PAKISTAN NEWS

 DHAKA, 22 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Bangladesh has indicated that it is open to the possibility of joining an economic or defense framework involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. According to Bangladeshi media reports, Bangladesh’s Adviser for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said in an interview that Dhaka viewed positively the possibility of joining an economic or defense framework involving the three countries. Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh would assess the proposal while keeping in view its national interests, the evolving global economic environment and developments in international trade. He said Bangladesh was strengthening practical bilateral relations with Pakistan as part of its normal diplomatic activities. The Bangladeshi foreign affairs adviser added that efforts w...

 ISLAMABAD, 22 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting on Friday to review preparations for Pakistan’s forthcoming high-level diplomatic engagements scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister underscored key substantive priorities and provided guidance on advancing Pakistan’s diplomatic objectives through the upcoming engagements. Senator Ishaq Dar also reviewed preparations for the engagements and emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts among all relevant stakeholders to ensure their successful conduct. Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the meeting.The m...

ISLAMABAD, 21 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a meeting with Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Friday. During the meeting, the two sides reaffirmed the close and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Malaysia and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and economic relations, mutual legal assistance and people-to-people exchanges. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to working closely toward shared objectives of peace, stability and prosperity.The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana ...

 Rawalpindi, 21 August 2026 (Ghufran): The government early Friday sent former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan back to Adiala Jail after he underwent a medical check-up at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. According to jail sources, Imran Khan was taken back to his cell under tight security following his medical examination. Earlier, he had been shifted from Adiala Jail to Shifa Hospital late Thursday night. Jail officials said Imran Khan was transferred to the hospital amid strict security arrangements, while large contingents of police were deployed outside the facility. Sources said arrangements had been finalized for the PTI founder’s medical treatment and examination, with a team of doctors constituted for the purpose. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court o...

 Rawalpindi, 21 August 2026 (Kamran Raja): Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani, leading a delegation, called on Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, where both sides discussed ways to further strengthen defence and security cooperation. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting covered matters of mutual interest as well as the prevailing security situation in the region. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding fraternal ties with Syria and shared Pakistan’s perspective on global peace and regional stability. He also emphasized the importance of enhanced cooperation and joint efforts to address shared security challenges.The Syrian F...

 Rawalpindi, 21 August 2026 (Kamran Raja): Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has said that hostile designs aimed at destabilizing Balochistan will be defeated through the collective resolve of the nation and an unwavering, resolute and decisive response by the state. The Field Marshal expressed these views while interacting with notables and political leadership of Balochistan. He said that Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan were foreign-sponsored proxies being employed by hostile elements to destabilize Balochistan, obstruct its development and create a wedge between the state and its people. During the interaction, COAS and CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir underscored that the present and future of Balochistan and Pakistan ar...

Islamabad, 21 August 2026 (Nosheen): Pakistani travel vlogger and mountaineer Asma Mushtaq has died during an expedition to Spantik after successfully reaching the summit of the 7,027-metre peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range. Born on February 7, 1992, Asma Mushtaq was known in the mountaineering community for her passion for adventure, mountains and natural landscapes. Asma had recently joined an expedition to climb Spantik, one of the prominent peaks of Pakistan’s Karakoram range. According to reports, she successfully reached the summit along with her guide, Ali Akbar, and was in good health at the time. However, she reportedly developed high-altitude sickness while descending from the summit. Her guide provided her with initial medical assistance, but she could not survive. Kar...

Lahore, 21 August 2026 (Ghufran): The Punjab government has decided to resume recruitment in the province’s educational boards after a gap of 15 years, with appointments for various vacant positions now under way. According to officials, recruitment will be conducted in several educational boards, including Lahore and Faisalabad, to fill vacant positions and address staffing requirements. The vacant posts include computer programmer, assistant, senior computer operator, deputy secretary, assistant secretary and estate officer, among others. In Lahore, recruitment will be carried out for 33 posts in BS-16 and BS-17. According to details released by the authorities, the appointments will be made through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) in accordance with the prescribed recruitment...

Islamabad, 21 August 2026 (Nosheen): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has criticized the government for transferring party founder Imran Khan to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) instead of Shifa International Hospital, terming the move a violation of the Supreme Court’s order. Speaking to the media, Barrister Gohar said there was no ambiguity in the Supreme Court’s directive regarding Imran Khan’s medical examination at Shifa International Hospital. He termed the failure to implement the court’s order unfortunate and questioned how democracy could function if compliance with judicial orders became difficult. Gohar said PTI would continue efforts to resolve political issues through political means, adding that meaningful negotiations could no...

 Islamabad, 21 August 2026 (Ghufran): Probationary officers of the 54th Common Training Programme (CTP), currently undergoing training at the Civil Services Academy (CSA), visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of their Islamabad Study Tour. The delegation comprised probationers from all 12 occupational groups of the Civil Service, along with faculty members of the Civil Services Academy. Additional Foreign Secretary Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan briefed the delegation on the structure and functioning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the broader contours and priorities of Pakistan’s foreign policy. The briefing provided the probationary officers with an overview of the Ministry’s role in shaping and implementing Pakistan’s foreign policy and advancing the cou...