Funding cut jolts Punjab’s new WASAs
RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government’s decision to sharply reduce the promised seed funding for its 36 newly established Water and Sanitation Authorities (WASAs) has triggered widespread concern among officials, who warn that the move could severely undermine the authorities’ operational capacity and delay planned development projects. According to official documents, the provincial government had originally approved […]
AJK polls: Voting in remaining Poonch division seats may be held by Aug 20-21, says CEC – Pakistan
MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said on Saturday that the Election Commission had decided, for security reasons, to first complete the electoral process in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts and hinted that polls in the remaining seven constituencies of Poonch division could be held […]
JI announces Aug 16 sit-ins in provincial capitals to protest petroleum levy – Pakistan
LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) has decided to intensify its campaign against the petroleum levy and inflation, announcing simultaneous sit-ins in all four provincial capitals on August 16 to press the government to withdraw the levy. The decision was taken after extensive deliberations at a special meeting of JI’s central and provincial office-bearers, chaired by party […]
Initial findings of second post-mortem show multiple injuries on Mir Raza Ali, police surgeon says – Pakistan
The initial findings of the second post-mortem examination of 25-year-old businessman Mir Raza Ali revealed multiple injuries and a congealed black substance in his mouth and throat, Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said on Saturday. Raza, owner of eatery Wafflix, had gone missing on July 28. The 25-year-old’s body was found a day later with […]
JI postpones Sunday sit-ins
. LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has postponed the sit-ins scheduled for Sunday in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta and announced that nationwide sit-ins will now be held simultaneously on August 16. The decision was taken at a special meeting chaired by JI Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman to review preparations for the planned protests. The party also […]
Rs10b sanctioned for textile, export sectors
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce has sanctioned Rs10 billion for the textile and apparel industry and other export sectors under the Duty Drawback and Technology Upgradation Schemes, aimed at improving industrial liquidity and supporting export growth, the ministry said on Saturday. Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan announced the development on X, expressing confidence […]
Mir Raza Ali case: Family, lawyer allege 25-year-old was murdered after torture – Pakistan
Advocate Jibran Nasir, representing the family of slain business owner Mir Raza Ali, alleged on Saturday evening that Raza had been tortured and murdered, and demanded that the entire investigation team be replaced. Raza, owner of eatery Wafflix, had gone missing on July 28. The 25-year-old’s body was found a day later with a gunshot […]
Hamas says still ready to go ahead with Gaza plan – World
Hamas said on Saturday it remained ready to proceed with a US-backed Gaza peace plan and urged pressure on Israel, which insists it did not agree to the latest part of the deal. Hamas informed US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace that it stood by the latest stage of the plan, under which the […]
New provinces debate and the good governance challenge
. The writer is a former Secretary to Government, Home & Tribal Affairs Department and a retired IG. He can be reached at syed_shah94@yahoo.com Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s recent remarks – that the current political system has collapsed and that politics is increasingly being pursued by a few families and elites – have evoked […]
Typhoon Dolphin hits Japan’s Okinawa, China shuts ports ahead of landfall – World
Typhoon Dolphin lashed Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture on Saturday, injuring six people and cutting power to more than 50,000 buildings, while China shut ports and halted ferries ahead of the storm’s expected arrival on its east coast. Five elderly people, three of whom fell due to strong winds, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in Okinawa while another […]