The Global News Desk 115

  ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN  —   On March 15, 2025, Pakistan Railways will test its first international freight train link to Russia. According to Pakistani media outlets, this new train link, based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Russia in June 2024, will enhance regional trade by linking Pakistan with Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The cargo service would transport textiles, agricultural products, and food from Pakistan while also allowing Russian oil, gas, steel, and industrial commodities to be imported. This new project aims to cut transportation costs, boost efficiency, and strengthen Pakistan's role as a major regional economic gateway. As per the latest reports, the Pakistan Railway Freight Transportation Company (PRFTC) is collaborating closely with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to acquire containerized goods for the trial.

Chinese and local businessmen have agreed with the Sindh government to establish the "Dhabeji Special Economic Zone" in the Thatta district. Special Economic Zones have been formed under CPEC with the cooperation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to encourage economic development. Apart from providing over 100,000 jobs and garnering $3 billion in investment, the "Dhabeji Special Economic Zone" is projected to provide access to international trade channels because of its ideal location adjacent to Karachi's ports.  This agreement is heralded as a watershed moment in Pakistan-China industrial cooperation to boost the country's economy. It has been believed that the "Dhabeji Special Economic Zone" is a significant location for both local and foreign trade. In the second phase of CPEC, the “Dhabeji Special Economic Zone” would be completed under the public-private partnership system. Chinese companies have been anxious to establish ...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan   — Ali Amin Gandapur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's chief minister, has been ousted as president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's KPK region as part of an important change in the party,  PTI press secretary said Saturday.  A senior PTI  leader and member of the National Assembly (MNA) Junaid Akbar, has been elected as PTI president of the KPK position on the recommendation of imprisoned PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. During a meeting in Adiala Jail, PTI founder and Pakistani former P.M. Imran Khan, Atif Khan, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, and Mian Farhat Abbas decided to remove Ali Amin Gandapur from his post as president of KPK. Ali Amin Gandapur decided to leave his position, according to the PTI source, who added that there was pressure to balance the roles of PTI KP President and Chief Minister. Imran Khan underlined the significance of keeping the responsibilities of a Chief Minister and a party president separate, accord...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  — Thirty terrorists were killed in multiple clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on January 24–25, 2025, ISPR reported.  Security forces executed one of three intelligence-based operations in the Lakki Marwat district.    In the operation, soldiers successfully attacked the insurgents' site, killing 18 and injuring 6 more. District Karak was the second location to launch an intelligence-based operation, according to the ISPR leaflet.  Eight terrorists were successfully eliminated by the security personnel in the following shootout.  About 4 terrorists, including ring commanders Aziz ur Rehman Qari Ismail and insurgent Mukhlis, were killed by the military soldiers in a third encounter near Bagh in Khyber District. 2 Khwarijs were injured. Ammunition and explosives were also found from the killed insurgents, who continued actively participating in various terrorist acts against security personnel in the region, including killings of inn...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  —   General Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief, had invited Iran's top general to visit Pakistan for two days. He is scheduled to meet with senior Pakistani military leaders, as well as the president, prime minister, and defense minister. Major General Mohammad Bagheri thinks that the Islamic Republic and Pakistan's military and security relations are improving each  day. General Mohammad Bagheri, who arrived in Islamabad on Sunday, told reporters that "we have witnessed significant developments in the region over the past year, where Iran and Pakistan, as two Islamic nations, are located in the historically important regions of West and South Asia." Topics of discussion include current regional developments, border safety, the fight against terrorism, and growing levels of defense and military cooperation.

A Chinese business delegation has shown an interest in investing $1 billion in Thatta's Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to create a medical city.  12 large Chinese enterprises joined Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh, on a visit to the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone. The Sindh government has approved the scheme. During the meeting, Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh, highlighted that the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone is a CPEC priority project.  Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar says that Sindh has a lot of appealing investment opportunities. Because of its advantageous location close to the port, highways, and railroads, he said, the Dhabeji Zone will be the province's most important economic zone in terms of industrial expansion, technology transfer, and job creation.   This effort is a well-known example of China and Pakistan's strong and honored relationship. Naveed Qamar further said that  t...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan —  On December 6-7, 2024, the Pakistani military perished 22  terrorists  in separate anti-terrorist operations carried out successfully in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.  The Security Forces launched an intelligence-based operation in the Tank District's general Gul Imam region following reports of insurgent illegal activity. 9 terrorists were killed and others 6 were injured as a result of Pakistani troops' successful military operation.  Another Security Forces operation in the North Waziristan District resulted in the successful neutralization of Ten Khwarij.  Security forces thwarted terrorists from storming a security force post in Thall District and killed three Khwarij in a third military confrontation.  However, six courageous earthly sons accepted martyrdom by giving their lives in the fierce fighting.

I SLAMABAD, Pakistan   —  The Pakistani army killed eight militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in multiple anti-terrorist operations. Citing the alleged presence of terrorists, an intelligence-based operation was conducted in the South Waziristan District's Sararogha neighborhood on December 5, 2024. Our military successfully stormed the militants' position during the search, killing two of them, including the militants' ring commander, Khan Muhammad Khoryay, and capturing two more  terrorists .  Khan Muhammad Khoryay, the terrorist who was killed, was involved in several terrorist acts in the region, such as execution and target killing.  Since he was at the top of the terrorist list prepared by law enforcement, the government had put up PKR 1 million as head money on him.  Another intelligence-based operation was carried out in Lakki Marwat District, and after a fierce gunfight, security forces killed 6 terrorists. The Pakistani military emphasized er...

Lahore, Pakistan - Saeed Ahmed Abbasi quoted Pakistan Railways as saying that on the three days of Eidul Adha, all trains operating across Pakistan will offer a 30% discount on tickets. The discount will be available at reservation offices and stations from July 10 to July 12, however, it will not be applicable on special trains running on Eid, but rather on all trains running on main and branch lines.  Economy Class, AC Lounge, AC Sleeper, AC Business, and AC Standard are entitled to a 30% discount. Regular notices have been issued in this regard to the Divisional Supervisors and Divisional Commercial Officers of the seven Pakistan Railways divisions.

Massive floods triggered by the monsoon rains have killed 25 people and injured many more in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, authorities said. Three women and four children were also killed, according to PDMA Director General Nasir Ahmed Nassar, who also claimed that other 35 people were injured in rain-related incidents that have occurred in the province over the past two days. Following the devastation caused by the province's first monsoon rains, the Relief Commissioner also issued a notice declaring that the provincial capital had been hit by the disaster. After heavy rains, many streets and roads in the outskirts of Quetta were flooded, severely affecting daily life. Balochistan is devastated by torrential rains.  Flash floods in Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Bolan, Mastung, and other areas of Balochistan destroyed more than a dozen dams and levees. Following floods on the Mah River, traffic was suspended on the Quetta-Jacobabad highway.

On Sunday morning in Balochistan's Zhob region, a passenger bus crashed into a ravine, leaving at least 19 passengers dead and 11 more injured, according to authorities. A bus with more than 30 passengers was traveling from Islamabad to Quetta. Rescuers were seen on tv assisting stained with blood passengers, while other scenes presented wreckage. According to Sherani Assistant Commissioner Mehtab Shah, the incident occurred near Dhana Sar. He claimed that the bus plunged into the ravine, killing 19 passengers and injuring 11 others. Emergency crews rushed to the scene shortly after receiving the information, according to Shah, who added that the bodies were being taken to a hospital for identification. Dr. Nurul Haq, the medical inspector at the Civil Job Hospital, said the injured victims who were brought to the facility were in critical condition. He also expected the death toll to rise. Meantime, Baluchistan's Chief Minister, Mir Abdul Kudoos Bizenjo, expressed his sa...

Balochistan, Pakistan - A Van skidded off a narrow mountain road and fell into a ravine in a remote area of southwest Pakistan, killing 22 passengers, including women and children.  The incident took place in the Qila Saifullah district near the Akhtarzai area, about 200km north of Quetta, on Wednesday, authorities said.  Rescue workers took the bodies to a nearby hospital, DDO Mohammad Qasim said.  The fatal accident killed all of the passengers. The Deputy district officer first claimed that 18 passengers died in the accident, but later added that four more bodies were recovered from the van's wreckage.  He further said relatives of passengers who died in the crash had arrived at the hospital to receive the bodies of their loved ones.  The weather was fine at the time of the collapse, according to authorities, and police officers were investigating possible mechanical problems or human error, as witnesses said the van appeared to be traveling at high speed whe...

Islamabad, Pakistan  —   7 terrorists were killed in separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's North Waziristan and Bannu districts (KP).  'On 5 June 2022, security forces conducted Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) in Jani Khel, Bannu district, and Hassan Khel, and in North Waziristan district on the alleged presence of terrorists,' the ISPR spokesman said in a statement.  Noor Rahman alias Zarrar, the TTP's prominent commander, and two suicide bombers were killed in IBO, ISPR confirmed.  Total 7 terrorists were killed in a violent exchange of fire; five terrorists were killed in Jani Khel and two terrorists were killed in the North Waziristan area. As per ISPR reports, killed TTP members were involved in cases of target killings, bomb explosions, and attacks on security forces. Pakistani special forces also confiscated a huge quantity of explosives such as suicide waist belts, a large number of bulletproof jackets, heavy and ligh...

  Post – dramatically Losing the no-confidence vote, it has become quite obvious that Imran Khan may not be able to form the next government.  24 PTI’S MNAs being dissidents, the task of the PTI to provide the required numbers became impossible. 174 NA members of the 342-seat National assembly voted against the former prime minister, exceeding the required 172 votes.  Eventually, the former Prime minister of Pakistan was ousted in April 2022 via a no-confidence vote. All of this occurred as a result of the previous government’s failure to halt inflation and currency depreciation in Pakistan. During the PTI’s term, Imran Khan replaced a number of finance ministers, but the party’s efforts to solve economic problems went in vain. The PTI’s loss of the Peshawar Mayorship to JUI-F Zubair Ali is a clear indication of the PTI’s dwindling influence in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPK province.  PTI failed to secure a satisfactory number of seats in Balochistan’s 2022 local...

A helicopter crashed in the chaotic eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday, killing eight UN soldiers — six Pakistanis, a Russian, and a Serb, according to the UN and Pakistan."  Puma Helicopter crashed while on a covert mission in Congo."  "The accurate cause of the crash is still to be determined," the Pakistani military's media wing said. Six Pakistani troops were among those killed, according to the report.  Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, voiced his "profound sense of disappointment and grief," according to his office, praising the country's armed services for their global peace efforts.  The M23 rebel group "shot down" the helicopter, according to Congolese military authorities in North Kivu.  The six Pakistani martyred officers and soldiers were identified as Lt Col Asif Ali Awan, the pilot, Maj Saad Nomani, the co-pilot, Maj Faizan Ali, naib subedar Samiullak Khan, the flight engineer, havaldar Muhammad I...

On Monday, a high-ace crashed into a ditch in the Upper Dir district of Kyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), killing at least 10 people and injuring 16 others.  Reports said that 4 injured are in critical condition. The wounded were transferred to the district hospital from Dir. According to hospital administrators, three women and two children were among the dead. According to the police, the Van was heading towards Kolkata from Mardani when the accident happened in Barak Jalal.  KPK C.M.  Mahmoud Khan offered his sympathies for the incident and for the families who have lost dear ones.  He directed the hospital's executives to provide the best medical care available to the victims.

 The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that security forces killed six Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) militants who were involved in the Anarkali blast in Lahore. In January, a blast near Lahore's Anarkali Bazaar killed at least three people, one of them was a kid, and injured more than 25 others. The explosion shattered the windows of adjacent shops and buildings, as well as damaging motorcycles parked near the incident site. The terrorists were tracked down after information about their location in the Nagao Mountains near Sibbi, Balochistan, according to the military's media wing.

As per ISPR, at least 4 Pakistani soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border early Thursday.  The militants attempted to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan in the Hassan Khel area of North Waziristan district, but Pakistani troops responded and foiled the attempt, according to the army. "Four soldiers were killed following a severe exchange of fire with the insurgents," ISPR said in a statement on Thursday.  The attack was claimed by the TTP (Taliban-e-Taliban Pakistan).  The military media wing did not immediately release any additional information about the martyred military personnel, such as names and designations.