Duke goes missing, Rs250,000 reward announced

The Sindh government has announced a province-wide public holiday on Wednesday, July 29, to mark the annual Urs of renowned Sufi poet and mystic Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. The decision was announced through an official notification issued by the Sindh Information Department on Monday. The holiday will apply to provincial government offices and institutions operating under the administrative control of the Sindh government. It will also cover autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, government corporations and local councils across the province. However, essential services will remain operational during the holiday. Employees working in services considered necessary for public safety and welfare will continue their duties. The Urs of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai is observed every year at his shrine in Bhit Shah, Matiari district. The event attracts thousands of devotees from different parts of Pakistan. Visitors gather at the shrine to pay tribute to the Sufi poet and reflect on his teachings, poetry and spiritual message. Special religious and cultural activities are traditionally held during the Urs. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Sindhi literature and Sufi tradition. His poetry is known for themes of love, spirituality, peace and human dignity. The provincial holiday is expected to facilitate devotees and residents participating in Urs-related activities across Sindh.

Pakistan is continuing diplomatic efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a bid to ease regional tensions and promote dialogue, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Thursday. Speaking at the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan remains actively engaged with all relevant parties to encourage the implementation of the Islamabad MoU and the Pakistan-Qatar joint understanding aimed at reducing tensions. He said negotiations are continuing to restore stability, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, and to support efforts for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy. The spokesperson noted that although the region had witnessed a brief period of relative calm, the security situation remains fragile. He said Pakistan hopes the reduction in hostilities will pave the way for a lasting ceasefire and meaningful negotiations. Reaffirming Islamabad’s position, Andrabi said dialogue and diplomacy remain the only practical solution to the ongoing crisis. He added that Pakistan welcomes every initiative aimed at resuming talks between Iran and the United States and will continue to play a constructive role in regional peace efforts. He urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint and honour their commitments to resume technical-level discussions under the Islamabad MoU. Highlighting Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagements, Andrabi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed to continue close coordination for regional peace, stability and the uninterrupted movement of lawful maritime trade through the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. He said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also held separate telephone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. The discussions focused on the evolving regional situation, diplomatic cooperation and efforts to maintain peace and stability. The spokesperson said Pakistan and Kuwait also reaffirmed their longstanding partnership and agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy, information technology, agriculture, education and healthcare. He added that Kuwait’s ratification of the Pakistan-Kuwait Defence Cooperation Agreement would further strengthen defence collaboration between the two countries. Andrabi also highlighted Pakistan’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, where Islamabad reaffirmed its commitment to regional connectivity, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative while expressing readiness to assume the SCO chairmanship for 2026-27. On Pakistan-US relations, he said Ishaq Dar recently met a visiting US congressional delegation and an American business delegation, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation through stronger parliamentary, economic and people-to-people engagement. Addressing the situation in Palestine, Andrabi said Pakistan joined several Arab and Islamic countries in condemning Israeli actions in Jerusalem and called on the international community to uphold international law, protect Palestinian rights and preserve the historical and religious status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.