Current Final

Category: National

  • Punjab seeks Rs861m for new VIP jet operations

    Punjab seeks Rs861m for new VIP jet operations

    The Punjab government is expected to face higher expenses following the acquisition of a new VIP aircraft, the Gulfstream G500, reports quoted sources. 

    Sources have said that a summary seeking an additional Rs 861.5 million for VIP flight operations has been prepared. 

    The supplementary grant could cover operational and maintenance costs of the Gulfstream G500, including mandatory training in the United States (US) for pilots and engineers.


    Additional subscriptions and programs may cost around Rs 497.8 million, while insurance for the aircraft is expected to rise significantly compared to previous arrangements.

    To meet operational requirements, the Punjab government is reportedly planning to hire more chief mechanics and aircraft technicians. 


    Maintenance, cleaning, and other related costs for the Gulfstream G500 have also increased. On February 22, a newscaster on a private news channel presented a report on the preparation and purchase of the aircraft, highlighting the associated costs and operational requirements.

    Aviation sources said the government purchased a seven-year-old Gulfstream G500 with US registration N144S, valued at approximately Rs 1 billion. 


    Flight records indicate the aircraft arrived in Lahore on December 28 via North America and Egypt and remained grounded at Allama Iqbal Airport for about 40 days for refurbishment. Its first flight in Pakistan took place on February 6 from Lahore to Multan.


    The Gulfstream G500, built in 2019, is a long-range aircraft designed for heads of state and business executives. It can cover 8,334 kilometers in a single flight at speeds of 1,000 kilometers per hour and accommodates 13 passengers, according to the Gulfstream Aerospace website. 

    Local flights began on February 6, mostly under its registered call sign. Between February 10 and 12, it operated as “Punjab Two” from Lahore to Quetta and Lahore to Mianwali, and again on February 16 for a Lahore to Sialkot round trip.

  • Vaping comes under spotlight in Senate for intoxication risk

    Vaping comes under spotlight in Senate for intoxication risk

    The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services was informed that vaping devices could be misused for drug intoxication and other substances as lawmakers reviewed a proposed law to regulate electronic nicotine delivery systems.

    The matter came under discussion during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination at Parliament House. The meeting was chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, with members examining a Private Member’s Bill titled “The Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Regulation) Bill, 2025.”

    Officials from the Ministry of National Health Services briefed the committee on concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the use of vaping devices. They said the devices, if left unregulated, could potentially be used for drug intoxication and other substances.

    The committee was also informed that several countries have already introduced restrictions or regulatory frameworks for electronic nicotine delivery systems.

    During the meeting, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal told lawmakers that vaping had become common among teenagers and young people.

    “Vaping has become a fashion,” he said, adding that adolescents were often seen using the devices openly.

    The minister also informed the committee that Pakistan does not manufacture vaping products domestically and that foreign exchange is spent on their import.

    The discussion became tense when Senator Sarmad Ali raised concerns over the ministry’s response to the proposed legislation. He told the committee that the key objective of the bill was to prevent individuals under the age of 18 from using vaping devices and to limit their spread among children.

    “Eighteen years of age was the central point of legislation,” Senator Sarmad Ali said during the meeting.

    He added that he had worked with officials, including the Director General of Health, to address technical matters in the draft law.

    In response, the federal health minister said the government was open to considering different viewpoints on the legislation and would provide responses to the concerns raised by members.

    He also told the committee that countries had adopted different approaches to regulate vaping products and that Pakistan would also need to develop its own framework after consultations.

    Following the discussion, the committee decided that further consultations were required on the proposed legislation. Members directed the Ministry of National Health Services to incorporate the proposed amendments and present a detailed briefing at the next meeting.

  • Ghazab lil-Haq update: 464 Taliban killed, Bagram airbase targeted

    Ghazab lil-Haq update: 464 Taliban killed, Bagram airbase targeted

    As Pakistan continues with Operation Ghazal lil-Haq in response to cross-border terror attacks from Afghanistan, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has shared an update, revealing that as of Tuesday evening, 464 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and over 665 were injured. 

    In a statement, he said that 188 check posts had so far been destroyed, 31 posts captured, 192 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns destroyed, and 56 locations inside Afghanistan effectively targeted in airstrikes.

    Meanwhile, reports quoted security sources as saying that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had also also struck the Bagram airbase.

    Citing a report issued by the Afghan defence ministry, it was claimed by media outlets that Black Hawk helicopters, a Hercules cargo aircraft, a Tucano aircraft, armoured vehicles and other military equipment were destroyed in the strike.

    It may be noted that the escalation follows months of clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    Earlier, Pakistan conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan, targeting camps linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State Khorasan after a series of attacks inside Pakistan, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad. Security officials said more than 80 militants were killed during said strikes.

    The strikes were followed by attacks along the border from Afghan territory, prompting further exchanges and the launch of the ongoing operation.

  • US orders non-emergency consulate staff to leave Pakistan

    US orders non-emergency consulate staff to leave Pakistan

    The United States (US) State Department has instructed non-emergency personnel and their families at its consulates in Karachi and Lahore to leave Pakistan.

    “The Department of State ordered non-emergency US government employees and the family members of US government personnel from US Consulates Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to safety risks,” the US Mission in Pakistan said in a statement on Wednesday. 

    The advisory clarified that operations at the US Embassy in Islamabad remain unchanged.

    While Pakistan also hosts a US consulate in Peshawar, the advisory did not mention its status.

    It merits a mention that the directive follows a deadly protest outside the US Consulate in Karachi, and violent clashes between pro-Iran protesters and law enforcement outside the Lahore consulate.

    On March 1, 11 people were killed and dozens injured when demonstrators stormed the US Consulate in Karachi to protest US-Israeli attacks on Iran and the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

    Two US officials reported that Marines opened fire when protesters breached the consulate’s outer wall.

    While security operations at US missions in Pakistan are typically handled by private contractors and local law enforcement, the deployment of Marines during the Karachi incident highlights the level of threat assessed by the consulate.

    While reports of violence were also received from Islamabad the same day, protesters in Lahore attempted to enter the US Consulate, but police were able to contain the crowd.

    Following the events, the US Mission noted that the consulate in Peshawar had temporarily suspended operations. “The US Embassy in Islamabad will continue to provide all routine or emergency consular services for US citizens,” the statement added, noting that normal operations were set to resume on March 3.

    In Karachi, roads leading to the consulate have been blocked, with a heavy police presence, a measure mirrored at US missions in Lahore and Islamabad.

    While all appointments for US visas and American Citizen Services stand cancelled, similar instructions have also been issued for US personnel in several countries, including Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Cyprus, according to posts by the State Department on X.

  • Pakistan invoked Saudi defence pact to deter Iran strikes, says Ishaq Dar

    Pakistan invoked Saudi defence pact to deter Iran strikes, says Ishaq Dar

    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan invoked its strategic defence arrangement with Saudi Arabia to deter further Iranian strikes during the recent escalation involving missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.

    Addressing a media briefing at the Foreign Office, he said, “The position in KSA is relatively stable.” He had made similar remarks earlier in the Senate.

    Referring to the Pak-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed in September last year, Dar said, “We have a strategic mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia. Everyone knows about that, it is a sovereign agreement and we are bound by that.”

    He added, “In view of that agreement, while in Saudi Arabia I immediately sensitised the leadership of Iran that they should keep that in mind.”

    The agreement states that an act of aggression against one country will be treated as an act against both and outlines cooperation in deterrence, defence coordination, intelligence sharing and security collaboration.

    Dar said Iranian officials had sought assurances that Saudi territory would not be used for attacks against Iran. “They asked for some assurances that their soil shouldn’t be used against Iran. I then had shuttle communication with both Iranian and Saudi sides and got them those assurances,” he said.

    “And look, unlike all other countries, Saudi Arabia faced the least attacks other than Oman that was the mediator,” he added.

    Commenting on the nature of the strikes, he added Iran had stated it targeted US bases. “Iran says we have attacked American bases. The missiles were not exactly hitting US bases or installations, they also instead fell on airports, hotels, residential areas,” he said.

    He also provided details about Pakistani nationals in the region. One Pakistani citizen was killed in Abu Dhabi during the hostilities, he said, without elaborating.

    According to Dar, around 350,000 Pakistanis reside in Qatar, while about 1,400 who travelled there for short visits are stranded due to flight disruptions. “Our mission is facilitating them. We are thankful to the Qatari government for its cooperation,” he said.

    In Iraq, approximately 40,000 Pakistanis are present, including 3,500 pilgrims. Around 500 in the Kurdistan region have expressed a desire to return, and arrangements are being coordinated.

    He said Saudi Arabia hosts about 2.5 million Pakistanis. In Kuwait, 101,000 nationals reside, with 27 visitors currently stranded. About 134,000 Pakistanis live in Bahrain and 18,000 in Jordan, with no reports of stranded individuals in those countries.

  • Iran strike aimed at shifting focus from Gaza, says Khawaja Asif

    Iran strike aimed at shifting focus from Gaza, says Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted an attack on Iran to divert international attention from Gaza.

    In a statement posted on X, Asif said that the international media’s attention had shifted following the strike on Iran. “By attacking Iran Netanyahu has attempted to divert international attention away from Gaza,” he wrote. 

    Asif further alleged that the Israeli prime minister was using the regional escalation to advance his objectives in Palestinian territories. “International media is focused on Iran now which gives Netanyahu space to quietly go ahead with his genocidal agenda in Gaza and West Bank. ” he said.

    Asif also criticised Netanyahu’s leadership, linking the widening conflict to what he termed personal motives. “Netanyahu’s demonic personal ambitions have plunged Palestine and rest of ME into worst tragedy of human history,” he stated.

    His comments came amid heightened tensions in the region after Israel and US strikes on Iran. Following the initial strikes, Iran responded with missile and drone attacks aimed at U.S. interests and allied positions in the Gulf, which has drawn widespread international attention and shifted the focus of global coverage.

  • Al Jazeera ‘corrects’ report on Pakistan airspace closure

    Al Jazeera ‘corrects’ report on Pakistan airspace closure

    Al Jazeera has posted a correction on X after reporting that Pakistan had partially closed its airspace amid regional tensions.

    “We previously reported that Pakistan had temporarily closed its airspace. That is incorrect. Pakistan says ‘no restrictions’ on airspace,” the network said in its post.

    The clarification followed a statement issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), which said the country’s airspace remains open for commercial operations and rejected reports of a partial shutdown.

    In its statement, the PAA said NOTAM A0134/26 did not indicate a closure of national airspace and referred to the temporary unavailability of certain Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes during designated hours.

    According to the authority, specific ATS routes within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions are unavailable every day from 9 am to 3 pm.

    It also said alternative routes and airports remained operational and that scheduled commercial activity, including arrivals, departures and overflights, continued.

    The PAA said misinterpretation of NOTAMs and unverified reports could lead to confusion and urged the public and media to rely on official sources.

    A day earlier, reports had stated that certain routes in the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions were suspended during specified hours, citing the regional situation.

    The reports also claimed that air cargo operations were halted and that more than 500 flights departing from and arriving at airports across Pakistan were cancelled.

    Flights from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad and Multan operated by PIA, private carriers and foreign airlines to destinations including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Sharjah, Dubai, Turkey, Iraq and Iran were reported cancelled.

  • Terrorism cases filed after deadly protests near US consulate in Karachi

    Terrorism cases filed after deadly protests near US consulate in Karachi

    Karachi police have registered three terrorism cases against “unknown persons” after violent protests near the US consulate on March 1 left 11 people dead and at least 30 others injured.

    The unrest followed demonstrations over the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader. Protesters reportedly entered the outer perimeter of the US consulate on Mai Kolachi Road, but were pushed back by authorities.

    A senior official said that the first of the three First Information Reports (FIRs) was filed against “unidentified 150-200 protesters” involved in vandalising the consulate building, opening fire, and committing arson.

    The second FIR targets unknown individuals responsible for setting a police post near the consulate on fire and committing further acts of arson.

    The third FIR addresses violence on Native Jetty Bridge, where “unknown armed men” allegedly opened fire, injuring two women and others, the official added.

    All three FIRs have been lodged under sections 302 (premeditated murder), 324 (attempted murder), and other provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. No arrests have been made so far.

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho took action against several police officials over alleged negligence, maladministration, and losses to human life and property on March 1.

    A statement issued by the Central Police Office said the IGP, after an initial inquiry, recommended the removal and suspension of the Keamari Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). The Keamari Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Station House Officer (SHOs) of Docks, SITE-B, KPT, and Jackson police stations, along with the in-charge of the foreign security cell, were also suspended.

    A six-member high-level committee has been formed to conduct a “transparent inquiry” into the incident. The committee is headed by the Additional Inspector General of Police (IG) of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and includes Deputy Inspector General (DIGs) of Special Branch and Headquarters, SSP Investigation CTD, and two Assistant IGs.

    “The committee has been directed to submit a detailed report containing all facts about the incident within seven days,” the statement said.

    The inquiry team is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the protests and violence near the US consulate, as authorities continue to monitor developments in the area.

  • US Marines fired on protesters outside Karachi consulate, officials say

    US Marines fired on protesters outside Karachi consulate, officials say

    United States (US) Marines opened fire during the storming of the US consulate in Karachi over the weekend, two US officials said on Monday, marking a confirmed use of force at a diplomatic post.

    Eleven people were killed on Sunday after protesters breached the outer wall of the consulate compound following American and Israeli strikes in Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    The two officials, citing initial information, said it was not clear whether rounds fired by Marines struck or killed anyone. They said they did not know whether shots were also fired by other personnel protecting the mission, including private security contractors and local police.

    The confirmation marks the first time US officials have acknowledged that Marines were involved in firing during the protest. 

    Sindh government spokesperson Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani said “security” personnel had opened fire but did not specify which force was involved.


    Vic Mellor, a Republican candidate from Rhode Island and a US Marine veteran, said on X that “armed rioters tried to storm our US Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.” 


    He added that Marines “met them at the door — and sent a message the entire world just heard: The days of America not defending itself are OVER.” Mellor said anyone attempting to harm Americans would face consequences.

    On Sunday, protesters gathered outside the Karachi consulate chanting slogans against the United States and Israel. Reporters at the scene heard gunfire and saw tear gas used in surrounding streets. 


    A video circulating on social media appeared to show at least one protester firing towards the consulate while injured demonstrators fled the area.


    A Karachi police official said shots were fired from inside the consulate premises.

    The US Marines referred questions to the US military, which directed inquiries to the State Department. The State Department did not respond to requests for comment.

  • US Embassy, consulates halt visa processing in Pakistan

    US Embassy, consulates halt visa processing in Pakistan

    The United States Embassy in Islamabad and its consulates in Lahore and Karachi have cancelled all visa appointments through Friday, March 6, citing the security situation.

    In a notice to applicants, the US mission said routine visa services would remain suspended during this period and that affected individuals would receive instructions on rescheduling.

    “Due to the current security situation, the US Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulates General in Lahore and Karachi have cancelled all visa appointments through Friday, March 6,” the embassy said in a post on X, advising applicants to monitor official channels for updates.

    The suspension follows a decision taken on Sunday to cancel all visa and American Citizen Services appointments scheduled for March 2 at facilities in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

    In a security alert issued on March 1, the mission said it was monitoring reports of demonstrations outside the US Consulate General in Lahore and protests near the US Consulate General in Karachi. 

    It also referred to calls for demonstrations at the US Embassy in Islamabad and the US Consulate General in Peshawar.

    Protests were held across Pakistan on Sunday following US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Clashes were reported outside the US Consulate in Karachi, where police and protesters confronted each other.

    Demonstrations also took place in the major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. Authorities in Islamabad imposed Section 144 and blocked routes leading to the red zone.


    In Karachi, protesters gathered outside the US Consulate and attempted to move towards the premises. Police used tear gas and other measures to disperse the crowd. Officials said at least 10 people were killed and 36 injured in the unrest.