Maryam Shah

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD recorded a 55 percent decline in first-quarter net profit, a Hong Kong stock filing showed on Tuesday, as weaker domestic demand added to pressure from cutthroat competition.

Shorts

BYD’s first-quarter net profit fell 55 percent as weak Chinese demand and fierce competition hurt profitability, prompting the EV giant to pursue stronger growth in overseas markets.

Chinese EV giant BYD reports 55% drop in Q1 net profit

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The United States has entered into a long-term agreement to sustain key radar systems of F-16 fighter jets operated by partner countries, including Pakistan, under a multi-million dollar contract announced this week.&nbsp;The contract, valued at up to $488 million, has been awarded to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. for engineering and technical services related to airborne radar units, according to a notice issued by the Department of War.&nbsp;The firm will also provide continued support for APG-66 and APG-68 radar systems installed on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, one of the most widely used combat aircraft among US allies.&nbsp;Unlike a direct country-specific sale, the agreement is structured as an umbrella support arrangement under the Foreign Military Sales program, enabling more than 20 nations, including Pakistan, to access technical assistance and system upgrades over the next decade.&nbsp;Work under the contract will be conducted in Maryland and is expected to run until the end of March 2036, reflecting the long service horizon of F-16 fleets still active worldwide.&nbsp;The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, which handled the procurement, confirmed the contract was issued on a sole-source basis, with a small initial funding tranche released at the time of award.&nbsp;For Pakistan, the development signals continuity rather than a new acquisition, as the country remains among long-time operators of US-built F-16s. The aircraft continues to form a key part of its aerial capability, even as the fleet has gradually diversified in recent years.&nbsp;The radar support contract comes months after the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified US lawmakers of a separate, broader plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-clears-686-million-package-to-upgrade-pakistans-f16-fleet" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">upgrade Pakistan&rsquo;s F-16 fleet</a>, estimated at $686 million.&nbsp;That proposed package, led by Lockheed Martin, focuses on avionics modernisation, secure communications, and data-link integration to improve coordination with allied forces, particularly in counterterrorism settings.&nbsp;US officials at the time said the upgrade plan would extend the aircraft&rsquo;s operational lifespan into the next decade without requiring additional American deployment on the ground.&nbsp;Together, the two developments highlight a maintenance-first approach in US defense cooperation with Pakistan &mdash; prioritizing sustainment, compatibility, and gradual upgrades over major platform expansion.

An F-16 Falcon in action. (Photo: RadioPakistan/File)

Security

This comes months after the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified US lawmakers of a separate, broader plan to upgrade Pakistan’s F-16 fleet, estimated at $686 million.

US awards $488M F-16 radar support contract for Pakistan, other countries

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday extended heartfelt congratulations to Ali al-Zaidi on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Iraq, expressing confidence in his leadership at a pivotal time.&nbsp;In a statement on X, PM Sharif conveyed his warm wishes to his Iraqi counterpart as he assumes office.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2050445812371742774&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=85da77d10e8f40222c89bb9eb5327265cc61e67a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The prime minister emphasized Pakistan&rsquo;s desire to further strengthen its longstanding relations with Iraq, underscoring shared aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity across the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;Five months on from legislative elections, Iraqi President Nizar Amede <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iraqi-president-nominates-ali-alzaidi-as-pmdesignate" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">nominated businessman Zaidi as prime minister-designate</a> on Monday, giving him the daunting task of putting a cabinet together in the next 30 days amid fierce political wrangling.&nbsp;The nomination came after months of deadlock due to Trump&#39;s opposition to two-time former premier Maliki, who has close ties to Iran.&nbsp;Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq that overthrew former ruler Saddam Hussein, the US has held major sway in the country.&nbsp;But the invasion has also paved the way for neighboring Iran to build its influence.&nbsp;Since then, Iraq&#39;s leaders have struggled to balance relations between Washington and Tehran.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during the federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad. (File photo: PMO)

Foreign Affairs

Emphasizes Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen its longstanding relations with Iraq, underscoring shared aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity across the region. 

Pakistan PM congratulates Iraq’s new PM-designate Ali al-Zaidi

WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 troops from Germany within the next year, the Pentagon said on Friday, in the latest spat with a European leader over the Middle East war. The announcement came after<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-israel-war-on-iran-day-64" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer"> President Donald Trump</a> threatened earlier this week to remove troops from NATO ally Germany amid a row with its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said Monday that Iran was &quot;humiliating&quot; Washington at the negotiating table. &quot;We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months,&quot; Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. &quot;This decision follows a thorough review of the Department&#39;s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground,&quot; Parnell added. Trump said on Tuesday that Merz &quot;thinks it&#39;s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn&#39;t know what he&#39;s talking about!&quot; On Wednesday, Trump said Washington was &quot;studying and reviewing the possible reduction&quot; of US troops in Germany, and that he would decide in a &quot;short period of time.&quot; During both of his terms in office, Trump has made a number of threats to slash US troop numbers in Germany and other European allies, saying he wants Europe to take on greater responsibility for its defense rather than depending on Washington. &#39;Why shouldn&#39;t I?&#39;Trump has faced intense political pressure to end the war against Iran, which is unpopular even with much of his base, having increased costs for American consumers and unnerved US allies. During a fiery exchange in Congress on Thursday, Hegseth was asked about the cost of 60 days of conflict and replied that it was estimated at less than $25 billion so far. Trump now appears determined to punish allies who have failed to back the war or contribute to a peacekeeping force in the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Tehran&#39;s forces have effectively closed. On Thursday, Trump said he may pull US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the war, telling reporters in the Oval Office: &quot;Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.&quot; &quot;Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn&#39;t I?&quot; Trump said. As of December 31, 2025, there were 12,662 active-duty US troops in Italy and 3,814 in Spain. In Germany, there were 36,436. Speaking during a visit to Morocco, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday that Germany was &quot;prepared&quot; for a reduction in US troops and was &quot;discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all NATO bodies.&quot; While saying he was &quot;relaxed&quot; about the idea of fewer US troops in Germany, Wadephul said that large American bases in Germany are &quot;not up for discussion at all.&quot; He said, for example, that the Ramstein Air Base had &quot;an irreplaceable function for the United States and for us alike.&quot; Ukraine supportThe EU said Thursday that the deployment of US troops in Europe was in Washington&#39;s interest, and that the United States was &quot;a vital partner in contributing to Europe&#39;s security and defense.&quot; Trump, meanwhile, took aim at Merz again, telling him to focus on ending the Ukraine war instead of &quot;interfering&quot; in Iran. European powers have been on alert since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and a spate of drone incursions in the last year -- as well as US promises to move away from defending the continent -- have pushed the issue to the top of the agenda. Merz has made national security a priority, announcing unprecedented investments in an army that has been underfunded and under-equipped for decades. He has also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, for which Germany has been the second-largest individual supplier of aid after the US. Nearing a year in office, Merz&#39;s popularity has sunk to new depths, and in a recent poll, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the most popular party in Germany.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on May 01, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump is the keynote speaker for the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches' annual event, headlining the group’s 5

Americas

Announcement comes after President Donald Trump threatened earlier this week to remove troops from NATO ally Germany amid a row with its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said Monday that Iran was "humiliating" Washington at the negotiating table.

US to withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany

MIAMI: World champion Lando Norris beamed in the Florida sunshine Friday after steering his upgraded McLaren to pole position for Saturday&#39;s sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix.&nbsp;The 26-year-old Briton made the most of the extensive upgrades on his car to outpace Mercedes&#39; Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, at 19 the youngest man to lead the drivers&#39; championship in F1 history, and end Mercedes&#39; early season domination.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;ve always loved Miami, both on and off the track,&quot; said Norris, who claimed his maiden F1 triumph at the compact circuit built around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in 2024. &quot;And this is a good result for us, but still only at the beginning of the weekend.&nbsp;&quot;There&#39;s still a long way to go, but it&#39;s nice to kick off by doing this. We&#39;ve got a lot of new upgrades on the car and it is nice to feel some grip again -- and nice to reward the guys and girls who have put a lot of work into this.&quot;&nbsp;Asked if he felt this indicated that the defending constructors&#39; champions had regained the initiative from McLaren, Norris was cautious.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s so tough to know because every track is different. We&#39;ve known that this track has always been good to us, but we knew that what we were bringing was hopefully going to be a good step so it&#39;s nice that our estimations have proved to be correct.&nbsp;&quot;The team deserve that... Since the first lap today, I felt very comfortable and I thought I had a bit of rear grip, so it is good to start with pole.&quot;&nbsp;McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who won last year&#39;s race, was a close third ahead of Ferrari&#39;s Charles Leclerc, four-time Max Verstappen of Red Bull and early season leader George Russell of Mercedes.&nbsp;Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh in the second Ferrari, the Italian team along with Red Bull having brought major upgrade packages to the Miami race.&nbsp;It was the first time this year that Mercedes had been outpaced in a qualifying session, after three races run before the five-week hiatus due to the conflict in the Middle East.&nbsp;A disappointed Russell said: &quot;I think it is pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari have made. It&#39;s much bigger than we expected, even if this has never been a favorite circuit for me.&quot;&nbsp;He added that he had struggled with overheating tyres and other problems throughout Friday.&nbsp;Verstappen was also disappointed, but realistic and said he could see the positives in Red Bull&#39;s improved performance thanks to their upgrades, but added that the team were still &quot;very weak&quot; in the high-speed section of the track.&nbsp;&quot;We need to work on that,&quot; he said, a comment repeated by Ferrari&#39;s Hamilton, who said he had hoped Ferrari&#39;s extensive upgrade package would have delivered greater rewards.

Racing

Lando Norris takes pole for the Miami Grand Prix sprint, using McLaren upgrades to beat Kimi Antonelli and end Mercedes’ dominance. Oscar Piastri is third, while rivals Ferrari and Red Bull show improvement but face performance challenges.

Joy for Norris in Miami as McLaren end Mercedes run

WASHINGTON: A Boeing 747 that Qatar gave to President Donald Trump has completed flight testing and is expected to make its debut this summer, the US Air Force said Friday.&nbsp;The aircraft &quot;has officially completed modification and flight testing and is being painted. The aircraft is on schedule to roll out in a new red, white and blue livery this summer,&quot; the Air Force said in a statement.&nbsp;A spokesperson for L3Harris Technologies said it had completed &quot;extensive modifications and mission systems integration&quot; for the aircraft, which will serve as the Air Force One presidential plane.&nbsp;&quot;The Office of the President will receive a safe and secure aircraft equipped with a new communications system that provides resilient and secure connectivity to respond to events anywhere in the world without disruption,&quot; the spokesperson said.&nbsp;The Gulf emirate&#39;s gift of the jet which is valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars -- raised major constitutional and ethical questions, as well as security concerns about using a plane donated by a foreign power for use as the ultra-sensitive presidential aircraft.&nbsp;Qatar offered the jet in May 2025 and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted it &quot;in accordance with all federal rules and regulations&quot; later in the month, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said at the time.&nbsp;The Defense Department &quot;will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the president of the United States,&quot; Parnell said.

Middle East

A Boeing 747 given by Qatar to President Trump has completed flight testing and modifications and is being painted. It is expected to roll out in a new red, white, and blue livery this summer to serve as Air Force One.

Presidential jet gifted to Trump by Qatar completes testing

Web Desk/AFP

&nbsp;This live blog follows updates for Day 64 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 63, go<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-israel-war-on-iran-day-63" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;here.</a><hr><ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li id="isPasted">Iranian embassy rejects being linked to &lsquo;violent activities, incidents&rsquo; in the UK</li><li>US military says navy ships are being replenished in Middle East</li><li>Trump says Iran &#39;dying to make a deal&#39;</li><li>Iran &lsquo;not coming through with the kind of deal&rsquo; US wants: Trump</li><li>Lebanon says six killed in Israeli strikes on southern town</li></ul><hr> Lebanon says 13 killed in Israeli strikes in south&nbsp;Published: May 2, 2026 | 04:16 GMT | by AFP Lebanon&#39;s health ministry said 13 people were killed on Friday in Israeli strikes in the south, including in a town where Israel&#39;s army had issued an evacuation order despite a ceasefire. The strikes in Habboush killed eight people, including a child and two women, and wounded 21 others, the ministry said, raising an earlier toll. Other strikes in Zrariyeh killed four people, two of them women, and wounded four more, it said. The ministry also reported a strike in Ain Baal near the coastal city of Tyre killed one person and wounded seven others. In Habboush, where the Israeli evacuation warning was issued, an AFP photographer saw clouds of smoke rising after the raids. <hr> US approves $4 bn Patriot missile sale to Qatar&nbsp;Published: May 2, 2026 | 02:45 GMT | by AFP The United States said Friday it had approved a $4 billion sale of Patriot missiles to Gulf ally Qatar, as well as the sale of precision weapons systems to Israel for nearly $1 billion.&nbsp;Both sales were deemed to support US &quot;foreign policy and national security&quot; objectives, the State Department said in a series of notices to Congress, amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. <hr> Trump says &#39;great respect for Pakistan&#39;, not satisfied with Iran&#39;s proposals&nbsp;Published: May 1, 2026 | 16:45 GMT | by Web Desk&nbsp;US President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House on Friday that he has &lsquo;great respect for Pakistan&rsquo; when asked about the latest developments in negotiations with Iran through Islamabad.&nbsp;&quot;We have great respect for Pakistan, Islamabad and tremendous respect for the prime minister and the field marshal,&rdquo; he further stated that negotiations are still taking place, but via telephone.&nbsp;&quot;Iran wants to make a deal, but I&rsquo;m not satisfied with it, so we&rsquo;ll see what happens,&rdquo; Trump added.

US President Donald Trump says negotiations are taking place via telephone calls with Islamabad; Iran judiciary chief says Tehran open to US talks but against policy 'imposition'; Israeli forces continue to destroy towns across southern Lebanon.

Trump says 'great respect for Pakistan,' not satisfied with Iran's proposals

LOS ANGELES: Actors created with artificial intelligence will not be eligible for an Oscar, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Friday as it launched a crackdown on the use of AI.&nbsp;New rules include a requirement that only real, live human performers not their AI avatars are eligible for the film world&#39;s biggest prizes, and screenplays must have been penned by a person, rather than a chatbot.&nbsp;&quot;In the Acting category, only roles credited in the film&#39;s legal billing and demonstrably performed by humans with their consent will be considered eligible,&quot; the Academy said.&nbsp;&quot;In the Writing categories, the rules codify that screenplays must be human-authored to be eligible.&quot;&nbsp;The ruling comes days after an AI version of the late Val Kilmer was unveiled to an audience of cinema owners, a year after the &quot;Top Gun&quot; star&#39;s death.&nbsp;A youthful, digital version of Kilmer appeared in the trailer for archeological action pic &quot;As Deep as the Grave,&quot; telling another character: &quot;Don&#39;t fear the dead and don&#39;t fear me.&quot;&nbsp;The project was created with the enthusiastic support of the actor&#39;s family, who granted access to Kilmer&#39;s video archives, which were used to recreate the actor at multiple stages of his life.&nbsp;The use of artificial intelligence remains one of the most sensitive issues in the entertainment industry and was central to the 2023 strikes that shut down Hollywood, as actors and writers warned that unchecked technology threatened their livelihoods.&nbsp;Other updates to the Academy&#39;s rules include a change in the way that films can be nominated for best international feature.&nbsp;Until this year, only a film selected by an official national grouping could be entered -- a problem for any critical movie made in an authoritarian state.&nbsp;For example, Iranian director Jafar Panahi&#39;s &quot;It Was Just an Accident&quot; was nominated earlier this year as a submission from France.&nbsp;Under the new rules, a non-English language film also can be submitted in the category if it wins a qualifying award at a major international film festival, including Cannes, Berlin, Busan, Venice or Toronto.&nbsp;In that same category, the film will be deemed the nominee and not the country, and its director will be &quot;listed on the statuette plaque after the film title&quot; along with the country if applicable, the Academy announced.

Film & TV

The Academy said AI actors and writers will not be eligible for Oscars, requiring human performers and human-written screenplays, and also updated international film rules to allow festival winners and change nomination procedures.

AI actors and writers not eligible for Oscars: Academy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday confirmed the release of former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who had been &ldquo;unlawfully detained&rdquo; by Israeli forces after the interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters.&nbsp;Dar announced the development in a post on X, thanking Greek authorities for facilitating Khan&rsquo;s transfer after his release.&nbsp;&ldquo;I thank the Hellenic authorities for facilitating former Senator Mushtaq Khan at Crete, Greece,&rdquo; Dar said.&nbsp;Khan was among 211 international activists aboard the flotilla, a 58-vessel humanitarian mission aimed at challenging Israel&rsquo;s blockade on Gaza and delivering aid to the besieged Palestinian territory, according to organizers.&nbsp;The interception of the flotilla has drawn condemnation from several governments, including Pakistan, which described the detentions as unlawful and part of broader restrictions on humanitarian access to Gaza amid Israel&rsquo;s ongoing military aggression.&nbsp;Dar renewed Islamabad&rsquo;s criticism of Israel&rsquo;s actions, calling the detention of activists and disruption of aid deliveries unacceptable.&nbsp;&ldquo;I reiterate my strongest possible condemnation of the illegal detention of humanitarian workers aboard the flotilla as well as obstruction of humanitarian aid destined for the besieged people of Gaza,&rdquo; Dar said. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2050264384463897080&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=582eb4be31dbd78f180e4d4c1abd3dd8761700d7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2050264384463897080"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;He also thanked the government of T&uuml;rkiye for assisting Khan&rsquo;s onward travel from Greece to Istanbul before his return to Pakistan.&nbsp;In a video message posted on X after his release, Khan said activists had been &ldquo;kidnapped&rdquo; by Israel&rsquo;s &ldquo;terrorist and Zionist army&rdquo; while sailing in international waters, describing the interception as a &ldquo;grave violation of international law.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We were held hostage for around 48 hours, and now we have been handed over to Greek authorities,&rdquo; Khan said.&nbsp;He added that the flotilla campaign would continue as long as Gaza remained under blockade.&nbsp;&ldquo;We will continue this flotilla as long as there is a blockade and siege, as long as there is genocide,&rdquo; Khan said. &ldquo;Until Palestine is free, until the right to self-determination is granted, we will continue this struggle.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has repeatedly called for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.&nbsp;Human rights groups say Israel has violated the 2025 ceasefire more than 2,400 times, with the reported breaches leaving at least 766 people dead and 2,147 injured over the past five months.

FM Ishaq Dar condemns the interception as illegal. Mushtaq Khan slams Israel’s “terrorist and Zionist army” for “kidnapping” activists and vows the flotilla campaign will continue.

Pakistan confirms Mushtaq Khan released after Israeli flotilla detention

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: In eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, construction is the sound of a city becoming itself.&nbsp;Before sunrise, the streets begin to stir, tea stalls hiss awake, trucks rattle through narrow roads, and half-built homes stand like unfinished promises against the skyline. By midmorning, the rhythm takes over: steel striking steel, wet cement turning to walls, bricks passing hand to hand in practiced motion.&nbsp;Lahore, Pakistan&rsquo;s cultural heart and one of South Asia&rsquo;s fastest-growing cities, is expanding upward and outward.&nbsp;New housing blocks, roads, schools and commercial centers continue to reshape its edges, powered by the hands of construction workers. The labor force behind the city&rsquo;s transformation.&nbsp;On International Labor Day, their work comes into sharper focus.&nbsp;&ldquo;Laborer is everywhere,&rdquo; Muhammad Sardar, 35, a daily-wage construction worker in Lahore told Pakistan TV Digital earlier this week. &ldquo;Wherever you see buildings, colleges, homes&hellip; laborer built them.&rdquo;&nbsp;It is a simple truth, often overlooked.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s construction sector employs millions and remains one of the country&rsquo;s largest engines of economic activity, linking more than 40 allied industries, from cement and steel to transport and engineering.&nbsp;In Punjab alone, where Lahore sits, the provincial minimum wage for unskilled workers stands at Rs40,000 ($143.48) a month, or roughly Rs1,538 ($5.52) a day under current wage notifications.&nbsp;The province&rsquo;s labor framework also guarantees overtime protections, workplace safety standards, and social security registration for eligible workers.&nbsp;But for workers like Sardar, every rupee has a destination before it is earned. Rent, school fees, electricity bills, medicine.&nbsp;By dawn, he is at a construction site. By dusk, he has helped build walls he may never live inside.&nbsp;That is the quiet paradox of labor: building shelter for others while chasing stability for your own family.&nbsp;In Lahore&rsquo;s fast-changing neighborhoods, where old brick homes meet new concrete towers, workers carry entire futures on their backs. A bag of cement weighs 50 kilograms. A stack of bricks, even more. But the heavier burden is often the one waiting at home.&nbsp;For 55-year-old Ghulam Muhammad, construction work has been life&rsquo;s only profession. For nearly four decades, he has helped build roads, homes and public buildings across Lahore.&nbsp;&ldquo;I have spent my life building,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When you see these roads and structures, there is a laborer behind them.&rdquo;&nbsp;His hands are weathered now, his pace slower. But like thousands of others, he still reports for work each morning.&nbsp;For many workers, Labor Day is less about celebration than reflection. And in a city known for its history, from the Mughal walls of the Lahore Fort to its expanding modern neighborhoods, labor remains the thread connecting past and future.

Economy

In Lahore, construction workers power the city’s growth, building homes, roads and schools daily, as Labour Day highlights their essential yet often overlooked role, marked by hard labor, low wages, and the ongoing struggle to support families

Lahore rises brick by brick on workers’ shoulders and dreams

ISLAMABAD: At least three civilians were injured in a quadcopter attack in Bajaur on Friday, as Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the Afghan Taliban authorities had targeted civilians in the latest cross-border incident.&nbsp;According to Tarar, the attack took place while the civilians were playing cricket in the northwestern district near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.&nbsp;&ldquo;The inhuman violent spate of deliberate targeting of innocent civilians by Afghan Taliban regime&hellip; is unacceptable, insidious and reflective of their barbaric nature towards human life,&rdquo; Tarar said in a statement posted on X.&nbsp;The latest incident comes a day after Pakistani officials reported that nine civilians, including women and children, were killed and 12 others injured in separate cross-border attacks in the same region.&nbsp;The attack adds to growing tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where Pakistan has carried out Operation Ghazab lil Haq in response to sustained terrorist activity and cross-border attacks.&nbsp;Pakistani officials say the operation, now in its 10th week, targets terrorist camps, logistics hubs and infrastructure used to support attacks inside Pakistan.&nbsp;Tarar said the latest civilian targeting followed recent battlefield setbacks for terrorist groups and their support networks.&nbsp;He said the targeting of civilians showed an unwillingness to confront Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces directly.&nbsp;&ldquo;Their targeting of civilians&hellip; speaks volumes,&rdquo; Tarar said.&nbsp;Tarar said Pakistan&rsquo;s operations remain focused exclusively on terrorist infrastructure and are based on verified intelligence.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan targets only terrorist infrastructure and information has been always promptly and transparently shared with the public,&rdquo; he said.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Afghan Taliban quadcopter strike in Bajaur injured three civilians playing cricket, following deadly cross-border attacks, escalating tensions.