Blaze News - Pakistan

The Islamabad administration began enforcing the federal government’s directive to close shopping centres and markets at 8pm from Tuesday as part of a nationwide austerity drive aimed at conserving energy and stabilising the economy. The move followed a decision taken a day earlier during a high-level review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The policy applied across Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where implementation began today. Under the new regulations, general stores, department stores and all types of shopping malls must close by 8pm. However, bakeries, restaurants, tandoors and other food outlets are permitted to operate until 10pm. Marriage halls, marquees and commercial venues hosting events are also required to shut by 10pm. The Sindh government, meanwhile, remains in the consultation phase regarding revised market timings and operational hours. District Administration Islamaba...

The federal government has decided to implement a digital fuel management system at petrol pumps across the country. Under this system, a petrol quota will be introduced for private vehicles to manage a potential fuel crisis. The decision comes in view of the ongoing war in the Middle East, with authorities preparing contingency measures to tackle any disruption in petroleum supplies. Under the proposed system, petrol pumps will be equipped with digital tools, and citizens will be allocated a fixed fuel quota for personal vehicles. The Ministry of Information Technology has completed testing the mobile phones to be deployed at petrol pumps for the system. An application developed for fuel management has also undergone successful testing. The Ministry of IT has forwarded complete project details to the Cabinet Division for final approval. from Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/Rz6lfVZ

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday discussed the evolving regional developments with the key foreign leaders, stressing on the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and collective efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), in a telephonic conversation with Canadian FM Anita Anand, Dar underlined the significance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving conflicts and fostering peace. "The two leaders exchanged views on the current regional situation, highlighting the need for immediate de-escalation," said the statement. It added that both sides reiterated their commitment to enhancing Pakistan-Canada relations and emphasised the value of high-level exchanges. They agreed to maintain close contact moving forward. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a telephone conversation this evening with the Foreign Minister of Canada, Anita Anand @AnitaAna...

OpenAI on Monday called for sweeping reforms to address the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, including a public wealth fund, taxes on automated labor, and a potential four-day workweek. "We're beginning a transition toward superintelligence: AI systems capable of outperforming the smartest humans even when they are assisted by AI. No one knows exactly how this transition will unfold. At OpenAI, we believe we should navigate it through a democratic process that gives people real power to shape the AI future they want," the US company said on Monday. The company said the policy paper outlines a set of “initial ideas” aimed at addressing the risk of job losses and widespread disruption across industries driven by the adoption of AI tools. Read More: Pakistan joins sovereign AI initiative Among the key proposals is the creation of a public wealth fund under which governments and AI firms would jointly invest in long-term assets tied to the AI boom, with returns distri...

The information ministry on Sunday rejected the Afghan government’s claims of over 750 civilian deaths in clashes with Pakistan, calling them a “set of lies”. Earlier today, Kabul claimed that more than 750 Afghan civilians had been killed in clashes with Pakistan. In a statement posted on X, Afghan government deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said more than 27,000 families had been displaced across the country since February. Fitrat claimed that 761 civilians were killed, another 621 were injured, and 27,407 families were displaced between February 22 and April 4. During this period, he alleged that the Pakistani military launched nearly 15,000 missiles, mortars, and artillery shells on parts of several bordering provinces, including the capital, Kabul, destroying over 1,100 homes. In response to the Afghan government’s claims, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s fact-checking account stated: “The so-called spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat has again come up with a s...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the disbursement of relief funds to public transport operators and goods vehicle drivers through digital wallets has already begun, as part of the government’s efforts to support citizens amid recent regional tensions. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office today said that PM Shehbaz chaired a review meeting on petroleum product reserves and the implementation of government relief measures for the public. Speaking at the meeting, the premier said, “Under an effective and transparent system, subsidies are being transferred digitally to buses and wagons in public transport, as well as to trucks and goods-carrying vehicles.” لاہور: 4 اپریل 2026. وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے خطے میں حالیہ کشیدگی کے دوران ملک میں پیٹرولیم مصنوعات کے ذخائر اور حکومت کی جانب سے عوامی ریلیف کے اقدامات پر جائزہ اجلاس کی صدارت کی. اجلاس میں گفتگو کرتے ہوئے وزیرِ اعظم نے کہا کہ ریلیف کی رقم پبلک ٹرانسپورٹ اور مال بردار… pic.twitter.com/C2XfCc0...