Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Turkey’s success is Pakistan’s success during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Saturday. He described Pakistan and Turkey as two hearts of the same soul and vowed to strengthen their special friendship and cooperation. Sharif expressed gratitude for Erdogan’s warm hospitality and said he always enjoys visiting Istanbul.

Sharif highlighted the deep historical and spiritual ties between the two nations, rooted in shared faith, mutual sacrifices, and brotherhood. He noted that Turkey has always stood by Pakistan during difficult times such as wars, earthquakes, and floods. The two leaders held what Sharif described as a productive and detailed discussion, focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and industry, and exploring ways to raise bilateral trade to five billion dollars.

Sharif also thanked Turkey for supporting the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and for backing Pakistan’s efforts toward regional peace. He emphasized that dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual respect are the most effective means to resolve disputes and maintain global peace.

Iran and the United States are preparing for their next round of talks, expected to take place on July 11. According to a report by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper citing diplomatic sources, Islamabad is the most likely venue, though Switzerland’s Burgenstock Resort is also under consideration. The final location has not yet been officially confirmed.

The agenda of the meeting includes discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, easing of sanctions, and the release of Iranian funds or assets frozen abroad. Regional security issues will also be addressed, particularly ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the recently established ceasefire in Lebanon.

The meeting follows an Islamabad memorandum of understanding signed two weeks earlier, which set a 60-day goal to reach a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear activities and related matters. The July 11 session is part of efforts to advance that process.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the late Iranian leader Khamenei’s deep influence will be remembered for generations. Sharif, who has served as a key mediator between the United States and Iran, attended the funeral held in Tehran, according to Al Jazeera.

In a social media post on Saturday, Sharif praised Khamenei’s wisdom, leadership, and lasting impact on Iran and the wider region. The Pakistani delegation also included Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Army Chief Asim Munir, along with other senior government officials.

The participation of Pakistan’s top leadership in the ceremony highlights the country’s diplomatic engagement with Iran and its recognition of Khamenei’s regional significance.

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced the withdrawal of an 18 percent sales tax on sanitary products and contraceptives in the 2026–27 national budget, a levy widely known as the “period tax.” The move has led to lower prices for sanitary napkins and related goods, bringing relief to consumers across the country, according to Middle East Eye.

UNICEF Pakistan welcomed the decision, calling it a meaningful step toward addressing period poverty and recognizing sanitary products as essential health and hygiene items rather than luxury goods. The policy shift followed a constitutional petition filed in January 2025 by women’s rights activist and lawyer Mahnoor Omar and tax lawyer Ahsan Jahangir Khan, who argued that the tax violated principles of equality and dignity. The Federal Board of Revenue initially defended the tax but later reversed its stance.

Activists noted that while the tax removal is a major milestone, social taboos, lack of awareness, and limited access to affordable sanitary products continue to hinder millions of women. They urged long-term efforts in education, awareness, and healthcare accessibility to ensure menstrual equity in Pakistan.

At least 40 people were killed and eight others injured when a passenger bus fell into a ravine near the border of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in Pakistan on Friday. The accident occurred shortly after the bus crossed from Sherani district’s Dana Sar area in Balochistan into Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Rescue operations began immediately after the crash.

According to a statement from Shahid Rind, media and political affairs adviser to the Balochistan Chief Minister, initial reports confirmed 40 deaths and eight injuries. Sherani Deputy Commissioner Wali Khan Kakar told Dawn that rescue teams and ambulances reached the site soon after the incident and transported the injured to hospitals. The bus had departed from Quetta for Peshawar carrying 36 passengers, but additional travelers boarded after another bus broke down along the route.

Authorities continued rescue efforts at the scene, with local administration coordinating emergency response and medical support for the victims.

Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik warned that any attempt by India to block or control Pakistan’s share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty would face severe retaliation. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Malik said that Pakistan would not tolerate interference with its water rights, responding to recent remarks by India’s Water Resources Minister C.R. Patil, who claimed India was ensuring no water flowed to Pakistan after suspending the 1960 treaty.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates six rivers between the two countries—three western rivers to Pakistan and three eastern rivers to India. India suspended the treaty following a deadly attack in Kashmir last year, which brought the two nations close to war. Pakistan argues that India is using water as a political weapon and warns that altering cross-border river flows would be considered an act of war.

Pakistan hosted an international conference on Tuesday to discuss water rights, with experts examining the treaty’s legal basis, regional security, and conflict prevention.

At least 14 children were killed when the roof of a coaching center collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna area on Tuesday. Five other children were injured and are receiving treatment at a local hospital. Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir said 19 children were rescued and taken to Kahna Hospital, but doctors could not save 14 of them despite efforts.

Rescue teams reported that more than 30 children were present in the center when the roof gave way, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation to free those trapped under the debris. Police said initial findings suggest construction work was ongoing on the upper floor when the collapse occurred during classes below.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident. The building owner and another individual have been taken into custody for questioning.

Pakistan’s security forces carried out ground and air operations along the Afghan border, killing 29 people, officials confirmed. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes targeted militant hideouts in response to a series of armed attacks across Pakistan. He stated that precision strikes destroyed targets in Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces of eastern Afghanistan. Afghan authorities have not yet issued any response.

The operation followed an assault on the paramilitary Rangers’ regional headquarters in Karachi, which left three soldiers dead. The Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for that attack. Authorities said the latest cross-border strikes targeted Pakistani Taliban bases and safe havens. Although the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban are separate groups, they maintain close ties.

The renewed offensive has heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, coming less than three weeks after earlier air raids in Afghanistan. Despite international mediation efforts, including a China-led meeting in April, ceasefire talks have failed. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban government of sheltering militants behind attacks in Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies.

Pakistan’s media regulator PEMRA has suspended the broadcast license of Geo News for 15 days, citing allegations that the channel aired content offensive to religious sentiments. According to Reuters, the decision followed the airing of a special program titled “Safar-e-Ishq” on June 26, which reportedly contained scenes that provoked public complaints. PEMRA stated that the material could incite unrest and threaten law and order, prompting the suspension order issued late on June 27. The directive applies to all distribution platforms, including satellite and cable networks.

In a statement on June 28, Geo News apologized for the incident, describing the broadcast as an unintentional error and confirming that the disputed content had been removed from all its platforms. Local media reported that Ibtisam Zahid, head of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, filed the complaint that led to the investigation. PEMRA has also instructed Geo News to review its editorial oversight and internal monitoring systems.

Religious sensitivity remains a highly regulated issue in Pakistan, where similar controversies have previously affected other media outlets. The country ranks 153rd out of 180 in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders.

Pakistan is considering purchasing oil and gas from Iran at lower prices following the end of the Iran–United States conflict and the lifting of sanctions on Tehran. Energy Minister Ali Parvez Malik announced the plan on Sunday, noting that the government aims to take advantage of the new trade opportunities with Iran.

Speaking in Lahore, Malik recalled that during the peak of the Iran–US conflict in April, petroleum prices had reached 460 rupees per liter, but global prices have since declined significantly. On June 17, Washington and Tehran signed the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ in Switzerland, mediated by Pakistan, under which the United States committed to lifting restrictions on Iran’s crude oil and petroleum exports, including related banking, insurance, and transport services.

Malik added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already passed on the benefits of lower energy costs to the public by reducing fuel prices.

At least seven people were killed in an armed assault on the Pakistan Rangers headquarters in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area on Saturday evening. According to Sindh Police Inspector General Javed Alam Odho, three Rangers personnel and four attackers were confirmed dead. The attackers reportedly used a vehicle loaded with explosives to ram the main gate before entering the compound and opening fire.

Odho stated that while the attackers struck the gate with a vehicle, it was not immediately confirmed whether an explosion occurred. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said he had taken immediate notice of the incident and directed officials to submit a detailed report. Following the attack, security forces cordoned off nearby roads and launched a joint clearance operation involving the Special Security Unit, Anti-Terrorist Force, and Rangers.

The Edhi Foundation reported that at least two people were injured and taken to hospital. The assault comes amid a rise in armed attacks targeting security forces across various regions of Pakistan.

Twenty-two Iranian sailors, previously detained by US authorities, have arrived in Karachi, Pakistan, according to Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. He stated that the sailors will soon be repatriated to Iran. Their release followed a preliminary agreement signed between Tehran and Washington in Switzerland, under which both sides agreed to restore diplomatic relations and resume technical-level discussions next week.

Dar said on social media that Pakistan is arranging for the sailors’ safe return to Iran as soon as possible. He added that Pakistan maintained close coordination with both US and Iranian authorities throughout the process, which enabled the sailors’ safe transfer to Karachi. Pakistan has so far assisted in the repatriation of more than 70 Iranian nationals.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that the sailors have been handed over to Iranian diplomats in Karachi and are expected to return to Iran within the next few days.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has accused India of using covert tactics and proxy forces to undermine his country’s peace and stability. Speaking at the passing-out parade of the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi, he said the entire nation remains united with an unbreakable resolve to thwart what he called the enemy’s malicious plans.

Sharif stated that Pakistan is facing multifaceted security challenges and alleged that its eastern neighbor, after suffering a humiliating counterattack last May, is attempting to disrupt Pakistan’s hard-earned peace. He added that Pakistan’s armed forces continue to confront foreign-backed terrorism emerging from the western border, with the nation standing shoulder to shoulder with them.

The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to pursue peace, dialogue, and diplomacy to resolve all outstanding disputes. He also emphasized that Pakistan will continue to advocate for the rights of Kashmiris, Gazans, and Palestinians.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has condemned what it called false and unverified reports by foreign media alleging that food supply vehicles were being blocked in Azad Jammu and Kashmir amid ongoing protests. The ministry lodged a formal complaint, stating that the reports were based on unverified claims and ignored official data and records.

According to the ministry’s statement, the spread of unverified news has become a recurring issue that requires corrective measures. The controversy follows violent demonstrations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) began protests on June 5 demanding the abolition of reserved assembly seats and increased employment opportunities. Following the unrest, the JAAC was declared a banned organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Several media outlets, including AFP, had reported that authorities restricted supplies of food, fuel, and medicine to control the protests, a claim Pakistan’s government has strongly denied.

Brazilian journalist and geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar has claimed that Pakistan’s military intelligence foiled an alleged Israeli plot to assassinate Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during a peace conference in Switzerland. Escobar made the claim in a discussion on social media platform X with Lebanese-Australian commentator Mario Nawfal, asserting that Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad was behind the plan targeting Munir and possibly other members of the Pakistani delegation.

According to Escobar, Pakistani intelligence acted after receiving what he described as highly reliable information about the plot. He said Pakistan then sent a direct warning to Israel through diplomatic channels, reportedly using Oman as an intermediary. Escobar linked the alleged plan to rising tensions between Israel and Pakistan, suggesting that the situation was more complex than publicly portrayed.

No officials from Israel, Pakistan, Switzerland, or the United States have confirmed the alleged assassination threat, and no public security alerts were issued during the conference. The event was attended by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir as part of peace discussions involving the United States and Iran.