encroachments, ARY News reported. Speaking to media, DIG Traffic said that strict action will be taken against all types of encroachments on the city’s main roads. A major anti-encroachment operation is being launched, and a modern traffic management system will be implemented to ensure compliance with traffic laws. Pir Muhammad Shah added that illegal rickshaws have already been removed from areas around Millennium Mall and Nagan Chowrangi, while encroachments have been cleared from Empress Market. The next phase will see a ban on rickshaws on an additional seven key roads. He also shared that the Traffic Engineering Bureau, previously inactive, has been reactivated and separated from the Karachi Development Authority (KDA). A new automated e-challan system is expected to be in...

AVM Aurangzeb Ahmed becomes top Google search in Pakistan

  Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Aurangzeb Ahmed has emerged as a widely admired figure among the Pakistani youth due to his calm and confident handling of high-pressure media briefings during the recent conflict with India. AVM Aurangzeb Ahmed was one of the most searched individuals in Pakistan, with 2.02 mln searches on Google. During a series of press conferences following Indian aggression, AVM Ahmed explained the operational details of Pakistan’s retaliatory actions with clarity and poise. His respectful yet witty remarks about the Indian Air Force (IAF) gained immense traction on social media, making him a standout figure in the public eye. One particular moment that resonated across digital platforms was when he remarked, “I will pick up from where I left, day before yesterday, PAF vs IAF, 6-nil,”—a pointed reference to Pakistan Air Force reportedly shooting down five Indian fighter jets and one drone. Search trends on both sides of the border further refle...

India admits combat losses but avoids confirming Rafale jet crash

In a significant revelation, Indian Air Marshal A K Bharti admitted to losses suffered by the Indian Air Force during combat but refrained from confirming whether Rafale fighter jets had been shot down by Pakistan, ARY News reported. During a press conference, a journalist asked Air Marshal Bharti about the number of Indian assets lost, particularly regarding Pakistani claims that Rafale jets were among the aircraft downed. In response, Bharti  acknowledged  that “losses are part of combat operations”, but he avoided giving exact numbers or confirming details He stated, “We are in a combat scenario, and losses are part of combat. As for the details – what could have been lost, how many platforms – if I comment on anything, it will only benefit the adversary.” Bharti further explained, “If I confirm the downing of Rafale jets, it will help Pakistan.” This indirect acknowledgment has been seen by many as a hidden confirmation of losses, possibly including Rafale jets, during the...

Pakistan Rattles India with Firm Response as Patience Runs Out

In a dramatic shift from its previously measured approach, Pakistan has delivered what analysts are calling a "firm and decisive response" to ongoing provocations from India, signaling a potential turning point in the dynamic between the nuclear-armed neighbors. The development comes after what Pakistani officials described as "a prolonged period of strategic restraint" that yielded little diplomatic progress. The response, which included both military and diplomatic dimensions, appears to have caught New Delhi off guard. According to security experts, Pakistan's calculated moves demonstrated enhanced capabilities and strategic clarity that has forced a reassessment within Indian policy circles. "This wasn't an emotional reaction but rather a carefully calibrated response following extensive deliberation," noted one regional analyst familiar with the situation. Pakistani military officials emphasized that their actions were defensive in nature and ...

Normality Returns as Nuclear-Armed Neighbours Step Back from the Brink

In a significant de-escalation of tensions, Pakistan and India appear to have pulled back from what many observers feared could have developed into a serious military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed nations. After weeks of heightened alert and concerning rhetoric, both countries have shown restraint and a willingness to return to diplomatic channels. The most visible sign of this de-escalation has been the resumption of normal civilian activities in border regions, where residents had previously faced evacuation orders and disruptions to daily life. Schools have reopened, transportation networks are functioning at regular capacity, and commercial activities have resumed their usual pace along both sides of the border. Diplomatic sources indicate that back-channel communications played a crucial role in defusing the immediate crisis. Several international partners reportedly engaged in shuttle diplomacy between Islamabad and New Delhi, emphasizing the catastrophic consequenc...
The longstanding tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India continue to evolve, requiring careful monitoring and diplomatic engagement from the international community. This complex relationship, defined by historical conflict and geopolitical rivalry, remains one of the world's most concerning flashpoints. Recent developments have seen fluctuating levels of hostility, with periodic military exchanges along the Line of Control and accusations of territorial violations from both sides. The contested region of Kashmir remains at the heart of the dispute, with both nations maintaining significant military presence along their shared borders. Diplomatic channels between Islamabad and New Delhi have experienced various stages of engagement and withdrawal, reflecting the complicated nature of bilateral relations. International observers continue to encourage dialogue while expressing concern about the potential for miscalculation between these nuclear powers. The economi...

Apni Zameen Apna Ghar Program: A Step Towards Housing Security

The "Apni Zameen Apna Ghar" program has been launched by the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, with the aim of providing free plots to homeless citizens across the province. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance housing access for underprivileged communities, following the success of the previous "Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar" scheme, which facilitated the construction of thousands of homes. The program is designed to address the pressing need for housing security among Punjab's most vulnerable populations . Eligible candidates can apply for free 3-marla plots through the official e-portal at azag.punjab.gov.pk. The program is set to distribute 2,000 plots across 23 housing schemes in 19 districts, including areas such as Jhelum, Pattoki, and Lodhran. This initiative not only aims to provide land for housing but also includes provisions for zero-interest loans to assist beneficiaries in constructing their homes, making homeownership more...

Pakistan's Envoy Urges Trump to Mediate Tensions with India

In a significant diplomatic move, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has called on President Donald Trump to intervene and help ease escalating tensions between Pakistan and India. This appeal comes in the wake of heightened hostilities following recent incidents in the Kashmir region, which have reignited long-standing disputes between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Sheikh emphasized that the Kashmir issue represents a critical flashpoint that requires urgent attention from the international community, particularly from the United States, which has historically played a mediating role in South Asian conflicts. During an interview with Newsweek, Ambassador Sheikh highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating that the Kashmir conflict poses a significant risk not only to the region but also to global peace. He urged President Trump to leverage his position as a peacemaker to address the underlying issues that have perpetuated the conflict. Sheikh ...

Multan Sultans Eliminated from HBL PSL 10

In a disappointing turn of events, Multan Sultans have been officially eliminated from the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 following a crushing defeat to Karachi Kings in their 20th match. The match took place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on May 1, 2025, where the Sultans faced a daunting target of 205 runs set by the Kings. Unfortunately, the Sultans' batting lineup crumbled under pressure, leading to their downfall in the tournament . The Sultans' innings got off to a disastrous start when their captain, Mohammad Rizwan, was dismissed for a second-ball duck in the second over. This early loss set the tone for a challenging chase, as the team struggled to build momentum. The situation worsened when wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan fell shortly after, leaving the Sultans reeling at 3-2 [1]. Despite a brief resistance from Yasir Khan, who scored 26 runs off 17 balls, the team found themselves in dire straits at 34-3 within the powerplay. Kamran Ghulam was the only player to...