PAKISTAN NEWS

 BISHKEK, 31 August 2026 (Nosheen): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has underscored the need to build upon the understandings reached under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), describing them as the only viable pathway towards achieving lasting peace in the region. The prime minister made these remarks during a meeting with Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek on Monday, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in the Kyrgyz Republic. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised the importance of exercising restraint and maintaining sustained diplomatic engagement to achieve durable peace and stability in the region. He stressed that continued dialogue and implementation of the understandings rea...

ISLAMABAD, 31 August 2026 (Nosheen): The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has sealed eight buildings in Islamabad for failing to comply with mandatory fire safety regulations. The action was taken as the CDA expanded the scope of fire safety inspections across the federal capital to ensure compliance with safety standards and protect the lives of citizens. According to CDA officials, the Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, State Life Building, TDAP Building, Beverly Center, NIC Building, Crown Plaza, Khudadad Heights Plaza and Envoy Continental Hotel were sealed for non-compliance with fire safety requirements. The CDA has also imposed fines amounting to Rs5.5 million on Capital Hospital, Polyclinic and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for violations of fire safety regulations.Du...

QUETTA, 31 August 2026 (Kamran Raja): Security forces have killed two terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in the Washuk area of Balochistan, according to security sources. The operation was conducted in the Washuk-Palantak area as part of ongoing efforts against militants allegedly linked to Fitna al-Hindustan. According to the sources, the two terrorists killed during the operation were allegedly involved in attacks on Mashkel Police Station and a customs house. The militants’ vehicle was also destroyed during the operation, while a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered from their possession. Security sources said the recovered weapons and ammunition were allegedly intended to be used in targeted killings and other militant activities against local Bal...

ISLAMABAD, 31 August 2026 (Ghufran): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Bishkek on Monday for a three-day official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic from August 31 to September 2, where he will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting. Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival at Manas International Airport. The prime minister is visiting Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov to participate in the SCO summit. During the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address the SCO Council of Heads of State and present Pakistan’s perspective on key regional and global issues. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Minister...

ISLAMABAD, 31 August 2026 (Kamran Raja): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar attended the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, in Istanbul on Monday. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with their Turkish and Saudi counterparts. The committee has been established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement to strengthen strategic political and defence cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. The inaugural meeting provided an important platform for the three countries to discuss matters of mutual interest and explore ways to further enhance coord...

 ISLAMABAD, 31 August, 2026 (Ghufran): The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), chaired by Ms. Noureen Bano Lehri, has demanded immediate and effective police action to curb the alarming rise in violence, rape, murder, harassment and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls across the country. The demand was made during a high-level meeting with senior police officials from across Pakistan to review the prevailing situation and assess measures being taken to protect women and girls. Chairperson NCSW Ms. Noureen Bano Lehri expressed grave concern over the increasing incidents of violence and took strict notice of cases including Hina Javed, Ayat Noor and Asma Jattak, as well as recent cases reported in Sindh, including the tragic deaths of th...

 ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Turkiye on Monday for a two-day official visit, state media reported. According to security sources cited by state-run media, Field Marshal Asim Munir received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Turkiye. During his visit, the CDF is scheduled to hold important meetings with Turkiye’s military and political leadership. The meetings are expected to focus on matters of mutual interest, regional security and bilateral defence cooperation. State-run Pakistan Television and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) also reported Field Marshal Munir’s arrival in Turkiye and his planned meetings with the Turkish military and political leadership. Last mo...

ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Ethiopian coffee has made its debut in Islamabad with the inauguration of the first-ever dedicated Ethiopian coffee cafe in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. H.E. Dr. Oumer Hussien Oba, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, inaugurated the cafe on Sunday. The inauguration was preceded by a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony attended by members of the Ethiopian community, Embassy staff and representatives of the media. Following the ceremony, Ambassador Oba held an interactive session with the media and highlighted the growing bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Pakistan. The Ambassador said the opening marked the debut of Ethiopian coffee i...

 ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Nosheen): Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have made significant progress in strengthening cooperation in agriculture and food security, following successful talks between a Saudi delegation led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engr. Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research under the patronage and personal interest of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The two sides issued a joint statement following the Saudi ministerial delegation’s visit to Islamabad from August 26 to 28, 2026, during which the sides discussed a wide range of areas for enhanced bilateral cooperation, investment and trade in the agriculture and food sectors. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also met the Saudi delegat...

MURREE, 30 August 2026 (Nosheen): The Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), along with public health experts, journalists, social media influencers and media professionals, has urged the Government of Pakistan to expedite the introduction of mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWLs) on ultra-processed food and beverage products to protect consumers, curb unhealthy food consumption and promote healthier dietary choices. PANAH called for the introduction of black octagonal warning labels in Urdu on products exceeding World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended thresholds for sugar, sodium and saturated fats, as well as products containing non-sugar sweeteners. The association said such clear and prominent warnings were particularly important in Pakistan's low-literacy settings a...