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Japan has announced a major grant of ¥2.091 billion Japanese yen to Pakistan to strengthen child healthcare services, with the funds set to upgrade the Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health (ICH) Multan in south Punjab. The grant agreement was formally signed between Pakistan and Japan, marking another milestone in bilateral development cooperation. According to Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division, the assistance is being provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and is equivalent to US $18.62 million. Focus on child healthcare The grant will be used specifically to improve child health facilities in south Punjab, a region…

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the minerals and mining sector as Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik met Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Al-Khareef on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum 2026 in Riyadh. Ali Pervaiz Malik is leading the Pakistani delegation at the Future Minerals Forum 2026, where the two ministers discussed expanding cooperation in mineral exploration, mining and downstream industries. Both sides agreed that closer collaboration would benefit the economies of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and help unlock untapped mineral potential. Technical and scientific support…

The process for appointing the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly moved closer to resolution on Tuesday as senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders held talks with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in his chamber. A PTI delegation led by Barrister Gohar arrived at the speaker’s office to discuss the long-pending nomination. The speaker had also invited Asad Qaiser, and Malik Aamir Dogar to the meeting. Federal Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry was also present in the Speaker’s Chamber during the discussions. Single, united nomination Speaking during the meeting, Chief Whip Aamir Dogar said there was no grouping within the PTI…

The world’s shortest commercial flight operates between the Scottish islands of Westray and Papa Westray. The flight lasts just 53 seconds and covers a distance of 1.7 miles. British airline Loganair operates the service using the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft, which was designed to operate on short routes and in challenging weather conditions. Reports said that residents of the northern Scottish islands have only two options for travel: boat or aircraft. Sea travel is often difficult due to strong tidal currents, which is why islanders prefer to travel by air. The flight usually takes around 90 seconds, but when wind…

Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have agreed on a landmark pre-immigration clearance system that will allow UAE-bound passengers to complete immigration formalities before departure, significantly easing travel and saving time. A UAE delegation led by Ahmed bin Lahej Al-Falasi, the director general of Customs and Port Security, met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to discuss closer cooperation and passenger facilitation. During the meeting, both sides agreed to sign a formal pre-immigration clearance agreement between Pakistan and the UAE. Immigration before departure Naqvi said that under the new system, immigration and related clearance for UAE-bound passengers will be completed in…

Three of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises have called for an auction in the forthcoming 11th edition of the tournament. Sources said on Tuesday that Karachi Kings, Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators support the auction model for PSL 11. The franchises have raised several questions with the PSL administration regarding arrangements for the next edition of the league. According to sources, the franchises have sought clarity on the procedure for direct signings and the number of players to be signed through this route. They have also asked who is finalising player categories and requested that franchises be taken into…

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan made an unusual and unwanted bit of history during a Big Bash League match after being retired out despite being neither injured nor dismissed. Rizwan’s stay at the crease ended not because of a wicket, but due to the slow pace of his innings in a format that demands urgency. He scored 26 runs off 23 balls, a strike rate that proved costly as the innings reached its decisive stage. Captain takes rare call Before the start of the 19th over, the captain of Melbourne Renegades made the bold decision to call Rizwan off the…

The government has set a target to increase gemstone exports to one billion dollars within five years. According to details surfaced on Tuesday, a new government strategy aims to place mineral resources at the centre of economic development. An article published in The National Interest has outlined Pakistan’s mineral sector reforms in detail. The magazine wrote that Pakistan holds mineral resources worth trillions of dollars and is aligning its mining sector with international standards through a series of reforms. Global investors are being attracted through the Minerals Investment Forum. According to The National Interest, Reko Diq ranks among the world’s major copper and…

Australian women’s cricketer Alyssa Healy has announced her retirement from international cricket after a career spanning 15 years. Healy said she will not be part of the T20I side but will play her final One Day International and Test matches against India on home grounds. Cricket Australia confirmed that the wicketkeeper-batter will step away from all formats after the upcoming series against India. The 35-year-old began her international career in 2010. She played 295 international matches, scoring more than 7,000 runs. Behind the stumps, she was involved in 275 dismissals. Healy took over full-time captaincy duties in 2023. She remained…

China has strongly condemned the United States’ decision to impose sweeping new tariffs on countries trading with Iran, warning that the move amounts to interference in other nations’ internal affairs and risks serious harm to the global economy. China reacted sharply after Donald Trump announced that any country doing business with Iran would face a 25% tariff on all trade with the United States. Trump described the measure as “final and conclusive” in a social media post late Monday, without explaining its legal basis or how it would be enforced. ‘No winners in tariff and trade wars’ Responding on Tuesday,…