President, PM renew resolve to protect journalistic freedom, stress credible reporting – Pakistan
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed the government’s resolve to protect press freedom and stressed the importance of credible journalism. They issued separate messages on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, reaffirming that Pakistan, as a state, remained firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting freedom of the press. […]
Japan contains one of its biggest wildfires in decades after 11-day battle – World
Wildfires that scorched forests in northern Japan, reportedly the second biggest in over 30 years, have been brought under control after 11 days, officials have said. Hundreds of firefighters and more than 1,000 military personnel had battled the blazes since late April, as they burned around 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres) across the mountainous Iwate region. […]
Ancient Dharmarajika Stupa in Taxila echoes with Dhamma sermon after 1,500 years – Pakistan
Monks perform rituals in connection with Vesak Day at Dharmarajika Stupa near Taxila. — Dawn TAXILA: After nearly 15 centuries of silence, the ancient Dharmarajika Stupa came alive on Friday as chants of Buddhist monks echoed once again across the historic site, marking the first such occasion since its destruction in the 5th century CE […]
SMOKERS’ CORNER: LOSING THE PLOT
Illustration by Abro The West’s ’legacy media’ and cultural products might be suffering from what is often called ‘institutional inertia.’ Recently, they have been using old conceptual understandings of a world that is fast being changed by new realities. According to the American sociologist William F. Ogburn, this condition occurs when “mental models” fail to […]
Capital police chief dissatisfied with security arrangements at worship places – Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Security measures put in place around places of worship, especially during Friday prayers, were found unsatisfactory, raising concerns about public safety. Police officials told Dawn that the Islamabad inspector general of police himself found security arrangements around worship places unsatisfactory and compromised when he visited mosques and imambargahs during Friday prayers. The police chief […]
YouTuber held for ‘recruiting individuals for al-Qaeda’ – Newspaper
LAHORE: The Counter Terrorism Department has arrested a YouTuber for recruiting individuals for a banned outfit and registered a case against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The FIR identified the suspect as Muhammad Saad bin Riaz, associated with YouTube channel named Eon News. A case has been registered against him on behalf of the […]
Persisting security challenge – Newspaper
WHILE Pakistan remained preoccupied with facilitating talks between the US and Iran, the public discourse largely overlooked critical developments on other fronts, particularly internal security challenges, a worsening relationship with Afghanistan, and the approaching first anniversary of the Pakistan-India stand-off. The enthusiasm surrounding Pakistan’s role in a high-stakes global diplomatic effort has, in many ways, […]
Federal Constitutional Court rejects extra perks for former bureaucrats – Pakistan
• Balochistan govt’s plea relates to grant of lifetime facilities for retired officers• Court emphasises all govt actions must be rooted in legal authority ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has rejected a plea by the Balochistan government seeking to grant lifetime facilities to retired chief secretaries and their widows. Justice Aamer Farooq, who headed […]
On press freedoms – Newspaper
THE citizenry forgets, to its own peril, how important a free and independent media is in the preservation of their personal freedoms. Today, on World Press Freedom Day, it is worth reflecting on the state of our media and how continuing restrictions on its ability to function independently may, in fact, jeopardise individual liberties. A […]
Oil spike threatens Pakistan’s economic growth – Pakistan
• Analysts say inflation may exceed 11pc, CAD could rise above $8bn• GDP expansion may slow to 2.5-3.0pc in FY27 KARACHI: Pakistan’s inflation is likely to remain in double digits if the surge in oil prices persists amid the unresolved Middle East conflict, analysts warned, adding that rising costs and disrupted imports are already straining […]