Pakistan News

Recent moves by Pakistan’s government to cultivate a cryptofriendly environment starkly contradict the long-held warnings of its central bank. In 2018, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) issued a stern warning cautioning financial institutions against the high risks of virtual currencies. Yet, in a dramatic policy reversal, the government has launched initiatives such as the Pakistan Crypto Council , seemingly eager to capitalise on global digital trends without first addressing unresolved regulatory deficiencies. Globally, the digital asset revolution is gaining formidable momentum. There are now over 560 million crypto users worldwide, and emerging markets are witnessing robust growth. Crypto sectors in some regions are projected to grow at a compound annual rate of approximately 7.1 per cent, with markets such as India registering retail trading volumes of around $1.9 billion in the last quarter of 2024. Nigeria reported that nearly 32pc of its population actively engages with digi...

Despite the disturbing situation in Balochistan and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a surge in brutal terrorist attacks, and severe economic strains on households amid a volatile global landscape, Pakistanis remain resolute in celebrating Eid, refusing to let adversity dampen their spirit — for the most part. Though most cities and markets report typical pre-Eid activity, Balochistan stands apart, unfortunately. A pervasive sense of fear and anger has cast a shadow over society and markets in Quetta and beyond. Unstable internet has further strained an already uncertain environment, disrupting online businesses. The deteriorating security situation has also led to a noticeable decline in women’s presence in malls and markets across the province. Badruddin Kakar, a leader of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, attributed Balochistan’s subdued Eid market to both overt and covert restrictions on border trade. “With limited industrial and agricultural activity, much of the p...

TOBA TEK SINGH: Faisalabad’s Sandalbar police claimed to have arrested on Sunday the third suspect in the case pertaining to rape of a married woman during a robbery on Tuesday last near M-4 motorway bridge on Jhang Road. A city police spokesperson says that after his arrest, the third suspect was sent to jail on judicial remand for his identification parade. The two other suspects who were arrested earlier had already been shifted to jail for the same purpose, he added. Complainant Adnan Maseeh had said in the FIR that he was on way to his native village, Chak 62 JB, Chanakay, on Tuesday night, along with his wife, a sweeper in a hostel of the University of Agriculture, when two armed men intercepted them. He said the suspects, who were later joined by their third accomplice, tied him to a tree with a rope and gang-raped his wife in a sugarcane field. City Police Officer (CPO) Sahibzada Bilal Umar has praised the police team for arrest of the third suspect. Chief Minister Maryam...

PESHAWAR: Eidul Fitr was celebrated in some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday in accordance with the announcement of sighting the Shawal moon by the government of Saudi Arabia. The people, who celebrated Eidul Fitr on Sunday, had also started Ramazan with Saudi Arabia. Prayer leaders of mosques in the respective areas made announcements through loudspeakers about end of the holy month of Ramazan and celebrating the Eid festival soon after Saudi Arabia announced sighting the Shawal moon. Usually most people in central and southern districts of the province observe both Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha and start fasting after announcement of the unofficial moon sighting committee at historic Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, led by Mufti Shahbuddin Populzai. However, in the instant case, they didn’t follow the unofficial committee of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan and associated their Ramazan and Eid with Saudi Arabia as the unofficial committee held its meetings at the start and end of Ramazan on the same ...

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Three people were shot at and killed by dacoits in the Jamaldin Wali area of tehsil Sadiqabad near the Indus River, about 60 km from here, on Saturday noon. Reports said Umar Lund and his two nephews were passing through the main bazaar of Shahpur when they were ambushed near Dodhay Wali Pulli. The attackers, alleged accomplices of deceased YouTuber dacoit Shahid Lund, opened fire, killing them on the spot. According to local residents, Umar Lund had killed Shahid Lund in early November 2024 during a Lund clan gathering, and this attack was a revenge killing carried out by Shahid’s accomplices. The incident has left residents in shock, as dacoits once again brazenly took the law into their own hands in a populated rural area near Jamaldin Wali. Meanwhile, in a video message two accomplices of deceased Shahid Lund claimed responsibility for killing Umar Lund. Holding a G3 rifle of Umar Lund, the dacoits were seen in Katcha area and they said that they avenged the mur...

EDMONTON — The box score suggests the Calgary Flames lost another heartbreaker in overtime late Saturday.  The reality is their die was cast 12 hours earlier when doctors cleared Leon Draisaitl to return from a four-game absence. From there, everything unfolded exactly the way it seemingly always does when King Leon faces the Calgary Flames.  With him dominating. This time, he made history in the process, scoring his NHL-record sixth overtime winner of the season. There couldn’t have been a person in Rogers Place who didn’t think that shortly after Draisaitl’s 50th tied a tight game with three minutes left that he wasn’t going to finish the job, and the predictable storyline, with his 11 th  game-winner of the season. Despite a valiant effort from a Flames club that led 2-1 late in the third, the best goal scorer on the planet this season found a way to break more hearts in Calgary than a federal election. Eight shots, two goals and one assist ...

WASHINGTON: At a White House Iftar dinner on Thursday evening, President Donald Trump highlighted his administration’s dedication to peace in the Middle East, reinforcing the importance of the Abraham Accords. He pointed out the lack of progress made under the previous administration, saying, “Biden did nothing to fill them out. Nothing happened, despite the importance of the Abraham Accords. But I have a feeling it will fill out quickly—people are talking already about it. Long ago, it should have been done.” Trump also took the opportunity to thank the Muslim community in Michigan for its support during the 2024 election and pledged to continue backing the community throughout his presidency. “The Muslim community was there for us in November — and while I’m president, I’m going to be there for you,” he remarked. His speech marked a notable shift from earlier rhetoric, with Trump expressing affection and support for Muslims, a change from his controversial comments in 2016. T...

LAHORE: The provincial cabinet on Thursday approved the “Lining of Watercourses in Cholistan” project under the Green Pakistan Initiative along with renaming of Cholistan Canal and System to Mahfooz Shaheed Canal and System. The meeting gave a go-ahead to building of airports in Bhakkar and Bahawalnagar and reviewed the proposal to launch Punjab’s own airline service. An air strip for air ambulance service in Bhakkar will also be constructed. In the past, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif had expressed his wish that the Punjab government should buy the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). However, no progress was made on his proposal. The cabinet meeting on Thursday, presided over by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, approved the establishment of a 2,000-strong Riot Management Police, Crime Control Department and provision of resources to the Punjab Crime Control Department to deal with riots. It accepted the proposal to facility of free travel for differently-abled people, senior citizen...

The Hassan Square interchange in Karachi is always bustling with activity — construction work continues, vehicles keep honking, and street vendors desperately call out to customers. But ever since Ramazan commenced, the road has gotten busier than usual. Every day, from 3pm onwards, hundreds of men and women queue outside a camp near the intersection, waiting patiently. In exchange for a nominal amount, men in green t-shirts hand them tokens, which are exchanged for a bag of fruits, vegetables, or both. Sometimes, the bag is also accompanied by a box of milk and a pack of seviyan . Every year, Karachi sees a rise in philanthropy during the month of Ramazan. This act of giving, according to research, is largely driven by religious and faith-based choices. While no official data exists on the amount an individual spends on charity, Pakistan ranks 110 among 142 countries when it comes to philanthropy, according to the World Giving Index 2024 . This is an improvement from last year, whe...

SAN JOSE — The Toronto Maple Leafs saw this trap coming and still couldn’t stop themselves from stepping in it. Their last shootout loss to the NHL’s worst team was supposed to be a lesson, a wakeup call.  So, in the hours that preceded Thursday’s 6-5, single-point-salvaging defeat to the 32nd-place San Jose Sharks , coach Craig Berube issued a lengthy warning, lest they leave more unclaimed points against a lottery squad. “We got to be solid defensively and manage the hockey puck,” Berube said after morning skate at SAP Center. “You tend to get a little loose sometimes coming in here, or other buildings where the teams aren’t in the playoffs and where they’re at in the standings. You try to do too much with the puck, and you end up turning it over in bad areas and not playing to your identity.” And after some sluggish starts, spurts of concerning defensive play and subpar efforts against beatable opponents, Berube knew the Maple Leafs could be susceptible waking up after a cr...