Daily News

ISLAMABAD: A 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and adjoining areas Sunday midnight as confirmed by the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC). Rarthquake tremors were felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and their surrounding regions, including Mardan, Murree, Haripur, Chakwal, Talagang, and Kallar Kahar. The NSMC reported the earthquake’s magnitude at 5.1, with a depth of 10 kilometers, and its epicenter located 15 kilometers southeast of Rawat. The tremors were experienced at 12:10 AM, prompting residents to rush out of their homes reciting the Kalima Tayyaba. A day earlier, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake was felt in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Azad Kashmir, and the federal capital Islamabad. The NSMC confirmed that the 5.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded at a depth of 102km, while its epicenter was in Hindukush Mountain region in Afghanistan. Tremors were also felt in various areas of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, NSMC stated...

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast another spell of moonsoon rain-wind/thundershowers expected to impact large parts of the country starting August 4. According to the PMD, weak monsoon currents are currently affecting the upper and central parts of the country, with intensity likely to increase by August 4, 2025. Additionally, a westerly wave is expected to strengthen by August 5, further intensifying rain-producing systems across vulnerable areas. In Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, scattered rain with isolated heavy downpours is expected from August 4 to 7, raising concerns over potential flash floods and landslides, particularly in mountainous regions such as Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Neelum Valley, Diamir, Skardu, and Gilgit. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is also bracing for a fresh wave of monsoon activity, with districts including Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, and Dera Ismail Khan likely to experience heavy rainfall accompanied by wind and th...

BEIJING: Pakistan’s exports of industrial salt to China increased markedly in the initial half of 2025, highlighting the strengthening trade relations between the two nations. According to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), industrial salt exports from Pakistan have surged, totalling $3.74 million between January and June 2025, marking a 33% raise compared to $2.84 million during the same period in 2024. The total export volume approached 23.94 million kilograms, with an average unit price of $0.15 per kilogram. When including all categories—edible, industrial, and other types—Pakistan’s total salt exports to China stood at $3.93 million in the first half of 2025, compared to $2.95 million in the same period of 2024, marking an overall increase of 33%. This growth in salt trade is part of a broader trend in Pakistan-China bilateral commerce. From January to June 2025, Pakistan’s total exports to China reached $1.248 billion. Major expor...

LAHORE: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has called of their sit-in outside the Lahore Press Club under the ‘Haq Do Balochistan’ campaign after a successful negotiations with the federal government. A JI delegation led by JI Deputy Amir Liaquat Baloch met with Prime Minister Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, who later addressed a joint press conference. Haq Do Balochistan chief Maulana Hidayatur Rehman was also present on the occasion. Rana Sanaullah said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is determined to address Balochistan’s challenges. He welcomed Maulana Hidayat ur Rahman to Islamabad, noting that the meeting with JI included the presentation of eight demands. A committee, comprising representatives from the federal and provincial governments as well as security agencies, will be established to propose solutions for Balochistan’s problems. The adviser said that the demands of the long march participants will be forwarded to the government. “Balochistan is Pakistan’s futur...

In an innovative step toward digital transformation, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced strategies to make Islamabad a cashless city, starting with digitising payments for important civic services. The initiative was exposed during a high-level meeting on Thursday, chaired by CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa, where officials outlined a phased launch of digital payment systems across all departments. From property taxes to water bills, land transfers, and even parking fees, citizens will soon be able to make payments with just a scan of a QR code or a few taps on a mobile app. “This shift to a cashless system will not only enhance transparency but also improve the speed and efficiency of public service delivery,” said Chairman Randhawa. “Our goal is to make Islamabad a truly digital capital — smart, efficient, and citizen-focused.” The CDA is also partnering with leading banks to build a secure and easy-to-use online payment ecosystem. The entire effort is par...

KARACHI: The Karachi police approached the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to put Imran Afridi’s name, who is the prime suspect in the Khawaja Shams ul Islam murder case, on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). The police have sought FIA’s help to facilitate Imran Afridi’s arrest who iss accused of murdering advocate Khawaja Shamsul Islam and injuring his son within the jurisdiction of Darakhshan police station. The police have requested that travel routes, both domestic and international, be blocked to apprehend the suspect. Senior lawyer Advocate Khawaja Shams ul Islam was shot dead in a firing incident near Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase 6 mosque, Karachi, on Friday. The lawyer’s son was also injured in the attack, and the duo were rushed to a private hospital for treatment in critical condition. Read More: Adv Khawaja Shamsul Islam shot dead in Karachi’s DHA However, Advocate Khawaja Shams ul Islam succumbed to his injuries while his son, who sustain...

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has launched the “ILMpact” Programme aimed at enrolling out-of-school children and improving education quality.  ILMpact was launched in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The programme is being implemented through the British Council and was officially launched by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur at a ceremony held at the Chief Minister’s House Peshawar. The launch ceremony was attended by Provincial Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Faisal Khan Tarakai, British Council Country Director James Hampson, officials from the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, and representatives of partner organizations, a press statement issued here read. The ILMpact programme aims to benefit 80,000 out-of-school children across eight districts namely Battagram, Mansehra, Swabi, Buner, Shangla, Khyber, Mohmand, and Dera Ismail Khan. Under this initiative, comp...

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has announced new petrol and diesel prices for the next fortnight, ARY News reported. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, the petrol price has been decreased by Rs7.54 per litre and while diesel’s price was inreased by Rs1.48 per litre. After the decrease, the new price for petrol has been set at Rs 264.61 per litre while the diesel will be available at Rs 285.83 per litre after a hike of Rs1.48. More to follow… from Latest Pakistan News and Breaking News from All over Pakistan https://ift.tt/oTiP1N8

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has affirmed that Pakistan’s government is dedicated to eradicating terrorism at its core, with global recognition of the nation’s effective anti-terrorist campaigns. Presiding over a review session of the steering committee on counterterrorism and state resilience in Islamabad on Thursday, he noted that Pakistan has embraced a comprehensive approach in the fight against terrorism. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, National Security Advisor Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and others were also present on the occasion. The prime minister emphasized that ground operations, pertinent laws, active community involvement, and suppression of extremist beliefs have all been successfully employed. He instructed the committee to foster seamless coordination between federal and provincial authorities and ri...