ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday launched a final appeal to voters in Mirpur Division ahead of the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections on Monday urging them to vote for the party s arrow symbol while accusing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of portraying publicly funded development projects as personal political gifts
In a special message issued from Islamabad on the eve of polling Bilawal said public transport projects financed through taxpayers money belonged to the people and should not be presented as favors by political leaders "These buses are not anyone s gift; they are the people's right " he said
Claiming that the PPP had consistently delivered practical development rather than empty promises, Bilawal criticized what he described as politically timed development announcements arguing that projects funded by the public exchequer should never be portrayed as personal generosity
Stepping up his criticism of
the PML-N Bilawal said the people of "Kashmir and Kashmore, Mirpur and Mirpur Khas" shared a common determination to safeguard their rights and would not allow anyone to undermine their claim over their land or future
He claimed that just as the PML-N had been rejected by voters in previous elections in Kashmir and Kashmore, the electorate would deliver a similar verdict in the current polls
Bilawal described the election as a decisive referendum on the rights, development and future of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
He urged voters to give the PPP a strong mandate pledging
that the party would never compromise on the rights of the people of AJK and would continue its struggle to secure what he described as the rights of sovereignty ownership and employment for Kashmiris
Referring to the historic sacrifices made by the people of Mirpur, Bilawal said they had given up their homes and land for the construction of the Mangla
PAKISTAN'S BONDS SLIP AFTER TRUMP ANNOUNCES NEW US TARIFFS
to be a politician who wished to avoid the hurlyburly of the Lok Sabha That sounds suspiciously like Disraeli who accepted the Earldom of Beaconsfield while still PM instead of afterwards, so that he could go to the Lords That, of course, when it wasn t a problem for the PM to be a member of the Lords
Nowadays though it is and it was only when the life peerages were introduced that peers were allowed to give up their titles Previously, the most they could do was stop attending the House of Lords, though
ISL AMABAD POLICE DELIVER THOUSANDS OF CITIZEN SERVICES AS ADMIN EXPANDS PUBLIC
Mari Energies’ subsidiar y launches Pakistan's first and largest AI-ready data centre campus
saying it reflected Pakistan s growing technological capabilities and proved the country could deliver worldclass initiatives through unity, vision and determination He said he was deeply inspired after touring the facility which was completed in record time and praised the engineers experts and institutions behind the project Its successful execution, he said, showcased the extraordinary talent available in both Pakistan s
The
up in Karachi and Lahore He directed all state institutions to align themselves with the country s digital transformation agenda calling the facility a priceless gift to the people of Pakistan He added that it would strengthen the country s digital security, enhance technological self-reliance and reinforce confidence that Pakistan can compete in the global digital economy
Mari Energies said in its notice that the inauguration marks a significant milestone in Pakistan's digital and technological advancement and reinforces the national importance of secure resilient and locally hosted digital infrastructure
It added that Sky47 brings together enterprise-grade data centre infrastructure, sovereign cloud services, highperformance AI computing, cybersecurity and managed technology services within a single ecosystem Designed for AI-ready and missioncritical workloads Karakoram-01 is intended to enable government, financial, telecommunications, healthcare, and technology enterprises to host and operate critical systems within Pakistan with greater control over their data
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
According to the Foreign Office (FO), Dar received a telephone call from IAEA Director General Grossi during which both leaders underscored the importance of continued diplomacy and constructive engagement in advancing regional and international peace and stability In a post on X, the Foreign Office said, "Director General Grossi expressed hope that the parties would sustain dialogue and engagement following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding with a view to achieving a peaceful and durable outcome Pakistan played a key facilitative role by helping establish contacts between senior US and Iranian officials that led to last month's interim peace agreement known as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) The agreement included a 60-day ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a timetable for negotiating a final settlement covering both the con-
flict and Iran s nuclear programme
The 60-day period which began after the agreement was signed by both countries in mid-June has now entered its second half However, major issues originally intended for negotiations particularly Iran s nuclear programme, which lies at the heart of the dispute remain unresolved as mediators work to keep both sides engaged in dialogue
A regional official involved in mediation efforts told the Associated Press (AP) that diplomatic contacts were continuing and described the pause in US and Iranian military action as "a positive signal that helps their efforts to de-escalate "
The official said both countries were seeking to return to the interim ceasefire framework and that discussions were focused on a compromise under which Iran would continue managing vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz while easing restrictions on commercial shipping The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the nego-
tiations publicly Concerns nevertheless persisted over maritime security in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait another critical shipping route connecting the Red Sea, after Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen last week threatened to blockade Saudi shipping
The uncertainty has continued to weigh on global energy markets with gasoline prices rising amid fears of disruption to key maritime trade routes Iran said on Sunday it remained engaged in talks with Oman on ensuring the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said discussions had made progress and were continuing Baghaei also said the status of the strait remained unchanged Tehran has maintained that the interim agreement with the United States allows Iran to manage shipping through the waterway for now while objecting to US efforts to support an alternative shipping route passing closer to Oman
Pakistan Stock Exchange sheds 718 points after volatile session
COMMENT Monsoon’s deadly toll
THE fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is to be held in New York during August 11-15, where the first session was held last August, the overall purpose of the United Nations (UN) formulated INC being ‘to draft a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation and two early protocols This effort is in consequence of the draft resolution titled Promotion of inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the United Nations adopted by the UN on 15 November 2023
Moreover, the draft resolution adopted by the UN pointed out for instance with regard to developing such a framework as follows: ‘Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the promotion of inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the United Nations, 1 Emphasizes that developing a United Nations framework convention on international tax cooperation is needed in order to strengthen international tax cooperation and make it fully inclusive and more effective; 2 Recognizes that developing a framework convention will also help in accelerating the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; 3 Decides to establish a Member State-led, open-ended ad hoc intergovernmental committee for the purpose of drafting terms of reference for a United Nations framework convention on international tax cooperation Here it needs to be pointed out that as per UN s department of economic and social affairs (DESA) This Member State-led process will run from 2025 to 2027, with the aim of developing a framework convention that leads to fully inclusive and more effective international tax cooperation ’ The importance of much-needed coordination for bringing greater effectiveness for taxation globally for example may be gauged from an April 2 Guardian published article Global super-rich may have hidden $3 55tn from tax officials, says Oxfam
Tsanctuary for groups targeting the Pakistani state Beyond the sanctuaries in Afghanistan lies an equally troubling dimension Pakistan has consistently maintained that terrorist groups targeting the country receive financial logistical and intelligence support from hostile external actors particularly networks linked to India s intelligence agency According to Pakistani security assessments, this external patronage has strengthened the operational capabilities of terrorist groups, enabling them to sustain attacks aimed not only at inflicting casualties but also at undermining Pakistan s economic stability strategic projects and national cohesion Despite repeated provocations Pakistan has largely chosen diplomatic engagement over wider military escalation That restraint reflects strategic responsibility rather than weakness Pakistan has consistently called on the Afghan authorities to deny their territory to terrorist groups and has sought to address its security concerns through dialogue rather than confrontation Yet every sovereign state has the right to expect that its borders will not be used as launch pads for attacks against its citizens Counterterrorism cannot succeed if terrorist sanctuaries and external support networks remain beyond the reach of domestic security operations The objective of this violence extends beyond the battlefield By targeting strategic infrastructure, public institutions, and projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, militant groups seek to erode investor confidence slow economic development and project Pakistan as a country trapped in instability The ultimate aim is to weaken the state by increasing its security and economic costs Pakistan is no longer confronting isolated terrorist groups It is facing interconnected networks that exploit regional rivalries, information warfare, and external support to undermine state authority and create persistent instability
At the same time terrorism must never be allowed to define Balochistan or its people The overwhelming majority of Baloch are patriotic Pakistanis whose aspirations for security, dignity, education, employment, and development are no different from those of citizens elsewhere in the country Violent organisations do not represent the province They exploit genuine griev-
that highlighted Oxfam s research in this regard as follows: The global super-rich may have as much as $3 55tn hidden away from tax authorities according to estimates by Oxfam The charity renewed its call for a wealth levy and urged governments to close tax loopholes as it published its latest analysis of the scale of offshore holdings Building on the work of academics including the French economist Gabriel Zucman and the EU Tax Observatory Oxfam said total wealth held offshore had increased significantly to $13 25 trillion (£10 trillion) in 2023 – the latest year for which estimates were available Highlighting the importance of the work being done by INC a July 21 Project Syndicate (PS) published article ‘The good the bad and the ugly in global tax negotiations indicated On August 3 negotiators at the United Nations will resume work on a Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation This is the first attempt to write the rules of international taxation in a forum where all countries have an equal say, so what happens in New York will determine whether the world finally gets a taxation framework capable of reaching multinational corporations and the ultra-rich
Furthermore the article indicating a highly sub-optimal situation with regard to the effectiveness of application of taxation globally, pointed out The current global tax rules
The world is going through a situation of polycrisis, including facing the existential threat of climate change crisis, with ever so high needs of making resilience-related spending, which has been made all the more difficult in the wake of elevated level of conflict for a number of years now overall, where commodity shocks, especially of oil, has all the more shrunk the fiscal envelope of especially developing, and in particular, net-oil importing, countries
ances while pursuing objectives that extend far beyond them The most effective response, therefore, is one that isolates terrorists while strengthening the trust and partnership between the state and the people of Balochistan Pakistan’s response must remain comprehensive Military operations will continue to eliminate terrorist networks wherever they emerge but equal attention must be given to strengthening border management, improving intelligence coordination, exposing external sponsorship through diplomacy, disrupting terrorist financing, and accelerating development in conflict-affected regions Counterterrorism succeeds when security governance economic opportunity and public confidence advance together
The policemen executed in the mountains of Ziarat, and the soldiers who continue to sacrifice their lives across Pakistan, deserve more than remembrance They deserve a national strategy that matches battlefield courage with strategic clarity diplomatic engagement institutional resilience and unwavering political unity Their sacrifice should strengthen the country s resolve not only to defeat terrorism but also to remove the conditions that allow it to endure
The mountains will not wait Neither will those who seek to use them against Pakistan The operation will achieve its military objectives as Pakistan s security forces have repeatedly demonstrated their capability to defeat terrorist networks But military success is only the beginning The lasting peace that Balochistan deserves will depend on what follows after the operation ends It will require effective governance accountable institutions economic opportunity quality education healthcare and development that reaches even the most remote communities
Above all, it will require ensuring that the people of Balochistan experience the dividends of peace and feel equal stakeholders in Pakistan’s future Only then will the mountains remain green not as battlefields scarred by conflict but as symbols of hope prosperity and enduring peace
The writer has a PhD in Political Science and is a visiting faculty member at QAU Islamabad He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo com and tweets @zafarkhansafdar
Playgrounds build healthy kids
Revise Pakistan’s
Militants getting help from India
Greatest national asset
billion for IT Startups and Venture Capital support for accelerating Pakistan’s digital economy; Rs 700 00 million for Youth Development Centres; Rs 500 00 million for the Talent Hunt Youth Sports League; Rs 400 00 million for the National Volunteer Corps; Rs 300 00 million for E-Sports Arenas
students nationwide including those
Scheme
ongoing initiative which has demonstrated quite significant impact as till now Rs 365 5 billion have been disbursed to over 625740 borrowers which have contributed to creation of nearly 1 96 million jobs It was pertinent to mention here that while it was hoped that allocation of funds for the continuation of the scheme during
nancing and economic opportunities
The PM s Youth Laptop Scheme was also an ongoing initiative under which six lakhs laptops have so far been distributed among the talented students across Pakistan Under its Phase-IV another one lakh laptops were being distributed In the next phase PM s Chromebooks will be distributed to
Somehow most of the above-mentioned youth focused initiatives and programmes under the direction of the PM were little known among the prospective beneficiaries and their parents, so these ought to be given wide publicity down to the grassroot level to ensure maximum number of the country’s youth population avail these facilities and opportunities and contribute share towards national development and economic prosperity of their beloved motherland Pakistan to the maximum extent possible as when our youth succeed Pakistan will surelt and certainly succeed
A I m o v e s i n t o f a m i l y l i f e
of U S teens use chatbots, mostly for research and schoolwork, followed by fun and entertainment BETWEEN THE LINES: The home may become AI s most intimate and least governed environment Workplaces and schools are only just beginning to set formal guardrails around the technology
The unit of impact is often the family, not the individual users,” Daniel Zhang, chief of staff at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence told Axios “If one person chooses to engage with AI the presence of that device or the model affects everyone in the household
BUT THE EFFECTS: depend heavily on how and where the technology is used “It’s hard to make broad claims because there’s so much that matters in the details for these kinds of things Anne Maheux a developmental psychologist at UNC Chapel Hill who studies adolescents and AI, told Axios
FOR CHILDREN ESPECIALLY: access, privacy and physical space matter An AI device used openly in the kitchen is different from a chatbot a child accesses privately in their bedroom and both are different from a school computer that stays at school, Maheux said For teens, AI can remove some of the friction involved in learning to navigate other people, uncertainty and conflict Adolescence is a “particularly sensitive period for developing social-emotional skills
Maheux says The stakes are different from an adult outsourcing a skill they already have
WHAT TO WATCH: Nobody not researchers, lawmakers, CEOs, parents or influencers fully understands what it means to let AI into the most private parts of our daily lives As Dooley points out even free or low-cost AI comes with a complicated price tag: We are paying with our
N recent days as the United States resumed military attacks against Iran and the regional conflict entered a new phase, Jordan has sought to present a carefully managed image of its role in the crisis to its domestic audience The official narrative from Amman revolves around one central message: Jordan is not a party to the war; it is merely defending its airspace and territorial security Jordanian officials have repeatedly stressed that any missile or drone entering the country’s airspace constitutes a threat to national security and that the armed forces will respond accordingly Yet what Jordanians hear from state media and government officials differs noticeably from the picture presented by international media outlets The government’s messaging is generally brief, tightly controlled, and centered on a single theme: Jordan is not involved in the conflict it is only protecting its airspace and its citizens and it will not allow the country to be drawn into the war Official statements consistently emphasize that any missile or drone entering Jordanian airspace is intercepted solely to safeguard national security Authorities also stress that public services continue to operate normally the situation remains calm and security forces are fully in control Missing from this narrative, however, are discussions about Jordan s role in the region’s security architecture, the presence of US forces on Jordanian soil, or the direct impact the conflict could have on the country s strategic position As a result citizens are presented less with the image of a country affected by a regional war and more with that of a
significant share of the population is of Palestinian origin, and developments in Gaza are viewed as deeply personal and identity-related In such an environment any widespread perception that Jordan is directly or indirectly assisting US military operations could trigger a new wave of public protests For this reason, the government has
By shifting the narrative in this way, authorities reduce the likelihood that an external conflict will evolve into a domestic political issue
Another important factor is the government s concern over strong pro-Palestinian public sentiment In recent years Jordanian society has become increasingly critical of US policies and Israel s actions, making any
with inflation unemployment and declining purchasing power Any perception that the regional conflict could spread further risks intensifying these pressures The government understands that insecurity carries not only psychological consequences but also economic ones affecting investment tourism consumer confidence and overall social stability As a result official messaging focuses less on the dangers of war and more on the state s ability to maintain order and manage the crisis effectively Another major reason behind this communication strategy is preserving the legitimacy of the state during a period of heightened regional tension For years Jordan has portrayed itself as an island of stability in an increasingly volatile Middle East a country that has avoided the civil wars, state collapse, and widespread unrest experienced by many of its neighbors Maintaining this image depends on convincing the public that the government remains firmly in control If official messaging were to emphasize escalating threats or Jordan s complex involvement in the regional
MuhaMMad Zahid Rifat
IRAN SAYS MIDDLE EAST ATTACKS HALTED AFTER US HOLDS FIRE
into China’s
Israeli settlers torch 2 mosques in West Bank: Palestinian
The Israeli military said troops were dispatched to the outskirts of Qusra after receiving a report that a mosque had been set ablaze
The soldiers searched for suspects who had fled prior to their arrival and identified signs of arson and graffiti at the scene,” it said, adding that Israeli police would investigate and collect evidence In a separate incident
UK 's Burnham would c all out Trump if in Britain's interest, he tells BBC
PUNJAB DEPLOYS AI, HEAV Y MACHINERY IN MASSIVE MONSOON DRAINAGE DRIVE ACROSS 41 DISTRICTS
LAHORE
Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari said that every leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party appears to have taken an oath to criticise the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) She said the PPP leadership has nothing to present to the public regarding the performance of its 17-year rule in Sindh She stated that if the PPP had been serious about the Azad Kashmir elections Bilawal Bhutto would not have cancelled his scheduled public rallies Accord-
ing to her Bilawal Bhutto cancelled his scheduled rallies to overcome the embarrassment of his previous disappointing public meetings She questioned how those who, even after ruling one province for 17 years, allegedly make opposing candidates disappear could lecture others about who truly won an election Azma Bokhari asked why the PPP was so upset over the provision of electric buses and Clinics on Wheels to the people of Azad Kashmir She said the PPP failed to provide a transport system in Sindh during its 17 years in power whereas Maryam Nawaz launched
electric buses across Punjab within just 18 months She added that every development initiative of Maryam Nawaz also includes other provinces She further said that Maryam Nawaz provided laptops and scholarships to students from Balochistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir Azma Bokhari said that whenever the people of Punjab receive relief, the PPP begins complaining, and when the people of Azad Kashmir receive relief, they react in the same manner She concluded by saying The PPP should tell us once and for all what its actual issue is
LAHORE
S TA F F R E P O R T
A visiting US congressional delegation toured the Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA) in Lahore, where members were briefed on the province's AI-powered public safety infrastructure, surveillance capabilities and integrated law enforcement coordination as part of broader engagements aimed at strengthening Pakistan-US relations US Congressmen Ryan Zinke and Michael Baumgartner visited the authority and were received by Managing Director Punjab Safe City Authority Muhammad Ahsan
Younas and other senior officials
During the visit Managing Director Muhammad Ahsan Younas and Chief Operating Officer Mustansar Feroze gave the delegation a detailed briefing on the authority's mandate, operational capabilities, major achievements and recent upgrades incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies
Officials informed the delegation that the Punjab Safe City Authority monitors strategic locations across the province through thousands of advanced surveillance cameras linked to an integrated command-and-control system designed to enhance public safety im-
prove emergency response and support law enforcement operations
The visiting lawmakers were also briefed on the authority s close coordination with the police and other law enforcement agencies throughout Punjab, as well as the mechanisms that enable citizens to directly report crimes and suspicious activities helping authorities respond more effectively to public safety concerns
The visit formed part of the US congressional delegation s engagements in Pakistan, aimed at promoting greater cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries
GUJRAT S TA F F R E P O R T
Chairman of the EU-Pak Friendship Federation Europe, Dr Pervez Iqbal Lohsar, has said that overseas Pakistanis are playing a key role in strengthening Pakistan's economy through their record-breaking remittances and investments Their
Tarar cl aimS india-linked digiTal propaganda neT work TargeTed pakiSTan Through online drive
D E R A L Information Minister
FAttaullah Tarar on Sunday said investigators had uncovered an India-linked digital propaganda network allegedly orchestrating misinformation and anti-state content in Pakistan claiming that a social media campaign associated with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was financed from across the border
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad Tarar said security agencies had recently arrested an individual providing digital marketing services whose activities, according to investigators, were linked to India
He said the investigation revealed that payments used to promote and amplify social media content in Pakistan were routed through payment gateways originating from India
"During the investigation, it emerged that an entire misinformation network was operating through bot farms," Tarar said adding that the network was used to disseminate what he described as "antistate content targeting Pakistan its institutions the government the armed forces and the army chief
According to the minister, investigators traced a significant portion of the promoted content to online campaigns surrounding the JAC in Azad Jammu and Kashmir
We had been saying from day one that this JAC wanted to weaken the relationship between Kashmir and Pakistan Tarar said alleging that the movement formed part of a broader conspiracy rather than a campaign for the rights of Kashmiris
He also questioned why the group had not participated in the democratic process if it genuinely represented public interests
Referring to previous protests in Azad Kashmir Tarar accused the committee of encouraging violence creating law and order problems and taking the law into its own hands by blocking roads and organizing armed demonstrations
The minister said authorities now possessed what he described as "irrefutable evidence" linking the campaign to India
There should no longer be any doubt that its links lead to India, and we now have undeniable evidence," he said Tarar further alleged that social media campaigns supporting the JAC had been financed from India saying technical investigations had traced the payments
All the payments for the Joint Ac-
tion Committee's social media content were coming from India, and this has been established through technical data," he said He said investigators had also recovered WhatsApp conversations between the arrested suspect and an alleged Indian operator discussing payments, targeted viewership and account details
According to Tarar, payments were transferred in small amounts to avoid detection by financial monitoring systems
The minister also said forensic investigators had traced the origin of several online accounts to India despite attempts to conceal their locations through virtual private networks (VPNs)
"When a VPN masks a user s location the device itself can still be identified during forensic analysis That is how these India-based accounts were de-
tected he said Tarar said the government was also examining the digital payment gateways allegedly used in the operation and vowed that authorities would continue exposing what he called coordinated disinformation campaigns
He further alleged that the network promoted sectarianism anti-state narratives and content targeting the armed forces through coordinated bot activity
The minister maintained that such campaigns were intended to undermine public confidence in state institutions but insisted they would not succeed No one can weaken Pakistan Such propaganda and misinformation campaigns will continue to be exposed by the government, the armed forces and our security institutions," Tarar said
During the press conference Tarar displayed examples of social media posts linked to the investigation saying they were designed to incite violence spread misin-
Ziauddin Ahmad of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank DPO Abdul Samad Khan were also present on the occasion Kundi described Friday s attack on the Manji Khel checkpost in Tank as a tragic incident in which personnel of the Pakistan Army, police and the forest department embraced martyrdom while performing their duties He said more than 1,300 kilogrammes of explosives had been used in the attack underscoring the scale and sophistication of the terrorist threat confronting the country The governor alleged that India was using Afghan territory through terrorist groups to destabilize Pakistan and claimed that weapons abandoned in Afghanistan by international forces were frequently being used in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Kundi said the people of the province and Pakistan's security forces had demonstrated remarkable resilience adding that attacks such as the one in Tank could neither weaken the morale of the armed forces nor shake the resolve of the public I met the injured personnel, and their courage and determination are commendable," he said The governor said he would convey the recommendations presented by the regional police to the federal government and would also raise with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the provincial government the issue of enhancing compensation and support packages for injured security personnel
He said the welfare of the families of martyrs and injured personnel remained a collective national responsibility and assured them of the government s continued support Calling for closer coordination between Islamabad and Peshawar Kundi said the provincial government should work shoulder to shoulder with the federal government in the fight against terrorism He stressed the need to further intensify intelligencebased operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said he would discuss the matter with the chief minister
Punjab monsoon death toll climbs to 29 as fresh rain spell triggers flood aler t
Punjab s monsoon death toll has climbed to 29, with 203 people injured in rain-related incidents across the province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said as it issued a fresh alert ahead of the third spell of monsoon rains and directed all district administrations to remain on high alert for possible urban and flash flooding
According to the PDMA s latest assessment most fatalities occurred due to the collapse of mud and dilapidated houses lightning strikes and electrocution during the ongoing monsoon season The authority also reported that 52 houses sustained partial damage because of heavy rainfall, while six livestock animals were killed
PDMA Director General Omar Abbas Mela instructed district administrations to ensure complete preparedness in view of the approaching third monsoon spell, warning that several areas could face urban flooding and flash floods He directed authorities to implement precautionary measures and maintain readiness
to minimize potential loss of life and property
The PDMA chief said the highest number of deaths resulted from the collapse of roofs of old and unsafe buildings He also urged citizens to stay away from exposed electricity wires and utility poles during rainfall to reduce the risk of electrocution
Under the Punjab government s relief policy, financial assistance ranging from Rs1 million to Rs5 million is being provided to the families of those who lost their lives in rain-related incidents
Flood situation in Punjab rivers remains stable
Meanwhile the flood situation in Punjab s major rivers remained largely stable during the past 24 hours, with water levels in the River Chenab showing a noticeable decline following an improvement in weather conditions in the upper catchment areas according to the PDMA
A PDMA spokesperson said low-level flooding continued in the River Chenab at Marala, Khanki Qadirabad and Trimmu Water flow was recorded at 143 000 cusecs at Marala 138 000 cusecs at Khanki 135 000 cusecs
at Qadirabad and 184 000 cusecs at Trimmu
The spokesperson said lowlevel flooding also persisted in the River Indus at Kalabagh, Chashma and Taunsa Water flow was measured at 334,000 cusecs at Kalabagh 370 000 cusecs at Chashma and 313 000 cusecs at Taunsa Barrage
According to the authority water flow in the Sutlej and Jhelum rivers remained within normal limits, while low-level flooding continued in the River Ravi at Balloki and Head Sidhnai Water flow stood at 81 000 cusecs at Balloki and 60 000 cusecs at Head Sidhnai while conditions at Jassar and Shahdara remained normal
The PDMA further reported low-level flooding in the Basantar drain in Narowal while a highlevel flood was recorded in Wazirabad s Phalko drain where water flow reached 5,000 cusecs
Director General Omar Abbas Mela said rainfall in the upper catchment areas had increased river flows but the flood situation in the River Chenab improved significantly after rainfall subsided upstream
AFF targets Taliban convoy in Baghlan, kills four commanders in Badakhshan
ISLAMABAD A P P
Resistance operations against the Taliban regime have intensified as the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) launched a rocket attack on a Taliban military convoy traveling from Kabul to Badakhshan Province on Saturday
According to details shared by the resistance group on its official X handle the attack was carried out in the Doshi District of Baghlan province after AFF guerrilla fighters tracked the convoy from Kabul to the Northern Salang area The convoy was transporting
Taliban reinforcements and military equipment destined for Badakhshan province
According to the group seven Taliban members were killed and six others were wounded in the
rocket attack, while no AFF fighters were injured or harmed during the operation
Following the action in Baghlan further attacks were carried out against the Taliban regime in the Zebak District of Badakhshan province, where Taliban forces suffered heavy casualties
During clashes over the past two days four Taliban commanders were killed including Mullah Shadab commander of the Zebak Unit The three other slain commanders Maulvi Gul Ahmadi Mullah Faridullah, and Qari Umari Lazari were leading border companies in Zebak district
backed by the unwavering support of the people would help restore lasting peace in the province Munir said Targeted operations against Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan will continue with full resolve until the menace of terrorism and its abettors are eliminated from Pakistan " UNSC flags rise in TTP attacks from Afghanistan Terrorist violence has increased significantly in Pakistan in recent days particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan raising fresh concerns over the security situation in both provinces In response security forces have intensified counterterrorism operations targeting militant groups A United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report released in February also highlighted a series of attacks by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) against Pakistani security forces and projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Referring to one such incident the report stated: On September 16, 2025, the BLA ambushed a Pakistani military convoy patrolling the corridor, killing 32 troops While counter-terrorism operations by Pakistan restricted the BLA s operational space, it remained active " The report further said some member states had informed the UNSC that the BLA collaborated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIL-K by sharing training camps and resources while coordinating attacks and meetings between commanders However, it noted that other member states assessed there was neither an established association nor growing ties between the BLA and Al Qaeda or ISIL It also highlighted that various militant groups in Afghanistan had acquired modern weapons and military equipment through cross-border smuggling and
