Punjab announces new kite flying rules for Basant 2027, sets strict safety rules

The Punjab government on Friday announced new rules and regulations for kite flying for next year’s Basant festival, setting December 30 as the deadline for their full implementation. Under the new rules, kite flying will only be permitted on structurally strong and secure rooftops. The boundary walls of rooftops must be at least three and a half feet high. Overcrowding on rooftops will not be allowed. Parents and guardians have been directed to ensure continuous supervision of children, who will not be allowed near rooftop edges without adult supervision. Read: 17 lives lost during Basant festival in Lahore, Punjab govt informs LHC According to a statement, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasised that children’s safety remains the top priority, adding that running, jumping, hanging from edges, and aggressively retrieving kites have been strictly prohibited. The use of loud music, DJ systems, and noise-generating devices during kite flying has also been banned. Any activity causing disturbance to neighbours will be treated as a punishable offence under the law. The availability of first aid kits at all locations has been made mandatory, with easy access ensured. In case of any accident or emergency, citizens have been advised to immediately contact Rescue 1122. In the event of any accident or violation of the law, building owners and event organisers will be held personally and jointly responsible. The chief minister reiterated that strict legal action would be taken against violators, adding that no one would be allowed to endanger lives under the guise of kite flying. She directed all deputy commissioners and district police officers to ensure complete implementation of the regulations. Also Read: Kites in the sky, stories on screen: Basant in Punjabi cinema and music She also appreciated citizens for adhering to safety measures during Basant 2026 and expressed confidence that similar compliance would be observed in 2027. She urged citizens to follow all safety precautions, assuring them that the government stands with them in safely celebrating Basant.

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Punjab announces new kite flying rules for Basant 2027, sets strict safety rules

The Punjab government on Friday announced new rules and regulations for kite flying for next year’s Basant festival, setting December 30 as the deadline for their full implementation. Under the new rules, kite flying will only be permitted on structurally strong and secure rooftops. The boundary walls of rooftops must be at least three and a half feet high. Overcrowding on rooftops will not be allowed. Parents and guardians have been directed to ensure continuous supervision of children, who will not be allowed near rooftop edges without adult supervision. Read: 17 lives lost during Basant festival in Lahore, Punjab govt informs LHC According to a statement, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasised that children’s safety remains the top priority, adding that running, jumping, hanging from edges, and aggressively retrieving kites have been strictly prohibited. The use of loud music, DJ systems, and noise-generating devices during kite flying has also been banned. Any activity causing disturbance to neighbours will be treated as a punishable offence under the law. The availability of first aid kits at all locations has been made mandatory, with easy access ensured. In case of any accident or emergency, citizens have been advised to immediately contact Rescue 1122. In the event of any accident or violation of the law, building owners and event organisers will be held personally and jointly responsible. The chief minister reiterated that strict legal action would be taken against violators, adding that no one would be allowed to endanger lives under the guise of kite flying. She directed all deputy commissioners and district police officers to ensure complete implementation of the regulations. Also Read: Kites in the sky, stories on screen: Basant in Punjabi cinema and music She also appreciated citizens for adhering to safety measures during Basant 2026 and expressed confidence that similar compliance would be observed in 2027. She urged citizens to follow all safety precautions, assuring them that the government stands with them in safely celebrating Basant.

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2 martyred in terrorist attack on security forces camp in K-P's Lakki Marwat

In a brazen overnight attack, terrorists belonging to the outlawed Fitna Al-Khawarij group targeted a security forces camp in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Lakki Marwat district on Thursday, martyring a police and a security official. According to security sources, the assailants launched a sudden assault late at night in the Shadi Khel area of the Bettani sub-division, triggering an intense exchange of gunfire that lasted approximately two hours. During the clash, Constable Irfanullah and security official Waseem were martyred. The funeral prayer of Constable Irfanullah was offered with full state honours at the Police Lines in Lakki Marwat. A police contingent presented a salute to the martyr, while senior officials laid floral wreaths on his coffin and offered prayers. Read More: Five injured in Afghan cross-border shelling A large number of mourners attended the funeral, including Lakki Marwat District Police Officer (DPO) Nazir Khan, Deputy Commissioner Hamidullah Khan, Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Murad Khan, along with other police officers, civil administration officials, and personnel from various departments. Paying tribute to the martyr’s sacrifice, DPO Khan stated that such timeless sacrifices by the police force were a guarantee for the establishment of lasting peace. He vowed that the sacrifices of the martyrs would never go in vain, and the war against terrorists would continue until the elimination of the last terrorist.

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Why Pakistan has emerged as the pivotal mediator in the Iran conflict

Ever since the US-Israeli war on Iran broke out on February 28, Pakistan's efforts to advance mediation have been difficult to ignore. The federal government has shuttled multiple peace proposals between both capitals, stretched its diplomatic bandwidth to get conflicting parties to the negotiating table, and, despite limited success in early April talks in Islamabad, it continues to acquire considerable support from both Iran and the United States in brokering a consensus on the path to de-escalation. The value of having no skin in the game These dynamics merit a deeper understanding of what constitutes Pakistan's role as a pivotal mediator in the conflict and the drivers that propel it to that status. First, Islamabad does not carry some of the constraints associated with Gulf countries and traditional US-focused mediators. For instance, Islamabad does not host any US military bases, making it a critical player in earning the trust of Tehran, which has attacked Middle Eastern countries, including mediators Oman and Qatar, for their perceived role in facilitating US attacks on the country. Islamabad preserves this trust by avoiding any appearance of military complicity — even tacit support for the US — which could bring it into the line of fire in the current war. Read More: Mojtaba Khamenei signals new Gulf chapter, calls for US exit from Hormuz On the other hand, Islamabad, as the destination of choice, provides ample geographical safety from core conflict flashpoints. For instance, Pakistan is not in close proximity to areas in the immediate periphery of the Strait of Hormuz, where fluctuating US-Iran tensions on opening up the waterway have sent substantial alarm across Middle Eastern economies. This matters to US negotiators, who have shown sensitivity to regions that could invite Iranian attacks, and similar threat perceptions for Tehran — which has seen much of its top leadership become the target of unwarranted Israeli-US attacks — make Islamabad a destination offering greater security and a stronger basis for negotiating in earnest. Gulf countries view Pakistan's role with a high degree of trust as well. This was apparent in the lead-up to the first round of "Islamabad Talks" when regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia partnered with Türkiye and Egypt to assess the contours of regional security in four-way talks in Islamabad. Pakistan also maintains very close ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and the leadership has made the most of its multivector foreign policy by making time-sensitive visits to countries such as Qatar to gauge prospects for de-escalation. Pakistan is also among the few countries to have the ear of US President Donald Trump, who has voiced his support for the top leadership brass. Energy dependency as a driver of diplomacy This proximity enables Islamabad to credibly facilitate the vital exchange of competing peace plans to the benefit of US-Iran talks, as well as account for expectations regarding an enduring de-escalation scenario, as seen through the lens of major Gulf partners, including Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. At the same time, Pakistan's geographical proximity to Iran — a close neighbour with a history of shared counterterrorism cooperation and energy ties — makes mediation a matter of strategic value when the economy is already on the margins. This reality, reinforced by growth risks and limited borrowing potential, makes it clear that Pakistan cannot afford to look the other way when drastic energy shocks from the Strait of Hormuz tensions affect global energy outlooks, as well as domestic energy supplies. Pakistan imports the lion's share of its gas from key Gulf countries. The energy factor lends Islamabad's mediation the additional immediacy that is central to seeing the conflict through for its domestic constituency as well. Pakistan's iron-clad relationship with China is also a positive reinforcer. This alignment is reflected in both countries' "five-point" peace plan, which calls for de-escalation and a resumption of peace talks. The federal government's history of opposing unilateral sanctions, firm regard for international law and refusal to take sides in the Iran-US conflict lends its mediating potential the promise of permanence, alignment with UN-backed dialogue principles, and rare credibility in brokering consensus. It is this practical reading of gradual but enduring peace talks momentum, geographical constraints, energy drivers, and close diplomatic proximity to both Tehran and Washington that gives Islamabad the leverage and endurance to emerge as a major mediator in the US-Iran war.

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Bajaur woman makes history with PAS allocation in CSS 2025

In a major milestone for the tribal districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Muneeba Hussain became the first woman from Bajaur to be allocated to the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) after successfully clearing the Central Superior Services (CSS 2025) examination. The 24-year-old candidate passed the competitive exam in her first attempt, securing a position in the top occupational group and bringing pride to the tribal district. Daughter of Dr Muhammad Arshad Hussain, Muneeba belongs to Wara Mamond in Bajaur. She holds a BS degree in English Linguistics from the National University of Modern Languages. Speaking to The Express Tribune, her father said that Muneeba had set her sights on CSS at an early stage. “She completed her FSc from Islamia College Peshawar and from the very first day of her higher education, she was determined to pursue CSS. She worked day and night to achieve this goal,” he said. Read More: FPSC notifies 327 posts for CSS 2025 He added that consistent hard work, coupled with family support and prayers — particularly from her grandfather — played a key role in her success. “Hard work never goes to waste. Even in today’s fast-changing, technology-driven world, students who remain focused on their education can achieve their goals,” he remarked. Muneeba termed her achievement a moment of pride for her family and province. She said her ambition had always been to accomplish something meaningful and make her family proud. Driven by a deep love for books and learning, she pursued CSS as a mission and achieved her goal. Her success is being widely seen as an inspiration for young women, particularly in the tribal districts, where access to higher education and competitive opportunities remains limited.

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Bars reject IHC judges' transfers

The Lahore Bar Association (LBA) and the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) strongly criticised the transfer of three Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges to provincial high courts and the constitutional amendments, terming them a threat to judicial independence. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, LHCBA Secretary Qasim Ijaz Sammra condemned the transfers carried out without the consent of the judges and alleged that the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments had undermined the independence of the judiciary. "Lawyers will raise a strong voice against these measures and continue their struggle to safeguard judicial autonomy," he said. LHCBA President Babar Murtaza said the legal community had been resisting such amendments for the past two years, alleging that the basic structure of the Constitution had been altered. He criticized the process of judicial transfers and warned that arbitrary decisions regarding seniority could undermine institutional integrity. He also announced that lawyers would hold a protest rally against the decisions. LBA President Irfan Hayat Bajwa described the recent developments as "the darkest day in Pakistan's judicial history," rejecting the constitutional amendments outright. He claimed that petitions filed against the amendments had yet to be heard and asserted that even the Chief Justice of Pakistan had now realised a loss of authority.

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Cabinet approves Pakistan’s first National Vaccine Policy

Federal Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday announced that the federal cabinet approved Pakistan’s first-ever National Vaccine Policy, paving the way for local vaccine production in the country. The approval was granted during a meeting of the federal cabinet held in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair. Speaking on the occasion, the minister termed the development a major milestone in strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system. He noted that the country had, until now, lacked a comprehensive national policy on vaccines, adding that the newly approved framework was developed through extensive consultations with key stakeholders to ensure a robust and sustainable approach. Kamal highlighted the role of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) in shaping the policy. He emphasised that establishing local vaccine production capacity had become essential for the country, describing the initiative as a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in the health sector. The federal cabinet also approved the formation of a special committee under the supervision of DRAP to determine vaccine prices and ensure quality standards. The policy aims to reduce reliance on imported vaccines, conserve foreign exchange, and make Pakistan self-sufficient in vaccine production. Pakistan, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, has, over the past five decades, provided life-saving vaccines to 160 million children and 130 million mothers. Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation’s vaccines chief, Kate O’Brien, said that vaccines have saved 154 million lives globally over the past 50 years, noting that more than 30 diseases can be prevented through immunisation.

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