Karachi Port has reached another key milestone with arrival of one of the world’s largest container vessels MSC Loreto at the port, showcasing the expansion of Pakistan’s maritime handling capabilities.

The ultra-large container vessel spanning around 399.9 meters in length and carrying 24,346 containers berthed at South Wharf Berth No. 2 of the SAPTL port, sources at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) said.

The vessel arrived carrying 14,538 containers and will dump 3,802 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) to the SAPTL facility during its stay.

The Karachi Port Trust’s spokesperson said the port is now able to safely and efficiently accommodate some of the world’s largest container ships, reflecting advancements in infrastructure and operating capacity.

MSC Loreto would be at the Karachi Port for two days before proceeding to the United Arab Emirates, the official further said.

he Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has surpassed its target of registering 150,000 Hajj applications in just eight days through the online Hajj portal developed by the National IT Board, describing it as a major achievement in the field of digital service delivery and e-governance.

According to the ministry’s spokesperson, efforts to fully digitize Hajj arrangements are progressing rapidly under the vision of the current government.

Through the online Hajj portal and the mobile app ‘Pak Hajj ‘, pilgrims have been provided with an easy, transparent, and swift registration facility from the comfort of their homes.

Public circles have appreciated the new digital system and termed it an effective step towards transparency, convenience, and modern governance in the delivery of government services.

In line with the directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the collection of Hajj dues is also moving towards complete digitization.

Following registration, plans to fully integrate the payment of Hajj dues into the digital system in the next phase have entered their final stages.

Under the plan, Hajj pilgrims will be able to pay their dues from home through the online Hajj portal or the ‘Pak Hajj’ mobile app.

For this purpose, a modern Hajj dues collection system is being introduced through One Link, under which pilgrims will no longer need to visit banks or offices, as all steps from registration to payment can be completed with just a few clicks.

According to experts, this new digital model is also emerging as a major convenience for overseas Pakistanis, enabling them to complete Hajj registration, check application status, and pay Hajj dues easily from any part of the world.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has also introduced several new features in the online Hajj portal and the ‘Pak Hajj’ mobile app, through which applicants can now access their application status, registration details, and other essential information with a single click.

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously passed the Rs 286 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27.

Finance Minister AJK Chaudhry Qasim Majeed presented the budget in a session of the Legislative Assembly presided over by Speaker AJK assembly Chaudhry Latif Akbar.

The budget tabled in the session has allocated Rs 36 billion for development expenditure and Rs 250 billion for non-development spending.

The budget was passed unanimously by the assembly. The session also saw the presentation of specifics on the government’s development and non-development priorities and plans for the next fiscal year.