Category: 1. Pakistan

The founding chancellor of Habib University and a prominent business tycoon, Rafiq M. Habib, has passed away at the age of 88. The announcement came from Habib University on Wednesday, which said on a post on Instagram:

With profound sorrow, Habib University mourns the passing of its founding chancellor, Rafiq M. Habib (1937-2025), and honours his enduring legacy.

Beyond his role as the university’s chancellor, Rafiq also held positions as chairman of the Habib University Foundation and served on the Stile Company’s board of directors. He has also previously led the House of Habib conglomerate.

The university paid tribute to Rafiq, describing him as a leader whose quiet determination and strong moral character guided the institution’s development from its earliest days. According to the varsity’s statement, Rafiq served as both the ethical compass and visionary leader who drove Habib University’s establishment.

His educational philosophy centered on the principle that learning should benefit society as a whole, a belief that continues to shape the university’s core mission today. The institution emphasized that his influence will endure through the university he helped establish and the countless students it will educate in years to come.

Habib University’s official website indicates that Rafiq dedicated himself to numerous charitable initiatives spanning multiple sectors. His philanthropic work encompassed education, healthcare, relief efforts, and rehabilitation programs, with him serving as a trustee for several welfare projects across these diverse areas of social service.

The House of Habib conglomerate, which Rafiq formerly headed, represents one of Pakistan’s major business enterprises, while his leadership at Habib University helped establish the institution as a significant educational force in the region.

The United Nations has warned of an exponential rise in casualties from a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, as the Taliban said the death toll had surpassed 1,400 on Tuesday, with more than 3,000 people injured.

The figures provided by Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid were mainly for the province of Kunar.

Sunday night’s magnitude 6 earthquake affected several provinces, causing extensive damage. It flattened villages and trapped people under the rubble of homes constructed mainly of mud bricks and wood, which were unable to withstand the shock.

Rough terrain is hampering rescue and relief efforts, forcing Taliban authorities to airdrop dozens of commandos to evacuate the injured from places where helicopters cannot land.

A magnitude 5.2 aftershock, close to the epicentre of Sunday’s earthquake, rattled the area on Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Indrika Ratwatte, the United Nations resident coordinator for Afghanistan, said rescuers are scrambling in a “race against time” to reach the mountainous and remote area. In a media briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, he warned of a surge in casualty numbers.

“We cannot afford to forget the people of Afghanistan who are facing multiple crises, multiple shocks, and the resilience of the communities has been saturated,” Ratwatte said, urging the international community to step forward.

“These are life-and-death decisions while we race against time to reach people,” he said.

It is the third strong earthquake since the Taliban seized power in 2021, and the latest crisis to beset Afghanistan, which is reeling from deep cuts to aid funding, a weak economy, and millions of Afghans forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan.

The Taliban government has appealed for assistance from the international community and the humanitarian sector. However, help for the country is in short supply due to competing global crises and reduced aid budgets in donor countries.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has approved the release of Rs1 billion for flood relief and rehabilitation efforts, according to an official notification issued by the provincial finance department.

The allocation follows a decision made by the provincial cabinet on August 20, 2025. As per the notification, the funds will be transferred to the Director Relief, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), under a supplementary grant.

The department added that the relief amount has already been incorporated into the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, and its utilization will be strictly monitored under prescribed rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure has suffered extensive damage due to the recent floods. A report submitted to the federal government revealed that 104 health facilities across the country have been affected, with seven completely destroyed and 97 partially damaged.

The worst-hit regions include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Gilgit-Baltistan. In KP, three health centers were completely destroyed, while two each in Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan were reduced to rubble. Officials fear the damage will further strain healthcare services in flood-affected districts.

The verdict on the post-arrest bail plea of Shahrez Khan, nephew of ousted premier Imran Khan, has been reserved in the May 9 riots case.

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore, presided over by Judge Manzar Ali Gill, reserved the decision on Wednesday after hearing arguments from both sides.

Read: Lahore ATC sends Imran’s nephew on eight-day physical remand in May 9 case

Shahrez was arrested on August 21 from the residence of his mother, Aleema Khan, with the PTI alleging that household staff were assaulted and family members were harassed during the raid. His brother, Shershah Khan, was detained the following day.

Defence counsel Rana Mudassar argued that Shahrez had been falsely implicated, claiming no evidence placed him at the scene.

He said geofencing records and investigation reports did not mention his name and submitted sworn statements confirming Shahrez was in Chitral between May 6 and 12.

He also noted that more than 500 co-accused in the case had already been granted bail.

Read more: ATC grants Aleema Khan exemption in protest case, hearing adjourned

The prosecution opposed the petition, insisting that social media photos linked Shahrez to the protests, though none were recovered from his personal accounts.

Shahrez’s parents, Aleema Khan and Sohail Amir, attended the hearing. The court reserved its ruling after concluding the arguments, with the decision expected later.

Earlier, Shahrez had been sent to jail on judicial remand in the Jinnah House attack case after the ATC dismissed the police request for further physical remand. The court ordered that proceedings continue under the anti-terrorism trial.

Also read: Shahrez Khan sent to jail on judicial remand in May 9 case

Separately, ATC Lahore remanded his brother, Shershah Khan, to jail for 14 days, rejecting the investigation officer’s request for a 30-day extension of his physical remand.

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Zardari has offered felicitations to the government and people of China on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, marking the victory of China in the World Anti-Fascist War.

The president, in a message stated that Sept 3 is a powerful reminder of the monumental sacrifices made by the Chinese people and their courageous struggle against fascism and militarism.

He said observance of this historic day not only recognizes China’s key role in promoting global peace and harmony but also reinforces the timeless values of resilience, courage, and unity against oppression.

The Power Division has reported significant progress in restoring electricity across flood-affected regions of the country.

According to the latest update, out of 49 grids and 487 feeders impacted by floods, 222 feeders have been fully restored while another 127 have been temporarily reconnected.

Efforts are continuing to restore power to the remaining affected areas, the Power Division added.