ISLAMABAD – May 25, 2025: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) ended its 10-day visit to Pakistan without reaching a final agreement, saying that discussions on the fiscal year 2026 budget will continue in the coming days. In a statement, outgoing IMF Mission Chief Nathan Porter said both sides are still working to agree on key […]
Islamabad
Govt launches climate-based subsidy tracking in federal budget reforms
ISLAMABAD: In a major step toward climate accountability, the Finance Division has introduced Form-III C to track and classify subsidies based on their environmental impact. The new form will be used in the upcoming 2025–26 federal budget as part of Pakistan’s climate-focused fiscal reforms. Previously, the government had started tagging budget allocations by climate relevance […]
Supreme court upholds death sentence for Zahir Jaffar in Noor Mukadam murder case
ISLAMABAD – On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld the death sentence of Zahir Jaffar, the convicted murderer of Noor Mukadam, in a landmark decision. The ruling confirmed the sentence handed down by the trial court, with some modifications regarding other charges. Justice Hashim Kakar announced the brief judgment, which upheld Jaffar’s death sentence. […]
Senate passes landmark bill banning child marriage in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD – In a major step for child rights, the Senate on Monday passed a historic bill banning the marriage of anyone under 18 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The bill sets strict penalties for violators, aiming to end the harmful practice of child marriage in the federal capital. The bill, introduced by PPP Senator […]
SIC files petitions in Supreme court’s reserved seats review case
The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) has filed three miscellaneous petitions in the Supreme Court concerning the review of the reserved seats case. These petitions include objections regarding the bench composition, the live broadcasting of proceedings, and the timing of the review in relation to the 26th Constitutional Amendment case. One of the petitions challenges the […]
Pakistan reaffirms support for China’s sovereignty over Zangnan region
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has once again voiced its full support for China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, specifically backing Beijing’s stance on the disputed Zangnan region, also known as Arunachal Pradesh. During a weekly press briefing on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan acknowledges and supports China’s position. He stressed that Pakistan stands firmly […]
Pakistan’s armed forces crushed Indian arrogance, says PTI chief Gohar
ISLAMABAD – PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali on Friday praised Pakistan’s armed forces for their decisive response to Indian aggression, saying they had “crushed India’s arrogance” and made the nation proud. Speaking to the media on Youm-e-Tashakur (Thanksgiving Day), Gohar highlighted the importance of unity and calm during this critical time. “Enough is enough. Pakistan […]
Aafia Siddiqui case has become a movement, says Islamabad high court
ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared that the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist imprisoned in the United States, has now evolved into a movement. The court made this observation during the latest hearing regarding a petition filed by Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, seeking Aafia’s release and return to Pakistan. Justice […]
Financial crunch halts defence ministry’s payment for Nowshehra land compensation
The Defence Ministry is currently facing a serious financial challenge, as it struggles to compensate landowners for over 13,000 acres of land acquired in Nowshehra. The land, initially intended for military training, was de-notified due to what officials described as an excessively high cost of Rs. 75 billion. However, the de-notification faced legal backlash. In […]
False alarm: No drone crash near Faisal mosque, confirm authorities
Reports of a drone crashing near Faisal Mosque in Islamabad have been confirmed as false. Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon addressed the rumors, assuring the public that no such incident took place. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Memon clarified that both district administration and police swiftly reached the site after […]