PAKISTAN NEWS

 ISLAMABAD, 14 October, 2026 (Nosheen): President Asif Ali Zardari has called for further strengthening Pakistan-Türkiye relations, with a focus on achieving the mutually agreed target of $5 billion in bilateral trade, expanding investment and enhancing cooperation in strategic and emerging technology sectors. He made these remarks during a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Türkiye, Amna Baloch, who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr, according to a press release issued by the President Secretariat’s Media Wing. Congratulating her on her appointment, the president acknowledged her successful tenure as foreign secretary and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to its longstanding relations with Türkiye, based on shared values, cultural ties and common aspirations for peace and...

ISLAMABAD, 14 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): The Pakistan Army has won a silver medal at Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 in Wales, United Kingdom, extending its medal-winning record at the prestigious international military competition to five consecutive years. The Pakistani contingent comprised one officer and seven soldiers from the 59 Punjab Regiment and participated in the demanding exercise held from October 2 to 13. This year’s competition brought together 140 teams from 36 countries to test their physical endurance, tactical expertise, navigation skills, teamwork and ability to operate under challenging conditions. The latest achievement adds to Pakistan Army’s impressive performance in previous editions, with the country winning silver medals in 2022 and 2023, followed by gold medals ...

 ISLAMABAD, 14 October, 2026 (Nosheen): The Federal Constitutional Court has declared Bushra Bibi’s petition seeking suspension of her sentence inadmissible after hearing arguments from her counsel, Salman Safdar. A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the petition, while Salman Akram Raja was also present in the courtroom. During the proceedings, Salman Safdar argued that courts had traditionally shown leniency towards women and accused the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of repeatedly seeking adjournments over the past 13 months. He said NAB had also raised objections to the petition seeking suspension of the sentence. Safdar maintained that Bushra Bibi had legal grounds to seek relief following her conviction and had requested suspension of her sen...

 LAHORE, 14 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched the second phase of the Livestock Card scheme, offering interest-free loans worth Rs16.2 billion to farmers to support livestock-related activities and strengthen the province’s agricultural economy. According to the briefing, the first phase of the scheme achieved a loan repayment rate of 96 percent, reflecting a high level of repayment among beneficiaries. Under Phase II, farmers will receive Rs27,000 per animal, while 25 percent of the loan amount will be available for withdrawal in cash through ATMs. The initiative aims to facilitate livestock farmers, improve productivity and support the growth of the livestock sector across Punjab. The briefing also revealed that agreements had been reached ...

QUETTA, 14 October, 2026 (Nosheen): A total of 173 soldiers have formally joined the Pakistan Army after successfully completing Basic Military Training-22 at the Baloch Training Wing in Quetta. A passing-out parade was held to mark the completion of their training, with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Quetta attending the ceremony as the chief guest. During the event, the chief guest presented awards to trainees who demonstrated outstanding performance throughout their training. A large number of family members of the newly trained soldiers and local residents attended the ceremony to celebrate the occasion. The newly inducted soldiers expressed their determination to make every sacrifice for the defence and security of their homeland. Soldiers from Balochistan said they were proud a...

 ISLAMABAD, 14 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed displeasure over the slow progress of the Gemstones Pilot Project and delays in implementing development measures for the sector, directing authorities to prepare a time-bound action plan on a priority basis. Chairing a meeting to review progress in the gemstone sector, the prime minister stressed that the development of the gemstones and jewellery industry was a priority and that further delays would not be tolerated. He called for establishing a comprehensive value-addition ecosystem covering gemstone mining, cutting and polishing, noting that Pakistan suffers annual losses worth billions of dollars due to substandard mining practices and smuggling. Emphasising the country’s abundant nat...

 QUETTA, 14 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Security forces have killed five terrorists and injured four others during an intelligence-based operation in the Palantak area of Washuk district, Balochistan, according to security sources. The operation was carried out as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts against Fitna al-Hindustan under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3. Security sources said that militant hideouts were targeted using advanced weapons during the operation. Weapons and ammunition recovered from the militants included an RPG-7 launcher, five rounds, magazines, five advanced weapons, three mobile phones and two motorcycles. According to the sources, the terrorists killed in the operation were involved in looting local Baloch residents, spreading fear among the population an...

 ISLAMABAD, 14 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, defence and regional security during a meeting with Lieutenant General (Retd) Nauman Mahmood, the first Secretary-General of the Makkah Defence Alliance. The meeting focused on strengthening defence and strategic cooperation under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The prime minister congratulated Lieutenant General (Retd) Nauman Mahmood on assuming his new position and extended his best wishes for his future responsibilities. Describing the Makkah agreement as a historic milestone for promoting regional peace, unity and stability, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised that Pakistan stands firm...

ISLAMABAD, 14 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi have emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in promoting lasting peace, regional stability and stronger bilateral cooperation. The two leaders expressed these views during a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Wednesday, ahead of the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission. According to official details, both ministers reaffirmed the close and fraternal relations between Pakistan and Oman and stressed the need for sustained high-level engagement to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly trade, investment and people-to-p...