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By: Reza Amiri Moghadam, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic or Iran to Pakistan We are on the eve of the last evenings of the autumn of the year 2024. This year we are highly honoured to celebrate the ancient Iranian event of Yalda in our friendly, brotherly and neighbourly country of Pakistan along with the other countries with which we share civilizational commonalities and links. The Yalda Night, or as called in the Iranian folklore, Chele, is the longest night of the year and the beginning of the light and the rebirth of brilliance. Yalda is a turning point in…

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan posted its highest current account surplus in nearly 10 years in November, buoyed by a reduction in the trade and services deficits as well as lower interest and dividend repatriations, reported on Wednesday. The country recorded a current account surplus of $729 million in November, the highest level since February 2015. This compares to a surplus of $346 million in the previous month and a deficit of $148 million in November 2023, the central bank data showed on Tuesday. November marked the fourth consecutive month of surplus. Over the first five months of the fiscal year 2025,…

ISLAMABAD : Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has released his additional note in the famous Zufikar Ali Bhutto review case, stating that fair trial was not done in the case of the former prime minister. He said the Supreme Court, however, in its advisory jurisdiction under Article 186 of the Constitution could not reappraise the evidence and undo the decision of the case announced by then LHC bench back in time. In his additional note, the CJP writes: “I find myself in agreement with the observation of Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah that certain portions of the detailed…

LAHORE : Motorways have been closed at various places on Wednesday morning as fog engulfed most cities of the country. According to Motorway Police spokesperson Imran Ahmed, the section M1 from Peshawar to Rashkai, and M2 from Lahore to Hiran Minar has been closed to traffic due to fog. Similarly, the Motorway’s section M3 is closed from Lahore to Jaranwala. The spokesperson advised people to travel during daylight hours and avoid unnecessary travel. He also urged to avoid over-speeding and keep a proper distance from the vehicle in front. Imran asked the travellers to contact helpline 130 for information and…

ISLAMABAD :President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday paid tribute to Lance Naik Mahfuz Shaheed (Nishan-i-Haider) on the 53rd anniversary of his martyrdom, recognising his valor and sacrifice to safeguard the country. The president and prime minister, in their separately issued statements, lauded the exemplary gallantry of Lance Naik Mahfuz Shaheed in the 1971 war when he repelled the enemy at the Wagah Border. They prayed to Allah Almighty for the elevation of the rank of Lance Naik Mahfuz Shaheed in paradise. “Lance Naik Mahfuz Shaheed fought the enemy with bravery. The entire nation salutes him…

ISLAMABAD  : Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Advocate Ali Bukhari has said that his party is willing to engage in negotiations, but the government is not serious about taking the initiative to engage with the Opposition party, noting that the civil disobedience movement has been temporarily delayed, not cancelled altogether. The PTI leader’s remarks came hours after the incumbent government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ruled out talks with the embattled PTI with the “sword of civil disobedience hanging on its neck”. “For the first time, a pleasant breeze came from the opposition […] but talks cannot be held at gunpoint,”…

Saim Ayub became the youngest player to score a century against South Africa while chasing, achieving this remarkable feat at just 22 years and 207 days. Ayub’s stellar knock came in 2024, breaking records and surpassing some of cricket’s legendary names. Adding another feather to his cap, Ayub also set a new record as the youngest player to score a century in South Africa while chasing. The previous record-holder, Quinton de Kock, achieved this milestone at 23 years and 48 days in 2016. Overall, Ayub now ranks as the third youngest player to score a century against South Africa in…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to leave for Cairo, Egypt today to attend the 11th D-8 Summit – scheduled to run from December 18 to 20, 2024. The summit’s theme, “Investing in Youth, Supporting SMEs: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy,” focuses on enhancing economic cooperation among the member countries. The D-8, an economic cooperation organization, includes Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Iran, and Turkey. This gathering offers an opportunity for these nations to deepen economic ties, especially in the areas of agriculture, food security, and tourism. According to a statement from the Foreign Office, Prime Minister Sharif will express Pakistan’s strong commitment…

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that all the applications received under the government Hajj scheme for 2025 have been accepted. This decision comes after the ministry declared all applications received by the end of the third extension of Hajj applications as approved. According to officials, a total of 82,000 Hajj applications were received by the end of the third extension period, falling 7,000 short of the allocated quota. Despite the shortfall, the ministry has assured that every applicant has been approved. The Ministry of Religious Affairs is actively working to fill the remaining 7,000 slots in the government…

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has approved a significant hike in gas prices for the current fiscal year, fulfilling another condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the announcement, OGRA approved an increase of 8.71% in gas prices for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and a 25.78% hike for Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL). With these adjustments, the average gas price for SNGPL will rise to Rs1,778.35 per MMBTU, while the average price for SSGCL will increase to Rs1,762.51 per MMBTU. The decision has been forwarded to the federal government for final approval.…