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KP CM Sohail Afridi rejects governor’s rule threats • Nadia Khan faces criticism after questioning Preshay Adnan over gym attire • OpenAI scraps new AI model launch over safety concerns • Men face higher cancer rates than women, study finds • Pakistan earn first point in FIFA ASEAN Cup after 2-2 draw with Philippines • Tax return filing deadline tomorrow as late-filer category set to end • Floods and heavy rains kill 23 in Thailand • Ahsan Bhoon sends Rs5b defamation notice to Capt (R) Safdar • Salman Khan speaks out against AI-generated deepfake videos • Insomnia linked to 26% higher stroke risk, study finds • Google Chrome introduces feature to preserve tab position across devices • Four militants killed in security operation in DI Khan • Clashes erupt over partial demolition of 600-year-old Ujjain mosque in India • Pakistan thrash Oman 7-2, set up Asian Games semifinal against India • Pakistan plans $500mn ADB loan for pension reforms
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Pakistan News

Read the latest Pakistan news, politics, economy, public services and breaking developments with verified updates, context and original analysis.

Pakistan continues cross-border strikes after negotiations hit deadlock

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Pakistan continues

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar confirmed that negotiations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have failed, adding that Islamabad appreciates the diplomatic backing extended by friendly nations.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Atta Tarar confirmed that negotiations with the Afghan Taliban had broken down. He asserted that the Government of Pakistan will employ all available resources to completely eradicate terrorism from the country.

“The government will continue to take all possible measures against terrorism. The terrorists, their hideouts, and facilitators will be eliminated,” Tarar said.

He revealed that the dialogue between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, held in Istanbul, ended without any outcome.

According to the minister, Pakistan repeatedly lodged protests with the Taliban government over cross-border terrorism and the activities of banned outfits such as the TTP and BLF. “However, the Afghan Taliban resorted to blame-shifting, delays, and excuses,” he added.

Tarar further remarked that the Taliban government does not represent the Afghan people and is dependent on a war-driven economy for its survival. “Continuous support for anti-Pakistan terrorism has rendered Pakistan’s efforts futile,” he said.

The minister also thanked Qatar, Turkiye, and other friendly nations for their sincere diplomatic efforts in facilitating the talks.

Air Pollution: Lahore faces alarming smog levels once again

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Air Pollution

Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, remained the world’s most polluted city on Tuesday, as real-time data from global air quality monitor IQAir showed dangerously high pollution levels across the metropolis.

At 8 a.m., Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 410, placing it in the “hazardous” category, while the city’s average level stood at 329 later in the day.

Among the most affected localities were Sanda Road (767 AQI), Township (758), Model Town (574), Allama Iqbal Town (511), and Gulberg III (390).

Air pollution also persisted across other cities of Punjab, with Faisalabad recording a particulate matter (PM2.5) level of 622, Multan 485, and Bahawalpur 255, according to environmental reports.

As per IQAir’s latest index, New Delhi ranked second, Dhaka third, and Kolkata fourth among the world’s most polluted cities. Karachi stood fifth with an AQI of 165.

Experts warned that low wind speed and falling temperatures are trapping pollutants close to the ground, intensifying smog and reducing visibility—particularly during late night, early morning, and evening hours. They added that the air may improve slightly between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. when higher temperatures and wind movement help disperse pollutants.

Medical experts have urged citizens to wear protective masks and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, especially children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or heart conditions.

Punjab’s Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb advised residents to use masks whenever outdoor movement is unavoidable to reduce exposure to toxic air.

In response to worsening conditions, the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) deployed 16 mechanical washers and 50 washer rickshaws as part of its anti-smog operation.

More than 400 sanitation workers have been assigned for day and night shifts, washing and sprinkling water on over 300 kilometers of major roads daily.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 47 main roads—including Jail Road, Main Boulevard Gulberg, Noor Jehan Road, MM Alam Road, GT Road, Bund Road, and Ferozepur Road—are being washed twice daily to suppress dust and reduce airborne particulates.

In the past 24 hours, authorities registered 14 FIRs, imposed ₨1 million in fines on 115 violators, and issued 53 warnings across Lahore and other districts.

Violations included crop residue burning (13 cases), emission from smoke-producing vehicles (86), illegal industrial operations (5), and brick kiln violations (10).

Cumulatively, during the ongoing smog season, police have filed 1,642 cases, arrested 1,571 offenders, imposed fines exceeding ₨150 million, and issued over 15,000 warnings.

Officials reported 500 crop-burning cases, 55,763 vehicle violations, 1,599 industrial violations, and 3,185 brick kiln breaches across Punjab.

Karachi authorities seal dozens of shops selling urea-mixed milk

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Karachi authorities

KARACHI: The city administration has sealed seven more milk shops for selling chemically adulterated milk, raising the total number of shops sealed to 27 as part of the ongoing crackdown against unsafe dairy sales.

According to a statement issued by the Commissioner Karachi’s office, the campaign against adulterated milk continues across the city. On Tuesday, three shops in District South, three in East, and one in Malir were sealed after samples tested positive for harmful chemical substances.

A spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office said that within just two days, 27 milk shops have been sealed across Karachi for selling substandard or adulterated milk.

The decision was reviewed during a meeting chaired by Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, attended by the Director General of the Sindh Food Authority and other senior officials. It was decided that milk quality inspections and anti-adulteration drives will continue in all districts.

Commissioner Naqvi stated that sealed milk shops will not be reopened without heavy fines, and owners will be required to submit written assurances guaranteeing the sale of pure and safe milk in the future.

21 students injured after school bus plunges into canal in Sheikhupura

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21 students

SHEIKHUPURA: At least 21 schoolchildren were injured when a bus collided with a truck and veered into a canal near the Sheikhupura Bypass, according to rescue officials.

According to rescue officials, 21 children were injured in the accident. Six students received first aid at the scene, while 15 others were shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Rescue teams promptly arrived at the site and carried out relief operations.

Pakistan, KSA reaffirm enduring strength of brotherly bonds: PM

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Pakistan

RIYADH: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman renewed their commitment to advancing the deep-rooted partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on expanding trade and investment cooperation.

In a post on X, he said, “It was a great pleasure and honor to meet my brother, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh today.” “I remain deeply grateful for His Royal Highness’s personal commitment and resolute support in advancing our shared vision for deeper collaboration and prosperity for our two nations and peoples,” he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, also attended the meeting.

Upon arrival at the Al-Yamamah Palace, the Saudi Crown Prince warmly received Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation.

The Prime Minister is visiting Saudi Arabia at the special invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and will participate in the 9th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference during his stay.

Fire erupts in school van, six children hurt in Karachi

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Fire erupts

KARACHI: Another alarming incident of school transport safety emerged in Karachi on Monday as a van caught fire in Nazimabad, leaving six children injured.

According to rescue officials, the fire erupted after the vehicle overheated, engulfing the van while it was transporting students. The incident occurred at around 7:30 a.m., leaving six children with burn injuries.

Rescue teams immediately arrived at the scene and shifted the injured children to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital(ASH) Karachi for medical treatment.

Police officials, however, stated that they were not formally informed about the incident. Local residents reportedly acted on their own and extinguished the fire before emergency services arrived.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and whether the van met safety standards for school transport.

Kashmiris across world mark 78th anniversary of Indian occupation

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Kashmiris across

Muzaffarabad: October 27 marks the darkest day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, as it was on this day in 1947 that India illegally occupied a large part of the princely state. Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and across the world are observing Black Day today to reaffirm their resolve for freedom.

According to historical accounts, on October 27, 1947, India forcibly landed its troops in Jammu and Kashmir, violating the principles of the partition of the subcontinent.

 Since then, the people of Kashmir have continued their struggle for self-determination, enduring decades of violence and oppression. Reports suggest that in the past 34 years, nearly 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed.

Despite United Nations (UN) resolutions promising the right to self-determination, Kashmiris have yet to be granted this right. Observers and analysts have called on the international community to play a decisive role in ensuring a fair plebiscite in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

Every year, Kashmiris across the globe mark October 27 as Black Day to highlight what they describe as Indian aggression and human rights violations in the occupied territory.

Rallies, protests, and seminars are held worldwide to draw attention to the ongoing struggle and to reject India’s unilateral measures, including the revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status.

Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, described October 27 as the darkest day in the region’s history, saying India violated the principles of partition by deploying its forces against the wishes of the Kashmiri people and occupying part of the territory.

He said India’s claim over Jammu and Kashmir, based on the so-called Instrument of Accession, was rejected by the United Nations, and that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have never accepted Indian rule. He added that India continues to commit grave human rights violations in the occupied territory.

Citing historical atrocities, Anwar-ul-Haq recalled that in November 1947, Indian troops, Dogra forces, and extremists from the RSS and Akali Dal massacred nearly 250,000 Muslims in Jammu. Since 1989, more than 96,000 civilians have been killed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also issued separate messages on the occasion, calling upon the international community—particularly the United Nations and global human rights organizations—to hold India accountable for what they termed “grave and systematic human rights violations” in IIOJK.

President Zardari said the United Nations “owes it to the Kashmiri people” to ensure justice and peace, adding that lasting stability in South Asia depends on a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

He said that on this day in 1947, Indian forces entered Srinagar in blatant violation of international law and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, marking the beginning of one of the darkest chapters in modern history. Since then, generations of Kashmiris have endured repression, violence, and denial of their fundamental rights.

Referring to the events of August 5, 2019, the president said India’s unilateral revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status intensified its “brutal campaign,” which included a military siege, destruction of properties, and the enforcement of draconian laws that curtail fundamental freedoms.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that peace and stability in South Asia would remain elusive without the just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering political, moral, and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people in their struggle for self-determination.

Lahore’s air turns toxic as smog worsens across Punjab

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LAHORE: The Lahore continues to battle intense smog as air pollution in the city climbs to hazardous levels, raising serious health concerns among residents.

According to the Punjab Environment Protection Department’s website, Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has climbed to 358, while Gujranwala recorded a hazardous 500 and Sargodha stood at 347.

Official data shows that Faisalabad’s AQI was recorded at 306, Multan’s at 304, and Dera Ghazi Khan’s at 244.

Among Lahore’s most polluted areas, Multan Road topped the list with an AQI of 500, followed by GT Road (500), Shahdara (391), and Safari Park (377). The AQI at Kahna and Punjab University was recorded at 335 each.

Shocking new revelations raise questions about police conduct

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Shocking new

KARACHI: The death of a young man named Irfan in police custody at Karachi’s Saddar CIA Center has triggered outrage, with emerging details suggesting he was subjected to brutal torture.

The incident has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about police brutality and accountability. According to reports, Irfan was among four young men taken into custody near Ayesha Manzil and subjected to extreme torture while blindfolded and bound for several hours inside a police mobile before being shifted to the CIA Center.

Suleman, a cousin of the deceased who remains in custody, told media that the detainees were denied water for hours and that Irfan was later moved to another room where he was brutally beaten until his condition deteriorated.

Police sources confirmed multiple torture marks on Irfan’s body, adding that the post-mortem indicated the body was over 36 hours old. Witnesses alleged that even after Irfan lost consciousness, officers continued to beat him and later dragged his body into another room.

Reports further revealed that officers initially attempted to conduct the post-mortem at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC)on Wednesday but failed, later moving the body to a private clinic and back to JPMC  on Thursday evening. After doctors confirmed Irfan’s death, the police personnel allegedly fled the scene.

According to police sources, there were also visible signs of torture on Irfan’s face and back.

Lahore tops global list of most polluted cities

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Lahore tops

KARACHI: Lahore has once again recorded the worst air quality in the world, maintaining its position at the top of the global pollution rankings, while Karachi has moved up to seventh place, according to the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) data.

Data shows that Lahore’s air quality remains at hazardous levels, with particulate matter (PM) concentration recorded at 404, while Karachi’s reading stood at 147, indicating unhealthy air conditions.

Under the AQI scale, pollution levels between 150 and 200 are considered unhealthy, 200 to 300 are categorized as very unhealthy, and readings above 300 denote hazardous air quality.

Meanwhile, India’s capital New Delhi ranked second, and Beijing, the capital of China, secured the third position on the global pollution index.

Experts attribute the worsening air quality to seasonal changes, industrial emissions, heavy traffic, and irresponsible waste disposal practices.