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ISLAMABAD: The Third Harappa International Conference brought together leading scholars, urban planners, policymakers and cultural experts from around the world in the federal capital. Themed, “Human Settlements in Transition: From Historic Roots to Future Visions in South Asia,” it was kicked off on Friday at COMSATS University Islamabad. The conference was inaugurated by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. In his address, Dr Chaudhry highlighted the importance of drawing lessons from South Asia’s urban heritage to build inclusive and resilient cities. He also emphasised the role of the conference in connecting the young student body of the Department…

RAWALPINDI: As part of the underground cabling and beautification project in Raja Bazaar, adjacent to the historic Fawara Chowk, utility agencies have issued demand notices totalling Rs 223.3 million to the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC). The agencies include the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). Following the completion of a similar project in Saddar’s commercial areas and the conversion of Bank Road into a pedestrian-only street, the RMC has approved similar plans for Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market. In the first phase, IESCO issued…

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, has taken serious notice of an incident in which a student allegedly died following corporal punishment administered by a private school teacher in Tehsil Jamrud, Khyber district. The Chief Minister has directed the relevant authorities to submit a comprehensive report on the incident without delay. He also instructed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority to conduct a transparent and impartial inquiry, and to present its findings at the earliest. Condemning the alleged incident as "deeply tragic and reprehensible" Gandapur emphasized that corporal punishment in educational institutions is both a criminal offense and a morally…

Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet one step away from tying the knot?Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet, lovebirds who have been making headlines with their PDA moments, were recently caught having a very steamy conversation while sitting courtside. The conversation was leaked online and quickly caught people’s attention. Fans couldn’t help but say, “Get a room!” as the two seemed completely lost in each other, ignoring everyone else around them.This moment added more fuel to the growing buzz about their relationship getting stronger.However, a fan caught the Dune actor leaning in close to The Kardashians star with his arm around her, showing…

LAHORE: In Punjab, the Provincial Ombudsperson, the Women Protection Authority, and the Department of Women Development are tasked with handling cases of harassment. While all three departments claim to protect the rights of women in the province, the resultant bureaucratic maze enervates victims seeking justice. Asiya Ashraf, a victim of workplace harassment, revealed that as a government employee, she initially contacted the Women Development Department’s helpline. After filing a complaint, she was directed to the Punjab Women Protection Authority, which promised her justice. However, she was later told to approach the office of the Provincial Ombudsperson for Women. “My case…

LAHORE: The Lahore Arts Council, in collaboration with the High Commission of Canada, hosted a Canadian Film Festival. The festival featured a curated selection of eight acclaimed Canadian films, each exploring a range of human experiences and social themes. From intimate family narratives to broader societal issues, the films resonated with viewers and sparked conversations on shared values and diverse perspectives. High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan Leslie Scanlon attended the event and expressed her appreciation for the warm reception. “This festival is a celebration of cultural understanding and artistic collaboration. Cinema is a powerful medium that transcends borders, and…

KHUSHAB: The picturesque Soon Valley, home to historic and ecologically significant sites like Khabeki Lake and Kanhatti Bagh, is facing an environmental crisis due to prolonged drought, rampant deforestation, and repeated forest fires. Khabeki Lake — an internationally recognised Ramsar site and vital habitat for migratory water birds — has completely dried up. Once a thriving tourist attraction offering boating and wildlife viewing, the lake now stands barren. With water levels plummeting, fish populations are vanishing and tourism is rapidly declining. The situation is equally alarming at Kanhatti Bagh, a British-era botanical garden and a major draw for tourists during holidays…

DIJKOT: Faisalabad police have arrested a driver who falsely alleged that police personnel had robbed him of a truck load with livestock. An investigation has been launched after the authorities uncovered an insurance fraud behind the allegation. The incident occurred near Aminpur Bangla, where driver Sanaullah called Rescue 15, claiming that armed men in police uniform had hijacked his truck carrying cattle and abandoned him in a sugarcane field. SHO Shaqeeb Raza Butt grew suspicious during initial inquiries. During interrogation, Sanaullah confessed that the robbery had been staged to claim insurance money and offered Rs400,000 in bribe to the police…

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that the housing schemes that have been built should be regularised as soon as possible in accordance with the law. Chairing a meeting to discuss proposals on regularising the illegal housing societies in the province, she said government departments were equally responsible for the establishment of such schemes but the citizens who bought the property got punished. She added, “Why did the relevant institutions turn a blind eye when the illegal housing societies were being built. Money is taken from the poor people but plots are not given.” The chief minister…

Pop sensation Taylor Swift, who was locked in a feud with record executives since 2019 over ownership of her music, has bought back the rights to her entire back catalogue, she said Friday, as per AFP. “All of the music I’ve ever made now belongs to me,” she wrote on her website, after years of disputes over her first six albums, a number of which she rerecorded to create copies she owns herself. “To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it,” she wrote in the letter to her devoted followers. “To my…