LANDIKOTAL: The Torkham border crossing remained closed for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday, bringing all trade and travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan to a halt, officials confirmed. The closure, caused by tensions over construction in disputed areas, has severely disrupted cross-border movement. According to customs officials, the suspension of trade over the past four days has resulted in an estimated loss of $12 million. Meanwhile, immigration authorities revealed that nearly 10,000 people cross the Torkham border daily, leaving thousands stranded on both sides due to the closure. Mujeeb Khan Shinwari, President of the Torkham Customs Clearing Agents Association, stated…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet is set to undergo an expansion, with around 15 new ministers and advisers expected to be inducted, according to insiders. As per sources, Mustafa Kamal from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) is among the four individuals being considered for ministerial positions. Other anticipated additions to the cabinet include Hanif Abbasi and Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), along with Khalid Magsi from the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). Sources further revealed that some ministers might see their portfolios reshuffled, while others could be removed entirely. The final decisions were reportedly reached after discussions between…
Gold prices in Pakistan saw a decline of Rs2,400 per tola (11.7 grams), bringing the rate down to Rs306,300 on Wednesday, as per data from the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). Meanwhile, silver prices also decreased by Rs36, settling at Rs3,314 per tola. For 10 grams of gold, the price dropped by Rs2,058, reaching Rs262,602, while the same quantity of silver declined by Rs31, bringing its rate to Rs2,841. Global Market Trends In the international market, gold prices remained stable after a 2% decline in the previous session, with investors closely monitoring US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies,…
ISLAMABAD: The opposition’s two-day Grand Alliance Conference began in Islamabad on Wednesday, focusing on the supremacy of the Constitution. This development follows an emergency meeting at the residence of Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, where opposition leaders decided to proceed with the event. Key figures attending the conference included Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Awam Pakistan’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) leader Nasir Shirazi, among others. “We will hold these illegitimate rulers accountable on every street. We do not accept this unconstitutional assembly,” stated…
Rawalpindi: Pakistan’s interim head coach, Aqib Javed, stated on Wednesday that the team management would take steps in the best interest of the national side following their disappointing exit from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Mohammad Rizwan-led squad faced elimination from the tournament, which Pakistan is hosting, after suffering consecutive defeats against New Zealand and India in the group stage. Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, Javed dismissed the criticism that players were selected without merit, emphasizing:”Not a single player in the squad was included without performance.” He further clarified, “We cannot simply replace the entire team with the…
Lahore: Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran played a stellar knock, scoring 177 runs to help his team set a formidable 326-run target against England in the eighth match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Wednesday. Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, opted to bat first, and the decision proved beneficial as the team posted a competitive total of 325/7 in their allotted 50 overs. However, the innings had a shaky start as England’s Jofra Archer dismantled the top order with three quick wickets, reducing Afghanistan to 37/3 in just 8.5 overs. At this crucial moment, captain Shahidi stepped…
PESHAWAR: Minister for Finance and Revenue, Muhammad Aurangzeb, announced on Wednesday that the government is planning to shut down additional departments as part of an International Monetary Fund (IMF)-backed “rightsizing” initiative aimed at cutting state expenditures. “Efforts are underway to reduce government spending… we are closing more departments and affiliated offices,” the finance minister stated while addressing the business community in Peshawar. To streamline operations and enhance efficiency, the federal government has devised a rightsizing program that involves the dissolution of various ministries and their attached departments. Back in January, Aurangzeb pledged to downsize 42 ministries and their 400 affiliated…
The third polio case of 2025 has been confirmed in Larkana district, Sindh, raising concerns about the persistent presence of wild poliovirus (WPV1) in Pakistan. The National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed the new case after laboratory tests detected wild poliovirus type 1 in the infected child’s samples. Recent Polio Cases and Situation This latest case follows the two earlier polio cases reported this year in Dera Ismail Khan and Badin. The Polio National Emergency Operation Center has once again urged parents to ensure their children receive polio vaccinations, emphasizing that multiple doses are necessary to develop strong immunity against…
Chinese scientists have identified a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, which has the potential to infect humans, raising fresh concerns about zoonotic diseases. The study, conducted by a team led by renowned virologist Shi Zhengli at the Guangzhou Laboratory, was published in the scientific journal Cell. Findings of the Study The virus, found in bats in China, shares similarities with SARS-CoV-2, particularly in its ability to use the ACE2 receptor to enter human cells. However, researchers have stated that its ability to infect humans remains limited. HKU5-CoV-2 is a descendant of HKU5, first identified in the Japanese pipistrelle bat in Hong…
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Saturday emphasized the need for a strong economic framework, stating that sustainable governance cannot rely solely on charity. His remarks addressed concerns over Pakistan’s reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Speaking at the 3rd All Pakistan Chambers Presidents Conference at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), the finance minister stated, “The main reason for our economic challenges is the lack of structural reforms needed to change the DNA of the economy.” He pointed out that the current tax-to-GDP ratio of 9-10% is unsustainable, highlighting that “in a country of 240-250 million…
