Author: i2wtc
Listen to article The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) posted record-breaking figures for the second quarter of 2025, recovering Rs456.3 billion — nearly five times more than the Rs91 billion recovered in the first quarter — marking a significant leap in its anti-corruption efforts, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Saturday. With this, total recoveries for the first half of the year have reached Rs547.31 billion. A NAB spokesperson stated that a substantial portion of this amount — assets worth over Rs532 billion — has been handed over to government. “Beyond just statistics, these recoveries reflect real progress in holding corrupt…
Listen to article Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has ordered further steps to streamline visa procedures, boost transparency, and speed up processing—especially for overseas Pakistanis, investors, and business travellers. Chairing a meeting to review the visa facilitation initiatives introduced in 2024 under his guidance, Senator Dar emphasized the need for sustained institutional reform in consular services to better serve overseas Pakistanis and promote economic engagement. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the meeting assessed progress on procedural reforms implemented across various missions. Officials briefed the Deputy Prime Minister on efforts to simplify application processes, reduce delays,…
Listen to article Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday strongly rejected claims by the Indian Air Force chief that India had shot down six Pakistani fighter jets during a conflict in May, calling the assertions “implausible” and “ill-timed.” “The belated assertions made by the Indian Air Force Chief regarding alleged destruction of Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor are as implausible as they are ill-timed,” Asif said in a statement. The statement by the defence czar was followed by remarks from India’s air force chief, who claimed on Saturday that India had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and another military aircraft during…
Australia’s Tony Hemming has resigned from his position as the chief curator, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Saturday. He was appointed as chief curator in July last year as no extension was given to previous chief curator Agha Zahid. “One of Hemming’s immediate tasks will be to prepare pitches for the upcoming five ICC World Test Championship matches against Bangladesh [two in August/September] and England [three in October]. Hemming will also oversee pitch preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan will host from Feb 19 to March 9,” the PCB had said at the time. “Hemming is…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan have officially elevated their diplomatic engagement to the ambassadorial level, a move that marks a significant step in normalising bilateral relations amid ongoing regional tensions. The two sides decided to upgrade their diplomatic relationship in May when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his Pakistani and Afghan counterparts to broker a deal. On Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that the Chargé d’Affaires (CDAs) in both capitals had been upgraded to the rank of ambassador through mutual agreement. “The bilateral relations between the two countries are now at the ambassadorial level. And that process,…
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House on August 1, 2025 in Washington, DC.Win McNamee | Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump said Saturday that he will hold a press availability at the White House next week to address violent crime in Washington, D.C., days after the White House announced it was increasing federal law enforcement across the city.”On Monday a Press Conference will be held at the White House which will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, D.C,” he wrote on social media.Trump, who has frequently criticized the Democratic-led city, claimed that D.C. will…
ISLAMABAD: The closure of Pakistan’s airspace has affected 100 to 150 Indian aircraft daily, resulting in about a 20% reduction in air traffic, said a written reply submitted by the Ministry of Defence to the National Assembly regarding closure of airspace in the wake of Pakistan-India confrontation in May. According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), the closure for aircraft registered with Indian airlines caused a loss of approximately Rs4.1 billion in overflight revenue between April 24 and June 30, 2025. The airspace was closed after the April 22 attack on tourists in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. Later on May…
LAHORE: Amid swirling rumours of his resignation — which he has vehemently denied — Defence Minister Khawaja Asif met with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif at his residence on Friday. No statement was issued to the media regarding the contents of their discussion. The defence minister recently drew public attention after lashing out at the bureaucracy, accusing it of rampant corruption. In a post on Tuesday, Asif wrote on X, “More than half of the bureaucracy of our dear homeland has already acquired property in Portugal and is now preparing to secure citizenship”. “These are prominent bureaucrats who, after embezzling billions,…
ISLAMABAD: Expelled PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat has gained support from within the opposition party, paving the way for his possible comeback. According to sources, a significant development took place during PTI’s parliamentary party meeting, where the possibility of Marwat’s return to PTI was discussed. They said the majority of the parliamentary party members spoke in favor of Sher Afzal Marwat and expressed support for bringing him back into the party. Marwat himself attended the meeting. The PTI parliamentary party will present its stance on the expelled leader to the party’s founder, Imran Khan. Speaking on the occasion, Asad Qaiser…
LONDON: Crystal Palace head into Sunday’s Community Shield versus Liverpool with a worry list ranging from injuries and lacklustre transfer business to their pending appeal against UEFA’s decision to demote them from the Europa League. Manager Oliver Glasner guided Palace to a new height in May as they won their first major trophy, beating Manchester City to clinch the FA Cup. But joy at the South London side’s first appearance in the Community Shield has been dampened by their off-field issues. Palace were dropped to UEFA’s third-tier Conference League last month in an alleged multi-club ownership breach because John Textor,…