Blaze News - Pakistan

In a series of operations, security forces eliminated ten terrorists and injured three others in North Waziristan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Friday and Saturday, the military’s media wing said in a statement. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), four terrorists met their end during an intelligence-based operation on March 8. Following this success, four more terrorists were neutralised during a subsequent sanitisation operation by security forces. In a separate engagement, security forces intercepted the movement of five terrorists attempting to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. After an intense exchange of fire, two terrorists identified as Hazrat Umer and Rehman Niaz were eliminated, while three others sustained injuries. Read also: Four terrorists killed in North Waziristan IBO Pakistan has consistently urged the Interim Afghan Government to strengthen border management measures on their side of the border, the ISPR said. “Interim Afghan Governme...

The inflow of workers’ remittances rose 18% in February 2024 compared to the same month of last year, reaching $2.25 billion ahead of the fasting month of Ramazan that is beginning next week. According to State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) data, the remittances had stood at $1.90 billion in February last year. The higher inflows should help finance the trade deficit and keep the current account balance at breakeven level. They may also support the Pakistani rupee in standing at stronger levels compared to the US dollar and currencies of other trading partners. Non-resident Pakistanis send more funds to their family members and friends back home ahead of and during Ramazan and Eid festival to help them cope with high inflation and meet relatively higher expenditures. On a month-on-month basis, however, the remittances fell 6% to $2.25 billion in February compared to $2.39 billion in the prior month. Topline Securities Deputy Head of Equity Sales Ali Najib linked the drop in remittances with...

In a session that almost went up in smoke, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq let off steam on Friday as a member sparked controversy by smoking during the parliamentary proceedings. The incident took place during a session presided over by NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, where one member was observed smoking in violation of parliamentary norms. Expressing his anger, Sadiq remarked that it was a historic first for the National Assembly of Pakistan, witnessing a member puffing a cigarette on the parliamentary floor. He said that even sipping water within the hallowed halls required formal permission. Moreover, addressing the assembly members, the newly-elected NA speaker conveyed his disappointment, urging them not to bring unauthorised individuals into the session, citing instances of spectators in the gallery creating TikTok videos. Read more: PTI cries foul as 4 MNAs elected on reserved seats sworn in He warned of strict actions in the future if such incidents recurred. He stressed that...

The seventh Aurat March and Protest Mela 2024 took place at Karachi’s Frere Hall on Friday, attracting a diverse crowd of women, men, transgender persons, and representatives from minority communities. Throughout the day-long event, participants engaged in discussions addressing the challenges and protection of women, religious minorities, and trans persons. Drum beats set the rhythm as participants danced, shouting slogans such as "My Body, My Choice," "My Dress, My Choice," and "My Religion, My Choice," among others. The Aurat March also featured a concurrent Protest Mela. Prominent figures, including Aurat March Founder Sheema Kirmani, Co-Founder Pastor Ghazala Shafiq, Gender Interactive Alliance President Bindiya Rana, and social activist Shahzadi from the City Council, participated in the protest. Three sessions during the Aurat March focused on issues concerning the protection of religious minorities, transgender rights, and women's economic righ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the relevant officials on Thursday to ensure immediate distribution of funds among the deserving people registered under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in the holy month of Ramazan. Charing a high-level review meeting on the Prime Minister’s Ramazan Relief Package and the BISP, Shehbaz directed the officials to run a nationwide awareness campaign so that the this package could reach more and more eligible people. The meeting, attended by Senator Ishaq Dar, Ahad Cheema, Shaza Fatima, Rumina Khurshid and relevant senior officials, was informed that the quarterly payment from the BISP had been increased to Rs10,500. Read also: Ramazan relief data found wanting Shehbaz instructed the officials to ensure payment to the deserving people in the holy month of Ramazan. He specifically ordered that the recipient families from Balochistan must be paid an additional amount of Rs2,000 each. The meeting was also informed that more than 39.6 m...

The provincial high court in Sindh has stayed the federal government’s decision to increase gas prices for industrial units. It has also ordered the federation, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to submit written arguments in support of the hike. The hearing of petitions filed by over 400 companies against the caretaker government’s notifications to increase gas tariffs for industries resumed before a single-member bench of Justice Mahmood A Khan on Thursday. The petitioners' lawyer argued that according to the law, the province which produces a resource has the primary right to use it. He said Sindh produces the most gas in the country. He noted that the caretaker government was not entitled to increase gas prices. “A caretaker government is supposed to handle day-to-day affairs. It cannot make decisions on major policy matters.” The federal government’s counsel stated that the caretaker government increased gas prices to boost rev...

In a significant political development, the coalition parties in Pakistan, comprising the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and Istehkam Pakistan Party (IPP), have thrown their weight behind the nomination of Asif Ali Zardari from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the presidency. The endorsement came to light during a gathering hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where members of the National Assembly and Senate from PML-N and its coalition partners were invited to a dinner reception. The event was attended by the joint presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and members of their party including Yousaf Raza Gilani, Senator Raza Rabbani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, and Khurshid Shah. Read more: Zardari-led PPP delegation calls on PM Shehbaz QM Pakistan's Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Dr Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal also participated in the event. Leaders of the IPP, incl...