Heavy vehicles face pre-smog checks

The Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has stepped up preparations for the smog season, placing heavy vehicles at the centre of its enforcement strategy. The move comes as the environmental authorities shift their focus from reacting to deteriorating air quality toward taking preventive measures before the onset of severe smog conditions. The EPA has directed its field formations to intensify vehicle inspections, particularly on major highways, urban roads and city entry points, with the objective of removing high-emission vehicles before they add to the pollution during the critical period. According to EPA data, 1,745 challans have been issued and 621 vehicles impounded in Lahore since May, with fines amounting to Rs4.483 million imposed for violations of environmental standards. The agency says these figures form part of its continuing pre-smog preparedness and enforcement against vehicular emissions will be significantly strengthened in the days ahead. The focus is particularly on trucks, buses and large diesel-powered vehicles because poorly maintained engines and exhaust systems can release excessive smoke and contribute to deterioration of air quality in densely populated areas. EPA spokesperson Sajid Bashir said the department was accelerating its field operations ahead of the smog season and curbing vehicle emissions was being treated as a priority. He said vehicles found emitting smoke beyond the prescribed environmental limits were being proceeded against under the relevant laws, while the agency was increasing inspections at locations where heavy traffic and commercial transport were concentrated. He urged owners of heavy vehicles to have their engines and exhaust systems properly maintained and ensure that they had valid fitness certification before operating on major urban routes. The EPA is preparing for a tightening of enforcement at city entry points. Officials said vehicles without fitness certification and emitting excessive smoke would face action with the objective of preventing unfit and highly polluting vehicles from entering major urban centres. The coming days are expected to see greater deployment of environmental teams at major entry and exit points, where heavy vehicles will be subjected to closer scrutiny. The measure is part of an approach designed to intercept major pollution sources before they enter congested urban areas. The enforcement drive will also be supported through the Punjab Safe Cities Authority's camera network for monitoring of heavy transport vehicles. Camera assistance will help enforcement teams identify vehicles requiring further inspection and support action against non-compliance. EPA Director General Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh issued strict directions to field officers to intensify enforcement against smoke-emitting vehicles He directed teams to maintain regular surveillance on major routes and ensure that environmental violations are dealt with promptly and without discrimination. Sheikh stressed the need for stronger coordination between the EPA, district administrations, traffic authorities, the PSCA and other relevant departments. According to the directions, vehicular emission control must form part of a coordinated pre-smog response involving all departments responsible for traffic management, enforcement and public health protection.

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K-P police learn Chinese to secure foreign projects

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police on Wednesday launched a Chinese language training programme for its personnel to enhance security for Chinese engineers and foreign project staff, with the first batch of 20 Special Security Unit (SSU) personnel having completed the course. The trained personnel have been deployed at Chinese and other foreign projects, including the Suki Kinari Hydropower Project, Peshawar Airport, Project Peshawar, RWS Khyber, Rashakai Economic Zone, Tarbela Dam in Swabi, Project Haripur, BHPP Mansehra, Dasu Dam, Bhasha Dam and SSU Lines Mardan. Police officials said communication difficulties had persisted in the past with Chinese engineers and foreign staff due to the language barrier. The trained personnel would now be able to directly communicate security matters and coordinate in Chinese. Read: Security of foreigners to be beefed up in KP Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Special Security Unit Syed Ashfaq Anwar told The Express Tribune that SSU personnel had been given formal Chinese language training for the first time in the province. He said the second batch of officers was also in the final stage of completing the foreign language course. He said other foreign languages would also be taught to personnel in the future, as effective communication with foreign citizens had become an essential requirement of security alongside modern technology and professional training.

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PM vows no leniency for officials held responsible for PIMS fire

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday once again ordered strict action against officials found guilty of criminal negligence in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) fire incident, saying no leniency would be shown to those responsible for the tragedy. On Aug 26, 14 newborn babies were killed after a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS in Islamabad, triggering widespread outrage and demands from people and political parties for action against those responsible. After an inquiry committee presented its interim report, the prime minister approved the immediate suspension of eight officials and ordered departmental as well as criminal proceedings against those identified as responsible. Read: IHC orders report on PIMS tragedy According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, immediately after returning from Kyrgyzstan, the prime minister chaired an emergency meeting on matters relating to the Ministry of Health and the PIMS fire incident. The meeting was briefed on matters concerning the health sector, while a special briefing was given on the ongoing investigation into the PIMS fire. وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے کرغستان سے واپس پہنچتے ہی وزرات صحت کے امور اور پمز آتشزدگی واقعے کے حوالے سے ہنگامی اجلاس کی صدارت کی. اجلاس میں وفاقی وزیرِ صحت سید مصطفی کمال، وزیر اقتصادی امور احد خان چیمہ، سیکریٹری ہیلتھ کپٹن (ر) محمد محمود اور پمز ہسپتال کے ایگزیکٹیو… pic.twitter.com/3pZTXVgBWY — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) September 2, 2026 It was informed that, in light of the interim investigative report, implementation of the prime minister’s decisions was being ensured. “No leniency will be shown to officials guilty of criminal negligence,” the PM Office quoted the prime minister as saying. He also directed the health minister and health secretary to ensure their personal presence at PIMS on alternate days and oversee, under their supervision, the implementation of measures for the hospital’s improvement. The prime minister further directed that treatment facilities at PIMS be improved and all safety measures implemented. He also ordered that the process of reforms in the health sector be accelerated. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Health Secretary Capt (retd) Muhammad Mahmood and PIMS Executive Director Dr Muhammad Salman. Inquiry findings The incident sparked nationwide outrage after 14 newborns were killed, with only one newborn girl among those inside the ward rescued alive. The tragedy prompted immediate action from the federal government, with PM Shehbaz forming a five-member inquiry committee. The committee’s interim report highlighted several deficiencies at the hospital and recommended action against eight individuals.  Those identified by the committee and suspended on the prime minister’s orders include PIMS Executive Director Prof Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Dr Owais Ali Shah, head of the neonatal department Prof Dr Sadia Riaz, senior registrars Dr Naghma and Dr Nousheela Amjad, PIMS Assistant Director Security Mohammad Usman and Capital Development Authority Emergency Services Director General Dr Abdul Rehman. Also Read: Judicial commission may be formed if PIMS probe fails to satisfy: Mustafa Kamal The interim report said the precise source of ignition had not yet been “conclusively established”, adding that various accounts had attributed the fire to an air conditioner, an incubator or warmer, or an electrical short circuit or overloaded plug. “Accordingly, an internal electrical/equipment-related origin remains plausible, but it would be premature to identify any particular appliance or component as the established cause,” the report said. The report said the Capital Emergency Services (CES) had separately found fire and life-safety arrangements to be inadequate and compromised. It said emergency exits and escape routes were locked or obstructed, security personnel hindered aspects of the initial response, and crowd management was inadequate. According to the CES account, firefighters had to forcibly open locked fire-exit doors and other access points. The committee recommended that smoke and heat detection systems, alarms, fire extinguishers, hydrants, emergency lighting, electrical protection systems and all designated fire exits be physically inspected, tested and documented. It said any mandatory emergency exit found locked, obstructed or incapable of being opened immediately during an emergency should be rectified without delay. Read More: The PIMS fire and the failures behind it: What the interim inquiry report says At the same time, legitimate controlled access to sensitive neonatal areas should be maintained through fire-safe arrangements, the report recommended. The committee also recommended an urgent technical inspection of all incubators, warmers, air-conditioning and IVAC installations, sockets, plugs, distribution boards, circuit breakers, earthing and other safety-critical electrical systems in high-risk clinical areas.

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Delays weaken Pakistan's rights commissions

Delays in appointing chairpersons and members to national and provincial commissions dealing with human rights, women, children and minorities have raised concerns over the independence and effectiveness of these institutions, as well as Pakistan's ability to meet its international human rights obligations. The previous National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) completed its four-year term in November 2025, but a new commission has yet to be fully constituted. Meanwhile, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) continues to operate under an acting head rather than a permanent chairperson. Former NCHR chairperson Khawar Mumtaz said governments had failed to demonstrate seriousness in constituting and empowering human rights and women's commissions in a timely manner. She believed the appointment process for a new chairperson should be completed before the incumbent's term expires to prevent an institutional vacuum. "Repeated reliance on temporary arrangements could undermine the independence and effectiveness of such commissions," noted Mumtaz. An amendment to the National Commission for Human Rights Act in 2026 introduced Section 4A, allowing the chairperson to remain in office for up to 120 days after completing the term, or until a new chairperson is appointed, whichever comes first. The previous commission's term ended in November 2025, meaning the 120-day transitional period has also elapsed, raising questions over the commission's legal and operational position. NCHR Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha, however, said the commission was functioning effectively because it had recruited additional staff two years ago and currently had adequate human resources. She further added that the extension of the NCHR chairperson's tenure had been made in accordance with the law and was also consistent with practices followed by national human rights institutions in other countries. When asked about the constitution of a new commission, she said the matter fell within the government's authority and questions regarding the appointment should be directed to the government. Human rights activist and Centre for Social Justice Executive Director Peter Jacob said the National Commission for Minorities Rights Act had been passed by Parliament in December 2025, but the process of appointing the commission's chairperson and members had yet to be completed. Records of the National Assembly and Senate show that the relevant legislation was passed on December 16, 2025. The National Commission on the Rights of Child has also faced gaps in representation from some provinces and Islamabad. The Ministry of Human Rights invited applications in July 2026 for the appointment of members from Punjab, Islamabad and Balochistan. At the provincial level, the position of chairperson of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women has remained vacant since 2019. The Lahore High Court in June 2026 directed the Punjab government to complete the appointment within 45 days, while the commission's own website continues to show the chairperson's position and several members' seats as vacant. The government has meanwhile announced various initiatives in the human rights sector, including the National Action Plan on Human Rights 2026. The Ministry of Human Rights says work is also under way to improve implementation of international human rights treaties and strengthen the capacity of national institutions. Civil society representative and lawyer Abdullah Malik opined that incomplete commissions could affect independent monitoring, reporting and recommendations concerning Pakistan's obligations under UN treaties, international human rights reviews, commitments relating to women and children, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The NCHR holds an 'A' status accreditation from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), making its independence and effective functioning particularly important for Pakistan's international standing.

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Fact check: Viral video doesn't show recent 'Free Imran Khan' billboard in US; it's old from Oct 2025

Multiple pro-PTI accounts and digital media outlets have been sharing a video across social media platforms since Sunday, claiming that a “Free Imran Khan” billboard had recently appeared in New York amid calls for the incarcerated PTI founder’s release. However, the billboard shown in the viral video is not recent and has been circulating online since October 2025. Imran has remained incarcerated since August 2023 following his arrest in connection with multiple cases. His continued imprisonment and calls for his release have remained a major political issue in Pakistan, with PTI supporters and the Pakistani diaspora periodically organising demonstrations and displaying “Free Imran Khan” messages in different countries. Against this backdrop, images and videos purporting to show recent international support for him can attract significant attention, particularly when they are presented as evidence of a new development in his release campaign. How it started On Sunday, an account that appears to be pro-PTI based on its profile picture and past posts shared a video on X showing a roadside billboard displaying Imran’s picture alongside the words, “Free Imran Khan,” with the caption: “New York USA!” The post gained 30,900 views. Another pro-PTI account on Monday also shared the same video on X with the following caption: “Just now, someone from America sent a video of Imran Khan’s big banner, Free Imran Khan Right now, there’s only one news across the whole world, Imran Khan’s release!!” The post gained 32,000 views. A Pakistani digital media account on Instagram also shared the same video on the same day, with the caption: “A billboard in New York, USA, has displayed a ‘Free Imran Khan’ message, drawing attention on social media and among supporters of the former Pakistani prime minister.” The post gained 482,000 views. The official PTI Gilgit-Baltistan account on X also shared the same video on September 1 with the caption: “A ‘Free Imran Khan’ billboard has been displayed in the New York and New Jersey area, organised by the Pakistani American diaspora to demand justice and call for his release,” gaining more than 200 views. The video was subsequently shared by several other pro-PTI accounts on X, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, collectively gaining more than 10,000 views. The video was also shared by local digital media outlets on social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, as can be seen here, here, here, and here. Methodology A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its high virality and keen public interest surrounding reports and social media posts about calls for Imran’s release. A keyword search was conducted to verify whether any credible Pakistani media outlets or official central PTI platforms had recently reported that a billboard displaying Imran’s picture alongside a “Free Imran Khan” message had been placed in the US. However, no recent reports or official party statements confirming the claim or the visuals were found. The banner in the viral clip featured the following organisation’s name and website: First Pakistan Global. A reverse image search subsequently conducted to trace the source of the viral video yielded a similar clip in an X post shared by the organisation on October 2, 2025, featuring the same billboard. The post carried the caption: “Voice of a nation free Imran Khan. This is not just a billboard. It’s a megaphone for 250 million silenced voices.” The caption further stated that the billboard was located on Pulaski Highway in New Jersey and was being seen by millions of drivers.         View this post on Instagram                       The organisation described itself as a non-profit organisation comprised of entities and members residing abroad, “dedicated to advocating for the betterment of Pakistan”. Furthermore, there was no recent post or share by the group that said or indicated that it had again put up the billboard. Another post shared on X on the same date also featured the same billboard and carried the caption: “Free Imran Khan billboards popping up again in the USA,” further indicating that the footage was not recent but older, from October 2025. Free Imran Khan billboards popping up again in the USA! pic.twitter.com/fI1qCFOwMf — Adil Raja (@soldierspeaks) October 2, 2025 Further searches yielded an Instagram post by a local digital media outlet, News PMC, dated January 21, 2026, featuring the same clip as the viral video. This confirmed that the video was not recent and was at least as old as January 2026. 🚨 VOICE OF A NATION 🚨 FREE IMRAN KHAN This is not just a billboard. It’s a megaphone for 250 million silenced voices. Pakistan’s most popular leader has been jailed for over 785 days — and still stands with his people. Dictators & corrupt elites have put the country up for… pic.twitter.com/IjpK1oh6uI — FirstPakistanGlobal (@FirstPakGlobal) October 1, 2025 Fact-check status: misleading The claim that a viral video shows a recently installed “Free Imran Khan” billboard in New York, USA, is misleading. The video is not recent and the billboard is from October 2025, when it was displayed on the Pulaski Highway in New Jersey. This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan — a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.

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Govt approaches JI for talks over petroleum prices, levy as party demands ‘complete package’

The Jamaat-e-Islami on Tuesday confirmed that the government had approached the party for talks over its ongoing protests against petroleum prices and the petroleum levy, saying it was ready for negotiations provided the government team came with a “complete package”. Jamaat-e-Islami spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed Tarabi said the government’s negotiating team had contacted party Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch and offered to hold talks. According to Tarabi, Adviser to the Prime Minister and Senator Rana Sanaullah and Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal contacted Liaquat Baloch on Monday, while former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and Punjab Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique had also contacted him earlier. Read More: JI announces Sept 3 nationwide strike against petroleum levy Tarabi said Jamaat-e-Islami had made it clear that it was ready for negotiations, but the government’s team would have to come with a “complete package” outlining what relief it intended to provide to the public on the petroleum levy, electricity prices and inflation. “We will not merely listen to a briefing. The government’s negotiating team should come with a complete package and explain what relief it intends to provide to the people,” Tarabi said. He said the party believed in democratic struggle and that its sit-ins were aimed at protecting the interests of the public. He added that the protests would continue if the government failed to provide meaningful relief to the people. Party sources said the date for formal talks would be decided after Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman returned to Lahore. Meanwhile, Rana Sanaullah also confirmed the government’s contacts with Jamaat-e-Islami. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a three-member negotiating committee comprising Rana Sanaullah, Ahsan Iqbal and Bilal Azhar Kayani. Sanaullah said he had contacted Liaquat Baloch and offered to hold talks at the protest site or at any other mutually agreed venue. He said the government wanted to discuss whether the demands being made by Jamaat-e-Islami could be met. Jamaat-e-Islami has been staging sit-ins across the country for the last 17 days against petroleum prices and the petroleum levy, demanding relief for consumers.

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