Centuries-old pine nut forests in Angoor Adda, part of Tehsil Birmal in Lower South Waziristan, are being cut down without restraint. Residents say the illegal felling has put these valuable woodlands at serious risk. According to a Khyber News report, the trees are far more than scenery for people living in the area. Chilgoza, the edible pine nut harvested from these forests, is one of the main sources of work and income for local families. Why the Pine Nut Forests Matter to Locals Beyond their economic value, the forests help keep the air in the region clean. They also play…
Author: Web Desk
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has called a meeting of the provincial cabinet today, with the PTI long march toward Islamabad now in its fourth day. Afridi will preside over the session. Sources said the cabinet is expected to take up matters related to the provincial government. The agenda is due to be circulated this morning. PTI Convoy Reaches Mattani Near Peshawar The PTI convoy under Afridi’s leadership arrived at Mattani, on the outskirts of Peshawar, late on Tuesday after setting out from Kohat. From there, it is expected to move toward Khyber before continuing to Peshawar, as the…
Pakistani security forces have killed 18 militants in a series of operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, security sources said on Wednesday. The sources described the dead as India-backed terrorists. The raids targeted two groups. In KP, forces acted against Fitna al-Khawarij under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision, while in Balochistan the target was Fitna al-Hindustan. North Waziristan Operation Leaves 13 Militants Dead In KP, forces struck militant hideouts in North Waziristan district and nearby areas. Thirteen militants were killed, according to the sources. Mastung Operation Targets Fitna al-Hindustan In a separate action in Balochistan’s Mastung district, security forces killed five…
Four Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) personnel and a police constable were martyred in separate attacks in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said on Tuesday. Another policeman was wounded. The DI Khan firing incidents came on a day of fresh violence across the province. Armed Men Attack FBR Personnel Near Abhaya Bridge District Police Officer (DPO) Ziauddin Ahmed said unidentified armed men opened fire on the FBR personnel near Abhaya Bridge. The bodies of the slain officials were later taken to the District Headquarters Hospital. Police Van Targeted on Bannu Road In a separate incident, gunmen fired on a…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government is ready to hold fresh talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), but only if the party calls off its ongoing PTI long march towards Islamabad. Speaking at an event in the capital on Tuesday, the prime minister cautioned that street agitation and sit-ins would hurt the country’s economy before anything else. PM Says the Ruling Coalition Has Agreed to Talk “Unfortunately, the shadows of dharnas and long marches have once again emerged,” Shehbaz said. He explained that the ruling coalition had jointly decided to open a dialogue with the PTI in an…
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has received the prestigious UN Habitat Scroll of Honour Award in Oman for the province’s flagship Apni Chhat Apna Ghar housing initiative. The international recognition highlights the Punjab government’s efforts to provide affordable housing to eligible citizens and help low-income families move from rented accommodation or informal settlements into homes of their own. Maryam Nawaz UN Habitat Award Recognises Housing Vision The Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme was formally launched on August 21, 2024. The initiative aims to provide houses and apartments to eligible residents across Punjab over a four-and-a-half-year period. The project has attracted…
Rana Sanaullah, adviser to the prime minister on political affairs, said on Monday that PTI government talks could restart if the party gives assurances of “positive progress” on the counterterrorism policy. The latest round of negotiations between the two sides ended in deadlock early Sunday, and each side blamed the other for the breakdown. Blame Traded After the Deadlock On Sunday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of trying to sabotage the negotiations between the PTI and the federal government. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja offered a different explanation. He said the talks failed…
Security forces have killed five militants and wounded two others in an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan, according to security sources. The North Waziristan operation targeted alleged members of Fitna al-Khawarij. The action took place in parts of the district and nearby areas, the sources said. Forces had been tracking the movements of the group for some time before moving against its positions in what the sources described as a targeted strike. President Zardari Praises Security Forces President Asif Ali Zardari commended the troops involved, praising their professionalism and the speed of their response to the threat. He said operations…
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has made public arrest warrants for four senior Taliban figures, including supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. They are accused of persecuting women and girls in Afghanistan. The Taliban rejected the move, saying Afghanistan does not recognise the court and attaches no weight to its decisions. In a ruling issued on Monday, ICC judges unsealed the warrants against Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani, both issued in July 2025. Warrants for Habibullah Agha and Neda Mohammad Nadeem were also disclosed. All four were issued between July and September 2025. According to the court, there are reasonable…
KARACHI: A gathering of prominent political figures, government officials, diplomats, business leaders, journalists and other distinguished personalities attended the Ebraheem Faisal Malik wedding reception in Karachi. Ebraheem Faisal Malik is the son of Pakistan Observer Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Faisal Zahid Malik. The Nikah ceremony was solemnised by religious scholar Maulana Azad Jameel. A separate Walima dinner was later held in Islamabad, bringing together another gathering of prominent personalities and well-wishers. Ebraheem Faisal Malik Wedding Reception Draws Prominent Guests The Karachi wedding reception brought together leading figures from Pakistan’s political, diplomatic, business and media communities. Among the prominent attendees were Senate…
