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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.

China’s Spring Festival travel rush features more comfort, variety

By
NNPS Desk
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0

BEIJING, Feb 20 (PEOPLE’S DAILY/APP): At a pet handover room inside Lanzhou West Railway Station in northwest China’s Gansu Province, a teddy dog named Maodou waited calmly as staff checked paperwork and prepared drinking water, before guiding it into a high-speed rail transport box fitted with air circulation and real-time monitoring of oxygen, temperature and humidity.

For the dog’s owner, 58-year-old Dong Wenqi, the process felt smooth and reassuring. With China’s Spring Festival travel rush, also known as chunyun, under way since Feb. 2, she was one of many heading to their hometowns for this annual celebration. In Dong’s case, this meant a trip of over 600 km to Xi’an, also in northwest China, along with her canine companion traveling on the same route, but in a different compartment.

“It makes long-distance trips much easier for both people and pets,” she said, describing their journey from Lanzhou to Xi’an in Shaanxi Province, which lasts more than three hours.

To make it easier for travelers to take pets along with them during chunyun, China’s railway authorities have further expanded a pilot high-speed rail pet consignment service this year. Starting Jan. 28, the number of stations offering this service increased to 110, while eligible trains soared from 54 to 170.

This pet-friendly option is among the new holiday travel choices emerging this year, as travelers increasingly seek more convenient, comfortable trips tailored to family needs.

For passengers like Wang Jing, who shipped her tabby Siamese cat Xiaoqi on the same Lanzhou-Xi’an route, the appeal lies in speed and ease. She said the service felt considerate and tech-enabled, while the consignment fee was about 360 yuan (roughly 51.87 U.S. dollars).

As the travel rush approaches its peak, more travelers are choosing to return home along with their pets via high-speed rail. The pilot service has eased a long-standing source of stress for many pet-owning households, adding both speed and a human touch to holiday journeys and reflecting a growing pet-friendly ethos in Chinese society.

A 2026 consumption report on China’s pet industry estimates that the number of urban pet dogs and cats in the country had reached 126 million in 2025, with the market value hitting 312.6 billion yuan. The same report projects that this figure is likely to climb to 405 billion yuan by 2028.

In addition to pet-friendly high-speed rail travel, reunion journeys are also taking on other forms this year, with more families opting for short-haul getaways and cruise vacations.

In east China’s Zhejiang Province, water passenger transport exceeded 100,000 trips on Feb. 2, the first day of the travel rush, according to local maritime authorities.

Of these passengers, more than 70 percent opted for short-distance family visits and nearby island sightseeing. The pattern was especially clear in the Zhoushan Islands, where most travelers were locals and residents of nearby cities visiting relatives, along with visitors heading to Putuo Mountain for blessings.

In north China’s Tianjin Municipality, meanwhile, the Liberia-flagged cruise ship Dream departed from Tianjin International Cruise Home Port on Feb. 2 with around 1,000 passengers for a six-day, five-night itinerary to Jeju and Incheon before returning to Tianjin.

During this year’s travel rush, Tianjin expects approximately 20 international cruise calls, with total inbound and outbound traveler flows set to top 30,000.

Passenger profiles for a “sea-going chunyun” have stood out, with family-based travel accounting for nearly 70 percent, seniors aged 60 and above making up more than one-third, and travelers under 16 close to 20 percent of the total.

To cope with such a family-heavy passenger mix and rising traffic, border inspection authorities said that they have opened both manual and fast-track channels, added on-site guidance, and adjusted lane deployment based on passenger flows, featuring special arrangements for elderly travelers and families with children.

The holiday travel shift is also visible on routes to Zhangjiajie, a popular tourist city in central China’s Hunan Province.

Following the opening of a high-speed rail section last year, travel to Zhangjiajie has become more convenient, turning the rail link into a popular peak-season option. Its distinctive landscapes and “Avatar” fame have drawn more overseas travelers during the Spring Festival holiday, boosting demand for more accessible, traveler-friendly onboard services.

English-speaking attendants have offered targeted assistance, from helping first-time visitors locate their seats to sharing practical tips on transport connections, accommodation and local transfers after arrival.

They also share information such as which entrance is more convenient for accessing scenic areas, thus easing language barriers and improving the onboard experience.

Taken together, these emerging patterns, from pet-friendly high-speed rail services and nearby family getaways to cruise holidays and rising tourism flows, point to a broader shift in travel demand.

Beyond moving people home, the Spring Festival travel rush is increasingly reflecting more segmented, experience-driven consumption, along with upgraded transport and public services.

A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Badshahi Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.

By
Wajid
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0
A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Badshahi Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.
APP31-200226
CHINIOT: February 20 – 

Faithfuls offering dua during first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at historic Sunehri masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramzanul Mubarak.

By
Wajid
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0
Faithfuls offering dua during first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at historic Sunehri masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramzanul Mubarak.
APP24-200226
PESHAWAR: February 20 –
Faithfuls offering dua during first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at historic Sunehri masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramzanul Mubarak.
APP23-200226
PESHAWAR: February 20 – A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at historic Sunehri masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramzanul Mubarak. APP/SYR/MAF/FHA
Faithfuls offering dua during first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at historic Sunehri masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramzanul Mubarak.
APP25-200226
PESHAWAR: February 20 – A large number of faithfuls listen to the first Jumma-tul-Mubarak khutba before prayer at historic Sunehri masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramzanul Mubarak. APP/SYR/MAF/FHA

A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Qadeemi Jamia Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.

By
Wajid
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0
A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Qadeemi Jamia Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.
APP30-200226
RAWALPINDI: February 20 – A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Qadeemi Jamia Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.

APP26-200226
RAWALPINDI: February 20 – A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Qadeemi Jamia Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak. APP/IFD/MAF/FHA

A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Qadeemi Jamia Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.
APP27-200226
RAWALPINDI: February 20 – A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Qadeemi Jamia Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak. APP/IFD/MAF/FHA
A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Qadeemi Jamia Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.
APP28-200226
RAWALPINDI: February 20 – A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Qadeemi Jamia Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak. APP/IFD/MAF/FHA
A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Qadeemi Jamia Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.
APP29-200226
RAWALPINDI: February 20 – A large number of faithful offering first Jumma-tul-Mubarak prayer at Qadeemi Jamia Masjid during the Holy fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak. APP/IFD/MAF/FHA

Workers are busy constructing a sewerage manhole.

By
Wajid
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0
Workers are busy constructing a sewerage manhole.
APP20-200226
SARGODHA: February 20 –

A large number of people offer Namaz-e-Jumma at Faizan-e-Madina Masjid during the first Friday of the holy month of Ramazan.

By
Wajid
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0
A large number of people offer Namaz-e-Jumma at Faizan-e-Madina Masjid during the first Friday of the holy month of Ramazan.
APP21-200226
HYDERABAD: February 20 –
A large number of people offer Namaz-e-Jumma at Faizan-e-Madina Masjid during the first Friday of the holy month of Ramazan.
APP22-200226
HYDERABAD: February 20 – A large number of people offer Namaz-e-Jumma at Faizan-e-Madina Masjid during the first Friday of the holy month of Ramazan. APP/FHN/MAF/FHA

Macroeconomic growth through export-led strategy, key to poverty alleviation: Ahsan Iqbal

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal on Friday emphasized that macroeconomic growth driven by an export-led economy and performance-based industrial units at provincial and district levels, was the need of the hour to alleviate poverty in the country.

Addressing the “Launch of Poverty and Inequality Estimates 2024–25” ceremony held at the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Auditorium, the minister underscored the importance of developing competitive
human resource capital across all federating units.

He stressed for the promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and cottage industries at district and provincial levels to unlock local potential and eradicate poverty at the grassroots level, while advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Export-led growth, along with quality education and competitive human resource development, can play a major role in reducing poverty at both national and provincial levels,” he said.

The minister noted that due to the global food inflation super cycle during COVID-19, along with environmental catastrophes such as floods and the commodities boom cycle, national poverty, increased from 21.9 percent
to 28.9 percent, a rise of seven percent, compared to estimates from 2018–19 to 2024–25.

He attributed part of the economic challenges to the policies of the previous government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stating that economic mismanagement and political instability forced the country to enter three programs with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He said that strict reform measures, including subsidy reductions under IMF agreements, contributed to rising poverty levels.

Ahsan Iqbal further criticized the previous government for promoting excessive imports and consumer-driven growth,
noting that imports surged to $80 billion, resulting in a $50 billion trade deficit.

Highlighting the role of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the minister said it has historically played a critical role in poverty reduction and sustainable development.

However, he lamented that PSDP allocations declined from 2.8 percent to 0.9 percent of the total budget in recent
years.

He pointed out that provinces now hold a larger share of PSDP resources compared to the Federation and called for comprehensive provincial strategies to address poverty. “Provincial-level poverty reduction efforts directly impact
national poverty indicators,” he said.

Comparing rural and urban poverty trends, Ahsan Iqbal stated that urban poverty increased from 21.9 percent to 28.9 percent over the past seven years, while rural poverty rose from 28.2 percent to 36.2 percent during the same period.

The minister emphasized that economic stability was essential for achieving sustainable growth and raising Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to levels where poverty can meaningfully decline.

He highlighted the importance of skill development and technological awareness in creating employment opportunities at district and provincial levels, adding that the government is allocating funds to promote such initiatives at the grassroots.

Addressing regional disparities, Ahsan Iqbal noted that unequal distribution of resources within provinces contributes significantly to poverty and inequality. He warned that terrorism tends to take root in districts where disparity and deprivation are widespread.
“We need comprehensive policies to ensure equitable distribution of resources in underdeveloped districts for inclusive and sustainable economic development,” he said.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to achieving a “Zero Poverty” goal, the minister said targeted development of potential districts through the establishment of small industrial units would remain a key priority in the upcoming years.

People undergo security checks before entering Faisal Masjid for the first Friday prayers of Ramazan ul Mubarak in the Federal Capital.

By
Wajid
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0
People undergo security checks before entering Faisal Masjid for the first Friday prayers of Ramazan ul Mubarak in the Federal Capital.
APP16-200226
ISLAMABAD: February 20 – 
People undergo security checks before entering Faisal Masjid for the first Friday prayers of Ramazan ul Mubarak in the Federal Capital.
APP17-200226
ISLAMABAD: February 20 – Security personnel check worshippers before their entry into Faisal Masjid for the first Friday prayers of Ramazan ul Mubarak in the Federal Capital. APP/SAK/MAF/FHA
People undergo security checks before entering Faisal Masjid for the first Friday prayers of Ramazan ul Mubarak in the Federal Capital.
APP18-200226
ISLAMABAD: February 20 – People undergo security checks before entering Faisal Masjid for the first Friday prayers of Ramazan ul Mubarak in the Federal Capital. APP/SAK/MAF/FHA
People undergo security checks before entering Faisal Masjid for the first Friday prayers of Ramazan ul Mubarak in the Federal Capital.
APP19-200226
ISLAMABAD: February 20 – People undergo security checks before entering Faisal Masjid for the first Friday prayers of Ramazan ul Mubarak in the Federal Capital. APP/SAK/MAF/FHA

Islamabad expands electric bus network with major new infrastructure

By
NNPS Desk
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0

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (APP): Strengthening the capital’s transition toward sustainable urban mobility, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday inaugurated a new fleet of electric buses along with a purpose-built depot and charging station marking a significant expansion of Islamabad’s eco-friendly public transport network.

With the latest induction, the number of electric buses operating across 21 routes has risen to 160. After the launch ceremony, Naqvi inspected the facilities and took a ride on an electric bus with senior officials, receiving a comprehensive briefing on fleet operations, depot management, and charging infrastructure.

Naqvi praised the project team for its timely execution, noting that the service is already being used by 125,000 passengers daily, with plans to increase ridership to 250,000. He added that special focus has been placed on ensuring accessibility for students across major routes.

The minister also announced that the electric bus service will be extended to Rawat, further integrating with the existing Metro Bus system to help alleviate traffic congestion in the twin cities. He confirmed that the Rawalpindi-Islamabad local rail service is being restored, and that HIT Pakistan is preparing to start local manufacturing of electric buses.

Officials briefed that the new depot can accommodate 64 charging units, with 50 already installed and 14 more to be added soon. Each charger can power two buses within two hours, and the entire system has been integrated with Google for real-time monitoring and navigation.

The ceremony was attended by the Chief Commissioner Islamabad, IG Islamabad Police, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, and other senior officers.

CEO of United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Mr. Benjamin Black called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

By
Wajid
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0
CEO of United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Mr. Benjamin Black called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
APP11-200226
WASHINGTON: February 20 –
CEO of United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Mr. Benjamin Black called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
APP12-200226
WASHINGTON: February 20 – CEO of United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Mr. Benjamin Black called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. APP/MAF/FHA
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