UK

Bureau Report
Manchester
Young people aged 11 to 16 will be able to travel for free on buses across Greater Manchester from January 2027. This was announced by Bev Craig, the new Mayor of Greater Manchester, during her visit to Bolton.
This scheme is expected to save families £500 a year per child. Greater Manchester is thought to be the first city in England outside London to introduce free bus travel for 11 to 16-year-olds. Bev Craig announced her plan to freeze fares on the Bee Network and give every 11-18-year-old a free bus pass during the mayoral by-election held on 30 July.
According to local media, free bus travel for 11 to 16-year-olds could cost up to £20 million a year.

Bureau report

Manchester

The Labour Party will face the Green Party in the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election to be held on Thursday, 30 July. This seat became vacant after the resignation of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who secured his parliamentary seat from the Makerfield constituency. There are six candidates for the mayoral seat and voters will cast their votes across the 10 councils of Greater Manchester.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has completed the arrangements for the mayoral election. Postal ballots have already been issued, while polling will be held on Thursday, 30 July, between 7.00 am and 10.00 pm. Photo ID is a legal requirement before voting at a polling station. The Greater Manchester area is made up of 10 council areas, including Manchester City Council, Bolton, Salford, Bury, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Trafford, Rochdale and Wigan, where people will participate in this by-election. The candidates contesting the election are Marlon West of the Restore Britain, Sian Astley Reform UK, Geraldine Coggins Green Party, Richard Kilpatrick Liberal Democrats, Bev Craig Labour Party and Phil Eckersley of the Conservative Party.

According to political observers, there is close competition between the Labour and Green candidates. This is the third time both parties will face each other. During the parliamentary by-election in the Gorton constituency, Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer pushed Labour into third position, while Green Party candidates also won seats in the recent local council elections.

“Labour Party is trying hard to rebuild trust among left-wing voters after the change in leadership as well as Andy Burnham becoming the Prime Minister, and this time Labour may secure the Greater Manchester mayoral seat,” sources added

Bureau report

Manchester

The Consulate General of Pakistan, Manchester has increased its consular service timings for the Pakistani community. On the directive of the High Commissioner of Pakistan, Tipu Usman, consular services will now start at 8:00 AM on every working day.

According to a notification issued by Consul General Imtiaz Feroz Gondal, the extended timings will help the Consulate provide better services to the community. The number of daily appointment slots will also be increased. Appointments must be booked online through the Consulate’s official appointment portal. New appointment slots are released every Saturday at 10:00 AM for the following week. Applicants must use their own personal details when booking and arrive at their scheduled appointment time. Those arriving more than 30 minutes late will be required to book a new appointment. “These improvements reflect our continued commitment to providing efficient, transparent, and community-focused consular services,” Mr Gondal stated.

Political correspondent
The King Charles III welcomed Andy Burnham to Buckingham Palace earlier on last Monday, where he invited the newly elected Labour leader to become Prime Minister and form a new government.
The man dubbed the “King of the North” became the new British prime minister Monday, the latest in a revolving door of leaders trying to halt a decade of political turbulence and economic stagnation in the United Kingdom.
Both Starmer and Burnham come from the same center-left Labour Party, and in the United Kingdom ruling parties can change leaders and therefore the prime minister in the middle of an election cycle without anyone voting.
Burnham was appointed unchallenged after the unpopular Keir Starmer agreed to step down last month following a series of election defeats, U-turns and scandals.
That said, Burnham has promised radical change after taking office following a morning of royal formality, though he already faces infighting over his Cabinet selections.
Prime minister Andy Burnham has announced a series of early policy measures aimed at easing the cost of living crisis, tackling homelessness and reshaping Britain’s economy, describing his programme as a “circuit breaker for Britain.

City reporter
Tipu Usman has assumed charge Pakistan’s high commissioner to the UK this week, who is a senior diplomat of Pakistan’s foreign service, he brings extensive experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. Prior to this appointment, he served as chief of State Protocol in Islamabad. His career includes roles as deputy head of mission in Riyadh, counsellor at the UN mission in New York, first secretary in Ankara, and vice consul in Vancouver, Canada.

Saif Ali Khan
The United Kingdom, Spain and the European Union are set to usher in a new era for Gibraltar as long-standing border controls between Spain and the British Overseas Territory are due to be removed under a landmark post-Brexit agreement.
From 15 July 2026, routine checks at the Gibraltar–Spain land frontier are expected to end, allowing people and goods to move more freely across the border. The agreement is designed to protect Gibraltar’s economy, which relies heavily on the approximately 15,000 cross-border workers who commute daily from Spain.
Under the new arrangements, passport and Schengen checks will be transferred from the land border to Gibraltar’s airport and seaport. Spanish authorities will carry out Schengen entry checks alongside Gibraltar officials, while the UK insists that the agreement fully preserves British sovereignty over the territory.
Construction crews have already begun dismantling sections of the border infrastructure on both sides, symbolising the end of decades of physical division. Local businesses have welcomed the move, saying it will boost trade, tourism and investment throughout the Campo de Gibraltar region. Although the agreement creates a fluid frontier, Gibraltar will not become part of the European Union. Instead, it will apply elements of the Schengen system through a bespoke UK-EU arrangement while maintaining its status as a British Overseas Territory. Customs cooperation and tax coordination are also expected to deepen under the new framework. The historic accord brings to an end years of uncertainty following Brexit and is widely regarded as one of the most significant developments in UK-Spain relations since Britain’s departure from the European Union. Final ratification procedures remain ongoing, but both sides have committed to the agreement’s provisional implementation from mid-July.

Staff Reporter
The Pakistan High Commission, London, in collaboration with Silk Road Enterprises, successfully hosted the International Silk Route Festival 2026 Road Show in London, bringing together distinguished diplomats, business leaders, tourism professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, media representatives, and members of the British-Pakistani community to promote Pakistan’s growing opportunities in tourism, trade, investment, culture, and regional connectivity.
The Road Show was jointly organised and co-hosted by the Pakistan High Commission, London, and Silk Road Enterprises, led by Ms. Sadaf Khalid Khan, Global Coordinator and Director, Mian M. Hashim Masood, Director, and Prince Shehryar Khan, Director.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Haseeb Bin Aziz, Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan to the United Kingdom, who warmly welcomed the distinguished speakers, guests, and participants. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom while promoting Pakistan as an emerging destination for tourism, business, investment, and cultural exchange. He commended the organisers for bringing together an outstanding panel of speakers and stakeholders committed to advancing Pakistan’s international profile.
The Road Show featured an impressive panel of speakers including Mr. Faraz Khan, Co-Founder & Partner of Sustainability and Founder & Director of Seed Ventures; Mr. Christopher Wilton, Global Lead Communications at the Aga Khan Foundation, London; Mr. Momin Saqib, Entrepreneur, Actor and Social Media Activist; and Ms. Farzana Khan, Founder of The Pakistani Dream 2028.
During her keynote presentation, Ms. Sadaf Khalid Khan, Global Coordinator and Director of Silk Road Enterprises, officially introduced the International Silk Route Festival 2026, which will take place on 24–25 October 2026 at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and Serena Hotel, Islamabad. Ms. Khan invited international investors, tour operators, travel trade professionals, tourism boards, diplomats, overseas Pakistanis, entrepreneurs, media representatives, travel influencers, and content creators to participate in this landmark international event.
She highlighted Pakistan’s extraordinary tourism potential, from the majestic Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountain ranges to its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient Silk Route heritage, rich cultural diversity, religious tourism, adventure tourism, eco-tourism, and rapidly growing hospitality sector. She emphasised that Pakistan’s strategic location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, China, and the Middle East makes it an ideal destination for regional trade and investment.
Speaking during the Road Show, Prince Shehryar Khan, Director of Silk Road Enterprises, highlighted Pakistan’s tremendous investment potential across multiple sectors. Mian M. Hashim Masood, Director of Silk Road Enterprises, invited international delegates to attend the International Silk Route Festival and announced an exclusive Historic Silk Route Familiarisation Tour following the festival.
Delivering an insightful presentation, Faraz Khan highlighted the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives in Pakistan.
Christopher Wilton shared his inspiring experiences travelling along the historic Silk Road, including his journey through Pakistan. He reflected on how cultural heritage, shared history, and people-to-people exchanges continue to build bridges between nations and communities from diverse backgrounds, highlighting Pakistan’s unique role in preserving the legacy of the ancient Silk Route. Momin Saqib highlighted that nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s population consists of young people, making the country one of the world’s youngest nations. He emphasised that initiatives such as the International Silk Route Festival can generate employment opportunities through tourism, technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital media, and the IT sector.
Farzana Khan, Founder of The Pakistani Dream 2028, shared her experiences of promoting Pakistan among the overseas Pakistani diaspora. She highlighted the country’s immense investment potential in luxury beach resorts, mountain resorts, ski tourism, eco-tourism, wellness tourism.
The organisers expressed their gratitude to the Pakistan High Commission, London, all distinguished speakers, partners, sponsors, and guests for making the Road Show a resounding success and looked forward to welcoming delegates from around the world to Islamabad for the International Silk Route Festival 2026 on 24–25 October 2026.