Author: (PEN)

ISLAMABAD (PEN) : In a significant breakthrough, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday apprehended four individuals suspected to be involved in the recent Besham suicide bombing, which claimed the lives of Chinese engineers en route to Dasu Dam. The arrested suspects, believed to have affiliations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have reportedly confessed to their role in the heinous attack. The sources close to the development disclosed that intensive efforts are underway to dismantle the entire network responsible for orchestrating the tragic incident. “WE have also identified the terrorists,” said the sources. The suicide attack, which occurred last month in the Bisham area of Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulted…

ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)  announced on Monday its decision to maintain the policy rate at 22% for the seventh consecutive meeting. The unanimous decision aligns with market expectations, with the majority of market participants anticipating a rate pause. The Committee underscored the significant improvement witnessed in both inflation and external position, attributed to the efficacy of stabilization measures amidst a moderate economic recovery. However, concerns persist as the level of inflation remains elevated. Global commodity prices have shown signs of stabilization alongside resilient global growth, yet recent geopolitical events…

ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has reported a significant surge in the import of smartphones in Pakistan, reaching a staggering Rs370 billion during the first nine months of the financial year. This marks a notable 180% increase compared to the previous year. According to the report, the import expenditure on smart mobile phones from July to March amounted to $1.30 billion. In comparison, during the same period last year, imports stood at Rs106 billion or $460 million. The data further reveals a remarkable surge in March 2024, with imports witnessing a staggering 930% increase compared to…

ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently taken significant strides in the preparation and organization of the 2025 Champions Trophy, a prestigious cricket tournament on the international stage. The PCB’s proposal to designate Karachi and Rawalpindi as two of the three venues for the event marks a crucial development in Pakistan’s cricketing landscape. This decision holds immense significance as it heralds Pakistan’s return to hosting an International Cricket Council (ICC) event after an interval of nearly three decades. The triumphant performance of the Pakistani cricket team in the previous edition of the Champions Trophy, held in 2017,…

ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The Meteorological Department has issued a weather advisory indicating the likelihood of rain and hail at various locations in Upper and Central Punjab, as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Additionally, there is a possibility of heavy rainfall in some areas of Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The National Highways Authority (NHA) has also sounded an alarm, warning of the potential for landslides along the Karakoram Highway due to the heavy rains. Operations to clear debris and mitigate the risk of landslides are underway, but inclement weather conditions are posing challenges to these efforts. According to the Met Department, heavy rainfall…

ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Acting US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass is scheduled to touch down in Islamabad today for a significant two-day visit. This marks the first high-level engagement between the United States and Pakistan since the recent general elections and the establishment of the new government in Pakistan. According to the State Department, during his visit, Bass is slated to engage in discussions with Pakistani officials on a wide array of bilateral relations and regional security matters. This visit holds particular importance as it underscores the commitment of both nations to maintaining a constructive dialogue…

In the coming general elections in November, US President Joe Biden and US President Donald Trump are expected to engage in a historic campaign. In the survey, 49% of registered voters selected Trump, according to American media, while 55% of Americans thought that Trump would be a good president. According to the report, current US President Joe Biden’s rating decreased by two percentage points to 43%, while 61% of Americans believe that Biden is a failed president. It should be noted that Donald Trump and Joe Biden won the presidential nomination stage of their respective parties. In the United States, the election…

BEIJING (PEN) : Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary from May 5 to 10, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Monday. President Xi will be undertaking the visits at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron of the Republic of France, President Aleksandar Vučić of the Republic of Serbia, and President Tam Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orb¡n of Hungary. Later, in response to a question about the program and expectation of the upcoming visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Jin Jian told media during his regular briefing that President Xi would be visiting…

ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Hailing from the prestigious musical legacy of the Sabri family, for Sabri Sisters, Saman Sabri and Anamta Sabri, each song is imbued with a universal message of love and light and Maghron La, is no exception with its festive, upbeat spirit drawing together Punjabi beat with elements of folk and bhangra. Video Director Murtaza Niaz and Art Director, Hashim Ali, bring Maghron La to life as a series of spontaneous love letters, visible in the celebration, joy and love at the heart of the song and video. Shahroz Amjad, better known as Rozeo, joins the Sabri Sisters on Maghron La with his strong, abiding style of mixing pop with rap, fusing the…

RIYADH (PEN) : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pak-Saudi economic ties have entered a new era with bilateral trade volume poised for significant increase due to steps taken in this regard. He was talking to Saudi Minister for Commerce Majid al Kasabi who called on him in Riyadh on Monday, on the sidelines of World Economic Forum meeting. The prime minister said the Special Investment Facilitation Council of Pakistan was fully active in promoting foreign investment and facilitating investors. On the occasion, the Saudi minister said Pakistan was Saudi Arabia’s priority for investment and trade as per the directives of…