ISLAMABAD: Only 25,698 Pakistani pilgrims will perform Hajj under the private scheme this year, far below the allocated quota, after private tour operators failed to meet Saudi Arabia’s deadlines and regulations, the religious affairs minister said on Friday.
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Supreme Court upholds death sentence for Zahir Jaffer in Noor Mukadam murder case
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday upheld the death penalty for Zahir Jaffer, convicted of the gruesome murder of Noor Mukadam in a case that stunned the nation and spotlighted the pervasive issue of violence against women.
UPDATED: India denies reports of withdrawal from Asian cricket events over Pakistan tensions
KARACHI: India’s cricket board has withdrawn from all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events, including the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup and the Men’s Asia Cup, citing tensions with Pakistan, Indian media reported on Monday.
Millions in Pakistan face severe food insecurity, malnutrition, UN report says
ISLAMABAD: Millions of people in Pakistan are enduring persistent hunger and malnutrition, a crisis deepened by relentless weather extremes and economic hardship, according to a new report from the United Nations.
Pakistan to swelter from Thursday, PMD warns of severe heatwave
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is preparing for its first heatwave of the season, with temperatures expected to climb well above seasonal normal from Thursday through the weekend, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said.
Pakistan names Mike Hesson white-ball coach, PSL to resume May 17
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday appointed New Zealand’s Mike Hesson as the national team’s white-ball coach, effective May 26, 2025, ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) resumption later this month.
PSL plays on in Rawalpindi, defies military escalation with India
Pakistan’s top cricket league, the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL), is pushing forward despite a sharp escalation in military tensions with India, marked by missile strikes and downed fighter jets, with a high-stakes match set for tonight in Rawalpindi.
Kashmiris hounded by India’s violent backlash
After an attack in occupied Kashmir killed 26 people last week, Kashmiri Muslims across India are confronting a surge of harassment and violence — a painful illustration of the deep-seated mistrust and divisions that continue to plague the region.
Spy chief gets key national security role amid India tensions
ISLAMABAD: The government has named Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as the new National Security Adviser (NSA), the first time a serving ISI chief will hold both roles simultaneously.
Pakistan braces for extreme heatwave as temperatures threaten global record
ISLAMABAD: Extreme heat across South Asia this week could approach globally recorded temperature highs for April, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, with parts of Pakistan forecast to near 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), matching a 2018 record.