PAKISTAN NEWS

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...

Islamabad, 21 August, 2026(Kamran Raja): The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), on the special directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, has introduced a free facility for pensioners to obtain their Proof of Life certificates through multiple channels. Pensioners can now obtain their Proof of Life certificates from the comfort of their homes through the Pak ID mobile application. Pensioners who are unable to use the mobile application can have a family member obtain the certificate on their behalf.The free Proof of Life facility is also available at 5,000 e-Sahulat franchises, while certificates can be obtained free of charge from 988 NADRA registration centres and 500 Union Councils. Pensioners will be provided services on a priority basis at NADRA centres a...

NEW DELHI, 20 August 2026(News Desk): India’s Supreme Court on Thursday constituted a panel to investigate allegations of police violence and attacks on security personnel during youth protests that forced the education minister to resign last month. The protests were triggered by the leak of question papers for a national medical college entrance examination. Demonstrations initially began in New Delhi and later spread to other cities after tens of thousands of protesters attempting to march towards Parliament were met with tear gas and baton charges.According to the court’s order, the panel will be headed by a former Supreme Court judge and will include two other retired judges and two retired police chiefs. The panel will investigate allegations that female protesters faced targeted vio...

ISLAMABAD, 20 August 2026 (Kamran Raja): The National Assembly on Thursday passed the Defence Forces Act 2026 along with amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010, hours after the federal cabinet approved the proposed legislation. The two bills were presented before the lower house and passed by a majority amid an opposition walkout during the proceedings. The legislation marks a significant development in Pakistan’s defence-related legal framework, particularly as the government has linked the Defence Forces Act 2026 to legal changes introduced under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Earlier in the day, the federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, approved the draft Defence Forces Act 2026 and proposed amendments to the National Command Authorit...

PESHAWAR, 20 August 2026 (Nosheen): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has directed all educational boards across the province to introduce the ‘show of paper’ facility to enhance transparency and accountability in the examination system.  The KP Education Department has directed all educational boards to immediately notify the new facility, under which students will be allowed to apply for inspection of their answer sheets. According to the department, all educational boards have been instructed to accept students’ requests to view their examination copies without any discrimination.Under the new practice, students will be able to inspect their answer sheets and better understand how their answers were assessed and how their marks were awarded.The initiative is aimed at promoting transpare...

 ISLAMABAD, 20 August 2026 (Ghufran): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani in Islamabad and discussed bilateral relations, the regional situation and Syria’s reconstruction efforts. Welcoming the Syrian foreign minister and his delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his best wishes to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and recalled his recent meetings with the Syrian leadership. The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. He also reiterated Pakistan’s strong support for Syria’s position on the issue of the Golan Heights. Highlighting the historic and close ties between Pakistan and Syria, Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed the need to translate the lon...

ISLAMABAD, 20 August 2026 (Nosheen): Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has announced the formation of a united opposition alliance following a meeting with Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai at the Parliament House.Maulana Fazlur Rehman met Mahmood Khan Achakzai in his chamber, where they discussed political and parliamentary matters. JUI-F leaders Kamran Murtaza and Maulana Wasey accompanied Fazlur Rehman, while Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai and Asad Qaiser were present with Achakzai. Speaking briefly to the media before the meeting, Fazlur Rehman said that if the matter had been in his hands, PTI founder Imran Khan would have received treatment by now. Following the meeting, the JUI-F chief said consultations had been held with opposition leaders in both the Sen...