ISLAMABAD: The government has enhanced the currency transaction threshold by 50pc to Rs3 million for banks to trigger suspicious reports to the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) of the State Bank of Pakistan under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).

The increase in threshold from Rs2m to Rs3m for Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) under the framework for analysing Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and CTRs was approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT).

An STR is reported when a suspicious transaction or activity involving money laundering and terrorism financing is indicated. However, a CTR is required to be reported when a cash transaction is equal to or exceeds the specified threshold — now raised to Rs3m.

The NEC, led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, is responsible for setting limits for banks, financial institutions or other agencies dealing with financial transactions to generate CTRs and STRs on the amount of currency transactions through notifications in the official Gazette.

It serves as a strategic forum for strengthening Pakistan’s AML-CFT framework and ensuring timely coordination, inter-agency cooperation and consistent monitoring for effective implementation of the measures discussed.

The committee also approved the inclusion of Section 28 of the Pakistan Maritime Zones Act 2023 in Schedule I of the AMLA, meaning that maritime piracy has been covered as a predicate offence.

Section 28 of the Maritime Zones Act 2023 defines “piracy” as any illegal act of violence, detention or depredation committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft and directed against another ship or aircraft or against persons or property onboard.

The NEC also approved the inclusion of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) in Schedule IV of the AMLA, meaning that the crypto body would also have regulatory powers over virtual and digital assets to meet AML-CFT requirements, like the SBP, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and Federal Board of Revenue, among others.

Under the AMLA, the FMU is designated to receive STRs and CTRs from reporting entities, analyse them and, if need be, seek the entire record and information related to the transaction in question from any agency or individual in Pakistan.

All agencies and individuals are bound to promptly provide the requested record and information to enable the FMU to share its analysis on a confidential basis with the concerned investigating or prosecuting agencies, or with the financial intelligence units of other countries to make reciprocal arrangements to share, request and receive information relating to money laundering, the financing of terrorism and other offences.

An official statement said the meeting reviewed compliance with its past decisions and progress on Pakistan’s AML-CFT regime, including the performance of the FMU, institutional capacity and initiatives involving artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Aurangzeb emphasised the importance of regular and timely follow-up and stronger coordination among the relevant institutions to ensure effective implementation of the national AML-CFT framework. He also called for strengthening the FMU’s analytical and operational capacity through a clear implementation roadmap with defined timelines.

The NEC also highlighted the importance of keeping Pakistan’s AML-CFT framework responsive to evolving financial risks and emerging technologies, while strengthening the analytical capabilities of relevant institutions.

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court’s (SC) Justice Ayesha Malik on Tuesday challenged victim-blaming assumptions that suggested that women ‘invite’ rape and called for such attitudes to be re-examined.

The judge was addressing participants at the launch of a bench book on the adjudication of rape cases for judges of gender-based violence (GBV) courts in Islamabad. The event was held in collaboration between the Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR), the Legal Aid Society (LAS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Delivering the keynote address at the event, Justice Malik expressed concern that sexual violence had become so routine that it no longer provoked sufficient outrage.

She challenged assumptions that blamed female victims of sexual violence by suggesting that they ‘invite’ rape, calling for a fundamental re-examination of attitudes towards women that allowed such assumptions to persist.

The bench book provides a practical reference to support fair trials and judicial decisions grounded in law and evidence, according to a statement by the MoHR. It was launched alongside a national study on low conviction rates in GBV cases.

The two publications address connected challenges across the criminal justice process, the statement said.

Director general of the MoHR’s Child Protection Institute, Rabeea Hadi, presented the study on low conviction rates, prepared by the ministry alongside the Senate’s Functional Committee on Human Rights. The study examined “where cases falter, from the first report through investigation, medico-legal examination, prosecution and trial”.

Meanwhile, LAS Director of Gender, Inclusion and Development, Advocate Maliha Zia, presented the structure of the bench book and its intended use during court proceedings.

The bench book brings together applicable law and judicial guidance in 10 chapters following the sequence of a trial, and supports judges in assessing evidence that is placed before them, according to the rights ministry.

The chairperson of the Special Committee on the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, addressed the practical application of the act.

“The bench book takes what Parliament enacted, together with what the superior courts have held, and places it within reach of the judge who has to apply it,” she said.

LAS Chief Executive Officer Barrister Haya Emaan Zahid illustrated the survivor’s journey by highlighting the pressures survivors face and the need to assess delayed reporting, gaps in medical evidence and family power dynamics in their proper context.

UNFPA Pakistan’s Representative Dr Luay Shabaneh linked fair adjudication to Pakistan’s international human rights commitments, noting: “A judgment that is correctly reasoned protects everybody in and outside the courtroom.”

The British High Commission’s Senior Governance Adviser Mary Kate Thomson highlighted that public trust was shaped by how everyday cases were handled, and influenced whether survivors came forward.

Opening the event, Abdul Khalique Shaikh, secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, affirmed the ministry’s custodianship of both documents.

“The honest position is that the word on paper and the practice on the ground have not yet converged,” he said, calling for attention to be drawn to how legal protections were delivered in practice.

The event brought together the judiciary, prosecutors, parliamentarians, senior government officials, legal practitioners and development partners, “with a shared focus on translating legal protections into consistent practice throughout the justice process”, the ministry’s statement said.

A total of 3,172 GBV cases were reported across Pakistan during the first half of 2026, including 18 cases involving transgender persons, according to Sahil’s Six Months Cruel Numbers Report (January-June 2026).

The report, available with Dawn, documented 644 murders, 514 cases of torture, 462 abductions, 363 suicides, 280 rapes, 175 injuries, 132 honour killings, and 21 other crimes, including harassment, gang rape and pornography.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva turned 81 on Tuesday, promising to work “24 hours a day” following his historic re-election for a fourth term.

Lula won Sunday’s runoff against Flavio Bolsonaro with 51.8 per cent of the vote to the right-wing senator’s 48.2pc.

He is one of the world’s oldest leaders; US President Donald Trump, who turned 80 in June, is only a few months younger.

“I’m going to deliver the best term any president has ever served in the history of this country,” the leftist leader said in a video posted on Instagram. “I will dedicate 24 hours a day to making this country into the country everyone dreams of.”

Amid questions over his age, he boasted while campaigning that he was “fitter than ever”, jogging during events and posting videos on social media of his gym workouts.

Following his shock first-round defeat to Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of jailed ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro, Lula’s campaign had a social media makeover. The president bought his first-ever cellphone and declared himself “king of the selfie.”

In a speech after his dramatic victory on Sunday, he thanked the “rebellious youth” of Brazil for campaigning on his behalf.

Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT) called on supporters to celebrate his birthday outside the presidential residence in Brasilia on Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD: Power Minister Awais Leghari told the Senate on Tuesday that the government has decided to scrap the electricity slab system that punishes consumers for crossing the 200-unit threshold even by one unit, and to provide targeted subsidy only to those deserving.

Under the current mechanism, consumers using up to 200 units per month fall under the “protected” category and avail a subsidy of around Rs13 per unit. However, any consumer exceeding the limit by even one unit has to pay up to Rs33 per unit and is then not allowed to avail the facility for six months.

Speaking in the Upper House, Leghari said work was being expedited to abolish the system under which a consumer crossing 200 units has to pay a much higher cost per unit and remains ineligible for relief for the next six months.

The minister was responding to a calling-attention notice moved by PML-N Senator Abid Sher Ali regarding tariffs charged by distribution companies (Discos)and the financial burden on consumers.

Ali highlighted that when monthly consumption increased from 200 to 201 units, the tariff jumped from Rs15 to Rs30 per unit, forcing a consumer to pay bills under the 400-unit slab for just one extra unit.

“The cruel slab system effectively punished the poor and drained the common man for months,” he said.

Acknowledging it as a genuine problem, Leghari said the ministry was seriously working to abolish the six-month bar.

He said the government was considering two options: raising the threshold from 200 to 250 units; or abolishing the six-month penalty by allowing consumers to get the protected category benefit for the month in which they restrict consumption to 200 units.

“It will take one and a half months to finalise the plan,” the power minister outlined, adding that the government was working on a new system to provide relief based on income rather than consumption.

He pointed out that the number of protected consumers had increased from 10 million to 20-25m during the last two years due to the use of solar energy. Many of them, including consumers using 700 to 800 units, were limiting grid consumption to 200 units by installing solar panels and availing relief meant for lower-income households.

“It would not be appropriate to offer equal discount to everyone using less than 200 units,” Leghari said, adding that the government was providing a 65 per cent subsidy to protected consumers which was being availed by rich and poor alike.

The new mechanism would restrict subsidy to those living below the poverty line and lower-middle income groups, he explained.

Turning to the power sector’s financial situation, Leghari said circular debt had declined to around Rs1.67 trillion and was no longer increasing every year.

The government had set a target to eliminate it within the next four years under the reprofiling of the financing scheme, and the debt servicing surcharge of Rs3.23 per unit would also be abolished during the same period, the minister added.

Leghari recalled that when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took office in 2024, the annual losses of Discos, including theft and non-recovery, were Rs591bn. The losses had come down from Rs360bn last year to Rs325bn this year due to efforts to improve efficiency.

He maintained that the Power Division was getting Rs1.18tr in budgetary support from the finance ministry in 2024, which was expected to come down to between Rs700bn-750bn this year, reducing the burden on the annual budget by about Rs200bn.

However, Leghari acknowledged that since consumers did not bear the losses of companies, and it was the finance ministry that bore the burden, the benefit of reduced losses had not yet been passed on to consumers.

He said preventing electricity theft remained the government’s top priority, but consumers would not be burdened arbitrarily.

Govt to implement national AI ecosystem

The Senate was also informed today that the government is implementing a national artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, encompassing AI infrastructure, human capital, research, startups, financing and responsible AI governance.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the House during Question Hour that the National Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem Development Programme — approved earlier this year — was one of the government’s most significant upcoming interventions for AI development.

He added that the government had announced a $1bn investment for Pakistan’s AI Ecosystem by 2030, and was also implementing the National AI Advancement Initiative to accelerate AI adoption and build practical AI capacity.

Responding to a supplementary question, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar informed the House that the first council meeting of the World AI Cooperation Organisation is expected in mid-December.

The organisation is a China-led initiative aimed at promoting transparency, openness and cooperation in artificial intelligence. Pakistan had joined the body in July as a founding member.

Dar said around 50 members had joined the organisation, which would be headquartered in Shanghai.

ISLAMABAD – Pakistanis get another cut in fuel prices as the federal government slashed petrol rates while making high-speed diesel more expensive, bringing mixed news for motorists, transporters and businesses already struggling with energy costs.

Under the daily pricing arrangement, petrol has been reduced by Rs3.19 per litre to Rs376.06. The relief has not extended to high-speed diesel, which has become Rs2.25 per litre more expensive. Its new price stands at Rs398.07, up from Rs395.82.

Latest Petrol Diesel Prices in Pakistan

Petroleum Division confirmed the changes through an official notification, stating that the revised ex-depot rates were determined by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) under the government’s existing petroleum pricing mechanism.

The fresh announcement comes just a day after consumers faced an increase in both major petroleum products. On Monday, authorities raised petrol prices by Rs1.54 per litre and diesel rates by Rs2.16 per litre, adding to concerns over the frequent adjustments in fuel costs.

The latest revision comes against the backdrop of uncertainty in international energy markets, where geopolitical tensions and shifting crude oil prices continue to influence petroleum costs.

Global crude prices, meanwhile, eased on Tuesday as investors assessed the prospects of renewed peace efforts in the Middle East. However, the broader energy market remained under pressure amid continuing hostilities involving Yemen’s Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia, alongside concerns about possible fresh US-Israeli military action.

Brent crude slips to $114.81 per barrel while US WTI crude moved down to $100.98 per barrel. Despite these declines, international oil prices remained near multi-month highs, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding global energy supplies.

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ISLAMABAD – Pakistan could be heading into another difficult winter this year, with authorities considering gas supply plan that would leave domestic consumers without natural gas for up to 16 hours a day.

As demand for heating and cooking rises in winters, the government is working on winter gas management strategy aimed at addressing the growing mismatch between supply and demand. Under the proposed arrangement, households would receive natural gas for just eight hours in a 24-hour cycle, potentially forcing families to reorganise their daily routines around limited supply windows.

For millions already struggling with soaring utility bills and the rising cost of living, the prospect of spending most of the day without gas could bring fresh financial and domestic challenges. Ministry of Petroleum reportedly completed its groundwork for the winter gas supply plan and is preparing to brief Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The proposed schedule prioritises cooking hours, with gas expected to be available around breakfast, lunch and dinner. Outside these periods, households could face prolonged interruptions, leaving consumers with little flexibility to use gas whenever they need it.

However, the exact timings have not yet been announced.  The proposed restrictions would be managed separately by the country’s two major gas distribution companies, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). Both companies are expected to announce their own supply schedules for domestic consumers in their respective regions once the government finalises its winter management strategy.

SNGPL is presently supplying approximately 487 million cubic feet of natural gas daily to household consumers, while SSGC is delivering around 286 million cubic feet per day. Together, the two companies are supplying roughly 773 million cubic feet of gas daily to domestic consumers, but growing winter demand could put further pressure on the distribution network.

The gas restrictions come at a particularly difficult time for consumers, who are also facing concerns over rising liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices. For households that depend on LPG cylinders as an alternative to piped natural gas, any further increase in prices could make cooking and heating significantly more expensive.

The situation could become especially challenging during the coldest weeks of winter, when demand for gas traditionally increases sharply. Despite growing concerns, the government has not yet formally approved the proposed eight-hour supply schedule.

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RIYADH – Saudi Arabia witnessed another wave of ballistic missile attacks, with Yemen’s Houthi rebels claiming to have struck Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence in Riyadh and targeted one of its key oil refineries, raising fears of a wider military confrontation and fresh turmoil in global energy markets.

Explosions reported from parts of Saudi capital today as air defence systems responded to incoming missiles. While Houthis declared that their operation had successfully struck a high-profile military target, Saudi authorities insisted that the missiles were intercepted before reaching their intended destinations.

Footage released by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense showcases air defense systems and military vehicles launching missiles in desert settings, accompanied by the message, “A steadfast fortress for a proud homeland.” https://t.co/VqqFThpNZG

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 27, 2026

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced that the group had carried out a ballistic missile operation against Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence in Riyadh. He claimed that the missile had successfully reached its target, describing the operation as a direct strike against the Saudi military establishment.

Brigadier General @Yah_Saree , the spokesman for Yemen’s armed forces, said that the country’s armed forces targeted the Saudi Ministry of Defense in Riyadh with a ballistic missile, which directly hit the target. https://t.co/i5Bayv2lkN

— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) October 27, 2026

However, the Saudi government did not confirm any impact on the ministry or report damage to the defence headquarters. Saudi authorities and the Saudi-led military coalition announced that two ballistic missiles launched towards the capital had been detected, intercepted and destroyed.

Despite the interceptions, loud explosions were reported in Riyadh, sending fresh alarm through a city already facing heightened security concerns following repeated missile attacks.

The missile activity was not limited to Riyadh as Houthis claimed to have targeted Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery, a major energy facility on the Gulf coast, with a ballistic missile. According to Yahya Saree, the operation caused a fire at the installation. Ras Tanura has a processing capacity of approximately 550,000 barrels of oil per day and plays a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s petroleum industry.

Saudi-led coalition separately reported intercepting ballistic missiles heading towards the Eastern Province, where Ras Tanura is located. Some accounts indicated that as many as three additional missiles had been directed towards the region.

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SOUTH WAZIRISTAN – Security forces unleashed powerful retaliatory response against Afghan Taliban border positions on Tuesday after alleged unprovoked firing triggered a fierce confrontation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier in the Angoor Adda sector.

The latest escalation saw heavy weapons and artillery brought into action as Pakistani troops responded to gunfire directed at their border posts, according to security sources. Pakistani security sources claimed that the intense counterfire forced Afghan Taliban fighters to abandon several positions across the border in Afghanistan’s Paktika province.

According to security sources, the confrontation began when Afghan Taliban personnel allegedly targeted Pakistani military posts in South Waziristan with sniper fire, automatic weapons and other heavy weaponry.

The firing prompted Pakistani troops to launch an immediate and forceful response against positions identified as the sources of the attack. Pakistani forces reportedly used artillery alongside small and heavy weapons to target Afghan Taliban border outposts, mortar installations and defensive positions across the frontier.

Security sources maintained that the retaliatory action placed Taliban positions under intense pressure, compelling several fighters to withdraw from their posts.

The confrontation reportedly intensified at approximately 2:30 pm after a projectile was allegedly fired from the Afghan side towards Pakistani positions. Heavy exchanges followed, with reports of artillery and gunfire emerging from the Angoor Adda crossing and surrounding border areas.

Residents in South Waziristan and Afghanistan’s Barmal district of Paktika province reported hearing sustained exchanges of heavy weapons. Afghan local media also acknowledged the outbreak of fighting, reporting that the confrontation had begun after midday and involved heavy weapons on both sides.

The fresh confrontation has also raised concerns for civilians living near the international border. Unconfirmed reports circulating on social media suggested that shells fired from the Afghan side struck populated areas on Pakistani territory, potentially damaging property and threatening nearby marketplaces.

The renewed confrontation comes amid growing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border militancy and repeated armed incidents.

Pakistan continues to raise alarm about militant groups, especially Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), of using sanctuaries inside Afghanistan to plan and execute attacks on Pakistani soil. Islamabad repeatedly demanded that the Afghan Taliban administration take meaningful action against militant organisations operating from its territory. Kabul has rejected allegations that it harbours anti-Pakistan militants.

Angoor Adda sector has witnessed several confrontations in recent months, including another reported exchange of heavy fire around October 19 and 20.

Pakistani security sources insisted that troops remained firmly positioned along the frontier and were prepared to respond to any fresh attack. Although the exact military losses and battlefield outcomes remain unconfirmed, the latest reports underscore Pakistan’s determination to protect its border positions and respond to threats against its territorial security.

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ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee constituted by the prime minister has set a 120-day deadline to prepare a roadmap to expand shrimp farming, improve value addition and boost exports.

Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the sub-committee on aquaculture and the shrimp value chain, according to a press release.

The 120-day deadline was set as part of a broader 24-month implementation and review process.

The meeting brought together provincial fisheries officials and relevant federal institutions to develop a “coordinated strategy” for transforming aquaculture into a competitive, export-oriented industry.

PM Shehbaz has termed achieving export-led economic growth as the government’s top priority, with the federal budget for the current fiscal year (FY27) formulated with the same objective.

The sub-committee will prepare a comprehensive report based on verified data and stakeholder recommendations, Tuesday’s statement said.

“The exercise will establish a baseline for the sector, identify bottlenecks across the value chain and propose measures to improve production, processing and export competitiveness,” it added.

Furthermore, the sub-committee approved seven technical working groups and a projection and costing cell to prepare 14 reports and export projections, assigning responsibilities to the relevant institutions.

It also adopted a common framework for data collection and validation, prioritising challenges, developing reform proposals and monitoring progress.

An initial 14-day action plan was approved, with participating institutions directed to complete their assigned tasks within the stipulated deadlines.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the fisheries departments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Officials from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and the ministries of food security and maritime affairs were also present.

According to the statement, Chaudhry said the exercise would identify constraints and develop practical solutions to expand shrimp farming, strengthen value addition and increase exports.

He added that the federal government would work with provincial governments and other stakeholders to pool expertise and develop a coordinated approach to harness the country’s potential in shrimp farming.

Sindh’s secretary for livestock and fisheries was quoted as saying that a feasibility study was being prepared for a 3,500-acre shrimp farm in the province. He also highlighted the need to address challenges in value addition and traceability.

Meanwhile, Punjab’s Aquaculture and Fisheries Secretary Rana Saleem Afzal said that relevant departments of the provincial government were working to introduce shrimp farming in Punjab.

“Many areas in Punjab were non-cultivable due to high salinity in the underground water, and efforts were under way to establish hatcheries in such areas,” he was quoted as saying.

However, he acknowledged that establishing an effective value chain remained a major challenge.

Other participants presented proposals to improve shrimp processing and value addition for exports as well as local consumption, as shrimps and prawns remain in high demand in Punjab and KP.

It was agreed that the next meeting would review identified bottlenecks as well as available baseline data essential for promoting shrimp farming.

In April, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz noted that progress had been achieved in developing infrastructure for shrimp farming projects in Sargodha Estate, Aliwala and Shahgarh.

Punjab had launched the Blue Economy Programme to develop unused lands and introduce a modern scientific system for shrimp farming.

Earlier this year, the federal government said Pakistan’s exports of fish and fish preparations had reached a record $568 million in the previous fiscal year (FY26). Seafood exports are mainly shipped to China, Thailand, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia and the United States.

KARACHI– BankIslami, one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing Islamic banks, has signed Nisar Ahmed, the WMF Pro-Am Muay Thai World Champion, as its official brand ambassador. The partnership was formalised at a signing ceremony held at the Bank’s headquarters in Karachi, attended by the Bank’s senior leadership.

Hailing from Killa Abdullah, Balochistan, Nisar Ahmed built his career through years of training and competition before moving on to the international circuit. In 2024, he became the first Pakistani to win the World Muay Federation Pro-Amateur World Muay Thai title in Bangkok. He has also won four gold medals at the National Kickboxing Championships, along with several international and national honours.

The partnership reflects BankIslami’s commitment to supporting and promoting emerging athletes at every stage of their journey. As brand ambassador, Nisar will represent the Bank in its campaigns, community initiatives and youth engagement activities nationwide.

“Pakistan has immense talent coming from every corner of the country, and Nisar’s rise from Killa Abdullah to world champion is a true reflection of it,” said Imran H Shaikh, President & Chief Executive Officer of BankIslami. “We are honoured to play a small part in his journey and look forward to supporting him as he continues to fly Pakistan’s flag around the world,” he added.

“Representing Pakistan on the international stage is an honour, and I carry that responsibility with dignity into every fight. Pakistan has so much talent in combat sports waiting for the right opportunity, and BankIslami’s support means a great deal to me and to every young fighter working towards their goals,” said Nisar Ahmed. “I look forward to working with the Bank to bring more young people into the sport,” he added.

The partnership adds to BankIslami’s ongoing work to support youth, sport and community development across Pakistan, in line with its mission of Saving Humanity from Riba.

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KARACHI: A man accused of stealing over 50 mobile phones from women after luring them to a farmhouse in Gadap under the pretext of job interviews was beaten by the aggrieved during a court appearance on Tuesday.

The suspect was arrested by the police on Monday for his alleged involvement in stealing the mobile phones of 59 women, who were brought to the farmhouse in October under the pretext of a job interview.

He was presented before the Malir judicial magistrate on Tuesday. During the hearing, the investigating officer (IO) informed the magistrate that the suspect was arrested yesterday and mobile phones had been recovered from his possession.

The officer said that more mobile phones needed to be recovered, while the suspect’s accomplices were also at large. He requested physical remand of the suspect, which the court approved, granting police one-day physical remand.

Meanwhile, a number of the affected women were present at the premises. In a video seen by Dawn, the women could be seen asking the police to show the suspect’s face, gathering around him and then proceeding to beat him with slippers and slap him.

As the suspect tried to move away, the group of women could be seen chasing him until the police took the suspect inside a room.

A day earlier, Malir Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Abdul Khaliq Pirzada told Dawn that the police had recovered 40 mobile phones from the suspect’s possession.

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested the prime suspect while he was on his way to sell 40 mobile phones in an attempt to “destroy” evidence.

Pirzada said police had obtained clues suggesting that the remaining 19 mobile phones were in the possession of another absconding suspect. Concerted efforts were underway to arrest him, he added.

The Malir SSP said the main suspect, allegedly with a female suspect’s help, had created a WhatsApp group and placed job advertisements to lure the women. He subsequently hired a bus and took them to the farmhouse.

A first information report, invoking Section 379 (punishment for theft), Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), and Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered with the Gadap City police station on the complaint of one of the victims.

Israel continued to commit genocide in Gaza after last October’s US-brokered ceasefire in the enclave, a UN commission said in a report published on Monday.

The report ​by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, examined violations ‌against Palestinian civilians, including children, since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, up to September this year.

It said Israeli authorities had kept committing “genocidal acts with the genocidal intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Palestinians in Gaza”, and that the situation had also continued ​to deteriorate in the occupied West Bank.

Another report by the commission in September last year found that Israel had committed genocide ​in Gaza and that top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, incited these acts — accusations that ⁠Israel called scandalous.

The Israeli mission in Geneva said the latest report was part of a misinformation campaign to demonise the State of ​Israel.

“The attempt to destroy the Jewish state … continues today through efforts by actors such as the UN Commission of Inquiry to undermine Israel’s ​legitimacy and deny its fundamental right to exist and defend itself,” Ambassador Daniel Meron claimed in a statement.

Heavy munitions hit populated areas, commission says

The commission found that Israeli forces continued using heavy munitions, drones, quadcopters, artillery and sniper fire in densely populated areas during the ceasefire in Gaza.

It said the “Yellow Line”, which was ​presented as a temporary ceasefire demarcation, was encroaching increasingly into Gaza, and becoming a de facto border, which the report said reflected ​Israel’s expanding territorial control of Gaza.

Palestinian authorities say more than 74,000 people have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led fighters killed ‌about 1,200 ⁠people in southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023.

In its report to the UN General Assembly, the commission said the situation in the West Bank had also deteriorated sharply, with the number of Palestinians killed in airstrikes increasing from six between 2008 and Oct 6, 2023, to 254 between Oct 7, 2023 and Sept 30, 2026.

The report said Israeli military operations, alongside sustained settler violence, formed part of a widespread ​and systematic attack against the ​civilian population in the West ⁠Bank since Oct 7, 2023.

“The Commission concludes that the Israeli authorities and forces have committed the crimes against humanity of extermination, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence in the West Bank, as ​well as persecution based on intersecting discriminatory grounds, with nationality, race and ethnicity at its core.”

Commenting ​on the report, the ⁠Israeli mission said the international community should reject what it described as distortions, and “repudiate the Commission’s findings”.

Commission Chair Srinivasan Muralidhar said the intentional killing of Palestinian civilians and destruction of homes in the West Bank formed part of a broader strategy to exterminate and displace Palestinians.

Military operations ⁠since January ​2025 have led to the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since ​1967, with 34,176 Palestinians remaining displaced as of August 2026, the report said.

The commission also faulted the Palestinian Authority, saying it had targeted Palestinians who voice dissenting views ​and that journalists and human rights defenders had been killed and injured.

A new poster of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming action film “King” has been released, and his look has reminded fans of the 1999 film “Baadshah”. The film’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, shared the poster on Instagram.

In the poster, Shah Rukh Khan appears in a distinctive, mysterious and somewhat dangerous look, though a romantic side to his character is also highlighted. The line accompanying the post, “Not a killer, a lover,” points to the dual nature of his character in the film.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Red Chillies Entertainment (@redchilliesent)

The film is being directed by Siddharth Anand. Besides Shah Rukh Khan, the cast includes his daughter Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and Anil Kapoor, among others.

Earlier in the promotional campaign for “King”, different looks of Shah Rukh Khan have already been shown. In one promotional clip, he was seen with an injured face and white hair, holding a playing card in his mouth. The clip also featured the famous dialogue “Picture abhi baaki hai” from his film “Om Shanti Om”.

The film is being described as action-packed, with Shah Rukh Khan’s character combining a dangerous persona with a romantic side. “King” is set to release in cinemas on December 24, 2026.

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Buying latest iPhone 18 pro max is not light on pocket, as the price starts at Rs6Lac for basic model and it goes up to a million for top of the line variant. But, if you dont want to spend that much in one go, there are installment plans for iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with monthly payments starting as low as Rs26,837.

The facility allows customers to purchase Apple’s flagship smartphones through repayment plans ranging from three to 36 months, with zero-markup options available on selected tenures. The offer covers PTA-approved iPhones distributed by Mercantile, an Apple-authorized distributor in Pakistan, and includes a device protection plan and a two-year warranty.

iPhone 18 Prices in Pakistan

iPhone 18 Pro Installment Plans in Pakistan

Customers purchasing the iPhone 18 Pro can select shorter installment periods with higher monthly payments or longer financing durations with smaller monthly installments.

Long-Term Installments for iPhone 18 Pro

iPhone 18 Pro Max Installment Plans in Pakistan

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is also available through the installment facility, offering repayment options for customers interested in Apple’s larger premium smartphone.

Under the 12-month plan, the 256GB Pro Max costs Rs50,417 per month. The amount drops to Rs37,071 with a 24-month repayment schedule and Rs28,737 for 36 months.

Meanwhile, the top-end 2TB variant requires monthly payments of Rs92,917 under the 12-month plan or Rs52,962 when financed over three years.

Long-Term Installments for iPhone 18 Pro Max

Processing Fees and Zero-Markup Installment Options

According to the advertised financing schedule, three- and six-month installment plans carry no processing fee. However, customers choosing nine- or 12-month financing face processing charges of 5% and 12%, respectively.

The processing fee for 18-, 24-, and 36-month plans is listed at 2.5%.

Although the 36-month option offers smaller monthly installments, it increases the overall cost of purchasing the smartphone. A buyer choosing the iPhone 18 Pro 256GB at Rs26,837 per month would pay approximately Rs966,132 over 36 months, compared with its listed retail price of Rs565,000.

Purchasing the iPhone 18 Pro Max 256GB through 36 monthly installments of Rs28,737 would result in payments totaling approximately Rs1,034,532, excluding any additional charges. Customers should therefore compare the full repayment amount rather than deciding solely on the advertised monthly installment.

The post iPhone 18 Pro Max Installment Plans in Pakistan 2026: Price, Payment Guide appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

ISLAMABAD – Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced that his party will hold a long march to Islamabad in mid-November.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad after meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the JI chief said the party would no longer postpone the march. He said the government should put in place a mechanism to abolish the levy before the march, adding that the burden of the levy is being borne by the middle class and the poor.

He said it had been agreed that relief on petroleum products would be increased. “We say abolish the levy, they say they will give relief in phases. We will talk to the government further, but the march will take place in mid-November. The government has asked for another seven to ten days,” he said.

Hafiz Naeem said the government should announce a package before the march begins. The levy, which he described as extortion, must end, he said, adding that the relief package is not benefiting the public much.

He added that it might be necessary to sit down and talk on the road. “We want relief in the petrol price, and we also want the levy abolished,” he said.

Hafiz Naeem asked whether the government would have given this relief on petrol had Jamaat-e-Islami not protested. “They were going to raise the Rs80 levy to Rs160. When we protested, they backed down. Our pressure on the government is there, and we will increase it. We want people to get relief and the levy to be abolished as well. Had Jamaat-e-Islami not protested, there would have been no relief package either,” he said.

He said talks are always held with whoever is in government, whether it is a “Form 47” or “Form 48” government. “If a hijacker takes over a plane, you have to talk to him,” he remarked.

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ISLAMABAD: The government is set to roll out a new private equity policy framework covering enhanced risk portfolios, targeting $10 to $15 billion in tax-neutral investment from domestic and international players in the private equity market.

The government aims to finalise the policy framework within the next two weeks, which would entail policy actions to be introduced through the finance bill for the next fiscal year (FY27-28).

Regulatory actions would follow immediately after the finalisation of the framework without waiting for the next year’s budget, an official told Dawn.

The framework is based on models such as those in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and India, which are estimated to have attracted $100-150bn. This was conveyed to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb during a meeting of the prime minister’s committee for developing the National Private Equity Framework.

The meeting reviewed progress on regulatory and tax reforms, domestic capital mobilisation and the development of investment opportunities to support a robust private equity ecosystem in Pakistan.

It also reviewed the potential of Pakistan’s private equity market, including opportunities arising from acquisitions, business consolidation, new projects and exits by existing investors.

The introduction of regulatory changes for banks enhancing their exposures to real estate investment trusts (REITs) had increased the portfolio from Rs22bn in 2021 to over Rs280bn now, a participant said, adding that the potential for private equity investments had no limits, provided a conducive environment was created.

Additionally, the meeting focused on the mobilisation of domestic institutional capital, including resources available with banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, pension schemes and development finance institutions, alongside potential participation from local corporations and family offices.

The committee also discussed various investment structures and mechanisms to facilitate the deployment of these resources into private equity funds and commercially viable businesses and projects.

Informed sources said foreign investors and institutional funds, particularly those from friendly nations, always sought a proper policy framework with rules-based exit and entry facilitations to secure their investments whenever top government Pakistani delegations sought investments or presented various investment opportunities, including in minerals, real estate, agriculture, oil and gas, tourism or manufacturing.

The prospects of developing a substantial pipeline of investable opportunities over the next five to 10 years were also discussed, supported by significant domestic liquidity that could be channelled towards productive economic activity through an effective private equity ecosystem.

Aurangzeb appreciated the progress achieved across key workstreams and underscored the importance of translating regulatory and policy reforms into practical investment opportunities.

He emphasised the need for a transparent, commercially viable and investor-friendly framework that would help mobilise domestic savings, attract institutional investment and support private-sector-led economic growth.

Moreover, he noted that mobilising domestic capital should be the immediate priority, providing the foundation for a credible and functioning private equity market capable of subsequently attracting foreign institutional investors and facilitating international co-investment.

Reviewing progress on regulatory reforms, the committee discussed measures concerning fund structures, transparency, investment arrangements and the participation of financial institutions in private equity funds.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) briefed participants on recent regulatory changes, including the enhancement of the permissible investment limit for banks in a single private equity fund from 10 per cent to 20pc.

On taxation, the meeting reviewed recommendations for establishing a clear, competitive and predictable tax framework for private equity funds. Discussions included the proposed treatment of private equity funds as pass-through vehicles, with taxation applied at the investor level, as part of efforts to develop a globally competitive private equity ecosystem.

The finance minister stressed the importance of comprehensively evaluating relevant international taxation models and adapting them to Pakistan’s economic and regulatory environment.

He directed that any proposed tax arrangements must support legitimate investment activity while preventing opportunities for tax arbitrage, unintended distortions or regulatory inconsistencies.

The committee also underscored the need for a coordinated approach across regulatory and taxation authorities to ensure consistency in the treatment of different investment vehicles and facilitate the development of a well-functioning private equity market.

The finance minister directed relevant stakeholders to build on the progress achieved, address outstanding regulatory and taxation issues, and advance work on domestic capital mobilisation and the identification of viable investment opportunities to move the National Private Equity Framework towards implementation.

Reiterating the government’s broader reform priorities, the minister advised that the development of a robust private equity ecosystem should contribute to deeper domestic capital markets, improved access to long-term risk capital, greater private-sector investment and sustainable economic growth.