Monday, January 12, 2026
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Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi passes away in Lahore

By
Shafek Koreshe
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0

ISLAMABAD, Nov 19 (APP): APP Digital NewsAllama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the leader of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan breathed his last Thursday night at Lahore, his party announced. He was 55.

No reason for his death was given. His party officials said he was rushed to a hospital after he had problem breathing and had fever for past few days. However he was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital.

Senior TLP leader Syed Inayat-ul-Haq Shah also confirmed the news and asked the TLP workers to proceed to Lahore to participate in his last rites. The Tehreek-e-Labbaik announced that his funeral would be held on Saturday at 10 in the morning at Minar-e-Pakistan.

Videos on several social media accounts showed large number of his followers rushing to his home and crying over his sad demise.

The fire brand clerk was known for his protest marches, that often became violent and created law and order problems. His last protest was relatively shorter at Faizabad and ended only after a two day blockade of the twin cities on Monday.

Immediately after the confirmation of the news condolences poured in from all sections of society; including the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, Information Minister, Chief of Army Staff, Chief Minister Punjab and political leaders of many parties.

Prime Minister Imran Khan in a tweet expressed his grief over the sad demise of Allama Khadim Rizvi and conveyed condolences to his family.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa also conveyed his condolences over the demise of the TLP leader.

 

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information in Punjab also expressed grief over his sad demise.

Amir Jamat Islami also expressed his grief and prayed to Allah Almighty to bless the departed soul.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s consistent stance on Kashmir

By
Shafek Koreshe
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0

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stance on Kashmir at international fora to highlight gruesome human rights violations by India

 

Indian media’s fake “civil war” in Pakistan, falls flat on face

By
Shafek Koreshe
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0
APP Digital Small logo
By Shafek Koreshe

In an abortive attempt to create diversion from Narendra Modi’s human rights abuses in Kashmir, the Indian media went berserk by propagating fake news about a “civil war” like situation in Karachi, triggering a hilarious response from the twitterati in Pakistan, who enjoyed every bit of the ridiculous reports.

#CivilWarInPakistan and #KarachiCivilWar were in no time the top trends, with the young twitter users going crazy by posting video clips from action movies, comics, images of the Indian MiG pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, shot down by Pakistan Air Force inside Pakistan’s territory, as scenes from the Civil War, getting an equally enthusiastic response with numerous retweets and likes.

The arrest of PML-N leader Captain (Retd) Safdar on charges of political sloganeering at Quaid’s Mausoleum and leave applications by senior police officers was exploited by the top Indian news channels, who portrayed an administrative issue as a “civil war” and went to the extent of even reporting casualties, and armed clashes.

Indian Media ditches professionalism to dip at to its lowest 

#FakeNews CNN18News
#FakeNews CNN18News

The news reports were part of a persistent barrage of fake news from Indian mainstream media and its RAW controlled assets on social media over the past few months. The trend has witnessed a sharp spike as part of India’s fifth generation war (5GW) against Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office on the “malicious and fabricated propaganda” by Indian mainstream and social media claiming civil unrest in Pakistan, said planting such baseless stories were reflective of the “Pakistan-obsessed BJP-RSS” mindset.

“Needless to say that Indian media continues to hit new lows,” he said, when asked to respond over the series of fake news flashed as breaking news across the Indian media about a “civil war in Pakistan”.

“Indian media continues to hit new lows”: FO

The Spokesperson said through “peddling fake news and running propaganda machinery”, India could not wash away the truth about its own gross and systematic human rights violations in Indian Ilelgally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“Rather than reporting on humanitarian crisis in IIOJK, the Indian media chooses to spread fake and sensational news about Pakistan to detract from core issues,” he said.

5th Gen War – Twitterati bust RAW’s #Fake letter attributed to COAS

 

#FakeNews - Yet another figment of imagination of Indian Media
#FakeNews – Yet another figment of imagination of Indian Media

The Indian media tried hard to appease its own consumers and to create a diversion from its human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir. However in its abortive attempt it created history by churning out fake news overpowered by the anti-Pakistan hysteria, undermining its professional ethics and credibility.

#FakeNews - India Today with its concocted news story
#FakeNews – India Today with its concocted news story

The unleashing of the Indian media did not go unnoticed, as Michael Kugelman, deputy director at the @AsiaProgram and South Asia senior associate @TheWilsonCenter in a tweet pointed that the Indian disinformation accounts were exploiting Pakistan’s current political crisis, and “falsely claiming that the country is no experiencing urban warfare.”

He described the trend as “dangerous and disturbing”, as several of these accounts were verified and had huge followings.

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari said the Indian media was in “hyper drive with fake news on Pakistan” and regretted that it was “unfortunate that Twitter is [deliberately ignoring it].”

All major media outlets in so-called world’s biggest democracy decimated all journalistic norms as none bothered to fact-check such a huge gaffe. India’s News18, India Today, Zee News, India.com and several others quoted the International Herald which showed old videos of bomb explosions in Pakistan and portrayed it as the ongoing civil war.

#FakeNews - Indian International Herald tweet
#FakeNews – Indian International Herald tweet

The Institute of Policy Research in a report said their data indicates a pattern of Indian propaganda against Pakistan on digital media that grew exponentially after 2018 General Elections in #Pakistan. The propaganda hovers around largely 4 key themes.

IPRI Timeline of Indian Propaganda
IPRI Timeline of Indian Propaganda

Minister for Ports and Shipping pointed that the Indian propaganda was at its peak and “sadly fueled by the PDM Circus.” He said the food inflation was artificially manufactured, but was being brought under control.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs also lambasted the “fake, fabricated and malicious propaganda campaign to malign State institutions of Pakistan. He urged @Twitter to take action against Indian accounts for #FakeNews against Paksitan.

However, this idiocy of Indian media gave the Twitterati a perfect chance to enjoy as the microblogging site was flooded with messages to ridicule the Indian media’s insanity.

“Karachi civil war has gotten so bad that my food panda delivery boy had to crawl through mine fields carrying his AK47, RPG & 9mm along with my nihari and Biryani. This thing is getting so serious. Multiple cows have been killed & people are dying of over eating. #IndianMedia,” commented renowned singer Fakhr-e-Alam.

Besides numerous other fake photos, the Indian media also used an image of a building collapsed following a gas leakage blast in Karachi earlier in the day to substantiate its fake news of civil war.

“A little investigation would have informed Zee News that it wasn’t a bomb blast in ‘civil war’ in Pakistan but the result of a  gas leak in Karachi. Whither truth, objectivity, balance and fairness in reporting?,” said Farhatullah Babr, former senator of Pakistan Peoples Party which rules Sindh province.

“An Aircraft shot during civil war in Karachi… and the pilot captured…,” commented another Twitter user Fasihuddin while sharing the images of Indian aircraft MiG-21 and captured injured pilot Abhinandan following an aerial dogfight during India-Pakistan standoff in 2019.

Canadian PM Mark Carney to visit China

By
Samina Ch
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0
BEIJING, Jan 12 (APP):Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney will pay an official visit to China from January 14 to 17, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Monday.
The Canadian prime minister will visit China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, he added.

PPRA leads reforms; EPADS brings transparency, accountability in procurement

By
Samina Ch
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0
ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (APP):Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has implemented landmark reforms in public procurement in line with the Digital Pakistan Vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan and international best practices.
Central to this transformation is the e-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS), which has already revolutionized procurement nationwide and is ready to enter its next phase with the launch of an upgraded version, EPADS 2.0.
This was stated by Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, Managing Director PPRA, while briefing journalists here on Monday.
He informed that, following a diagnostic review conducted by international and local consultants and the subsequent approval of the reform’s roadmap by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, PPRA initiated a comprehensive reform programme in 2024, encompassing e-procurement implementation, legal, capacity building, and institutional reforms.
Qureshi highlighted that the transition to e-procurement was achieved through the rollout of the EPADS in the Federal Government and three provinces. So far, 9,846 procuring agencies and 43,000 suppliers, including 600 foreign vendors, have registered on the platform. During the financial year 2024-25 alone, 526,271 transactions worth Rs. 1,408.58 billion were carried out through EPADS, he informed.
EPADS is now fully integrated with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Financial Accounting and Budgeting System (FABS). Provincial Revenue Authorities (PRAS), and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) In addition, dedicated dashboards have been made available to oversight bodies, including the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), and the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).
“With the integration of national institutions and real-time dashboards for oversight bodies, EPADS has transformed procurement into a system where every transaction is verified, accountability is strengthened at every stage, and public trust is safeguarded through transparency, remarked MD PPRA.
Hasnat Qureshi further stated that EPADS has delivered transparency, efficiency, and value for money by reducing collusive practices and enhancing competition, with an average of five to seven bidders per open competitive bidding compared to two to three bidders in manual procurement. Expenditure incurred through petty purchases and Request for Quotations (RFQs) is reflected in EPADS. The system provides an efficient grievance redressal mechanism, restricts participation of blacklisted firms, and identifies delays in procurement processes. Live transmission of bidding processes above PKR 500 million for goods and services and PKR 1 billion for works was enabled, and compliance with rules has significantly improved, he added.
Presenting the future plan, the MD PPRA announced that the launch of EPADS 2.0, a more user-friendly, smart, and dynamic platform, is scheduled in January 2026 at the federal level, followed by Gilgit Baltistan and AJK In February, and provincial rollout in March this year. Monitoring and analytical reporting will commence in July, and donor funded procurements will be routed through EPADS by September 2026. The establishment of an Online Procurement Academy is scheduled for October this year, while the adoption of Open Contracting Data Standards (OCDS) is planned in December 2026.
Regulatory reforms are also underway, including amendments to the PPRA Ordinance 2002, revision of the new Public Procurement Rules 2025, and harmonization of regulations and standard bidding documents. The new Procurement Rules introduce third-party oversight, independent grievance redressal, mandatory e-procurement & e-disposal, the establishment of procurement cells, efficient procurement methods, and professionalization of procurement.
“PPRA regulatory reforms are designed to eliminate ambiguity, drive transparency, promote fairness and efficiency, ensure accountability and competition,” stated Qureshi.
PPRA has prioritized capacity building and trained over 10,000 officials so far, including 2,499 officials of procuring agencies and representatives of suppliers since last year (2024-25), in collaboration with the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Institute of Business Administration (IBA), and Air University. Development of a competency framework would facilitate the standardization of training modules and the accreditation of procurement professionals.
As part of institutional restructuring, PPRA recruited specialists, subject experts, and IT professionals from the market through a competitive process, and also in the process of establishing a pool of independent experts to strengthen procurement oversight, Qureshi remarked. Procurement cells have been established within procuring entities to ensure transparent, efficient, and rule-based procurement and contract management. To reinforce institutional capacity, PPRA has digitalized its operations, established a state-of-the-art EPADS training facility, and introduced a dedicated 16-hour help desk to provide continuous support to procuring agencies and suppliers, he added.
Hasnat Qureshi reiterated that PPRA reforms represent a decisive shift towards modern procurement governance, embedding accountability, transparency, and efficiency into every stage of the procurement cycle, and advancing Pakistan’s credibility in line with international standards.

Severe cold sweeps upper reaches of either side of  LoC in  Kashmir

By
Samina Ch
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0
MRIPUR (AJK), Jan 12 (APP):A biting cold wave  continued to grip higher reaches of either side of the Line of Control (LoC) including Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with most places in the Kashmir valley and the cold desert region recording sub-zero minimum temperatures, a report on Monday said received  from across the LoC.
In the occupied Kashmir region, Shopian was the coldest place, registering a minimum of minus 8.2 degrees Celsius, followed closely by Pulwama at minus 8.0 degrees and Pahalgam at minus 7.8 degrees, the report said.
The Srinagar city recorded a low of minus 5.7 degrees Celsius, while the temperature at Srinagar airport dipped further to minus 7.2 degrees on Saturday, according to the report.
Other parts of the Valley also experienced severe cold, with Sopore recording minus 7.6 degrees, Awantipora and Anantnag minus 7.0 degrees each, Gulmarg minus 6.8 degrees and Kupwara and Budgam at minus 6.1 degrees. Kokernag recorded a relatively higher minimum of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius.
In the occupied Jammu region, temperatures were comparatively higher, though some hilly areas witnessed freezing conditions. Jammu city recorded a minimum of 3.6 degrees Celsius, while Katra registered 5.2 degrees.
Banihal recorded minus 0.4 degrees, Bhaderwah minus 2.8 degrees and Udhampur 0.2 degrees Celsius. Samba and Rajouri both recorded a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, the report said.
The coldest conditions were reported from occupied upper reaches of  Ladakh region of the disputed Himalayan state, where Drass, often referred to as the second coldest inhabited place in the world, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 24.6 degrees Celsius.
Nyoma registered minus 20.3 degrees, Padum minus 19.6 degrees and Hanle minus 17.0 degrees. Leh recorded a low of minus 14.4 degrees, while Kargil registered minus 13.7 degrees Celsius, the report said.
The Meteorological officials in occupied Srinagar said the cold wave conditions were likely to persist over the next few days, especially during night and early morning hours, and advised people to take adequate precautions, the report concluded.

Kazakhstan’s grain shipments to Azerbaijan increase threefold

By
NNPS Desk
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0

ASTANA, Jan 12 (AZERTAC/APP) : By the end of 2025, the volume of grain shipments across the network of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy exceeded 14.3 million tons, which is 31% higher than in the same period of 2024.
Citing the company’s press service, AZERTAC reports that grain exports amounted to 11 million tons, up 33% year on year. Such figures were recorded for the first time in the past 10 years.
Domestic shipments increased by 26% and exceeded 3.3 million tons. Growth in shipments was also recorded to Central Asian countries – up 30%, to 6.3 million tons, including to Kyrgyzstan – doubled; to Tajikistan – up 12%, to 1.4 million tons; to Uzbekistan – up 32%, to 4.5 million tons.
Grain shipments to Azerbaijan increased threefold, loadings to Iran rose by 69%, and to Afghanistan by 63%. Shipments to the Baltic states grew sixfold and exceeded 800.000 tons. Shipments to Black Sea and Baltic ports increased by 49% and 67%, respectively.

Police intensify operation against proclaimed offenders in district

By
Samina Ch
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0
KOHAT, Jan 12 (APP):On the special directives of District Police Officer (DPO) Kohat, Shehbaz Elahi, the police have  intensified operations across the district against proclaimed offenders.
In a successful action, Estrezai Police arrested two wanted criminals during a checkpoint operation, the police spokesman said.
He said the accused had been identified  as Taqdeer Hussain  and Tayyab Hussain, adding
The operation was led by SHO Estrezai police station, Asif Hayat.
In another development, the Estrezai Police arrested a proclaimed offender
wanted in a murder case.
The accused had been identified as Khizar Abbas, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Kohat City Police launched a crackdown against drug
peddlers.
The police arrested four drug dealers and recovered
700 grams of crystal meth (Ice) from their possession.
The  accused had been identified as Basir, Irshad, Aamir, and Muslim, he added.
The spokes man said the accused  were shifted
to City Police Station where cases had been registered against them

Temperature in Peshawar drops to 1°C amid intense cold wave

By
Samina Ch
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0
PESHAWAR, Jan 12 (APP):A fresh wave of severe cold and freezing winds has disrupted daily life across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with  temperature in Peshawar plunging to 1 degree Celsius, according to the Meteorological Department on Monday.
The ongoing cold spell has led to an unusual drop in temperatures from northern mountainous regions to plain areas, while dense fog has dominated several parts of the country. Both air and ground travel have been badly affected due to freezing winds and extremely low visibility.
Weather officials reported that temperature in many districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has fallen to low levels. The coldest temperatures were recorded in Bagrote at minus 6°C, and Dir minus 5C.
Dense fog has reduced visibility to dangerously low levels in various regions, forcing the closure of several motorway sections for traffic. The adverse weather conditions have also severely impacted flight operations, causing delays to dozens of domestic and international flights at different airports, leaving passengers stranded and distressed.
The Meteorological Department has warned that the intensity of cold and fog is likely to persist over the next few days.
Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and take precautionary measures to protect themselves from the harsh weather conditions.

Police arrest proclaimed offender  in collaboration with Interpol

By
Samina Ch
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0
PINDI BHATTIAN, Jan 12 (APP):The police have arrested a proclaimed offender and accused in murder cases form Muscat in collaboration with Interpol.
The police spokesman said the outlaw identified as Inzaman had escaped from the country and the police were trying to arrest him for long time.
He said on the directions of  District Police Officer (DPO), Hafizabad, the district police were taking strict actions to eliminate heinous crimes from the area.

Balochistan launches first-ever paperless, merit-based online recruitment in Finance Department

By
Samina Ch
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0
QUETTA, Jan 12 (APP):Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti has announced the launch of a historic recruitment initiative, marking the first time in the province’s history that government appointments will be made through a fully online, paperless system strictly based on merit.
In a message shared on social media platform X, CM Bugti reaffirmed his unequivocal promise to the people of Balochistan that the government jobs will neither be sold nor influenced by corruption, nepotism, or favoritism.
 He emphasized that the provincial government is taking concrete steps to restore public trust and ensure transparent governance.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti added that, in fulfillment of this commitment, the government is further strengthening transparency mechanisms across the province. As part of this effort, online recruitment for 111 vacant posts in the Finance Department has been initiated purely on merit and without any paperwork—an unprecedented move in Balochistan’s administrative history.
He described the initiative as a historic step toward eliminating corruption and advancing institutional reforms. Under the new recruitment system, candidates will undergo online testing, and their qualifications and competencies will be evaluated in a transparent manner. Successful candidates will be issued appointment letters within one hour of completing the process, ensuring swift and merit-based hiring.
The chief minister said that the Finance Department has been selected to pilot this reform, which will be gradually extended to all other government departments in Balochistan. He reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability through the use of modern technology.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti  further added that such initiatives will continue at every level to empower youth and ensure that deserving individuals receive their rightful opportunities.

Currency rates of NBP

By
Samina Ch
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0
KARACHI, Jan 12 (APP):Following are the selling/buying rates Of major currencies issued by the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), here on  Monday.
CURRENCY                    SELLING          BUYING
USD                              281.80               278.78
GBP                               378.23               373.78
EUR                               328.43               324.56
JPY                                1.7819               1.7608
AED                                75.15                 74.26
SAR                                76.74                 75.82

NBP Exchange Rates

By
Samina Ch
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0
KARACHI, Jan 12 (APP):Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on Monday the following exchange rates.
CURRENCY                     SYMBOL                 TT Selling                               TT Buying
US DOLLAR                        USD                     280.40                                    279.90
EURO                                EUR                      326.80                                    326.22
JAPANESE YEN                   JPY                       1.7730                                    1.7699
BRITISH POUND                GBP                       376.35                                    375.68
SWISS FRANC                   CHF                       350.89                                     350.26
CANADIAN DOLLAR            CAD                      201.80                                     201.44
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR         AUD                      187.84                                     187.51
SWEDISH KRONA               SEK                      30.52                                       30.46
NORWEGIAN KRONE          NOK                       27.82                                      27.77
DANISH KRONE                 DKK                       43.74                                     43.66
NEWZEALAND DOLLAR      * NZD                    161.03                                    160.75
SINGAPORE DOLLAR            SGD                    217.87                                    217.48
HONGKONG DOLLAR            HKD                     35.98                                     35.92
KOREAN WON                    *KRW                   0.1912                                    0.1908
CHINESE YUAN                    CNY                      40.22                                   40.15
ALAYSIAN RINGGIT             *MYR                     68.99                                   68.86
THAI BAHT                         *THB                        8.96                                    8.94
U.A.EDIRHAM                       AED                       76.35                                  76.22
SAUDI RIYAL                        SAR                       74.77                                  74.64
QATAR RIYAL                     * QAR                       76.82                                  76.69
KUWAITI DINAR                  *KWD                    917.09                                  915.45
CONVERSION RATE FOR FROZEN FCY DEPOSITS
USD            279.997
GBP             375.98
EUR           326.0845
JPY             1.7771
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