Saturday, January 24th, 2026
Decision taken to include Islamabad airport in privatisation programme
ISLAMABAD, JAN 24: A decision has been taken to include Islamabad International Airport in the privatisation programme. According to the Privatisation Commission, the major airports of Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore will be outsourced. The decision on airport privatisation has been made purely on economic and administrative grounds. The Privatisation Commission has clarified that reports regarding the cancellation of any agreement or lease relating to Islamabad Airport are baseless. It has also stated that no agreement has been finalised for Islamabad Airport with any country, including the UAE. According to theRead More
Uzbekistan, Pakistan: Strategic partnership toward regional stability and integration
ISLAMABAD, JAN 24: A roundtable discussion titled “Uzbekistan- Pakistan: Bridging regions and creating new opportunities” was held at the International Institute for Central Asia in Tashkent. The event, organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Pakistan in Uzbekistan, brought together representatives of relevant ministries, business circles, analytical centers, and the academic community. It is worth noting that in recent years, relations between the two friendly countries have risen to an entirely new level. In particular, the formalization of the strategic partnership in 2021 indicates that bilateral ties have reached aRead More
Bangladesh readies for general election, worries among Hasina supporters
GOPALGANJ: Bangladesh is preparing for the first election since the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina, but supporters of her banned Awami League (AL) are struggling to decide whether to shift their allegiance. In Gopalganj, south of the capital Dhaka and a strong bastion of Hasina’s iron-grip rule, residents are grappling with an election without the party that shaped their political lives for decades. “Sheikh Hasina may have done wrong — she and her friends and allies — but what did the millions of Awami League supporters do?” said tricycle delivery driverRead More
Any strike will mean ‘all-out war’: Iran warns as US sends ‘armada’ to Middle East
TEHRAN, JAN 24: Iran will treat any attack “as an all-out war against us,” a senior Iranian official said on Friday, ahead of the arrival of a US military aircraft carrier strike group and other assets in the Middle East in the coming days. “This military build-up – we hope it is not intended for real confrontation – but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario. This is why everything is on high alert in Iran,” said the senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This time weRead More
Indonesia landslide kills eight, more than 80 missing
CISARUA, Jan 24: A landslide killed at least eight people and more than 80 are missing on Indonesia’s main island of Java on Saturday, a disaster official said. Triggered by heavy rainfall, it struck two villages in Java’s West Bandung region at around 2:30 am (1930 GMT Friday) and buried residential areas. Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the national disaster agency, or BNPB, confirmed that eight people were killed. “As of Saturday 10:30 am, dozens of residents were reported safe, and 82 people were still being searched for,” he saidRead More
Pakistan Navy evacuates Sri Lankan sailor in high-seas rescue
ISLAMABAD, JAN 24: /DNA/ – In a swift humanitarian operation Pakistan Navy Ships TABUK and MOAWIN have successfully conducted medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of a Sri Lankan national requiring urgent medical attention on an Indonesian Flagged, MV GREY PALM on the high seas at 800 Nautical Miles (approximately 1500 KM) off Pakistan’s coast. The operation was initiated following a formal request from Sri Lankan Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) for provision of medical assistance to a Sri Lankan national crew member in critical condition onboard MV GREY PALM positioned 800 NauticalRead More