Category: 1. Pakistan

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has made it mandatory for the owners of immovable properties abroad to file “Electronic Foreign Income and Assets Declaration for Resident Individuals”.

Resident persons have to provide complete details of rental properties purchased abroad and details of business income, foreign assets, income and foreign bank accounts details through the new “Electronic Foreign Income and Assets Declaration for Resident Individuals”.

The FBR has issued SRO.1562(I)/2025 to notify electronic income tax return forms for companies, association of persons and individuals for tax year 2025.

The FBR has issued another notification, “Electronic Foreign Income and Assets Declaration for Resident Individuals” and “Electronic Return for Non-Resident having no source of income in Pakistan”.

The FBR has issued a new separate income tax return form for traders, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and “Simplified Electronic Return for Individuals” including salaried class.

As per notification, the FBR has also released final Electronic Return for manufacturer, Electronic Return for traders and Electronic Return for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Peshawar  –  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Syed Fakhar Jehan, along with PTI chairman and Member National Assembly Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, visited the flood-hit areas of Tehsil Chagharzai in District Buner, including Village Councils Gumbad, Batara, Ganshal area and other severely affected localities, to assess the damages caused by the recent devastating floods.

During the visit, the minister met with local elders, affected families and community members, listened to their issues and expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster.

He also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls.

Syed Fakhar Jehan reiterated that the provincial government stands firmly with the victims in this difficult time and assured that they would not be left alone until their complete rehabilitation.

The minister directed the district administration and relief agencies to ensure immediate assistance to the affected families, maintain uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and carry out urgent repair and restoration of roads and basic infrastructure.

He said that the government has introduced a comprehensive compensation package which includes Rs2 million for the families of martyr, Rs500,000 for the injured and the reconstruction of fully destroyed houses.

The minister further said that electricity restoration work in Chagharzai would be completed soon, while heavy machinery has been deployed for road clearance and debris removal.

He highlighted that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had also paid a special visit to Buner to personally review the scale of damages.

He added that the Chief Minister has issued clear instructions to leave no stone unturned in the relief and rehabilitation process and to utilize all available resources to ease the suffering of the people.

Syed Fakhar Jehan reassured the victims that the government is fully committed to compensating their losses and emphasized that, as a public representative, he stands with them as their humble servant in every possible way.

KP Health Dept ramps up medical response in flood-hit districts

On the directives of Health Advisor, Ihtesham Ali the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has intensified its emergency medical response across flood-affected districts, deploying medical teams and dispatching essential supplies.

Medical teams from Khyber Teaching Hospital and Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Swabi are actively engaged in field operations, running medical camps in severely impacted areas.

Additionally, trucks loaded with medicines and medical equipment have been dispatched from Hayat Medical Complex and Lady Reading Hospital to support relief efforts.

In coordination with international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the International Medical Corps, emergency medical consignments have been sent to Buner and Shangla.

The supplies include painkillers, fever and infection medications, antibiotics, vaccines,

IV solutions, ORS, sanitation kits, and diagnostic tools.

The International Medical Corps has donated medicines worth over Rs2 million, which were handed over to the Health Department in the presence of Advisor Ehtesham Ali and Secretary Health Shahidullah.

The Health Department has established 289 medical camps across affected districts. In Gadoon, Swabi, a cloudburst prompted a swift response, with instructions issued to the District Health Officer (DHO) to manage the situation.

Speaking to the media persons, Advisor Ihtesham Ali confirmed that alerts have been issued across all districts and disease surveillance has been activated under the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System (IDSRS).

According to the latest departmental report, 442 cases of infectious diseases were reported in the last 24 hours, raising the total to 822 cases.

The most common ailments include diarrhoea, skin infections, eye infections, mental health issues, hypertension, diabetes, and incidents of snake and dog bites. A notable rise in diarrhoea and skin diseases has been linked to poor sanitation following the floods.

So far, 32 medical camps have treated 1,820 patients, while 7,447 individuals have received medical assistance. The report also notes 334 deaths and 329 injuries, including 45 deaths and 33 injuries in the past 24 hours. No fatalities due to infectious diseases have been reported.

However, 42 health facilities have been partially damaged and 4 completely destroyed, posing challenges to healthcare access.

The Health Department continues to monitor the situation closely, with Advisor Ihtesham Ali personally overseeing operations from the control room.

Last Updated:August 19, 2025, 12:08 IST

News18 spoke to MPs Milind Deora and Ravi Kishan who said the PM spoke about the IWT not being cleared by the cabinet

PM Modi called out Nehru (right) over the signing of IWT. (PTI/News18 File)

A day after after News18’s exclusive report based on Parliament archives highlighted how former PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had signed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) without the nod of the House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the Parliamentary meeting on Tuesday, called out the Congress over the issue.

News18 spoke to MPs Milind Deora and Ravi Kishan who said the PM spoke about the IWT not being cleared by the cabinet. They told News18 a large part of the PM’s speech was on “Congress’s sins” and IWT.

NCP MP Praful Patel said, “PM Modi briefed NDA MPs on CP Radhakrishnan’s background…The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in the wrong way by Pandit Nehru, and Parliament was not taken into confidence. In today’s time, it is not in the country’s interest.”

What News18 report said

On November 30, 1960, the Lok Sabha took up the Indus Waters Treaty for discussion. It was short but very intense. It revealed a deep divide between Jawaharlal Nehru’s government, which defended the treaty as pragmatic statesmanship, and a wide spectrum of MPs across parties, including Congressmen, who felt India had sacrificed too much to Pakistan.

The News18 report had highlighted how the treaty was signed without taking Parliament or opposition leaders into confidence. By the time Parliament discussed the treaty, it was already ratified.

This was one of the sharpest criticisms Nehru faced in his career. Almost every speaker condemned the treaty—calling it unfair, a sell-out, or even a “second partition”. A young Atal Behari Vajpayee, the MP from Balrampur, framed it as a dangerous concession that wouldn’t bring lasting friendship.

Nadda too called out betrayal

Hours after News18 report, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief and Union Minister JP Nadda had underscored the “betrayal” in a thread on X. “The Indus Water Treaty, 1960, was one of the biggest blunders of former PM Jawaharlal Nehru that kept national interest at the altar of personal ambitions. The nation must know that when former Pandit Nehru signed the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, he unilaterally handed over 80 per cent of Indus basin waters to Pakistan, leaving India with just 20 per cent of the share. It was a decision that permanently compromised India’s water security and national interest. The most appalling aspect was that he did it without consulting the Indian Parliament. The treaty was signed in September 1960. However, it was placed before Parliament only two months later, in November, and, that too, for a token discussion of mere 2 hours!” he wrote.

He further wrote: “It was such a monumental blunder that even Pandit Nehru’s own party MPs vehemently opposed it. He yielded far too much, receiving nothing in return. Congress’s Asoka Mehta slammed the treaty and called it akin to a ‘second partition’ for the country. His words expressed the grief and shock felt not only within his own party but also across the opposition and the nation on Nehru’s complete surrender.”

Nadda also highlighted Parliament’s records which showed how Congress’s A.C. Guha had criticised paying Rs 83 crore in sterling to Pakistan when India faced a foreign exchange crisis. He cited it as “the height of folly”.

“A young MP, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, tore into Nehru’s Indus Water Treaty. He warned that the Prime Minister’s argument, that succumbing to Pakistan’s unreasonable demands would establish friendship and goodwill, was flawed. True friendship, he argued, cannot be built on injustice. If opposing Pakistan’s unfair demands led to strained relations, then so be it!” wrote Nadda.

Nadda elaborated: …Despite his party colleagues’ vehement opposition, he defended the Indus Water Treaty as beneficial for India. If that was not enough, he belittled the nation’s anguish by asking, “Partition of what? A pailful of water?”

History must call it what it was: Nehru’s Himalayan Blunder, said Nadda, adding, “A Prime Minister who disregarded Parliament, gambled away India’s lifelines, and tied India’s hands for generations. Even today, India would have continued to pay the price for one man’s misplaced idealism, if not for Prime Minister Modi’s bold leadership and his commitment to ‘Nation First’. By putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, PM Modi has corrected done yet another grave historical wrong committed by Congress!”

What Congress said

Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said: “They (government) blame Nehru ji for everything… it was Nehru ji who fixed the issues in the treaty (Indus Waters Treaty). The agreement made by Cyril Radcliffe was absolutely against India, it was Nehru ji who ensured that it was corrected…”

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A 5.2-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Seismic Network of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said in a statement.

According to the statement, the quake was felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, KP’s Peshawar, Swat, Chitral, and Abbottabad.

The PMD’s press release said that the earthquake originated at 10:20am PKT. Its epicentre was the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan, at a depth of 190 kilometres.

Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority reported that the earthquake was also felt in the province’s divisions of Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Lahore, Multan, Sahiwal and Sargodha.

No casualties have been reported so far, and according to KP’s Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Faizi, an emergency has not yet been declared.

Pakistan falls on three major tectonic plates — the Arabian, Euro-Asian and Indian — which create five seismic zones under the country. The intersection of multiple fault lines means that tectonic movements remain a frequent occurrence in the region.

The Hindu Kush region is recognised as one of the most active seismic zones in the world, lying at the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates where their ongoing collision generates frequent earthquakes, including rare deep-focus events that can reach depths of over 200km, according to the US Geological Survey.

This seismicity is attributed to subduction-related processes and slab break-off beneath the Hindu Kush–Pamir region, making it part of the broader Himalayan seismic belt that has produced several destructive earthquakes across Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India.

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook Islamabad, Rawalpindi and surrounding regions earlier in the month, swaying buildings and causing panic, but there were no reports of damage or casualties.

The earthquake in Afghanistan struck at a depth of 186 km (116 miles), GFZ said on Tuesday.

An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on Tuesday, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said.

The quake was at a depth of 186 km (116 miles), GFZ said.

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, UK, Bangladesh, and Russia get all the latest headlines in one place with including Trump-Putin meet Liveon Hindustan Times.

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, UK, Bangladesh, and Russia get all the latest headlines in one place with including Trump-Putin meet Liveon Hindustan Times.

News / World News / Earthquake of magnitude 5.2 strikes Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region

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Karachi received rainfall in several areas of the city on early Tuesday morning, triggering power outages throughout the city as traffic police advised citizens to take precautionary measures.

In a traffic advisory issued by Karachi Traffic Police at 8:11am, rain caused the traffic to slow down in multiple points across the city, including Sharea Faisal and the main National Highway.

The traffic police advised citizens to take precautionary measures in light of the situation, such as avoiding sudden braking, maintaining a slow speed and safe distance from other vehicles on the road.

Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah has directed the district administration, PDMA, health department and Rescue 1122 to remain on high alert amid the situation.

He ordered the immediate drainage of rainwater and instructed the relevant administrations to remain in contact with PMD and Sindh PDMA.

“All Deputy Commissioners should be present in the field with their staff,” the chief secretary said.

Separately, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), in a weather advisory, forecasted intermittent rains to continue throughout the day.

The minimum temperature is expected to remain at 28 degrees Celsius, while the humidity will be 85 per cent.

According to the Met Office, as of 8am, Saddi town recorded the highest level of rain at 35.8mm, followed closely by Gulshan e Maymar at 33.3mm, while Nazimabad recorded 26mm, Gulshan e Hadeed 3mm, University Road 4.4mm, PAF Base Faisal 1mm, Korangi 4.6mm, Surjani Town 7mm, and DHA Phase VII 3mm.

The following parts of Sindh have been forecasted to receive rain-wind/thundershower at isolated places: Tharparkar, Umarkot, Mithi, Thatta, Hyderabad, Badin, Dadu, Khairpur, Nausharo Feroze, Larkana, Jacobabad, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Islamkot, Nagarparkar, Mirpur Khas.

According to an earlier PMD forecast, widespread rain and thunderstorms with few moderate to isolated heavy or very heavy falls were expected in the province till August 22, with occasional gaps.

A day earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired an emergency meeting to oversee preparations for the monsoon rains.

A press release from his office said CM Shah put all the local bodies, administration and traffic police on high alert, and directed them to strengthen coordination between the relevant departments and organisations.

Monsoon rains fall across the region from June to September, offering respite from the summer heat and are crucial to replenishing water supplies. However, heavy downpours also trigger deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas.

Karachi continues to receive heavy rainfall in several areas since Tuesday morning, triggering power outages throughout the city as traffic police advised citizens to take precautionary measures.

An update from the Karachi Traffic Police at 3:37pm warned of slow movement across the following key roads in the city:

• District South: Capri Chowk-Numaish Chowrangi, Liaquat Highway, Baba
  Urdu Chowk, MA Jinnah Road, Faisal Awari Tower-FTC, I.I. Chundrigar
  Road, Fawara Chowk, Denso Hall, Abdullah Haroon Road
• District East: Bahadurabad, PAF Bridge-city, University Road
• District Central: Lasbela Chowk, Nipa-Sir Syed University, Guru
  Mandir, Jamshed Road, Jahangir Road
• District West: Gulbai Chowk, Lakdi Godi, Dabba Mor, PTC Gate
• District Malir: National Highway, Jinnah Avenue Road

The traffic police advised citizens to take precautionary measures in light of the situation, such as avoiding sudden braking, maintaining a slow speed and a safe distance from other vehicles on the road.

Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah has directed the district administration, the Sindh Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the health department, and Rescue 1122 to remain on high alert amid the situation.

He ordered the immediate drainage of rainwater and instructed the relevant administrations to remain in contact with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the PDMA.

“All Deputy Commissioners should be present in the field with their staff,” the chief secretary said.

Separately, PMD, in a weather advisory, forecasted intermittent rains to continue throughout the day.

The minimum temperature is expected to remain at 28 degrees Celsius, while the humidity will be 85 per cent.

According to the Met Office, as of 8am, Saadi Town recorded the highest level of rain at 35.8mm, followed closely by Gulshan-i-Maymar at 33.3mm, while Nazimabad recorded 26mm, Gulshan-i-Hadeed 3mm, University Road 4.4mm, PAF Base Faisal 1mm, Korangi 4.6mm, Surjani Town 7mm, and Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase VII 3mm.

The Met Office further said that the following parts of Sindh have been forecasted to receive rain-wind/thundershower at isolated places: Tharparkar, Umarkot, Mithi, Thatta, Hyderabad, Badin, Dadu, Khairpur, Nausharo Feroze, Larkana, Jacobabad, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Islamkot, Nagarparkar, and Mirpur Khas.

According to an earlier PMD forecast, widespread rain and thunderstorms with few moderate to isolated heavy or very heavy falls were expected in the province till August 22, with occasional gaps.

A day prior, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired an emergency meeting to oversee preparations for the monsoon rains.

A press release from his office said CM Shah put all the local bodies, administration and traffic police on high alert, and directed them to strengthen coordination between the relevant departments and organisations.

Rain emergency declared

According to a notification from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the Mayor of Karachi, Murtaza Wahab, has declared a rain emergency in the city.

The notification added that he “cancelled all types of (leave) including weekly holidays”, for the essential services departments, directing them to remain available.

He also directed the municipal services, the fire brigade and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) departments of KMC to establish a Rain Emergency Cell, coordinating with all essential services departments.

On the instructions of the Karachi East Zone’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dr Farrukh Ali, the East Zone police is on high alert to deal with the possible effects of rains, the DIG’s Media Cell said in a statement.

“Clear orders have been issued to all SDPOs (Sub-Divisional Police Officers) and SHOs (Station House Officers) to remain present in their respective areas, ensure drainage, traffic flow and take immediate steps to deal with any emergency,” the statement said.

It added that the DIG had instructed that the protection of life and property of citizens should be ensured at all costs, paying special attention to low-lying areas. Rescue teams and helplines should be kept active, and timely guidance and assistance should be provided to the public.

The DIG statement also appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary movement during bad weather, advising them to contact 15 or the nearest police station immediately in case of any emergency.

“Police are with the public at all times in all weathers,” it added.

Meanwhile, the traffic police said in another statement that rainwater had accumulated inside the Nazimabad Underpass, causing traffic to be diverted above the underpass on Hakim Ibne Sina Road.

The spokesperson, Saeed Arain, noted that there is “no traffic problem”, saying, “Traffic police are present and managing traffic flow.”

It requested citizens to exercise caution while travelling, guiding them to the Traffic Police Help Line at 1915 for the Central District.

Monsoon rains fall across the region from June to September, offering respite from the summer heat and are crucial to replenishing water supplies. However, heavy downpours also trigger urban flooding, deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas.

Karachi received rainfall in several areas of the city on early Tuesday morning, triggering power outages throughout the city as traffic police advised citizens to take precautionary measures.

In a traffic advisory issued by Karachi Traffic Police at 8:11am, rain caused the traffic to slow down in multiple points across the city, including Sharea Faisal and the main National Highway.

The traffic police advised citizens to take precautionary measures in light of the situation, such as avoiding sudden braking, maintaining a slow speed and safe distance from other vehicles on the road.

Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah has directed the district administration, PDMA, health department and Rescue 1122 to remain on high alert amid the situation.

He ordered the immediate drainage of rainwater and instructed the relevant administrations to remain in contact with PMD and Sindh PDMA.

“All Deputy Commissioners should be present in the field with their staff,” the chief secretary said.

Separately, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), in a weather advisory, forecasted intermittent rains to continue throughout the day.

The minimum temperature is expected to remain at 28 degrees Celsius, while the humidity will be 85 per cent.

The following parts of Sindh have been forecasted to receive rain-wind/thundershower at isolated places: Tharparkar, Umarkot, Mithi, Thatta, Hyderabad, Badin, Dadu, Khairpur, Nausharo Feroze, Larkana, Jacobabad, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Islamkot, Nagarparkar, Mirpur Khas.

More to follow