Kuwait's foreign minister arrives in Pakistan for bilateral talks

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday on a two-day official visit to hold bilateral talks. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Sheikh Jarrah arrived in Islamabad at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Upon his arrival at Islamabad International Airport, the Kuwaiti foreign minister was received by Zahid Hussain, Additional Secretary for the Middle East at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “During the visit, the two sides will hold talks covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the statement said. H.E. Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, arrived in Islamabad today on an official visit at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50. Upon arrival at Islamabad… pic.twitter.com/7sOY6qtx22 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 28, 2026 The Foreign Office said the visit reflected the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Kuwait, anchored in shared history, mutual trust and close cooperation. The visit comes in the backdrop of renewed attacks on Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council states by Iran as part of the recent escalation of the conflict. Earlier, Kuwait came under sustained attack, with the armed forces saying they had intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, and that several firefighters and oil sector workers had been injured while responding to the attacks. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had struck a US military support centre at Kuwait's Camp Arifjan and destroyed a radar facility at Ali Al Salem Air Base. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation later said one of its oil facilities had been hit in "repeated Iranian attacks", causing significant damage and some injuries, according to the state news agency.

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Govt announces Rs1.63 increase in petrol, Rs1.55 in diesel price for July 29

The federal government on Tuesday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.63 and Rs1.55 per litre, respectively, a day after reducing the petrol price. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, the price of petrol has been fixed at Rs335.81 per litre, while HSD will now cost Rs388.38 per litre with effect from July 29. The latest revision comes a day after the government reduced the price of petrol by Re1 per litre, while increasing the price of high-speed diesel by Rs3.37 per litre. Read: Govt decreases petrol price by Re1, increases HSD price by Rs3.37 for July 28 On July 17, the government introduced a daily fuel price review mechanism amid volatility in global oil prices following renewed hostilities in the Middle East. The daily fuel prices are based on a seven-day average of international market rates to align with international standards. Oil prices spiked to $100 a barrel for the first time since May last week on July 23, major tech giants knocked US stocks lower, and Europe's borrowing costs spiked to long-term highs in an unsettling day across markets. Brent crude jumped 6% to $100.50 a barrel following attacks on tankers in the Red Sea that choked off a second crucial Middle East artery for global oil supplies alongside Iran's near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It marked the first time the international oil benchmark had hit that level since late May as the US-Iran war has heated up again.  

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Kuwait foreign minister to visit Pakistan from July 28 to 29

Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah will undertake an official visit to Pakistan from July 28 to 29 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the Foreign Office said on Monday. According to an official statement, the visiting dignitary will "hold talks with Ishaq Dar during his stay, with both sides expected to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and discuss regional and international developments of mutual interest". The statement added that the Kuwaiti foreign minister is also scheduled to call on Pakistan’s leadership as part of his official engagements. 🔈 PR No. 1️⃣9️⃣0️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Curtain Raiser: Visit of the Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait to Pakistan (28–29 July 2026) 🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xi5FJ70s2s — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 27, 2026 The Foreign Office said the visit "reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Kuwait to further strengthen their longstanding partnership and expand cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries". The visit comes in the backdrop of renewed attacks on Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council states by Iran as part of the recent escalation of the conflict. READ: Iran renews attacks on Gulf states after another night of US strikes Earlier, Kuwait came under sustained attack, with the armed forces saying they had intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, and that several firefighters and oil sector workers had been injured while responding to the attacks. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had struck a US military support centre at Kuwait's Camp Arifjan and destroyed a radar facility at Ali Al Salem Air Base. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation later said one of its oil facilities had been hit in "repeated Iranian attacks", causing significant damage and some injuries, according to the state news agency.

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Evening shift launched for consular services at Foreign Office

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Monday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) had introduced an evening shift for consular services, extending working hours to facilitate citizens. According to an official announcement posted by FM Dar on X, consular services would now be available from 8am to 8pm, Monday through Friday, significantly increasing accessibility and convenience for the public. The initiative is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to enhance efficiency and ensure citizen-centric service delivery. Officials said details of the revised timings had been outlined in a public notice issued by the ministry. As part of our commitment to improving public service delivery, I am pleased to announce the launch of an Evening Shift for Consular Services at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Citizens can now avail Consular Services from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, making our… pic.twitter.com/3ibNmUhsBG — Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) July 27, 2026 Previously, consular services at the MOFA were provided during regular government working hours, with citizens required to visit relevant offices within the designated daytime schedule. The limited timings often posed challenges for individuals, particularly overseas Pakistanis and working professionals, who faced difficulties in accessing services during conventional office hours. The introduction of an evening shift aims to address these concerns by extending service availability and providing greater flexibility to applicants.

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School access blocked by aggressive excavation

Residents have alleged that a private housing society has dug deep trenches around the Government Boys Primary School Dhoke Syedo in the suburban area of Dhoke Syedo, leaving hundreds of students, teachers and local residents facing severe difficulties while exposing children to serious safety risks. According to local residents, excavation on all four sides of the school has made access extremely difficult and dangerous for students. Young children are forced to pass close to the trenches every day, raising fears that a major accident could occur at any time. Parents said such excavation around an educational institution is not only putting children's lives at risk but is also disrupting their education. Residents alleged that the private housing society dug the trenches around the school in an attempt to occupy land or expand its boundaries, restricting access to the government educational institution. They warned that if the authorities fail to take immediate notice, the trenches could become deeper and more dangerous during the rainy season, increasing the risk of a major tragedy. Local residents, parents and members of civil society have called on the deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi, the assistant commissioner of Taxila, the education department, revenue authorities and other relevant institutions to intervene immediately. They demanded that the trenches around the school be filled without delay, safe access for students be restored and a transparent inquiry be conducted. They further urged that if any individual or institution is found responsible for illegal encroachment or an attempt to occupy land, strict legal action should be taken.

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MQM-P begins street movement for Karachi rights, seeks constitutional reforms

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Sunday launched the first protest demonstration of its announced street movement for Karachi's rights in Shah Faisal Town, with party leaders criticising the Sindh government over civic issues and demanding greater constitutional powers and administrative authority for the city. Senior MQM-P leaders, including members of the National Assembly and Sindh Assembly, attended the gathering, where senior leader and former Karachi mayor Syed Mustafa Kamal was welcomed by party workers. Addressing the rally, Kamal alleged that Karachi had been deprived of its due rights for years and accused the Sindh government of failing to address the city's worsening civic conditions. Read: MQM-P renews call for new provinces, announces street protests over Karachi rights "People in Sindh are facing genocide. This has been happening for 18 years," he claimed, adding that the time had come to decide whether the existing system, under which "our generations are being deprived of their rights", should continue. He said MQM-P was not speaking against Pakistan but was demanding constitutional rights for Karachi and its residents. "We want our rights according to the Constitution of Pakistan. We want rights for our children," he said. Kamal argued that Karachi's problems stemmed from governance rather than a lack of resources, claiming that the Sindh government had received Rs22,000 billion but had failed to spend the funds on the city. He also claimed that during his tenure as mayor, Karachi had ranked among the world's 12 developed cities after development spending of Rs300bn. Alleging that the federal government was not withholding funds for Karachi, he accused the Sindh government of failing to utilise the city's allocated resources. "We need a change in this system," he said, while adding that MQM-P's struggle would remain peaceful and aimed at securing constitutional rights. The former mayor criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), alleging that it had blocked local government-related constitutional amendments. He also called for a new constitutional amendment providing a mechanism for creating new administrative units. Read More: MQM-P steps up 'new province' push "A city that provides 70 per cent of the country's revenue should at least be provided with resources. If you can bring the 27th Amendment, then we also want the 28th Amendment," he said. Kamal described the current demonstrations as only the beginning of the party's movement. "This is only our net practice; the actual match has not started yet," he said. Addressing concerns over administrative reforms, he said MQM-P was not seeking to divide Sindh. "We are not talking about breaking Sindh; we are talking about saving Sindh," he said, likening the creation of new administrative units to adding rooms or floors to a house without dividing it. He announced that the party would continue holding protest gatherings over the next 30 days before issuing a final call for a larger movement. "In that final call, we will sit on the highways until our rights are given," he said. Provincial lawmaker Shariq Jamal also addressed the gathering, accusing the PPP of failing to resolve Karachi's civic problems and urging residents to continue peaceful protests. "There is no electricity, no healthcare and no education. Until people come out of their homes, these issues will not be resolved," he said. Senior MQM-P leader Anees Qaimkhani said the protest campaign would continue and warned that the party's movement would intensify in the coming weeks.

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Bilawal criticises PML-N over portraying public buses as personal gifts, urges AJK voters to back PPP

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday criticised the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) for portraying publicly funded buses as personal gifts, as he made a final appeal to voters in Mirpur Division to support the party's 'arrow' symbol in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections held on Monday (tomorrow). "These buses are not anyone's gift; they are the people's right," Bilawal said in a special message issued from Islamabad on the eve of polling. Asserting that the PPP had delivered practical development rather than merely making promises, he criticised what he described as politically timed development announcements, saying projects financed through taxpayers' money should not be portrayed as personal gifts by political leaders. Launching a political attack on the PML-N, Bilawal said the people of "Kashmir and Kashmore, Mirpur and Mirpur Khas" shared the same spirit of defending their rights and would not allow anyone to undermine their claim over their land or future. Mian Sahib @NawazSharifMNS , bura na manain Magar Kashmir ho ya Kashmore, Mirpur ho ya Mirpurkhas, In ke sirf naam nahin milte; inka mizaj bhi milta hai, inki ghairat bhi milti hai aur apne haq ke liye kharay hone ka hausla bhi milta hai. Kashmore ho ya Kashmir koi apne… pic.twitter.com/egV52it88d — Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 26, 2026 He claimed that just as the PML-N had been rejected by voters in previous elections in Kashmir and Kashmore, the electorate would repeat that verdict in the current polls. Bilawal described the election as a referendum on the rights, development and future of AJK. He urged voters to give the PPP a strong mandate, pledging that the party would not compromise on the rights of the people of AJK and would continue its struggle to secure what he described as the rights of sovereignty, ownership and employment for Kashmiris. کشمور ہو یا کشمیر - کوئی اپنے حق پر کسی کو ڈاکا نہیں ڈالنے دے گا، پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا ویڈیو پیغام#MirpurMainTeerChaleyGa pic.twitter.com/RdIDWupCJI — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 26, 2026 "The people of Mirpur sacrificed their homes and land for the Mangla Dam and it is because of those sacrifices that much of Pakistan was electrified," he said. "No one can deny that the people of AJK have an equal stake in the region's resources, decisions and future," Bilawal said, adding that Pakistan owed a debt to Mirpur for its sacrifices rather than doing it a favour. Read: Bilawal vows to protect AJK rights, accuses PML-N of pursuing 'anti-Kashmir' agenda He argued that the people of AJK should enjoy the same fundamental rights as every Pakistani citizen, including what he termed the rights of sovereignty, ownership and employment. Bilawal also called for the immediate establishment of a dedicated compensation fund for those affected by the recent violence, saying such measures would help restore public confidence and normalcy. He concluded by urging voters in Mirpur Division to stamp the arrow symbol and vote for development, prosperity and the protection of the rights of the people of Azad Kashmir.

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