PAKISTAN NEWS

ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has extended his heartfelt felicitations to the leadership, government and brotherly people of Türkiye on the auspicious occasion of the 104th anniversary of Victory Day. In a message posted on X, Ishaq Dar said Pakistanis joined their Turkish brothers and sisters in celebrating the historic victory and paid tribute to the memory of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, along with all the heroes and martyrs of Türkiye’s War of Independence. He also saluted the enduring spirit, courage and resilience of the Turkish nation, describing Victory Day as an important occasion that reflects Türkiye’s historic struggle and national determination. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister emphasized that P...

PHNOM PENH, August 30, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan and Founding Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC), Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, led a delegation in a courtesy call on King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia in Phnom Penh on the sidelines of the 2nd ISC. During the meeting, Gilani stressed that amid growing conflicts and economic challenges around the world, parliaments have a crucial role in keeping dialogue alive and building bridges among nations. He said the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference provides an important platform for promoting peace, cooperation and greater understanding among countries. Gilani also announced that Indonesia will host the 3rd Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, expressing pleasure over the upcoming event...

ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan has made an early repayment of Rs1,200 billion in debt, marking the largest-ever single early debt repayment by the country. Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Shehzad said in a post on social media platform X that Pakistan’s cumulative early debt repayments have now approached Rs6,000 billion. He said Pakistan has so far repaid approximately Rs5,920 billion in debt ahead of schedule, surpassing the previous record of Rs1,133 billion set in August 2025. Khurram Shehzad said a total of Rs2,900 billion in debt had been repaid ahead of schedule during the fiscal year 2025-26 so far. He added that Pakistan has made another Rs1,200 billion in early debt repayments during the fiscal year 2026-27 so far.According to the adviser, early debt r...

KARACHI, 30 August, 2026 (Nosheen): The French Consulate in Karachi has been permanently closed, with the French Consulate formally announcing the decision. In a farewell message to the city, the French Consulate shared an “Au revoir Karachi” message, marking the end of its operations in the city. Following the closure, the French and European Union flags were removed from the consulate premises.The French Consulate also expressed its gratitude to its friends and partners in Karachi for their support and cooperation over the years.

 MUZAFFARABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Newly elected Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Barrister Iftikhar Gilani has announced plans to restore internet services across the region within two days, with educational institutions to receive priority access during the initial phase. Addressing the media during his first visit to the Central Press Club after assuming office, Prime Minister Gilani said internet connectivity would be restored in a phased manner to facilitate citizens and institutions across AJK. The AJK premier also announced that the region’s entry and exit routes would be fully restored within 48 hours. Internet and cellular services had been suspended earlier this year following violent protests by the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JA...

RAWALPINDI, August 30, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Security forces have foiled an attempt by terrorists to target and damage government installations in Mashkel through a timely and effective operation, forcing the attackers to flee the area following retaliatory fire. According to the Assistant Commissioner of Mashkel, armed individuals attempted to target police facilities, a Customs warehouse and other government installations in the area.In view of the seriousness of the situation, Frontier Corps Balochistan launched an immediate and effective response against the attackers. Following the security forces’ retalaiatory action, the armed individuals were unable to continue their resistance and fled the area. During the operation, security forces recovered weapons, vehicles and motorcycles allege...

ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Ghufran): The government has rejected what it described as “misleading reports” in foreign media regarding the health and prison conditions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, saying official records do not support allegations that he has been kept in isolation or denied medical treatment. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting termed allegations of punitive solitary confinement, mistreatment and deprivation as “fake propaganda”. It said Imran Khan is serving sentences following convictions by courts of competent jurisdiction.According to the ministry, the former prime minister has been provided access to visitors, telephone calls, reading material, television, home-cooked meals...

 KARACHI, 29 August, 2026 — News Desk: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has ordered strict action against passengers attempting to travel abroad using fake, incomplete or unverified documents. During a visit to Jinnah International Airport, Naqvi reviewed the immigration process and interacted with passengers about their experience. He directed officials to ensure that no traveler is allowed to depart without complete and verified documentation. During the visit, the immigration system temporarily went down. Naqvi contacted the relevant authorities and ordered the issue to be resolved immediately, while instructing officials to maintain an alternative system to ensure uninterrupted immigration services. “The immigration process must not stop under any circumstances,” Naqvi s...

 ISLAMABAD, 29 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has said Pakistan’s central economic challenge is to transform macroeconomic stability into sustained growth, higher productivity, increased exports, investment and employment. Addressing a visiting delegation of Harvard Business School MBA students at the Ministry of Planning and Development on Friday, Iqbal said Pakistan should not be viewed only through the lens of its challenges but through the scale of its economic and human potential. He highlighted Pakistan’s large population, young workforce, strategic geographic location, agricultural and mineral resources, expanding digital economy and global diaspora as important foundations for long-term economic tr...

RAWALPINDI, 29 August, 2026 (Ghufran): A district and sessions court in Rawalpindi on Saturday extended the physical remand of two suspects in the murder case of digital media executive Hina Javed by another four days for further investigation. The suspects, Faisal Asghar, husband of the deceased, and domestic worker Zeeshan, were presented before the court after the expiry of their initial three-day physical remand. Deputy Public Prosecutor Rehman Shaukat Bhatti appeared on behalf of the police and sought a seven-day extension in physical remand. He told the court that investigators needed to recover documents related to Asghar’s divorce from his first wife and his subsequent marriage to Hina Javed.After hearing the arguments, the court granted a four-day physical remand and directed poli...