ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday sounded the alarm over the collapse of the country’s once-thriving cotton industry, urging an urgent national effort to revive a sector that has seen output plummet from 14 million bales to just four million in recent years.
“We must revive our cotton sector. Similarly, livestock holds massive potential,” he said while addressing a ceremony held to mark the departure of another 300 students to China for a fully funded international training programme aimed at upgrading Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
Describing agriculture as the backbone of the national economy, he emphasised the urgent need to modernise the sector to address declining productivity and unlock its vast potential – particularly in cotton and livestock.
Textile sector under threat: Cotton industry grappling with big output shortfall: PCGA
“We are an agrarian economy. Any investment in this sector directly strengthens the national economy,” he said, adding the students – selected on merit from across the country – would serve as “ambassadors of Pakistan” in China.
The PM highlighted the importance of investing in modern agricultural technology, saying it was essential for the country’s economic revival.
The departing students are part of a bilateral youth development programme designed to equip Pakistani graduates with advanced farming techniques and knowledge, underscoring growing cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing in the agricultural domain.
Sharif lauded the performance of the first batch of 300 students who recently returned from China after receiving training, particularly in the province of Xi’an.
Training in China: Govt to foot expenses of 1,000 agri graduates: PM
He recalled that the initiative was launched following his visit to an agricultural university in China, where he witnessed first-hand application of advanced research and farming practices.
The new cohort includes students from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, with a 10 per cent quota reserved for students from Balochistan.
Sharif also expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Xian Zaidong, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi for their support in making the programme a success.
Ambassador Zaidong presented a cheque for flood relief aid from the Chinese government – a gesture warmly welcomed by the prime minister.
The ambassador reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to Pakistan’s development, noting that the training aligns with President Xi’s vision of youth capacity building.
“Skilled labour is the cornerstone of economic growth,” Zaidong said, commending Islamabad’s efforts to stabilise the economy.
PM Sharif noted that Pakistan had achieved macroeconomic stability, improved its foreign exchange reserves, and recorded 3.5 per cent GDP growth.
Ambassador Hashmi, who played a key role in coordinating the training programme, was presented with a memento by the PM. The latest group of students is scheduled to depart for China on August 24.
Reko Diq Mining Company is set to achieve financial close on the back of about $6 billion in indicative commitments, almost double the requirement. The package includes at least half a billion dollars in assurances by the United States.
Of the $6 billion in commitments, two multilateral lenders, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank Group, have already approved a little over $1 billion. The ADB approved $300 million for the Reko Diq Mining Company, which owns 100% of the world’s fifth largest copper-gold mines in Balochistan, according to an announcement released by the Manila-based lender on Friday.
The ADB said the project will help meet rising global demand for critical minerals while unlocking economic development and poverty reduction in Pakistan.
The $300 million ADB financing indicates that Reko Diq will achieve financial close within months. It also signals to international private creditors to lend, according to people familiar with the matter.
Agreements with other lenders are expected soon to reach the $3.5 billion required for phase one of the $6.7 billion project, they added.
“Reko Diq will help the critical minerals supply chain, advance the clean energy transition and drive digital innovation across the region and beyond,” said ADB President Masato Kanda after the board approved a $410 million package.
The ADB’s contribution includes up to $300 million in loans to Reko Diq Mining Company Private Limited (RDMC) and a $110 million partial credit guarantee to cover the equity component of the Balochistan government, stated the ADB.
The project will mark the largest foreign direct investment in Pakistan’s history, it added. Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow recently said the company was preparing a “G7 financing package” for the project. The mine is expected to begin production in 2028.
Earlier, Pakistan approved raising the first phase cost to nearly $6.7 billion, a 58% increase — by enhancing the scope of the strategically important scheme and accounting for inflationary impact and higher production needs.
As a result, the federal government’s obligation for its 25% shareholding through three state-owned firms rose to $1.9 billion. The Balochistan government’s obligation also increased to $1.1 billion.
Barrick Gold is responsible for arranging the remaining 50%.
Sources said the $6 billion in indicative commitments included $1.05 billion already approved by the World Bank Group and ADB. The US Export-Import (EXIM) Bank indicated a $500 million to $1 billion loan.
The US International Development Finance Corporation, Export Development Canada, and Germany’s KfW have also promised loans. Guarantees have been offered by Euler Hermes, Finnvera Group, Swedish Export Credit Agency EKN, and Korean Exim Bank for $400 million.
Japan’s Exim Bank has pledged $500 million while Australian Export Finance may extend up to $250 million, sources added.
However, final amounts will depend on the company’s requirements. The mining firm now has the option to secure loans at highly competitive rates, they said.
“The ADB’s support is also a game-changer for Pakistan, creating quality jobs and supporting the shift to a more resilient and diversified economy,” said the ADB president.
When complete, Reko Diq is expected to be the world’s fifth largest copper mine. In its first phase, it will produce on average 800,000 tonnes of copper concentrate per annum and help address the projected global copper shortfall, the ADB noted.
Copper, a critical mineral for energy transition and digital transformation, is essential for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, batteries, smartphones, and data centres, it said.
The mine is expected to have significant impact on Pakistan’s economy significantly. It will create thousands of jobs, stimulate regional growth, and support social development programmes in healthcare and education, including initiatives for women and local communities, added the Manilla-based lender.
Work at the site, including building and operating the open-pit mine and processing plant, began this year. The mine is being developed under strict environmental, social, and governance standards. Production is set to start in late 2028 and continue for at least 37 years. Reko Diq is the first mining project supported by ADB under its new Critical Minerals to Manufacturing Value Chains approach which is designed to help Asia and the Pacific capitalise on growing demand for materials essential to clean energy and digital technology.
All projects will be subject to ADB’s strict environmental and social checks, due diligence, and impact assessments, the bank said.
The ADB board’s approval allows the lender to move forward with final loan documentation and requirements before the financing is formally committed through signed agreements.
The recently completed feasibility study outlines two phases. In Phase I, initial throughput will be 45 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of ore, with production beginning in 2028. With Phase II, throughput will double to 90 Mtpa by 2034, according to the technical report.
The project’s internal rate of return (IRR) is estimated at 21.32%, based on copper prices of $4.03 per pound and gold at $2,045 per ounce. The payback period is six years and two months, the report showed.
The mining project has drawn strong interest from both the US and China. Over its 37-year life, Reko Diq’s net cash flow is projected at $70 billion.
A missile mockup of Lockheed Martin. — Bloomberg/File
ISLAMABAD: Months after Pakistan used a Chinese-made ultra-long-range missile to shoot down Indian fighters, US Air Force and Navy funding requests show they may soon get their own advanced weapon after eight years of development: the Lockheed Martin Corp. AIM-260.
The service branches have asked for nearly $1 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, to begin producing the classified system, according to budget documents and a service statement, reports Bloomberg.
The Air Force, which is leading development of the AIM-260, or Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, requested $368 million for first-time production, plus $300 million in a separate annual “Unfunded Priorities List” the military services submit to congressional defense committees. The Navy has asked for $301 million.
Analysts at Melius Research said last year the missile could become a $30 billion program depending on how many missiles are produced — a much-needed boon for Lockheed Martin on the heels of a second-quarter earnings report that flagged $1.6 billion in charges and a potential $4.6 billion tax accounting liability.
“Profitable growth at MFC is extremely important for Lockheed Martin,” Melius analyst Scott Mikus said of the company’s missiles and fire control division.
“The key will be can they limit or avoid future charges on the classified missile program, which is believed to be the AIM-260,” he added.
When it is eventually fielded — the Air Force won’t say when — the weapon will become the most advanced US air-to-air missile, a role long held by increasingly sophisticated versions of the RTX Inc, AIM-120 AMRAAM, which was introduced in 1993. The Air Force declined to say what developments gave the service confidence to move into production now.
Air-launched weapons that can shoot down planes at extreme ranges came into the spotlight in May, when Pakistani jets used Chinese-made PL-15 missiles to down Indian aircraft more than 100 miles away without risking return fire, experts say.
In last year’s annual report on Chinese military power, the Pentagon said the Chinese air force had likely declared the PL-17 air-to-air missile operational in 2023, saying the PL-15 follow-on “is believed to be able to strike targets from 400 kilometers (248 miles).” The new US missile “will have increased range over existing air-to-air weapons and will be effective in a variety of threat scenarios,” the Air Force said. A Ukrainian Air Force spokesman said in 2023 that the AIM-120 model supplied to his country has a range of about 100 miles.
The AIM-260 is designed to fit the internal weapons bays of the F-22 and F-35 fighters, but the Air Force said it would also be integrated with F-16 and F-15 jets.
People wade through a flooded street after heavy rainfall in Karachi on August 19, 2025. — AFP
The recent torrential rains – about 200 millimetres in three days – have once again exposed the chaotic and fragmented governance of Karachi. Flooding revived the confusion over which agency or municipal body is responsible for basic services, further fuelling public frustration and intensifying debates about how the city is governed.
Across the border in Mumbai, nearly 800 millimetres of rain over just four days disrupted the lives of millions, flooding roads, grounding flights, and halting train services, while large parts of the city lay submerged in waist-deep water. Yet the comparison is striking: both cities endure the same climate shocks, but Mumbai absorbs the impact and recovers, whereas Karachi repeatedly falters. The contrast underscores a deeper reality – governance, financial capacity and urban planning make all the difference.
Karachi’s ongoing liveability crisis is highlighted by its ranking as the fourth least liveable city in the world, 170th out of 173 cities, in the 2025 Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index. By contrast, Mumbai stands at 121st, reflecting somewhat better, though still challenging, urban conditions.
Karachi and Mumbai are megacities of more than 20 million people. But while Mumbai has built stronger urban institutions, Karachi has been systematically weakened by political fragmentation and wilful neglect. The results are visible everywhere: in collapsing infrastructure, inadequate services, and declining quality of life.
The financial contrast is glaring. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s 2024–25 budget is INR26,835 crore, about $3.2 billion. That equals $160 per person for a population of roughly 20 million. Nearly 76 per cent of this revenue is raised locally – through property taxes, utility fees, and development charges – with the remainder from Maharashtra state transfers, including INR9,984 crore in octroi compensation. This robust base allows Mumbai to keep investing in infrastructure and services year after year.
Karachi, by comparison, is struggling. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s 2025–26 budget is Rs55 billion – just $196 million. Adding in other municipal agencies, cantonments, DHA and provincial departments, citywide spending is estimated at only $300 million to $500 million, though a lack of transparency makes it difficult to get a clear fiscal picture of the entire city. For a population of 20 million, this translates to just $14.7 to $25 per person annually – six to eleven times less than Mumbai. Such chronic underfunding results in failing services, crumbling roads and water that never reaches millions of homes.
Mumbai’s suburban railway illustrates what serious urban planning can achieve. It runs across 450 kilometres of track, operates over 2,300 daily train services, and carries more than 7.5 million passengers every day. Karachi, in contrast, has nothing comparable. The city depends on decrepit buses, minibuses, rickshaws and vans – all overcrowded and unreliable.
The Sindh government has promised 8,000 electric buses, but actual delivery has barely begun. The Karachi Breeze Bus Rapid Transit project has been mired in delays. Construction of the Green Line started in 2016, yet it was only partially opened in 2021 after funding gaps, bureaucratic hold-ups and the pandemic. For a city of this scale, the absence of functional mass transit is crippling.
Karachi’s financial and service woes are worsened by chaotic urban planning. It has become a concrete jungle marked by rampant corruption, unchecked real-estate development and the absence of a robust local government system. Adding to the city’s planning failures, the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA), responsible for regulating construction and enforcing safety codes, has long been plagued by incompetence, corruption and weak enforcement. A tragic example came in July 2025, when a five-storey building in Lyari collapsed, killing 27 people.
The DHA and cantonment boards control the affluent zones – DHA spans about 36 square kilometres (one per cent of Karachi), Malir Cantonment about 12 square kilometres – with the six cantonments and DHA together managing 20–30 per cent of the city. The PPP-led Sindh government, in power since 2008, oversees the remaining 70–80 per cent, where 17 million of Karachi’s 20 million residents live (according to the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation’s website). It bears the main responsibility for the city’s chronic failures and developmental decay.
Fragmentation undermines governance at its core. Each municipal or cantonment body operates independently, with little coordination to enable economies of scale, shared investments or strategic planning. The result is duplicated duties, conflicting priorities and weak accountability. Many describe Karachi’s fragmented governance as little more than the division of territory among powerful stakeholders.
Karachi’s underrepresentation in politics adds to this neglect. The city elects 22 of Pakistan’s 266 National Assembly members (8.3 per cent) on general seats, and 47 of Sindh’s 130 provincial assembly members on general seats (36.1 per cent), yet it holds only two federal cabinet seats (out of 43) and two provincial ministries (out of 18). The imbalance reduces Karachi’s influence in decisions about budgets and reforms, despite its economic weight and demographic importance.
The city’s failures are most visible in water. The Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation supplies around 423 million gallons per day, barely one third of the required 1,080 – 1,200 MGD. This gap forces dependence on over 10,000 water tankers, many controlled by a ‘tanker mafia’ accused of siphoning off an estimated 272 MGD, or 41 per cent of the city’s supply. Karachi also loses 30 – 40 per cent of piped water through leaks from an aging network, some of it dating back to the 1950s.
Beyond water, Karachi suffers every day from gridlocked traffic, collapsed waste management and inadequate storm drainage that leads to floods with each monsoon. Climate risks compound these crises: heatwaves and intense storms increasingly threaten millions of residents. Informal settlements, where basic infrastructure is absent, are hit hardest.
In stark contrast, Mumbai demonstrates how strong institutions, financial autonomy and political empowerment support resilience. Its ability to raise significant local revenue, while also drawing state resources, sustains continuous investment in services. The lesson is clear: coherent governance and empowered local bodies are crucial to urban survival and growth.
Karachi, however, is governed by a model resembling urban apartheid. Affluent neighbourhoods enjoy superior services and infrastructure, while mostly middle – and lower-income areas face relentless decay and neglect under the Sindh provincial government. The Clifton Bridge, widely seen as both a physical and symbolic divide, separates these privileged enclaves from the rest of the city. While around 380,000 residents live south of the bridge, 98 per cent reside beyond it, highlighting a stark boundary between privilege and neglect that underscores the deep socio-economic segregation fracturing Karachi’s urban fabric.
The path forward demands urgent reform. Karachi must unify its fragmented municipal and cantonment authorities into a single metropolitan body to enable strategic planning, reduce waste and improve services. Strengthening local revenue collection is essential. Bold investments are needed, especially to rehabilitate water pipelines and dismantle exploitative cartels like the tanker mafia.
The World Bank’s 2018 Karachi City Diagnostic estimated nearly $10 billion in capital investment over a decade to close critical gaps in transport, water, sanitation and waste management – key to making Karachi liveable and economically competitive.
As Pakistan’s economic backbone, Karachi’s future is at serious risk. Decades of neglect, dysfunction and underfunding have brought the city to the brink. Without bold reforms, increased funding and unified governance, Karachi faces collapse – crumbling infrastructure, rising inequality and growing unrest. Realising its potential requires political will, competent leadership and a national commitment to save a city Pakistan cannot afford to lose.
The writer is former head of Citigroup’s emerging markets investments and author of ‘The Gathering Storm’.
ISLAMABAD: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday met Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir and discussed regional security, counter-terrorism and matters of mutual interest.Wang, who arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday to attend the 6th round of the Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad, also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari and reaffirmed China’s commitment to working with Pakistan to promote regional peace, development, and stability.China expressed “steadfast support” for the sovereignty and development of Pakistan as the two sides agreed to strengthen their “all-weather strategic partnership”, the army said in a statement on Friday.It said that discussions between Army chief Munir and Foreign Minister Wang focused on regional security, counter-terrorism and matters of mutual interest.“Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen the all-weather strategic partnership and enhance coordination at regional and international forums,” it said.“Wang Yi reiterated China’s steadfast support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and development,” it said.Munir expressed gratitude for China’s consistent support.Their meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, the army said.Last month, Munir visited China, where he met Vice President Han Zeng, Wang and top military brass, but not President Xi Jinping, unlike his predecessor Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.On Thursday, Wang and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held strategic consultations to review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 2.0, trade and economic relations, multilateral cooperation, and people-to-people ties.Wang arrived in Islamabad from Kabul, where he took part in a trilateral meeting with his counterparts from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The three sides agreed to expand cooperation in multiple fields, including the extension of the CPEC to Kabul.This is Wang’s second visit to Pakistan in three years, and the latest high-level exchange between the two countries following recent bilateral meetings and visits.Earlier this week, Wang visited New Delhi, where he held talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar and attended the 24th round of Special Representatives boundary talks with NSA Ajit Doval on Tuesday.
The first meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on the Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP) for the merged districts was held in Islamabad on Friday, with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur presiding over the session.
The high-level meeting brought together key federal and provincial stakeholders, reflecting the government’s commitment to addressing the longstanding challenges of the region. Among those in attendance were Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Engineer Amir Muqam, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Mubarak Zeb, K-P Finance Advisor Muzammil Aslam, Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development K-P, representatives of 11 Corps, and senior civil and military officials.
The participants held an in-depth discussion on ongoing and upcoming development schemes under the AIP, which was launched to accelerate progress in the former FATA areas following their merger with K-P. Authorities presented detailed briefings on the status of projects and the pressing financial situation that continues to hamper implementation.
During the meeting, it was decided to initiate new joint projects under the program. These include the provision of solar power systems to households, construction of police infrastructure to improve law enforcement capacity, and strengthening of FATA University to expand higher education opportunities for the youth of the merged districts. Officials informed that the solar power project alone is estimated to cost Rs13.3 billion.
To ensure better planning and execution, the meeting approved the establishment of a technical committee comprising federal and provincial officials along with representatives of 11 Corps. The committee will be tasked with setting priorities, recommending timelines, and monitoring progress on the AIP schemes.
Speakers at the meeting underlined that restoring law and order, developing infrastructure, promoting trade, and creating employment opportunities would remain the foremost priorities for both the provincial and federal governments. They stressed that without tangible progress in these areas, peace and stability in the region would remain fragile.
The provincial government, however, voiced concern over the insufficient release of funds by the federal government. Officials noted that while the federal government had pledged Rs100 billion annually for development in the merged districts, only Rs158 billion has been released over the past six years against the committed Rs600 billion. Completion of already approved AIP projects requires Rs269 billion, they added.
Chief Minister Gandapur stressed that the development of the merged districts should not be seen as a provincial issue alone. “This is a national responsibility,” he remarked, urging the federal government to finalize the long-awaited NFC Award. “The new NFC Award is not only a constitutional requirement but also the need of the hour. Once implemented, and the due share for merged districts allocated, most of their financial difficulties will be resolved,” he said.
Labourers work at a flooded construction site after heavy monsson rains in Karachi on August 20, 2025. — AFP
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Light rain fell in several parts of Karachi on Friday, shortly after the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued fresh forecasts warning of more showers in the city between August 27 and 30, along with widespread heavy rainfall across the country during the same spell.
North Karachi, New Karachi, North Nazimabad, Board Office, Scheme 33 and Surjani Town were among the localities that received the morning drizzle.
According to the PMD, another monsoon system is likely to affect Karachi and other areas of Sindh from August 27. The department also predicted heavy rainfall in upper and central regions of the country between today and August 27.
Rainfall is expected in Sindh and Balochistan between August 27 and 29. The PMD said monsoon currents are already entering the northern areas of the country.
The advisory further stated that Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and other adjoining areas may receive heavy showers until August 27, while parts of Gilgit-Baltistan are also likely to see rainfall with strong winds and thunderstorms.
Showers are also expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Kohat and Peshawar. In Punjab, rain is likely in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum and Mandi Bahauddin. From Friday evening, Mithi, Tharparkar, Umerkot and Mirpurkhas are forecast to receive thunderstorms with rain.
The NDMA, in its latest advisory issued earlier in the day, also warned of potential widespread heavy rainfall and flooding in several parts of the country starting today.
The advisory says GB and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the regions most impacted by the monsoon rains, are likely to see scattered showers and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy downpours that can trigger flash floods, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in mountain valleys.
According to the NDMA, heavy rains are likely in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha, Sialkot, Gujrat and Hafizabad from August 23 to 30.
Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Battagram, Abbottabad, Malakand, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Tank, Bannu and Lakki Marwat are also expected to receive heavy rains during the same period.
The NDMA added that Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, Ghanche and Shigar may also experience heavy rainfall from August 23 to 30.
The authority has directed provincial and district bodies to step up monitoring of glacial sites, conduct evacuation drills in vulnerable communities and keep rescue services on high alert.
Meantime, civic agencies and law enforcement agencies have also been asked to prepare emergency plans, stock up on supplies and ensure roads can be cleared quickly if blocked by floods or landslides.
The NDMA has directed the public to avoid unnecessary travel in flood-prone areas, especially near rivers and fast-flowing streams and nullahs, warning that vehicles could be swept away.
People living in low-lying areas have been told to stay vigilant and follow evacuation plans if instructed.
Tourists have been advised to avoid trekking around glaciers, take photographs close to dangerous sites or wander into unstable terrain.
The NDMA has forecast heavy rain across several parts of Sindh and Balochistan, also during the said period.
In Sindh, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Jamshoro and Nawabshah are also likely to receive rain during the same period. Other districts, including Dadu, Khairpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, and Larkana, have also been placed on alert.
In upper Sindh, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore and Shaheed Benazirabad may experience heavy showers.
In Balochistan, parts of the province, including Lasbela, Khuzdar, Awaran and Qalat, may witness heavy showers. Coastal towns such as Gwadar, Turbat, Kech and Panjgur are also expected to be affected.
The wet spell could reach Quetta, Ziarat, Zhob and Loralai, while intermittent showers are forecast for Barkhan, Musakhel, Dera Bugti and Kohlu.
The NDMA alert says that rains may trigger urban flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas, warning people to remain cautious.
The Indus River flows may rise sharply, particularly at Guddu, Taunsa and Kalabagh, while the Ravi and Chenab are also expected to swell with increased discharge.
Officials say emergency equipment will be placed in advance, evacuation centres will be prepared, and early warning systems will stay active to help communities through the wet spell.
KARACHI: Heavy rainfall has caused severe disruptions for daily wage earners across Karachi, leaving thousands of workers without income. With businesses affected and markets flooded, many laborers who depend on daily wages to support their families returned home without work on Tuesday.
A report by The Express Tribune revealed the struggles of the working class in the wake of the rain. Jamal Sehti, Patron-in-Chief of the All Karachi Traders Alliance, noted that business activities were heavily impacted in major areas like Liaquatabad, M.A. Jinnah Road, Saddar, Karimabad, Landhi, Korangi, and the Old City.
Although shops opened initially, waterlogging on main roads forced many shopkeepers to close early, as customers stayed away. Sehti emphasized that daily wage earners bore the brunt of the disruption, many of whom couldn’t find work, leading to a worsening of their financial situations if the rain continues.
Local residents shared their concerns. Sehar Tariq, a household goods vendor from Punjab Colony, explained that the rain prevented her from working, forcing her to borrow money from neighbors to feed her family. “We earn between Rs500 to Rs1,500 a day. Missing even one day’s work leads to debt,” she said.
Food delivery workers were also affected, with Adnan Ahmed, a rider, stating that restaurants remained closed due to the flooded streets, causing food delivery orders to drop significantly.
Haji Tasleem, a construction worker manager, highlighted that many of Karachi’s laborers come from other regions and are heavily reliant on the construction sector, which was also disrupted by the weather.
Islamabad-based journalist Khalid Jamil was arrested by the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from his home in Islamabad’s Media Town, the agency confirmed on Friday.
In a statement, NCCIA said the arrest was made following “completion of official procedures” and that more details would be shared later. Sources said a case had been registered against the journalist earlier this year, without providing any further details.
Reports of his arrest began circulating on social media late Friday evening. Journalist Asad Ali Toor posted on X, claiming that Jamil had been picked up by FIA and NCCIA officials.
Adding to the reports, Khalid Yousuf Chaudry, a lawyer representing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, shared a video showing NCCIA officials taking the journalist away in a white car.
اینکر خالد جمیل کو ان کے گھر سے بغیر کسی وارنٹ شام 06:36 بجے اُٹھا کہ لے گئے ہیں اور اس وقت تک کوئی بھی ایف آئی آر تک درج نہیں ہوئی اور نہ وارنٹ دکھایا گیا ہے۔ پاکستان لاقانونیت کے بد ترین دور سے گزر رہا ہے جہاں منہ میں زبان ، ذہن میں سوچ رکھنا جرم بنا دیا گیا ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/o3e6mly1uO
“Anchor Khalid Jamil was picked up from his residence at 6:36 pm without any warrant. As of now, no FIR has been registered, nor was any warrant presented at the time of his arrest,” Chaudry said.
This is not Jamil’s first run-in with authorities. He was previously arrested in September 2023 by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over allegations of spreading anti-state narratives through social media.
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At the time, an FIR registered against him cited Section 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code, accusing him of sharing “highly intimidating” posts on X. He was remanded into custody by a district and sessions court and released on bail a week later.
Jamil, a prominent media figure, is currently unaffiliated with any news organisation. He runs a YouTube channel and frequently appears on television as a political analyst, often speaking out on human rights violations and political repression.
