LAHORE: The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has failed to desilt major drains of Lahore, ignoring the instructions of the Punjab government to ensure cleanliness under the ongoing ‘Suthra Punjab drive’ launched on the orders of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The situation is worsening in various localities by the day as sewage level in the drains, including the trunk sewer, …

KARACHI: Bodies of four of the 14 missing fishermen, thought to have drowned after their boat capsized on March 5, were found in the sea by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) on Sunday. “After strenuous and continuous search of more than 100 hours by PMSA units at sea in coordination with Pakistan Navy, today PMSA Ship Rehmat recovered four bodies near …

ISLAMABAD: PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari made history on Sunday by taking the oath as president for a second time. He was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa at a grand ceremony at the Presidency. The two were joined by the newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and outgoing president Dr Arif Alvi. Chief of Army Staff General …

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The Punjab Police continued to use force in dealing with PTI protests across the province on Sunday, as many party workers were beaten up and a number of key leaders arrested during demonstrations against alleged electoral rigging. The rallies and protests were held in major cities across the country on the call of PTI’s incarcerated founder, Imran Khan. The agitation was …

PORT PRINCE: With Haiti’s capital spiralling deeper into violence, the United States said on Sunday it has airlifted American staff from its embassy in Port-au-Prince and brought in additional personnel to boost security at the compound. Residents of beleaguered neighbourhoods were scrambling for safety on Saturday, following the latest spasm of unrest, with a UN group warning of a “city under …

JERUSALEM: Along with cumbersome border checks and relentless Israeli bombardment, the humanitarian response in war-ravaged Gaza faces a new challenge: a de facto freeze on visas for many international aid workers. Israeli authorities have stopped issuing new visas or renewing old ones for foreign employees of international NGOs, most of whom occupy senior positions, according to three senior humanitarian officials …

KARACHI: In his first press conference after leaving the Presidency, Dr Arif Alvi said on Sunday that he was still trying to bridge the gap between the establishment and the PTI. Addressing the media at his residence in Karachi, Dr Alvi also stressed the need to take positive steps to bring the country together, calling on both the government and …

ISTANBUL: In the skies above Istanbul’s Tophane neighbourhood, seagulls are sent scattering by a drone that’s filming a policeman arresting a young woman on the streets below. But it’s for a television series called “Degenler”, one of about 60 filmed annually in Turkiye that have made Istanbul and other Turkish cities familiar to viewers in nearly 170 countries around the …

ISLAMABAD: Newly elected PM Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday continued consultations within in his own party over the federal cabinet, which is likely to be constituted in a couple of days. A source in the PM Office told Dawn the prime minister held a marathon meeting on Sunday, which continued late into the night, to finalise the names of his new ministers. “The oath-taking of …

President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday administered the oath to a 19-member federal cabinet of newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Earlier today, PM Shehbaz had sent a summary to President Zardari to appoint the cabinet, comprising 18 federal ministers and a minister of state. The PML-N’s main ally, the PPP, has refused to become part of the federal cabinet. …