Pakistan

Two people died and three others were injured when the roof of a six-storey building collapsed in the Khada Market area of Karachi’s Lyari, rescue and police officials said. The incident occurred almost two weeks after a five-storey building collapsed earlier this month in Lyari’s Lea Market, killing 27 people. This incident raised serious concerns about building safety, prompting authorities to evacuate other dilapidated buildings in the city. Regarding the incident today, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan told Dawn.com, “Two women have died in the accident, while more than two others are reported to have been injured.” Providing details of the incident, he said: “The building was dilapidated. Some labourers were working on the roof of the sixth floor when it collapsed.” He added that the rescue operation has been completed. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) South, Asad Raza, confirmed that the two people were killed and three others were injured in the incident. “The top floor of the si...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting on development projects under the current fiscal year, directing that third-party validation be made mandatory to ensure transparency in key public welfare initiatives including clean drinking water, electricity, communications, and education.

The Pakistan Army on Thursday rescued over 20 people trapped in flood-hit areas of Jhelum, Punjab, as part of ongoing relief and rescue operations following heavy monsoon rains across the province.

US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Pakistan on September 18, 2025, as part of his upcoming tour of South Asia, according to official sources.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to Kabul on a day-long visit for the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, the Foreign Office announced on Thursday.

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa promised to protect the rights of Druze citizens on Thursday as a ceasefire appeared to be holding in the country’s south following US intervention to end fighting between government forces and Druze fighters. Overnight, the government’s troops withdrew from the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, where scores of people have been killed in days of conflict pitting local fighters against the Damascus authorities and Bedouin tribes. The violence in Syria escalated sharply on Wednesday as Israel launched airstrikes in Damascus while pressing attacks on government forces in the south, demanding they withdraw and saying Israel aimed to protect Syria’s Druze minority. Describing Syria’s new rulers as “barely disguised jihadists”, Israel has bombed repeatedly this year, saying it will not allow Syrian government forces to deploy into areas near its frontier. Facing calls from Israel’s own Druze minority to shield Syria’s Druze, Israel has also seized ground in the south. In ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the formulation of a comprehensive strategy to ensure easy access to agricultural loans for small and medium-scale farmers, particularly those owning less than 12 acres of land, emphasizing that their access to modern agricultural facilities must be a top priority.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called an emergency meeting in response to the devastation caused by relentless monsoon rains across Punjab, particularly in Rawalpindi and surrounding cities, where at least 63 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents over the past 36 hours.

ISLAMABAD - A high-level Chinese police delegation on Wednesday called on Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, with both sides agreeing to enhance collaboration between the police departments of Beijing and Islamabad.

The third spell of monsoon rains is expected to hit Karachi starting tomorrow (Friday), bringing light to moderate showers to the city, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The federal government has approved civil awards for 71 Pakistani citizens in recognition of their exceptional bravery and dedicated service to the nation.

Rawalpindi - A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) here on Wednesday allowed former Punjab chief minister Pervez Elahi not to appear before an accountability court hearing a corruption reference against him.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Sindh Police killed two militants linked to the outlawed group Fitna al-Khawarij during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) near Mochko on Hub River Road, officials confirmed on Thursday.

Heavy monsoon rainfall has wreaked havoc across Punjab and Balochistan, leaving at least 59 people dead in the past 24 hours and causing widespread flooding and destruction.

Following the lifting of the UK ban on Pakistani carriers, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has formally requested permission to resume direct flights to Britain, with initial operations aimed at Manchester, sources revealed on Thursday.

A contingent of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) featuring the advanced JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets arrived in the United Kingdom to take part in the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2025, a statement from the military’s media wing said on Thursday. RIAT, which will run from July 18 to 20, is one of the world’s largest military airshows, has been running for over 50 years and powers the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, according to its website. A PAF contingent comprising “state-of-the-art JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter aircraft and the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, has landed at the Royal Air Force Base Fairford, United Kingdom, to participate in the prestigious” RIAT 2025, a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. View this post on Instagram “PAF’s participation in RIAT, one of the world’s largest military airshows, underscores Pakistan Air Force’s commitment to showcasing its professional excellence, operational capability and the indigenous strength of its aviation...

A participant speaks at the webinar on investment opportunities at Pakistani ports on Wednesday.—Courtesy US consulate ISLAMABAD: Over 65 US companies joined a landmark webinar on Wednesday to explore commercial opportunities at Karachi Port and Port Qasim. The webinar hosted by the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration and the US Department of State, in collaboration with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, part of the ‘Gateways to Growth: South Asia Port Opportunities’ series, has opened new doors for American commercial services in the port sector of Pakistan. The webinar served as a strategic platform for American companies to engage directly with Pakistani port officials and private operators. “US investors have made substantial contributions to Pakistan’s development, and we are confident that the port sector will be another area where we can achieve great success together,” said US Consul General Scott Urbom in Karachi, emphasising the role of partnership in fostering long-term c...

PESHAWAR - Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has strongly condemned the firing incident in Kulachi, Dera Ismail Khan, in which two police personnel were martyred by unidentified assailants.

QUETTA: Various political parties have called for the immediate release of all detained leaders and activists, including Dr Mahrang Baloch and other Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) activists, PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir. The seminar, hosted by the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) on Tuesday, was attended by leaders and workers from various political parties. Speaking at the event, participants voiced grave concern over the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan, alleged genocide of the Baloch people, the arrest of female leaders and activists, enforced disappearances, human rights violations and the controversial adoption of the Balochistan Mines and Mineral Act. BNP-M President Sardar Akhtar Mengal presided over the hours-long seminar. Political leaders slam human rights violations, call for end to military operations The speakers criticised the military operations, enforced disappearances and the discovery of mutilated bodies in th...

KARACHI: The Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts) has expressed deep concerns and regret over what it called an unfortunate incident in the varsity’s Staff Town where a senior professor “faced verbal abuse and alleged physical assault by an armed personnel”. In a statement, Kuts expressed concern over the attack on Prof Afaq Ahmad Siddiqui of the faculty of pharmacy and called for an impartial investigation into the matter. “It is deeply troubling that a respected academic, who has dedicated his life to education and research, was subjected to such behaviour,” it said. The teachers’ body demanded an appropriate action against those responsible and urged the Rangers’ top leadership to take a serious notice of the incident and play its role in maintaining a peaceful and respectful environment on the campus. Kuts demands Rangers leadership to take notice of attack on Prof Afaq Siddiqui “The teachers of the University of Karachi have always respected state institutions and we expect this respect to be mutu...