ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday launched the “PM Apna Ghar Programme” under which housing loans of Rs10 million will be given on easy instalments.

The scheme will be implemented in the federal capital, all four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the launch ceremony in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz said a total of 500,000 housing units will be constructed under the programme, supported by a total allocation of Rs3.2 trillion.

The loans are to be returned in 20 years, he said. During the first 10 years, the markup on the loan will be 5 per cent, while in the next 10 years it will be charged at the market rate at the time.

The premier said that for the first year, the government has set a target to fund 50,000 houses for which an amount of Rs321 billion had been earmarked. Under the scheme, a maximum of 10 marla housing units will be allowed to be built.

PM Shehbaz said he would personally review the programme’s progress on a monthly basis to address any shortcomings and ensure timely payments.

Besides the new housing programme, under the PM Fuel Package 2026, Rs1.2bn has been disbursed digitally to over 32,000 beneficiaries, including operators of buses, trucks, long-haul vehicles, and delivery vans. The initiative aims to provide relief amid rising fuel costs.

Meanwhile, the European Investment Bank’s international development arm, EIB Global, is committing a total of €160m to help Pakistan rebuild homes in Sindh and to improve water quality in Karachi – the country’s largest city.

ISLAMABAD: Interpol has issued Red Notices against Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz and his son Ali Riaz, Nat­i­onal Accountability Bur­eau (NAB) Chairman Lt General (retired) Nazir Ahmed said on Wednesday.

A red notice is a request to law enforcement agencies by Interpol to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

The NAB chairman made the remarks during a press briefing at the accountability watchdog’s headquarters.

“Today I am giving you breaking news that Interpol has issued a red notice against Malik Riaz and Ali Riaz,” he said at the conclusion of the briefing.

This could not be independently verified through Interpol.

Riaz, 72, is the founder and chairman of Bahria Town, while his 48-year-old son serves as chief executive. The property tycoon is currently residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he has launched a multi-billion-dollar housing project.

During the press briefing, the NAB chairman admitted that bringing Riaz back to Pakistan would be a challenge.

“Yes, there is the aspect of Dubai’s annoyance with Pakistan,” the chairman said, adding that bringing the property tycoon back to Pakistan would not be an easy job. However, he added that NAB was sending a team for the extradition of both Riaz and his son.

Separately, the Islamabad police chief, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, met with an Interpol delegation at the Central Police Office.

Riaz and his real estate company have been embroiled in legal woes in the past few years, with the tycoon being an absconder in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The NAB had started the process to extradite Riaz and his son from the UAE in January 2025.

Riaz has many past cases alleging the use of land acquisition tactics for his real estate projects. He and his firm have also been at the centre of multiple court cases, including being ordered by the Supreme Court in 2019 to pay the amount he owed to the Sindh government for the acquisition of land for Bahria Town Karachi.

In August 2025, amidst legal troubles and ahead of planned auctions of Bahria Town properties, Riaz had appealed to be “given a chance to return to serious dialogue, and a dignified solution”.

In 2019, Riaz and his son agreed to forfeit £190m to Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) following an unexplained wealth order investigation. The settlement included proceeds from the sale of a £50m London mansion.

The NCA returned the funds to Pakistan, but the repatriated amo­unt became central to the £190m corruption case against ex-premier Imran Khan. As Riaz and his son have not been convicted of any criminal offe­n­ces, they have characterised the NCA settlement as civil in nature and accused critics of mud-slinging.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, who is currently on an official visit to China, on Tuesday visited Shaoshan, hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China.

During the visit, President Zardari laid a wreath at Statue Square and paid tribute to China’s revolutionary leader.

Earlier, the president was received by Li Jiyang, senior party leader of Xiangtan People’s Congress, and Ms Zhang Xihui, director of the Shaoshan Administration Bureau of Hunan Province, who apprised him of the life and struggle of Chairman Mao Zedong, highlighting his early years in Shaoshan and the influences that shaped his political thought.

The president was also briefed on the role of memorial institutions in preserving historical material and promoting public understanding of China’s revolutionary history. Follow­ing the wreath-laying ceremony, the president visited the Mao Ze­­dong Memorial Muse­um, where he was briefed on the life, thought and political legacy of the founding leader of China.

Arrives in trade hub of Sanya; will attend commissioning of Pakistan Navy submarine

President Zardari paid tribute to Chairman Mao Zedong’s role in China’s historical transformation and acknowledged his contribution to the country’s str­uggle, unity and development.

Later, he arrived in Sanya, a city in the Hainan province which is a globally recognised tourist destination, and also plays a key role in the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

During his visit, President Zardari is expected to hold discussions with the provincial leadership on enhancing economic, trade, and strategic cooperation, as well as advancing progress on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The president will also attend the commissioning ceremony of Pakistan Navy submarine ‘Hangor’ in Sanya.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The PTI’s independent bid to secure a seat at a global parliamentary forum fell flat as its candidate, Senator Ali Zafar, managed to secure just 12 votes out of 152 member states in an election for the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Commi­ttee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians.

The vote, held during the IPU conference in Turkiye from April 15 to 19, saw Zafar contesting the seat without backing from the official Pakistani delegation. While Pakistan’s delegation, led by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and including Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Senator Talha Mehmood, was present at the conference, Zafar’s solo bid failed to gather traction among the 152 member states. It was believed that had Zafar secured the seat, the PTI could have given the government a tougher time, particularly regarding Imran Khan’s imprisonment.

Sources said that member states accorded unprecedented weight to the Pakistani delegation due to its diplomatic role in mediating between the US and Iran. However, Zafar, not being the candidate of the government of Pakistan but that of an opposition party, failed to secure substantial support.

Senator Ali Zafar secures 12 out of 152 member states’ votes in IPU polls

When contacted, Zafar confirmed that he had not won the seat. “Yes, I had filed my application as a candidate, but I thought the seat was specifically for Pakistan,” he told Dawn.

He said he was unaware that the election would be contested among multiple states. “I did not attend the IPU conference, but I heard that the seat was awarded to Thailand,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday announced a special subsidy programme for farmers to mitigate the adverse impact of the global energy crisis.

According to an official announcement, farmers owning less than 12 acres of land will be eligible for the subsidy.

Eligible farmers can register for three easy subsidy packages through the Pakistan Asaan Khidmat application.

Farmers can enrol in the programme by uploading their personal and other relevant information, along with documentary evidence, on the application.

Meanwhile, a senior official told Dawn that the government would provide a subsidy of Rs1,500 per acre to farmers owning less than 12 acres of land.

The amount, he said, will be transferred directly into farmers’ bank accounts or through mobile wallets such as JazzCash and Easypaisa.

On April 3, the federal government announced targeted relief measures for motorcyclists, small farmers and transporters.

Punjab reported that more than one million farmers now hold Kissan Cards, and that total wheat sowing has exceeded 16 million acres. It has also been stated that farmers and goods transporters have been provided digital access through Kissan Cards, digital accounts, or cash vouchers.

Earlier this week, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced a Rs3 billion relief package for 366,000 small farmers to help offset rising diesel costs during the wheat harvesting season.

“Our small growers are the backbone of the rural economy. We are committed to supporting them so they can continue their work without additional financial stress,” he said.

He added, “Whether it is transporters, farmers, or daily commuters, our focus is to ensure that relief reaches those who need it most, without compromising fiscal discipline.”

ISLAMABAD: First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has urged public cooperation as the nationwide anti-polio campaign is set to begin from April 13.

The week-long campaign aims to vaccinate over 45 million children under the age of five across all provinces and regions as part of the ongoing efforts to eradicate polio.

In a statement released on Sunday, Aseefa called on families and communities across Pakistan to fully cooperate with the upcoming nationwide polio vaccination campaign to ensure that every child is protected from the crippling disease.

Pakistan, she said, stood at a “critical juncture” in its fight against the virus. “Years of sustained effort have brought the country closer to eradication, with the coming phase representing the final stretch where reaching every child is essential,” she stated.

“From April 13 to 19, frontline health workers will conduct door-to-door visits, covering urban centres as well as remote communities.

“In addition to administering polio drops, children will also receive Vitamin A supplementation to support immunity and healthy growth,” Aseefa said.

In her statement, the first lady also highlighted measurable progress.

“In 2025, 31 cases of polio were reported nationwide, while in 2026, only one case has been recorded so far.” However, she cautioned that the threat persists.

“As long as the virus exists anywhere, it remains a risk everywhere.”

She stressed the need for consistency, urging parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive vaccination in every campaign, alongside routine immunisation.

The first lady also acknowledged the contribution of frontline workers, whose continued efforts remain central to reaching every household.

She called for collective resolve, emphasising that ending polio was now within reach and depends on the participation of parents, families, communities and institutions alike. No child, she underscored, can be left behind.

The campaign will be conducted in coordination with Afghanistan, reflecting a shared commitment to interrupt cross-border transmission and close remaining gaps.