ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s passport has dropped nine places to 183rd globally in 2026, reversing the modest improvement recorded over the past three years, according to the latest Passport Reports ranking published by Gulf News. Pakistan has a Mobility Score of 42, meaning Pakistani passport holders can access 42 destinations through visa-free entry, visas on arrival or electronic travel authorisations (eTAs). Of these, only nine destinations offer visa-free access, while 29 provide visas on arrival and four permit entry through eTAs. Travellers holding Pakistani passports must obtain visas in advance for the remaining 156 destinations covered by the index. The nine visa-free…
Author: Faisal Waqas
ISLAMABAD: The federal government is considering a three-day-a-week “smart lockdown” across the country to curb fuel consumption amid a sharp rise in petroleum prices linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The proposal came under discussion at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday to assess the impact of rising fuel prices and explore measures to ease the burden on consumers. According to sources, the government is considering a four-day working week for public and private offices, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday proposed as holidays. The plan also envisages reducing transport activity and introducing a rotational…
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to make SMS-based registration for the government’s petrol subsidy scheme free of charge to facilitate eligible citizens. The decision is intended to remove the cost associated with sending registration messages and improve access to the fuel relief programme. Under the scheme, motorcycles, rickshaws, three-wheelers and cars with engine capacities of up to 800cc are eligible for the subsidy. Applicants can register by sending their CNIC number and vehicle details to 9771 from a SIM registered in their own name. The prime minister has directed the relevant authorities to facilitate applicants during the…
RIYADH (LAHORE MIRROR) — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday issued emergency alerts in Jeddah, Taif and the holy city of Makkah, warning residents of a “potential danger” and urging them to seek shelter and follow safety instructions. The alerts were issued through the National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies, according to the Saudi Civil Defence. Authorities did not immediately disclose the nature of the threat. The warnings came amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement, which has claimed a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi territory and infrastructure in recent days. The Saudi-led coalition has…
There was a time when being middle class in Pakistan meant living modestly but with dignity. A family could hope to buy fruit regularly, send its children to a decent school, pay electricity bills and fill the car with petrol without calculating every rupee. That promise is rapidly disappearing. Today, a family can have a respectable income on paper and still struggle to afford what should be considered a normal life. Fruit has become a luxury. Good private schooling is increasingly out of reach. Electricity bills consume an alarming share of household income, while petrol prices repeatedly squeeze transport and…
ISLAMABAD (LAHORE MIRROR) — The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has increased electricity prices by Rs0.52 per unit under the quarterly adjustment mechanism, placing an additional burden of Rs12.67 billion on consumers. According to a notification issued by Nepra, the increase was approved under the second quarterly adjustment of the current fiscal year. The additional charge will be reflected in electricity bills for September, October and November 2026. The increase will apply to consumers across the country, including those served by K-Electric. The latest hike is the second increase announced by Nepra within a week. On Sept 4, the…
LAHORE (LAHORE MIRROR) — Police have registered a case against three unidentified men after a viral CCTV video showed a group allegedly assaulting workers at a petrol pump on Airport Road and threatening them with a rifle. The case was registered at South Cantt police station on the complaint of the petrol pump administration following the incident, which occurred at around 5:10am on Sept 6, according to the FIR. The incident began when one of the suspects allegedly got out of a vehicle and attempted to urinate at the petrol pump. After workers stopped him, an argument reportedly broke out…
WhatsApp is working on a new feature that would allow people without a WhatsApp account to join voice and video calls through a web link, according to a report by WhatsApp-focused website WABetaInfo. The feature, which is currently under development, would allow guests to join a call through a secure link without installing the WhatsApp application or creating an account. It is not yet available for testing. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp users will be able to create a call link from the Calls tab, select the type of call and share the link with another person. Recipients who do not…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has opened a new export avenue for donkey meat and hides to China, creating potential opportunities for livestock breeders, farmers and exporters. The development follows the government’s approval of protocols governing exports of donkey meat and hides to China, with shipments being processed through approved facilities in the Gwadar Free Zone. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved the export of donkey meat and hides from Gwadar Port to China in April, following a proposal from the Food Security Division. Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research has said the emerging industry could encourage investment in donkey breeding,…
BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after the party secured a major electoral victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, saying the result had shaken his conservative party “to its very foundations”. The AfD won nearly 44 per cent of the vote in Sunday’s state election, emerging as the largest party and dealing a major blow to Merz’s ruling coalition. Despite its strong performance, the AfD fell short of an outright majority, winning 39 of the state legislature’s 83 seats. The party is now seeking support from individual lawmakers from…
