The Pakistan

  ADB to Approve $800 Million Package to Pakistan on June 3 The  Asian Development Bank  (ADB) has pushed back its board meeting to approve an $800 million financing package for Pakistan to June 3, 2025. The meeting was to be on May 28 but was postponed at India’s request, so that they could have extra time to review the loan papers. The financing  package  contained a policy-based loan of $300 million under the ADB Resource Mobilization Programme, which will help improve Pakistan’s tax collection and fiscal reforms. A further $500 million guarantee will help Pakistan obtain up to $1.5 billion from foreign commercial loans, critical for improving its foreign exchange reserves, which are $11.4 billion. Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Secretary   Dr. Kazim Niaz   confirmed the date change, saying ADB rules allow for a one-time postponement at the request of any board member. He stated the postponement is purely procedural and did not indicate any failure by ...

  Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday arrived here in  Tajikistan ’s capital city for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and addressing pressing global environmental issues at the International Conference on  Glaciers’ Preservation. At the Dushanbe Airport, he was warmly received by Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda, Deputy Foreign Minister Farrukh Homiddin Sharifzoda, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Muhammad Saeed Sarwar, and Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Yusuf Sharifzoda. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi are accompanying the prime minister. During his stay, Prime Minister Sharif is scheduled to hold bilateral meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. Two leaders will explore opportunities for collaboration in various sectors and discuss regional developments, including Pakistan’s appreciation for Tajikistan’s steadfast support amid ongoing...

  First State-Backed Bitcoin Reserve Comes to Pakistan The government of Pakistan has introduced its first-ever state-backed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which marks an important moment in the history of the digital finance ecosystem in Pakistan. Bilal Bin Saqib , CEO of Pakistan Crypto Council and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Crypto and Blockchain, announced in a keynote address speaking at  Bitcoin Vegas 2025  in Las Vegas, USA. Saqib  introduced  the national Bitcoin wallet where existing digital assets stored in custody by the state will be accumulated. The Strategic Reserve will not be for trading or speculation, but rather an official digital asset that shows Pakistan is committed to decentralized finance for the long haul. The government has allocated 2,000 megawatts of excess electricity for potential use in bitcoin mining and AI data centers, which will attract global miners and technology companies, as well as partnerships in clean energy. Saqi...

Fans of cricket everywhere are excited by ILT20 2025 , launching on May 27. Legendary cricketers and talented young players will take part in a single round-robin format during Greater Noida’s six-team tournament. The season will end on June 5, right after the IPL final, creating a fitting grand finale for Indian cricket. The historic intercontinental cricket event will see teams the African Lions, American Strikers,  Asian Kings, Euro Gladiators, Indian Warriors and Trans Titans fight for the top position.    Complete Match Schedule Date Match Teams Time Venue 27 May 2025 Match 1 Indian Warriors vs African Lions 7:30 PM Greater Noida 28 May 2025 Match 2 Trans Titans vs American Strikers 3:30 PM Greater Noida 28 May 2025 Match 3 Asian Kings vs Euro Gladiators 7:30 PM Greater Noida 29 May 2025 Match 4 Indian Warriors vs American Strikers 3:30 PM Greater Noida 29 May 2025 Match 5 African Lions vs Asian Kings 7:30 PM Greater Noida 30 May 2025 Match 6 Euro Gladiators vs Trans...

  Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed Recognized in UAE for ‘Love Guru’ Pakistani stars  Mahira Khan  and  Humayun Saeed  were given special recognition in the UAE during their promotional tour for the romantic comedy film ‘Love Guru.’ During a ceremony hosted by the Pakistani Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, both stars were given memorable shields for their contributions to entertainment. The Ambassador  praised  the successes of the stars and conveyed what was necessary from the creative industry to foster a positive image of Pakistan to the world. Before coming to the UAE, Mahira and Humayun traveled to the US, UK, and Canada, where they walked red carpets, met with fans, and attended  interviews  to promote their movie. Love Guru’ will be released on Eidul Azha and fans are excited. The promotional campaign for  ‘Love Guru ‘ achieved a big milestone when the trailer was launched in Times Square in New York City, marking the first time in histo...

 Huawei Launched ICT Courses In Pakistan Huawei Launched Digital Courses for School Students in Pakistan Huawei, with the help of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), has launched a national digital education program that is part of a wider initiative from the Prime Minister’s campaign for a digital Pakistan. The project aims to train over 300,000 students predominantly from Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Students from Grades 6 to 10 will need to register on the Huawei Talent platform using unique email addresses and phone numbers.  The first course, “AI Basics” which covers fundamental concepts, will take one hour, can be done at any time and before the students leave for summer vacations, and must be completed this year. This program also incorporates “Train the Trainer” and seeks to support the development of a future digital roadmap for schools. Future curriculum that will introduce students to technology such as 5G, IoT, cloud computing, n...

  The  Pakistan Cricket Board  has  named the umpires  who will oversee the scheduled three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Lahore. Ranjan Madugalle will be named Match Referee for every game in the series. The referee involved in the match is an experienced member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees and can draw on many special skills for the assignment.  Among all Match Referees, he holds the record for officiating in 804 international matches. His knowledge and experience were clear when he oversaw seven games in the recently concluded  HBL Pakistan Super League X. Supreme Court Justice Curtis, Justice Swayne and Justices Field and Bradley will take turns officiating during the proceedings. For the three matches, Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz, part of the  PCB International Panel of Umpires , will be in charge together on the field. The opening two matches of the tournament see Ahsan Raza in the third umpire role, prepar...

 Pakistani woman becomes first woman president of Cambridge Union Dr. Mahira Khan Makes History at Cambridge University Dr. Mahira Khan has become the first Pakistani woman to obtain a PhD in Material Science and Metallurgy from the University of Cambridge, making her one of the first Pakistani people to do so. This achievement is monumental for Pakistan, especially one in science and technology. Dr. Mahira Khan’s academic journey began in Pakistan where she studied engineering, and she went on to study abroad in Germany and France on the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship programme. Khan’s dissertation focused on 2D materials in hopes of solving serious challenges in modern electronics. As a PhD student at Cambridge, she gained experience in nano-fabrication. This area interfaces her doctoral project, as it is needed for the manufacturing technologies of the next generation of electronic devices. Dr.Khan’s work contributes to world and scientific advances in many fields and she is an imp...

  The PM is currently on a four-nation tour to friendly countries, where he will express his gratitude for supporting Pakistan during the recent   military escalation   with India. Earlier on Monday, PM Shehbaz was received Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at Saadabad Palace in the Iranian capital, where he received a guard of honour.  Addressing a joint press conference with Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian, PM Shehbaz said that the two countries’ delegations had a “very productive and useful meeting … which covered all areas of our mutual interests and cooperation”. “There was total agreement that our two brotherly and neighbourly countries must enhance our cooperation in the field of trade, investments, commerce, in fact, every walk of life,” he said. The prime minister said that he thanked Pezeshkian for his support during the military conflict with India and emphasised that both nations have deep-rooted cultural ties and historical relations, adding that t...

  Eid 2025 date: Saudi Arabia Confirms Dhul Hijjah Moon Sighting Saudi Arabia has officially  announced  that Eid-al-Adha 2025, also known as Bakra Eid in some countries, will be on Saturday, June 7. The announcement was made after the Dhul Hijjah moon (the last month of the Islamic calendar) was  spotted  in the Kingdom last Thursday evening, May 29. The official Moon sighting in Saudi Arabia means June 6 will be the Day of Arafah, which is, significant today for Hajj. The next day, June 7 is Eid-al-Adha. Why Moon Sighting Is Important In Islam, moon sighting determines the start of each Hijri month. Because the Hijri calendar follows the lunar system, Islamic festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha change Gregorian dates every year. The site of the Dhul Hijjah moon plays an important role in the months coming together for the purpose of Hajj and Eid-al-Adha. What Is  Eid-al-Adha? Eid-al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most significant...

In a moment that will be etched in Pakistan’s sporting history, Arshad Nadeem has been crowned Best Asian Athlete by the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), a prestigious recognition that amplifies his status as one of the continent’s most elite sports figures. The award was presented during a high-profile ceremony in Gumi, South Korea, shortly after the AAA’s executive meeting — a gathering of Asia’s most influential athletics decision-makers. Arshad’s journey to this honor has been nothing short of extraordinary. From training with limited resources to setting national and international records in javelin throw, he has become a symbol of resilience and excellence for Pakistan. His powerful throws and unwavering focus have consistently placed him among the world’s best, and now, Asia has officially crowned him as its finest. Currently training and competing in South Korea for the upcoming Asian Athletics Championship, Arshad remains laser-focused on achieving more glory. Expectations a...

  Lahore Qalandars all-rounder Sikandar Raza on Sunday, revealed how he managed to do immediate transition after leading the team to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 glory here at the Gaddafi Stadium. Raza represented Zimbabwe in their one-off Test against England in Nottingham, which concluded on Saturday night as per the Pakistan Standard Time (PST). The all-rounder, however, made a miraculous return to the Qalandars squad, joining them just minutes ahead of the toss for the highly-anticipated PSL 10 final against leaders Quetta Gladiators. His timely arrival proved beneficial for the home side as he played a match-winning cameo of 22 runs and fittingly hit the winning runs on the penultimate delivery when he smashed a low full toss from Faheem Ashraf for a boundary. Speaking to the broadcasters following the Qalandars’ hard-fought victory, Sikandar Raza shared his tough routine after the one-off Test, which included dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai and lunch in Abu Dha...

  Top Famous Pakistani Sufi Singers: list here Sufi music is an exquisite concoction of religious devotion, love, and spirituality. Pakistan houses a pool of artists whose enchanting voices and heartfelt presentations have ensured that this tradition stands tall. For you to feel the essence of Sufi music, here are some of the famous Sufi vocalists of Pakistan. 1.  Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan   Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is genuinely considered by many as the greatest Sufi singer that has ever existed. A superb voice with a very special range made his Qawwali popular not just within Pakistan. Songs like “ Afreen Afreen ” and “ Tajdar-e-Haram ” still touch millions of hearts with their profound spiritual implications. 2.  Abida Parveen  An esteemed name for any lover of Sufi music is Abida Parveen. Her singing is so spontaneous and heartfelt as to touch the heart of any listener. Whether she sings in Urdu, Sindhi, or Punjabi, her voice puts forth messages of peace and love. ...

Earlier this month, amid military clashes between the two countries, several major international carriers, including Swiss Air, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Emirates, suspended use of Pakistani airspace due to heightened security risks. As a result, flights to Indian cities such as Amritsar, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai were rerouted, extending travel times and raising operational costs. PAA officials said that since the ceasefire, airlines such as Swiss Air, Lufthansa, British Airways, Etihad, and Emirates have resumed normal operations and are once again flying through Pakistani airspace. Flights heading to India and other destinations are now using the more direct routes over Pakistan. Despite the return to normalcy for many carriers, Air France flights to Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai continue to avoid Pakistan’s airspace. This ongoing diversion has resulted in millions of dollars in additional fuel expenses for the French airline. According to aviation sources, other ...

  The United Arab Emirates has set a new Guinness World Record by creating the world’s largest flag made entirely of handprints. The massive artwork features the handprints of over 24,000 participants from more than 100 nationalities, including a large number of Pakistanis, symbolizing a powerful message of unity and diversity.  Among the youngest participants was three-month-old  Muhammad Mustafa Imran , whose tiny handprint was added by his father as part of a touching tribute to the UAE. His parents described it as a memorable gesture of love for the country that will one day make their son proud. According to Khaleej Times , the historic flag, now displayed at the Pakistan Auditorium in Dubai, is composed of  24,514 handprints  from people of over 100 nationalities. The project was launched by the Pakistan Association Dubai under the theme  “Unity in Diversity” . The initiative concluded with a celebratory event where attendees reflected on the signific...

  Honhaar Scholarship & Laptop Distribution Ceremony: A Momentous Step Towards Empowering Youth The Honhaar Scholarship & Laptop Distribution ceremony held on May 22, 2025 , at the University of Sargodha was a remarkable event that underscored the Punjab government’s unwavering commitment to education and youth empowerment. The occasion was graced by the presence of Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz , who was the Chief Guest. A Vision for Progress In her keynote address, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz highlighted the transformative vision behind the Honhaar Scholarship Program. She emphasized that education is the cornerstone of societal progress and a vital investment in Pakistan’s future. “Through initiatives like the Honhaar Scholarship and Laptop Distribution, we aim to equip our youth with the tools they need to excel academically and contribute meaningfully to the nation,” she remarked. Recognizing Excellence The ceremony celebrated the achievements of over 5,000...