Author: Dena Qalat

At least 17 people have been killed in two explosions at a counter-terrorism office in north-west Pakistan, officials say. Police said that there is no evidence of an attack and that it could have been as a result of an electrical fault igniting ammunition in the centre. Most of the dead are police officers. The explosion happened in the Swat valley, which was controlled by Islamist militants before they were forced out in 2009. More than 50 people were injured and buildings have collapsed. Four of the dead are civilians. A spokesman for provincial police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which neighbours…

HugoBank expects to increase Pakistan’s bank account penetration rate to over 80% and to open 34 million new accounts by 2027 and Atyab Tahir’s appointment will help to bolster the growth further Atyab Tahir’s proposed appointment as CEO of HugoBank, the digital bank in Pakistan run by a Singaporean consortium, was announced today. This decision is pending the State Bank of Pakistan’s determination of Tahir’s suitability. After the business is incorporated, Atyab will establish and run HugoBank in Pakistan to provide digital banking services to individuals and small businesses throughout the nation. To lead bank’s mission in Pakistan, Atyab has…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s embattled former Prime Minister Imran Khan has made a fresh call for snap elections as tens of thousands of his supporters gathered in the eastern city of Lahore until the early hours on Sunday. The leader of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party addressed the massive crowd from a bulletproof container, the latest in a series of nationwide protests that the former premier has led since he was removed from power in a no-confidence vote in April last year. Khan — who is facing dozens of cases, with charges against him ranging from terrorism to sedition — made another…

Turkey threatened Greece with the occupation of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. Earlier, President Erdogan reminded Athens about the fate of the Greek population of Izmir, slaughtered by the Turks. The congestion of oil tankers in the Mediterranean is also part of the confrontation between Ankara and Athens, which has sharply escalated over the past year. How big is the risk of the sides going over to real hostilities? “He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind! Either Greece will take a step back and follow the agreements, or Turkey will take the necessary measures. One night and unexpectedly,” Turkish Foreign Minister…

LAHORE: The energy sector experts have wondered how Pakistan will finance the proposed coal fleet because the financial institutions in China and Japan, being biggest financiers of coal units in developing countries, are backing out of funding fossil-fuel projects in recent years amid pressure from activists and Western governments. They have also raised eyebrows over the statement of federal minister for energy Khurram Dastgir that setting up new plants will depend on ‘investor interest’ that he expects is likely to increase when newly commissioned coal-fired plants are proved viable. It may be noted that the reliability run test of Thar…

ISLAMABAD: Coun­selor of US Department of State Derek Chollet discussed with Pakistani officials strengthening of economic ties, cooperating to address impacts of the climate crisis and expanding people-to-people connections Mr Chollet was in Pakistan on a two-day visit along with a delegation of US government officials, including Counselor of the US Agency for the Inter­national Develop­ment, Clinton White, and Prin­cipal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pakistan Elizabeth Horst to highlight the importance of bilateral partnership and reaffirm the two countries’ shared goals, a US Embassy press release said on Friday. Sharing details of the visit, the US embassy said Counselor Chollet…

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the IAEA will increase collaboration in peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, particularly in agriculture and medicine, to the benefit of the country and its neighbours. That was the outcome of Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi’s two-day trip to Pakistan this week, during which he met with the country’s leadership — including its Prime and Foreign Ministers — and visited numerous nuclear facilities across the country, some of which he inaugurated. Mr Grossi began his visit by meeting with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The two spoke about the worsening effects of climate…

The capital administration has imposed Section 144 in Islamabad to restrict gatherings among other public events, in wake of a suicide bomb attack. In a notification, the district magistrate ICT banned all kinds of corner meetings, public gatherings and congregations in the Federal Capital, especially related to upcoming local government elections. “In light of threat alerts issued by the law enforcement agencies and attacks on police, the security of Islamabad has been beefed up to obviate the threats within the jurisdiction of the capital which can disrupt peace and tranquility causing damage to public life and property. However, the likelihood…