ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central bank has signalled its intention to legalise digital currencies, marking a reversal of its previous ban as the government advances plans to regulate the sector through the Virtual Assets Bill, 2025.
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KP chief minister Gandapur’s support for Kalabagh dam sparks controversy
ISLAMABAD: A renewed push by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to revive discussions on the long-dormant Kalabagh Dam project has ignited a firestorm of criticism from political leaders across Pakistan, exposing deep-seated regional divisions over a project that has been stalled for decades.
New flood alert issued in Punjab as rivers swell from heavy rains and upstream releases
ISLAMABAD: Authorities issued a flood alert for the capital and much of Punjab province on Monday as heavy monsoon rains and water releases from India swelled major rivers, threatening fresh inundations in a region already reeling from weeks of deadly flooding that has killed hundreds and displaced millions.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa clears bill to protect Kalash marriages, recognising indigenous rights
PESHAWAR: A provincial cabinet committee in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has approved a draft bill that would for the first time provide legal recognition for marriages among the Kalash, an indigenous people whose ancient culture has long lacked formal protections under the country’s laws.
Pakistan slashes new development funding to 2pc under IMF pressure
ISLAMABAD: The government has drastically curtailed funding for new development projects, limiting allocations to just 2 percent of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the current fiscal year, a move driven by stringent conditions tied to the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF), officials disclosed during a Senate committee briefing on Friday.
Pakistan signals historic shift toward Armenia, deepens ties with China amid regional tensions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is exploring the establishment of diplomatic relations with Armenia, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday, signaling a potential realignment in Islamabad’s regional strategy.
Two children test positive for polio in KP, 2025 tally hits 23
ISLAMABAD: Two new poliovirus cases have been confirmed in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, pushing Pakistan’s 2025 case count to 23, health officials said Tuesday, highlighting the persistent challenges in eliminating the crippling disease in one of the world’s last two polio-endemic countries.
PTI secretary general Salman Akram Raja to resign amid internal party strife
ISLAMABAD: Salman Akram Raja, Secretary General of opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said on Monday he would resign from the party position, pointing to an event he did not specify, as internal rifts deepen within the party founded by jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Pakistani climbers summit Tirich Mir, highest peak in Hindu Kush
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani mountaineers, Sirbaz Khan and Abig Baig, have successfully summited Tirich Mir, the highest peak in the Hindu Kush mountain range, standing at 7,708 meters in northwestern Pakistan, state-run media reported on Sunday.
Gilgit-Baltistan faces ‘catastrophic’ flood threat from new mudslide lake
ISLAMABAD: A 7-kilometre (4-mile) lake formed by a massive mudslide in northern Pakistan is at risk of bursting, threatening potentially “catastrophic” floods in downstream communities, Reuters reported on Saturday.