Home Blog

Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi passes away in Lahore

By
Shafek Koreshe
-
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
-
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
-
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.

Economic growth in Uzbekistan forecast at around 7% in 2026

By
NNPS Desk
-
0

TASHKENT, March 4 (UzA/APP) : Economic growth in Uzbekistan is expected to reach around 7% in 2026. The main contributing factors are cited as business activity, monetary and financial systems, banking operations, industrial production, and retail trade.
According to the Center for Economic Research and Reforms’ forecast for the first quarter of 2026, despite global challenges last year, Uzbekistan’s economy remained stable. By the end of 2025, Uzbekistan’s GDP grew by 7.7%, exceeding the previous year’s indicator (6.7%). The previously published forecast by the Center also demonstrated high accuracy, deviating from the actual result by only 0.2 percentage points. This fact confirms the reliability of the forecasting approaches used.
Based on a dynamic factors model, economic growth in the first quarter of 2026 is expected to be approximately 7% year-on-year. The main contribution to the forecast comes from business activity indicators (3.1 percentage points), the monetary and financial sectors (1 percentage point), banking transaction dynamics (0.9 percentage points), industrial production (0.6 percentage points), and retail trade (0.3 percentage points).
Additionally, the forecast was calculated using machine learning methods. A total of 250 weekly indicators across 20 categories on Google Search were analyzed. According to the results, economic growth in the first quarter of 2026 is expected to be around 7.2%. Based on search query dynamics in January 2026, queries in the “Internet and Telecommunications” category increased by 19.3% compared to the same period last year. In the “Finance” category, growth was 7.9%, while in the “Shopping” category it was 5.2%.
A comparison of the two approaches shows that, in the first quarter of 2026, gross domestic product will grow by 7% to 7.2%. Economic growth will be positively influenced by improvements in the business environment, increased financial and investment activity, the development of the industrial and service sectors, and greater efficiency in investment processes.

A young Taekwondo student practices a powerful kick to break tiles during a training session at a city school in Qasimabad.

By
Wajid
-
0
A young Taekwondo student practices a powerful kick to break tiles during a training session at a city school in Qasimabad.
APP13-040326
HYDERABAD: March 04 –

Volunteers distribute Iftari to differently-abled persons at the Association for the Welfare of Handicap Persons during an Iftar Dastarkhwan organized by SDYC in the holy month of Ramazan.

By
Wajid
-
0
Volunteers distribute Iftari to differently-abled persons at the Association for the Welfare of Handicap Persons during an Iftar Dastarkhwan organized by SDYC in the holy month of Ramazan.
APP15-040326
HYDERABAD: March 04 – 
Volunteers distribute Iftari to differently-abled persons at the Association for the Welfare of Handicap Persons during an Iftar Dastarkhwan organized by SDYC in the holy month of Ramazan.
APP16-040326
Hyderabad: March 04 – Volunteers of the Association for the Welfare of Disabled Persons are serving Iftar to various disabled women and local citizens during the Iftar dinner organized by SDYC during Ramazan. APP/FHN/TZD/SSH

A cobbler prepares popular leather sandals in bulk at his workshop to meet the growing demand ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

By
Wajid
-
0
A cobbler prepares popular leather sandals in bulk at his workshop to meet the growing demand ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
APP17-040326
Hyderabad: March 04 – 

Karachiites condemn India’s move to hold Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance

By
Qadir Rajpoot
-
0
KARACHI, Mar 04 (APP):Citizens in Karachi on Wednesday strongly criticised India’s decision to place the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, terming the move unjustified and against the spirit of bilateral agreements.
In conversations with APP, residents from different walks of life expressed concern over what they described as an attempt to politicise a vital lifeline shared by millions.
Hafeez, a schoolteacher, said water was a basic necessity and should never be used as a tool of pressure. He maintained that agreements between countries must be honoured in both letter and spirit, adding that unilateral decisions only deepen mistrust in the region.
Sadia Rahman, a homemaker residing in Clifton, said ordinary people suffer the most when tensions rise between states. She remarked that rivers were a blessing of nature and could not be “switched on and off” at will, urging restraint and dialogue instead of confrontation.
A screenplay writer Naeem Ali, observed that such actions created unnecessary fear among citizens. He said Pakistan had every right to safeguard its share of water and called upon the international community to take notice of what he termed an irresponsible step.
A university student Ismail described the development as disappointing, saying the treaty had survived wars and political upheavals in the past. He added that undermining longstanding agreements sent a negative message about regional stability.
Ali Gul, a retired government officer said the move reflected a disregard for mutual respect between neighbouring countries. He expressed confidence that Pakistan would respond through diplomatic and legal channels while safeguarding national interests.
The residents collectively stressed that rivers connected people across borders and should serve as a source of cooperation rather than conflict. They called for adherence to international commitments and peaceful engagement to ensure regional harmony and stability.

Punjab distributes seed kits for eight vegetables to promote kitchen gardening

By
Qadir Rajpoot
-
0
ISLAMABAD, Mar 04 (APP):The Punjab government is encouraging kitchen gardening by providing certified vegetable seeds to the citizens at affordable rates. These seeds can be cultivated in pots, plastic bags, crates, boxes, open spaces, or on rooftops.
Currently, the government is distributing seed kits for eight summer vegetables through the Agriculture Extension Department’s network across various districts of the province.
“Summer vegetable seed kits are available for sale throughout the province. These vegetables can be grown successfully to obtain inexpensive and pesticide-free produce,” Shahid Ashraf, In-Charge of the Kitchen Gardening Scheme at the Punjab Agriculture Department, told Wealth Pakistan.
The initiative aims to promote self-sufficiency, improve household nutrition, and encourage sustainable food practices by making fresh, homegrown produce accessible to both urban and rural families.
Each kitchen gardening kit contains seeds for at least eight seasonal vegetables. The summer packs currently include okra, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, cucumber, tomato, tinda, and chilies.
Shahid Ashraf said the public response to kitchen gardening has been very encouraging, with many households successfully growing vegetables at home.
Vegetable seed kits are available at district offices of the Agriculture Extension Department in Attock, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Chakwal, Chiniot, D.G. Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhang, Jhelum, Kasur, Mianwali, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Sargodha, and Vehari, in addition to the department’s head office in Lahore.
A large number of Lahoreites have adopted kitchen gardening not only to avoid purchasing expensive vegetables from the market but also as a productive pastime.
“I have been growing various summer and winter vegetables on the rooftop of my home. When the seeds sprout and the plants start bearing vegetables, it gives me immense pleasure,” said Ashfaq Hussain Mughal, a resident of Manga Mandi on the outskirts of Lahore. He added that cultivating vegetables at home is a rewarding way to spend time productively.
The Vegetable Research Institute (VRI), Faisalabad, has also been playing a pivotal role in promoting kitchen gardening across Punjab, to enhance household nutrition and reduce food expenses.
“The institute has developed and distributed more than 200,000 kitchen gardening seed kits for both summer and winter seasons this year,” said Dr Ghazanfar Hammad, Principal Scientist at VRI.
He explained that each kit contains seeds for eight seasonal vegetables—sufficient for a five-marla household—along with informative pamphlets outlining kitchen gardening guidelines and best practices.
The kits are available at a nominal price of Rs 200 per pack, covering only production costs, making them affordable for low- and middle-income families.
Dr Hammad said optimal vegetable growth requires temperatures between 20°C and 35°C, adding that the current weather conditions in Punjab are favorable for cultivation till March 31.
In addition to the ongoing distribution, VRI also produced 200,000 winter vegetable seed kits in 2025 for free distribution in flood-affected areas, with sponsorship from the Fertilizer Manufacturers Association of Pakistan.
“This initiative aims to support vulnerable communities in restoring household food supplies and improving nutritional security,” he said.

481 Afghan combatants killed, 226 check posts destroyed in operation Ghazab lil-Haq: Atta Tarar

By
NNPS Desk
-
0

ISLAMABAD, Mar 04 (APP): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that the security forces have killed 481 combatants of the Afghan Taliban regime, destroyed their 226 posts, and captured 35 others during Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, launched following “unprovoked action” from across the border.

Providing a summary of Afghan Taliban regime’s losses at 16:00 hours, the minister said that over 696 Afghan operatives were injured during the Operation Ghazab lil-Haq (Righteous Fury). Around 198 tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery guns have also been destroyed during the operation, he added.

The minister noted that around 56 locations across Afghanistan were also effectively targeted by air,

15-member ODI squad sans Babar to tour Bangladesh

By
Qadir Rajpoot
-
0
LAHORE, Mar 04 (APP):Ace batter Babar Azam was dropped by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a 15-member ODI squad was announced for the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh scheduled to take place in Bangladesh from 11 to 15 March. All three ODIs will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka.
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the ODI side, with six uncapped players included in the squad. They are: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain.
Among them, Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood and Shamyl Hussain were part of the Pakistan Shaheens squad that played against England Lions in Abu Dhabi recently.
15-member squad:
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl Hussain
Series schedule:
March 8 – Pakistan arrival
March 10 – Practice
March 11 – First ODI at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
March 13 – Second ODI at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
March 15 – Third ODI at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

Minister condoles with DC over his father’s death

By
Qadir Rajpoot
-
0
SIALKOT, Mar 04 (APP):Provincial Minister for Labour and Human Resources Punjab Muhammad Manshaullah Butt visited the residence of Deputy Commissioner Sialkot Saba Asghar Ali to offer his heartfelt condolences on the passing of her father, Muhammad Asghar Ali.
Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Chaudhry Naveed Ashraf, along with Hafiz Shahid Ghug, Khawaja Sultan Tipu, Sarfraz Bhatti, Abdul Rehman Subhani, and Rana Waheed, was also present.
The minister offered Fateha and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul. He prayed for forgiveness, elevated ranks in the hereafter for the deceased, and strength and patience for the bereaved family.
He also expressed his deep sympathy and solidarity with the grieving family during this difficult time.

CCP approves REIT restructuring involving ISE Towers REIT, ISE Realty Company

By
Qadir Rajpoot
-
0
ISLAMABAD, Mar 4 (APP):The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on Wednesday approved the proposed restructuring and transfer of designated real estate assets of ISE Towers REIT Management Company Limited to its subsidiary, ISE Realty Company Limited, following a Phase-1 review.
The CCP received a pre-merger application on January 23, 2026, jointly filed by ISE Towers REIT Management Company Limited and ISE Realty Company Limited. The transaction is being carried out pursuant to a scheme of compromise, arrangement, and reconstruction on November 17, 2025, said a news release.
ISE Towers REIT Management Company Limited, formerly Islamabad Stock Exchange (Guarantee) Limited, is a licensed Non-banking Finance Company (NBFC). ISE Realty Company Limited, incorporated in October 2025, is a public limited company engaged in real estate development and marketing, including commercial and mixed-use projects.
Under the approved Scheme, designated real estate assets and liabilities of ISE Towers REIT will be transferred to ISE Realty Company Limited, followed by a reorganization of shareholding through the issuance of shares to the existing shareholders of ISE Towers REIT. Following the restructuring, ISE Towers REIT will function as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to facilitate the launch and management of a REIT Scheme.
The CCP’s review noted that ISE Realty Company Limited has been incorporated specifically to implement the restructuring scheme and is not currently operational in the relevant market. The assessment further determined that the transaction involves internal restructuring and transfer of assets within related entities.
CCP concluded that the proposed transaction is unlikely to create or strengthen a dominant position in the relevant market, substantially lessen competition, or create barriers to entry.
The assessment also found that the transaction would not adversely affect market dynamics. Accordingly, the Commission has authorized the transaction.
The restructuring aims to facilitate the launch of a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) structure in Pakistan. Such initiatives can contribute to the formalization and development of Pakistan’s real estate sector by promoting institutional investment, enhancing transparency, and improving efficiency in real estate management.
The CCP remains committed to facilitating corporate restructuring and investment initiatives that support economic development while ensuring competitive market structures.
123...32,237Page 1 of 32,237