News Updates Pk

A fresh political confrontation erupted over the future of Karachi's public spaces on Sunday as Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) accused authorities of facilitating illegal land allotments and environmental destruction at Hill Park, while Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab strongly denied the allegations, insisting that no land belonging to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had been transferred to any party. Addressing an emergency press conference at Hill Park alongside senior MQM-P leaders Syed Aminul Haque, former Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar, Sindh Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi and other party officials, MQM-P senior leader and MNA Dr Farooq Sattar alleged that Karachi's public lands were being systematically handed over to land grabbers under the patronage of the provincial government. Dr Sattar claimed that a section of Hill Park had recently been altered through unauthorised excavation and plotting, alleging that the development did not exist in the PE...

Power Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari on Sunday rejected reports suggesting that electricity subsidies for protected consumers were being withdrawn, describing such claims as inaccurate and misleading. Leghari's remarks come against the backdrop of reports last month that Pakistan had committed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to gradually end untargeted electricity subsidies for residential consumers and provide future support through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as part of conditions attached to a $1.2 billion climate support loan. Addressing a press conference about the government’s power sector reforms, Leghari said the number of protected consumers had increased from 9.5 million to 21.5 million over the past four years. “The government is not withdrawing electricity subsidies for protected consumers,” he said, adding that around 29.57 million domestic consumers — representing 86 per cent of the total — were currentl...

The Sindh government on Sunday protested the ongoing water shortage and accused the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) of unfairly reducing the province’s water share, calling on the federal government to intervene immediately. In a statement, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said Sindh had been facing a 22 per cent water shortage for several days, with shortages of 42pc at Guddu Barrage and 29pc at Kotri Barrage. “IRSA’s recent conduct is a violation of the 1991 Water Accord and an open injustice to the people of Sindh,” Memon said. سندھ میں پانی کی مسلسل قلت اور ارسا کی جانب سے سندھ کے ساتھ غیر منصفانہ رویے پر سندھ حکومت کا احتجاج سینئر صوبائی وزیر شرجیل انعام میمن نے کہا ہے کہ 1991 کے واٹر اپورشنمنٹ ایکارڈ کے تحت سندھ کے حقوق کا مکمل تحفظ کیا جانا چاہیے۔ کسی بھی صوبے کو دوسرے صوبے کے حصے پر ترجیح نہیں دی… pic.twitter.com/VLKBvnVcUc — Sindh Information Department (@sindhinfodepart) May 31, 2026 He said the reduction in Sindh’...

The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) maintains a nexus with Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which continues to fuel terrorism, sabotage, and societal destabilisation across Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan. This nexus provides funding, training, weapons, and logistical support, enabling the outfit to exploit vulnerable local women and youth as tools for suicide bombings and other anti-state activities. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and senior security officials have consistently pointed out that the BLA’s operational capabilities are significantly enhanced by this backing from Al-Qaeda and TTP, aimed at disrupting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other national development projects. Read More: Bugti pledges support for train attack victims The government has repeatedly pointed out that Al-Qaeda and TTP act as the primary sponsors behind the BLA-TTP nexus, channelling support through Afghan territories to orchestr...

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Saturday wrote to the chief justice of the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan, seeking immediate judicial intervention over what he described as a concerning situation ahead of the upcoming elections in the region. The letter to Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan was written a day after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) K-P President Junaid Akbar Khan was arrested by the G-B Police in Hunza while campaigning for the upcoming elections, which are scheduled to be held on June 7. In the letter, CM Afridi said reports regarding the electoral environment in G-B were “extremely concerning”, alleging that a political party was facing unnecessary restrictions on its election-related activities, including public gatherings, election campaigning and the movement of its leadership and workers. “There are reports of political workers being harassed, unlawfully arrested and prevented from carrying out p...

United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their role in the US-Iran peace negotiations, saying that Washington and Islamabad are developing a “true friendship”. “I mentioned India here, but I very easily could have mentioned Pakistan and the role that the field marshal and the prime minister are playing in peace negotiations,” he said while responding to a question at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. “I think an unexpected development and a true friendship [are] developing there, which I think is important.” US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says America and Pakistan are developing a “true friendship,” praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their role in peace negotiations.#USPakistan #PeteHegseth #PakistanUSA #PeaceTalks #PMShehbazSharif #AsimMunir… pic...

Senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Asad Qaiser on Saturday claimed that he was barred from reaching Islamabad Airport and missed his flight to Skardu for the election campaign in Gilgit Baltistan (G-B). In a statement on X, Qaiser stated, "Punjab Police did not allow entry into Islamabad Airport, blocked the airport's access routes, and we, along with the general public, had to face severe difficulties." The former speaker of the National Assembly added that police kept him in custody until his flight to Skardu departed. آج الیکشن کمپین کے سلسلے میں اسلام آباد سے اسکردو کی فلائٹ تھی۔ پنجاب پولیس نے اسلام آباد ایئرپورٹ میں داخل نہیں ہونے دیا اور ائیرپورٹ کے داخلی راستے بند کر دئیے اور ہمارے ساتھ عام عوام کو شدید مشکلات کا سامنہ کرنا پڑا۔ پنجاب پولیس نے مجھے جہاز اڑنے تک زیر حراست رکھا۔ اس جعلی… pic.twitter.com/8fgXLlaF1n — Asad Qaiser (@AsadQaiserPTI) May 30, 2026 Qaiser claimed that due to the incident, "it can be gauged that ...

In a move that has sharply escalated hydro-political tensions, India has approved the controversial Rs 3,277.45 crore Dulhasti Stage-II run-of-the-river hydroelectric project of 260 megawatt capacity on the Chenab River in Indian-occupied Kashmir, further undermining the Indus Waters Treaty and threatening Pakistan’s downstream water security. The project includes a 3,685-metre-long diversion tunnel, horseshoe pondage, surge and pressure shafts, and an underground powerhouse with two 130MW units. It requires 60.3 hectares of land, including 8.27 hectares of private land from Benzwar and Palmar villages. The Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of India cleared the Dulhasti Stage-II project, which will draw water from the existing Dulhasti Power Station (Stage I) through a separate 3,685m-long tunnel with a diameter of 8.5m, leading to the construction of a horseshoe pondage for Stage II...

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar Khan was arrested by the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Police at Hunza while campaigning for the upcoming elections, according to party leaders and officials. Ahead of the general elections scheduled in G-B on June 7, Akbar was visiting various areas of the region as part of the party’s election campaign when he was detained along with Members of the National Assembly Saleemur Rehman and Syed Mehboob Shah.  Read: Senate, NA to meet on June 5 for budget sessions Speaking after the incident, Akbar said he was told to leave Gilgit because he did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC). “I was told that since I do not have an NOC, I should leave Gilgit,” he said, questioning, “Is Gilgit-Baltistan not part of Pakistan?” Reacting to the arrests, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram strongly condemned the detention of Akbar and other party leaders in G-B. He te...

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday directed authorities to ensure the timely completion of Karachi’s strategic water infrastructure projects, describing the K-IV water supply scheme as “extremely important” for the city’s future water security in a meeting with an official from the World Bank (WB). The remarks came during a meeting with WB Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar in Karachi, where officials reviewed progress on water supply, infrastructure development, and the K-IV augmentation project. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's House, the meeting also discussed water metering, urban development works in informal settlements, and reforms in the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC). Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held an important meeting with World Bank Country Director Bolorma Amgaabazar to review progress on Karachi’s water supply, infrastructure projects, and the K-IV augment...

President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday approved summoning the budget session of the National Assembly at 5:00 pm and the Senate session at 6:00 pm on June 5. The federal budget for the financial year 2026–27 will be presented in the National Assembly. The agenda for the upcoming National Assembly and Senate sessions will be issued in the coming days. The next budget is to be presented in consultation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with most matters already settled. The federal government has also prepared proposals in the upcoming budget for salary increases for the salaried class and pensions for pensioners. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Senator Rana Sanaullah said that relief will be provided on a broad basis, including to the salaried class. On Monday, Sanaullah said the government was preparing a comprehensive strategy to provide maximum relief to inflation-hit segments of society in the upcoming budget. Talking to the...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday called for a “more democratic, representative, and accountable” United Nations Security Council (UNSC), warning that unilateralism and selective application of international law were undermining global stability. Speaking at a meeting of the Group of Friends of Global Governance at the United Nations, Dar said the international community was facing “multiple and interconnected crises”, including conflicts, climate emergencies, food insecurity, and governance challenges linked to emerging technologies. “In this uncertain environment, the world urgently needs renewed solidarity and a more effective system of global governance anchored in the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter,” he said. Statement by H.E. Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, At the Meeting of Group of Friends of Global Governance Topic: Reforming and ...

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday lauded Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy, amid ongoing talks between Iran and the United States, reiterating appreciation for its constructive role during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and FM Ishaq Dar. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting took place in New York, where the two leaders exchanged views on recent regional developments and Pakistan’s efforts to promote sustained peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy in the region and beyond. “Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated appreciation and support for Pakistan’s constructive role,” the statement said. 🔊PR No.1️⃣3️⃣2️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister meets Foreign Minister of China, H.E. Wang Yi in New York 🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/aMxRWdae4E — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 28, 2026 The two si...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday hailed Pakistan’s constructive role in regional and global peace efforts, saying the country had immense potential and that its “best days lie ahead” as it pursued a path of sustainable, high-growth development aimed at improving the quality of life of its people. He made the remarks while addressing members of the Pakistani-American community at an Eid dinner hosted by the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York. The event was attended by prominent Pakistani-American community leaders and professionals. FM Dar said Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had demonstrated “maturity, credibility and steadfast commitment to international peace and stability”. Read: Iran and US trade air strikes after Trump dismisses report of Hormuz deal “A nation capable of defending itself with confidence is equally well-positioned to pursue sincere peacemaking ef...

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday extended felicitations to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the government and the people of Azerbaijan on their Independence Day. In a message, the president said Pakistan and Azerbaijan are bound by a deep-rooted fraternal relationship that dates back to their independence, which draws its strength from a shared faith, rich common cultural heritage and values. He noted that over the years, bilateral ties have evolved into a robust and enduring partnership characterised by mutual trust, understanding and steadfast support for each other on issues of core national interest. President @AAliZardari has extended felicitations to the President of #Azerbaijan #IlhamAliyev, the government and the people of #Azerbaijan on their Independence Day@PresOfPakistan @presidentaz @ForeignOfficePk @AzerbaijanMFA @PakinAzerbaijan @AzEmbPak #RadioPakistan #News… pic.twitter.com/v69pSJLmJA — Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) May 28,...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wedesday of a peace deal materialising soon between the United States and the Islamic republic as the latter appreciated Pakistan's role in the negotiations so far. In recent months, Pakistan drew international attention for its involvement in mediation efforts between Iran and the US amid the Middle East crisis. On February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran. Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and other Gulf countries hosting US assets. Pakistan subsequently positioned itself as a key mediator for peace, brokering a two-week ceasefire and hosting the highest-level US-Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Although the "Islamabad Talks" ended without agreement, the ceasefire was held and later extended upon Islamabad's request. Since then, the two sides have been exchanging proposals and counter-proposals in an effort to reach a middle ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday extended Eidul Azha greetings to the military and political leadership, and paid tribute to the armed forces for their professional capabilities, sacrifices and services towards national security. According to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the prime minister telephoned Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf to convey Eid greetings and best wishes. "The prime minister praised the professionalism and unwavering commitment of the armed forces, saying the nation was proud of its brave soldiers and their sacrifices in defence of the country," it stated. He also offered prayers for Pakistan’s security, development and prosperity, while paying tribute to troops performing defence duties during Eid holidays. The chief of defence forces and service chiefs...

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday categorically rejected reports of any 28th constitutional amendment, saying no legislation was possible without the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) consent. Speaking to reporters after Eid prayers in Sehwan, the Sindh chief minister said neither any discussion had taken place within the party regarding the proposed amendment nor had any draft been presented. “No one has spoken about dividing the province or the city, and nothing has been discussed regarding revisions to the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. I categorically state that no draft has been shared with the PPP,” he said. CM Shah added that no constitutional amendment could be passed without the PPP's consent, and that only the media was speculating on this matter. On the upcoming provincial budget, he said the new fiscal plan would be “challenging” due to rising inflation, which he linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran,...

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Wednesday visited Balochistan’s Zhob District to spend Eidul Azha with troops deployed along the western frontiers, saying that inhuman and brutal acts cannot weaken the resolve of the nation. According to the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the visit began with Eid prayers, where special prayers were offered for Pakistan’s peace, stability, and prosperity, as well as for the martyrs who laid down their lives in the defence of the country. “Field Marshal Munir offered Eid greetings to officers and soldiers and praised their exceptional grit, unwavering resolve, operational preparedness, and steadfast vigilance amid foreign-sponsored terrorism,” it said. The field marshal paid tribute to the troops for their courage and sacrifices in safeguarding the country, saying they had shown “unmatched courage and sacrifices in safeguarding...

Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik on Tuesday warned that India’s reported move to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance could set a dangerous precedent for downstream countries across the world, cautioning that the weaponisation of water threatened the foundations of global treaty systems and multilateralism. Addressing the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe, Malik accused India of politicising shared water resources and said climate change should lead to greater cooperation, transparency and compliance with international agreements — not unilateral actions. “There was no legal provision in the treaty to take any unilateral action, and yet this treaty was put in abeyance,” Malik said. “It wasn’t put in abeyance because it was legally defective. It was put in abeyance, or so it is suggested, because it did...