Page 3 - Pakistan Government

Pakistan to allow stranded citizens in India to return via Wagah border

Pakistan on Friday announced that it would continue to allow the use of the Wagah border crossing for its citizens stranded in India, following New Delhi's decision to revoke visas in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror incident. The Attari-Wagah border, located near Amritsar in India and Lahore in Pakistan, was shut on Thursday after being kept open till April 30. As many as 70 Pakistani nationals were reportedly stranded at the border on Thursday, as the deadline for leaving India expired a day earlier. Responding to media queries, the spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) acknowledged reports of Pakistani nationals, including children, stranded at the Attari border on the Indian side. "We are aware of the media reports indicating that some Pakistani nationals are stranded at Attari. We are open to receiving our citizens in case the Indian authorities allow them to cross the border from their side, the MoFA spokesperson said. The Wagah border would rema

Pakistan appoints ISI chief Lt Gen Malik as new National Security Adviser

Pakistan has appointed spy chief Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik as the new National Security Adviser (NSA) amidst raging tension with India. Malik was appointed as the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in October 2024. According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday, General Malik was formally given the task of the NSA. Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik HI (M), DG (I), shall hold the additional charge of the National Security Adviser, with immediate effect, the notification stated. He is the country's tenth NSA, but it is for the first time that a serving ISI chief was given the task to serve concurrently in the two key positions. The posting comes amid heightened tensions with India following the recent Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. The NSA position had remained vacant since April 2022, when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was ousted. Dr Moeed Yusuf was serving as the NSA at that time.

How Indian airlines are losing crores after Pakistan closed its airspace

Bypassing Pakistani airspace is forcing Indian airlines to take longer routes and consume more fuel, pushing the estimated extra monthly cost beyond ₹307 crore

Two killed, 56 injured after leaking oil tanker explodes in Pakistan

A leaking oil tanker caught fire and exploded along a dusty road in southwestern Pakistan, killing two people and injuring 56 others, officials said Tuesday. The explosion happened as firefighters were trying to put out the fire Monday in the Naushki district of Balochistan province, local police officer Atta Ullah said. Firefighters and people in a crowd that had gathered at the scene were among the injured. The tanker driver and a bystander were killed. Nearly a dozen of the injured were in critical condition and some were being airlifted to the southern city of Karachi, where better medical care is available, said Waseem Baig, a spokesman for Civil Hospital in Quetta. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti visited the Civil Hospital in Quetta, the capital of the province, and directed doctors to provide the best possible care to the victims. Deadly incidents involving oil tankers are not uncommon in Pakistan. In 2017, more than 200 people were killed in Ahmadpur East in Punj

Pakistan airspace closure: Minister Naidu says govt working with airlines

The government is assessing the situation arising out of the closure of Pakistan airspace and working on solutions with airlines, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Monday. Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed at least 26 people, Pakistan last week barred Indian airlines from using its airspace. "We are assessing the situation... and working with airlines," the minister said. The closure of the airspace is resulting in longer flying hours for international flights, especially those flying out from north Indian cities, and pushing up the operational costs of airlines. In the current situation, the ministry is looking at the passenger aspects and ensure that safety is the key priority, Naidu said on the sidelines of an event here.

Islamabad seeks Tehran's cooperation over killing of 8 Pakistanis in Iran

Islamabad has sought Tehran's "full cooperation" over the killing of eight Pakistani nationals in restive southeastern Iran, officials said on Monday. The Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement the killing happened Saturday in Mehrestan County in Sistan and Baluchistan province, about 230 kilometers (142 miles) from the Pakistan-Iran border, urging a thorough investigation. Pakistan's Ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir, wrote on X that the eight were labourers and that Islamabad and Tehran were working on facilitating the repatriation of the bodies. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility. The Baluch regions across Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced an insurgency by Baluch nationalists seeking independence for more than two decades. In Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan, the Baloch Liberation Army, designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2019, often targets security forces and civilians. Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on M

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari re-elected as PPP chairman for another four years

The elections were conducted according to the PPP's constitution and finalised key leadership positions for the next four years.

Terrorist attack foiled at police checkpost in Pak's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A major terrorist attack on a checkpost in northwest Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been thwarted by the police, authorities said. The attack on the checkpost in Shangla district of the province, a hilly terrain bordering Swat district, was foiled on Friday night, officials said. Inspector General of Police KPK Zulfiqar Hameed told the media, that the terrorists launched a late-night attack on the Shikolai police post in Shangla district which the police successfully repelled through timely action. The IG stated that the militants used both light and heavy weapons during the attack, but Shangla police responded with full force, compelling the terrorists to flee. An intense exchange of fire continued between both sides. Hammed affirmed that the morale of the police officers remains high and that the force is fully prepared to counter any form of terrorism. The IGP said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police are fully capable of delivering a strong and immediate response to any

Pakistan to invite fresh bids for privatising national airline PIA

However, Islamabad's attempt to privatise PIA last year fell flat when it received only a single offer, well below the asking price of more than $300 million

US firms eye investment in nation's untapped minerals sector: Pakistan

US companies are seeking to invest in Pakistan's largely untapped minerals sector that boasts one of the world's largest copper and gold deposits, the Pakistani government said on Wednesday. Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, conveyed that interest directly to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a meeting in Islamabad, according to a government statement. The meeting came a day after Meyer attended the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum -- an international summit aimed at attracting foreign investment in the country's mining sector. Apart from gold and copper, Pakistan is also rich in lithium used to make batteries, as well as other minerals. The summit has drawn participation from major international companies, including Canada-based Barrick Gold, as well as government officials from the United States, Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, and other nations. Pakistan's massive .

Pak forces kill 8 terrorists attempting infiltration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Eight terrorists have been killed and four injured as Pakistan's security forces thwarted an infiltration attempt on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the country's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's North Waziristan district, the military's media affairs wing has said. Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities over the past year, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. On the intervening night of April 5-6, the movement of a group of khwarij, trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by the security forces in the general area of North Waziristan's Hassan Khel, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release on Sunday. After an intense exchange of fire, eight terrorists were killed and four others injured, it added. Fitna Al Khawarij' is a term that the state uses to refer to the banned TTP. Pakistan has .

Pak govt finalises arrangements to detain, deport Afghans as deadline nears

Officials in Pakistan said they have completed arrangements to detain and expel a certain category of Afghan citizens after the March 31 deadline for their voluntary return to Afghanistan. A high-level meeting on Friday reviewed the arrangements to repatriate the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders after the March 31 deadline. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired the meeting. The Pakistan government in January asked the ACC holders to leave Pakistan by the end of March or face deportation. Pakistani authorities refused to reset the deadline for their return despite requests by the Afghan government and rights bodies. In Friday's meeting, officials informed that all arrangements have been completed to send ACC holders back to Afghanistan. The officials said that holding centres have been set up to detain Afghan citizens before their deportation, with food and healthcare facilities arranged at the facilities, the Dawn newspaper reported. Naqvi said the federal government was ...

4 suspected 'facilitators' of Jaffar Express attack arrested in Pak: Report

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Balochistan police has arrested four suspects who allegedly facilitated the terrorist group involved in hijacking the Jaffar Express and taking over 400 passengers hostage in Pakistan's Bolan district on March 11, according to a media report. Terrorists belonging to the banned separatist outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express carrying 440 passengers. Twenty-six hostages, including 18 security personnel, lost their lives in the attack. The Army eliminated all 33 terrorists the next day and rescued 354 hostages. Since then, multiple attacks have taken place across Balochistan. Sources in CTD, while confirming the arrests, said that a joint team comprising senior officials from various law enforcement agencies is investigating the attack on the Jaffar Express, reported the Dawn newspaper. These four suspects have been taken into custody for interrogation, the sources said, adding that efforts to identify the attackers

Religious minority victimisation soars in Pakistan in 2025: HRFP Report

Report highlighted communal unrest, including protests in Khaliq Nagar, Lahore, on March 20 over sewage flooding and the desecration of a Christian cemetery in Narowal in February for land-grabbing

Who pays Members of Parliament more: India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh?

With significant parliamentary changes occurring, how do these neighbouring countries compare in their compensations to their lawmakers

Imran Khan's party PTI denied permission to hold rally at Minar-i-Pakistan

According to Dawn, the request had been rejected "in view of serious security issues, threats, and the general law and order situation in the country"

Pak Army captain, 10 terrorists killed in operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A Pakistani Army captain and at least 10 terrorists associated with a banned outfit were killed during a gunfight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Dera Ismail Khan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said. The intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted on Thursday following reports of the presence of terrorists in the area, a statement from the military's media wing said. It said that during the intense fire exchange, Captain Hasnain Akhtar fought gallantly and made the ultimate sacrifice, leading his troops from the front. Hasnain was a brave officer and renowned for his courage and bold and daring actions during previous operations, it said. The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were seized from the killed terrorists who were involved in numerous attacks against law enforcement agencies as well as target killing of innocent civilians. It further said, A sanitisation operation is being conducted in the area and the security forces are determined to wipe out the .

IMF expresses satisfaction with Pakistan's economic measures, use of loan

An IMF mission after a key visit to Pakistan acknowledged that the country achieved a strong implementation of the USD 7 billion loan programme agreed upon last year, it emerged on Saturday. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation led by Nathan Porter visited Islamabad and Karachi from February 24 to March 14 to undertake the First Review for the 37-month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and on discussions for an arrangement of a fresh loan under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The team held discussions on the first review of Pakistan's economic programme supported by the EFF and on a possible new arrangement under the RSF, according a statement issued by Nathan Porter at the conclusion of the visit on Friday. He said that the IMF and the Pakistani authorities made significant progress toward reaching a Staff Level Agreement (SLA) on the first review of the EFF. Programme implementation has been strong, and the discussions have

16 terrorists killed, 104 passengers rescued in Pakistan train attack

At least 13 terrorists were killed and 80 passengers rescued by security forces after suspected Baloch militants hijacked a train in a tunnel in Pakistan's restive Balochistan's province on Tuesday, security officials said. The Jaffar Express, carrying approximately 500 passengers in nine bogies, was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar when armed men intercepted it in a tunnel near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri on Tuesday morning. Security officials said so far they have killed 13 terrorists and rescued 80 passengers. The rescue operation is underway, they said. Earlier, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said, The security forces have managed to rescue 80 passengers -- 43 men, 26 women and 11 children -- from a bogie." However, around 400 passengers remained on the train, still trapped inside the tunnel as security forces engaged in a gun battle with the militants, he said. Rind said rescue teams have been dispatched amid reports of intense firing

Pakistan shows commitment to selling PIA by July as part of IMF agreement

Pakistan has assured the IMF of selling the Pakistan International Airlines by July after a botched attempt to sell the national flag carrier last year, according to a media report on Tuesday. The PIA has been running into losses and as part of reforms urged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government was putting on the block its stake, ranging from 51 to 100 per cent. However, no serious buyer made the bid when the effort was made in October last year. The only offer of Pakistani Rs 10 billion by a local real estate developing company was rejected by the government. An IMF team is in Pakistan to review the $7 billion loan program approved last year. Pakistan would get the second tranche of about $1 billion if it convinced the IMF team. One of the concerns of the lender was the loss-making entities and a commitment by the Pakistan government to sell such organisations, but no headway has been made, apparently due to the dire economic situation, which has kept away the