Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday addressed the National Assembly, condemning recent terrorist attacks, paying tribute to the late Senator Irfan Siddiqui, and highlighting Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic and defense milestones.&nbsp;Paying homage to Senator Siddiqui, Sharif said, &ldquo;He was among the most loyal companions of Nawaz Sharif, and his academic insight will remain a beacon of light for future generations.&rdquo;&nbsp;He prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family.&nbsp;Turning to security concerns, the prime minister denounced the Cadet College Wana attack, likening it to the Army Public School tragedy, and praised Pakistan Armed Forces for rescuing students and eliminating the terrorists.&nbsp;He also condemned the Islamabad Judicial Complex attack, which claimed 12 lives including lawyers, and prayed for the martyrs while wishing speedy recovery for the injured.&nbsp;Sharif alleged that elements from India and Afghanistan were involved in these terrorist incidents.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have presented undeniable proof of Indian involvement in the Jaffar Express attack before the world, and no one challenged those facts,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;PM Sharif reaffirmed that the Khawarij terrorists would face a &ldquo;befitting response&rdquo; from Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces.&nbsp;On regional diplomacy, the prime minister mentioned peace talks in Doha and Istanbul with the Afghan interim government, emphasizing that they must act against groups operating from Afghan soil targeting Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;We desire peace and stability in the region and expect Afghanistan to make sincere commitments,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Sharif also highlighted recent defense achievements, including Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;victory in war against India in February,&rdquo; which, he said, enhanced the country&rsquo;s global image.&nbsp;He celebrated the conferring of the Field Marshal title on Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, noting that the post would be &ldquo;enshrined in the Constitution alongside other service chiefs.&rdquo;&nbsp;Reaffirming his commitment to national cohesion, Sharif stressed the importance of strengthening the federation and provinces while opposing anything that weakened unity. &ldquo;We have to move forward together for the development and prosperity of Pakistan,&rdquo; he concluded.

Security

Talking about the Jaffar Express attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan has presented “undeniable proof of Indian involvement before the world” and vows that the terrorists will receive a befitting response from the country’s security forces.

PM Sharif condemns terror attacks, highlights Pakistan’s defense achievements

WASHINGTON: More than 22 million people, many of them children, could die preventable deaths by 2030 due to aid cuts by the United States and European countries, new research said Monday. The findings are an update of a study earlier this year that focused only on US assistance and said that sweeping reductions by President Donald Trump could lead to 14 million additional deaths.

Americas

Europe

 More than 22 million people could die by 2030 due to aid cuts by the United States and European countries

US, European aid cuts could cause 22.6 million deaths: research

ISLAMABAD: A 4&deg;C rise in global temperatures could melt up to 85% of Pakistan&rsquo;s glaciers, threatening the country&rsquo;s water supply, agriculture, and food security, Pakistan&rsquo;s climate minister said ahead of the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP30). The country&#39;s&nbsp;Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik called the glaciers &quot;the bloodline and lifeline of our civilization.&quot; He said they feed Pakistan&rsquo;s rivers and sustain agriculture. &quot;A 4&deg;C rise in temperature can wash away about 85% of these glaciers,&quot; he said. &quot;That would devastate our irrigation systems and agriculture, threatening food security for millions.&quot; The climate minister also criticized the inequity of climate finance, noting that 55% of global carbon emissions come from just three countries. &quot;Countries like Pakistan, which contribute little to the carbon footprint, are among the most vulnerable,&quot; he said. He urged wealthier nations to take more responsibility and help developing countries adapt to climate change. &quot;This is not just an issue of civilization; it is an issue of justice and rights,&quot; he said. The minister highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to combat climate change, including the installation of over 14 gigawatts of solar power, policies promoting electric vehicles, and reforestation projects. &quot;We are doing this for our children,&quot; he said. Malik also pointed to early warning systems designed to help communities prepare for climate-induced disasters such as floods and heatwaves. COP30 The COP30 is taking place in Bel&eacute;m, Brazil, from November 10 to 21. It brings together world leaders, climate scientists, NGOs, and indigenous peoples to advance climate action. Key goals include assessing progress on the Paris Agreement, increasing climate finance, and focusing on forest protection and indigenous rights, with special attention to the Amazon.

Climate & Environment

A 4°C rise in temperature could melt 85% of Pakistan’s glaciers, threatening agriculture and water security, Pakistan’s climate minister said at COP30 in Brazil.

Higher temperatures to affect Pakistan's water supplies, threaten food security: climate minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe will contest a seven-match T20 International Tri-Series in Rawalpindi beginning Nov. 18, the first time a tri-nation T20I event will be played on home soil. All three sides will play each other twice, creating a four-match league stage per team. The top two will meet in the final, scheduled for the evening of Nov. 29.&nbsp;The green shirts will enter the series in strong momentum under skipper Salman Ali Agha. The T-20 captain led Pakistan to the Asia Cup final, beat South Africa at home, and dominated Bangladesh earlier this year.&nbsp;The squad&rsquo;s recent calendar has been intense, including a full Test, ODI, and T20I series against South Africa. Pakistan also completed a clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the ODI series that concluded earlier this month in Rawalpindi.&nbsp;Agha said the series will also help the side prepare for the World Cup.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;The tri-series comes at an ideal time for us. It allows the group to play consistent cricket against two competitive sides and further refine our T20I plans ahead of the all-important ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup next year,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have seen great support for the home side from the Rawalpindi fans, and we are expecting quality contests throughout the series,&rdquo; Agha added.&nbsp;Security officials have prepared comprehensive measures for the event, building on earlier matches that drew large, enthusiastic crowds in Rawalpindi.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fans are expected to turn out in strong numbers again, encouraged by the city&rsquo;s successful hosting record and the high-stakes nature of the tri-series.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s 15-member T20I squad includes: Salman Ali Agha (capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq. The schedule for the series is as follows: 18 November &ndash; Pakistan v Zimbabwe 20 November &ndash; Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe 22 November &ndash; Pakistan v Sri Lanka 23 November &ndash; Pakistan v Zimbabwe 25 November &ndash; Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe 27 November &ndash; Pakistan v Sri Lanka 29 November &ndash; Final

Cricket

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe will contest a seven-match T20I tri-series in Rawalpindi from November 18. Pakistan enters in strong form under Salman Ali Agha, using the series to prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup.

Pakistan set to host maiden T20I Tri-Series with Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s public debt has fallen by more than Rs1,371 billion ($4.847 billion), the largest quarterly reduction in 69 months. In a post on X (Twitter), the advisor to the country&rsquo;s Finance Minister, Khurram Schehzad, wrote that this was the first quarterly decline in nearly six years, with the last drop occurring in December 2019. <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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 720px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1990401813116276974&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b93cea67d457c50ae4be591fd9102aada938c5a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The decline, from Rs80,518 billion ($284.9 billion) in June 2025 to Rs79,146 billion ($280 billion) in September 2025, represents a 1.7% reduction. The decrease is attributed to the country&rsquo;s strong fiscal management and the strategic early retirement of high-cost debt, which has helped reduce the country&rsquo;s future borrowing requirements and refinancing risks. Schehzad&nbsp;noted that this shift would strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s medium-term financial stability and provide the government with greater fiscal flexibility moving forward. &ldquo;Lower debt servicing will create fiscal space for priority spending on development, social protection, and growth,&rdquo; the advisor wrote. The drop in debt also signals improving policy credibility and boosted investor confidence, he added.

Banking

This was the first quarterly decline in nearly six years, with the last drop occurring in December 2019.

Pakistan cuts public debt by $4.8 billion in largest 6-year drop

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan pledged to deepen economic cooperation and regional connectivity during the 8th Review Session of Pakistan-Uzbekistan Cooperation on Monday, focusing on trade expansion, sector collaboration, and long-term strategic partnership.&nbsp;According to a Ministry of Information &amp; Broadcasting press release, the meeting was chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, and attended by Uzbek Ambassador Alisher Takhtayev, senior officials, and business leaders.&nbsp;Both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in textiles, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, mining, and information technology, with Pakistan targeting $2 billion in bilateral trade.&nbsp;Khan announced the formation of a joint committee comprising DRAP, the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Association, and Uzbek regulators to expedite certification of Pakistani medicines. Uzbekistan also highlighted its Pharma Park model, which could be replicated in Pakistan.&nbsp;In a major development, it was agreed to enhance aviation connectivity with&nbsp;direct flights from Karachi to Uzbekistan, aimed at boosting trade, tourism, and regional travel. Khan said, &ldquo;The Prime Minister has issued clear instructions to commence direct flights at the earliest.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both countries emphasized the need to strengthen financial cooperation, with the National Bank of Pakistan set to open a branch in Uzbekistan to facilitate smoother cross-border trade, while addressing banking barriers affecting transactions.&nbsp;Provincial governments will be involved in all joint projects; collaboration in the minerals sector was reviewed, with working groups instructed to submit progress reports at the next session.&nbsp;&ldquo;The leadership of both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing economic cooperation, regional connectivity, and long-term strategic partnership,&rdquo; the statement concluded.

Foreign Affairs

Pledge to deepen economic cooperation, targeting $2 billion in trade; agreements include collaboration in textiles, pharmaceuticals, IT, direct flights, banking integration, provincial involvement, and minerals sector cooperation.

Pakistan, Uzbekistan to enhance economic and trade cooperation

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said on Monday that Pakistan is in regular contact with the Russian government as Moscow had offered to mediate between Islamabad and Kabul&rsquo;s Afghan Taliban regime.&nbsp;The Pakistani envoy expressed these views in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV from Moscow, where he spoke about the upcoming SCO summit and member states&rsquo; reaction to the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s continued harbouring of terrorist organisations on its soil.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/d1bf899d-d80c-4ed3-a688-5b3d0f37b6a5-WhatsApp Image 2025-11-17 at 20.54.06.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2025-11-17 at 20.54.06.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="text-align: left;">Pakistan&rsquo;s ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, speaks exclusively to Pakistan TV about the SCO Summit and issues related to the Afghan Taliban on November 17, 2025.</figcaption> Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban reached a ceasefire in Doha on Oct. 19, but tensions remain high between the neighbours after two subsequent rounds of talks to devise a mechanism against terrorist organizations using Afghan soil remained inconclusive in Istanbul due to the inconsistent position of the Taliban delegation. Pakistan remains consistent on its basic demand that the Afghan Taliban regime take clear and verifiable actions against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.&nbsp; &ldquo;Russia has offered to mediate between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime,&rdquo; Ambassador Tirmizi told Pakistan TV. &ldquo;Russia has been kind enough to offer its assistance, and we are already in regular contact with the Russian government [regarding this] as well,&rdquo; he added. Last month, the ambassador said Pakistan attended a talk on Afghanistan in Moscow where Russians were trying to tell the Afghan Taliban that they should be a factor of stability and connectivity in the region rather than a factor of instability.&nbsp; &ldquo;That is the whole endeavor on the part of Pakistan as well as Russia to convince the Taliban regime whether they want to be part of the Eurasian dream under SCO,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;Then they have to ensure that their soil is not used against any territory, any country or against any religion, be it Pakistan, Central Asia or Russia.&rdquo; Tirmizi said the SCO-member states consider it fundamental to persuade the Afghan Taliban regime to review its policies if wanted to be accepted as a credible partner in the international arena. &ldquo;Their soil should not be used to destabilise other countries of the world,&rdquo; he added. The Pakistani envoy said Russia understands that without peace in Afghanistan there cannot be any meaningful exchanges in all SCO states.&nbsp; &ldquo;Because Afghanistan is the linchpin which connects South Asia to Central Asia and Eurasian landmass,&rdquo; he added.</figure>

Pakistan’s envoy in Moscow says Russia offered to mediate between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban as tensions persist. SCO states urge Taliban to curb militant groups and ensure Afghan soil isn’t used for regional instability

Pakistan in regular contact with Russia as Moscow offered to mediate with Afghan Taliban: envoy

MILAN: Norway qualified for their first World Cup since 1998 after Erling Haaland struck again in a 4-1 thumping of Italy on Sunday which sealed a spot in next summer&#39;s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. &nbsp;Haaland scored the decisive brace in the space of seconds at a soaking San Siro for Norway, who completed Group I with a perfect 24 points from their eight qualifying matches.&nbsp;Norway would have had to lose by nine goals or more in order to be overtaken by Italy for the group&#39;s only automatic place for next summer&#39;s finals in North America, but Stale Solbakken&#39;s side ended their campaign in glorious fashion in front of 70,000 people.&nbsp;However, Solbakken was coy as to his powerful team&#39;s chances now that a 28-year weight has come to an end.&nbsp;&quot;Let&#39;s see the draw first... I haven&#39;t even thought about it. For me, it (tonight) was to go from 99 percent to 100 percent and now we have done it in a great way,&quot; Solbakken told reporters.&nbsp;&quot;Let&#39;s see what the draw brings before we go into those questions.&quot;&nbsp;Haaland&#39;s father Alf-Inge was still an international player when Norway last competed in the World Cup 27 years ago, a tournament won by a Zinedine Zidane-inspired France.&nbsp;And the Manchester City striker, called a &quot;goal machine&quot; by Solbakken, will be one of the players to watch in North America after smashing in 16 goals during qualifying.&nbsp;The 25-year-old is averaging more than a goal a game for club and country this season and was typically ruthless when presented with his opportunities to both put Norway ahead and then double their lead in the 78th and 79th minutes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Norway sink Italy&nbsp;Pio Esposito opened the scoring for Italy in the 11th minute, but once Antonio Nusa levelled with a thumping strike in the 63rd minute, there was only one team who looked like winning, and Jorgen Strand Larsen&#39;s brilliant individual goal completed the rout in stoppage time.&nbsp;Italy will head to the play-offs in March after finishing the group six points behind Norway following two bracing defeats to Solbakken&#39;s team, and exited the San Siro field to a hail of whistles from the few home fans who had stayed until the end.&nbsp;Coach Gennaro Gattuso apologised to supporters during his short interview with public broadcaster RAI and was clearly concerned about the second half collapse.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s worrying, I&#39;d be a liar to say that it doesn&#39;t concern me, because when you have nights like this it&#39;s much easier if you can stay together, improve the day to day,&quot; said Gattuso.&nbsp;&quot;What worries me is that we&#39;ll next see each other in three months&#39; time.&quot;&nbsp;Italy&#39;s bid for direct qualification was compromised from their opening match against Norway, a 3-0 defeat which ended Luciano Spalletti&#39;s reign as coach.&nbsp;Since Gattuso took over, the Azzurri have performed better but there is no-one in their team of the class of Haaland, a shame for a country which has produced some of the game&#39;s best-ever players.&nbsp;Italy failed to qualify for the last two World Cups thanks to humiliating defeats in the play-offs to Sweden and North Macedonia, the latter coming less than a year after being crowned European champions in 2021.

Football

Erling Haaland’s late brace sealed Norway’s 4–1 win over Italy, earning their first World Cup berth since 1998. Italy, collapsing after leveling, face play-offs amid mounting concerns over their form.

Haaland leads Norway past Italy to reach first World Cup since 1998

LAGOS: Nigeria&#39;s football coach has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo of practising &quot;voodoo&quot; after his squad&#39;s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup ended in a penalty shootout loss in the African play-offs final.&nbsp;DR Congo and Nigeria drew 1-1 after extra time in the tie in Rabat on Sunday and the central Africans won 4-3 on penalties to book a place in inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico next March.&nbsp;In his post-match remarks to journalists, coach Eric Chelle said a member of the DR Congo team &quot;did some voodoo, every time, every time, every time&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;That is why I was a bit nervous,&quot; said former Mali international Chelle, who took charge of Nigeria in January.&nbsp;Chelle had admitted prior to the match that it was going to &quot;be very difficult in Morocco&quot;.&nbsp;Using hand gestures, he said he saw a DR Congo member waving his hand as if sprinkling or shaking something. &quot;I don&#39;t know if it&#39;s water or something like that.&quot;&nbsp;In a nervy shootout in which four spot-kicks were saved and another missed, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba defied a bottle thrown toward him and torrential rain to convert the winning penalty as his country seek a return to the global showpiece after a lengthy absence.&nbsp;Nigeria, an African football giant, lie 19 places above DR Congo in the world rankings and were pre-match favourites.&nbsp;The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the second World Cup in a row. They had not missed back-to-back editions since their debut in 1994.&nbsp;While Nigeria have been regular participants at the World Cup, the sole appearance by the Congolese came in 1974 when the mineral-rich central African country was called Zaire.&nbsp;President Bola Tinubu urged the squad to &quot;put behind them the loss&quot; and to focus on preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which runs from December 21 to January 18.&nbsp;&quot;We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players ... must go back to the drawing board,&quot; said Tinubu in a statement.

Nigeria’s coach Eric Chelle blamed alleged “voodoo” after a tense penalty-shootout loss ended Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup hopes. Underdog Congo advanced, while President Tinubu urged Nigeria to regroup ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria coach blames 'voodoo' after World Cup hopes crushed

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa said Monday the surprise arrival of 153 Palestinians on a plane last week indicated &quot;a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians&quot; out of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The group landed in Johannesburg on a chartered flight on Thursday without departure stamps from Israel in their passports. Reports said a shadowy organisation named Al-Majd was involved in their travel from Gaza. &quot;We are suspicious, as the South African government, about the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the plane,&quot; Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told reporters. South African border police kept the group on the plane for 12 hours before President Cyril Ramaphosa allowed them entry on a standard 90-day visa exemption. It emerged later that a first plane carrying 176 Palestinians had arrived on October 28, according to the local Gift of the Givers charity that is assisting the arrivals. &quot;We do not want any further flights to come our way because this is a clear agenda to cleanse out Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank and those areas, which South Africa is against,&quot; Lamola said. &quot;It does look like it represents a broader agenda to remove Palestinians from Palestine into many different parts of the world, and is a clearly orchestrated operation,&quot; he said. &#39;Misled&#39; South Africa, which is set to host world leaders at the G20 summit this weekend, is seen as one of the strongest supporters of the Palestinian cause. Pretoria filed a case against Israel with the International Court of Justice in 2023, accusing it of genocide in Gaza. The Gift of the Givers NGO told AFP the Palestinians it is assisting said they had paid around $2,000 per person to Al-Majd for the trip and did not know they were going to South Africa. &quot;What we&#39;ve been told is that they were promised some type of travel out of Gaza to some form of safety in a country that would welcome them,&quot; representative Sarah Oosthuizen told AFP. Some of the passengers appeared to have been misled about their final destination, with a few believing they were headed to Indonesia, Malaysia or India, she said. Travellers in the first group &quot;definitely did not know that they were coming to South Africa&quot;, Oosthuizen said. The second plane -- which carried a group including men, women and children -- flew from Israel&#39;s Ramon airport to Nairobi before boarding the chartered plane to Johannesburg, she said. The accommodation they had been promised on arrival turned out to have been booked for only up to a week and &quot;when they were settled in these accommodations, their contact with Al-Majd went silent,&quot; Oosthuizen said. Some of the group had told the NGO that they wished to apply for asylum, she said. &#39;Investigating&#39; The Palestinian embassy in South Africa said Thursday the travel of both groups &quot;was arranged by an unregistered and misleading organisation that exploited the tragic humanitarian conditions of our people in Gaza.&quot; The group had &quot;deceived families, collected money from them, and facilitated their travel in an irregular and irresponsible manner,&quot; it said. When AFP in Jerusalem tried to contact Al-Majd, none of the numbers listed on their website were in service. Their linked address only led to the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Israeli authorities told AFP at the weekend that the 153 Palestinians had been allowed to leave Gaza after receiving &quot;approval from a third country to receive them&quot;, without naming the country in question. Lamola on Monday said Pretoria was investigating the matter.

Middle East

South Africa suspects a scheme to forcibly relocate Palestinians after 153 arrived unexpectedly on a flight, possibly misled by unregistered group Al-Majd; investigations ongoing.

South Africa says 'suspicious' flights from Israel an 'agenda to cleanse Palestinians'

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Sunday organized the Uraan Pakistan Fest in the capital&rsquo;s F-9 Park, reported Radio Pakistan.&nbsp;The festival, held under the government&rsquo;s public-engagement initiatives, drew large crowds despite heightened security concerns in the city.&nbsp;The ministry said the event was arranged under the guidance of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and in line with the administration&rsquo;s focus on public-oriented cultural activities.&nbsp;Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Islamabad&rsquo;s district authorities oversaw what officials described as foolproof security arrangements, following recent advisories urging caution at public gatherings.&nbsp;Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar reviewed preparations ahead of the festival.&nbsp;&ldquo;Healthy recreational activities are included in the government&rsquo;s priorities,&rdquo; he said, noting that the turnout showed residents&rsquo; desire for safe public spaces even during periods of tightened vigilance.&nbsp;Entry was free as crowds packed the venue throughout the night, with many families staying for hours as musicians Atif Aslam, Farhan Saeed, Nimra Mehra, Jabar Abbas, and Zunair Zahid took the stage. Hosts Shafaat Ali and Sofia Ahmad guided the program, which mixed music, comedy, and family-oriented entertainment.&nbsp;Officials said the strong attendance reflected public confidence and a broader appetite for positive community-oriented events after weeks of concerns about threats to large gatherings.&nbsp;According to organizers, the festival succeeded in offering &ldquo;pleasant, safe, and quality entertainment&rdquo; for Islamabad residents.

Culture

The government-organized Uraan Pakistan Fest drew large crowds to Islamabad’s F-9 Park despite security concerns, offering free entry, major musical performances, and heightened safety measures as officials highlighted public demand for safe, positive recreational events.