Author: Abdulrehman

PARIS, May 16 (Reuters) – French shipping giant CMA CGM plans to reorganize its global fleet to circumvent upcoming U.S. port fees imposed on Chinese-built vessels, which will come into effect this October, according to the company’s CFO Ramon Fernandez. These port charges, introduced by the U.S. government to counter China’s shipbuilding dominance and boost American maritime transport, pose new operational challenges for shipping companies. However, recent adjustments by Washington have softened the impact of the fee scheme, Fernandez said in an interview with Reuters. With a fleet of roughly 670 ships, less than half are Chinese-built, allowing CMA CGM…

RAWALPINDI – The water level in Khanpur Dam has seen a significant drop and, according to official figures released on Saturday, the reservoir may only last a few more days if the trend continues. As per the latest data, Khanpur Dam’s water level has decreased from 1982 feet to 1930 feet, leaving just 20 feet before reaching its dead level of 1910 feet. This alarming reduction has sparked concerns over the continuity of water supply to Rawalpindi and Islamabad, which rely heavily on the dam. On Saturday, the dam recorded a water inflow of only 57 cusecs, while the outflow…

LAHORE – Good news for residents of Islamabad as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast a rainy Sunday with partly cloudy skies in the capital. According to the latest advisory, thunderstorms and rain are expected to bring some temporary relief from the ongoing heatwave affecting the region. Temperatures on Sunday are predicted to range between 39°C and 41°C, offering a slight drop from the scorching weather experienced recently. On Saturday, the federal capital recorded a high of 40°C, with humidity levels remaining below 30%. While the upcoming rain may help reduce the heat, it could also cause localized disruptions,…

LAHORE (Dunya News) – On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held an important meeting with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif in Raiwind, where they discussed significant matters related to politics and foreign affairs. During the meeting, PM Shehbaz briefed Nawaz Sharif on the progress of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, national security updates, and the current political landscape to ensure continued national unity. He also shared details of his recent engagements with foreign leaders and delegations. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also in attendance. Shehbaz Sharif commended the bravery and unity of Pakistan’s armed forces and its citizens, describing their resilience as a…

In a major milestone for infrastructure development, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has greenlit the construction of a 235-kilometer, four-lane motorway that will run from Mansehra through Kaghan, Naran, Jhal Kund, and terminate at Chilas. This transformative project is expected to greatly improve regional connectivity and significantly shorten travel durations. Once completed, the Mansehra-Kaghan-Naran-Chilas Motorway will cut current travel time from seven hours down to just two hours, offering a modern, high-speed, and secure route through the scenic northern belt of Pakistan. Furthermore, the motorway will serve as a crucial part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), boosting both tourism…

LAHORE – Pakistani music has been quietly removed from Indian streaming platforms — most notably Spotify — after the Indian government issued an advisory on May 8 instructing digital platforms to take down all Pakistani-origin content. According to NDTV, popular songs like ‘Maand’, ‘Jhol’, and ‘Faasle’ vanished from Spotify India starting Wednesday night. The move comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, which India attributes to Pakistan-based groups. Pakistan, in response, has strongly rejected the allegations and called for an independent investigation. Although a ceasefire agreement was reached shortly after, India’s Ministry of Information…

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has expressed optimism that Pakistan will steer clear of financial crises similar to those faced by Sri Lanka and Ghana. According to Georgieva, Pakistan has fulfilled all the necessary criteria to secure a crucial $1.1 billion bailout from the IMF, as confirmed by the Pakistani government. Addressing concerns about a potential default, Georgieva reassured that Pakistan is currently not on the brink of such a crisis. “It is best not to get there, and currently, we are not there yet,” she said during a press briefing in Washington. The IMF chief emphasized…

Despite a consistent drop in global oil prices, the federal government has opted not to provide full relief to domestic consumers, keeping petrol prices unchanged for another review period. This decision marks the third instance in the past two months where reductions in international oil prices were not passed on to the public. The current price of petrol remains fixed at Rs252.63 per liter, even though there was ample room to reduce rates. Instead, authorities have chosen to increase the Inland Freight Equalization Margin (IFEM) by Rs1.87 per liter. This adjustment was introduced as a measure to recover losses sustained…

The Government of India has issued official notices to leading e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Etsy, and Ubuy India, ordering an immediate stop to the sale of Pakistani flags and Pakistan-related patriotic merchandise. The action comes in response to several public complaints. Indian Union Minister confirmed via a post on X (formerly Twitter) that all listed platforms were directed to remove such listings from their websites. All involved companies were instructed to delete related images and videos immediately, as their availability was cited as a violation of Indian laws. The minister further stressed the importance of strict adherence to…

Pakistan has achieved a historic milestone in digital inclusion by recording the fastest reduction in the mobile internet gender gap globally, according to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025. The report highlights that Pakistan’s gender gap in mobile internet usage shrank from 38% in 2023 to 25% in 2024, marking a 13 percentage point drop — the most significant year-on-year improvement among the 80 countries surveyed. This remarkable progress translates to 8 million Pakistani women gaining access to mobile internet in 2024 alone, alongside 5 million men. This increase is a landmark moment in the country’s efforts to bridge…