Pakistan has firmly dismissed accusations from India regarding damage to a Hindu temple in Narowal, calling New Delhi’s statements “false and politically motivated.” The Foreign Office said on Friday that the temple’s structural damage was the result of torrential rainfall, not neglect or deliberate harm. The response followed a statement from India’s foreign ministry, which said it was “deeply concerned” over reports of alleged destruction at a historic Hindu temple located in Adda Siraj, a locality in Punjab’s Narowal district. FO Spokesperson Calls Out “Cheap Gimmicks” Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan addressed the controversy directly. “We categorically reject the…
Author: Web Desk
Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has called for the creation of 12 to 15 new provinces in Pakistan, asking Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to set up a dedicated committee to examine the country’s administrative setup. “I have proposed that a committee be made, on administrative reforms, through the law minister that can at least start a national and political debate on what can and cannot be done,” Iqbal told reporters. He said he was holding off on raising the matter directly with the prime minister until Sharif returned from his trip to Kyrgyzstan. Why the Provinces Debate Has…
A fresh province-wide survey has uncovered a massive KP schools furniture shortage, with government schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa falling short by 1,494,287 seats. In an unexpected twist, the same survey found that certain schools are sitting on a surplus of 1,106,800 seats, far more than their students actually need. The Education Department’s findings suggest that if this surplus furniture were simply redistributed to schools that need it most, the province’s overall shortfall could shrink dramatically. 18,426 Schools Report Insufficient Seating According to the survey, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s government schools currently enrol 5,539,495 students, while usable seating capacity stands at 5,152,008. Treated…
ISLAMABAD : Pakistan has completed its largest-ever single international bond transaction, raising $3 billion through a dual-tranche Eurobond, the Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday. The Pakistan Eurobond issuance drew nearly $6 billion in bids, roughly double the amount actually sold, with orders flowing in from a wide mix of institutional investors spread across several regions and markets. The deal was split into two parts: a $1.75 billion tranche with a 5.5-year maturity carrying a 7.5% coupon, and a $1.25 billion tranche with a 10-year maturity priced at 7.9%. Finance officials said the healthy appetite across both timeframes, especially the…
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani security forces eliminated 15 India-backed militants after intercepting an infiltration bid along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border facing North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing confirmed on Thursday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), troops first spotted a group of Fitna al-Khawarij fighters attempting to slip into Pakistani territory during the night of August 31 into September 1. The North Waziristan terrorist attack unfolded after forces tracked the militants’ movement and responded with what ISPR described as a calculated, patient approach before launching their operation. The confrontation stretched across 36 hours, ending with all 15…
Police records have revealed a troubling surge in child abuse cases across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with 370 incidents reported in various districts during the first seven months of this year alone. Cases Reported Across District Police Stations According to police sources, these cases were logged at police stations in multiple districts of the province, including Peshawar. The reports involve both boys and girls who were allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation. 370 Cases, Hundreds of Suspects Named Officials say a total of 565 suspects were named across the 370 reported cases, and 486 of them have already been arrested. The scale of…
Pakistan is preparing to finalize a set of oil refinery agreements with five major companies on Thursday, unlocking more than $6 billion in planned investment aimed at upgrading outdated facilities, lifting domestic fuel output, and cutting the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products. The deals involve Pak-Arab Refinery Ltd. (Parco), Pakistan Refinery Ltd. (PRL), National Refinery Ltd. (NRL), Cnergyico, and Attock Refinery Ltd. (ARL). A senior Petroleum Division official told The News on Tuesday that the agreements are being wrapped up through a series of meetings between the Petroleum Division and Inter-State Gas Systems (ISGS). “The signing parties are ready,…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday that Pakistan intends to push Pakistan Kyrgyzstan trade up to $200 million within the next two years, urging both nations to deepen their economic and diplomatic ties. Speaking at a joint press conference with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov at the presidential palace in Bishkek, Shehbaz noted that current trade volumes stand at roughly $16 million, a figure he said falls well short of the strong friendship shared by the two countries. Focus on Trade, Education and Technology The prime minister said talks between the two sides centered heavily on expanding commercial ties, with…
The Pakistan Navy has kicked off its large-scale Seaspark 2026 exercise in Karachi, with Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf attending the opening briefing as chief guest. Speaking at the event, Admiral Ashraf said the Navy has no room for compromise when it comes to staying combat-ready, pointing to what he described as a volatile and increasingly complicated security landscape across the region. He also touched on the rising significance of information warfare, noting that modern conflict demands closer coordination between all three branches of the armed forces rather than isolated planning. What the Seaspark 2026 Exercise Involves…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued a pointed warning against using water as a political tool, declaring that it should never become a means of coercion between nations. His comments on water weaponisation came during an address to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Heads of State Summit, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The speech coincided with Pakistan officially taking over the SCO chairmanship for the 2026–27 term. Islamabad will hold the role for a full year and is scheduled to host the next Council of Heads of State summit in 2027. Over the coming months, Pakistan is expected to guide…
