This position was asserted in a joint statement released after foreign ministers from Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan met on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. They emphasised respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and declared that the re-establishment of foreign military bases is “not conducive to regional peace and security.” According to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, his country not only welcomed the stance of the four nations but stated that “Afghanistan will not allow its territory to be used against other countries, nor permit armed groups to…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Tang accepted bribes, including cash and property valued at over 268 million yuan (approximately $37.6 million), while holding various official positions between 2007 and 2024, as reported by Xinhua. The Changchun Intermediate People’s Court suspended his death sentence for two years, noting that he had confessed to his crimes, the news agency added. China’s Communist Party expelled Tang in November 2024, six months after the anti-graft watchdog placed him under investigation and removed him from his ministerial post. The investigation into Tang was unusually swift, following similar probes into Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe. President Xi…
As of June 30, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had received 5.9 million income tax returns for the tax year 2024. Notably, almost half of these filings came from taxpayers who declared zero income, highlighting a persistent trend of taxpayers reporting no earnings. This pattern is persisting into the current tax year, with early data for 2025 showing a similar spike in filings from individuals reporting no taxable income. “More than 40 per cent of taxpayers declared nil income in their returns filed up to Sept 27,” a tax official confirmed to Dawn on Saturday. People are living in…
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved technical assistance to make the ‘Glaciers to Farms (G2F)’ regional programme operational, covering Pakistan and several Central and West Asian countries, as the region confronts intensified climate disaster risks. According to an ADB report, the support will bolster the Climate Action Roadmap through glacier monitoring, river basin planning, and regional knowledge sharing. It will also assist countries in establishing the necessary institutional and operational mechanisms, and preparing the diagnostics, studies, and capacity requirements needed to fully implement the programme. The early ADB support ensures the G2F programme seamlessly transitions into the implementation phase,…
According to a statement released by the FIA, the operation was executed on the instructions of the Director of the agency’s Islamabad Zone during a surprise inspection of the immigration staff, overseen by Deputy Director (Immigration) Salman Liaquat. The statement detailed that an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and a constable were detained while on duty after they were “found using mobile phones,” which is strictly prohibited for immigration staff while serving. Upon searching their phones based on suspicion, “important evidence related to illegal immigration” was recovered. The FIA reported that initial investigation revealed the two men were “in contact with passengers…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, addressed the overseas Pakistani community at the High Commission in London, stating: “We fully engaged in the meeting concerning Gaza, and God willing, its encouraging outcomes will soon emerge.” He also voiced his deep anguish over the ongoing situation in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli offensive since October 2023, and offered prayers for the swift cessation of the cruelty and barbarity being witnessed there. A crucial meeting held by President Donald Trump with Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York…
Pakistan’s Hidden Treasure, the Key to the World’s Future; A Historic Moment at the White House! By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada In the bright and iconic halls of the White House, a moment unfolded that may redefine the political and economic map of the world for decades to come. Inside a small box rested a few unassuming stones simple, silent, and ordinary in appearance, yet within them lay stories that have the power to shape the future of humanity. U.S. President Donald Trump leaned forward, observing closely, his face marked with the intensity of a chess master making his final,…
Pakistani Doctor in U.S. Dies Half an Hour Before Life-Saving Liver Transplant Despite Emergency Fundraising Efforts By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada New Jersey: Dr. Maryam Shoukat, a 27-year-old Pakistani doctor who came to the United States for her residency, passed away today just half an hour before her scheduled liver transplant surgery. She had been admitted to the hospital in critical condition due to acute liver failure. Dr. Maryam came to the U.S. with a dream to serve humanity and heal others, but fate did not grant her the time to fulfill that dream. Earlier this month, Dr. Maryam was…
The Congo virus has claimed six lives across Sindh so far this year, with five of the fatalities occurring in Karachi. The latest victim of the disease, medically termed Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), was a 28-year-old butcher. Hospital management at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) stated that the man was admitted two days ago with complaints of high fever and abdominal pain. This recent casualty marks the fifth confirmed fatality from the Congo virus in Karachi this year. According to the Sindh health department, five of the six deaths were reported from Karachi’s Malir district and one from Thatta.…
Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari vowed on Friday that Pakistan’s debilitating circular debt crisis will be eliminated within six years under a landmark financing agreement secured with 18 banks. Crucially, this deal was negotiated on favorable terms and will not impose any additional burden on consumers. Addressing a press conference, the minister strongly criticized the previous government for dramatically worsening the circular debt problem. He pointed out that when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawawaz (PML-N) left office in 2018, the debt stood at Rs1,100 billion, but it surged to Rs2.28 trillion during the PTI-led government’s tenure by 2022. Leghari termed…
