KARACHI: Over 30 shops were destroyed when a blaze erupted at a furniture market in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar in the early hours of Friday.

No injuries were reported, according to police and rescue services officials and the fire was later brought under control.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan said the fire erupted in a furniture market near Kamran Chowrangi. It spread rapidly due to the presence of wooden goods, engulfing the whole market, he said, adding that it also spread to nearby residential areas and even engulfed a house.

“The residents had already evacuated to safer areas; therefore, no injuries were reported,” Khan said, adding that when responders reached the scene, they initially extinguished the house fire, which damaged a portion of the residence.

“Six fire tenders managed to control the fire after hectic efforts lasting for three hours,” the spokesperson added. “The fire caused huge financial losses as all stored wooden goods were destroyed.”

He added that the exact cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained.

Meanwhile, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) said its fire brigade received information about the fire at around 1:35am on Friday. Firemen reached the scene within 10 minutes; however, due to dry weather, wind and the presence of wooden items, the fire grew. It said that around 35 furniture shops were destroyed.

Affected shopkeepers told the media that the fire caused losses of millions of rupees.

KMC Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan, meanwhile, told the media that fire incidents tend to increase in Karachi’s dry season and that the furniture market was built on an open plot.

“Nearby huts were also established, and it was possible that the flames emanating from huts spread and engulfed the market,” he said, adding that around 10-12 huts were also destroyed in the fire.

Last year, a fire had also erupted in the same market. Rescue sources said there were “unconfirmed” reports that the furniture market was established reportedly on “disputed land”.

In 2015, a fire in the same market destroyed furniture worth hundreds of thousands of rupees. A contingent of eight fire brigades was immediately sent to the site of the incident, which was brought under control.

Fires frequently erupt in buildings across Pakistan due to a mix of poor infrastructure, weak enforcement of safety regulations, and widespread negligence. Many structures lack proper fire exits, alarms, and emergency protocols, while faulty wiring and overloaded power systems increase the risk of electrical short circuits.

The Gul Plaza inferno, which erupted on the night of January 17 at the mall, claimed at least 73 lives. The blaze took nearly two days to be fully extinguished and left over 1,100 shops in ruins.

In early February, a massive fire in a plastic factory at Landhi Export Processing Zone (EPZ) engulfed several nearby factories and took major firefighting efforts to be brought under control after 13 hours.

Days later, a fire erupted in a high-rise building near Karachi’s Baloch Colony, with around 150 people evacuated. On February 17, a fire at a chemical factory in the SITE Industrial Area was brought under control.

The next month, a blaze that broke out in Imtiaz Superstore’s Zamzama branch was brought under control after hours-long efforts by rescue officials.

In June, hundreds of people were evacuated as a fire erupted in the cold storage of a department store situated in a mega shopping mall on Rashid Minhas Road in Federal B Area.

In September, at least three people suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation after a huge fire erupted in a factory at the Karachi EPZ, near Landhi Industrial Area. The blaze destroyed half of the three-storey unit and badly damaged other factories.

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday approved a resolution reaffirming that workplace harassment was not limited to conduct of a sexual nature but may also include intimidation, humiliation and gender-based discrimination.

The resolution was presented by MNA Dr Shahida Rehmani, who is also the secretary of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC).

The resolution reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to protecting the dignity, equality and rights of every individual against all forms of workplace harassment and gender-based discrimination, in accordance with Articles 14 (inviolability of dignity of man, etc.) and 25 (equality of citizens) of the Constitution.

It underscored that workplace harassment was not limited to conduct of a sexual nature, but “may also manifest through gender-based discrimination, intimidation, humiliation, degrading treatment, hostile behaviour and misuse of authority, whether sexual or non-sexual in nature”.

The resolution reaffirmed the legislative intent and protections enshrined in the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, as amended in 2022, which expressly recognises discrimination based on gender, both sexual and non-sexual, to fall within the statutory framework of harassment.

It further emphasised that the absence of a sexual advance or demand does not diminish the seriousness of gender-based harassment or discrimination.

The resolution said that the dignity of individuals “cannot be subjected to narrow distinctions between different forms of harassment” and all conduct falling within the scope of the law “must be addressed with equal seriousness, fairness and accountability”.

Through the resolution, the NA was called on to urge the federal government and all concerned institutions to ensure the effective implementation of existing legislation in its full scope, ensuring that no individual would be deprived of statutory protection merely because the harassment or gender-based discrimination reported was non-sexual in nature.

The resolution concluded by reaffirming that a workplace free from harassment, humiliation and gender-based discrimination was “not a privilege, but a fundamental requirement of human dignity, equality and justice”.

Although the resolution did not refer to any specific incident, lawyers and journalists have recently raised concerns about a ruling by the Federal Constitu­tio­nal Court (FCC), in which it set aside an Islamabad High Court judgement in a workplace harassment case filed by a National Bank of Pakistan employee in 2012.

Authored by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, the FCC order reproduced the definition of harassment stated in the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010.

The 2010 Act describes harassment as “any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favours or other verbal or written communication or physical conduct of a sexual nature or sexually demeaning attitudes, causing interference with work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, or the attempt to punish the complainant for refusal to comply to such a request or is made a condition for employment”.

Interpreting that definition, the FCC ruling said that an “act, conduct or attitude has to be sexual in nature, if it is to be covered under the definition of harassment for the purpose” of the 2010 Act.

ISLAMABAD – The federal government has announced a nationwide public holiday on the occasion of Iqbal Day and issued a notification to that effect.

According to the notification issued by the Cabinet Division, a public holiday will be observed across the country on Monday, November 9, 2026, to mark Iqbal Day.

The holiday has been granted under the annual holidays circular issued by the cabinet on January 19, 2026. All ministries and departments have been directed to ensure implementation of the notification.

Following the issuance of the notification, educational institutions and government and private offices will remain closed across the country on November 9.

Employees of offices and educational institutions that observe a two-day weekend will get three consecutive days off from November 7 to 9, while normal routines will resume on Tuesday, November 10.

The post Government announces public holiday on November 9 for Iqbal Day appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

RAWALPINDI – Singapore’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, called on Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces (COAS & CDF), at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics, and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation. They also exchanged views on regional peace and stability, stressing the importance of sustained engagement and cooperation in areas of shared interest.

The army chief reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its relations with Singapore, emphasizing that closer institutional linkages and constructive engagement are essential to promoting peace, stability and security in the region.

The visiting dignitary, for his part, welcomed the strengthening of ties between the two countries. He praised the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged Pakistan’s contributions to regional peace and stability.

The post CDF Asim Munir reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to stronger ties with Singapore appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

ISLAMABAD: In what is set to stir a new controversy, a bill proposing quarterly determination of natural gas prices landed in the upper House of Parliament on Friday.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced in the House by Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry at a time when the daily fuel pricing mechanism has drawn widespread criticism.

The bill seeks to insert a new Section 8A in the Ogra Ordinance, 2002.

Under the proposed mechanism, a licensee for natural gas will submit its total revenue requirement on a quarterly basis — only to the extent of wellhead gas prices and the cost of imported gas, including Re-Gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) — for review by the authority.

Ogra will then advise the federal government, which must, within 30 days, advise minimum charges and sale prices for each category of retail consumer for gazette notification.

The bill also empowers the federal government to advise Ogra to carry forward the entire or part of a quarterly adjustment to its forthcoming half-yearly determination under Section 8.

In a clause likely to trigger debate, the bill amends Section 9 to state: “Provided that public hearing shall not be held by the Authority for revision of prescribed prices under Section 8A.”

The statement of objects and reasons states that the primary objective is to align tariffs with market realities by adjusting for Rupee-Dollar parity in a timely manner, signal accurate pricing, curb accumulation of circular debt in the gas sector and ensure financial and operational stability of the gas supply chain.

The bill landed in the Senate at a time when consumers are complaining of unpredictable fuel price shocks.

If passed, it shall come into force at once.

‘Will Karachi’s sea be shifted next?’

During the Senate session on Friday, PPP Senator Waqar Mehdi raised the proposed shifting of Pakistan Petroleum Limited’s (PPL) head office from Karachi to Islamabad, warning that a pattern was emerging of moving federal headquarters, ministries and corporations away from Karachi.

“The head office has been in Karachi since around 1951. Now attempts are being made to shift it to Islamabad through the board of directors, whose members are not elected representatives of the people,” Mehdi said.

He pointed out that the current office’s rent was around Rs4 million per month, but shifting would cost billions. Around 500 officers and employees from Sindh work in PPL and would face severe economic and family disruption if the head office was moved, he said.

“From the federal government’s conduct, it seems tomorrow they will talk of shifting Karachi’s sea to Islamabad as well,” Mehdi remarked.

He said PPL’s core activities, exploration, imports and related infrastructure were linked to Karachi and the institution had been working successfully from there. He demanded the decision be withdrawn.

PPP Senator Zamir Ghumro said oil and gas came under the domain of the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

“How can you shift it without the will of the CCI?” he asked.

In response, Chaudhry said PPL was a company and its board had repeatedly said vacating the office had become inevitable.

“We take everything towards provincialism, regionalism. PPL’s assets are not only in Sindh but also in Balochistan. No employees are being affected. There is no provincialism in shifting this office from Karachi,” he said.

KARACHI: 11 Pakistani fishermen, after spending several years in Indian jails for unknowingly crossing over to Indian waters while fishing, were reunited with their families in Karachi on Friday morning.

The men were handed over through the Wagah Border by Indian authorities some two months ago. On Friday, the Edhi Foundation brought them from Lahore to Karachi by ambulance. They arrived at 11:30am at the Edhi Centre near Merewether Tower, where their families had been waiting since morning.

It was a touching reunion where the fishermen, having been jailed for between four and nine years, finally met their families.

Some, like Kamal Hassan Bengali of Machhar Colony, who was in jail in India for eight years, returned to meet new family members. But his eyes grew moist knowing that his mother would not be there to greet him when he got home.

“The day our boat was captured by the Indian coast guard was the day my mother passed away. I only learned about her passing through a letter which reached me three years later,” Kamal told Dawn, as he held his eight-year-old niece Areeba close.

“I am meeting her (Areeba) for the first time,” he added, smiling through tears.

Asked how his boat crossed over to the other side, he said that they experienced an engine failure, following which the boat drifted towards Indian waters.

All of Kamal’s seven brothers and his sister have gotten married in the last eight years. His sister Manzoora told Dawn that with their mother gone, the responsibility of finding a good match for him now fell on her shoulders.

“I will get him married soon now that he is back home,” she said.

Noor Nabi Bengali, also of Machhar Colony, who was also with Kamal on the same boat, recalled their days in Indian captivity with sadness.

“We were given bad food. The lentils and plain rice or the potato and cauliflower curry that we were fed in jail would stink sometimes because it had gone bad,” he said.

Khamiso Siddiq Mallah from Shah Bandar said that he spent almost four years in Indian captivity. Now 60, he said that he has no intention of returning to fishing now that he is back.

“I will become a labourer, but I will never go back to sea,” he said.

Abdul Rehman of Korangi said that he was in jail in India for nine years.

“I don’t remember the name of my boat,” he said when asked its name.

“I only remember the horrible jail food and the lonely days I spent behind bars in India,” he shared.

“The attitude of the jail staff toward us Pakistanis never let me forget for a minute that we were in an enemy country. They treated us worse than animals.”

Mehboob Ali Mullah of Badin, who was in jail for three-and-a-half years, said that he could not wait to see his children.

“My journey doesn’t end here. I still have to travel to my village in Badin,” he said. “I have three children back home whom I cannot wait to see.”

Basheer of Machhar Colony said that he only knew how to fish, so he could not stop doing that if he wants to earn a livelihood.

“But what I’ll do is not ever fish in Sindh. I’ll fish in Balochistan, which doesn’t touch the Indian border,” he said.

“Now that I’m back in my country, I will eat good, healthy food to gain back the 70 pounds that I lost while in Indian jail,” he added.

Meanwhile, Saleem Sabro from Thatta, who has been looking for his missing fisherman brother for five years, came to give Basheer a good look.

“He looks like my brother Ahmed Ali,” he told Dawn, explaining, “I come here whenever Pakistani fishermen return from India to see if my brother might be among them.

“Among the fishermen released last year, I came across one who had information about my brother. He told me that he was in a jail in Ahmedabad,” he shared.

Sabro added that he had in the meantime contacted the Pakistan Embassy in Delhi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ansar Burney Trust, a non-government organisation (NGO), regarding his brother.

“He served his sentence two years ago, but still he has not returned home. During this time, I have also gotten his two daughters married and found an apprenticeship with a motor mechanic for his young son,” he said.

Many Pakistani fishermen continue to languish in Indian jails. According to Fatima Majeed Motani, the Chairperson of Fishermen’s Cooperative Society, there are still more than 70 Pakistani fishermen who unknowingly crossed over to India and are currently behind bars in India.

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani security forces on Friday took out several Afghan Taliban posts and military installations in areas bordering South Waziristan and Parachinar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to security sources.

The strikes were carried out by the Pakistan Army in response to unprovoked firing by Kabul regime personnel at Angoor Adda on October 27, the sources said. They added that Afghan Taliban personnel abandoned their positions and fled after the Pakistani action, and that multiple casualties among them were also reported.

On Wednesday, security forces had destroyed several Afghan Taliban checkposts in a retaliatory operation after an attack on civilians in Angoor Adda, South Waziristan. One person was killed and five members of the same family were injured in that attack, according to the sources.

The Deputy Commissioner of Lower South Waziristan said Afghan Taliban forces had opened unprovoked fire on the Angoor Adda bazaar and nearby residential areas. A mortar shell hit the area, killing one civilian and wounding five others, while several shops were damaged. He said Pakistani forces deployed along the border were mounting an effective and forceful response.

The incident comes amid recurring cross-border violence in the Angoor Adda sector. In late April, mortar shelling from across the border wounded civilians and damaged homes in South Waziristan, prompting Pakistani forces to target Afghan Taliban positions, according to security sources and local authorities. Those clashes followed renewed hostilities in February, when Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to stop militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan.

The post Pakistan destroys Afghan Taliban posts near South Waziristan in retaliatory strikes appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

Pakistan’s armed forces targeted and destroyed several Afghan Taliban posts and military positions in areas adjacent to South Waziristan and Parachinar, state media reported on Friday, citing security sources.

According to state-run Radio Pakistan, the army “gave a befitting reply to unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban along the Pak-Afghan border in the Angoor Adda area” on Tuesday.

“Using heavy weaponry, the Pakistan Army forced Afghan Taliban personnel to abandon their posts and flee,” the report said.

Citing reports, it added that several Afghan Taliban regime personnel were also killed during the operation.

“Security forces remain committed to the defence of the country and the protection of its people and there will be no compromise on national security,” the report said.

On Tuesday, Afghan security forces opened unprovoked fire on Pakistan Army border posts and residential areas in the Angoor Adda border area, which claimed the life of one local and injured a family of five.

According to officials, the firing originated from posts located inside Afghan territory and targeted Pakistani border posts with sniper, small and heavy weapons.

Sources said that Pakistani forces launched an immediate and effective retaliatory action, engaging multiple Afghan Taliban border posts, mortar positions and defensive bunkers with small and heavy arms, including artillery.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had condemned the firing, asserting that Pakistan would “never tolerate” attacks on its people or violations of its sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Pakistan had also dismissed a statement by Afghanistan’s defence ministry regarding the incident that claimed that Pakistan was the aggressor, terming it a “fabrication of lies”.

The border at Angoor Adda is one of the most important and sensitive crossings along the Pak-Afghan border, serving as a key trade route and one of the main points of public movement between the two countries.

Pak-Afghan tensions

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, that are used for attacks in Pakistan. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.

September witnessed another bout of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

On Sept 21, in response to recent major terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan conducted “calibrated” airstrikes in the border region with Afghanistan against terrorist hideouts, with the government saying more than 28 terrorists were killed.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the action as part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, which was launched on the night of Feb 26 in response to unprovoked cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban.

Days later, Pakistan shot down eight drones launched from across the border that had entered Pakistani airspace near the Torkham border and Kohat. It was also reported that the Afghan Taliban engaged in unprovoked firing the night before near Kurram as security forces foiled an attempt by terrorists to cross into Pakistan.

In retaliation for the drone incursion, Pakistan conducted “precision aerial and drone strikes” in 10 locations across Afghanistan.

A demarche was also delivered to the Afghan side on Sept 26 on account of the Sept 23 airspace violation by drones, the Foreign Office said.

On Oct 1, Pakistan again carried out “well-planned and calibrated” airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, the information ministry said, adding that the strikes resulted in the deaths of “multiple terrorists”.

Around mid-October, the state media reported that security forces had again responded to unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in KP’s Upper Kurram.

It quoted security sources as saying that several personnel of the Afghan Taliban were “reportedly killed during the Pakistan Army’s retaliatory action along the Ghuzgarhi border”. The sources further said that in the Upper Kurram sector, the army targeted the Afghan Taliban’s Topsar post and Shipola base camp with artillery fire, reportedly completely destroying the latter.

The border skirmishes came a day after the Foreign Office said that talks with Afghanistan could not be unconditional, but also rejected suggestions that Islamabad was unwilling to engage with its neighbour and said it would welcome sincere efforts by friendly countries to help resolve the dispute.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Friday regretted the non-implementation of an earlier Supreme Court judgment in the sacked employees case, underlining that disregarding or delaying the implementation of the latter’s verdicts by the government amounts to “challenging the very framework of the legal system”.

The observation came while hearing a set of contempt of court petitions against the Punjab government, as well as the federal government, for not implementing the Dec 17, 2021 SC judgement — a verdict which had converted the review hearings to the jurisdiction of Article 184(3) only to safeguard the fundamental right to livelihood of a number of sacked government employees.

Subsequently, review petitions were instituted against the 2021 judgement that had rendered almost 17,000 government employees jobless by holding as illegal and unconstitutional a PPP-era law, known as the Sacked Employees (Reinstatement) Ordinance Act 2010 (SERA), under which thousands of people were employed or promoted.

On Friday, FCC judge, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, emphasised that the orders of the SC, as the then-apex court before the 27th Constitutional Amendment, were “not merely recommendations or advisories but they are legal mandate that must be followed”.

Justice Najafi was a member of a three-judge bench, which was headed by FCC Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, that had taken up a set of contempt of court petitions on the non-implementation of the SC judgement.

In a ten-page order, Justice Najafi observed that the decisions of the SC were the culmination of “vigorous legal scrutiny and deliberation intended to reflect upon the values and laws of the land”.

“It is imperative to underline that in a constitution democracy the rule of law is not just a principle but the foundation upon which the legitimacy of and the good governance in any system of government rests,” Justice Najafi observed.

“The SC, being the apex court of the country, was entrusted with performing the responsibility of interpreting the law, ensuring justice and upholding the Constitution,” the judge observed.

“The orders of the Supreme Court, as the then apex court, are not merely recommendations or advisories but they are legal mandates that must be followed.

“And compliance with the judicial decision is not a matter of courtesy but a constitutional requirement, the non-compliance of which not only disturbs the delicate equilibrium between the prestige of the court and the enforcement of rights but also sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to an executive overreach,” Justice Najafi emphasised.

“Besides, the implementation of these orders is crucial for maintaining public confidence in the judicial system. If their decisions can be easily ignored or set aside by the individuals or entities, public trust in the efficacy of the judiciary and the entire government is seriously undermined,” the judge emphasised.

“Consequently, the erosion of trust in the judicial system may lead to undermining the democratic system,” the judgement held.

Reverting to the case, the FCC noted that the SC judgement required that the beneficiary employees would have to undergo relevant tests applicable to their post to be conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) within three months.

To take aptitude, scholastic, or skill tests was the responsibility of the employer, and if it was not conducted, it would not be considered a fault of the employees, who never refused to appear in the test until today, the judgement said.

Admittedly, the employees were granted employment by one government, terminated by another government, reinstated into service by a government and then the Act of 2010 reinstating such employees was declared unlawful by the SC, and in all these situations, employees had committed no fault, the judge emphasised.

If an offer to take the test is not made, the employees could not be put at any disadvantageous position so as to deny the benefit of the said order now sought to be implemented, Justice Najafi maintained.

“We therefore hold that the conditions so imposed by the SC on the beneficiary employees were waived/diluted by the respondent-department due to the afflux of time and lethargy on their part and not for any fault of the employees.

“Such conduct cannot be awarded with any sentence of appreciation by FCC,” Justice Najafi said.

“The inaction on the part of the employers was marked with caution, persuading us to show our concern to a sorry state of affairs,” he cautioned.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed on Friday to strengthen strategic cooperation in oil storage, refinery upgrades, crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) procurement, and the minerals sector to promote bilateral economic ties, according to a statement issued by the Petroleum Division.

Saudi Arabia also announced the immediate introduction of same-day visa processing for Pakistani citizens at its embassy in Islamabad.

Pakistan has been planning to boost domestic storage for crude oil and refined products to increase its energy security. With no strategic petroleum reserves, the country has been left exposed to oil supply shocks resulting from the US-Iran war that has choked supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

The developments were announced after Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met Saudi Arabia’s new ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Rajeh bin Tami Al-Baqami, to discuss opportunities for enhancing cooperation in the mining, petroleum and energy sectors, including strategic oil storage, refinery upgrades, LPG supplies and commercial engagement.

The minister appreciated the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries and said Pakistan had approved a tax-neutral bonded policy modelled on international energy hubs such as Fujairah and Singapore, according to the statement.

“Under this framework, Saudi companies can establish commercial oil reserves in Pakistan without local tax liabilities, offering an opportunity to diversify maritime transit risks associated with the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab while facilitating access to Asian markets,” the statement said.

“The petroleum minister highlighted that strategic oil storage facilities in Pakistan would provide Saudi Arabia with greater flexibility in managing supply routes and accessing regional markets,” it added.

The statement further quoted the minister as saying that Pakistan planned to develop a major petroleum storage and refining complex at Hub in Balochistan under the guidance of Technip Energies UK.

“The proposed facility, supported by the prime minister and the chief of defence forces, will have the capacity to accommodate Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and strengthen Pakistan’s potential as a regional energy corridor serving Central Asian and Chinese markets,” the statement quoted Malik as saying.

Malik also briefed the ambassador on investment opportunities under Pakistan’s ongoing refinery upgradation programme, which aims to modernise domestic refining infrastructure, improve operational efficiency and facilitate a transition to Euro-5 fuel standards.

He said the programme offered significant opportunities for Saudi investment and participation in Pakistan’s refining sector.

Appreciating Saudi Arabia’s support during recent global market disruptions, the minister thanked the Saudi authorities at Yanbu port for prioritising crude oil shipments to Pakistan.

He also discussed coordination with Saudi Aramco to increase crude oil procurement and arrange dedicated LPG shipments to meet Pakistan’s energy needs, particularly amid an anticipated rise in domestic gas demand during winter.

Both sides underscored that the strong defence and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia provides a foundation for broader regional peace, stability and economic cooperation.

The Saudi envoy expressed Riyadh’s deep appreciation for Pakistan’s longstanding support, saying the two countries stood together in all circumstances.

The ambassador emphasised that the two countries’ defence and energy cooperation frameworks aimed to promote peace, stability and economic growth across the region.

The minister also announced that the Saudi embassy in Islamabad had introduced same-day processing of visa applications for Pakistani citizens to facilitate travel and strengthen business, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Malik invited Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Mining, Khalid al-Mudafier, to attend the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 12 and 13, highlighting further opportunities for cooperation and investment in Pakistan’s minerals sector.

Both sides expressed their commitment to strengthening their longstanding relationship through enhanced cooperation, investment and mutually beneficial partnerships in the energy and petroleum sectors.

The minister assured the ambassador that Pakistan deeply valued its historic relationship with Saudi Arabia and remained committed to expanding cooperation across strategic sectors.

Earlier in July, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to increase the country’s strategic petroleum reserves as a cabinet committee approved amendments to the oil refining policy.

LAHORE – The Lahore High Court has ordered the traditional slip (parchi) system for patients in all government hospitals across Punjab to be abolished within four weeks.

The court ruled that patients arriving at emergency and outpatient departments must not be forced to stand in long queues to obtain slips and complete registration, and should instead be provided immediate medical examination and treatment.

Justice Malik Javed Iqbal Wains issued the written order on a petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel. The court directed the Punjab Health Department to introduce an effective, technology-based system for managing patients in public hospitals, so that unnecessary delays, overcrowding and long queues at registration counters can be eliminated.

According to the court order, the petition concerning the lack of basic medical facilities in government hospitals has been pending since 2020. Despite several court notices and directions, no party has so far submitted an implementation report. The court held that the continued failure to comply with its orders reflects an unserious and negligent attitude on the part of the officials concerned.

During the hearing, Special Secretary Health Nabila Irfan assured the court that the traditional slip system in Punjab’s government hospitals would be abolished within four weeks and replaced with a modern and effective patient management system.

The court also directed the Punjab Health Department to submit a comprehensive report on the medical facilities available in government hospitals, their quality, and the steps taken to improve them.

The Lahore High Court ordered all concerned authorities to submit detailed implementation reports at the next hearing, warning that legal action may be taken against officers who fail to comply with the court’s orders without justification.

The post LHC orders Punjab govt to scrap parchi system in govt hospitals within 4 weeks appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that she will resign if even one rupee of corruption is proven against her.

Addressing a ceremony in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz said that where protests and vandalism take place every day, how can a laborer work? She said that to attract investment, the first step is to make the environment safe.

She said that if even one rupee of corruption is proven, she will step down, adding that a full-fledged campaign against corruption is under way in Punjab. Government employees who take bribes are being dismissed from service, and eradicating corruption is a priority.

Maryam Nawaz said that Punjab’s share in the national GDP is significant. She said encroachments that had lasted 25 years in Punjab have been cleared, and markets have been widened by removing illegal structures. Every sector, including industry, is undergoing change, she added, and Pakistan’s young population can become the country’s greatest asset.

The post Will resign if even one rupee of corruption is proven: Maryam Nawaz appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

A Pakistani traveler’s attempt to bring goat trotters and other food items into Canada proved costly, as he had his belongings seized at the airport and was also fined heavily.

Customs officials at Toronto Pearson International Airport found 16 kilograms of food items in the Pakistani passenger’s luggage.

According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), a trained detector dog at the airport signaled the presence of food items in the passenger’s baggage.

Upon searching the luggage, officers found goat trotters, chicken meat, desi ghee (clarified butter), and powdered milk.

Officials said the passenger had not declared these items to customs upon arriving in Canada. For violating the rules, all of the food items were confiscated and a fine of $1,350 was also imposed.

The post Pakistani traveler fined in Canada for carrying goat trotters, ghee and other foods appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

KARACHI – The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a man in Karachi for allegedly defrauding a woman of Rs4.45 million by promising to marry her and later attempting to blackmail her using altered photographs.

According to the NCCIA, the suspect had created a fake identity under the name of Hussamuddin on a matrimonial application to establish contact with the victim.

Investigators said the suspect gained the woman’s trust by promising marriage and subsequently received Rs4.45 million from her through online bank transfers.

After obtaining the money, the suspect allegedly threatened to circulate her digitally altered photographs on social media and attempted to extort additional money by using the images as leverage.

The arrested suspect was identified as Hassam, son of Saleem. A case has been registered against him under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.

During preliminary investigations, authorities reportedly discovered that the suspect may have targeted other women using a similar method.

The NCCIA has appealed to other potential victims to come forward and register complaints, assuring them that their identities will be kept strictly confidential.

The agency also advised users of matrimonial applications and social media platforms to exercise caution when interacting with strangers online and sharing personal information.

The post Karachi man arrested for defrauding woman of Rs4.45 million on promise of marriage appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

ISLAMABAD: A PPP delegation called on Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas on Friday and urged the opposition to join a proposed parliamentary committee on electoral reforms, Senator Sherry Rehman said.

“He told us that he will respond [to the proposal] after consultation. We are hopeful that their response will be positive,” Rehman said in a video statement after the meeting.

The proposal for the committee’s formation was shared by PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during the National Assembly on Thursday.

He had said Parliament had decided to constitute a committee on electoral reforms in response to a PPP request and urged Opposition Leader in the NA Mehmood Khan Achakzai to nominate a representative to the committee since the opposition had described electoral rigging as a “fundamental issue”.

PTI lawmakers had quit the parliamentary standing committees last year on the directives of their party chief.

On Friday, another PPP delegation, comprising the party’s secretary general Nayyar Bokhari, Senator Waqar Mehdi, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Rehman, visited Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas with yet another invitation to join the proposed body.

The opposition delegation included Abbas, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri and Senator Ali Zafar.

Bokhari said the opposition leaders told the PPP delegation that they would consult with all opposition parties before coming up with their response to the PPP invitation.

Speaking during the meeting, Senator Rehman said the objective of the committee was to bring the government and opposition together to formulate joint proposals for ensuring free, fair and transparent elections.

“Repeated questions over the credibility of the electoral process undermine the credibility of Parliament itself. Free, fair and transparent elections are essential not only for protecting the rights of voters but also for strengthening democratic institutions,” she added.

Rehman said that the committee would deliberate and present its recommendations before parliament for approval. She stressed that electoral reforms must be a collective parliamentary undertaking to ensure broad-based political consensus and public confidence.

A source privy to the meeting told Dawn that the PPP delegation also urged the opposition leaders to sit down with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the appointment of a new chief election commissioner (CEC), as the incumbent CEC was still sitting in office even after two years of retirement.

Under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, the CEC continues to serve until the appointment of a successor.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Rehman said: “We have told the opposition that they must join this committee, play an active role and openly express their reservations.”

She added, “If they (opposition members) remain absent, how will their reservations be addressed?”

“Every political party should ensure its participation in the committee. We all know that the PTI has boycotted parliamentary committees. So we asked them to join this committee, play an active role in it, express their reservations and suggest reforms,” Rehman said in the video statement.

These committees, she said, were the “heart of parliamentary work”.

She further stated that the PTI should participate in other parliamentary committees as well and “strengthen Parliament’s role”.

Rehman added that Abbas had welcomed the PPP delegation, expressed gratitude to Bilawal and said they would respond to the proposal after consultation.

“We are hopeful that their response will be positive,” she said.

PTI’s Parliamentary leader in the Senate, Senator Zafar, said while speaking to the media that electoral reforms were essential for strengthening democracy and ensuring public confidence in the electoral process.

However, he emphasised that the fundamental problem in Pakistan was not the absence of laws or the need to make new laws. “The real problem lies in their implementation,” he said.

“The key question is how we will ensure that existing electoral laws are implemented honestly, transparently and without discrimination. Unless this fundamental issue is addressed, merely introducing new laws will not achieve the desired results.”

Zafar thanked the PPP for extending the offer and stated that the PTI would discuss the proposal internally within the party before formulating and communicating its response.

He reiterated that any meaningful discussion on electoral reforms must address both the legal framework and, more importantly, the mechanisms to ensure its effective implementation.

A day earlier, another PPP delegation invited Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai to participate in the parliamentary committee to promote consultation and discussion among parliamentary representatives on electoral reforms.

Later, in a press conference, Raja Pervez Ashraf said the PPP delegation had a meeting with Achakzai on Bilawal’s instructions to invite him to join the committee.

“The PPP wants the PTI to participate in parliamentary standing committees as well as the electoral reforms committee,” he added.

Achakzai had sought time to consult before responding to the invitation, he said.

Addressing a rally in Karachi earlier this month, Bilawal had also extended an olive branch to the opposition parties, saying their positive engagement with the federal government could result in the reversal of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PPP chairman had invited the opposition to join the Parliamentary electoral reforms process and “engage with the federal government”.

LAHORE: A judicial magistrate on Friday granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) a further four-day physical remand of the prime suspect in a Rs35 billion fraud involving the online sale of counterfeit US postage stamps.

The NCCIA produced suspect Faheem Akram and his co-suspect, Naeem, before the court after their previous four-day remand expired.

The investigating officer (IO) sought further custody of the suspects for interrogation.

Magistrate Naeem Wattoo granted the agency’s request and extended the physical remand of both suspects by four days.

The IO was directed to produce the suspects again on Nov 3.

The initial investigation revealed that the suspect had allegedly been operating a website since August 2023 through which he sold more than five million counterfeit US postage labels online.

According to the US Department of Justice, Akram was indicted by a federal grand jury in Florida in September 2026 over the alleged sale of more than 5.1 million counterfeit postage labels, which prosecutors say caused losses of more than $126 million to the US Postal Service.

US prosecutors allege that the website sold the labels for around $2 each, regardless of the weight, size or destination of a package. A US court order authorised the seizure and shutdown of the website.

The NCCIA had arrested the suspect, a resident of Khanewal, in Lahore.

Money trail

In a press conference on Oct 20, NCCIA’s Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer said that 16 bank accounts had been used in the scam. Seven of the accounts were operated by the suspect, five by his brother, two by his wife, and one each by his sister and aunt.

He said the agency had expanded the investigation across several parts of the country.

“Eight special teams were formed in Punjab, Islamabad and Sindh to trace the suspect and investigate the network,” he said and added the teams conducted raids at 35 locations and questioned 47 people as part of the investigation.

“Investigators also employed digital and forensic techniques to establish the suspect’s movements and identify people associated with the operation.”

Ameer added that investigators analysed 122 call-data records, 50 IMEI-tracking reports and audio and video recordings from 120 cameras.

“Artificial intelligence and other modern technological tools were also used during the investigation. A locator operation continued for 10 days as investigators attempted to establish the suspect’s whereabouts and trace his activities,” he said.

The NCCIA said the major focus of the investigation was the financial trail generated by the online sale of the counterfeit stamps.

“We are examining transactions conducted through the 16 bank accounts and attempting to determine the flow of funds between the accounts allegedly belonging to the suspect and his relatives.

“The involvement of family members is also being examined as part of the investigation, particularly the alleged use of their bank accounts in connection with the online business,” the additional director said.

He said the role of other individuals in operating the website, processing orders, receiving payments or distributing the counterfeit stamps was also being probed.

“Investigators are also working to establish the full scale of the operation and verify the volume and value of the transactions,” he said.

En 1933 el escritor británico James Hilton publicó la que sería su novela más exitosa: Lost horizon («Horizontes perdidos»), que Frank Capra popularizaría todavía más cuatro años después al adaptarla al cine. Cuenta la historia de un diplomático que, por una serie de circunstancias, acaba en un recóndito monasterio del Himalaya llamado Shangri-La, cuyos habitantes […]

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday directed the counsel for Noreen Niazi, sister of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, to file a separate miscellaneous application seeking medical treatment and family meetings.

On Wednesday evening, Noreen was shifted to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) following her deteriorating health conditions, on the recommendation of the doctors of the Kot Lakhpat Jail, where she has been detained.

Justice Abher Gul Khan issued the direction while hearing a petition filed by Sakeena Niazi challenging the extension of the preventive detention of PTI founder Imran Khan’s two sisters, Noreen and Dr Uzma Khan.

The judge asked the petitioner’s counsel whether an application had been filed seeking permission for medical treatment and meetings with family members.

Advocate Rana Mudassar Umar, counsel for the petitioner, replied that an application to this effect had been submitted to the deputy commissioner.

The judge directed the counsel to also file a separate civil miscellaneous application with the court. The counsel argued that there was no lawful justification for extending the detention of the two women.

He said Noreen, 70, had never suffered from a heart ailment before.

Questioning the circumstances that led to her hospitalisation, Advocate Umar asked what kind of pressure had been exerted on her during detention that she had to be taken to hospital.

He argued that the fresh detention orders were replicas of the previous ones, with only the dates changed. He further argued that suspending the detention notification would pave the way for the women’s release.

PTI Secretary General Advocate Salman Akram Raja, who was also present in court, claimed that Noreen was ill and had been shifted to the hospital’s intensive care unit.

However, neither her family members nor her lawyer had been allowed to meet her, he added. He said he was unaware whether she was still in hospital or had been shifted back to jail.

Asked whether the home secretary, who was abroad, had returned to the country, Additional Advocate General Nasir Chohan said he would check and inform the court.

Another petition, filed by Shahrez Khan challenging the detention of his mother, Aleema Khan, is yet to be fixed for a hearing.

Imran’s sisters were detained by authorities in September, under Section 3 of the MPO, as the PTI geared up for a planned protest march towards Islamabad.

Their detention was ordered for 30 days and would have expired on Oct 19 for Aleema and Oct 20 for Uzma and Noreen. However, they remained in jail, and the government later informed the LHC that their detentions had been extended on Oct 7.

On Sept 24, the LHC had turned down a request to immediately suspend the preventive detention notifications issued against Noreen and Dr Uzma.

Earlier this month, Imran’s cousin, Qasim Zaman, was also taken into custody when he went to Adiala jail to meet the ex-prime minister.

The detention had come amid reports of a crackdown on the PTI ahead of its countrywide protest and march to Islamabad, which the party had called to demand Imran’s release from jail and mobilise people for the supremacy of the Constitution.

BAJAUR: A police officer was martyred after terrorists attacked a police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, officials said on Friday.

The attack on the police post in Silai Pati area in the remote Barang tehsil, bordering Malakand district, occurred late on Thursday night.

Mansoor Khan, a spokesperson for the district police, while confirming the attack, told Dawn that a group of Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists targeted the Silai Pati police post, prompting the personnel to retaliate bravely and courageously.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

The official said that the police official embraced martyrdom after putting up a brave resistance.

He added that the attackers fled after an effective response by the personnel deployed at the post.

Later, funeral prayers for the martyred cop were held at the Police Lines in Khar, which were attended by Deputy Commissioner Adnan Farid Afridi, DPO Khan Zeb Mohmand and elders of the area.

A large number of police officials and political and social activists also attended the funeral prayers before the body was dispatched to his native area in Barang tehsil for burial.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

On Thursday, Bajaur district administration banned pillion riding for 10 days by invoking Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), owing to the security situation. The notification said the measure was taken in view of reports from intelligence agencies and the police department.

Earlier, the authorities imposed a 15-day ban on pillion riding in Bajaur on September 5, citing the security situation back then as well.

KP has been witnessing terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time. According to a recent report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan recor­ded a sharp 83 per cent increase in violence-linked fatalities during the third quarter of 2026, re­­versing a declining trend reported in the first and second quarters as terrorism and counter-terrorism deaths surged nationwide.

Balochistan and KP remained the epicentres of violence, jointly accounting for 98pc of all fatalities during the period. Balochistan recorded 829 deaths, nearly 59pc of the national total, while KP reported 556 fatalities, accounting for more than 39pc.

FAISALABAD – Police have registered a case against a driver for allegedly raping an eight-year-old domestic worker in Faisalabad.

According to police, the suspect, who worked as a driver at the same residence as the victims, allegedly assaulted the girl before throwing her onto a neighbour’s rooftop and fleeing the scene.

Police said the victim was shifted to a hospital for medical treatment following the incident.

The accused, who worked as a driver, escaped after the alleged assault, prompting police to launch a search operation to arrest him.

A case has been registered on the complaint of the victim’s mother, and further investigation is underway.

Earlier this month, another disturbing case of sexual assault has been reported as a mosque prayer leader has been accused of sexually abusing students.

The suspect, identified as Ammar Imtiaz, has been taken into custody after Phagwari police received complaint against him. Authorities registered a case and launched an investigation into the allegations, while medical examinations of three children set to help establish evidence.

Police registered FIR No. 145/26 against the suspect at Phagwari Police Station. Seven children have so far been identified as alleged victims, although the allegations remain under investigation.

The suspect allegedly confessed during interrogation to sexually abusing multiple children. However, this claim has not been independently verified, and the allegations have yet to be established through the investigation and legal proceedings.

According to the available information, Imtiaz had been serving as the imam of a local mosque for the past three years. He was also reportedly teaching children to recite the Holy Quran, placing him in a position of trust within the local community.

Police are now investigating the allegations and collecting evidence, including through the planned medical examinations of three children. Further details about the alleged incidents and the children identified in the case are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.

The post Driver booked for raping 8-year-old domestic worker in Faisalabad appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.