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Category: National

  • Attaullah Tarar welcomes Ishrat Fatima to PTV after she leaves Radio Pakistan

    Attaullah Tarar welcomes Ishrat Fatima to PTV after she leaves Radio Pakistan

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar visited veteran news broadcaster Ishrat Fatima at her residence on Friday and invited her to join Pakistan Television, two days after she announced her departure from Radio Pakistan following 45 years of service.

    Sharing the news on his X account, Tarar wrote that he requested Fatima to play a role in training new generation newscasters at PTV, particularly focusing on pronunciation and professional development.

    “I had the honor of visiting Apa Ishrat Fatima’s home today. I requested her to play a role in training the new generation of newscasters at Pakistan Television, especially regarding their pronunciation, to which she graciously agreed,” Tarar wrote.

    The minister also made a broader commitment to recognise and support senior broadcasting professionals who have served the industry.

    “I have promised that senior personalities who have rendered valuable services in Pakistan Television and broadcasting services overall will not only be properly taken care of, but their experience and services will be truly valued, God willing,” he stated.

    Tarar clarified that Fatima’s decision to leave Radio Pakistan was her own choice, which the ministry respected, adding that PTV welcomes her on board.

    The development comes after Fatima shared an emotional video message on Thursday revealing the circumstances that led to her departure from Radio Pakistan. The veteran broadcaster, who began her journey in 1983 and started reading news in 1984, described facing systematic marginalisation despite maintaining professional excellence.

    “What hurts me most today is that my voice is still strong, my eyesight is clear, my pronunciation is good, I reach work on time, and I still love my work deeply,” Fatima said in the video.

    She pointed to unfair treatment that ultimately pushed her out, stating that when people cannot compete professionally, they resort to taking away space and opportunities from others.

    “I was often told that I am a ‘legend’ and a ‘senior,’ but those words were never translated into respect, opportunity, or space. Again and again, I was made to feel that I was no longer needed,” she revealed.

    Despite the painful departure, Fatima expressed no bitterness toward the institutions that shaped her career. “I am not angry with these institutions. They are my first love. But destiny has its own path,” she said.

    She ended her message by requesting prayers from her audience, asking that “this painful time does not turn my love for this art into resentment.”

  • Woman assaults traffic warden after helmet fine in Chiniot

    Woman assaults traffic warden after helmet fine in Chiniot

    Viral footage circulating online shows a woman and her associates assaulting a traffic official after a motorcycle was fined on Sargodha Road, a private media outlet reported.


    According to authorities, a traffic officer issued a challan to a motorcyclist for riding without a helmet. The rider reportedly left the scene without paying the fine but later returned on a rickshaw accompanied by a woman. 


    The video shows the woman slapping traffic official Safdar and hurling verbal abuse, police said.



    Despite the confrontation, the footage shows the officer and his colleagues remaining composed and refraining from retaliating.


    District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Naveed Atif has directed SP Investigation to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.


    Responding to the allegations, the woman claimed the officer struck her first and said she did not react initially. She also alleged that her son was subjected to violence during the altercation and that her mobile phone was damaged.


    In a separate incident in Karachi, a traffic police officer was assaulted in Saddar by members of a stone vendor group, police said. One suspect has been arrested, while another remains at large.


    According to police, the incident occurred on Sunday at the Tanga Stand on Mubarak Shaheed Road, where traffic congestion developed due to stones scattered across the road. Traffic officer Hafeez was present to clear the obstruction when two men attacked him.


    The officer was reportedly pushed to the ground and beaten in public. Police said a case has been registered at Saddar police station and efforts are underway to arrest the remaining suspect.

  • Tree-culling triggers public, political and legal storm in Islamabad

    Tree-culling triggers public, political and legal storm in Islamabad

    Large-scale tree cutting across the federal capital, including Shakarparian, H-8 and Chak Shahzad, has triggered public anger, political debate and judicial intervention over transparency, process and intent while authorities defend the move as a health-driven campaign against paper mulberry.

    As per the details, residents first raised alarms after noticing stretches of cleared land along Shakarparian Road, where rows of mature trees were chopped down, revealing exposed soil and ongoing digging.

    While signboards promised “Greener and Healthier Islamabad” and “Indigenous Tree Plantation” under the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Environment Wing, commuters questioned why trees had already been removed.

    The controversy reached the Parliament, where lawmakers from both government and opposition raised objections. Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Shazia Marri termed the cutting of trees in Shakarparian “very serious” while Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM-P) Dr Farooq Sattar questioned the removal of old trees due to construction. 

    PTI leader Ali Mohammad Khan said removing wild mulberry trees due to pollination was understandable but asked why “trees 40 to 50 years old were cut down”.

    Responding in the National Assembly, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry rejected criticism, stating that only allergy-causing paper mulberry trees had been removed.

    “Facts established that only specific categories of trees were removed, primarily paper mulberry,” he said, adding that trees were removed under development plans, infrastructure requirements or the removal of hazardous species.

    Chaudhry claimed all projects followed due process, including public hearings and a review by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    He said more than 40,000 mature trees had already been planted, with another 60,000 to be planted by March, and asserted that Islamabad was now “greener than before”.

    Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik also defended the drive, citing scientific assessments.

    “Pollen from paper mulberry affects 30 to 37 percent of Islamabad’s population,” he said during a field visit to Shakarparian, adding that the species was removed following a scientific identification process.

    He directed CDA to plant three trees for every one removed and said penalties for environmental violations would be increased.

    Meanwhile, a WWF-Pakistan report highlighted vegetation loss along the H-8 Islamabad Expressway, Margalla Enclave Link Road and Shakarparian, citing gaps in transparency, planning and monitoring. 

    Climate policy advocate Dr Zainab Naeem said the issue was not removal but mismanagement, calling it climate misgovernance. Water expert Dr Hassan Abbas warned that large-scale tree cutting would affect groundwater recharge and temperature regulation.

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has for now barred the CDA from further tree cutting and sought detailed reports from relevant authorities by the next hearing scheduled for February 2.

  • ‘India to upgrade 35 Rafales,’ reports French outlet – where did the 36th Rafale go?

    ‘India to upgrade 35 Rafales,’ reports French outlet – where did the 36th Rafale go?

    Aerophiles across the globe have pointed out an alleged inadvertent admission of India losing at least one Rafale jet after a French aviation publication reported that the country was ready to upgrade the 35 Rafale jets in use by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

    According to details, Avions Legendaires has reported that Indians are turning to the most-evolved version of the French aircraft under a mega defence deal aimed at modernising “the thirty-five current Rafale F3s” in the IAF to the F4 standard – the advanced upgrade for the Dassault Rafale fighter jet.

    While an agreement in this regard is expected to be signed in mid-February, which will also formalise the largest order ever placed for the Rafale with 114 firm aircraft, netizens have pointed out that France had officially delivered a total of 36 Rafales for the IAF back in December 2022.

    So where did the 36th Rafale go?

    According to Indian aerophiles and experts on an Indian defence blog called Indian Defence Research Wing (IDRW), the jet was lost during India’s aerial stand-off with Pakistan in May 2025, a claim widely reported by foreign media but repeatedly rejected by New Delhi.

    “If everyone is claiming 35 Rafale F3R upgrade to F4 well that pretty much confirms 3 aircraft lost, as I was only aware of one MiG-29UPG and one Mirage 2000-5 being lost in combat. We don’t know whether it got shot down by a PL-15 but if it did that’d be embarrassing honestly, since that’s China’s attrition fighter and we still haven’t faced J-16s and J-20s in actual combat,” wrote one user.

    Another said that a minimum of three losses, including one Rafale, were “pretty much confirmed” and the country was “only embarrassing itself” by denying it.

    Some also remained critical of the article, and claimed that “many sources” had clearly indicated that all 36 Rafales were still flying with IAF and not a single aircraft of any type was lost in the confrontation with Pakistan.

    One user referred to an Indian media report of losing a Rafale jet in service, and not in combat.

    According to a report published in The Print two months after the stand-off, India lost one Rafale fighter jet due to a high-altitude technical failure and no enemy engagement.

    The same was also reported by French website Avion De Chasse, quoting Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier. However, India did not make any official statement or assertions acknowledging the loss of aircraft in either condition.

    It may be noted that Pakistani, as well as foreign, media outlets and defence commentators have consistently highlighted claims that the IAF suffered significant losses, including the downing of at least one Rafale fighter jet, during the stand-off.

    United States (US) President Donald Trump has also repeatedly mentioned the loss of jets during the conflict.

    These assertions gained traction after reports suggested that French disclosures had quietly confirmed a combat loss, contrasting with Indian claims.

    While New Delhi has maintained that no Rafale was shot down in combat, Islamabad has used the episode to showcase its own air force’s capabilities and to challenge India’s narrative of invulnerability, framing the incident as a symbolic victory in the ongoing rivalry between the two nations.

    Pakistan’s military supremacy against India was also highlighted in an annual report submitted to Congress by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC).

    “Pakistan’s military success over India in its four-day clash showcased Chinese weaponry. While characterization of this conflict as a ‘proxy war’ may overstate China’s role as an instigator, Beijing opportunistically leveraged the conflict to test and advertise the sophistication of its weapons, useful in the contexts of its ongoing border tensions with India and its expanding defence industry goals. As Pakistan’s largest defence supplier, China provided approximately 82 percent of the country’s arms imports from 2019 to 2023,” read the report, mentioning Beijing’s role in the May 7-10 clashes.

  • Pakistan hopes US immigrant visa processing to resume soon, says FO

    Pakistan hopes US immigrant visa processing to resume soon, says FO

    Pakistan said on Thursday it expects the United States to resume immigrant visa processing shortly, viewing the recent suspension as part of an internal review.


    The US announced on Wednesday that it is suspening immigrant visa processing for Pakistan and 74 other countries, effective January 21, citing concerns that immigrants from these nations often rely on public welfare programmes.


    In a statement, the State Department said the “freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”


    Responding to questions about the move, despite Pakistan’s improved ties with Washington in recent months, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the ministry had acknowleged the “reports.”


    “Basically, it was a brief statement by the US State Department on their social media account about the internal review of processing immigrant visas that they are in the process of,” he said.


    He added, “We are in touch with US authorities to ascertain further details. This is evolving news that we are following. We understand that this is an internal ongoing process of review of US immigration policies and systems, and hope that the routine processing of immigrant visas will resume soon.”

    The suspension could affect travel, study, and work plans for thousands of Pakistanis who seek US visas each year. Pakistani consulates in the US are expected to provide guidance to applicants affected by the freeze in the coming days.


    The freeze is linked to the US public-charge rule, which evaluates whether immigrants are likely to rely on government assistance. While temporary suspensions of visa services have occurred in the past, officials described the scope of this action as unprecedented.


    No timeline has been provided for resuming services, but the State Department has assured that countries will be notified once the review is complete.

  • Pakistan passport rises five places to 98th in global ranking

    Pakistan passport rises five places to 98th in global ranking

    Pakistan’s passport has improved its standing in the Henley Passport Index 2026, moving up to 98th place from 103rd last year, reflecting enhanced diplomatic engagement and recent international agreements that are gradually expanding travel opportunities for Pakistani citizens. 


    The ranking, tied with Yemen, highlights measurable progress in global mobility and access.

    It ranked higher than Iraq (99), Syria (100) and Afghanistan (101).


    According to the Henley Passport Index, compiled by London-based Henley & Partners using International Air Transport Association data, Pakistani passport holders can now travel to 31 countries across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Oceania with visa-free, visa-on-arrival (VOA), or electronic travel authorisation (eTA), making leisure, business, and short-term trips significantly more convenient.


    Visa-free destinations include Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Micronesia, Montserrat, Rwanda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu. 



    Countries offering VOA access include Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Qatar, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu, while eTA access is available for Kenya, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka. 


    These options provide travellers with diverse experiences, ranging from tropical Caribbean island and African safaris to South Asian cultural destinations and Pacific retreats, without the traditional visa hurdles.

    Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the progress, saying in a post on X: “Pakistan’s passport ranking improving from 126th to 98th is a strong achievement, and this momentum will continue, InshaAllah.”



    To streamline this growing travel freedom, Pakistan launched a Digital Integrated Dashboard last year, which allows real-time monitoring of passport applications, printing, and deliveries, enhancing efficiency both within the country and at overseas missions.

  • Karachi mayor plans to shut down hydrants, end tanker water supply

    Karachi mayor plans to shut down hydrants, end tanker water supply

    Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has announced a major policy shift aimed at dismantling what he described as the city’s “tanker mafia”, declaring that all water hydrants and tanker-based distribution will be phased out and replaced with a direct pipeline supply system.

    During a briefing with the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) on Tuesday, Wahab directed officials to gradually shut down the city’s seven functional water hydrants.

    “All water hydrants in Karachi will be phased out and water supply will be provided through proper water lines instead,” he said.

    “Residents should receive water at their doorsteps through improved infrastructure rather than relying on costly and temporary tanker services,” the mayor added.

    Despite the hydrants generating around Rs300 million in monthly revenue, Wahab said their contracts expired last year and the administration would not renew them.

    “Tanker-based supply is neither sustainable nor fair to citizens,” he said.

    To manage water shortages during the transition, Wahab said the city would introduce an alternating-day water supply schedule for different areas.

    Experts believe up to 30% of Karachi’s water is being stolen through illegal hydrants operating with the covert backing of influential political elements and a complicit bureaucracy.

    “The tanker mafia is looting the city’s water,” Wahab said, adding that the new policy aims to end this practice permanently.

    Earlier, he also met a delegation from the Controller General of Accounts to discuss wide-ranging administrative reforms at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

  • ‘Pakistan in talks with multiple countries for JF-17 sales,’ defence production minister confirms

    ‘Pakistan in talks with multiple countries for JF-17 sales,’ defence production minister confirms

    Confirming a flood of reports regarding defence orders that the country has been receiving in recent days, Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj has said that Pakistan is holding discussions with “multiple countries” for the sale of JF-17 Thunder jets.


    Speaking to BBC Urdu, the minister confirmed that negotiations were underway but declined to share specific details.


    “These negotiations are taking place and they take some time. Many countries have shown interest in these aircraft,” he said, adding that he could not yet name any country or reveal the level at which the negotiations were taking place.


    “When these jets are exported, the world will know which countries have bought them,” he added.


    The defence production minister also said that Pakistan would only sell the aircraft to friendly countries. “Firstly, we must ensure that we only sell [JF-17s] to those who are our friendly countries. So, they are not used against us.”


    He added that China was involved whenever Pakistan signed such agreements.


    According to Harraj, the JF-17 jets were battle-tested during last year’s four-day conflict with India. “The entire world’s air forces saw these jets’ performance during that time and praised it,” he said.


    Harraj termed pricing an important factor, saying that while fighter jets globally were valued between $250 million and $350 million, the JF-17 was much cheaper.


    When asked about the exact price, he told BBC Urdu, “Its value is around $40–50m… this depends on the jet’s features and the price can also be higher than this”.


    When questioned about whether China received a share from the sale, the minister said, “A lot of matters are discussed on the table. China is definitely included in them; it should be and it is their right”.



    Responding to a question about Pakistan’s production capacity amid growing interest, Harraj told BBC Urdu that it was a question related to national defence. “These are our secrets, let them remain secrets.”


    He said the production of such “state-of-the-art” jets was time-consuming, adding that some components were manufactured in Pakistan while others were produced from China.


    Einar Tangen, a senior fellow at China’s Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), told BBC Urdu that the technology used in the JF-17 was likely controlled by China, which means any export deal would be a joint agreement with Beijing as a “senior partner”.

    “China might even increase Pakistan’s defence production, but all this will be in Beijing’s control,” he said.

  • Pakistan, Morocco join hands to strengthen defence cooperation, security ties

    Pakistan, Morocco join hands to strengthen defence cooperation, security ties

    Pakistan and Morocco have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation, marking a significant step towards strengthening bilateral defence and security ties, a statement issued by the Pakistani embassy in Morocco has revealed.


    According to the statement, the agreement was signed during Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif’s official visit to Morocco from January 12 to 14, where he held meetings with Moroccan officials, including Minister of State for National Defence Administration Abdellatif Loudiyi.


    “Defence cooperation and bilateral engagements between Pakistan and Morocco were discussed in a high-level meeting led by Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening strategic ties and mutual collaboration with Morocco,” the Pakistani defence minister also said in a statement on his social media accounts.


    According to Asif’s Instagram post, the MoU will promote defence cooperation and establish “an institutional framework for permanent defense ties”.


    “The MoU will also open new avenues for future collaboration across various defense [sic] and security sectors, including military training, exchange of experiences, capacity building, and other joint initiatives,” he added.


    Earlier, the defence minister was welcomed at the Casablanca airport by Major General Ahmed Hatuto, commander of the Casablanca army, senior government officials and Pakistan’s ambassador to Morocco Syed Adil Gilani.


    During the visit, he also led delegation-level talks aimed at enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.


    Pakistan and Morocco share longstanding friendly relations, supported by cooperation in diplomatic, defence and economic fields. 


    In April last year, the armies of Pakistan and Morocco also conducted the third edition of their joint bilateral military exercise to enhance professional skills and strengthen defence ties.

  • KP govt to auction number plates named after Imran Khan, Zardari, Nawaz, Maryam

    KP govt to auction number plates named after Imran Khan, Zardari, Nawaz, Maryam

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced its plan to auction vehicle number plates bearing the names of political and national figures, including jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, President Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

    In an interview with a private news outlet, Provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation Syed Fakhar Jehan said that number plates with the names of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto would also be up for auction.

    According to him, the programme aims to raise money for the government and encourage citizen participation.

    The minister announced that the sale will take place in phases.

    On January 27, two license plates with the names “Imran Khan-804” and “Imran Khan-1” will be put up for bid in the first phase. In later stages, he said, number plates bearing the names of other political figures would be added. 

    Nishtar Hall in Peshawar will host the auction’s initial phase. 

    Number plates with well-known caste and tribal names will also be put up for auction on the same day, according to a public announcement by the Excise and Taxation Department. Afridi, Gandapur, Durrani, Kundi, Yousufzai, Mahsood and Khattak are among the names that will be auctioned.

    The department said citizens interested in participating in the auction can submit their applications through the Dastak app. The deadline for submitting applications has been set for January 26.

    The bidding process for each number plate will begin at Rs1 million, and the revenue generated through the auction will be directed to the national exchequer.