Low-level flooding reported in Dek

Water flows in most rivers across Punjab remain normal, although low-level flooding has been reported in the Indus River at Kalabagh and Chashma, while the Dek, an important tributary of the Ravi, is experiencing high-level flooding, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). According to a PDMA spokesperson, water flows in the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej rivers are at normal levels. The Indus River is experiencing low-level flooding at Kalabagh and Chashma, where water flows stand at 351,000 cusecs and 283,000 cusecs, respectively, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the Nullah Bein in Shakargarh was also experiencing a low-level flood situation. Meanwhile, the Dek, a major tributary of the Ravi River, was experiencing a high-level flood situation. The discharge in Nullah Dek stood at 22,500 cusecs, according to the PDMA spokesperson. Tarbela Dam has reached 100 per cent of its capacity, while Mangla Dam is 78 per cent full, the PDMA said. PDMA Director General Safi Anwar Jappa urged citizens to adopt precautionary measures in view of the weather and flood situation. He advised people to avoid recreational activities around rivers, canals and streams. He also urged citizens to take special care of children and not allow them to bathe in rivers, streams or drains under any circumstances.

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DPM Dar says 750,000 tonnes of wheat to be imported in November

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday reiterated the government’s decision to import up to one million metric tonnes of wheat, with 750,000 tonnes to be brought in during the first phase in November, amid growing concerns over a possible shortage of around three million tonnes. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FM Dar chaired a meeting to review wheat stocks in the country. The deputy prime minister appreciated the cooperation and coordination extended by all provinces, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the Ministry of Commerce in resolving issues related to wheat imports, stabilising prices and curbing hoarding. He directed the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) to immediately supply wheat to the provinces according to allocations approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the steering committee. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired a meeting today to take stock of wheat stocks in the country. The DPM appreciated the cooperation and coordination extended by all provinces, the Ministry of National Food Security & Research,… pic.twitter.com/igG444lzyq — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 3, 2026 Dar also directed the provinces to ensure timely payments and lifting of their allocated wheat supplies while also reiterating the decision to import up to one million metric tonnes of wheat, with the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) directed to start the process immediately. “In the first phase, 750,000 metric tonnes will be imported, with delivery scheduled for November,” the statement said. Dar stressed that all concerned institutions must continue working in close coordination to ensure adequate wheat availability, stable prices and relief for consumers across Pakistan. Read: Wheat shortfall could cost $1.2 billion The meeting was attended by the minister for national food security and research, the minister for commerce, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, secretaries of commerce and national food security and research, representatives of the provincial governments, and senior federal and provincial officials. The government’s decision comes amid concerns among wheat growers that the country could face a shortfall of nearly three million tonnes, with farmer representatives warning that urgent steps were needed to encourage cultivation ahead of the Rabi sowing season. The country’s leading farmers’ body has said three consecutive years of policy missteps have pushed growers into losses estimated at Rs2,200 billion, eroding confidence in wheat cultivation. The body said the decline in farmer incomes had discouraged growers from planting wheat on land that would otherwise have been used for the crop, threatening the yields needed to maintain self-sufficiency in the staple grain. According to the farmers’ body’s calculations, the current wheat support price of Rs3,900 per 40-kilogramme maund, last approved by the federal ECC in March 2023, falls short of covering current production costs, which it puts at Rs3,761 per maund. Adding a 25 per cent profit margin, the body said a realistic support price would be closer to Rs4,702 per maund. The federal government had set the procurement price for the 2025-26 season at Rs3,500 per maund, with production estimated at around 28.4 million tonnes, down from 31.4 million tonnes a year earlier, according to industry data. Also Read: Provinces demand 2.2MMT of wheat Farmers’ groups have said Pakistan’s per-maund production costs, ranging between Rs2,800 and Rs3,400 depending on the region, remain among the highest in South Asia. The farmers’ body had urged the prime minister and the minister for national food security to publicly commit by the end of August to restoring the wheat support price and procurement mechanism. It argued that early clarity was essential to encourage farmers to bring fallow and diverted land back under wheat cultivation ahead of the Rabi season.

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Panic in Islamabad's Gulberg Greens as Bengal tiger, two cubs spotted in residential area

Panic gripped Islamabad's Gulberg Greens on Thursday evening after a Bengal tiger and two cubs were spotted in B-block, Street 15, sending residents into alarm and prompting the housing society’s security management to go on high alert. The sighting, confirmed by Gulberg Greens security management and residents, quickly became the talk of community groups as photographs and videos of the tiger and its cubs circulated widely, with worried families urged to stay indoors. Security personnel intensified surveillance in the area and advised residents, particularly children, not to venture outside until the situation was brought under control. “We are on high alert, and our teams are closely monitoring the area. Residents have been advised to remain inside and immediately report any movement or sighting of the animals,” a security official told residents in a message shared in community groups. Another security official said security teams were “fully engaged with the situation” and were taking precautionary measures to prevent any risk to residents. Following reports of a big cat in Gulberg Greens,IWMB & @CDAthecapital & @dcislamabad conducted a full search operation. ✅ No evidence found. We’ll keep monitoring the area. Request: Stay calm & report any wildlife sightings to relevant authorities. pic.twitter.com/A0WsCTfoKo — Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) (@WildlifeBoard) September 3, 2026 The unusual sighting triggered a wave of concern in residents’ groups, with families expressing fears for the safety of their children and questioning how a potentially dangerous wild animal had reached a populated residential area. “We are extremely worried, especially for children. Nobody knows where the tiger may move next, so families are staying indoors,” a resident told APP. Another resident, Syed Hasnain, told APP that he questioned the practice of keeping dangerous and exotic animals as pets in residential communities, saying the incident should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to enforce strict regulations. Read: Suspected wildcat sighting sparks panic “How can residents feel safe if dangerous wild animals can be kept in a residential area?” another resident asked in a community group. The sighting also prompted residents to caution one another against going out in search of the tiger or gathering around the reported location to take photographs or videos. The presence of the tiger and two cubs raised fresh questions about the risks associated with keeping exotic and potentially dangerous animals in private homes, particularly in densely populated housing schemes. For families in Gulberg Greens, however, the immediate concern remained safety, with residents keeping doors and gates shut and closely monitoring security updates as teams remained on alert. Security management continued to monitor the situation and urged residents to remain calm, stay indoors and cooperate with security personnel until the animals were safely dealt with.

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Judicial commission questions Mir Raza Ali's business partner over irregularities

The judicial commission probing the murder of young entrepreneur Mir Raza Ali recorded statements from his business partner, brother, driver and a police official on Thursday, while expressing sharp displeasure at the conduct of Muhammad Ahmed Bhurday, who it said was behaving more like a suspect than a witness. The commission, headed by Justice Omar Sial at the Sindh High Court (SHC), summoned Bhurday, Ali's childhood friend and business partner, to explain his actions in the hours and days following Ali's disappearance on July 28. Also present during the proceedings were Ali's family, their lawyer Jibran Nasir, Sindh government's focal person, additional home secretary, Sharae Faisal Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Arshad Afridi, Ferozabad Station House Officer (SHO) Adeel Afzal, Ali's brother, friends, and driver Ehsan Ali. During a tense exchange, Justice Sial admonished Bhurday for what he described as suspicious conduct. “Mir Raza was a dear friend, yet you were only worried about money — why did you get pre-arrest bail?” the judge remarked, according to sources present in the courtroom. Bhurday, who told the commission he had known Ali since first grade and had started the Wafflix dessert business with him in 2020, faced rigorous questioning about his visit to Ali's house on the morning of July 28, within hours of Ali's disappearance. He admitted going to the house at 8am with his brother Abdullah and others, entering Ali's room, and finding his wallet, charger and keys there. He also revealed that Ali kept hashish in cigarette packets on a shelf at home, a disclosure the commission questioned as unnecessary for a witness seeking to “clear himself”. Read: SHC rejects family plea seeking formation of JIT in Mir Raza murder case The commission also pressed Bhurday on why he had sought access to Ali's Apple Watch while the family was still searching for him, and why he had allegedly asked Ali's sister to email the watch's data to his own account. Bhurday claimed his brother Abdullah and friend Raziq had assisted the sister, but the commission expressed scepticism, noting that Bhurday appeared to know details he could only have learned if he were present. Financial irregularities surrounding the business also came under scrutiny. Bhurday told the commission that the two partners withdrew Rs5,000 daily for personal expenses and received weekly Food Panda payments of Rs600,000 to Rs800,000. However, when questioned about a Rs4.5 million investment by Ehsan Anis Shamshi, whose documents showed he owned 30 per cent of the business, Bhurday initially denied knowledge before admitting Ali had taken the cash home. The commission expressed surprise that Bhurday had not mentioned this substantial sum, yet had been anxious about vendor payments during the disappearance. The commission further questioned Bhurday about why the business's vendor contact number had been changed two months before to his cousin Wasiq Bhurday's name rather than his own or Ali's, and why his email and mobile number appeared in Ali's iCloud account. Bhurday said he did not remember the number and only learned of the iCloud link during the investigation. CCTV footage from Wafflix Bahadurabad franchise also featured prominently in the hearing. Bhurday said he had accessed the cameras on the night of July 28 after being informed that a guard's pistol was missing, extracted brief clips, and took them to Ferozabad Police Station. The commission questioned why he had not shown the complete footage to the family first, and why no memo was prepared when the full DVR was allegedly handed to police three days later. “You extracted two-second clips of your own interest and gave them to the police,” Justice Sial remarked. Read More: Mir Raza death not a suicide, SHC told The commission also recorded the statement of online taxi driver Ehsanullah, who provided what may be the last known account of Ali's movements. The driver said he received a booking at 3:57am on July 28, picked up Ali from Khalid Bin Waleed Road at 4:09am, and dropped him in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 2 at 4:28am. He said Ali had directed him to drive on the wrong side of the road, asked him to speed and played music from his phone at full volume during the ride. The driver, who said his company had since taken back his vehicle, told the commission the drop-off location was desolate. Another cruel reality of our society exposed in judicial commission proceedings today. #MirRaza's @bykeapk driver Ihsanullah who from day one cooperated with family & investigation was evicted by police & Bykea vehicle taken back & fired for getting involved in a police case P1/2 — M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) September 3, 2026 SDPO Afridi's testimony took a dramatic turn when he initially denied showing CCTV footage to Ali's family or suggesting the death was a suicide. Under sustained grilling from Justice Sial, who warned him he was “leading himself towards dismissal”, Afridi admitted that police had indeed shown footage to the family. Ali's mother told the commission that officers had shown videos from Wafflix and other locations, telling them, “See, Mir Raza is going alone." Bhurday, who supplied chocolate to Wafflix, told the commission he had given Ali Rs750,000 for cryptocurrency trading — a personal dealing unrelated to the business. He denied searching Ali's room, though he admitted being present when others did. The commission noted that Abdullah had copied payment notices from Ali's watch to his own device. After the hearing, Bhurday’s lawyer, Khalid Mumtaz, told the media that the commission had treated his client like a suspect despite his cooperating with the investigation since July 30. “There is not a single thing against Bhurday. He attended Mir Raza's chehlum," Mumtaz said, adding that Ali had disappeared briefly in the past as well, including trips to Islamabad. Nasir, Ali's family's lawyer, countered that the investigation had been riddled with lapses. "The smartwatch seizure memo was not made, the family was not made witnesses, and samples were not collected for six days," he said, adding that an appeal would be filed next week against a recent SHC decision in the case. The commission summoned former SHO of PS Gulistan-e-Jauhar Kamran Qureshi and Head Moharar Zeeshan for the next hearing, and adjourned proceedings until September 7. Case developments A judicial commission was formed on the request of the Sindh government to probe the death of Ali, who was allegedly kidnapped from PECHS before his body was found in bushes near a wedding hall in Karachi's Gulistan-e-Johar on July 29. The case had initially been surrounded by uncertainty over whether he had been murdered or died by suicide. The first post-mortem findings contained discrepancies and omissions, leading to a second post-mortem that confirmed his murder. Consequently, considering the probe "botched", the family filed a petition in the SHC seeking the formation of JIT. During earlier hearings regarding the formation of JIT, the investigating officer probing the death of Ali told the SHC that investigators were treating the case as murder and had ruled out suicide based on the post-mortem findings. DSP Siraj Lashari said the investigation had restarted “from zero” on August 13 and was being conducted using digital evidence, including CCTV footage. Investigators had recovered a bullet casing but had yet to find the weapon, while final post-mortem and forensic reports were still awaited. Separately, the judicial commission convened its second hearing on Monday, September 1, wherein it grilled Medico-Legal Officer Dr Usama Sheikh over discrepancies in the first post-mortem report filed by him. The commission also recorded the statements of the victim's family and Edhi volunteers who shifted his body during the hearing. After the conclusion of the second hearing, lawyer Nasir said the first account of the MLO proved that he was correct about the "botched probe" and, since the commission was not tasked with the probe and can only oversee it, he reiterated that a JIT was crucial for a transparent investigation into the case.

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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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