LAHORE, PAKISTAN—As surveys to assess the devastating losses from recent floods continue, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a new alert for more rain across Punjab in the coming days, compounding the challenges faced by both authorities and millions of affected residents. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia delivered the warning during a media briefing in Lahore on Saturday. The scale of the disaster is vast: monsoon rains across Pakistan since June have claimed at least 1,037 lives, severely swelling major rivers and wreaking havoc on rural communities. In Punjab alone, over 4.7 million people across 4,700 villages…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD – The number of dengue fever cases in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, has registered a worrying increase, with the district administration reporting 30 new infections within the past 24 hours. Details released on Friday show that the spread remains significant across both the capital’s urban and rural sectors. The latest report confirms that 11 of the new cases emerged in rural areas, while the majority, 19, were reported in urban localities, highlighting the pervasive nature of the disease across the city. Administrative Crackdown on Prevention Efforts In response to the escalating health threat, the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner has…
PESHAWAR – Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, has firmly ruled out the necessity of seeking assistance from the United Nations (UN) for flood relief operations. He asserted that the country possesses ample internal resources within its Rs4.3 trillion (US$12–13 billion) development budget that can be repurposed to manage the devastation caused by recent floods. Speaking as a keynote speaker at the Pakistan Business Summit in Peshawar, the Finance Minister detailed a strategy based on effective prioritisation and coordination between the federal and provincial governments. He said this approach would allow funds to be directed towards mitigating the severe damage inflicted…
KARACHI – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced a significant hike in import tariffs, imposing a 40% Regulatory Duty (RD) on the commercial import of old and used vehicles. This move, finalized through a notification issued on Wednesday, signals a major policy shift aimed at regulating the inflow of used cars. The duty specifically targets vehicles—including passenger cars, buses, trucks, and motorbikes—falling under PCT headings 8702, 8703, 8704, and 8711 of the Customs Act, 1969, when imported commercially under the Import Policy Order, 2022. The FBR clarified that this levy is in addition to existing regulatory duties already…
NEW YORK – FIFA has officially unveiled the match ball for the 2026 World Cup, a high-tech creation named Trionda that seamlessly blends cutting-edge technological refinements with design elements celebrating the tournament’s three co-host nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The ball, once again designed by German manufacturer Adidas—the provider of all official World Cup balls since 1970—was revealed at a New York event on Thursday. “I am delighted and proud to present the Trionda,” stated FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the launch ceremony in New York. Design Celebrating Unity The unique arrangement of the first 48-team…
KARACHI – Pakistan’s squash sensation, Noor Zaman, has advanced to the semifinals of the Charlottesville Open after delivering a masterful straight-games victory over the third seed, Yahya Elnawasany of Egypt. The eighth-seeded Zaman, currently riding a wave of success, needed just 35 minutes to dismantle Elnawasany in their quarterfinal clash on Thursday, securing the win with identical 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 scores. Confidence and the Road Ahead The 21-year-old Pakistani player will now face a tough test in the semifinal against the top seed, Timothy Brownell of the United States. Brownell earned his spot in the last four after…
LONDON – In a moment of rare public candour, Britain’s heir to the throne, Prince William, revealed that the paramount focus of his life has been protecting his family amid the recent health struggles of his wife, Princess Catherine, and his father, King Charles III. The Prince also used the interview to outline his intent to modernise the monarchy when he ascends to the throne. Speaking with Canadian actor Eugene Levy for his travel show, the usually guarded Prince William, 43, admitted he sometimes felt “overwhelmed” by personal issues, emphasizing his vow to shield his children from excessive media intrusion.…
LOS ANGELES – A major fire erupted late Thursday night in a crucial jet fuel production unit at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery near Los Angeles, sending massive flames and thick plumes of smoke into the sky above one of the largest refineries on the US West Coast. Chevron spokesperson Allison Cook confirmed in an emailed statement that no injuries were reported and that all refinery personnel and contractors were accounted for. The cause of the blaze at the facility—located in the suburb of El Segundo and a vital supplier of jet fuel for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)—was not immediately…
WASHINGTON, DC – US President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to the Palestinian group Hamas, giving them until 6 pm on Sunday, Washington, D.C., time, to accept his proposed plan for Gaza. The president warned that failure to comply would result in “unprecedented devastation” for the organization. Writing on his Truth Social platform Friday, President Trump delivered the warning: “An agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time. Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before,…
WASHINGTON, DC – A Texas woman has been sentenced to five years in prison for the attempted murder and injury of a 3-year-old Palestinian-American Muslim girl in a May 2024 incident that local police officially labeled as being motivated by racial bias. Court proceedings confirmed that Elizabeth Wolf, 43, pleaded guilty to the charges before Judge Andy Porter, waiving her right to a jury trial. The sentencing brings a legal conclusion to an attack that sent shockwaves across the United States and was condemned by then-President Joe Biden. A Climate of Fear at the Poolside The horrific incident…
