LAHORE – Citizens in Pakistan’s provincial capital of Lahore are grappling with a devastating surge in food prices, as the district administration appears to have completely failed to enforce its own mandated rates. Official price lists have been reduced to a mere formality, leaving consumers at the mercy of arbitrary pricing in a clear failure of governance. The gap between official and actual market prices reveals the extent of the crisis: Item Official Price (PKR per kg) Actual Market Price (PKR per kg) Tomatoes 175 400 – 480 Ginger (China) 560 780 – 800 Garlic (Thailand) 460 740 – 760…
Author: Web Desk
ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has extended his congratulations to the Hindu community in Pakistan and around the world on the occasion of Diwali, describing the festival as a powerful symbol of hope, unity, and positive thinking. In his message, the Prime Minister emphasized the festival’s deep spiritual meaning, noting that Diwali “reflects the celebration of the victory of light over darkness and hope over despair.” He urged, “On this occasion, we should collectively look to the future with positive thinking, unity, and brotherhood.” Highlighting Pakistan’s multicultural fabric, Sharif stated that the nation takes pride in its diversity.…
ISLAMABAD – In a significant move to advance Pakistan’s development agenda through sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally robust initiatives, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has greenlit 18 projects across critical sectors including agriculture, energy, health, and transport. Of these, 12 projects valued at 35.40 billion rupees were approved at the CDWP level. Six larger, high-impact projects, carrying a substantial cost of 280.20 billion rupees, were referred to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval due to their massive scale. A strong emphasis was placed on revitalizing agriculture, recognized as the backbone of the economy and…
ISLAMABAD – Police in Pakistan’s capital conducted an operation in the Bari Imam area, arresting 17 Afghan nationals who were reportedly living in the country illegally. The operation was launched based on credible intelligence regarding the presence of undocumented individuals in the locality. According to a police spokesperson, officers faced resistance from the residents during the raid, leading to a tense situation. However, a heavy contingent of police responded swiftly, managing the confrontation and taking all 17 individuals into custody. Authorities confirmed that none of the arrested individuals possessed valid legal or travel documents required for their stay in Pakistan.…
LAHORE – Pakistan’s Punjab province is bracing for a severe air pollution crisis coinciding with the Diwali festival, prompting the government to activate a large-scale emergency plan to combat the impending smog. Authorities warn that polluted winds originating from across the border—specifically from the Indian cities of Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Haryana—are expected to engulf major urban centers including Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, and Multan. This transboundary pollution will be dangerously compounded by local emissions from Diwali activities, traffic, and waste burning. The Punjab Smog Monitoring Centre has issued a grim forecast, predicting Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) will hover between a…
ISLAMABAD – The Government of Pakistan has approved its national wheat policy for 2025-2026, setting a procurement price of 3,500 rupees per maund in a significant move aimed at balancing the nation’s food security needs with the economic hardships faced by its farmers. The policy was greenlit during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, which included the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, alongside other key stakeholders, signaling a broad national consensus. Addressing the participants, the Prime Minister underscored the crop’s vital role. “Pakistan is an agricultural economy, and the wheat crop is of…
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has introduced significant amendments to its barter trade framework for three key regional players—Iran, Afghanistan, and Russia—in a decisive move to address severe difficulties that had previously stalled the mechanism. The Ministry of Commerce has issued a notification relaxing several conditions that had rendered the previous framework, implemented in June 2023, impractical and slow. Business groups and stakeholders had consistently highlighted the hurdles that created significant operational difficulties. The most critical barrier was the mandatory condition of “import before export,” which created major liquidity and logistical problems for the business community. Furthermore, a short 90-day transaction settlement…
LAHORE – Pakistan’s ruling coalition is facing a severe internal crisis in the politically crucial Punjab province, prompting President Asif Ali Zardari to personally intervene and agree to escalate the matter with the nation’s “relevant circles.” The decision followed a tempestuous meeting of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), where, according to sources, a majority of attendees expressed deep displeasure and frustration with the conduct of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz of the PML-N. The sense of disillusionment within the meeting was palpable. Multiple senior provincial and central leaders, citing the “negative politics” of the PML-N, strongly proposed that the PPP…
ISLAMABAD – In an era defined by digital footprints, Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has turned the lens on individuals flaunting extravagant lifestyles on social media while allegedly concealing their true wealth from the state. The FBR’s Lifestyle Monitoring Cell has identified more than twenty cases, revealing a jarring disconnect between curated online personas enjoying vast wealth—including crores in assets, luxury vehicles, and frequent international travel—and the minimal income declared in their tax returns. These findings highlight a profound disparity, painting a picture of audacity against a backdrop of national economic challenges. The investigation has brought forward several…
Astronomers have detected a mysterious gamma-ray glow emanating from the center of our Milky Way galaxy, traveling toward Earth — a phenomenon that could hold the key to one of the greatest mysteries in modern physics: Dark Matter. For years, this diffuse light puzzled researchers. But new findings suggest the glow may be caused either by colliding dark matter particles or by rapidly spinning neutron stars, both of which emit high-energy radiation. 🌌 The Invisible Force That Holds Galaxies Together Dr. Joseph Silk, astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University, explained: “Dark matter dominates the universe and holds galaxies in place. The…
