Pakistan News Today & Latest Updates

Pakistan-Saudi defence cooperation continues, FO says

September 10, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue to maintain bilateral defence cooperation, but implementing their recently signed defence agreement will take time, Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman said Thursday.

Foreign Office spokesman Sajjad Haider Khan said during his weekly briefing that Pakistan condemned attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia and had expressed solidarity with the Saudi leadership and people.

“Pakistan will continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Khan said Pakistani forces were already present in Saudi Arabia for training and logistical purposes, adding that further aspects of defence cooperation would become clearer as the agreement is implemented.

He said the implementation process would require time and that the two countries remained engaged in bilateral defence cooperation.

On Kashmir, Khan said the disputed region remained on the agenda of the United Nations and that Indian claims and actions could not alter its disputed status.

He said the official U.N. map reflected the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir and described Indian measures concerning the region as having no legal effect.

Khan also condemned the demolition of a mosque in Saharanpur, India, saying the incident brought back memories of the demolition of the Babri Mosque.

Addressing reports about Afghan students, the spokesman rejected the impression that Pakistan had imposed a blanket ban on Afghan students.

“No decision has been taken to impose a complete ban on Afghan students,” he said, adding that Afghan students with valid visas and enrolment in recognised degree programmes could complete their education.

Court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for PTI lawmakers

September 10, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for eight lawmakers affiliated with Pakistan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), according to court officials.

The warrants were issued by Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra in connection with case No. 714 registered at Margalla police station.

Those named in the warrants include lawmakers Shahid Khattak, Maulana Naseem Ali Shah, Amir Dogar, Atif Khan and Iqbal Afridi.

The court also issued warrants for provincial lawmakers Meena Khan Afridi, Dr. Amjad and Shafi Jan.

The court directed the Station House Officer of Ramna police station to arrest the accused and present them before the court.

The case comes as PTI lawmakers continue to face legal proceedings linked to cases registered in Islamabad.

PM approves new auto policy 2026-31 in principle

September 9, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given in-principle approval to Pakistan’s new Auto Policy 2026-31, which will be shared with the International Monetary Fund before being submitted to the Economic Coordination Committee for approval, according to government sources.

The draft policy was discussed at a meeting chaired by Sharif. After IMF approval, the policy will be presented to the ECC and then the federal Cabinet. Following Cabinet approval, it will be submitted to Parliament.

The policy aims to create a favorable environment for investment in the local automotive industry, increase vehicle exports and domestic production, and promote advanced technologies.

Under the draft, the government has proposed reducing taxes on imported hybrid vehicles by 20% over the next five years. Import duties on hybrid vehicles with engine capacities of up to 800cc and between 851cc and 1,000cc could be reduced from 50% to 30%.

The draft also proposes gradually reducing duties on hybrid vehicles with engine capacities above 1,800cc. Duties on vehicles above 1,801cc could fall from 50% to 30% over five years, while duties on hybrid vehicles between 1,501cc and 1,800cc are also proposed to be reduced from 50% to 30%.

The government is also considering lower duties on hybrid commercial vehicles. Proposed reductions include cutting duties on hybrid trucks from 30% to 15%, hybrid commercial vehicles from 60% to 30% and hybrid buses from 30% to 15%.

To generate additional revenue, the draft proposes an environmental levy on larger vehicles. The revenue would be allocated toward promoting exports and research and development in the automotive sector.

Under the proposal, vehicles with engine capacities of 2,001cc to 3,000cc would face a 10% environmental levy, while vehicles of 3,001cc and above could be subject to a 19.5% levy. The proposed levy is estimated to generate Rs142.79 billion over five years.

Implementation of the new auto policy will begin after approval by the IMF, the ECC and the federal Cabinet.

Maryam Nawaz’s daughter’s Nikah ceremony set for Sep 12

September 9, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

LAHORE: The Nikah ceremony of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s daughter, Mahnoor Safdar, is scheduled to take place September 12, according to sources.

The ceremony will be held at Jati Umra in Lahore, with only close family members expected to be invited, the sources said.

Maryam Nawaz attended her daughter’s graduation ceremony in London on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, she said she was delighted by her daughter’s achievement and described the graduation as a moment of happiness for her and her family.

Further details about the nikah ceremony have not been disclosed.

Pakistan strongly condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

September 8, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued support for the kingdom’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Yemen’s Houthi group, Ansar Allah, carried out attacks on the Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran and Jazan, targeting civilian and economic facilities. The attacks injured 73 people, including women and children, according to officials.

Sharif said such attacks not only threaten innocent lives but also undermine peace and security in the region.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and expressed solidarity with Saudi King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi people.

The prime minister also expressed his wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attacks.

In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the Houthi attacks were a clear violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and posed a threat to peace and stability across the region.

The Foreign Office said Saudi Arabia has the right to take all necessary measures to protect its national assets and defend its territory, citizens and residents against any threats.

Pakistan said it fully supports Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to self-defense in accordance with the U.N. Charter and international law. It also expressed solidarity with the Saudi leadership, government and people.

The Foreign Office said the Houthi attacks were undermining efforts to achieve a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict in Yemen.

Pakistan reiterated that it would continue working to promote lasting peace and stability in the region and expressed its support for those injured in the attacks.

Pakistan has strongly condemned attacks by Houthi militants against Saudi Arabia, saying strikes targeting civilian and economic sites on Saudi territory constitute a clear violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Pakistan fully supports Saudi Arabia’s right to self-defense under the U.N. Charter and international law, the spokesperson said.

Five Pakistani cities among world’s least resilient to climate risk

September 8, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

ISLAMABAD: Five Pakistani cities are among the world’s 10 least resilient to climate risks, according to a new report assessing the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of 72 major cities.

Hyderabad ranked second on the list of cities least resilient to climate risks, followed by Multan in third place. Lahore ranked fifth, Faisalabad seventh and Karachi eighth.

India’s Ahmedabad topped the ranking of the least resilient cities, underscoring the particularly high climate vulnerability of major urban centers across South Asia.

The report by AlphaGeo, a geospatial analytics company, distinguishes between a city’s physical exposure to climate hazards and its resilience-adjusted risk, or RAJ. The assessment aims to identify cities where adaptation capacity may not be sufficient to offset their exposure to climate-related threats.

The report said the six highest-risk major cities in its assessment were all in South Asia: Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Multan, Dhaka, Kolkata and Lahore. It attributed much of the risk in these cities to high exposure to extreme heat and said their adaptation rates remained relatively low compared with the scale of their physical risks.

Dhaka recorded the highest physical exposure in the assessment, with a physical risk score of 60. Despite an adaptation delta of 24 points, the Bangladeshi capital retained a RAJ score of 36, placing it among the cities facing the highest residual climate risk.

The report warned that high climate-risk scores could have significant implications for property values, infrastructure durability and business operations. It said investors in real assets should closely examine exposure to potential damage, reduced infrastructure lifespans and disruptions to operations.

It also warned that countries whose largest cities have high climate-risk scores but limited progress in adaptation could face increasing costs related to disaster response, infrastructure repairs and population displacement.

Pakistan and Bangladesh were identified as requiring particular attention because of the combination of high urban climate risks and limited capacity to close their adaptation gaps at the pace required by their physical risk profiles.

PTI leader Hammad Azhar sent on 20-day physical remand

September 7, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

LAHORE: A Lahore anti-terrorism court on Monday handed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar over to police on a 20-day physical remand.

Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Muhammad Akram conducted the hearing on the police’s request for Azhar’s physical remand and approved the 20-day custody.

Azhar was arrested in Multan on Sunday, while Lahore police formally recorded his arrest on Monday, according to the report.

A police spokesperson said Azhar was wanted in 18 cases registered by Lahore police and had been in hiding for about three years.

JI gives government three days to review proposals

September 7, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch said Monday that the party had presented six proposals to the government, which requested three days to review them.

Baloch said the government would examine the proposals as negotiations between the two sides continue. He added that the party’s protest campaign would also continue alongside the talks.

He said the government had collected more revenue through the petroleum levy than the target set in the federal budget.

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, speaking after talks with the Jamaat-e-Islami delegation, said negotiations would resume Thursday.

Iqbal said no government wanted protests to take place in the country but acknowledged that governments sometimes face difficult circumstances.

He said the party’s proposals would be forwarded to the relevant ministries for consideration.

He said the government sometimes faced difficulties, but JI’s proposals would be forwarded to the relevant ministries for consideration.

“Everyone is concerned about the public interest,” Iqbal said, adding that the government did not want to place an additional burden on the people.

He said the government would be pleased if relief could be provided to the public in any way.

The meeting was held after JI’s nationwide strike against the petroleum levy and inflation, which received a mixed response as markets and shops partially closed in parts of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), while businesses largely remained open in Punjab and Balochistan.

The party has also been holding sit-ins for more than 20 days in provincial capitals and other cities as part of its campaign against the petroleum levy and rising inflation.

Government, Jamaat-e-Islami to hold talks on Sept 7

September 4, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

LAHORE: The federal government and Jamaat-e-Islami will hold talks on Sept. 7 on issues including the petroleum levy and measures to provide relief to the public, the party said Friday.

Jamaat-e-Islami Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the party’s negotiating committees will meet in Islamabad on Monday to discuss ways to address issues faced by the public.

Baloch said Inayatullah Khan, Farasat Ali Shah, Ziauddin Ansari, Nasrullah Randhawa and Naveed Ali Baig will represent Jamaat-e-Islami in the talks.

He said the government’s seriousness and the pace of negotiations would be crucial to resolving the issues. Baloch added that it would now depend on the government how seriously it approaches the talks and how quickly it moves toward a solution.

Baloch said Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-ins, protests and public gatherings would continue across the country. He said the demonstrations were aimed at highlighting and resolving problems faced by the public.

He added that the party would seek relief for citizens and solutions to their problems through negotiations with the government.

Security forces kill 48 terrorists in Balochistan IBOs: ISPR

September 4, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

RAWALPINDI: security forces have killed 48 militants affiliated with what the military described as Indian proxies, including Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij, during operations in different parts of Balochistan over the past 48 to 72 hours, the Inter-Services Public Relations said Friday.

According to the military’s media wing, security forces conducted multiple intelligence-based operations in Mastung, Quetta, Kalat and Sibi, killing 36 militants in the operations.

On Sept. 4, security forces detected and engaged militant movement in Mastung, triggering an intense exchange of fire that killed six militants allegedly sponsored by India. A cache of ammunition and improvised explosive devices was also destroyed at the site, ISPR said.

In another operation in the Shaban area of Quetta, troops identified four militant hideouts. Following an exchange of fire, 26 militants were killed, according to ISPR.

Security forces also raided a militant hideout in Kalat and killed two militants. In Bhag, Sibi district, security forces, working with local residents, thwarted an attempted attack on a police station. Two militants were killed during the exchange of fire, ISPR said.

The military said sanitisation operations were underway to eliminate any remaining militants in the affected areas.

ISPR said security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue their counterterrorism campaign under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” initiative to combat foreign-sponsored terrorism in the country.

Pakistan has experienced a rise in militant violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban returned to power.

A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan remained Pakistan’s main violence hotspots during the second quarter of 2026. The two provinces accounted for nearly 96% of violence-related fatalities recorded nationwide during the period.

According to the report, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 475 deaths, or more than 61% of the total, while Balochistan accounted for 265 deaths, or 34%.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also recorded the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, representing 57% of the national total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, or 35%.