ISLAMABAD: The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has extended the dates for its upcoming convocations following persistent student demand to participate in the historic gatherings. The university has also relaxed eligibility criteria to allow more graduates to attend.
According to a press release, the grand convocation ceremonies will be held in major cities on the following dates: Islamabad on November 12, Quetta on November 23, Lahore on December 7, Peshawar on December 21, and Karachi on January 4, 2026.
Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Nasir Mahmood has approved an increase in the number of seats to accommodate more graduates. In addition, the minimum eligibility requirement of securing 70 percent marks has been removed.
‘Now all graduates from Autumn 2022 to Autumn 2024 semesters will be able to participate on a first come, first served basis for the additional seats allocated,’ he said.
He urged eligible students to complete their online registration without delay, as the deadline has been extended to September 14, 2025.
The President of Pakistan, governors, federal and provincial ministers are expected to attend as chief guests to award degrees to successful students and medals to those with outstanding academic performance.
LAHORE: Flooding and continuous rains have triggered sharp increases in vegetable prices, with shortages hitting markets in major cities.
In Islamabad, tomatoes have completely disappeared from cheap markets, while the prices of potatoes, onions, and other vegetables have surged beyond the reach of many consumers.
Shopkeepers say tomatoes are selling in wholesale markets at Rs300 per kg, compared to the official government rate of Rs123 per kg.
The impact extends beyond the capital. In Jhelum, heavy rains and flooding have devastated agricultural lands and crops, causing steep price hikes. Tomatoes, which sold at Rs50 per kg just a week ago, are now priced at Rs220 per kg.
Other vegetables, including potatoes, onions, cabbage, and bitter gourd, have also become 150 percent more expensive, according to traders at Sadar Sabzi Mandi.
Citizens say the shortage has pushed essential food items out of reach and are calling on authorities to take urgent steps to stabilize prices and ensure supply.
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad-based social media influencer Samiya Hijab has alleged that a man attempted to abduct her outside her home, in an incident that led to a swift response by the capital police.
Within 24 hours, officers arrested the suspect, identified as Hassan Zahid from Lahore, after Samiya reported the ordeal both to the authorities and on social media.
In a video posted on Instagram, Hijab said the suspect had been harassing her for months with threats and demands to marry him. She claimed he appeared outside her residence, snatched her phone, and tried to force her into his car. Hijab said she recorded part of the incident despite being overpowered.
“My mother was ill, my brother wasn’t home. When I stepped outside, he snatched my mobile, sat in his car, and forced me in as well,” she recounted, while stressing that she feared ending up like her friend, TikToker Sana, who was killed earlier this year in Islamabad after allegedly rejecting a proposal.
The Islamabad Capital Territory Police registered a case at Shalimar Police Station under Sections 365, 511, 354, 506(ii), 509, 500, and 392 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The charges include abduction, attempt to commit offence, assault, harassment, defamation, and robbery.
Hijab’s complaint detailed that Zahid had been stalking her for several months, sending repeated gifts, issuing threats, and making persistent phone calls. On 31 August at around 6:30 pm, she alleged Zahid humiliated her in public, slapped her, caused severe trauma, and attempted to forcibly abduct her. She added that he had threatened to kill her if she stepped outside her house.
As evidence, she submitted CCTV footage, a call recording of threats, and her social media video statement. The influencer underwent a medical examination that confirmed signs of physical assault.
In a follow-up video, Hijab confirmed that police deployed officers outside her home after she reported fresh threats from the suspect, who allegedly warned her to withdraw the case or face death. She thanked Islamabad IGP Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and SHOs Shafqat and Ishaq for their quick action.
“He thought he could abduct me, force me to marry him, and nothing would happen. That animal was arrested within 24 hours,” she said.
Hijab remarked: “Before anyone dares cast their eyes upon a sister or daughter, they should think 10,000 times.” She added that she would continue to speak not only for herself but also for “every girl who is feeling unsafe right now.”
TASHKENT: A Presidential Resolution of the Republic of Uzbekistan has been adopted entitled “On measures for the establishment of the Nurabad Technopark Special Industrial Zone in Samarkand region”.
According to the resolution, the following target indicators have been set to improve the investment climate and promote industrial development in Nurabad district for the period 2025-2030:
– Attraction of direct foreign investment totaling $1.1 billion into projects focused on the production of high-tech, modern, and high-quality industrial goods;
– Creation of 5,100 permanent jobs through the expansion of capacities for the production of high-tech, modern, and high-quality industrial products.
According to the resolution, an unused land plot of 115.3 hectares located in the Sazagon area of Nurabad district will be excluded from the Urgut Free Economic Zone. In its place, the Nurabad Technopark Special Industrial Zone will be established.
The project will be managed by the foreign company LLC New Vision Investment Development. Multi-story (3-4 floors) industrial buildings are also planned to be constructed within the territory of the special industrial zone.
ISLAMABAD: Heavy monsoon rains battered parts of Punjab and Islamabad over the past 24 hours, prompting rescue operations in the capital and a flood alert in riverine areas across the province.
According to an official statement, the latest monsoon update, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warned of continued rainfall in most districts until August 7 (today), marking the sixth spell of the current monsoon season.
The ongoing downpours come as Pakistan deals with seasonal flooding and has already recorded 303 rain-related deaths, including 164 in Punjab alone, since the beginning of the season on June 26.
“In the last 24 hours, 86mm of rainfall was recorded in Gujrat, 37mm in Narowal, 28mm in Multan, 27mm in Dera Ghazi Khan and 22mm in Jhelum,” the PDMA said in a statement, adding that rain was also reported in Sialkot, Attock, Mangla, Murree, Rawalpindi, Layyah, Mianwali and Kot Addu.
“All district administrations have been directed to remain on alert,” the statement quoted PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia as saying. “We urge citizens to take precautions and not let children near rivers, canals or flooded streams.”
Meanwhile, rescue teams in Islamabad evacuated more than 40 residents after floodwaters entered homes in Chattha Bakhtawar, a low-lying area in the capital.
The spillway of Rawal Dam was opened at 11:00 AM after the water level reached 1,750.90 feet, according to a notice issued by Islamabad authorities. Residents were also advised to stay away from surrounding water bodies and take necessary safety measures.
The PDMA said the flow of water remained normal in all major rivers including the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej, with only a low-level flood reported at Tarbela on the Indus River. Tarbela Dam is currently 95 per cent full, while Mangla stands at 62 per cent.
Indian dams across the eastern rivers, according to the statement, are reported to be 56 per cent full.
Since the start of the monsoon season, 727 people have been injured, 563 houses completely destroyed, and 428 livestock perished in rain-related incidents in Pakistan.
In the past 24 hours, three more people were reported injured due to monsoon-related accidents.
Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) said no injuries were reported during Tuesday’s flood rescue in Chattha Bakhtawar, where 12 emergency personnel responded within a short span to the residents’ call, evacuating up to 45 people.
Emergency officers confirmed the operation was completed and the area had been cleared.
ISLAMABAD: In a historic move to boost regional maritime connectivity, Pakistan has granted its first-ever shipping license for a route linking the country with Iran.
Announced was made by Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, saying the license was awarded to Sea Keepers, an international maritime transport company.
The operator will now be able to launch shipping services between Pakistan, Iran, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the officials of the Ministry revealed.
The decision followed a high-level meeting involving key ministries — maritime affairs, defense, foreign affairs, and interior — along with representatives from the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation and port authorities.
Chaudhry hailed the development as a major milestone under Pakistan’s national maritime policy, highlighting its potential to enhance economic ties, religious tourism, and regional connectivity.
The new route is expected to accommodate hundreds of thousands of passengers annually, especially pilgrims traveling to Iran and Iraq, as well as workers and tourists heading to GCC nations.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has out-rightly rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “baseless and unfounded” allegations that its nationals were involved in the Ukraine conflict, saying no credible evidence has been presented to substantiate such claims.
The Foreign Office’s response came on Tuesday, a day after President Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian troops in northeastern Ukraine were fighting foreign “mercenaries” from various countries, including China, Pakistan and parts of Africa, and vowed a response.
Zelensky has previously accused Moscow of recruiting Chinese fighters for its war effort against Ukraine, charges Beijing denied, while North Korea has also provided thousands of its own troops in Russia’s Kursk region.
“We spoke with commanders about the frontline situation, the defence of Vovchansk, and the dynamics of the battles,” Zelensky alleged in a post on X after visiting a frontline area in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
“Our warriors in this sector are reporting the participation of mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and African countries in the war. We will respond”.
Reacting to the allegations, the FO said: “The Government of Pakistan categorically rejects the baseless and unfounded allegations of the involvement of Pakistani nationals in the conflict in Ukraine.
“To date, Pakistan has not been formally approached by the Ukrainian authorities, nor has any verifiable evidence been presented to substantiate such claims”.
It further said that the government of Pakistan will take up this matter with the Ukrainian authorities and seek clarification in this regard.
Islamabad also reaffirmed its commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA), an organization working to fight against the air pollution in the federal capital, has intensified its vehicle emission testing campaign across the Islamabad.
According to a newly released performance report, 1,935 vehicles have been inspected so far under the initiative, with the majority meeting the prescribed emission standards.
The campaign, which aims to enforce vehicular emission compliance, is now being extended citywide, with stricter action planned for violators in the upcoming phase.
The ITA report revealed that out of the total vehicles inspected, 1,874 were issued clearance stickers after passing the emission test. However, six vehicles were found to have carbon monoxide emissions exceeding the permissible limit of six percent. These vehicles were issued formal warnings and instructed to rectify their emissions.
In the last 24 hours alone, 213 vehicles were checked, of which 209 passed while four received warnings for non-compliance.
ISLAMABAD: The district administration of Capital Territory of Islamabad has seized around 1,000 kilograms of donkey meat from an illegal slaughter-house and arrested a “foreign national,” officials said on Sunday.
The seizure was made during a joint raid by the Islamabad Food Authority (IFA), local police and the Islamabad district administration on a farmhouse in Tarnol area, the IFA officials revealed.
Fifty live donkeys were also recovered from the site and an IFA team was destroying the meat under the supervision of Deputy Director Dr. Tahira Siddique.
Police have registered a case against the arrested foreign national, who had been running the operation, and are looking for his local facilitators.
“A foreign national was arrested at the site which has been sealed and an investigation is underway,” Muhammad Nasir Butt, a spokesperson for the Islamabad district administration said.
“We will conduct further raids as per the findings of the investigation and efforts are also underway to trace local individuals involved.”
The spokesperson further said the meat had been packed for “export to a neighboring country.”
“So far, we have not found any traces of meat being used in the local restaurants, but administration is investigating the matter from multiple angles,” Butt further said.
The police report revealed that the farmhouse had no authorization to process donkey meat or export live donkeys.
Due to the absence of records for [processing] haram meat, and on the basis of its supply and sale, legal action shall be taken against concerned individuals under Sections 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Act, 2021, the police report stated.
Pakistan is frequently listed among countries with the highest number of donkey populations worldwide. The country’s donkey population rose to 6 million in fiscal year 2024-25, which ended in June, compared to 5.9 million in 2023–24, according to the latest economic survey.
In May this year, Pakistan Customs had foiled an attempt to smuggle donkey hides worth approximately Rs80 million (around $283,800) to China. The staff deployed on the Risk Management Profiling System of the Karachi Customs
Collectorate detected a container number SEGU-3154225 cleared from the South Asia Pakistan Port (SAPT) terminal in Karachi, whose export documents showed 285 packages of leather products were being sent to China.
The animal’s meat and hides are quite popular in China. Gelatin derived from donkey hides is highly sought after in China for its use in Ejiao, a traditional medicinal remedy. Several Chinese eateries sell donkey meat and burgers for consumption.
Deputy Director IFA Dr. Tahira Siddique, who was part of the team that raided the farmhouse, said the availability of safe and quality food in Islamabad was the top priority of the IFA.
“We are enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against those who endanger public health,” she was quoted as saying by the IFA.
NEW DELHI: General Anil Chauhan, the Indian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has cautioned India against possible tri-nations defence block compromising of China, Pakistan and Bangladesh and stated that the new block could pose significant challenges to India’s internal stability.
Indian CDS was addressing in an event hosted by the Indian private think-tank Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
“There is a possible convergence of interest we can talk about between China, Pakistan and Bangladesh that may have implications for India’s stability and security dynamics”, the Indian CDS further said.
His remarks come against the backdrop of a diplomatic downturn in India-Bangladesh relations following the ouster of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina last year through a popular uprising, who later sought refuge in India.
Gen Chauhan also raized concerns about shifting geopolitical alignments in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), claiming that the region’s economic vulnerabilities have enabled external actors to deepen their influence. “The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has allowed outside powers to leverage their influence through debt diplomacy, creating vulnerabilities for India. Similarly, frequent shifts in government in South Asia, with changing geopolitical equations and ideological views, pose another major challenge”, he said.
During his speech, Gen Chauhan also spoke about the May 7–10 military conflict between India and Pakistan, describing it as potentially the first time two nuclear-armed nations directly engaged in combat. “So, Operation Sindoor, in that manner, is slightly unique in itself, and it may hold lessons not only for the subcontinent, but for the entire world,” he said. On China’s involvement, he noted: “It is challenging to determine the extent of state support provided by China to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor”, and added that no unusual activity was observed along India’s northern borders during the conflict.
