News Updates Pk

The mercury dropped further in Lahore after the season’s first winter rain on Thursday with intermittent showers and a cold breeze while weather authorities issued a red alert for heavy rains and snowfall in northern parts of the country. Rainfall began in several Lahore neighbourhoods, including Johar Town, Jail Road, Mall Road, Shadman, Qurtaba Chowk, and near the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Light showers and drizzle were also reported in Township and Green Town, while the city remained overcast with gusty winds, intensifying the winter chill. لاہور میں بارش کے ساتھ ژالہ باری Lahore Heavy rain#lahore#LahoreRain #جینے_دو_کراچی_کو pic.twitter.com/SoPeewVBFk — Sumair jamil (@sumair_shah123) January 22, 2026   The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that heavy rain and snowfall may lead to road closures and slippery conditions in mountainous regions, including Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore,...

The search operation at the fire-ravaged Gul Plaza building in Karachi entered its fifth day on Thursday. Rescue teams have completed searches in about 70 per cent of the section partially affected by the fire, recovering a total of 60 bodies so far. Deputy Commissioner South visited the site Thursday morning to review relief operations. He said the first phase focused on areas of the building that had not collapsed and where the structure was still standing. “So far, DNA samples of 50 bodies have been obtained, while some bodies have burned to such an extent that extracting DNA from bones has become difficult,” he added. The second phase of the rescue operation will focus on collapsed debris, using heavy machinery. The Deputy Commissioner said extra caution would be required, as locating human remains, identifying them, and separating them from rubble is a complex and sensitive process. Efforts will be made to carefully recover the bodies and hand them over to their families. Read: Re...

More than 108,000 under-immunised children have been vaccinated across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa through effective planning and coordinated implementation by the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and its district teams with over 90% coverage in high-risk urban areas and significantly reduced immunity gaps, an official said on Thursday. K-P EPI Director Dr Mehtab Khan said the Immunisation Roadmap, launched under the chief secretary's leadership, had delivered strong and measurable results within its first six months. He said the initiative marked a major improvement in public health service delivery by strengthening accountability, modernising service delivery systems and accelerating progress toward universal immunisation coverage, adding that it reflected the government’s strong commitment to protecting child health. A major achievement under the roadmap was a targeted immunisation campaign carried out in Peshawar in November...

Water supply to parts of Karachi's District West and Keamari was restored on Wednesday after the installation of a new control gate on the Hub Canal Reservoir channel. "The project marks a step toward strengthening and modernising the city's water distribution system," said a press release from the spokesperson of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). The development work was carried out on directives of KWSC Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Ali Siddiqui. The press release added that teams operated continuously to ensure the project was completed on time and with minimal disruption to residents. It said that the timely completion reflected the technical expertise and coordination of field teams, engineers and support staff involved in the project. Read: KWSC claims major gains despite challenges The newly installed control gate is expected to improve regulation and security of water flows from the Hub Pumping Station. The press release noted that the upgrade...

The growing population of stray dogs in Punjab has become a serious concern for public safety and animal welfare, as dog bite incidents rise alongside reports of inhumane killings, highlighting gaps in the implementation of existing policies. In a recent case, Yasir Khan, a father of four from Umerkay Kalan in Sambrial tehsil, Sialkot, reportedly died after being bitten by a stray dog. Official data indicates that nearly 150,000 people across Punjab have suffered dog bites in the past six months. Residents say packs of stray dogs are increasingly a threat to daily life. Farah Shehzad, a Garhi Shahu resident, said, “Stray dogs roam in packs. Children and adults cannot safely step outside their homes.” Asifa Khan from Canal Road added, “Killing dogs is not a solution. The government must take effective and permanent measures to control their population.” Read: Stray dog cullinglands CDA in trouble Animal rights organisations point to the Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release (TNVR) policy,...

For thousands of retired Pakistan Railways employees, the wait for long-overdue payments has stretched into years, pushing many into severe financial hardship and leaving them struggling to meet basic needs. Retirees say they are unable to pay house rent, afford medical treatment or arrange their children’s marriages as gratuity, General Provident Fund (GP Fund) and other entitlements remain unpaid. Employees who retired after March 2023 have been waiting for their dues for nearly three years. According to information obtained by The Express Tribune, the crisis has widened further, with employees retiring after 2025 also yet to receive leave encashment, GP Fund payments, marriage grants and other benefits. Officials attribute the delays to a serious shortage of funds within the railway administration. The non-payment of dues has taken a heavy toll on retirees, many of whom say they are suffering from mental stress and physical illnesses but lack the money to seek treatment. Read: Pakis...

The National Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill allowing members of the National Assembly and the Senate to keep their assets confidential for up to one year, citing security concerns. The bill, moved by Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Shazia Marri, introduces key amendments to the Elections Act 2017. Under the new law, a lawmaker may request that details of their own or their family’s assets be kept secret if there is a credible threat to their safety. Once such a request is approved by the National Assembly speaker or the Senate chairman, the Election Commission of Pakistan will be bound to keep the information confidential for up to one year. The legislation also shifts key powers under election laws from the Supreme Court to the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC). It grants the FCC primary authority over appeals, legal interpretation and the resolution of electoral disputes. As part of the changes, the word “Supreme” has been replaced with “Federal Constitutional Court” in Section...