Daily Times

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday disposed of a petition challenging the Punjab government’s plan to hold a 10-day Basant festival in 2027 after the petitioner’s counsel withdrew the plea following objections from the court over its maintainability. Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry heard the petition filed by citizen Shahid…

Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry on Friday urged intending pilgrims to ensure they pay the second instalment of their Hajj 2027 dues before Oct. 20, stressing that people must pay on time to avoid cancelation of their Hajj applications. Pakistan allowed pilgrims to make payments for Hajj pilgrimage in instalments in…

Aspecial Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has deferred its verdict for the fourth time in a case registered against Aleema Khan and 10 other accused in connection with the November 26 protests. ATC Rawalpindi Judge Amjad Ali Shah conducted the hearing today, while Aleema Khan’s counsel, Faisal Malik, appeared before…

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the bail application of Shah Rukh, an accused in a case involving the alleged sexual abuse of a five-year-old boy. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed that leniency could not be shown towards accused persons in such cases, remarking that what had happened was not…

The Sindh Government has decided to increase internship and employment opportunities for students, fresh graduates, and individuals at the early stages of their careers. Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that the Sindh Government is contacting more than 100…

Millions of maunds of wheat stored in government warehouses in Karachi’s Landhi area have reportedly deteriorated and become unfit for human consumption, prompting flour millers to refuse to lift the grain released by the Sindh government. A substantial quantity of wheat purchased with public funds has reportedly rotted and turned…

Governor Sindh Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi visited the mausoleum of Shaheed-e-Millat Khan Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, on his death anniversary. He laid a floral wreath, offered Fateha and paid tribute to the services and sacrifices of the founding leader. Governor Sindh also offered prayers for the elevation…

The federal government has reduced petrol price by Rs3.93 per litre while keeping high-speed diesel (HSD) rates unchanged. Following the revision, petrol will cost Rs386.30 per litre, while diesel will remain at Rs396.96. According to the Petroleum Division’s notification, the revised rates will apply from October 17 to October 19.…

A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, killed three children and a teacher on Thursday afternoon. Authorities identified the 16-year-old suspect as John J. Griffin II, according to The Washington Post. Investigators believe he used a shotgun reportedly purchased by his mother. A civilian fatally shot the…

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly warned Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of a renewed threat to his life. According to Geo News Urdu, FBI officials visited his residence in New York and alerted him to what they described as an immediate and credible danger. Pannun,…

Pakistan has been selected to chair the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group in 2027. The appointment marks the country’s return to the position after 74 years. Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema was announced as the incoming chair during the annual meetings…

Penguin Random House has halted the publication of a children’s book about Palestinian history and the Palestinian struggle shortly before its planned release. According to The Guardian, Palestinian American authors Alana Hadid and Jinan Matari withdrew the book after a prolonged disagreement with the publisher. The dispute centred on how…

Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has announced a temporary gas shutdown in Karachi for repair work on its 24-inch Sher Shah mainline. The shutdown will begin at 10pm on Saturday and continue until 9am on Sunday. The company warned that an extension could cause low gas pressure in several neighbourhoods.…

Britain’s army chief has warned that citizens may need to make sacrifices to strengthen national defence amid growing international security threats. General Sir Roly Walker delivered the warning during a visit to Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. He addressed around 700 soldiers and said the country might need them to…

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has clarified that Pakistan has not awarded any mineral mine or mining contract to the United States. He said discussions about mineral development remain at an initial stage. Asif added that the US, China, Canada and Australia have expressed interest in Pakistan’s valuable mineral resources. Read…

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) said security forces killed a high-profile terrorist commander during a joint operation in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday. The department identified the suspect as Zahid Gul and accused him of masterminding the deadly attack on Kohat Police Lines. Read More: CTD kills 3 TTP militants…

Norway’s Queen Mette-Marit has returned to public attention after undergoing major lung transplant surgery and taking a break from royal duties. On Friday, the Norwegian royal family shared her photograph and personal message on its official Instagram account. She reflected on weaving and its connection to history, patience and peace.…

Pakistan aims to increase its mineral exports from $3 billion to $8 billion through effective policies and investment in the mining sector. According to an Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) report, the country has discovered 92 minerals, with 52 currently extracted commercially. The report estimates Pakistan’s mineral reserves at…

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has claimed that a political party chief is deeply upset over not receiving a governorship or a share in governor’s rule. He made the remarks during an informal conversation with journalists in Lahore. Naqvi did not identify the politician. Read More: Mohsin Naqvi criticises politicians…

Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing sector recorded annual growth of 0.7%, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The figures showed an improvement compared with the same period last year. However, large-scale industrial production fell 5% on a monthly basis, indicating mixed performance across the manufacturing…

Streamer IShowSpeed is partnering with Barack and Michelle Obama to bring the documentary The Eyes of Ghana to US theatres for one night on October 28. The film will screen in 10 cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The…

BLACKPINK star Jennie has released a new solo song titled “Someone to Hold” for Netflix’s upcoming animated film Steps. The track debuted on October 15, ahead of the film’s release. Jennie also shared a preview of the song with fans. The song was written and produced by Justin Tranter, who…

Gold and silver prices increased in international and local markets on Friday, pushing precious metal rates higher across Pakistan. According to market data reported, the international gold price rose by $28 per ounce to reach $4,181. The increase also drove up gold prices in local bullion markets. Read more: Gold…

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has claimed that a political party chief is deeply upset over not receiving a governorship or a role in the governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Speaking informally to journalists in Lahore, Naqvi criticised politicians who, he alleged, had relied on the establishment for decades.…

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has stressed export-led growth, higher IT exports and improved global competitiveness during meetings with international financial institutions and officials. He also highlighted debt sustainability as a key step towards achieving a double-B sovereign credit rating. According to the Finance Ministry, Aurangzeb met US Treasury Under…

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged the international community to condemn environmental destruction caused by wars across the Middle East. He described the damage as “environmental genocide” and called for joint international efforts to address its consequences. According to AFP, Pezeshkian made the remarks while addressing an international environmental summit…

Saudi-led coalition forces claim they foiled 20 attempts to attack Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport between October 1 and 11. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki shared the details during a press conference in Riyadh. He condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, calling them a serious threat to passengers and…

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has declared it illegal for the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to retrieve MDCAT question papers from candidates after examinations. Justice Ahsan Raza Kazmi announced the verdict on Friday at the court’s Rawalpindi bench. The ruling came after the court accepted petitions filed by…

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is continuing nationwide monitoring to improve the quality of telecom services. The regulator has reviewed network problems in Thatta, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mandi Bahauddin, Quetta, Faisalabad and Gilgit-Baltistan. The initiative aims to address service disruptions and improve connectivity for mobile users. The authority has also…

Travis Barker has revealed that he loved Kourtney Kardashian for years before they began dating. The Blink-182 drummer said their close friendship eventually developed into a romantic relationship. Although they shared feelings for each other, neither knew when they would take the next step. Their story later led to marriage…