Iran Air Launches Historic Direct Flights Between Quetta, Zahedan & Mashhad Iran Air has inaugurated a new direct air route connecting Quetta with Zahedan and Mashhad — a significant milestone in Pak-Iran relations. The historic Airbus A319 completed its maiden commercial flight on Friday, August 8, 2025, landing smoothly at Quetta International Airport At the ceremony, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Mohammad Mudassir Tipu, called the launch a “long-standing demand” of people in the border regions. He emphasized its enormous potential to boost business, tourism, and people-to-people interactions . This weekly flight will initially connect Quetta with Zahedan and Mashhad, reducing…
Author: Farhan Ali
Train services in Balochistan, suspended temporarily due to security concerns Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi announced that train operations in Balochistan will be temporarily suspended due to security concerns. The Peshawar-to-Quetta Jaffar Express will remain suspended from August 10 to 13, while the Quetta-to-Peshawar service will be halted from August 11 to 14. The Karachi-to-Quetta Bolan Mail will also be suspended from August 10 to 15. Train services will resume only after security clearance is obtained. The decision follows a derailment incident earlier in the day, when an explosion near Spezand in Quetta damaged five coaches of the Jaffar Express,…
Gilgit Landslide Kills 8 Volunteers Amid Flood Repairs Tragedy struck the mountainous city of Gilgit on Monday as a sudden landslide claimed the lives of eight local volunteers working to repair flood damage at Danyor Nullah. Several others were injured, and rescue operations are still underway to locate individuals believed to be trapped beneath tonnes of earth and rock. According to rescue officials, the disaster unfolded without warning, catching workers off guard as they tried to restore a critical water channel damaged during recent floods. This heartbreaking incident is the latest in a series of weather-related disasters to hit the…
Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ice Stupas: Turning Winter Ice into Spring Water Lifelines Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan – In the rugged, high-altitude landscapes of Gilgit-Baltistan, an innovative water conservation method is changing lives. Known as ice stupas, these frozen towers store water during winter and release it in spring, helping communities survive the dry months. From Ladakh to Gilgit-Baltistan The region’s first ice stupa appeared in 2019 in the village of Paari. It was part of a project by Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In 2022, agriculture officer Mohammad Raza built one in Hussainabad village near Skardu. He…
Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti reaffirmed state authority against armed groups Quetta – Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has reaffirmed that no group of armed militants will be allowed to impose its ideology on Pakistan’s 250 million citizens. Speaking at a conference in Quetta on Saturday, Bugti declared that the province’s future lies in peace, unity, and constructive dialogue — not violence. Peace Returning to Balochistan Addressing recent challenges, Bugti acknowledged that the security situation in Balochistan has worsened in recent months, with militants intensifying their activities. In February alone, the province accounted for nearly 62% of the country’s terr0r-related…
Reko Diq Mining Company has launched a community mentorship programme in Balochistan Reko Diq Mining Company has trained over 114 men and women from villages near its copper-gold project in Balochistan, equipping them with job-ready skills through a community mentorship programme. Skill Development for Future Opportunities Reko Diq Mining Company (RDMC) has launched a Community Mentorship Training Programme aimed at preparing young men and women in villages surrounding its copper-gold project in Balochistan for workforce opportunities. The initiative reflects RDMC’s long-term commitment to developing local talent and bridging the gap between vocational education and real-world employment. Training Reaches Over 114…
Field Marshal Asim Munir Meets US Leadership, Attends CENTCOM Change of Command Ceremony Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, is on an official visit to the United States, where he has engaged in high-level interactions with senior political and military leadership, as well as the Pakistani diaspora. The visit, reported by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen Pakistan–US ties and promote strategic cooperation. Participation in CENTCOM Change of Command During his trip, FM Asim Munir attended the Retirement Ceremony of General Michael E. Kurilla, outgoing Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM),…
PM Shehbaz Sharif Approves 100MW Solar Power Project for Gilgit-Baltistan Fulfilling a promise to the region, the government aims to curb the energy crisis with clean and renewable power. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has approved a 100-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant for Gilgit-Baltistan. This move delivers on a pledge he made during his recent visit to the region. He promised residents that their power needs would receive urgent attention. The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) cleared the project in record time. It will directly benefit nine districts: Astore, Diamer, Ghanche, Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Skardu, and Shigar. Phased Implementation…
India revoked Articles 370 & 35-A, stripping Kashmir’s autonomy and protections Kashmir — known for its beauty and resilience — has faced decades of political turmoil and restrictions. On August 5, 2019, India delivered one of its most consequential moves by unilaterally revoking Articles 370 and 35-A. These provisions had granted Jammu and Kashmir a measure of autonomy, its own constitution, and safeguards for its demographic identity. The decision was implemented without Kashmiri consent, in violation of the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions, and the Fourth Geneva Convention. The region was placed under lockdown, with mass detentions, communication blackouts,…
After the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan is positioned as the key link between Central Asia and global markets. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 reshaped the Eurasian power map. Without a direct presence, Washington now seeks new ways to protect its strategic and economic interests. Pakistan, with its geographic position, emerges as the natural land bridge connecting the resource-rich Central Asian Republics to global markets. This is not a new role. For centuries, trade routes like the Khyber Pass linked East and West. Today, the $482 million Khyber Pass Economic Corridor, part of the wider CAREC network, is…