Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A severe cold wave continues across Pakistan, with meteorological authorities indicating that the ongoing and coming week is expected to be the coldest phase of the winter season, accompanied by persistent dense fog in several regions.&nbsp;According to a weather advisory issued by the National Emergency Operation Centre of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), cold and dry conditions are likely to prevail from January 8 to January 13, with a noticeable drop in temperatures forecast in various parts of the country.&nbsp;Punjab and the federal capital remain under the influence of the cold spell, as dense fog continues to blanket large areas during nighttime and early morning hours. Islamabad and Rawalpindi are expected to experience frost, while reduced visibility has affected road traffic and caused delays in air and rail operations.&nbsp;Weather pattern behind the cold spell&nbsp;The NDMA stated that the prevailing weather conditions are due to a stable high-pressure system over the region, which is keeping cold air trapped near the surface and limiting moisture dispersion. This has resulted in prolonged fog and lower daytime temperatures.&nbsp;Fog has remained particularly persistent across central and upper Punjab, Islamabad, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.&nbsp;&ldquo;Yes, the current and the coming week will be the coldest due to persistent fog in the region, especially in plain areas of Punjab, KP, and Sindh,&rdquo; a spokesperson for WeatherWalay, an independent weather monitoring platform, said, in line with official assessments.&nbsp;The advisory further noted that colder conditions are expected to intensify between January 11 and 13, with a significant temperature decline anticipated in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Cloudy conditions in upper KP and parts of Balochistan may further enhance the cold weather.&nbsp;In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, cold and dry weather is expected to persist, with fog in plain areas and cloudy skies in upper districts. Sindh is also experiencing cold conditions, with generally clear skies, while fog continues to affect upper parts of the province.&nbsp;Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir are forecast to remain cold, with partly cloudy conditions and isolated light rain or snowfall in hilly areas on January 11 and 12.&nbsp;Authorities have advised the public to take precautionary measures, particularly during early morning and late evening hours when fog is most dense. Commuters are encouraged to use fog lights, maintain safe driving distances, and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of low visibility.

Climate & Environment

Pakistan faces season’s coldest week as dense fog and frost affect multiple regions, with authorities advising precautions amid reduced visibility and falling temperatures nationwide.

Cold wave grips Pakistan as dense fog affects daily life

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud reviewed &#39;the evolving regional situation and recent developments&#39; in a telephonic conversation, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement on Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Saudi Foreign Minister reaffirmed Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening and deepening bilateral ties with Pakistan, highlighting the importance Riyadh attaches to its longstanding relationship with Islamabad, the statement said.&nbsp; Dar expressed satisfaction over the positive progress of bilateral relations between Islamabad and Riyadh, the statement added.<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: 770px; 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=2005958717796417881&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0a4277fff51fc9779360cb27c73be39ad1b5ef70&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Dar also conveyed season&rsquo;s greetings and best wishes for the New Year to his counterpart, the statement said.&nbsp;Prince Faisal warmly reciprocated, the FO statement added.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister held a phone call to discuss regional developments, exchange new year greetings, express satisfaction over growing bilateral ties, and agree on further strengthening cooperation and long-standing relations.



Pakistan, Saudi Arabia review regional situation, reaffirm bilateral cooperation 

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday announced the schedule for local government (LG) elections in the Islamabad Capital Territory.&nbsp;The tenure of the previous local government ended in February 2021, but the polls remained pending and were postponed further due to &ldquo;new legislation.&rdquo;&nbsp;In its notification, the ECP asked voters in the ICT to choose their representatives for the general seats of the union councils.&nbsp;The commission fixed December 19 for returning officers (ROs) to issue the public notice inviting nomination papers, while candidates may submit their nomination papers to the ROs from December 22 to 27.&nbsp;The list of nominated candidates will be released on December 29, while scrutiny of nomination papers will be carried out by the ROs from Dec 30 to Jan 3 next year.&nbsp;According to the ECP, polling will be held on February 15, and the consolidation of results will be completed between February 16 and 19.&nbsp;The election watchdog also instructed authorities to ensure that the LG elections are held &ldquo;honestly, fairly, and in line with the law,&rdquo; and that &ldquo;corrupt practices are prevented.&rdquo;&nbsp;It directed that all executive authorities in the federation would &ldquo;neither announce any development project nor use state resources in local government polls calculated to influence the elections in favor of a particular candidate.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;If any person in government service misuses his official position in any manner in order to influence the results of the elections, he shall be liable to be proceeded against under the law,&rdquo; the notification added.&nbsp;In addition, it prohibited the president, prime Minister, chairman and deputy chairman of the Senate, Speaker, deputy speaker of an assembly, federal minister, ministers of states, governors, chief ministers, provincial ministers and advisers to the prime minister, chief ministers and chairmen or vice chairmen from participating in an election campaign after the issuance of this program.&nbsp;&ldquo;However, members of any assembly, Senate and local government are allowed to participate in the election campaign,&rdquo; it added, on the condition that they strictly abide by the ECP&rsquo;s code of conduct.&nbsp;The commission added that polling hours will run from 8am to 4pm, and all polling operations must be conducted during official working hours.

Politics

The Election Commission of Pakistan announces Islamabad’s local government elections schedule, with polling on February 15, 2026. Authorities and top officials are barred from influencing polls.

Pakistan announces Islamabad local elections scheduled for February 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the suicide blast outside Islamabad&rsquo;s G-11 District Judicial Complex, saying the attack was carried out by India-backed militant networks. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, Sharif said the bombing was the work of &ldquo;Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan,&rdquo; adding that groups are &ldquo;operating with Indian support.&rdquo; He said Pakistan will &ldquo;not allow the blood of innocent Pakistanis to be shed in vain.&rdquo; Islamabad uses the terms &quot;Fitna al-Khawarij&quot; and &quot;Fitna al-Hindustan&quot; for Indian-sponsored proxy groups, as key instigators behind the assault.&nbsp; &ldquo;My and the entire nation&rsquo;s deepest sympathies are with the families of the martyrs,&rdquo; the prime minister said, praying for the elevation of the ranks of those who lost their lives. He instructed that the injured be provided &ldquo;the best possible medical care.&rdquo; The prime minister said he has ordered a full investigation and vowed that those responsible &ldquo;will be brought to justice.&rdquo; &ldquo;The world must now condemn India&rsquo;s conspiracies,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The horrific face of India&rsquo;s effort to destroy peace in the region stands exposed.&rdquo; Suicide bombingInterior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed at least 12 people were martyred and dozens were injured. &ldquo;The suicide bomber failed to enter the judicial complex and detonated himself near a police vehicle,&rdquo; Naqvi said. Preliminary findingsAccording to local broadcaster Geo News, a preliminary report identified the attacker as a resident of Bajaur who arrived in Islamabad on Friday. He traveled from Pirwadhai junction to the G-11 judicial complex on a motorcycle, wearing a shawl. Islamabad Inspector General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said the explosive device contained up to 8 kilograms of explosives and ball bearings. He said evidence indicates a single attacker, with surveillance backtracking and forensic review underway. Surveillance footageCCTV released by the Counter Terrorism Department shows an off-white 1995 Toyota Corolla approaching a parked police van before exploding near the complex gate. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the attack demands a reassessment of national security: &ldquo;We are in a state of war. Anyone thinking otherwise must consider today&rsquo;s attack a wake-up call.&rdquo; An emergency was declared at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital, where 30 people are currently receiving treatment. &ldquo;All available resources are being utilized,&rdquo; spokesperson Dr Mubashir Daha said. Global condemnationQatar, Iran, Australia, the United States, China, the European Union, and Russia condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Pakistan. Russia&rsquo;s embassy in Islamabad said it hoped the perpetrators would be &ldquo;identified and brought to justice,&rdquo; offering condolences and wishing the injured a swift recovery.

At least 12 people martyred, dozens injured in suicide blast outside Islamabad judicial complex; PM, interior minister condemn attack, orders investigation, medical care, and security measures.


Pakistan PM slams India-backed militants after deadly Islamabad suicide bombing

Ibrahim Babakhel

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, in his opening address at the 6th Margalla Dialogue on Tuesday, warned of escalating geopolitical instability and the weakening of international institutions. &ldquo;In my recent statements on multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council, I have repeatedly warned that humanity is facing unprecedented challenges that threaten to disrupt global peace, security, and development,&rdquo; Dar told diplomats, policy experts, and academics attending the conference. This year&rsquo;s dialogue, organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, focused on the theme &ldquo;The Future of Global Order: Cooperation or Confrontation.&rdquo; Dar described the forum as &ldquo;timely and essential,&rdquo; acknowledging the organizers for convening a strategic policy conversation at a critical moment. He said the erosion of global governance mechanisms had become increasingly visible. &ldquo;There is a strong perception, backed by the examples of Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, that the Security Council is failing to fulfill its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security,&rdquo; he said. Dar reaffirmed that Pakistan would prioritize geoeconomics, regional connectivity, and international partnerships to unlock growth. He urged participants to &ldquo;explore practical pathways toward a more peaceful and equitable global order.&rdquo; Senator Mushahid Hussain said at the conference that the world was &ldquo;witnessing the birth of a new global order,&rdquo; arguing that &ldquo;the old Western-led system is no longer credible.&rdquo; He added that recent conflicts had demonstrated that &ldquo;size no longer equals strength,&rdquo; referencing geopolitical shifts in South Asia and the Middle East. Victor Z. Gao, chairman of the Energy Security Institute, reiterated China&rsquo;s strategic partnership with Pakistan, saying, &ldquo;China and Pakistan are iron-clad friends,&rdquo; while noting that &ldquo;China and the United States should remain ever grateful to Pakistan for bringing them together in 1971.&rdquo; Danial Dunde, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US-based think-tank, told Pakistan TV Digital that Pakistan and the US were now &ldquo;the closest they have been in 15 years.&rdquo; He added that Washington was increasingly viewing Pakistan &ldquo;not from an Indian or Chinese lens, but from Pakistan&rsquo;s own image.&rdquo; The Gaza crisis featured prominently throughout the dialogue, with several speakers calling it &ldquo;a genocide unfolding in real time,&rdquo; warning that global inaction had further eroded the credibility of multilateral institutions. Sessions on Pakistan&rsquo;s copper and lithium reserves highlighted these resources as &ldquo;strategic assets&rdquo; capable of boosting Pakistan&rsquo;s economic position in the emerging global market for critical minerals.

Security

Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar says the international system is under severe strain, citing failures of multilateral institutions on Palestine and Kashmir, as Margalla Dialogue 2025 speakers urged renewed cooperation, geoeconomic priorities, and regional connectivity


At Margalla Dialogue 2025, Pakistan warns of global order facing historic reckoning

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Parliamentary representatives from over a dozen countries have arrived in Islamabad to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers&rsquo; Conference scheduled from November 11&ndash;12, 2025. This conference will serve as a significant milestone in promoting global peace, mutual cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy, democratic values, and dialogue, and will further strengthen relations among the parliamentary institutions of different countries, said a press release issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Senate Secretariat on Monday. Parliamentary delegations from Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kenya, Palestine, Morocco, Rwanda, the Maldives, Malaysia, the Philippines, Serbia, Nepal, Liberia, and Saudi Arabia, and other friendly countries have arrived in Islamabad to participate in the conference. From Jordan, a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Taufiq Kreishan arrived in Islamabad. The delegation includes Rakan Hammadeh Al-Fawaz, Member of the Upper House of Jordan, along with other officials. From Azerbaijan, a parliamentary delegation led by Deputy Speaker of Milli Majlis, Ali Ahmadov, arrived in Pakistan&#39;s capital. From Uzbekistan, Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Supreme Assembly, Sodiq Safoev, headed the delegation, while from Cameroon, the delegation was led by Member of Parliament Kamasse Simon Pouhe. Former President of Guatemala Jimmy Morales, Deputy Speaker of Kenya Farah Maalim Mohammed, and Speaker of the Palestinian National Council Rawhi Ahmad Mohammad Fattouh, also arrived in Islamabad along with their respective delegations. From Saudi Arabia, a delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Shura Council Abdullah bin Adam Falaatah arrived in Pakistan&#39;s capital. The delegation includes Dr Usman Haqqamani, Abdullah Atlas, and Dr Moeen Al-Madani. From Morocco, Speaker of the House of Councillors Mohamed Ould Rachid, from Rwanda, President of the Senate Francois Xavier, from the Maldives, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdullah, from Malaysia, Deputy President of the Upper House Nur Jazlan bin Mohamed, and senior officials and accompanying staff from the Philippines have also arrived in Islamabad. From Algeria, a delegation led by Member of Parliament Saad Arous, from Barbados, Speaker of the Parliament Arthur Eugene Holder, and from Serbia, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Edin Đerlek, have also arrived in Pakistan&#39;s capital with their parliamentary delegations. Similarly, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Tajikistan, Aziz Giyozoda, and Dr Nurul Alam Mozumder, Officer of the international organization GCPR Global, have also arrived in Islamabad. Harka Raj Rai, Secretary of the House of Representatives of Nepal, has also arrived in Pakistan&#39;s capital to participate in the conference. From Liberia, Speaker of the House of Representatives Richard Nagbe Koon, and Sam P Jallah, Chairman of the Hydrocarbon Committee and Member of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee of the House of Representatives, have also arrived in Islamabad to participate in the conference, the press release said.

Parliamentary delegations from around the world arrive at Islamabad International Airport to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference to be held in Islamabad; the conference aims to promote global peace, cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy, democratic values, and dialogue.

Islamabad set to host multinational parliamentary conference promoting global peace cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud, chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council, arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday, leading a high-level Saudi business delegation to strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation.&nbsp;According to a statement issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, the visit underscores the close and longstanding relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and reflects their shared commitment to expanding economic and investment partnerships under the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council framework.&nbsp;During the visit, Prince Mansour and his delegation will meet with Pakistani leadership, senior government officials, and representatives of major business groups and chambers of commerce.&nbsp;Discussions are expected to focus on trade facilitation, investment promotion, and joint ventures in priority sectors aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and Pakistan&rsquo;s economic growth agenda.&nbsp;The Foreign Office said the visit aims to deepen collaboration in key areas including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, information technology, and services, paving the way for sustainable economic cooperation between the two countries.

Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud arrived in Islamabad leading a Saudi business delegation to discuss trade, investment, and joint ventures, aiming to strengthen Pakistan-Saudi economic cooperation under Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s growth agenda.

Articles tagged with "Islamabad"