Pakistan’s Port Qasim has been ranked ninth in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2024 for improvement between 2020 and 2024, highlighting a major achievement for the country’s maritime sector. According to the index compiled with S&P Global Market Intelligence, the port improved by 35.2 points in performance, placing it among the top 20 most improved ports globally. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry hailed the achievement as “a matter of national pride,” crediting reforms, modernization, and efficiency measures for the recognition. “Our continuous efforts to modernise operations, adopt global best practices, and enhance efficiency…
Author: Saifullah
Saifullah
Saif Ullah is a Pakistani journalist and political commentator known for his bold, pro-Pakistan perspective on national and regional affairs. His work focuses on defense, governance, and accountability, reflecting a strong commitment to Pakistan’s integrity and sovereignty.
Pakistan and Russia have launched a joint military exercise aimed at enhancing counterterrorism capabilities with a special focus on drone warfare, the Pakistani military announced on Friday. The exercise comes at a time when militants in Pakistan’s northwest have begun using commercially acquired quadcopter drones to drop explosives on security forces, a new and potentially dangerous trend in the region. The Druzhba-VIII exercise, held from September 15 to September 27, includes senior Russian military officials and is hosted under the supervision of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). According to the ISPR, the drills are designed to refine counterterrorism procedures and…
China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan have jointly opposed any move to re-establish foreign military bases in war-torn Afghanistan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The opposition follows US President Donald Trump’s request to the interim Taliban administration to return Bagram Air Base to Pentagon control. In a joint statement issued after a quadrilateral meeting, the countries “emphasised respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo stated that the group “reiterated firm opposition to re-establishment of military bases in Afghanistan and the region by the countries responsible for the current situation in the country.” Guo…
Reports indicate a troubling nexus involving Mahrang Baloch, Norway-based activist Kiyya Baloch — known for his affiliations with BLA propaganda and currently employed by PEN Norway — and Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Secretary General of PEN Norway and member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The campaign to nominate Mahrang Baloch for the Nobel Peace Prize is not an organic call for peace, but rather the product of a calculated lobbying effort orchestrated by BLA sympathisers and their international backers. By presenting fabricated narratives, aligning with militant sympathisers, and now attempting to secure the world’s most prestigious peace honour, this campaign undermines…
Serious questions have been raised over the heavy expenses incurred for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) rally scheduled in Peshawar on September 27. According to sources, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has already spent Rs950 million on arrangements. Reports suggest that PTI lawmakers were allegedly given Rs300,000 each, while the Insaf Student Federation, Youth Wing, and district organisations received Rs200,000 each. More than 3,000 workers from other provinces were accommodated, while 80 hotel rooms were booked for three days for visiting leaders from outside KP. Each provincial and national assembly member was instructed to bring 5,000 workers to Motorway Chowk…
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has distanced itself from a controversy after columnist Shama Junejo was seen seated behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during his address to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on September 24, 2025. The FO clarified that her presence did not have official approval, sparking debate across social media. The incident triggered backlash as online critics accused the government of including Junejo in Pakistan’s official delegation despite allegations of her past support for Israel. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, however, rejected the criticism, saying he had no role in determining who sat behind him. He reiterated his…
The 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) concluded in Beijing on Friday, formally launching CPEC Phase-II. While no breakthrough was achieved on the long-standing issue of capacity payments to Chinese independent power producers (IPPs), the session was hailed as a milestone for future cooperation. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said the next stage of CPEC would transform the initiative into a corridor of industrialisation, technology, sustainability, and shared prosperity. He highlighted that Phase-II will focus on five key growth areas: innovation, green development, livelihood, industrialisation, and regional connectivity. These priorities will…
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has dismissed petitions challenging the degree of Islamabad High Court Justice Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri, declaring that its earlier order issued on September 22 remained a valid judicial decision. The court observed that any objection to the order should have been taken to the Supreme Court, but no such move was made. A division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha rejected the demand for recusal, stressing that the decision to recuse lies solely with the judge’s conscience. Lawyers representing the petitioners boycotted proceedings and raised slogans in court when the bench declined to step…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, with the meeting scheduled for 04:30 pm EST (01:30 am PST Friday). While no official agenda has been disclosed, the timing of the talks is significant, coming only weeks after Washington and Islamabad announced a trade deal that signaled a thaw in relations. The event will be closed to the press, meaning journalists will not be allowed access and the public will have to rely on official statements. Even the composition of Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation has not been shared, adding to the intrigue surrounding…
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has fixed October 7 for the hearing of acquittal petitions filed by PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana II case. Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas will preside over the proceedings, which are being seen as a critical juncture in a case that has lingered in the spotlight for months. The petitions, originally filed in January, not only seek the acquittal of the petitioners but also request the court to halt ongoing trial proceedings linked to the Toshakhana II case. Both Khan and Bushra Bibi face allegations of illegally retaining and…
