Blaze News - Pakistan

Contrasting scenes were witnessed across Rawalpindi on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat, as widespread use of fireworks, sparklers, firecrackers, and aerial firing overshadowed the night, while a large number of citizens remained engaged in prayers at their homes, mosques, and imambargahs on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday. People stayed awake the whole night until Fajr and offered Nawafil. A significant number of citizens also observed a voluntary fast on Wednesday to mark the occasion of Shab-e-Barat. Meanwhile, profiteering was also reported during the festivities. Large crowds visited graveyards across the city, where people offered Fateha at the graves of their loved ones. Prices of flower petals surged sharply, with petals selling at a record Rs600 per kilogram. Temporary stalls selling flowers, rose water bottles, and incense sticks were set up outside all 55 graveyards in the city. Incense packets were sold for Rs200, while bottles of rose water were priced at Rs180 eac...

Pakistan’s cotton industry is in a quandary after the United States unexpectedly reduced tariffs on Indian goods. This follows the European Union’s decision to grant almost duty-free access to Indian exports, raising concerns about a further decline in Pakistan’s exports. Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsanul Haq warned that unless the federal and provincial governments take immediate and targeted measures for the cotton and textile sectors, Pakistan would face a sharp decline in exports. He stressed that delayed policy action would widen the cost gap with regional competitors and weaken Pakistan’s position in global markets. He said according to the latest figures released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) on Tuesday, as of January 31, 2026, cotton arrivals at ginning factories nationwide increased by 0.62% to reach 5.545 million bales. The report stated that during this period, 2.63 million bales arrived at ginning factories in Punjab, while 2.915 m...

In preparation for the upcoming Basant festival, historic rooftops in central Lahore have been booked for kite flying against charges ranging from Rs2.1 million to around Rs5.5 million. Meanwhile, the city administration has identified dilapidated structures and placed banners on them, prohibiting kite flying on their rooftops to ensure public safety. Only spacious and structurally sound rooftops have been approved for kite flying. These rooftops, decorated in vibrant Basant colours, while wall wear yellow paint, floral designs, and full arrangements for hosting guests. Extensive arrangements of food and beverages have been made for locals as well as visitors, coming from other cities and abroad. Separate menus have been prepared for day and night, featuring a wide variety of dishes including barbecue, broast, malai boti, pak gosht, mutton tikka, phutore, ladoos, hareesa, fish, as well as fruits and dry fruits to cater to the guests’ preferences. Read More: Basant buzz returns to Lahor...

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) organised a massive rally under the banner 'Kashmir will become Pakistan' in Lahore on Sunday, marching from Nasir Bagh to Charing Cross. The rally was led by former prime minister and PPP Central Punjab President Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and was attended by General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza, Information Secretary Shehzad Saeed Cheema, Ahsan Rizvi, Faisal Mir, Dr Ayesha Shaukat, Dr Fareed Zafar, Majid Ghori and other party leaders. Four district presidents joined the march with their respective processions. By the time the rally reached Mall Road, it had turned into what party leaders described as a “million march”, with thousands of workers in attendance. Hundreds of vehicles and motorcycles from all four districts also formed part of the procession. Recalling the vision of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Ashraf referred to Bhutto’s statement about building the nuclear programme despite hardships. He reiterated the party’s resolve to eradicate ...

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Chairman and Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Sunday announced the allotment of residential plots to the families of those who lost their lives in the Gul Plaza fire tragedy. The announcement was made at a ceremony held at the Governor House in Karachi to express solidarity with the affected families. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, MQM-P leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Ali Khurshidi, members of the national and provincial assemblies, office-bearers of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representatives of the Burns community and others were present. Addressing the gathering, Dr Siddiqui said Karachi had already endured “every possible injustice” and that forces with no real stake in the city were trying to impose politics of coercion. He said the service being rendered at the Governor House rose above politics and vowed that MQM-P would not allow Karachi to descend into chaos. Referring to the Gul Plaza tragedy, h...

Three people were injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on the vehicle of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (S) provincial chief Maulana Abdul Khateeb in the Darsmand area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Hangu, according to the police. “Maulana Abdul Khateeb’s son, Maulana Abdul Sami, and his two grandchildren were wounded in the attack,” District Police Officer (DPO) Khan Zeb Mehmood confirmed to The Express Tribune. He added that the injured were immediately taken to a nearby hospital and their condition was out of danger. Read More: JUI-S chief among six martyred in Nowshera suicide blast The JUI (S) leadership strongly condemned the attack in a statement. JUI-S chief Maulana Abdul Haq Thani expressed outrage over the incident, saying the provincial and federal governments had “completely failed” in maintaining law and order. He added, “No one’s life or property is safe in K-P.” Thani urged law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the attackers to justi...