PAKISTAN NEWS

 ISLAMABAD, 25 August, 2026 (Ghufran): The government has decided to change the spokesperson of the Foreign Office, according to sources. Sources said Sajjad Haider Khan has been selected for appointment as the new Foreign Office spokesperson. He is currently serving as Director General South Asia. According to sources, the incumbent Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Hussain Andrabi, is likely to be appointed as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Sources further said that a formal notification regarding Sajjad Haider Khan’s appointment as Foreign Office spokesperson is expected to be issued soon.

LAHORE, 25 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif departed for China on Tuesday for a four-day official visit aimed at further strengthening cooperation between Punjab and the Chinese province of Xinjiang. Chinese Consul General Sun Yang was present at the airport to see off the chief minister before her departure. Upon arrival at Urumqi International Airport, Maryam Nawaz will be received by senior Chinese officials. She will then begin her official engagements at the Kunlun Hall of the conference centre at the Xinjiang State Guest House. During the visit, the chief minister is scheduled to meet a high-level delegation led by Xinjiang Party Secretary Chen Xiaojiang. She will also hold a meeting with He Zhongyou, Deputy Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Uyghur ...

 KARACHI,  24 August, 2026 (Nosheen): The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) welcomed Tasdeeq Information Services Limited as its latest listed company through a gong ceremony held at the PSX Trading Hall on Monday, marking the listing of South Asia’s first publicly listed credit bureau. The transaction involved 219 million ordinary shares, including 69 million shares placed with pre-IPO investors at Rs2.35 per share and 150 million shares offered through the initial public offering (IPO) at a strike price of Rs3.00 per share. The total transaction size stood at approximately Rs612 million. The retail portion of the IPO was oversubscribed 21.68 times, attracting 11,358 applications and total participation of Rs2.4 billion. The strong investor response highlights growing confidence in P...

 LONDON, 24  August, 2026 (Ghufran): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez in London and reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to the international maritime body.During the meeting, Dar appreciated the IMO’s role as the principal international regulatory organization for ensuring safe, secure and efficient international shipping. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister thanked the IMO Secretary-General for his support in efforts to secure the safe release of 10 Pakistani seafarers being held captive aboard MT Honour 25. He called for urgent and effective institutional intervention to facilitate the early and safe return of all Pakistani seafarers....

LAHORE, 24 August, 2026 (Ghufran): The Punjab government has extended the ban on flying drones in open spaces across the province for another 30 days in view of security concerns. According to the Punjab Home Department, the ban has been extended under Section 144(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. Under the order, outdoor drone flights will remain prohibited throughout Punjab.However, limited use of small drones inside halls and marquees during events will be permitted, subject to safety measures. Event organizers will be responsible for ensuring the safe operation of such drones. Intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been exempted from the restrictions. Drones may also be used for agricultural, irrigation and research purposes after obtaining written permission from the...

ISLAMABAD, 24 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday participated in the launch ceremony of the “Pakistan National Olive Value Chain Policy” in Islamabad and addressed a gathering of olive growers, farmers, researchers, experts, federal ministers and foreign diplomats. Addressing the ceremony, the prime minister said he was pleased to speak to Pakistan’s distinguished olive farmers, researchers and exporters, adding that their tireless efforts had set a remarkable example in the olive sector. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif particularly appreciated the contributions of Abdul Habbir from Loralai, Quratul Ain from Mardan and Yaqub Azhar from Chakwal. He also expressed gratitude to provincial governments for their cooperation in promoting olive cultivation. Pa...

 MUZAFFARABAD, 24 August, 2026 (Nosheen): Polling for the special seats of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will be held today at the Assembly Hall in Muzaffarabad. According to the Election Commission spokesperson, polling will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 1 p.m. Abdul Rehman Arain has already been elected unopposed to the seat reserved for overseas Kashmiris. Arain submitted his nomination papers on behalf of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) did not field a candidate against him. The Election Commission spokesperson said six candidates are contesting five seats reserved for women. The PML-N nominated four women candidates, while the PPP nominated three. However, PPP candidate Shaheen Kausar Dar later withdrew ...

 LONDON, 24 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar arrived in London on a five-day official visit, where he is expected to hold discussions on Pakistan-UK bilateral relations and other matters of mutual interest. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, Pakistan’s High Commissioner received Senator Ishaq Dar upon his arrival in the British capital. During his stay, the deputy prime minister is expected to meet with the UK Foreign Secretary as part of a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at reviewing and further strengthening relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The expected discussions will cover bilateral ties and a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest. Senator Ishaq Dar’s visit comes as...

 KARACHI, 24 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Three policemen were injured when a protest against prolonged power outages and the subsequent suspension of water supply turned violent in the Manghopir area near New Nazimabad on Sunday. Residents took to the streets to protest frequent and prolonged power shutdowns and the shortage of water, saying the situation had made their lives extremely difficult. The protesters blocked roads and disrupted traffic as they demanded immediate action from the relevant authorities. Police were deployed at the protest site to prevent any untoward incident. However, the situation escalated when an angry mob allegedly attacked and severely beat three policemen. The injured officials were identified as Head Constable Saad Gul, Constable Shehbaz and Constab...

ISLAMABAD, 23 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke by telephone today with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov from London. The two foreign ministers discussed matters of mutual interest as well as preparations for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Kyrgyzstan. During the conversation, both ministers reaffirmed the close and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan and expressed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation. The two sides agreed to meet on the sidelines of the SCO Summit to discuss ways to advance shared bilateral priorities and further expand cooperation and partnership between the two countries.The ministers also rei...