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 magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region (Unsplash/Representative)
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.
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News / World News / Earthquake of magnitude 5.2 strikes Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region
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.
A Google Maps screenshot at 3pm on Tuesday shows traffic blockages at several thoroughfares across the city.
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.
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.
Islamabad – Senate Chairman Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that climate change is an urgent reality and despite contributing less than one percent to global emissions, Pakistan is among the most climate-affected countries, facing floods, glacial melt, and droughts. He expressed these views while addressing the “Ethiopia–Pakistan Green Dialogue: Lessons from Ethiopia’s Green Legacy” at the COMSTECH Auditorium, Islamabad on Monday. The OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, organised the dialogue.
He praised Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative as a global model of reforestation and sustainability, noting that both nations face common challenges but can find solutions through South-South cooperation. He underlined Pakistan’s active role in global climate diplomacy, including championing the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 and advancing climate finance at COP29.
Gilani called for practical collaboration through joint task forces, parliamentary exchanges, and research partnerships, while inviting Ethiopia’s parliamentary leadership to the upcoming Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference.
He informed the participants that landmark laws like the Pakistan Climate Change Act and National Energy Efficiency Act have been passed by the parliament. He urged the parliamentary committees actively monitor climate finance, adaptation plans, and carbon markets to ensure implementation.
He further stated that Pakistan’s Green Pakistan Programme, Living Indus Initiative, and Indus Delta Blue Carbon Project resonate with Ethiopia’s visionary Green Legacy Initiative. “If climate change is our greatest challenge, South-South cooperation is our most potent tool,” chairman Senate remarked. “We face shared constraints—limited climate finance, exposure to extreme weather, and climate-dependent economies,” he added. He observed that the way forward lies in coordinated efforts at the government, parliamentary and institutional levels. He called for maximising linkages in legislative spheres, creating a Joint Task Force on Climate Resilience to coordinate policy and projects and strengthening linkages between academia and research institutes to exchange expertise. The chairman Senate also invited the Ethiopia’s Parliamentary leadership to the ISC in Islamabad in November 2025.
He concluded, “Together, we can build a greener, safer, and sustainable future.”In his welcome remarks, Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, OIC-COMSTECH, highlighted the importance of green diplomacy and collective action in tackling global challenges such as climate change, deforestation, and environmental degradation. Ambassador Dr Jemal Beker Abdula underlined Ethiopia’s remarkable achievements through the Green Legacy campaign, which has set an international benchmark for combating climate change through mass tree plantation and sustainable practices. Other distinguished speakers, including heads of delegations and guest dignitaries, emphasised the urgency of regional and global cooperation for sustainable development and climate action. As part of the proceedings, Green Legacy Awards were presented, followed by a symbolic tree plantation ceremony and a group photograph, reflecting the shared commitment of Pakistan and Ethiopia towards a greener future.
A thought- provoking panel discussion on Green Legacy Initiatives brought together experts and policymakers who shared innovative strategies, policy frameworks, and community engagement models to promote long-term environmental sustainability. The session concluded with a lively Q&A and networking lunch, where participants expressed strong support for further enhancing Pakistan–Ethiopia collaboration in climate resilience, ecological restoration, and sustainable development. The dialogue successfully underscored the shared vision of both countries in advancing environmental diplomacy and building a greener, sustainable future for generations to come.
LAHORE: PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has awarded the party ticket to PM’s adviser Rana Sanaullah for the Senate by-election from Punjab for a general seat.
The seat was vacated due to PTI’s Senator Ejaz Chaudhry’s disqualification by the Election Commission after his conviction in May 9, 2023, cases. The election will be held on September 9.
THE humidity hangs heavily in the air but doesn’t deter the quiet protest by a small group of women. They sit silently, their heads bowed, a small splash of colour against the grey concrete. With their old-fashioned hand fans, they occupy a sheet of plastic in the middle of the road.
The nearby green areas, which once allowed Pakistan to bring its problems to Islamabad by holding protests there, is closed to these women. The earth and grass are far too comfortable for them to be allowed there. They have to sit on the road, close to a busy commercial area, but away from the business in the area, as traffic barriers create a boundary, separating them from life in the capital. They have been here for a month but have not managed to disturb the life of the city or the government. How can they when even the doors of the washrooms of the press club close by are closed to them? Those who should be the flag-bearers of freedom of information are now a part of a system which bears down on citizens rather than standing up for the oppressed.
So it’s not just the washrooms but also coverage which is denied. These protesters are ignored, blacked out. There was a time, when such a gathering would have galvanised enough opinion to put any government on the back foot. Not anymore. The women’s steadfastness in this heat and in these circumstances moves no one. Perhaps partly because most people do not even know they are here and partly because this government has no space to even pretend to care about human rights.
The protest has been rendered invisible.
But then the political suffering of women has been normalised in the abnormal times we live in — the women in Islamabad who are not even allowed to sit on grass lest it prove too comfortable, or Mahrang Baloch who has been imprisoned with little chance of any relief in the near future. In Lahore, Yasmin Rashid has been behind bars for two years, with little concern for anyone outside of her party (which can barely do more than pay lip service to the matter). Her age moves no one; neither do the elderly women sitting on the road in this heat in a corner of Islamabad, carrying pictures of their missing loved ones in their heavily wrinkled hands. Their endless wait is for closure as well as some compassion from those in charge.
Ask the government about anything untoward and they simply shrug it off.
But suffering and lack of compassion have been normalised in the abnormal times we live in. As has been the indifference of political parties, which can no longer even pretend to care. Not even those who continue to bask in the glory of a woman who was once the lone symbol of suffering and the target of the powerful ones.
This is not all that has been normalised.
Consider journalism. Arrests, FIRs, disappearances — temporary and permanent — were part of what journalists signed up for. What it meant was that only the brave ones would continue down certain paths (most opened the door and walked through to the compound where awards adorn one’s resumé). But despite this, we have seen a fair share of brave souls who continued to face the dangers. Here too, though, there is an effort to remind them that this may not prove enough.
In recent times, at least two journalists have spoken about how the bank accounts of family and even acquaintances have been blocked. Parents, siblings and even vendors who made the mistake of selling to pesky journalists have been affected. The only recourse left to them were the courts, which, too, are now enveloping themselves in the mantle of indifference. But the message is that collective punishment is the fate of those who will not heed more specific messages about falling in line. Or that the element of surprise will always be their fate. When blocked bank accounts did not prove enough, one of them was stopped from flying out of the country recently. Since then, a PTI politician’s daughter has also found her way to the list. Her father is neither in power nor in parliament and is perhaps not in a position to make any decision but still had to be sent a message. And for this, a university student was stopped from leaving the country, putting her education at risk.
In all of these random, seemingly disconnected incidents, there is a commonality — no one can be asked about them or even shamed. The government has moved beyond this — ask them about anything untoward and they simply shrug it off. There must be a reason, a valid reason, is the only answer. If it’s a journalist, he or she must have done something wrong to attract the ‘long arm of the law’. And if there is a story involving a politician from the opposition, the easiest response is to either hint at the former’s non-patriotic credentials or feign ignorance and move on.
Indifference has been normalised in these abnormal times.
And while some of us do express horror, grief and shock, it amounts to little; the second such incident is taken in its stride. It has already happened to others and if the previous incident was accepted, so should the new one. The shock and horror turns into acceptance.
But then, these are abnormal times, we tell ourselves. And they might not last and neither will these stories. However, this provides little comfort for I can remember when we first began to hear of ‘missing people’; when stories about the missing were read avidly because it was so new. Or when suicide bombings first happened in Pakistan. Then the times changed, leaders changed but we learnt to live with the missing and the suicide bombers. Times don’t last necessarily but the abnormal soon becomes normal.
NONE of our past regimes established durable progress and many have even put us back. But perhaps only Zia’s era, our worst one by far, matches the reversals we have seen under the current hybrid set-up in just 18 months, contrary to claims of making major progress.
The main harm has been done to democracy as civilian sway is at its lowest in key areas. While our two oldest parties are ruling overtly, they seemed to have nixed the political progress of yore. They began by violating their Charter of Democracy oath not to win power with the establishment’s aid. In 2013, they had ensured our only fair civilian power transfer but won this time through arguably our most rigged poll since the 2002 one held under martial law. To end rigging by incumbents, both had adopted the global good model of neutral caretakers that bars them from joining the next set-up to reduce conflict of interest. But in 2024, they bent their own good law to induct caretakers in cabinets.
Our post-2009 higher judiciary hiring system too was among the best globally as its use of judicial and balanced bipartisan assembly committees ended the executive’s hold. But instead of improving it by adding merit criteria and open applications, they re-cemented the executive hold, which has harmed the judiciary. A crackdown is underway against the PTI, nationalist Baloch and KP groups and even ordinary citizens reminiscent of the Zia era. Media and other freedoms are being nixed via bad laws. While they had rightly criticised the PTI’s era for such political sins, their own have now left the former behind.
The government has achieved fragile economic stability but is clueless about durable growth. The real economic reversal, though, is the loss of ambition. CPEC, along with the Gulf inflows, was a solid way of industrialising. But 10 years later, greater attention is focused on US ties in controversial areas like crypto and natural wealth — a globally feared curse for misruled states like ours — plus remittances and establishment-led farming. The last seems to reflect a concern that greater industrialisation may bring in meritorious rulers, and so dubious sectors are a better focus for the rulers’ narrow interests. Zia had done the same. Ayub and Bhutto had at least adopted varied, though faulty, state-led ways to industrialise. But Zia moved the focus to predatory sectors such as US aid, real estate, etc.
The main harm has been done to democracy.
Insecurity is increasing and negatively affecting the gains of the 2008-18 era. While this set-up rightly pins the blame for this trend on the PTI-era hybrid government for resettling TTP fighters in KP, its own steps have exacerbated matters. Its forcible approach to Balochistan, even towards peaceful marchers, is pushing common people away from normal politics. Oddly, we tell other states facing terrorism to address the root causes but avoid doing so ourselves in Balochistan. Many say the state’s distinction among ‘good and bad’ Taliban stokes terrorism in KP and new operations will only add to people’s miseries.
The big reversal externally is the rekindling of that old, on-off romance with the US via personal, non-civilian ties instead of normal state ties. While the regime calls it progress, many vividly recall the damage three decades of such ties did. The chances of us being fourth time lucky are slim as the key actors on both sides resemble past ones. For us, it’s again a set-up desperately seeking global patrons to overcome its low domestic legitimacy and su-rvive. For the US, it’s a very short-visioned and self-centred (Trump) regime even by US norms. So, many fear the results may benefit our ruling elites but harm the masses.
So, all the reversals approach those in non-civilian eras, making one wonder if this will be the worst civilian era ever and how much more harm it will cause. Sages say talks are the best way out of the mess. But strong autocracies don’t voluntarily concede; instead, they use talks to pressure dissidents to yield and give themselves legitimacy. The current set-up might only accept calls for fair polls, civilian sway, judicial freedom and end to crackdowns if dissidents form a strong joint platform, which seems unlikely for now.
Though the nation is angry, it remains divided. Diverse angry groups are angry on diverse issues and often don’t relate to and even oppose the basis of anger of other angry groups. So, regime may cave in under the weight of its own missteps, as always pushed gently and jointly by dissidents.
The writer has a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, in political economy and 25 years of grassroots to senior-level experiences across 50 countries.
