Category: 1. Pakistan

Karachi residents faced disruptions in their daily commute on Monday morning due to traffic jams caused by repair work on tattered and flooded roads in the aftermath of last week’s heavy rains.

Torrential rains on August 19 had flooded neighbourhoods, severely strained Karachi’s fragile infrastructure, left people stranded on roads for hours, disrupted industrial operations and led to prolonged power outages.

Thoroughfares are still riddled with potholes, exposing the devastation of Karachi’s road network and posing serious dangers to commuters across the metropolis.

Subsequently, as Karachiites left their homes for offices and schools this morning, they faced hurdles caused by accumulated rainwater and “development work” being carried out to repair the ruined roads, as reported by the traffic police.

Areas in the Malir, East and Korangi districts were affected, with locations including the busy thoroughfares of Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road near Shaheen Complex and M.M. Alam Road.

More to follow

Recent rains and floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have caused over Rs1.57 billion in damage to livestock and fodder, according to an initial report released by the provincial Livestock Department.

The report revealed that more than 5,000 animals and 10,000 poultry birds perished in the floods.

In total, 5,328 livestock were reported dead across seven districts of the province.

Among the dead livestock are 1,091 goats, 1,682 calves, 1,089 cows, 822 buffaloes, and 544 sheep, the report stated.

Poultry farms also suffered severe losses. In Buner, approximately 9,000 chickens were killed, while another 4,435 domestic poultry birds died in Bajaur and Swat.

Additionally, 336 animal shelters in Mansehra, Shangla, Buner, and Swat were damaged by the floods.

The floods also destroyed fodder worth more than Rs286 million, the report added.

Pakistan Railways has suspended train operations between Quetta and Peshawar for two days due to the prevailing flood situation.

According to railway officials, the Jaffar Express will not operate from Quetta to Peshawar on August 25 and 26 as a precautionary measure. However, the Chaman Passenger Train departed from Quetta according to schedule.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways has launched a large-scale programme to digitize and automate its operations to enhance safety, reduce delays, and improve efficiency in passenger and freight movement.

According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, advanced communication and signalling systems are being deployed across key sections of the national railway network.

The upgrade includes installation of a computerized interlocking system at Landhi, Jummagoth, Badal Nala, and Sarhad stations, replacing manual controls to improve train routing and accident-prevention measures.

Additionally, the Karachi–Lahore section telecom system is being modernized with a digital microwave radio communication system to ensure uninterrupted and secure data transmission.

A Push-to-Talk digital communication network is also being gradually rolled out in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sukkur, and Karachi divisions to strengthen real-time coordination between field staff and control rooms.

Mansehra  –  Additional Deputy Commissioner (Relief) Mansehra, Asad Lodhi, has said that 95 percent of compensation has been paid to victims of the recent floods in Haleem Dairy and Neel Bund, the main disaster-hit areas of the district. He expressed these views while speaking to the media here.

The ADC (Relief) said that almost all payments have been made for various types of damages and losses, and so far, Rs59 million have been disbursed in compensation.

This includes 22 deaths, 15 fully damaged houses, five injured persons, and the loss of 16 cattle.

“Full compensation has been provided for fatalities, completely damaged houses, destroyed shops, as well as to financially well-off individuals affected by the floods,” Asad Lodhi added. He noted that food and medicines had already been distributed among the victims, which would be sufficient for the next two to three months.

The ADC said that volunteers and NGOs had been engaged in rehabilitation work, while the district health team, including clinical psychologists and medical specialists, was visiting the affected areas daily to treat the injured and those suffering from trauma due to the disaster.

According to the Additional Deputy Commissioner, compensation for deaths in other parts of the district—including Balakot, Bafa Pakhal, and Batagram—has also been paid. He assured that payments for completely damaged houses in Balakot and Mansehra are also being processed and delivered.

He mentioned that the administration is currently verifying partial damage reports, due to the large number of applications received.

The government, he added, has initiated a food stamp scheme, and lists have already been shared with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to ensure payments are transferred to victims’ accounts soon.

The ADC (Relief) said that the district administration is actively coordinating with government schools, health facilities, water supply schemes, and road networks to restore normalcy.

He added that road blockades in flood-affected areas are being cleared, and funds are being arranged in coordination with the provincial government to address major damages on a priority basis.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was hosted at a dinner reception by Thailand’s former Prime Minister and prominent business leader in the telecommunications sector, Thaksin Shinawatra.

The event was also attended by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s youngest former female prime minister. Both Thaksin and his daughter extended a warm welcome to the Punjab chief minister.

During the meeting, Thaksin conveyed goodwill and best wishes for Pakistan Muslim League (N) President and former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He, along with Paetongtarn, lauded Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision and initiatives for the development of Punjab.

“Your and your father’s struggle for the people is inspiring,” Thaksin said.

Maryam Nawaz praised the Shinawatra family’s contributions to Thailand’s progress, noting that their reforms and welfare measures had a lasting impact on the country.

“The friendship between Pakistan and Thailand is built on mutual respect and economic cooperation,” she said, adding that innovation and public service form the foundation of Punjab’s development vision.

She highlighted opportunities to enhance trade and investment in textiles, agriculture, tourism, and technology, and invited Thailand’s business community to benefit from Punjab’s incentives and regional market access.

“Cultural diplomacy, education, and tourism can bring our people closer,” Maryam remarked, while appreciating Thailand’s institutional capacity-building reforms as a model worth emulating.

She also stressed that Punjab is equipping youth with modern skills in line with the vision of building a digital nation.

The chief minister thanked Thaksin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra for hosting the dinner and extended an invitation for them to visit Punjab.

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Updated On: Mon, 25 Aug 2025

10:27:48 PKT

QUETTA (Dunya News) – Pakistan Railways has announced the temporary suspension of the Jaffar Express for two days due to the impact of ongoing rainfall and resulting adverse conditions.

According to railway officials, the train service from Quetta to Peshawar has been cancelled for August 25 and 26. Additionally, today’s scheduled journey from Peshawar to Quetta has also been suspended.

Authorities cited the challenging weather conditions caused by continuous rain as the reason behind the suspension, stating that the safety of passengers remains the top priority.

The Jaffar Express is a vital rail link connecting all four provinces of Pakistan. Known for its scenic route through lush green fields, rivers, mountains, and valleys, the train offers passengers a unique travel experience.

However, it has also faced repeated security threats in the past, making it both a remarkable and risky journey.

The service’s temporary cancellation may affect inter-provincial connectivity, but officials assured the public that operations will resume once conditions improve.

 

One attacker seriously injured when some of his accomplices started firing on a police raiding team in Islamabad in an attempt to free him from police custody, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

The firing incident took place in the Green Area under the jurisdiction of Shalimar Police Station of Islamabad. 

According to details, the police raiding team was on its way to arrest the accused’s colleagues after receiving credible information from Asim Jahangir arrested earlier.

When the police team reached Green Area, some accomplices of the accused opened fire on the police raiding team.

Due to severe firing, the accused Asim Jahangir received serious bullet injuries, and one tyre of the police van was burst, but all the policemen remained safe. All the accused escaped from the 

Accused Asim Jahangir was on physical remand vide case no. 850 registered against him in Shalimar Police Station for attacking the police and other serious sections.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Mohammad Jawwad Tariq said that the accused Asim Jahangir was a police record holder and nominated in 19 serious criminal cases.

Later, the police team shifted the injured accused, Asim Jahangir, to the hospital for treatment. The DIG said that the police team police started a search operation to apprehend the accomplices of the accused.

Reporter: Mohammad Awais

LAHORE  –  On the final day of her five-day official visit to Japan, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met Expo Association General Manager Achinoki Manatsu and lauded the World Expo 2025 theme centered on saving lives, improving public services, and enhancing public facilities. According to a handout, the chief minister underlined that Expo experts are offering valuable recommendations to address pressing social challenges. She highlighted Pakistan’s rich tradition of handicrafts, particularly Ajrak and Blue Pottery, and noted that Punjab’s natural resources, combined with the skills of its craftsmen, have the potential to be transformed into unique products of global appeal.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif pointed out that the arrival of 1.2 million visitors to Pakistan’s pavilion reflects the growing international interest in Pakistani products. Senior officials of the Expo Association welcomed her keen interest, while General Manager Achinoki Manatsu expressed gratitude for her visit.