Fast track passport facility now available in 47 cities

A major expansion of the Fast Track passport facility was announced by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports on Monday. The service was first offered in seven major cities, including Quetta, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Later, it was expanded to 21 cities. There are now total 47 locations providing Fast Track services after the facility has been expanded to cover 26 more cities. The newly added cities include Attock, Haripur, Chakwal, Batkhela, Sargodha, Swabi, Bhalwal, Nowshera, Hafizabad, Karak, Mianwali, Mansehra, Bhakar, Muzaffarabad, Kohat, Mirpur (AJK), DI Khan, Bagh,…

Snowstorm recedes in northern Balochistan

CHAMAN: The snowstorm that gripped northern Balochistan subsided, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Sunday. However, a strong western weather system continues to affect the region, with snowfall persisting in the upper border areas along Pakistan and Afghanistan. Amid the challenging weather, rescue and restoration operations by the Levies Force, PDMA, and National Highway Authority (NHA) teams remain ongoing to restore normalcy in the affected areas. The N-25 highway at Kozhak Top, which connects Quetta and Karachi, has been partially restored, while the N-50 highway linking Balochistan to…

Gujranwala man’s second marriage leads to alleged murder, wife and son arrested

A woman has been accused of killing her husband in concert with her son after learning about his second marriage in Gujranwala. Police arrested them after the second wife of the deceased lodged a complaint. The victim has been identified as Tariq. The slain man had remarried six months ago, enraging his first wife and son, according to police. The police revealed that the accused tortured Tariq by tying him with a rope. They then allegedly rubbed red chilli powder into his eyes before strangling him to death. After murdering…

TDPs camps to be established in lower Kurram as anti-terror operation on cards

The district authorities have announced establishing camps for temporary displaced persons (TDPs) in restive Lower Kurram amid potential anti-terror operation a day after terrorist attack on relief convoy bound for Parachinar. According to a notification issued by the office of the Deputy Commissioner Kurram on Friday, the LEAs were planning to launch operations in various areas of Lower Kurram. “In order to ensure safety and support of the affected population during the expected operation, following sites are proposed for establishment of camps for the TDPs of District Kurram,” stated the…

Genelec to demonstrate immersive system and host high-profile presenters at NAMM 2025

NATICK, MA, January 16, 2025 — Genelec will be offering a first-hand immersive audio experience and hosting a series of high-profile presenters at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, January 23-25, 2025, at its exhibition space (booth 15500 in ACC North Level 1). Multiple demo stations are available for one-on-one experience with Genelec’s UNIO Personal Reference Monitoring Solution. This unique system solution comprises the 9320A SAM Reference Controller, Reference Measurement Microphone, and the new 8550A Professional Reference Headphones – which help create an even more seamless bridge between professional in-room loudspeaker and personal headphone…

Accountability court to announce £190m case verdict on Jan 13

ISLAMABAD: The verdict of the £190 million case against incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan will be announced on January 13, Islamabad’s accountability court staff confirmed on Monday. Citing Judge Nasir Javed Rana’s leave, the court staff said that the decision of the deferment of the verdict has been communicated to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor as well as the PTI’s lawyer. This is the second time that the verdict — reserved on December 18 — in the said case, also known as Also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case, has…

‘No serious rift’, says Iqbal after PPP’s warning

KARACHI: Playing down the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) threat of withdrawing support from the federal government, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Monday said ups and downs do come in politics and there is no serious rift among coalition partners of the government. PPP spokesperson Shazi Marri on Sunday expressed discontent over the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s not taking her party into confidence while taking crucial decisions. She also warned that the federal government would collapse if the PPP withdrew its support for it. She said Prime…

No point in negotiating with govt lacking mandate, Achakzai tells PTI

Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, whose party is an ally of the PTI, has maintained that there is no point for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in holding negotiation with the incumbent government as it lacked  “legitimate mandate”. “What is the point in negotiating with a government that does not have a legitimate mandate?” Achakzai said while speaking to journalists along with Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas in Islamabad on Friday. The statement came a day after the embattled former ruling party and the government…