Blaze News - Pakistan

The federal government on Friday reduced the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs2.20 and Rs1.50 per litre, respectively, for the next three days, until August 10. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, the price of petrol has been fixed at Rs327.62 per litre, while HSD will now cost Rs380.86 per litre.  The latest revision comes a day after the government decreased petrol by Rs3.19 and HSD by Rs1.50 per litre for Aug 7. READ: Govt reduces petrol price by Rs3.19, HSD by Rs1.50 for August 7 On July 17, the government introduced a daily fuel price review mechanism amid volatility in global oil prices following renewed hostilities in the Middle East. The daily fuel prices are based on a seven-day average of international market rates to align with international standards. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25, petroleum products constitute one of the country's largest import categories, making the economy highly vulner...

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday said the government would complete its constitutional five-year term, asserting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would remain in office for the full tenure. Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Naqvi dismissed speculation about the government's future, saying the current system was "going nowhere". "The government will complete its five-year constitutional term," he said. "Shehbaz Sahib will remain prime minister for five years. People can say whatever they want or interpret my remarks however they like, but he will complete his term as prime minister." Read: Governance system has collapsed: Naqvi Responding to a question about his absence from a cabinet meeting and criticism of his performance, Naqvi said he was answerable only to the prime minister. “I would request the prime minister to conduct an audit of all ministries and evaluate the performance of each ministry. Whatever the results are, ...

Amnesty International on Tuesday called on the federal government to release Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former premier Imran Khan ahead of the completion of three full years in incarceration. Imran has been imprisoned since August 5, 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the protests of May 9, 2023. On the eve of the completion of his three years, Amnesty International South Asia Acting Regional Director Isabelle Lassee noted that the authorities had "systematically denied" Imran the right to a fair trial, subjected him to prolonged solitary confinement and limited his access to medical care and visitation rights. She further added that Imran not been allowed to meet his family for more than eight months and his vision had reportedly deteriorated significantly. PAKISTAN: Ahead of the...

Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday said that the "countdown for the federal government had begun" as he lashed out at the federal coalition partner for alleged rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections. Senior leaders from both parties have held competing press conferences as rigging accusations have intensified. The PPP accused the federal government of interfering in the elections through development announcements and misuse of official resources, while the PML-N alleged the PPP was itself attempting to manipulate the vote, claiming ballot papers had been recovered from the residence of a rival candidate. In a series of posts and video messages on X, Bilawal said the recent elections were not transparent and fair but were "rigged elections, these were bullet elections, these were killer elections, these were bloody elections". He added: "Despite all this, you have made the PPP victorious on nine parliamentary s...

The protesting Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee on Saturday expressed its willingness to engage with the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission as it responded to a letter written by Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on the initiative. The development came after the JAAC wrote a letter to Bilawal on July 14, to which the PPP chairman responded by reiterating his proposal to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission with the consent of all stakeholders. In response to the letter, the JAAC conveyed its willingness to consider the proposed commission as a possible way forward to address the recent violence and political crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. “I have received JKJAAC’s response to my letter proposing the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, together with their accompanying proposal,” Bilawal said in a post on X. I have received JKJAAC’s response to my letter proposing the establishment ...

Coalition partners in the federal government, the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, on Saturday continued their war of words, which began during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir election campaign, with leaders from both sides escalating their rhetoric by targeting each other's leadership and past governments. The two parties, allies in the federal coalition government, have been exchanging accusations since the PML-N emerged victorious in the elections in AJK's Mirpur division. The PPP has alleged that the PML-N rigged the polls in Mirpur and has demanded fresh voting in the constituency. With the second phase of the AJK elections set to be held on Sunday in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division, political temperatures rose further as senior PML-N leaders responded to the PPP's allegations of electoral manipulation, rejecting claims of rigging not only in the AJK polls but also in the 2024 general elections. The latest exchanges marked a furth...

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency on Wednesday issued a notice to renowned journalist Asad Ali Toor, directing him to appear before the agency in connection with an inquiry into the alleged dissemination of "false information". According to a notice issued by the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre, and also shared by the journalist on his X account, Toor was summoned under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in connection with the inquiry. The inquiry pertained to the alleged dissemination of false or fake information under Section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016. 🚨🚨@NCCIAOFFICIAL summoned me on this Friday, 31 July 2026 on the complaint of the state. چشم نم جان شوریدہ کافی نہیں تہمت عشق پوشیدہ کافی نہیں آج بازار میں پا بہ جولاں چلو دست افشاں چلو مست و رقصاں چلو خاک بر سر چلو خوں بداماں چلو راہ تکتا ہے سب شہر جاناں چلو حاکم شہر بھی… pic.twitter.com/bUFJtXxS9N — Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) July 2...

The federal government on Wednesday decreased the price of petrol by Rs0.75 while increasing the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs2.24 for July 30. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, the price of petrol has been fixed at Rs335.06 per litre, while HSD will now cost Rs390.62 per litre. The latest revision comes a day after the government increased the prices of petrol and HSD by Rs1.63 and Rs1.55 per litre, respectively. READ: Govt announces Rs1.63 increase in petrol, Rs1.55 in diesel price for July 29 On July 17, the government introduced a daily fuel price review mechanism amid volatility in global oil prices following renewed hostilities in the Middle East. The daily fuel prices are based on a seven-day average of international market rates to align with international standards. During July, petroleum prices were revised several times. Following multiple revisions, petrol prices recorded a cumulative increase of more than Rs20 per litre du...

Pakistan on Monday condemned recent drone attacks carried out against Saudi Arabia amid the recent resumption and escalation of hostilities in the Middle East that have also involved the kingdom and Yemen's Houthis now. "Such provocative attacks pose a grave threat to peace and stability across the entire region," the Foreign Office said in a statement. It added that Pakistan "stands in solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reaffirms its strong and unwavering support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace and prosperity". 🔈 PR No. 1️⃣9️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Pakistan Condemns Drone Attacks Against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/iL1ymildlq — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 27, 2026 "Pakistan has taken, and will continue to take, all possible steps to support efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace, security and stability in the region,...

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Saturday reaffirmed their "close and brotherly ties" while underscoring the importance of diplomacy amid escalating tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Iran and Yemen's Houthi movement. The development came as Yemen's Houthis launched attacks on Saudi oil installations at two Red Sea ports on Saturday, raising concerns that the conflict disrupting energy supplies from the Gulf could spread to another major shipping route and further intensify Yemen's long-running conflict. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 spoke with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud @FaisalbinFarhan. The two leaders exchanged views on the la...

The federal government on Tuesday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs4.93 and Rs7.15 per litre, respectively, for July 22. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, the price of petrol has been fixed at Rs320.73 per litre, while HSD will now cost Rs367.21 per litre. Amid volatility in global oil rates on the back of renewed hostilities in the Middle East, the government decided to switch to a daily fuel price review mechanism on Friday. The daily pricing is based on a seven-day weekly average of international market prices to align with international standards. Read: Govt shifts to daily POL pricing amid global headwinds On Monday, the government raised the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs5.71 per litre while cutting the price of petrol by 35 paisas per litre for one day. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority will update petroleum product prices daily on its website to ensure transparency...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed the importance of reviving regional cooperation in a meeting with outgoing South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Secretary General Ambassador Golam Sarwar.  A press release issued today by the PM Office said the premier held a meeting with the Saarc chief at the Prime Minister's House. "The prime minister appreciated the secretary general's dedicated service and leadership in advancing regional cooperation during his tenure as secretary general of SAARC. "He reaffirmed Pakistan's steadfast commitment to the Saarc Charter and underscored the importance of revitalising regional cooperation to promote connectivity, sustainable development, and the shared prosperity of the peoples of South Asia," the press release said. Islamabad :15 July 2026. Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), H.E. Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, paid his farewell ...

Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal bin Saqib on Saturday met renowned Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani, with both sides holding a “constructive discussion” on digital assets and the ongoing debate over their Shariah status. In a post on X, Saqib said the meeting focused on the need to assess emerging financial technologies while ensuring protection for citizens from potential risks. “We are united on one fundamental objective: protecting Pakistanis from fraud, exploitation, and financial harm,” he said. Today, I had a constructive discussion with Mufti Taqi Usmani Sahib on digital assets and the ongoing conversation around their Shariah status. We are united on one fundamental objective: protecting Pakistanis from fraud, exploitation, and financial harm. I shared that… — Bilal bin Saqib MBE (@Bilalbinsaqib) July 11, 2026 The crypto chief said blockchain, digital assets, stablecoins and tokenised re...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged restraint and called for the immediate restoration of peace and stability in the region during separate telephone conversations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani amid recent regional tensions after the outbreak of fresh hostilities between the United States and Iran. An interim ceasefire agreement signed between Washington and Tehran — under the mediation of Pakistan — was intended to provide a 60-day window for negotiations on a permanent agreement, but indirect talks in Qatar ended last week with no sign of headway and the US military unleashed a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday. Iran subsequently said it had targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait and that it had shot down a US MQ-9 drone attempting to interfere in the operation. Bahrain's army ​later said it had thwarted Iranian attacks.  According to a sta...

Four terrorists were killed during a joint intelligence-based operation (IBO) carried out by the Karak and Kohat police in the Khattak Dam area along the Karak-Kohat border, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police said on Friday. According to a statement, the operation was launched at around 5am after police received credible intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the area. During the operation, the terrorists opened fire on the police party, prompting an effective retaliatory response in which four terrorists belonging to the Commander Zahid group were killed. Read: 14 killed in suicide attack on PPP leader's residence It added that the group was involved in the killings of Station House Officer Banda Umar Nawaz in Karak district and Inspector Tahir Nawaz in Kohat district in 2025, as well as Deputy Superintendent of Police Asad Mehmood, Sub-Inspector Anar Gul and other police officers and personnel in 2026. The statement said police had cordoned off the area and lau...

Pakistan urged restraint from both sides on Wednesday after a fresh round of hostilities between the United States and Iran threatened to undo weeks of efforts to achieve peace through the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).  The interim ceasefire agreement signed between Washington and Tehran — under the mediation of Pakistan — was intended to provide a 60-day window for negotiations on a permanent agreement, but indirect talks in Qatar ended last week with no sign of headway and the US military unleashed a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday. Iran subsequently said it had targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait and that it had shot down a US MQ-9 drone attempting to interfere in the operation. Bahrain's army ​later said it had thwarted Iranian attacks. Trump has since threatened a new volley of attacks tonight.  In a response issued today on the situation, the Foreign Office (FO) said: "Pakistan expresses ...

India’s main opposition Congress party reacted sharply to reports of an award conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Seychelles, casting doubts over its authenticity, British publication The Guardian said in a report on Friday. As Modi arrived in Seychelles over the weekend, the Indian prime minister was presented with the “Guardian of the Blue Horizon” award by Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, along with a trophy and certificate, the report said. However, according to The Guardian, questions soon emerged over the authenticity and preparation of the award. The certificate reportedly contained spelling errors, including “repubblic” instead of “republic” and “Seycheeles” instead of “Seychelles”. Read: Modi conferred ‘The King Hamad Order of the Renaissance’ in Bahrain The report added that the award was created only three days before Modi’s arrival and that he was the first and only re...

The federal government on Friday reduced the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.97 per litre for the next week, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum. Under the revised rates, the price of petrol has been fixed at Rs297.53 per litre, while HSD will now cost Rs309.50 per litre. The new prices came into effect at midnight and will remain applicable for the next week, the notification said. The announcement came a week after the government decided to keep petrol and diesel prices unchanged despite a continued decline in international oil prices. Following that decision, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik rejected the impression that the government was favouring any particular sector and said the public was likely to receive "good news" in the coming days. Read: Petroleum price freeze sparks backlash He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's top priority was protecting consumer rights, adding that a high-level committe...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Istanbul on Friday on a bilateral visit to Turkiye after a brief visit to Iran, where he attended the funeral rites of Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The visit to Turkiye came at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The visit marks the prime minister's third trip to Turkiye in as many months. He had previously visited the country in April and May as part of efforts to promote bilateral ties and discuss regional developments. According to the statement, the prime minister was received at Istanbul's Atatürk Airport by Turkish Minister of Trade Prof Dr Omer Bolat, Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkiye Dr Yousaf Junaid, and officials from the Turkish foreign ministry and the Pakistani embassy. Read: PM Shehbaz arrives in Turkiye on last leg of 3-nation tour Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister...

A committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the controversial Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has proposed sweeping changes to the legislation, ruling out any access to or use of private property without the owner's consent and calling for clearer wording in several provisions to remove ambiguity. The development comes a week after the prime minister formed the committee following strong criticism from both government allies and opposition lawmakers, who demanded thorough scrutiny of the bill and amendments to its contentious clauses. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Wednesday, the committee reviewing the bill's Right of Way provisions submitted its interim report after conducting a detailed review of the proposed amendments and the existing legal framework governing Right of Way. Read More: PM forms committee to review contested telecom bill; directs proposals submission o...