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The United Nations has expressed condolences over the deaths of 14 newborns in the PIMS hospital fire in Islamabad and offered assistance to Pakistan, while UNICEF urged stronger fire-safety standards in health facilities. A government inquiry is examining the cause, emergency response and possible negligence as authorities prepare to determine responsibility.
Hamza Shehbaz met serving and former lawmakers at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad and assured them that constituency-level concerns would be addressed on priority. He also chaired a Prime Minister’s Youth Programme meeting focused on technical training, stipends and employment opportunities for young people from underserved regions.
Pakistan has reduced petrol by Rs0.50 per litre to Rs342.60 and high-speed diesel by Rs0.19 to Rs371.61, with the new rates effective August 28. The adjustment was made under the government's revised petroleum pricing mechanism as authorities continue responding to volatility in international energy markets.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell have agreed to deepen Pakistan-UK cooperation on counterterrorism, intelligence sharing and regional security. Their London talks covered South Asia, Afghanistan and the Middle East as both countries committed to maintaining close consultations on emerging security challenges.
A political rift has emerged within the PML-N's Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter after Shah Ghulam Qadir and Raja Farooq Haider opposed Barrister Iftikhar Gilani's nomination for AJK prime minister. The dispute comes ahead of the Legislative Assembly's August 28 vote and could complicate the party's government-formation plans.
Bangladesh says it would positively consider joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement if invited by founding members Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said Dhaka would assess the benefits before deciding, while opposition leaders also defended Bangladesh's right to make an independent decision on possible membership.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Health visited PIMS in Islamabad to examine the fire that killed 14 newborn babies and called for a transparent, impartial investigation. Lawmakers said the probe would assess the cause of the blaze, emergency response, safety arrangements and the role of hospital staff, with accountability expected if negligence is established.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first against England in the rain-affected second Test at Lord’s, with Babar Azam returning from a finger injury to resume the captaincy. Pakistan trail the three-match series 1-0 after their innings defeat at Headingley and need a victory to keep the series alive.
PTA has ordered mobile operators to provide at least 180 days of validity on every prepaid recharge and restore expired balances after a subsequent recharge on an active SIM. The consumer-protection measure, affecting a market where about 97 percent of cellular subscribers use prepaid services, will take effect from October 1, 2026.
Pakistan's Foreign Office has rejected claims that Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Iran as an envoy of the United States, saying his August 24 trip was part of Islamabad's independent mediation efforts. Officials said the discussions focused on regional de-escalation, negotiations and efforts linked to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Security forces killed 11 militants in separate intelligence-based operations in Bannu, South Waziristan and Khuzdar on Thursday, according to security sources. Weapons were recovered, a hideout was destroyed and clearance operations continued as Pakistan's leadership praised the security forces and reiterated the government's counterterrorism resolve.
National Refinery Limited returned to profitability in FY26 with earnings of Rs6.16 billion, reversing a Rs14.87 billion loss a year earlier as revenue and refining margins improved sharply. Net revenue rose to Rs440.84 billion, while earnings per share recovered to Rs77.09.
