Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Governance by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) during his three-day official visit. The recognition was bestowed upon him for his “outstanding leadership and contributions to nation-building.” During a special ceremony held yesterday at the Kuala Lumpur campus, PM Shehbaz accepted the degree, calling it a “great privilege and honour.” Reflecting on his four decades of public service, he stressed that leadership was not a privilege but a “sacred trust, amanah,” which must be exercised with “sincerity, justice and transparent accountability…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Shikarpur, Sindh: At least seven people were injured on Tuesday after a blast on a railway track derailed four carriages (bogies) of the Jaffer Express in the Shikarpur district of Sindh province, according to local officials. The incident is being investigated as part of a rising trend of attacks targeting Pakistan’s transport infrastructure. Shakeel Abro, Shikarpur Deputy Commissioner, confirmed the details, stating, “A blast had occurred on the train tracks at 8:15 am. The incident occurred at a distance of 1km from the Sultan Kot railway station.” He added that the force of the explosion caused the derailment of four…
Islamabad: The Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has asserted that the Chinese weapon systems deployed by Pakistan during the intense four-day military conflict with India in May performed “exceptionally well.” In an interview with Bloomberg, published yesterday, Lt Gen Chaudhry stated: “Of course lately, recent Chinese platforms, they’ve demonstrated exceptionally well.” He underscored Pakistan’s open approach to technology, adding, “We are open to all sorts of technology.” This statement follows earlier reports, including one by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, indicating that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) utilized Chinese J-10C jets in its…
Former Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who was detained last week by Israeli forces after they intercepted a flotilla carrying aid for Gaza, has been released and is now safely at the Pakistan embassy in Amman, Jordan. The country’s top diplomat confirmed his well-being following days of diplomatic efforts. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the news on Tuesday via social media platform X, stating, “I am pleased to confirm that former Senator Mushtaq has been released and is now safely with [the] Pakistan embassy in Amman. He is in good health and high spirits.” Senator…
ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning regarding a significant risk of chikungunya spread in several nations, including Pakistan. This comes as more than 445,000 cases and 155 deaths have been reported from 40 countries so far in 2025. Officials and experts warn that Pakistan, already grappling with post-monsoon outbreaks of dengue and malaria, remains highly vulnerable due to a large population of Aedes mosquitoes. The country’s preparedness is hampered by a lack of routine chikungunya screening facilities and a healthcare infrastructure weakened by the devastating 2025 floods in Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Surge in…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are moving towards making significant adjustments to the budgetary targets for the current fiscal year. This comes as a direct consequence of the recent flash floods, which are now expected to cause a substantial downward revision in the GDP growth forecast. Initially, the devastation caused by the floods was underestimated. However, a Rapid Need Assessment (RNA) conducted by the provinces now estimates the total losses across all four provinces to be around Rs650 billion. Officials warn that this figure is likely to increase further as international donors finalize their own assessments. …
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the week on a downturn, with investors engaging in profit-booking on Monday following the index’s record-breaking rally. The selling pressure was amplified by mounting concerns over fiscal slippages and widening external imbalances. The PSX’s benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 167,752.40 points, reflecting a loss of 1,237.67 points, or 0.73%, from the previous close of 168,990.07. During the session, the index experienced significant volatility, hitting a low of 165,997.36 points. Economic Headwinds Drive Profit-Taking Market analysts attributed the decline to a combination of technical resistance and fundamental economic worries. “The market, after a…
Pakistan’s top-order batter, Sidra Amin, has been officially reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the sport’s code of conduct during the recent Women’s Cricket World Cup match against India in Dubai. Code of Conduct Breach The right-handed batter was found to be in violation of Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to the “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.” The incident occurred on the penultimate delivery of the 40th over when Sidra was caught at square-leg by India captain Harmanpreet Kaur…
South Africa captain Aiden Markram says his side expects to be a prime target as they begin the new cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) as defending champions. Markram is standing in as skipper for Temba Bavuma, who has been ruled out of the tour with a calf strain. The Challenge of Being Champion South Africa starts its campaign with a two-Test series in Pakistan, beginning this Sunday, followed by two matches in India in November. The team is looking to retain the trophy they secured in June by beating Australia by five wickets at Lord’s. The…
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that a previously announced Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House will take place on June 14 next year. The date is significant as it coincides with the President’s 80th birthday. Trump made the announcement during a speech at Naval Station Norfolk to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of the US Navy. The plan to host a UFC event at the White House was first revealed by Trump in July, though a specific date for the 2026 event had not been specified until now. Long-Standing Ties The event highlights the…
