‘Very unhealthy’ 210 air quality score chokes Lahore

Lahore recorded a “very unhealthy” air quality level, with the US Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 210 at around 10pm, while the worst reading of 298 was recorded at the Urban Unit in Lahore Cantonment, according to IQAir data on Wednesday. The website also quoted Kot Addu’s AQI score at a dismal 212, advising residents to limit outdoor movement, wear masks, keep windows closed and use air purifiers where possible. Meanwhile, the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recorded comparatively modest readings of the air quality across the province. It noted Kot Addu’s AQI at 183, the highest in Punjab, followed by Vehari at 171, Jhelum at 169 and Sahiwal at 162. Multan and Pakpattan each recorded an AQI of 159, followed by Gujranwala at 157, Dera Ghazi Khan at 154 and Bhakkar at 153. Sheikhupura recorded an AQI of 147, followed by Lahore at 143. Faisalabad and Khushab each registered 137, while Okara recorded 133, Bahawalpur 127 and Mandi Bahauddin 125. Wazirabad recorded an AQI of 124, followed by Sialkot at 118, Sargodha at 115 and Murree at 114. Mianwali registered 105, Talagang 82 and Rawalpindi 68, while Jhang recorded 52 and Nankana Sahib had the lowest reading at 40. Get hourly AQI updates, area-wise rankings, and health advisories from Punjab EPA's official website.https://t.co/2wAZKiJMXP#epapunjab #publicawareness #cleanair #aqi #aqilahore pic.twitter.com/xsHWKjL4nI — @EPCCDPUNJAB (@EPCCDpunjab) October 11, 2026 An advisory urged people vulnerable to air pollution to monitor their health, maintain healthy eating habits and avoid smoking. It also recommended monitoring health indicators, including oxygen levels and blood pressure, and keeping emergency equipment, such as a nebuliser, available if needed. The agency urged people experiencing respiratory problems to consult a doctor. Similarly vulnerable groups, including children, older people and those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, were advised to limit outdoor activities, particularly when pollution levels were high. Read: Low wind speed aggravates pollution risk Separately, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast rain, windstorms and thunderstorms in upper and central Punjab on Wednesday as a westerly wave affected most upper and central parts of the country. PMD said heavy rain and hailstorms were possible at a few places. The department said isolated rainfall was also forecast in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Kashmir and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). It warned that strong winds, hail and lightning could damage weak structures, including the roofs and walls of mud houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels. Weather Update for Next 24 Hours October 14, 2026 For More Information Please Visit the Link Below:https://t.co/0RoxDtyuyC#PakistanWeather #WeatherUpdate #WeatherForecast #PMD #HotAndHumid #GilgitBaltistan #Kashmir #WeatherAlert #Pakistan #Mausam pic.twitter.com/UZOiepoAXo — Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) October 14, 2026 It also said standing crops could be affected by the weather. The Met Office further said most parts of the country were expected to experience mainly dry weather on Thursday, although isolated rain, wind and thunderstorms were likely in north-eastern Punjab, G-B, Kashmir and adjoining areas.  

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Police claim situation in Khyber under control after reported clashes

The Capital City Police Peshawar on Tuesday urged the public not to pay heed to what it described as "baseless rumours", saying the situation in Bara had been "brought under control" amid reports of clashes between protestors and security personnel. The police also denied reports that any personnel had been abducted and said around 50 people had been arrested for allegedly "attempting to create unrest". The statement said cases would be registered against those involved in damaging public property and disrupting law and order under relevant provisions relating to terrorism and sabotage, with strict legal action to follow. Read: Govt was left with 'no option' but emergency, governor rule: PM Shehbaz The statement came after clashes reportedly erupted in Bara Bazaar on Tuesday during a protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers against the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Protesters set fire to a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office and allegedly took 15 police personnel hostage, according to police. A protest by the PTI turned violent in Bara Bazaar in Khyber district, with protesters setting fire to a NADRA office, damaging government property and pelting stones at a Rescue 1122 office. Several people, including two children, were reportedly injured in firing during the protest. PTI lawmaker Iqbal Afridi said 11 party workers had been injured and one killed. The casualties could not be independently verified. ضلع خیبر، جمرود میں گورنر راج کے خلاف پُرامن احتجاج. عوامی حقوق پر کوئی سمجھوتہ نہیں، گورنر راج نامنظور pic.twitter.com/4cBa4VAwLa — Iqbal Afridi PTI (@IqbalAfridiPTI) October 13, 2026 Khyber District Police Officer Waqar Ahmed said hundreds of PTI workers gathered in Bara Bazaar on Tuesday afternoon to protest against governor’s rule. Police used tear gas and fired into the air to disperse the crowd, which temporarily broke up. About 90 minutes later, hundreds of protesters led by provincial assembly member Abdul Ghani marched from Minar Chowk towards Bara Chowk, chanting slogans against the government. They set fire to traffic signals upon reaching the intersection, according to the account provided by the district police chief. As tensions escalated, protesters allegedly detained 15 police personnel inside the tehsil municipal office and took away their weapons and uniforms. Ahmed said the personnel remained in captivity at the time of reporting. Protesters also set fire to the NADRA office and pelted the Rescue office with stones. Police again used tear gas and fired into the air to disperse the crowd. Two PTI workers were injured by tear gas shells during the demonstrations, Ahmed said. Separately, reports from Bara Bazaar indicated that several people, including two children, had received gunshot wounds. Further details about the casualties were not immediately available. Protest in Jamrud Protests were also held at Bab-e-Khyber in Jamrud, where demonstrators chanted slogans against the government’s measures. Further details about the demonstration were not immediately available. Tensions remained high at several locations in Khyber district following the protests and violence. The status of the police personnel allegedly detained by protesters, the number of injured, and the extent of damage to public property remained unclear.

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Omani FM arrives in Pakistan, to co-chair Joint Ministerial Commission session

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit to co-chair the eighth Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) session, according to the Foreign Office (FO). Albusaidi, visiting at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and FM Ishaq Dar, was received by the Economic Affairs Division secretary and the FO additional secretary (Middle East).   His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi @badralbusaidi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, arrived in Islamabad today on an official visit to Pakistan during 13-14 October 2026. He was received at the airport by Additional Secretary Economic Affairs… pic.twitter.com/ALpb65f9HN — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 13, 2026 The FO said that the visiting dignitary would hold a bilateral meeting with FM Dar. The 8th Session of the Pakistan-Oman JMC will also be held in Islamabad during the visit and would be co-chaired by the two foreign ministers. Albusaidi is also expected to pay a courtesy call to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In an earlier statement, the FO had said the meeting would provide an "important platform" to review the "full spectrum of bilateral relations" and strengthen cooperation across various fields. The FO had said the visit reflected the longstanding fraternal relations between Pakistan and Oman and was expected to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across multiple sectors. Albusaidi's visit coincides with regional diplomacy to contain escalating hostilities in the Middle East. The two countries have participated in mediation efforts to bring a negotiated settlement to the US-Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Read More: Oman’s Sultan, Iranian FM discuss regional crises, push for diplomacy, peace Oman has engaged in talks with Iran to establish temporary or safe commercial shipping routes through the near-closed waterway.

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Explainer: What are the ARDC and ADS, and what are their roles and objectives?

The Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) was set up with the primary purpose of representing the people of the 12 troubled districts, identifying local issues and addressing development needs under the supervision of the federal government, while an Area Development Secretariat (ADS) was also established to run the council. Bureaucrat Yahya Akhunzada was appointed as the first administrator of the council. The administrator will be an empowered decision-maker, entrusted with full operational and administrative powers to maintain peace in the troubled areas, run development projects and take timely decisions so that peace, security, terrorism and administrative matters can be handled effectively, on time, and in consultation with the council. Following the imposition of emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) after the federal cabinet approved the recommendation and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advised President Asif Ali Zardari to invoke Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, Zardari signed the summary, transferring executive authority from the provincial government to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi. Read: Governor's rule imposed in K-P for fourth time The federal government then formed an 11-member advisory council to oversee administrative affairs in the province, ordering the immediate establishment of the ADS in the 12 designated districts which include Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan, and Lower South Waziristan. The government also notified that the ADS would operate under the supervision of the ARDC. Under the supervision of the federal government, and together with the provincial government, the secretariat will make decisions on security, peace, development and administrative matters in the 12 districts, together with the security forces and law enforcement agencies, and in full consultation with the ARDC. Council members will be nominated on the basis of the population of the relevant areas and districts, along with the tribal representation of the relevant areas and districts. The process is moving ahead rapidly and will be completed in the next few days, after which the federal government will issue an official notification of the appointments. Council members will be appointed for the duration of the imposition of the emergency or for a period determined by the federal government. The council will elect a chairman and a vice chairman from among its members, who will ensure its leadership, coordination and effective communication. It will meet every 15 days, while the ARDC can summon a meeting at any time if required. Council members will also be part of the District Coordination Committees of the relevant districts, in order to improve communication and harmony between local representatives and administrative institutions. Further, based on local needs and public demands, the council will identify the projects required for socio-economic development in the 12 designated districts and will submit recommendations to the federal government through the ARDC. Development project priorities will be determined keeping in view local needs, public issues and ground realities, so that resources may be used more effectively. Read More: Govt defends K-P emergency, alleges PTI-KP govt’s ‘nexus’ with terrorists The council will also review the local law and order situation and propose practicable measures for its improvement, presenting its recommendations regarding the cooperation and facilitation required by law enforcement agencies to eliminate terrorism and prevent illegal activities. The council's role is to increase cooperation among the relevant institutions, address local issues in a timely manner and assist in making security-related measures effective. It will also give recommendations to improve governance, public safety, development activities and the provision of basic public services. An important aspect of the arrangement is that representatives of the relevant areas will be directly involved in resolving local issues, determining development priorities and identifying public needs. Through the council, the link between public needs and administrative decisions will be strengthened, helping identify issues at the local level, as well ad aiding institutional coordination and improving public services. The purpose of the ARDC is to make local representation effective, identify development projects according to public needs, provide support for improving law and order, and ensure better governance and the provision of public services.

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PM forms 11-member panel to monitor K-P

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday constituted an 11-member monitoring committee for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to oversee governance, law and order, and day-to-day affairs in the province, according to sources. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has been appointed convener of the committee, which includes Rana Sanaullah, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahsan Iqbal, Amir Muqam, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the sources said. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP – the allied parties of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) at the Centre – will each have one representative on the committee, they added. On Sunday, the federal government took control of the K-P affairs after imposing an emergency and governor's rule in the province, deploying the army to assist the civil administration, forming an 11-member advisory council and establishing a special administrative structure for 12 districts. The emergency followed an increasingly strained relationship between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial administration, particularly over counterterrorism policy and engagement with the Afghan Taliban. The prime minister has summoned a meeting of the parliamentary parties of the PML-N and its coalition partners for Tuesday (today) to take them into confidence over the imposition of governor's rule and emergency in K-P. According to Express News, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will brief the participants on the security situation, while Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar will explain the legal aspects of the decisions. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry will brief them on the agenda for the parliamentary session. The premier directed the authorities concerned to develop the Daanish IT Park Islamabad into a world-class hub of technology and transform it into a centre of a modern IT ecosystem through effective collaboration between academia and industry. Chairing a meeting to discuss matters related to the Daanish IT Park Islamabad, he said that the government would continue its efforts to equip Pakistani youth with modern skills in IT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and FinTech, besides creating new opportunities for IT entrepreneurs. He instructed the Ministry of Information Technology to conduct a comprehensive case study of the project. The prime minister directed to operationalise Daanish IT Park in partnership with global technology companies, and carry out a third-party audit of the project. During the meeting, a briefing was given on the creation of a comprehensive ecosystem aimed at boosting IT exports and promoting investment in the sector. The prime minister called for increasing the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Rs1.1 trillion to Rs2.2 trillion by 2028, underscoring their potential to drive economic growth and create business opportunities across the country.

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Punjab Police did not arrest journalist Iqrarul Hassan: Azma Bokhari

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said on Monday that Punjab Police had not arrested journalist Iqrarul Hassan, adding that investigations into the matter were underway and his family would be informed as soon as verified information about his whereabouts became available. In a statement posted on X, Bokhari said the police had not taken Hassan into custody and that the matter was being investigated. پنجاب پولیس نے اقرار الحسن کو گرفتار نہیں کیا،اس معاملے کی تحقیقات کی جا رہی ہیں، ان کے بارے میں جیسے ہی کوئی مصدقہ اطلاعات موصول ہوں گی ان کے اہل خانہ کو آگاہ کر دیا جائے گا۔ — Azma Zahid Bokhari (@AzmaBokhariPMLN) October 12, 2026 Earlier, journalist Iqrarul Hassan’s wife, Farah Iqrar, told The Express Tribune that a group of unidentified individuals posing as officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had allegedly taken him away from their residence in Lahore’s Defence C area. According to Farah, between five and seven people, including women, arrived at the house late on Sunday night, during the intervening hours of Sunday and Monday, and demanded that Hassan come outside. She alleged that the individuals threatened to break down the door if he was not handed over. They subsequently entered the house, forcibly took the journalist from a room and took him away. Farah said she contacted the relevant agency’s office to inquire about her husband’s whereabouts but received no response. She added that an application regarding Hassan’s alleged abduction was submitted to the Defence C police station at around 6am, after which the police issued a diary number. She further said she later contacted the relevant authorities to register a computerised first information report online but was told that the network was down. Farah appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take notice of the incident and ensure her husband’s recovery. She said Hassan had served the country through his journalistic work and exposed various mafias.     یہ پڑی ہے پیپلز پارٹی کی “جمہوریت”۔۔۔ افسوس صد افسوس۔ تاریخ نواز شریف اور زرداری کو کبھی معاف نہیں کرے گی۔ https://t.co/UwF31aX67f — Iqrar ul Hassan Syed (@iqrarulhassan) October 11, 2026 Hours before the reported incident, Hassan had posted a message on X criticising the Pakistan Peoples Party and referring to Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari.

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Info ministry calls out Afghan Taliban for deflecting attention from terrorist sanctuaries

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) on Monday called out the Afghan Taliban for resorting to “rhetoric and diversion” to deflect attention from terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory and launching attacks against Pakistan. In a post on X, the ministry said the Afghan Taliban regime’s spokesperson had once again resorted to rhetoric instead of addressing what it described as a well-documented terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan. It added that attempts to shift attention towards Pakistan’s internal affairs could not conceal the Afghan Taliban’s failure to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghan territory to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban regime’s spokesperson has once again resorted to rhetoric and diversion instead of addressing the well-documented terrorist threat emanating from Afghan territory. Attempts to shift attention towards Pakistan’s internal affairs cannot conceal the regime’s… — Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) October 12, 2026 Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban regime of failing to act against militant sanctuaries despite being provided with information about their locations and activities. Citing the Sixteenth Report (S/2025/796) of the UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, the ministry said the report estimated that approximately 6,000 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters were present in Afghanistan and documented Taliban support for the group. “These findings cannot credibly be dismissed as Pakistani propaganda. The regime must address this documented threat through concrete action rather than denial,” the ministry said. Also Read: ‘Irrefutable evidence’ links Afghan soil to terror attacks in Pakistan It also criticised the Afghan Taliban regime’s record on governance and citizens’ rights, saying its attempts to lecture others on these issues rang hollow in light of its continued restrictions on girls’ education and violations of fundamental human rights. The ministry reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to dialogue, but said meaningful progress required the Afghan Taliban regime to honour its counterterrorism commitments and take verifiable action against terrorist sanctuaries and support networks. “Pakistan will take all necessary measures, in accordance with international law, to protect its citizens, defend its sovereignty and safeguard its territorial integrity. The responsibility to end the use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan rests squarely with the regime,” it concluded. Terrorism emanating from Afghanistan Islamabad has rejected Taliban assurances that Afghan territory would not be used against neighbouring countries, arguing that the ground situation and documented militant activity tell a different story. Pakistan maintains that the terrorist nexus extended beyond the movement of terrorists across the border to their training, arming and operational support. Security officials estimate that up to 70 per cent of the Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists infiltrating Pakistan were of Afghan origin. They further claim that the Taliban regime had allowed leftover US and NATO weapons to reach terrorist groups, including Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan. The security establishment also linked the escalation in attacks to the presence of terrorist infrastructure inside Afghanistan. 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. Read More: Pakistan warns Afghanistan after Kohat attack, says it can eliminate terror threats ‘wherever they are’ 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. 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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