Pakistani singer Asim Azhar reveals he has a tonsil infection and doctors advised him to rest. He says he’s recovering and will pause before resuming his busy 2026 international tour.
PoliticsPTI leaders say the KP budget will be presented as a constitutional requirement despite earlier calls to delay it pending a meeting with the party founder. Party figures also offered differing estimates on the size of the budget and development spending.
NATIONALPakistan has approved in principle a full shift to e-passports as part of wider passport reforms. The government also plans doorstep delivery, cashless payments and migration of online applications to Pak ID.
NATIONALPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the National Assembly that Pakistan had gained international respect after mediating between the US and Iran. He said a parliamentary resolution would underline the country’s peace efforts and show unity.
NATIONALThe Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench has sent a petition seeking an FIA investigation into nine-year-old Hania’s killing in Chakwal to the agency’s director general. Police told the court a case had been registered and the suspect arrested.
WhatsApp is testing a view-once option for regular text messages, allowing a one-time read before the message disappears. Reports say copying, forwarding, saving, and sharing won’t work, with screenshots blocked.
SportsNew Zealand’s Sarpreet Singh says becoming the first Sikh to play at a World Cup is a proud moment for his family and community. He hopes it helps more players of South Asian heritage reach the game’s biggest stage.
WorldPlanned US-Iran talks in Switzerland were cancelled after JD Vance dropped his trip, while Israeli strikes killed at least 15 people in southern Lebanon. The developments added to uncertainty around implementation of the Islamabad MoU.
CITYA CTD official, Baba Jan Muhammad Hassni, died after being wounded in a firing incident at Ahmedwal Chowk in Nushki, according to Shahid Rind. The Balochistan chief minister has ordered an immediate investigation and steps to arrest the attackers.
NATIONALGovernment institutions and educational facilities across Balochistan began shutting down on Thursday after the Balochistan Grand Alliance announced an indefinite protest campaign. The move followed police action in Quetta, where several employees and alliance leaders were arrested.
NATIONALKarachi’s public transport strike will continue on Friday after talks between transporters and the Sindh government failed to yield a breakthrough. The shutdown has disrupted travel across the city, where thousands rely on buses and minibuses each day.
BusinessSindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has defended the Rs3.652 trillion FY27 budget as a responsible plan shaped by falling federal transfers and fiscal pressure. He also outlined austerity steps and major infrastructure proposals, including Keti Bandar and a financial centre in Karachi.
