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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday renewed his appeal for a “Charter of Democracy” and a Charter of Economy, urging political parties to set aside their differences and work together for Pakistan’s stability and progress. Speaking in the National Assembly during the budget session for the 2026-27 fiscal year, the prime minister said the country’s future depends on cooperation beyond political divisions. He stressed that democratic continuity and economic stability could only be achieved through dialogue and consensus. Shehbaz Sharif said he had repeatedly invited the opposition to engage in constructive talks, adding that national interests must take precedence over political rivalries. “We have no fight with PTI; they are all our brothers,” he told lawmakers, emphasizing that Parliament should function like a family where differences of opinion exist but unity remains intact. He added that all political stakeholders share responsibility for Pakistan’s future. Addressing the issue of provincial rights, the prime minister reaffirmed support for the constitutional authority of provinces over their resources. He highlighted ongoing development initiatives in Balochistan, including a Rs75 billion solar panel programme for farmers and the construction of the Gwadar-Chaman highway project worth Rs300 billion. He said the highway project was part of the government’s commitment to national development and not the result of political pressure. Referring to the 2010 NFC Award, he noted that Balochistan’s share had been doubled in accordance with constitutional requirements. The prime minister also paid tribute to the armed forces and law enforcement agencies for their continued efforts against terrorism. He said the nation remains proud of the sacrifices made by security personnel, noting that 22 officials had embraced martyrdom in recent days. Opening the budget debate, Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai welcomed the idea of political dialogue and called for disputes to be resolved through consultation and mutual respect. He urged political leaders to honour electoral mandates and strengthen democratic institutions through cooperation. Achakzai also emphasized the need to empower Parliament and ensure that federal-provincial financial arrangements remain balanced and transparent. Warning against deepening political divisions, he called for reducing pressure on opposition figures and proposed a broader political understanding in which parties respect election outcomes and avoid interference during each other’s terms in office. He said lasting political stability is essential for effective governance and sustainable economic growth in Pakistan.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab has arrested 13 suspected militants during a large-scale security operation conducted across multiple cities in the province, officials said on Friday. According to a CTD spokesperson, the department carried out 58 intelligence-based raids in Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Jhang, Chiniot, and Mianwali following reports of potential terrorist activities. During an operation in Lahore, CTD teams apprehended a high-risk suspect identified as Mukhtar, who was allegedly associated with a proscribed organisation. Authorities claimed that the suspect was part of a network planning attacks on law enforcement facilities. Officials said the raids led to the recovery of explosive materials, including four improvised explosive devices (IEDs), detonators, safety fuse wire, banned literature, stickers, and cash believed to be linked to planned acts of terrorism. The 13 arrested suspects were identified as Mukhtar Ahmed, Younus, Feroz Khan, Wali, Awais, Farman, Momin, Adnan, Raja Faisal, Raza Khan, Ghulam Shabbir, Rao Sajid, and Mukhtar Shah. CTD officials stated that the operations were part of an ongoing strategy aimed at preventing terrorist incidents and dismantling militant networks operating within the province. In addition to the targeted raids, the department conducted 1,487 combing operations during the week, detaining 168 individuals for questioning. More than 53,000 people were also screened as part of routine security checks. The CTD spokesperson reaffirmed the department’s commitment to safeguarding public safety, adding that intelligence-led operations would continue across Punjab to counter security threats and maintain peace in the province.

At least 10 tourists lost their lives and 13 others sustained injuries after a passenger van crashed and caught fire on the Murree Expressway near Khajot, officials confirmed on Wednesday. According to Deputy Commissioner Murree, Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi, the van was carrying 23 passengers from Multan who had departed for Murree at around 2:00 am. Preliminary reports indicate that the vehicle was traveling at high speed when it struck a roadside barrier. Following the collision, the van’s engine caught fire, while its sliding door reportedly became jammed, trapping several passengers inside. Emergency responders and rescue teams rushed to the scene shortly after the incident was reported. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment, while several victims died at the scene due to the severe impact of the crash and the intensity of the fire. Motorway Police said an investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident. Initial findings suggest that overspeeding may have played a role in the tragedy. The heartbreaking incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over road safety on the busy Murree route, particularly during the peak tourist season. Authorities continue rescue efforts and investigations as more details emerge.

LAHORE: A lot of students in Punjab are going to benefit from training and more financial help. The government of Punjab has approved some plans to improve education. They are working with Google to make this happen. The Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting to talk about how to make education better. They want to make sure students have access to skills. Than 100,000 students will get to take Googles certification courses for free. These courses are usually very expensive costing between $400 and $1,000.. Now students can take them without paying anything. The courses will last for three to six months. Will cover things like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and business intelligence. The government also wants to set up IT laboratories in 166 government colleges. This will help students learn more about technology. There will be a system to check how well teachers and schools are doing. This will help improve the quality of education. The Honhaar Scholarship Programme is also getting bigger. Now 62,949 students will get help. This is the scholarship program in Punjab. The government wants to make sure that the money is given out fairly so that the students who really need it get the help. Some other changes are also happening. 36 Commerce colleges in 29 districts will be connected to 19 universities. These colleges will offers 14 undergraduate programmes including things like business and information technology. The Chief Minister also wants to introduce buses for students. She said that students with needs and minority students should be included in the next phase of the laptop distribution scheme. A lot of students have already benefited from the laptop program. Than 38,000 students got laptops in the first phase and over 142,000 applications have been submitted for the next round. The government also looked at how well studentsre doing in school. Almost 994,000 students took the Grade 8 exams. The girls did really well with a 92 percent pass rate. The boys also did well with an 84 percent pass rate. All these new plans show that the Punjab government is serious about making education. They want to give students opportunities teach them digital skills and support them with better infrastructure and financial help. The Punjab government is really focusing on education. Wants to make sure that all students in Punjab get a good education. The students, in Punjab will really benefit from these plans, especially the free Google courses and the expanded scholarship support.