News Archives for Latest - 2026-01-19

In first speech as NA opposition leader, Achakzai vows ‘unconditional support’ for strengthening house

"What’s happened has happened but having animosity and hurling abuse at each other will not help us,” he says.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 10:45pm

Italian fashion great Valentino Garavani dead at 93

Funeral to be held in Rome on Friday.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 10:57pm

ECP seeks amendment in Elections Act to ensure timely conduct of local govt polls

The commission has proposed an amendment in Section 219(1) of the Elections Act.

Updated 20 Jan, 2026 08:54am

Gilani to notify MWM chief as Senate opposition leader by tomorrow: PTI’s Ali Zafar

In letter to Senate chairman, Zafar underscores that "continued non-appointment" opposition leader "runs contrary to well-established democratic traditions".

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 10:15pm

South Asia

India, UAE sign $3 billion LNG deal, agree to boost trade and defence ties at leaders’ meeting

Indian PM Modi holds talks with UAE president in New Delhi during the latter's brief two-hour visit.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 10:05pm

Punjab

PTI forms 3-member committee to support members incarcerated in Punjab, their families

“The PTI remains committed to providing legal assistance and welfare support to its members and their families in these challenging times,” notification says.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 08:23pm

Sindh

Karachi fires: a timeline of major blazes and unanswered questions

Fires frequently erupt in buildings across Pakistan due to a mix of poor infrastructure, weak enforcement of safety regulations, and widespread negligence.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 07:56pm

IMF lifts 2026 global growth forecast but flags AI, trade risks

For Pakistan, the IMF has estimated 3.2pc growth in 2026; Fund says resilience exhibited so far is driven largely by a few sectors.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 07:46pm

Centurion Djokovic romps to Melbourne win as Swiatek, Gauff move on in Australian Open

Coco Gauff beat Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3, but was also less than convincing at the start and struggled with her serve.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 07:32pm

‘Lesson for all of us’: PPP’s Sherry Rehman says no need to politicise fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza

"One should also ask the administration of Gul Plaza about how it happened, since they run the market," she says.

Updated 20 Jan, 2026 12:35pm

Top Featured

Gul Plaza, SBCA, and the human cost of bad governance

Buildings become death traps not because the rules are unclear, but because enforcement has been deliberately neutralised.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 06:26pm

Punjab

Bushra Bibi’s daughter withdraws plea seeking meetings with her incarcerated mother

Petition withdrawn after LHC sustains registrar office's objection.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 05:46pm

‘This wasn’t just a fire’ — Celebrities mourn loss of lives and livelihoods in Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire

Stars were heartbroken and sent prayers to those affected by the tragedy.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 05:30pm

Blast kills 7 at Chinese-run restaurant in Afghan capital

Police spokesperson says one Chinese national, six Afghans killed in incident.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 11:48pm

In pictures: Rescuers comb through wreckage of Karachi’s Gul Plaza following deadly fire

Workers clear twisted metal and debris strewn across the street, along with fallen air-conditioning units and shop signboards.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 07:25pm

Trump to charge $1bn for permanent spot on ‘Board of Peace’: reports

Member countries will be allowed to join for three years or longer if they contribute more than $1 billion within the first year, Bloomberg reports.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 05:27pm

Sindh

Gul Plaza blaze: Plea filed in SHC seeking criminal, departmental proceedings against responsible officials

Petitioners contend that the tragedy is a "direct consequence of gross negligence" and "maladministration" by relevant authorities.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 04:29pm

Branded Content

Nishat Group’s Omoda & Jaecoo launch the All-New Jaecoo J5 SHS HEV

Pakistan becomes the first global market for the J5 SHS HEV.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 04:10pm

Writer Dr Rashid Jahan’s works were often at centre of public fury due to unapologetically confrontational nature

Her skill as a writer is captured in her short story ‘Mujrim Kaun?’ — a poignantly tragic tale that offers powerful commentary and insight into the inequality and contradictions of the colonial legal system.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 04:09pm

Pakistan’s trade deficit widens, pushing current account negative

Pakistan’s current account swung back to a deficit in December due to surging imports, revealing ongoing vulnerability in its external financial stability.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 04:38pm

We want a ‘new Pakistan’ which is democratic: Achakzai addresses lawyers in Karachi

Abbas says February 8 is a very important day, “when we will show the government the power of the people”.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 06:50pm

Gold, silver hit record highs as Trump-Greenland row sparks safety rally

Trump's tariff threats over Greenland spark a rush to safe-haven assets, reflecting rising global instability.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 02:47pm

PTI’s participation in JCP meetings conditional upon consultation with Imran: Barrister Gohar

“Just as we boycotted participation from other committees, we also decided to stay away from the meetings of the JCP,” says party chairman.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 08:05pm

Decoding Junaid Safdar and Shanzeh Ali Rohale’s regal looks from their baraat and valima

The groom opted for an ivory sherwani by HSY and the bride chose a Tarun Tahiliani sari for the baraat. The newlyweds wore Faraz Manan for the reception.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 02:14pm

No longer feel obligation to ‘think purely of peace’, Trump tells Norwegian PM after Nobel snub

Trump says world "not secure" unless US has Greenland; German and French leaders denounce US president's tariff threats as "blackmail".

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 07:23pm

Social media posts case: IHC grants Imaan, Hadi one-day protective bail

Sessions court adjourns hearing till tomorrow; Judge Majoka expresses displeasure that the arrest has not yet been made.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 03:10pm

Bangladesh face deadline over refusal to play T20 World Cup matches in India

BCB held talks with ICC in Dhaka at the weekend over the impasse, but no agreement was reached.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 01:40pm

PAF contingent arrives in Saudi Arabia for combat exercise ‘Spears of Victory 2026’: ISPR

Seeks to validate operational preparedness in contested, technology-driven battle space, the statement says.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 02:21pm

Australia rest Cummins, Hazlewood, Maxwell for Pakistan T20 series

Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis will also skip the series starting later this month.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 12:31pm

Blow for Africa Cup of Nations after farcical final that sees Senegal win title

Senegal, who have won twice in the last three editions, handed top-ranked Morocco their first defeat in 27 internationals.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 12:02pm

Player auction model to replace draft system for PSL XI

PCB says shift aimed at competitive balance, increasing transparency, and providing players greater earning opportunities.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 12:18pm

Avatar: Fire and Ash tops North American box office for fifth consecutive week, earning $17.2m

Zombie thriller 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple stood at second place with $15m, while Zootopia 2 earned $12m.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 11:17am

High-speed train collision in Spain kills 39, injures dozens

Spanish transport minister says “really strange” that derailment should have happened on a straight stretch of track.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 01:45pm

Kinnow exports caught between border closure, Iran sanctions threat

The fruit, which could reach Russia within six to nine days through Afghanistan, now has to be routed through Iran. This journey takes 25 days, too long for perishable fruit. But Trump's threat of 25pc tariff on countries trading with Iran has made even this backup route geopolitically risky.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 09:38am

The transition from ‘dollar stores’ to ‘discount shops’

While weekly bazaars provide a wide variety of items, 'fixed-price' shops seem to be capturing customers that would otherwise flock to the 'landa' or thrift market.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 09:37am

There is no straightforward path to growth that doesn’t see us back to square one in about a year

For the generation gaining adulthood in the 2000s, this particular sequence has already played itself out four times.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 09:23am

What kind of world is emerging from Trump’s ‘America First’ foreign policy?

Countries have to navigate a no-rules world amid great uncertainty and volatility.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 09:04am

Editorial: Kabul leaders hardly progressive, but may be best bet to reintegrate Afghanistan with the rest of the world

Although a ‘Kabul Spring’ is hardly in the offing, limited change in Afghanistan could be in the air.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:48am

Sindh

Gul Plaza inferno death toll rises to 23; Karachi mayor says 65 people remain missing

Sindh CM announces Rs10m compensation for victims' families, pledges to rehabilitate affected traders, reconstruct the mall.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 11:46pm

A dysfunctional vegetable handling system

No cold storage for preserving vegetables means we cannot export them to China despite bilateral trade agreement, says Sindh Abadgar Board president.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 08:32am

Pakistan’s struggle for self-reliance

Sustained investment in human development is the only guarantee of a prosperous and stable future for the country.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 08:27am

Moderate GDP growth alone without bold policy interventions, will not generate jobs

Swift, broad-based employment creation is imperative for national stability and resilience in the increasingly competitive regional and global arena.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 08:06am

Front Page

Govt cites weather among reasons for power outages

Leghari says electricity cuts due to fuel mismanagement, transmission constraints, among other causes.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 07:59am

Pakistan needs a paradigm shift in agricultural policy capable of delivering broad-based, sustained growth

The country must move from its focus on improving yields to growing a wide range of high-value crops with comparative advantages.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 07:50am

Back Page

World markets face fresh jolt after US tariff threat over Greenland

Macron wants "never-before-used anti-coercion instrument" against US; Meloni calls tariff threat a "mistake".

Published 19 Jan, 2026 07:42am

Middle East

Fighting ends after Syrian, Kurdish forces agree on ceasefire

SDF forces to withdraw east of Euphrates; Damascus to take over Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa governorates.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 07:41am

The ups and downs of asset tokenisation in Pakistan

Despite their potential, the programmability of NFTs makes them harder to monitor and mitigate potential risks.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 07:40am

Back Page

Four terrorists killed on Afghan border, says Tajikistan

Tajik authorities have reported at least five deadly incidents on the mountainous border since November.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 07:39am

Back Page

Pentagon readies 1,500 troops for potential Minnesota deployment

Army places units on prepare-to-deploy orders in case violence escalates.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 08:14am

KP & FATA

JI leader warns of worsening wheat flour crisis in KP

JI's Inayatullah Khan says capacity of police should be enhanced instead of conducting military operations.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:26am

KP & FATA

Private schools’ employees in KP entitled to social security benefits, rules Peshawar High Court

Bench rejects plea of Private Education Network and lifts stay order.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:30am

KP & FATA

Afridi says KP govt won’t become part of any ‘failed’ policy

Elders from Bajaur, Khyber and Kurram apprise chief minister of their issues.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 07:31am

Islamabad

AJK minister warns forest fire offenders of strict action, seeks public help

Sardar Javed Ayoub appeals to public to actively support the authorities in preventing and extinguishing forest fires during the ongoing fire season.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 06:23am

Islamabad

Punjab govt launches new performance monitoring system in Rawalpindi

Key performance indicators developed for 22 different sectors to closely track issues that directly affect public.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 10:22am

Islamabad

Rawalpindi’s Holy Family Hospital security guard ‘punches’ man to death

Accused yet to be arrested by the police.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 10:29am

Punjab

Suthra Punjab enters ‘correction phase’

DG Suthra Punjab says entire system, right from human resource to machinery to waste collection and disposal is digitised and being monitored online.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 10:11am

Punjab

Cotton supply at ginning factories indicates stagnant production

Ginners call for ban on sugarcane cultivation in cotton zones; say the challenge has shifted from production to consumption.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 10:02am

Punjab

Groom among 7 held over nikah of underage girl in Vehari

Case registered on the complaint of police officials.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:59am

Sindh

Sedition case registered against Zain Shah, 60 other activists

Complainant claims that suspects raised slogans against the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan in Sann on eve of G.M. Syed's birth anniversary.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:54am

Sindh

A fierce battle between water and fire

By Sunday afternoon, around 16 hours after the Gul Plaza fire broke out, firefighters are still playing "whack-a-mole" with the blaze.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:41am

Sindh

‘Delayed govt response’ blamed for Karachi’s Gul Plaza catastrophe

Traders say fire could have been contained sooner, but limited resources and delayed action by authorities allowed it to spread unchecked.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 08:10am

International

Iraq announces complete withdrawal of US-led forces

“Coordination with the international coalition will continue with regards to completely eliminating IS’s presence in Syria,” says military committee.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:37am

International

Shark mauls boy in Sydney Harbour

Wildlife experts working to identify the shark species involved, says state government.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:43am

International

Chile declares emergency as wildfires kill 15

Among other things, the declaration means the armed forces will now get involved.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:46am

International

How Washington sells war to the world with words

Change what an action is called, and you change how it is judged.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 10:17am

Sport

No Venus fairytale as Alcaraz, Sabalenka win Melbourne openers

Sabalenka says she felt added pressure with tennis legends Roger Federer and Rod Laver court-side.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 10:03am

Sport

Mitchell, Phillips hammer tons as NZ beat India to clinch ODI series

The teams next meet in a five-match Twenty20 International series from January 21-31.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 06:22am

Sport

England, Afghanistan register solid wins in U-19 World Cup

England’s final group game is against Scotland on Wednesday while Zimbabwe face Pakistan on Thursday.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 06:22am

Business

The US dollar in a turbulent world

Recent US legislation has further legitimised instruments like cryptocurrencies, strengthening the greenback’s presence.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 08:12am

Business

Pakistan’s exchange rate illusion

History shows that prolonged artificial stability acts as a tax on exports and a subsidy to imports.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 08:17am

National

Ulema council hails Gaza peace board invitation

Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi says the invitation reflected the strength of Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 07:35am

Balochistan

Civil society in Balochistan alarmed over fast-tracked nicotine rule

Call on the federal government to halt the fast-tracking of mandatory standards for nicotine-containing, tobacco-free oral products.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:18am

Balochistan

First digital test held in Balochistan for finance posts

CM Sarfraz Bugti terms exercise a “historic milestone” towards transparency.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:20am

Balochistan

Panjgur residents take to streets against rising kidnap cases

Protesters demand government and law-enforcement agencies to take immediate steps for the safe recovery of Shah Nawaz Gul and other abducted people.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 06:22am

Balochistan

Balochistan govt approves Benazir card for farmers

Finalises an agreement with HBL Konnect for implementation.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 06:22am

Balochistan

Two killed in Dera Bugti landmine blast

“The deceased were apparently planting the mine in the area to target residents," says a security official.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 06:22am

National

Joint katcha operation launched using drones, APCs

Around 1,700 personnel deployed as Punjab and Sindh police, Rangers pursue riverine bandits.

Published 19 Jan, 2026 06:22am

National

Rightsizing plan puts fate of 40 Tibb colleges at risk

Proposed merger of National Council for Tibb and National Council for Homoeopathy threatens future of 70,000 Hakeems.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 07:43am

Monday, January 19, 2026