Blockades frustrate capital residents

Citizens of the federal capital are increasingly voicing anger over heavy police check posts and road blockades set up on almost every major and minor road within the city, saying the measures are causing severe daily inconvenience while failing to improve security. Commuters report long queues, frequent vehicle searches, and traffic jams that have turned routine travel into a nightmare. "We are stuck for hours every day," said a resident of F-8 sector. "Schools, offices, and hospitals are all affected. This is not security - this is harassment. Public frustration has peaked following the recent cold-blooded murder of a prominent businessman in Islamabad. According to eyewitnesses and police sources, a group of armed men arrived at his residence, opened fire, killed him and injured others, then fled the scene without any resistance. Despite the dense network of check posts across the city, the attackers reportedly escaped easily. "When criminals want to do something, they come, commit the crime, and go freely," one angry resident told local media. "But law-abiding citizens are the ones suffering at every corner." Many point out that the heavy internal checkpoints have done little to stop serious crimes while severely disrupting normal life. Residents and traders have now started demanding immediate relief. A growing number of people are calling for check posts to be removed from inside the city limits and restricted only to entry and exit points of Islamabad. "Check posts at the main entrances of the city make sense for screening outsiders," said a local trader association member. "But putting barriers on every internal road is pointless and counterproductive. It only creates problems for residents and gives criminals time to escape while we are delayed." Several social media campaigns and resident welfare groups have begun raising the issue, urging the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and police to review the security strategy. Official Response Awaited When contacted, Islamabad police officials defended the checkpoints, saying they were put in place after intelligence reports of possible threats. However, they acknowledged receiving multiple complaints about traffic disruption and promised to "review the placement of some barriers." As public discontent grows, the recent murder incident has become a flashpoint, with many questioning whether the current blanket security approach is actually making the capital safer or simply more chaotic. Further protests and meetings by residents are expected in the coming days if the situation is not addressed. Traders protest smart lockdown On the other hand, traders in Murree staged a strong protest against the smart lockdown and the 8pm closure of markets, observing a shutter-down strike and holding a rally on Mall Road under the banner of the Central Anjuman-e-Tajran Murree. Addressing the protest, trader leaders including President Sohrab Abbasi, Chairman Mirza Suhail Baig, General Secretary Haji Nisar Abbasi, Senior Vice President Munawar Ameen Abbasi, Vice President Raja Zahid Ismail, and Information Secretary Shahid Mumtaz Abbasi termed the decision to close Mall Road and other markets at 8pm under the smart lockdown as unjust. They said tourists, after spending the day at various recreational spots, face difficulties when they visit Mall Road at night, only to find it closed. Due to the strike call, all shops and markets remained closed, bringing business activity to a standstill and causing inconvenience to visitors. However, tourists expressed solidarity with the traders and demanded that Murree be exempted from the smart lockdown restrictions. The protesting traders said the measures have badly affected tourism activities and the local economy, which depends entirely on tourism. They added that business and employment opportunities have been severely impacted. The Central Anjuman-e-Tajran Murree urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to exempt Murree from the smart lockdown in view of its importance as a tourist destination. With additional input from DNA

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Nationwide anti-polio drive kicks off today

A week-long anti-polio campaign will begin across the country on Monday (today), Radio Pakistan reported. During the campaign, 45 million children under the age of five will be administered anti-polio vaccine. The health workers will go door-to-door in both urban and remote areas to administer anti-polio vaccine and Vitamin A supplements to the children. First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has called on families and communities across Pakistan to fully cooperate with the nationwide polio vaccination campaign starting tomorrow to ensure that every child is protected from the disease. In a statement, she highlighted the progress of previous campaigns and said that 31 polio cases were reported last year, while only one case has been recorded this year so far. Aseefa said, however, the threat of disease still remains and stressed for repeated vaccination in every campaign and routine immunization. She further said that the current drive is being carried out in coordination with Afghanistan to curb cross-border transmission. The First Lady also appreciated frontline workers and called for collective efforts to achieve a polio-free Pakistan, emphasizing that no child should be left behind. The weeklong campaign will vaccinate over 45 million children under five across the country. The health workers will go door-to-door in both urban and remote areas for the purpose and will also administer Vitamin A supplements to the children. In Feb, as reports emerged that around a million children were missed during the year's first nationwide polio campaign, Karachi stood out among the cities with most number of refusal cases. A total of 53,000 refusals were reported from across the country, with 58 per cent reported from Karachi alone, during the vaccination drive, which concluded on Feb 5 in most cities but ran till Feb 8 in Sindh.

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NDMA issues rain forecast for northern regions

The NDMA on Saturday issued a rain alert for Punjab, K-P, AJK, and G-B from April 12 to 17. According to the NDMA, intermittent rain was expected in Punjab, K-P, AJK, and G-B, accompanied by thunderstorms, dust storms, and strong winds, with chances of hailstorms at isolated locations. "Rainfall is expected in Islamabad and several cities of Punjab, including Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore, Mianwali, and Mandi Bahauddin," it added. The NDMA said Sindh and Balochistan are likely to experience hot and dry weather, with a moderate rise in temperatures."

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Sindh approves Karachi Safe City Phase-II

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday approved Phase-II of the Karachi Safe City Project, aimed at strengthening urban security, surveillance and the operational capacity of law enforcement agencies. Chairing a meeting of the Sindh Safe Cities Authority at the Chief Minister's House, he said ensuring public safety through modern technology remained the government's top priority. The meeting was informed that a total of 2,314 smart surveillance cameras would be installed under the project, including 870 for general monitoring, 1,300 equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and facial recognition, 80 for traffic enforcement, 56 mobile surveillance units, and eight dedicated to traffic signal monitoring. The cameras will be installed across Karachi's districts, significantly expanding the city's monitoring network. The project, estimated to cost Rs9.98 billion, is expected to be completed within 12 months, with work likely to begin in May 2026. The infrastructure will include nine Points of Presence (PoP) sites with solar and generator backup, a smart surveillance tower, 50 public panic buttons linked to a central command system, eight response vehicles equipped with onboard cameras, and 10 surveillance drones. The chief minister said over Rs1 billion had been saved during the procurement process through negotiations, reflecting financial discipline without compromising on quality. He termed the initiative a critical investment in public safety and national security. He directed authorities to expedite approvals and ensure timely completion, warning that delays could lead to cost escalation, particularly amid rising global prices of surveillance equipment. To strengthen operational readiness, the SSCA has completed a transparent recruitment process for technical staff through multi-stage, merit-based evaluations. The chief minister approved the appointments under the SSCA Act. The meeting also reviewed proposals to establish Safe City projects in divisional headquarters including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad, at an estimated cost of Rs3.15 billion, involving installation of 780 cameras. It was decided to refer the proposals to the planning and development department for further review. Emphasising integration, the chief minister said all Safe City initiatives should operate under a unified SSCA framework to ensure standardisation, avoid duplication and enhance institutional coordination. He added that the project would not only improve crime prevention and response but also strengthen traffic management and emergency services, contributing to making Karachi a safer and more resilient city. The meeting was attended by Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, along with senior officials and lawmakers.

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PM Shehbaz hails kingdom's 'longstanding economic and financial support' in meeting with Saudi finance minister

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday lauded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Kingdom’s longstanding economic and financial support to Pakistan, saying it had played a vital role in the country’s economic stability. The remarks came during a meeting between the prime minister and Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, who called on him at the Prime Minister's House during his one-day visit to Islamabad. “The prime minister conveyed his respectful regards to The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. ISLAMABAD: 10 April 2026. Prime Minister’s Meeting with H.E. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, Finance Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His Excellency Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, Finance Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who was on a one-day visit to… pic.twitter.com/DAvAINa4Vo — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) April 10, 2026 Recalling his recent telephone conversation with the crown prince, the prime minister expressed appreciation for his “deep affection towards Pakistan” as well as for the Kingdom’s longstanding economic and financial support, which he said had played a vital role in Pakistan’s economic stability. PM Shehbaz reiterated that the people and government of Pakistan had always stood shoulder to shoulder with their Saudi brothers and sisters at all times. “This is an abiding bond between both countries that has grown stronger under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince,” the premier said. He emphasised Pakistan’s strong commitment to expanding cooperation with the Kingdom in all spheres, particularly in trade, investment and economic development. “The Saudi finance minister thanked the prime minister and reaffirmed the resolve of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to further strengthen the longstanding, deep-rooted fraternal bonds between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as envisioned by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” the statement added. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

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G-B motorway project gains momentum

Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah on Thursday called on Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan to discuss infrastructure development and improvement of road networks in the region. The meeting discussed the proposed Motorway Project from Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan, and Babusar Top to Jalkhand (MNJ). Abdul Aleem Khan stated that the motorway would serve as an alternative to the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and reduce travel distance by 100 kilometres as well. He added that, facilitating easier travel and promoting tourism, this project will be a game-changer for the region. Aleem Khan further stated that the Government aimed to improve roads in tourist areas on a priority basis to attract more visitors, thereby creating employment and business opportunities for local communities. He reiterated the commitment to ensuring uniform development across the country and prioritizing the construction of quality road infrastructure in all regions, especially in northern areas. Governor Gilgit-Baltistan expressed satisfaction with the performance of the National Highway Authority and appreciated the Federal Minister's support for the development of Gilgit-Baltistan.

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Punjab plans Christian family law revamp

A major relief is expected for millions of Christian families in Punjab as the government moves to reform century-old family laws governing the community. After 153 years, key amendments have been proposed to the Christian Marriage Act of 1872, addressing long-standing issues faced by the Christian community, particularly difficulties in marriage registration under the outdated colonial-era law. A proposed Christian Marriage Act Bill 2026 has been prepared and submitted in the Punjab Assembly by Standing Committee on Minority Affairs Chairman Philobus Christopher as a private member bill. Under the proposed legislation, the minimum age for marriage for both men and women in the Christian community will be set at 18 years. Previously, the law allowed marriage at 16 for boys and 13 for girls. The bill also proposes that both the bride and groom must be Christian, whereas under the existing law, marriage was permitted if one of the parties was Christian. A key reform includes mandatory registration of Christian marriages with Union Councils and the National Database and Registration Authority, which was not possible under the current law. The proposed law further allows marriages to be solemnized in all registered churches across Punjab according to Christian rites, removing earlier restrictions that limited this authority to specific churches such as Catholic and Church of England institutions. It also permits marriages at any time of the day, abolishing the previous restriction that prohibited ceremonies after 6 pm. Additionally, the bill clarifies that marriage will be defined strictly as a union between a man and a woman, replacing earlier ambiguous wording referring to "parties". The proposed 'Christian Marriage Act Bill, 2026' was submitted as a private member bill by Falbus Christopher, the chairman of the Standing Committee on Minority Affairs. Under the bill, the age of marriage - previously set at 16 years for boys and 13 years for girls - will be standardised to 18 years. Furthermore, the bill mandates that both the bride and groom must be Christian for the marriage to be solemnised under this specific act, shifting from the current law, which only requires one party to be of the Christian faith. One of the most significant practical changes involved the formal integration of Christian marriage certificates into the official government database. Under the proposed bill, for the first time, union councils and Nadra will be legally bound to record these marriages, a process that was previously impossible under the outdated 1872 regulations. This will grant Christian couples easier access to legal protections, inheritance rights, and official identification documents that were once mired in bureaucratic limbo. The bill also removed archaic social restrictions, such as the ban on conducting wedding ceremonies after 6pm, allowing families the freedom to celebrate at any time or day. In a move toward greater religious inclusivity, the authority to perform marriages has been expanded beyond the Catholic and Church of England denominations. The bill says that any pastor from a government-registered church who graduated from a recognised theological seminary will be authorised to solemnise vows. Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of marriage as a union specifically between a man and a woman, replacing the vague "two persons" terminology used in the British-era text.

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