NCCIA arrests Khanewal man indicted in $126m US postal fraud case

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Lahore Zone on Tuesday arrested Faheem Akram, a Pakistani national indicted by United States authorities over an alleged online scheme involving the sale of more than 5.1 million counterfeit US postage labels, causing losses exceeding $126 million to the country’s postal service. According to the NCCIA, Akram allegedly operated the scheme from August 2023 till last month, selling counterfeit shipping labels for around $2 each. The agency cited transactions worth approximately Rs35 billion, while clarifying that the $126 million figure represented alleged losses to the US Postal Service. A case has been registered and the investigation is under way. Read: Pakistani national indicted in US over alleged $126m postage fraud The US Department of Justice had announced on September 28 that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida had indicted Akram, 33, a resident of Khanewal, on charges including conspiracy to defraud the US government, counterfeit postage and wire fraud. According to US prosecutors, a website, LabelsBank.com was not authorised to sell US Postal Service products and services. It allegedly offered counterfeit postage at a fixed price, irrespective of a parcel’s weight, size or destination, allowing customers to ship packages at rates substantially below legitimate postal charges. US court records showed that more than 5,200 people had used the website to purchase over 5.1 million counterfeit shipping labels. A court order authorised the seizure and shutdown of the website. The investigation identified 16 bank accounts allegedly linked to the case, of which seven belong to the suspect, five to his brother, two to his wife, and one each to a sister and maternal aunt.

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Twin cities brace for smog

The smog season has begun and will continue until January 15, with the air quality index deteriorating across the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and other parts of Punjab, raising concerns about the spread of diseases. The season runs from October 15 to January 15. Claims that smog would be controlled before the onset of the season have failed to materialise. Authorities in Rawalpindi Division have decided to monitor smog and smoke emissions through drones and CCTV cameras. The air quality index has reached hazardous levels in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Lahore and other major cities of Punjab. Islamabad recorded an index of 131, while Lahore registered 251, described as extremely hazardous. Gujranwala recorded 213, Faisalabad 155 and Multan 126. Rawalpindi's air pollution index reached 176, while Murree recorded 105. The index stood at 103 in Chakwal, 120 in Talagang, 122 in Jhelum and 178 in Attock. Efforts to improve air quality have so far failed to produce the desired results, while measures taken by the Environmental Protection and Climate Change Department have faced setbacks. Smog is a form of toxic air pollution caused by a combination of smoke and fog. The term was first used by British doctor Henry Antoine des Voeux in a paper in London. The severe smog that enveloped London in December 1952 is considered one of the worst such events in history. The combination of coal smoke and cold-weather fog caused thousands of deaths within a few days, prompting Britain to pass the Clean Air Act in 1956. Since the late 20th century, industrialisation and the growing number of vehicles have turned smog into a recurring winter crisis in countries including the United States, China, particularly Beijing, and South Asia, especially Punjab and Lahore. Smog forms when smoke, dust and harmful gases released by factories, vehicles and other sources - including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide - mix with natural winter fog and moisture. During winter, temperature inversion can trap this toxic layer close to the ground, preventing it from dispersing easily under sunlight. There are two main types of smog. Sulphurous smog, also known as London smog, is primarily caused by coal burning and industrial emissions. Photochemical smog, also known as Los Angeles smog, forms through chemical reactions between vehicle emissions and sunlight. The Environmental Protection Department, the secretary of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and traffic police said that, since October 1, authorities had shut down 20 stone-crushing machines, demolished 14 brick kilns and sealed 119 others to curb smog. They also issued notices to 1,403 farmers for burning crop residues and challaned 11,953 vehicles, collecting fines totalling Rs35,859,000. The RTA inspected 811 vehicles, issued 201 challans and collected fines amounting to Rs502,500. Meanwhile, officials of the relevant departments have reportedly started praying for heavy rainfall to help reduce air pollution.

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SC allows appeals without jail surrender

The Supreme Court has made it clear that a convict's petition could be entertained without their surrender before the police or jail authorities. A division bench led by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, referring to the proviso to Rule 8 of Order XXIV of the Supreme Court Rules, 2025, noted that if a convict surrenders before the court, then the court may entertain his petition/application/appeal without requiring surrender to the police/jail authorities. "Therefore, it is held that under the amended Supreme Court Rules 2025, it is for the court to decide that as to whether the surrender of the petitioner/applicant/appellant before the Court is sufficient or he has to be sent to the jail in compliance of the orders/judgments of his imprisonment," said the order issued in matter related to ex-MNA Jamshed Dasti who is facing dozens of criminal cases. It further clarified that in the future, such petitions/applications/appeals filed by the convicts against their convictions shall be numbered and directly placed before the court. The bench subsequently overruled objections raised by the SC registrar office on November 18, 2025, regarding Dasti's petition. It directed that, upon request by the petitioners/appellants/their advocate on records (AORs) or their counsels in such like cases, the registrar office shall fix the case before the court on the same day or on any date noted by the petitioners/appellants/their counsels or AOR, along with any office objections. Subsequently, the bench granted protective bail to Dasti. It also sought details from Punjab government related to registration of total cases against him in the province. The court also directed the police departments not to arrest Dasti till next date of hearing. The court adjourned hearing of case till Oct 22.

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K-P begins process to identify unsafe school buildings across province

Member of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Advisory Council for Education, Dr Aamir Abdullah, has said that the process of identifying unsafe school buildings across the province has been initiated, with authorities taking steps to ensure necessary safety measures following reports and videos shared on social media. The statement came days after at least 30 children and a female teacher were killed and more than 50 others injured when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar on Thursday, hospital authorities confirmed. He said initial reports had started reaching the relevant authorities, enabling the Education Department to identify potentially hazardous school buildings and take timely action to address safety concerns. Dr Abdullah said the initiative was launched in response to information circulating on social media about the condition of school buildings. He stressed the importance of identifying structures that could pose risks to students, teachers and other staff members and ensuring that appropriate measures were taken to prevent possible accidents. Read: At least 30 children, teacher killed as school roof collapses in Peshawar He praised the Elementary and Secondary Education Department for its prompt response, saying its team had worked continuously despite the weekly holiday to facilitate the identification process and ensure that the information provided by citizens was examined without delay. Appreciating the efforts of the department’s officers and staff, he described their dedication and commitment to the task as highly commendable. He said their continued efforts reflected a strong sense of responsibility towards the safety and well-being of students and educational staff. The education adviser also expressed gratitude to citizens who had recorded videos highlighting unsafe school buildings and shared them with the relevant authorities. He said public participation had played an important role in drawing attention to potential hazards that required immediate examination. Dr Abdullah said citizens who brought such issues to the authorities’ notice had fulfilled an important social responsibility. He added that cooperation between the public and government departments could help identify risks at an early stage and facilitate timely preventive measures. He urged continued cooperation from citizens in reporting potentially dangerous conditions in educational institutions, saying such information could assist the authorities in assessing the situation and determining the steps needed to improve safety. Also Read: Kundi wants school safety rules tightened The initiative assumes particular importance in view of concerns over the structural condition of school buildings and the need to provide students and teachers with a safe learning environment. The identification process is expected to help the relevant authorities determine which buildings require further inspection and what safety measures may be necessary. He expressed hope that the collective efforts of government officials, education authorities and responsible citizens would contribute to protecting students and staff and ensuring safer conditions in educational institutions across the province.

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Railways logs over 55 accidents this year

Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Saturday visited the Steel and Carriage Shops in Mughalpura, where he inspected production facilities and directed officials to ensure quality standards in the manufacturing of railway components. During his visit to the Mughalpura Steel Shop, the minister inspected the electric arc furnace and reviewed the spectro laboratory responsible for testing parts manufactured in the furnace. Accidents Pakistan Railways has recorded more than 55 accidents involving passenger and freight trains since January 1, raising concerns over railway safety, maintenance standards and the effectiveness of measures announced to prevent mishaps. The accidents have reportedly left several people dead and dozens injured, while also causing millions of rupees in damage to railway infrastructure. Repeated incidents have fuelled fear among passengers, some of whom say travelling by train remains a necessity despite the risks. Passengers have questioned how they can avoid railway travel when it remains an essential mode of transport for them. The frequency of accidents has also raised questions about the implementation of safety measures under the directions of Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi. Despite the minister's strict instructions, accidents have continued to occur, while railway officials have reportedly continued to provide reassuring assessments of the situation. The recurring incidents have placed the department's safety and maintenance arrangements under scrutiny. According to railway sources, passenger and freight trains have been involved in more than 55 accidents of varying severity since the beginning of the year. The Yusufwala coal train has reportedly been involved in several accidents. On August 27, 10 wagons of a freight train derailed near Khanpur. On the same day, the engine and two coaches of the Rawal Express went off the tracks near Kala Gujran. On September 27, the Yusufwala coal train met with an accident near Khairpur. Earlier, on September 9, three wagons of a coal-laden freight train derailed at Kotri yard. On September 2, the power van of the Khyber Mail derailed near Sanjani. Another coal train accident occurred on September 6, when seven wagons went off the tracks. These incidents add to a series of mishaps involving freight operations, with railway sources identifying the Sukkur, Karachi and Multan divisions among the areas where most train accidents have occurred. On May 24, a shuttle train in Quetta was targeted in an act of sabotage, damaging three coaches. The Rahman Baba Express also suffered a major accident in the Multan division, further highlighting the range of incidents affecting railway operations.

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Several Afghan Taliban posts destroyed as Pakistan responds to Kurram border firing: state media

The Pakistan Army responded to unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Upper Kurram and Ghozgarhi, with several Taliban personnel reportedly killed in the retaliatory action, state media reported on Saturday. The army targeted the Afghan Taliban’s Topsar post and Shipola base camp in the Upper Kurram sector with artillery fire, according to security sources. The Shipola base camp was reportedly destroyed. Several Afghan Taliban personnel were reported killed during the retaliatory action along the Ghozgarhi border. In contrast, Taliban personnel abandoned a border post following the Pakistani response, the sources said, adding that an exchange of fire was continuing in the area. Read: Info ministry calls out Afghan Taliban for deflecting attention from terrorist sanctuaries Later, following another incident of unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban in the Kurram sector along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the Pakistan Army responded with heavy weapons. The sources said that the Afghan Taliban regime was assisting militants. Several Taliban posts were destroyed in the subsequent retaliatory action, while personnel fled their positions, they added. The Pakistan Army remained alert and committed to defending the country’s borders and safeguarding national security, the security sources said. Pakistan has repeatedly accused terrorist groups based in Afghanistan of carrying out attacks inside the country and demanded that Kabul take action against them. The Afghan Taliban government has rejected accusations that it allows its territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan. Islamabad maintains that the terrorist nexus extended beyond the movement of terrorists across the border to their training, arming and operational support. In 2026 alone, terrorism emanating from Afghan soil claimed the lives of 1,327 Pakistanis and injured another 2,484, according to figures cited by Pakistani authorities. Officials said that whenever Pakistani forces targeted terrorist hideouts, the Taliban regime instead moved to defend the militants and their sanctuaries rather than dismantling the infrastructure. The issue, Pakistan has argued, was not confined to TTP. UN assessments have continued to document the presence of several other militant organisations in Afghanistan, including al Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and Islamic State-Khorasan, reinforcing concerns about the broader militant ecosystem operating from Afghan territory. Also Read: One soldier martyred, 12 terrorists killed as security forces foil infiltration attempt in Kurram: ISPR Pakistani officials say the continued presence of these groups, combined with training facilities, cross-border infiltration and access to sophisticated weapons, demonstrates that Afghanistan remains an important base for terrorist activity affecting Pakistan. Pakistan's position, according to officials, remains that Kabul must take concrete steps to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries, eliminate training infrastructure, prevent cross-border infiltration and ensure that Afghan territory is not used for attacks against Pakistan. The government has maintained that the issue was fundamentally one of Pakistan's national security and that continued attacks from Afghan soil cannot be addressed through denials alone. Pakistan says it expected the Taliban regime to fulfil its commitments by taking verifiable action against terrorist groups operating from its territory rather than defending or denying their presence.

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NADRA sets up 43 citizen centres in K-P

NADRA has established 43 citizen facilitation centres in 11 districts of K-P under a $46 million World Bank funded project to improve citizen centred service delivery, with implementation reaching 72 percent and completion scheduled for December 31, 2026. According to an official document available with Wealth Pakistan, NADRA is implementing the K-P Citizen-Centred Service Delivery Project, which falls under the social policy sector. The project has total financing of $46 million from the World Bank to support improvements in citizen-centred service delivery in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

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