Author: Faiza Liaquat

Islamabad, July 29, 2025 — Pakistan’s martial arts prodigy Abdul Hanan has etched his name in history, securing a knockout victory against Azerbaijan in an intense international bout. The triumph not only earned him a gold medal but also reaffirmed his position as a World Champion, National Champion, and a symbol of Pakistan’s rising force in global combat sports. Hanan, a 1st Dan Black Belt in MMA and Kyokushin Karate, proudly represents Team Pakistan and has repeatedly brought home medals from international arenas. His victory against Azerbaijan was a powerful display of technique, discipline, and raw national spirit. Despite his…

Pakistan Champions have officially advanced to the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 after India refused to play in the highly anticipated semi-final match. This is the second time India has opted out of facing Pakistan in the tournament. Unlike their earlier group-stage forfeit—where India was controversially awarded a point—the WCL management has now declared Pakistan as the rightful finalist. Official WCL Statement: “We respect the India Champions’ decision to withdraw from the semi-finals, and we equally respect the Pakistan Champions’ readiness to compete. Taking all factors into consideration, the match has been called off. As a…

Pakistan has secured the 17th spot globally in the World Giving Report 2025, marking a proud moment for the nation in terms of generosity and compassion. Key Highlights from the Report: “Despite economic challenges, Pakistanis continue to give generously—not just in money, but through time and compassion,” said Shazia Maqsood Amjad, Executive Director of Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP). The report by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), UK, recognizes Pakistan’s deep-rooted culture of Zakat, community support, and volunteerism, making it a model for philanthropic resilience in developing nations. Breakdown of Donations (% of Income): The PCP aims to further strengthen Pakistan’s…

Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan rose by 38.68%, reaching US$773.89 million in fiscal year 2024–25, up from US$558.03 million last year, according to data shared by Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq citing the State Bank of Pakistan. In June 2025 alone, exports stood at US$50.23 million, showing an 8% increase compared to the same month last year. Meanwhile, imports from Afghanistan increased by 116.53% to US$25.89 million. However, on a year-on-year basis, a 33.55% decline was recorded, reflecting changing trade dynamics.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has officially finalized the design for a new series of Pakistani currency notes, as announced by Governor Jameel Ahmad during a press briefing in Karachi on Wednesday. The new design, crafted by an international expert, is part of an ongoing effort by SBP to modernize the country’s currency and introduce enhanced security features. However, the release process will only begin after the Federal Cabinet grants its approval. Governor Ahmad shared the update while addressing the media on the central bank’s decision to maintain the current interest rate. He noted that the design selection process…

Former US President Donald Trump announced a new deal between the United States and Pakistan to jointly develop massive oil reserves in Pakistan. In a social media statement, Trump said: “We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive oil reserves. We are in the process of choosing the oil company that will lead this partnership.” While no further details were disclosed, the deal aligns with recent diplomatic engagements between the two nations. Last week, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that a trade agreement…

In a historic first, Pakistan has won a Gold Medal at the prestigious International Biology Olympiad (IBO) held in the Philippines from July 20–27, 2025. Abdul Raffay Paracha, a student of Siddique Public School, brought home the nation’s first-ever IBO Gold, marking a proud moment for Pakistan’s scientific and academic community. This achievement was part of the Pakistan Gold Medal International Science Olympiad campaign, a collaborative initiative of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and PIEAS, executed under the STEM Careers Programme. The national team was mentored by Dr. Asma Imran and Dr. Asma Rehman from NIBGE, a PIEAS and PAEC…

The Punjab Traffic Police has issued over 4.87 million driving licenses in the last seven months, reflecting a significant surge in public registrations. A spokesperson from the Punjab Police confirmed the data, which also shows extensive enforcement actions across the province. During the same period, the traffic department issued more than 7.3 million challans, collecting a total of Rs. 4.52 billion in fines for various traffic violations. In parallel, authorities launched a crackdown on environmentally harmful vehicles. Over 250,000 smoke-emitting vehicles were fined, with 22,276 impounded and 214 fitness certificates cancelled, as part of a broader push to tackle air…

In response to the federal government’s ban on overland travel to Iraq and Iran for Arbaeen 2025, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced a special flight operation for pilgrims. The outbound flights to Najaf will run from August 8 to 11, with return flights scheduled between August 18 and 23. The move follows a high-level security decision led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Balochistan government, and law enforcement agencies. The restriction, according to officials, is aimed at ensuring public safety and national security during the pilgrimage season. With road routes closed,…

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have reaffirmed their commitment to raise bilateral trade to USD 100 million, aiming to reverse the steep decline from USD 11.2M in 2022–23 to just USD 5.18M in 2024–25. Power Minister Awais Leghari stressed deeper cooperation in trade, energy, mining, tourism, education, and digital connectivity during the 5th session of the Inter-Governmental Commission. Both sides discussed key MoUs in halal trade, higher medical education, agriculture, and IT. Access to Kyrgyzstan’s At-Bashi Logistics Centre, interest in Pakistan’s mining sector, and a data-sharing agreement between customs were highlighted as major steps. Future projects include joint vaccine production, enhanced transport…