Lahore tops world pollution list at 590 before air eases by evening
The Punjab government blames fireworks across the border in part, and an assessment of how much came from where is due on Tuesday
Top stories
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EDITORIAL
Publish the Tarbela 5 report, and make someone answer for it
Water has broken into the extension twice in 15 months. Pakistan needs this dam, which is why it needs the inquiry findings on the table and not another assurance
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CULTURE
US rock band Burn the Ballroom makes new music with Pakistani artists
The American band played for students in Islamabad and headlined a concert for the United States’ 250th anniversary, the US Embassy says
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NATIONAL
Khawaja Asif backs up to 12 provinces, but not on ethnic or language lines
The defence minister says power and funds must move from provincial capitals to local institutions, as the MQM-P renews its demand for new administrative units in Sindh
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ANALYSIS
The Nvidia affair shows how far the AI chip war now reaches
A spy memo, a board inquiry and a confession from Jensen Huang: what the scandal at the world’s most important chipmaker means for the contest between Washington and Beijing, and for Pakistan
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ANALYSIS
After losing Congress, Trump is closing ranks
A combative new chief of staff, prosecutors pointed at Democrats and a cage-fighting promoter offered the press podium: what Trump’s first four days after the midterms say about the next two years, and what they mean for Pakistan
Ask Pakistan. Get the proof.
- What did the budget change for salaried workers?
- Why did the State Bank hold the rate?
- How much have remittances risen?
Every answer from Thursday Times reporting and the official record. On WhatsApp too.
Featured
Trump lists ‘great dislike’ of Israel among reasons Republicans lost
In his first sit-down interview since the midterms, the US president put hostility towards Israel alongside the Iran war and fuel prices, and said he did not disagree with JD Vance’s verdict on the defeat
Forces clear terrorist hideouts inside two Mir Ali mosques, ISPR says
The military says the terrorists used the mosques in Muzak village to store explosives and run torture cells, and that a clearance operation is continuing in the area
Maryam Nawaz is right: no exam should wait for a VIP
The Punjab chief minister removed an officer who moved an intermediate exam for her visit and ordered no closures for her tours. The order now needs to become a rule for every province
More stories
Tarbela 5 work halted as water floods power house site, workers safe
Meet Robia and Jojo, the Pakistani-built robots serving pizza in Karachi
Pakistani AI startup RLabs wins award at Silicon Valley summit
Trump says Task Force Iron Gate is ‘in full force’ against Iran
Nvidia board investigates Jensen Huang over link to suspected Chinese spy
Diwali lights up Pakistan, from Karachi’s bazaars to Mithi’s streets
Zohran Mamdani wishes New York a happy Diwali with a film of diyas
Araghchi tells Washington to take Iran’s two-day offer or face war
Eisenkot gets the mandate to form Israel’s next government
Trump says America ‘took a giant step back’ with midterm results
NADRA stops flu and meningitis jab bookings for Umrah travellers
Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten century gives Pakistan U19 win over India
KP to set up faceless anti-terrorism courts, spend Rs70bn on police and CTD
Cheaper cars are welcome. Safer cars are overdue
Mars may still be volcanically alive, European orbiter finds
Maryam Nawaz removes Jhelum DC and orders exam back to original date
Shrapnel damages Aramco building in Riyadh as Houthi missiles are shot down
The Lahore sound: why the world’s biggest DJs are chasing Pakistani pop
Publish the Tarbela 5 report, and make someone answer for it
Water has broken into the extension twice in 15 months. Pakistan needs this dam, which is why it needs the inquiry findings on the table and not another assurance
The river was not to blame last time. The public deserves to see the evidence this time.
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Cheaper cars are welcome. Safer cars are overdue
The new auto policy starts from an honest diagnosis. It will be judged on the dates, the enforcement and the sums the government has not yet shown
9 min read
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A slogan on the tin will not feed Pakistan’s babies
The drug regulator’s new formula label is welcome. But Pakistan has had a strong law against formula marketing since 2002, and it has barely been enforced
8 min read
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Keep the Islamabad channel open
The US vice president now speaks to Field Marshal Munir almost daily. Pakistan should use that trust to push for a ceasefire that reopens Hormuz, and never let mediation become participation
7 min read
The Nvidia affair shows how far the AI chip war now reaches
A spy memo, a board inquiry and a confession from Jensen Huang: what the scandal at the world’s most important chipmaker means for the contest between Washington and Beijing, and for Pakistan
The contest between Washington and Beijing over AI now reaches into the private life of the industry’s most important executive.
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After losing Congress, Trump is closing ranks
A combative new chief of staff, prosecutors pointed at Democrats and a cage-fighting promoter offered the press podium: what Trump’s first four days after the midterms say about the next two years, and what they mean for Pakistan
8 min read
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What peace in the Gulf would be worth to Pakistan
Cheaper fuel, Qatari gas back for the winter, a safer path for Reko Diq and protection for the Gulf jobs behind Pakistan’s remittances: the sums behind the country’s stake in a US-Iran deal
7 min read
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Five Indian-origin Republicans ran in the midterms. All five lost
Vivek Ramaswamy’s defeat in Ohio led a clean sweep against the party’s Indian-origin candidates, as Indian-origin Democrats won from Florida to Arizona and the community’s vote swung hard against Trump
7 min read
Words by
Dr Yasir Arafat
Pakistan’s mineral ambitions need more than mines
As global investors gather for PMIF26, Pakistan must look beyond mineral extraction and invest in the infrastructure, skills and industries that can turn its geological wealth into lasting prosperity
Words by
Justice Markandey Katju
The fetish of democracy
“90% of Indians have feudal, not rational, mindsets, full of casteism and communalism, which I often call ‘gobar’, so they are unfit to vote,” writes former Supreme Court of India Justice Markandey Katju.
Words by
Justice Markandey Katju
The way out for India
Elections cannot end India’s poverty and division, the former Supreme Court of India judge argues. Only a united people’s struggle can
Words by
Dr Muhammad Bux Dharejo
Sehat Dehleez is Balochistan’s healthcare breakthrough
Free consultations, e-prescriptions, referrals and family health records on one public platform: Balochistan has built a model the rest of Pakistan can learn from.
Pakistan in Numbers
The prices and figures behind your bills and savings, kept up to date.
See all the numbers- InflationHow fast prices are rising, over a year10.3%Down from 11.1%Sep 2026
- PetrolPrice of a litreRs 346.00Down from Rs 352.597 Nov 2026
- Foreign reservesDollars the State Bank holds$21.52bnUp from $21.49bn23 Oct 2026
- Dollar rateRupees for one US dollarRs 276.55Down from Rs 276.668 Nov 2026
- Stock marketThe KSE-100 index173,887Down from 175,3806 Nov 2026
- Load-sheddingPower shortfall, as reported4,000 MWUp from 3,600 MW6 Oct 2026
How Pakistan lives.
Westline
How markets and wars dictate society.
Read Westline
The backlog Britain built
Ministers of both parties have spent a decade blaming the people in the queue. The numbers point at the people running it.
Abdullah Esquire
The Tories edge past Reform, but credibility is the real fight
Abdullah Esquire
Trump’s infatuation with Munir is a love letter to charisma
The Editorial Desk
Every Starmer stumble brings Kemi closer
TT Monitoring Desk
No backpacks, no passengers: UAE delivery riders face new rules from January
Riders must carry orders in approved boxes, wear uniforms, carry valid permits and never give anyone a lift while working, under federal traffic rules that take effect on January 1
UAE’s new traffic rules from January: five-car cap, child seats, nine-hour limit
What changes for drivers, delivery riders and e-scooter users under regulations taking effect on January 1
Hormuz crisis has drained nearly a billion barrels from world oil stocks, ADNOC chief says, as shipping hits 30% of a barrel’s cost
“The world has eroded its supply buffers,” Sultan Al Jaber tells the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi, with diesel stocks at a 35-year seasonal low in some markets
Shrapnel damages Aramco building in Riyadh as Houthi missiles are shot down
Saudi Arabia says an Aramco administrative building in the capital was hit in an attempted attack, with no one hurt, as air defences destroyed four Houthi missiles fired at Riyadh and the south
Aramco profit jumps 34.5% to $36.25bn despite attacks and lower output
Higher oil prices and a joint venture exit lifted the Saudi oil giant’s earnings, even as the Iran war cut its output and its facilities came under fire.
Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi ballistic missile after strikes on Yemen’s Ras Isa port, as Houthis threaten Aramco
Civil defence alerts were issued and lifted across southern Saudi cities, while Houthi media say seven people were wounded in coalition strikes in Hodeidah province.
Khawaja Asif backs up to 12 provinces, but not on ethnic or language lines
The defence minister says power and funds must move from provincial capitals to local institutions, as the MQM-P renews its demand for new administrative units in Sindh
Tarbela 5 work halted as water floods power house site, workers safe
WAPDA says a weak rock mass gave way during tunnel excavation and that no one was hurt; the Haripur administration says a protective bund breached and an inquiry will look into the cause
Pakistani AI startup RLabs wins award at Silicon Valley summit
The firm, led by NUST graduate Harris Ahmed, beat 17 international startups at Plug and Play’s November summit with technology that trains people and machines in simulated worlds
Why Afghanistan is called a global hub of terrorism
UN monitors, US intelligence and Russia all warn of terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, as Pakistan becomes the country most affected by terrorism.
Through the Maldives, Pakistan stakes a claim to a bigger Indian Ocean role
A maritime security pact signed during President Muizzu’s visit gives Islamabad a foothold in waters New Delhi has long treated as its own backyard.
Asim Munir and Maldives’ Muizzu agree to deepen defence cooperation
The army chief met the Maldivian president in Islamabad on the second day of the first visit by a Maldivian head of state in 11 years, as the two countries signed a defence and maritime security pact.
Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten century gives Pakistan U19 win over India
Pakistan recovered from 61 for five to chase down 209 with three wickets to spare in Oman and go top of Group A at the Under-19 Asia Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo retires from Portugal after 23 years, 234 caps and 146 goals
The 41-year-old hands back the number 7 shirt, weeks after walking out of the national camp
Hunza’s Maliha Ali stuns Russian champion at MMA World Championships
The 24-year-old won by split decision to reach the quarter-finals in Tbilisi, where her twin sister Manesha is also chasing a world title
From the paper’s own studio
Campaigns, films, adverts and launches, made in-house by the people who make the paper. Brands, causes and institutions can hire the same team.
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The names and the hits
The people who have written for The Thursday Times, and the stories readers came for most.
Written for The Thursday Times
Reham KhanBroadcaster, formerly of the BBCCelebrity sufferings
Mohammad Ishaq DarDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign MinisterPurchasing power is being squeezed from the common man
Mian Javed LatifPML-N member of the National Assemblyعمران خان کا ایجنڈا
Absar AlamFormer PEMRA chairmanجنرل باجوہ کا بیٹا اور میرا بیٹا
Hina Parvez ButtPML-N, Punjab Assemblyلوٹ کے بدھو گھر کو آ رہے ہیں
Ahmad JawadFormer PTI information secretaryقیامت سے قیامت تک
Ammar MasoodChief editor, WE Newsاک نئی قرداد پاکستان
Hammad HassanColumnist, Jangثاقب نثار کے جرائم
Most read, all time
- World Bank places Pakistan in MENA, ending South Asia classification
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- Jemima Goldsmith finds love again with Irish financier Cameron O’Reilly
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- COMMENTARYThe Superstar Playboy Politicians
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- TORQUEPlanning a motorway trip? Here’s how to get your M-Tag, and what happens if you don’t
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