Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to visit Beijing to co-chair the seventh round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, scheduled for January 4, 2026, and according to a statement released by the Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday. Dar’s visit comes at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, underlining the importance both countries attach to regular high-level consultations. The Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue represents the highest consultative platform between the two nations, providing an organized framework to review the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, as well as discuss regional and global…
Author: Imran Ali Khan
Multan: Chairman of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Sham Lal Manglani, has expressed deep concern over the prolonged closure of the historic Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) building, calling it a stark contradiction to the government’s claims of reviving cotton production and boosting foreign exchange through this vital crop. Sham Lal Manglani emphasized that KCA is not just a building it is the symbol of Pakistan’s cotton pricing, transparent trade, and market discipline. The daily spot rates published by KCA serve as a reference point for the entire cotton sector, relied upon by ginners, traders, mills, banks, and insurance companies.…
Islamabad: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to enter a new era of privatization after the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP) endorsed the Rs135 billion bid submitted by a consortium led by Arif Habib Group for a 75 percent stake in the national carrier. The committee recommended the deal for final approval by the federal cabinet. The consortium’s winning bid came in 35 percent above the government’s reference price, with a commitment to invest an additional Rs80 billion over the next five years to revive the airline. The Privatisation Commission, chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister Muhammad Ali, conducted…
Sanaa: Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council has declared a 90-day state of emergency and annulled a security pact with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a dramatic advance by southern separatist forces. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) has captured vast areas in southern Yemen, including most of the resource-rich Hadramawt province and large parts of Mahrah. The joint defense agreement with the UAE is hereby cancelled, said a statement issued by Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council. A separate decree announced a 72-hour blockade by air, sea, and land, as part of the 90-day emergency measures. Alimi called the…
Dhaka: Bangladesh is in mourning following the death of Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female prime minister and a towering figure in its political history. Zia passed away early Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. (0000 GMT) after a prolonged battle with multiple health issues, including advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, and heart complications, her doctors confirmed. The BNP chairperson and former prime minister, the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today, just after the Fajr prayer, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced. The party urged citizens to offer prayers for her soul. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus described her…
Islamabad :Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has expressed “deep concern” over what he described as “discourtesy and unnecessary hostility” during his three-day visit to Lahore, raising objections to the Punjab government’s conduct in a formal letter to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. In a two-page letter posted by the KP government on X, Afridi detailed that Punjab’s handling of his visit reflected a deliberate and planned sequence of events. He criticized excessive security measures, sweeping detentions, and closed public spaces, asserting that these actions “sent a message of intimidation rather than cooperation” and violated accepted standards of inter-provincial respect. Afridi…
Islamabad: Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt. Gen. (retd) Faiz Hameed has filed an appeal against his 14-year rigorous imprisonment sentence, his lawyer confirmed on Monday. The sentence was handed down by a military court on December 11 following convictions on four charges, including violations of secrecy laws, engagement in political activities, misuse of authority, and causing harm to others. Under Section 133B of the Pakistan Army Act, Hameed had a 40-day window to challenge the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) verdict. The appeal will first be examined by a Court of Appeals headed by a major general or higher,…
Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, have formally filed separate appeals with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging their conviction in the Toshakhana 2 case. The special court had on December 20 sentenced the couple to 17 years in prison over allegations related to the purchase of a Bulgari jewelry set, gifted to Imran Khan by the Saudi Crown Prince during an official visit in May 2021, at a significantly reduced price. The prosecution claimed that the jewelry, valued at approximately Rs80 million, was acquired for only Rs2.9…
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has reiterated its steadfast support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, emphasizing its commitment to a peaceful, comprehensive political solution that addresses all regional and local concerns. In an early morning statement on social media, Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts in mobilizing allied nations to support Yemen’s legitimate authorities in response to their request. Saudi Arabia has taken a proactive role within the legal coalition supporting Yemen’s government, he said. Prince Khalid stressed that the southern Yemen issue represents a legitimate political concern that cannot be overlooked or reduced to personal…
Washington/Tel Aviv: Senior US officials have expressed sharp disapproval over repeated and assertive statements by Israeli leaders regarding the construction of settlements in Gaza and the West Bank, describing the remarks as provocative and detrimental to regional peace. According to Hebrew news outlet Ynet, influential sources at the White House criticized statements made by the Israeli government, particularly by Defense Minister Israel Katz and other cabinet members. US officials said such remarks risk undermining potential progress on US President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan for the Middle East. White House sources noted that the Israeli leadership’s comments not only exacerbate…