ISLAMABAD – A total of Rs24 billion in financial irregularities has come to light in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), where 140,488 government employees allegedly received money earmarked for deserving families.
According to documents submitted to the National Assembly by the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation, only Rs710 million has been recovered so far against the billions of rupees in irregularities.
The documents say that in the 2019-20 fiscal year, government employees and pensioners received Rs23.13 billion from BISP. Payments allegedly continued for six years despite the irregularities being identified in 2019, and Rs900 million was paid even after the employees were flagged.
The record shows that in 2020-21, more than 12,000 government employees received Rs146.7 million. The number of government employees found drawing BISP funds was 2,447 in 2021-22, 2,235 in 2022-23, 227 in 2023-24 and 12,078 in 2024-25.
The documents state that spouses of government employees were also involved in the irregularities. Among those who allegedly received funds meant for beneficiaries are 236 BISP’s own employees.
According to the documents, the FIA recovered Rs540 million from government employees involved in the irregularities, while other government departments recovered Rs145 million. BISP recovered Rs21.5 million from its own employees, bringing total recoveries to about Rs706.5 million, or roughly Rs710 million.
BISP has sent the record of the government employees involved to the relevant institutions, and it has decided to scrutinise the records of more than 600,000 government employees and pensioners for further investigation.
The documents submitted to the National Assembly say recovery and investigation are continuing. However, the wide gap between the alleged Rs24 billion in irregularities and the amount recovered so far has raised questions about government oversight and accountability systems.
LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz issued a warning against abuse of wealth and influence after police arrested a man accused of assaulting a Lahore petrol station worker for asking him to stop smoking.
Calling the arrest ‘tight slap in the face’ to spoiled brats, CM Maryam condemned those who treat poorer people as lesser human beings and assume their money and connections give them a licence to intimidate others. She said such arrogance shows belief that the powerful could mistreat vulnerable citizens and escape the consequences. She pledged to stand firmly with the oppressed, regardless of the standing or influence of those confronting them.
Maryam Nawaz said wealth, political connections and personal influence must never become shields against accountability. Justice, she said, was every citizen’s fundamental right, rather than a privilege reserved for those with money and power.
She also vowed that victims would not be left to fight alone because an alleged aggressor enjoyed greater resources or connections. Every possible effort would be made to secure justice and ensure nobody could buy their way out of the law’s reach, she said.
The incident occured at petrol station in Lahore’s Jubilee Town, where a customer allegedly attacked an employee who asked him to stop smoking in accordance with safety protocols.
According to police, the man got out of his vehicle, assaulted the worker and issued threats before fleeing. CCTV footage of the confrontation later went viral on social media. Chuhng police traced the suspect through his vehicle and arrested him. Police alleged that he resisted arrest and said officers recovered a weapon from his possession.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have completed the ratification processes for the Makkah defence pact while Turkiye was in the process of doing so, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said on Friday.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, under which an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
The pact has gained significance amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said earlier this week that Pakistan was providing “whatever support is needed” to defend the kingdom.
Prior to that, the FO had emphasised that signing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and committing military capabilities under it were executive functions under Pakistan’s national laws and Rules of Business and did not necessarily require parliamentary approval.
Answering questions after the weekly press briefing, the FO spokesperson said that “matters related to the agreement, its ratification and operationalisation remain under discussion by the three parties”.
This included discussions during the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, which recently met on Oct 5, he added.
“The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to strengthening collective defence and cooperation for regional security and stability,” Khan said.
He further noted that each country followed its own constitutional and legal procedures to approve and ratify international agreements.
“Pakistan and [the] Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have already completed their ratification processes, while Turkiye is undertaking the requisite procedures in accordance with its domestic legal framework,” he said.
Turkiye submitted the Makkah defence pact to its parliament for ratification earlier this week.
The spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s continued commitment to the letter and spirit of the agreement, which he said “is defensive in nature, consistent with the UN Charter, and aimed at promoting regional peace, security and stability”.
Answering a follow-up question regarding Article 2 of the pact, which states that an attack on one party would be considered an attack against all parties, Khan stressed again that the agreement was “essentially defensive in nature” and consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which provides the right to self-defence”.
“The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement reflects the shared commitment of all three parties, primarily to strengthening collective defence, deterrence, and regional stability,” he said.
He added, “It is not directed against any particular country. It provides a framework for collective assistance in the event of external armed aggression against any party.”
According to Khan, the “nature and extent” of any such assistance would be determined collectively by the three countries as the situation arose, “following an objective assessment of the circumstances”.
To another question, he clarified that there were “no hidden provisions” in the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
“We endorse the text released in the media from the Turkish Parliament. There are no hidden provisions; the agreement is explicit and clear in its provisions and articles,” he said.
Regarding the potential invocation of the agreement in response to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson reiterated that “This matter has to be decided by the three partner countries in accordance with the agreement.”
He also expressed Pakistan’s concern over the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and its implications for regional peace and security.
“Our position has been clear and consistent,” Khan said. “We support Yemen’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and believe that a lasting solution to the conflict can only be achieved through dialogue and a negotiated political settlement … At the same time, we unequivocally condemn attacks against Saudi Arabia and reaffirm our commitment to the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security.”
He stressed that Pakistan remained supportive of any meaningful diplomatic engagement that could contribute to “ending hostilities and achieving a durable political settlement”.
Earlier this month, the FO said that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye had agreed to deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly in the kingdom, following an emergency meeting of the SPDC formed under their joint defence agreement in Riyadh.
While the statement did not specifically name any threat, the development came against the backdrop of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in the Yemen conflict.
The foes have traded strikes since the Houthis seized all of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and took control of the Bab al-Mandab strait in a lightning offensive in September.
ISLAMABAD – Azerbaijani national Diana withdraws her allegation against Ahmed Tanveer, calling him innocent and appealing for the case to be closed.
In her latest statement, Diana said Tanveer had neither raped her nor taken her mobile phones. She also claimed her earlier accusations were made under pressure, without identifying who had allegedly pressured her. “Ahmed Tanveer did not rape me and did not take my mobile phones,” she said. Diana submitted a document through the Azerbaijani embassy declaring Tanveer innocent. According to the report, police had arrested him despite his having obtained interim bail.
لاہور میں پیش آئے ایک معروف مقدمے کے سلسلے میں آذربائیجان کی شہری ڈیانا کا ایک نیا ویڈیو بیان سامنے آیا ہے، جس میں انہوں نے دعویٰ کیا ہے کہ ملزم احمد تنویر نے ان کے ساتھ کوئی زیادتی نہیں کی اور نہ ہی ان کا موبائل فون یا پاسپورٹ زبردستی لیا گیا۔ اس ویڈیو میں انہوں نے یہ دعویٰ بھی کیا ہے کہ ان کا پہلا بیان دباؤ کے تحت دیا گیا تھا اور وہ اس کیس کو ختم کرنے کی خواہشمند ہیں۔
ویڈیو میں ڈیانا کا کہنا ہے کہ وہ اس معاملے کو اب مزید آگے نہیں بڑھانا چاہتیں اور چاہتی ہیں کہ یہ کیس بند کر دیا جائے۔ دوسری جانب، عدالت نے اس کیس کی سماعت کے دوران ملزم کی ضمانت میں توسیع کر دی ہے، جبکہ پولیس اس بات کی تحقیقات کر رہی ہے کہ بیانات میں تضاد کی اصل وجوہات کیا ہیں۔
Her fresh statement shows U-Turn as compared to her statement in Lahore court, where she accused three men of sexual assault. However, her latest denial specifically names Tanveer, leaving unclear whether she has withdrawn the allegations against the other accused.
غیر ملکی خاتون ڈیانا کا ایک اور بیان جاری
سمجھ سے باہر ہے کہ پولیس نے احمد تنویر کو کس بنیاد پر گرفتار کیا ہے
میں اس وقت بھی عدالت جا کر بیان دینا چاہتی تھی
مجھے کہا گیا ہے کہ اپکی جان کو خطرہ ہے مجھے زبردستی پاکستان بھیجا گیا
مجھے اپنی مرضی سے اظہار کرنے اور فیصلہ کرنے کا موقع نہیں دیا گیا
اس سارے معاملے میں ایسا سلوک کیا گیا جئسے میں مجرم ہوں اور مجھے نکالا جا رہا ہے
میں ملزم محسن اور عزیر کو بھی معاف کرتی ہوں اس معاملے کو اگے نہیں بڑھانا چاہتی
The report contains no subsequent court ruling. Her revised statement therefore does not establish that the case has been closed or that any accused has been judicially cleared.
In her statement recorded on September 29, Diana said she arrived in Islamabad from Istanbul on September 13, spent five days in Faisalabad and then travelled to Lahore. She also intended to visit Skardu.
While in Lahore, she contacted Nimra and Muskan before meeting Muskan at a café. According to her earlier account, they later went to an apartment, where other people joined them. Diana alleged that Nimra received between Rs20,000 and Rs30,000 from Mohsin, purportedly for a party. She claimed she was subsequently prevented from leaving and told that her friends had accepted money.
Her earlier statement accused Mohsin, Ahmed and Ali Zain of rape. She further alleged that her bag, containing Rs200,000 and two mobile phones, was withheld. Diana said she was later pushed out of a car and sought help from members of the public, who contacted police.
The case was registered at Lahore’s Defence police station. Muskan, Mohsin and Ali Zain were arrested, while Shabbir Ahmed was also detained. Investigators questioned more than 20 other people, according to the report. The controversy extended to Lahore airport, where Diana initially refused to return to Azerbaijan despite completing immigration clearance and boarding an aircraft.
Diana eventually departed for Baku on October 4 accompanied by three police officers. The report identified two members of the team as ASP Bareera and DSP Qamar Abbas, alongside another female police officer.
ISLAMABAD: The Senate echoed with fuel supply concerns on Friday as PPP’s Sherry Rehman questioned petrol availability for December and Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas warned of a bleak situation amid heightening Middle East tensions.
The concerns were raised even after Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Bilal Azhar Kayani said that there were no supply issues.
He told the Senate during the question hour that more than 10 million people were benefiting from the government’s targeted fuel subsidy scheme, while Rs1,676 billion had been budgeted under the petroleum levy for the current year.
The subsidy was being provided at petrol pumps, and there was no fuel supply problem, he said.
Kayani added that the impact of regional conflict on petroleum prices was being felt across countries, but the government was providing targeted relief to motorcyclists, rickshaw and loader operators, and users of small cars.
Last week, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb also said Pakistan had enough supplies to last through November.
But what about December? asked PPP’s Rehman in the Senate on Friday.
“What is the government’s plan for the availability of petroleum products? Will there be rationing? Members of Parliament have concerns whether petrol will be available till December,” she said.
She demanded that the government brief Parliament on any rationing and contingency plans it may have been working on.
Senator Rehman said reports of renewed attacks on Iran and escalating conflict in West Asia had added to uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s petroleum supplies and had direct implications for the country’s energy security, economic stability and lives of ordinary citizens.
Wondering if Pakistan would have adequate supplies under current circumstances, she said, “These are not minor concerns.”
She warned that any disruption in the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) would have a serious impact across the country, pointing out that Pakistan relied on imports for nearly 70 per cent of its LPG requirements while domestic production accounted for only 30pc.
Pakistan received five LPG cargoes last year, whereas only two were expected this year, she said, demanding that a supply plan be presented to Parliament.
Turning to the carbon levy, the PPP senator, who chairs the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, claimed the carbon levy on petroleum products was not being spent on environmental protection.
“Yesterday, during the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, the finance additional secretary acknowledged that the carbon levy is not being spent on environmental projects. A levy is not a tax; it goes straight into the Federal Consolidated Fund where there is no ring-fencing for spending on climate action,” she said.
Rehman added that the revelation confirmed what was denied earlier during a Senate session.
“The levy is being absorbed into general federal receipts instead of being earmarked for climate resilience despite severe and devastating floods facing all provinces,” she alleged. “The federal government continues to collect this revenue through the petroleum levy, and the money goes into the Federal Consolidated Fund; it cuts through all the provinces. There should not be a carbon levy in the next budget, unless it is restructured as a carbon tax that is ring-fenced for mitigation and climate action. There has to be accountability for every rupee collected.”
“When an item is called a carbon levy, it is to be ring-fenced and then disbursed in consultation with the climate ministry,” she asserted.
For his part, Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas warned that a war engulfing key energy routes would worsen Pakistan’s energy crisis, as key maritime chokepoints come under threat.
He linked the external crisis to domestic shortages, saying Punjab was already facing a flour shortage while the country was witnessing an LPG shortage.
Meanwhile, politicians were ignoring real issues and were busy trying to “conquer” provinces, he said, seemingly referring to the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Oct 11.
He also questioned the claims that terrorists were given shelter in Swat and asked how many had been caught. Meanwhile, police, who were the guarantors of peace, were being made to fight the public, he claimed.
He also touched upon the conflict between Yemen’s Houthis and Saudi Arabia, saying that Pakistan should mediate between the two sides.
With Yemen’s civil war flaring back to life as well, the Houthis there have repeatedly attacked Saudi infrastructure, including energy facilities and airports, in recent days.
This, coupled with the US-Israeli war on Iran that began in February, has resulted in the choking of key energy supply routes — the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab — and energy price hikes globally.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb said during an interview last week that Pakistan had so far withstood the shock from skyrocketing energy prices, but attacks on infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries were “worrying” for the country’s longer-term economic outlook.
He said the country had procured enough energy supplies to last through November, and was now planning for the winter months, when household needs typically spike.
LAHORE: The Lahore deputy commissioner (DC) on Friday gave the formal go-ahead for three-day Basant festivities in the district from March 12-14 next year, outlining guidelines, conditions and restrictions for the celebrations.
Basant returned to Lahore earlier this year after an 18-year hiatus, with the passing of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Bill, 2025 by the provincial assembly on December 24, 2025. The legislation authorised deputy commissioners to grant conditional permission for kite-flying — which otherwise remains banned in Punjab — on specified days and at designated locations.
In August, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced that the festival would next be celebrated from March 12-14.
On Friday, the decision was formalised in notification by the Lahore DC.
The notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn, said that kite-flying would be allowed in Lahore during Basant 2027 except at designated prohibited zones and subject to certain conditions.
“Kite-flying through the use of permissible kite-flying material, as specified in Schedule-I of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Rules, 2025 and Punjab Kite Flying Regulations, 2025 shall be allowed from March 12-14, 2027,” it added.
The notification said the manufacturing of permissible kite-flying material would be allowed from Sept 5, 2026 to March 14, 2027, subject to valid digital registration.
Trade, including the purchase, transportation and storage of the material, will be permitted from Feb 1, 2027 to March 14, 2027 while sales to the general public will be allowed from Feb 10, 2027 to March 14, 2027, exclusively through registered sellers.
The notification further said that no manufacturer, trader, or seller should manufacture, trade, store or sell permissible kite-flying material unless registered with the deputy commissioner through the government’s eBiz application.
“Patang (kite) shall not exceed four-and-a-half githi (span of a hand) and 35 inches in width and 30 inches in length,” it said.
“Gudda (a large kite) shall not exceed one-and-a-half tawa and 40 inches in width and 34 inches in length,” the notification added.
The kite string, known as dor, shall only be wound in the shape of pinna, it must be made of cotton with no more than nine taars (threads) and no fewer than 28 counts and shall be coated with maanjha having a minimum sheesha size of 350 mesh.
“Preparation, coating, treatment or processing of dor or maanjha shall be strictly restricted to maya (laundry starch), 350-mesh glass powder and only rice flour, and no other material, chemical, adhesive, hardener, abrasive, metallic substance or strengthening agent, including rema tip top, amri powder or any other material having similar properties or effect, whether used individually or in combination with the permitted material shall be added, mixed or applied at any stage,” the notification said.
The DC also prohibited the manufacture, trading, transportation, storage, sale, possession and use of charkhi, sharp maanjha, metallic wire, nylon (plastic) dandi, and any other thread coated with sharp maanjha or any other injurious material.
Registered manufacturers, traders and sellers will be required to “conspicuously” display their valid registration certificates at approved premises for kite-flying.
“Complete stock, sales and movement records shall be maintained and produced on demand by registered manufacturers, traders and sellers to any authorised officer of the deputy commissioner.”
The notification further said that all registered kite-flying associations should comply with the functions assigned under the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Rules, 2025 and remain in close coordination with the deputy commissioner and his authorised officers for smooth and safe conduct of kite-flying.
Moreover, motorcyclists in Lahore would be required to comply with all the safety measures, including the installation of safety rods, as specified in Chapter-III of the Punjab Kite Flying Regulations 2025 and guidelines issued by the Punjab government secretary and the Home Department under the kite flying law.
“All departments, attached departments, agencies and government organisations shall assist the district administration and police for strict compliance of [the] terms and conditions to ensure public safety,” the notification said.
According to the notification, kite-flying will not be permitted in the following areas of Lahore during Basant:
Aircraft approach path
Nadirabad
Gulshan Ali Colony
Nishat Colony
Bhatta Chowk
DHA Lahore (blocks R, S, P and Q)
Aircraft take-off path
Al-Faisal Town
Jorraypul
Canal Bank Road (adjacent to tajoura)
Tajpura
Basant had been banned in 2007 because of an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries caused by sharp strings, particularly to motorcyclists and pillion riders, as well as by celebratory gunfire. It was allowed to be celebrated for the first time since then earlier this year, but only in Lahore.
ISLAMABAD: Short-term inflation rose to 11.85 per cent year-on-year in the week ending October 22, driven largely by wheat flour prices, according to official data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday.
The index, which comprises 51 items whose prices are collected from 50 markets in 17 cities, is calculated weekly to track changes in the prices of essential commodities and services.
Short-term inflation has remained in double digits for several consecutive weeks, largely on the back of persistent increases in petroleum prices.
The data showed that of the 51 essential items monitored during the week, the prices of 19 commodities (37.72pc) increased, while those of 12 items (23.53pc) declined. Meanwhile, the prices of 20 items (39.22pc) remained unchanged from the previous week.
The Sensitive Price Index (SPI), which tracks short-term inflation, slightly increased by 0.65pc week-on-week, reflecting price fluctuations in both food and non-food items.
Unwilling to ease the petroleum levy, the government has continued to raise petrol and diesel prices on a daily basis. The surge in energy costs is not only fuelling inflationary pressures but also indirectly boosting sales tax collections through higher prices of goods and services.
This is cost-push inflation, in which rising energy costs are followed by increases in food prices. As a result, households are under pressure from higher consumer prices.
The items whose prices increased the most over the previous week included liquefied petroleum gas (22.44pc), chicken (12.20pc), onions (4.19pc), shirting (1.86pc), plain bread (1.66pc), wheat flour (1pc), garlic (0.74pc), firewood (0.71pc), georgette and one kilogramme of vegetable ghee (0.59pc each), beef (0.31pc) and pulse mash (0.30pc).
The items whose prices declined week-on-week included tomatoes (21.99pc), petrol (3.63pc), banana (2.42pc), diesel (1.68pc), potatoes (1.38pc), pulse gram (0.93pc), eggs (0.58pc), powdered milk (0.38pc) and broken rice basmati and sugar (0.35pc each).
On an annual basis, the items that recorded the highest price increases included LPG (107.12pc), onions (72.81pc), electricity for Q1 (58.59pc), petrol (44.17pc), diesel (41.56pc), chicken (38.99pc), wheat flour (36.49pc), chilies powder (15.55pc), mutton (14.66pc), beef (12.10pc), bread plain (10.82pc) and tea prepared (8.36pc).
In contrast, tomato prices fell by 71.72pc, followed by potatoes (40.75pc), sugar (25pc), eggs (22.14pc), salt powder (14.86pc), pulse masoor (9.08pc), gur (8.98pc) and pulse moong (7.05pc).
Last week, short-term inflation rose to 11.38 per cent year-on-year, driven largely by higher food prices, data from PBS showed.
LAHORE – A Sessions Court has extended the interim bail of suspect Tanveer until October 27 in the rape case involving foreign national Diana, but police arrested him from outside the court premises despite the extension. Reports say several others, including Tanveer’s brother, were also arrested.
Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada appeared in court for Tanveer. He argued that police were deployed on all four sides of the Sessions Court to arrest his client, and expressed fear that Tanveer was being arrested after being implicated in a new case.
Meanwhile, Diana’s lawyer filed an application seeking to record the complainant’s statement via video link. The lawyer argued that she was not being granted a visa for Pakistan, and asked the court to order a video-link statement. The court sought arguments on the application.
During the hearing, the court summoned the Sessions Court’s security in-charge and directed him to escort the suspect safely to his vehicle. The court remarked that security could be provided up to the vehicle, and that beyond that it was between the suspect and the police.
A petition has also been filed against Tanveer’s arrest. It states that he was on interim bail until October 27, but that CCD and plainclothes personnel abducted him and moved him to an unknown location.
The petition expresses fear that the suspect could be killed in a staged police encounter while in illegal custody. It asks the court to have Tanveer recovered immediately and produced in court, and to issue orders for his security.
Tanveer had also obtained protective bail from the Sindh High Court to avoid arrest. Two other suspects in the case, Mohsin and Zain, have already been arrested. Defence C police registered the case on Diana’s report.
Separately, Diana released a video statement in which she declared the suspect, Ahmed Tanveer, innocent. She said Ahmed Tanveer had not assaulted her and had returned her phone and belongings, and she appealed for the case to be closed.
In the Azerbaijan case, police have two suspects in custody. Ahmed Tanveer obtained pre-arrest bail and appeared in court today. According to police, the suspect escaped with the help of associates, while Ahmed Tanveer’s associates say investigators arrested him.
ISLAMABAD – Four key suspects have been arrested in a gang that blackmailed innocent children, sexually abused them, made obscene videos of them and sold these in Pakistan and internationally. Indecent videos of 50 to 60 children were recovered from the suspects.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Friday, NCCIA Additional Director Muhammad Shoaib Khan said the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency had exposed an international gang during a countrywide crackdown on elements involved in child pornography, online financial fraud and cyber harassment. The suspects sold the children’s videos internationally.
Shoaib Khan said the agency arrested four members of the child pornography gang after investigating around 60 videos found on a child’s mobile phone. The suspects befriended children aged 6 to 14 on Instagram and other social media platforms, lured them with money, made indecent videos of them, and sold these through WhatsApp groups and internationally. Two Chinese nationals have previously been convicted in connection with this crime, he added.
The additional director said 473 foreign nationals, who posed as bank representatives to commit fraud in Malaysia, China and India, have been arrested in raids on call centres across the country. In the past week, 22 suspects in cyber harassment cases have also been taken into custody, and their entire inquiry and investigation has been assigned exclusively to women officers.
ISLAMABAD – Rotary International has reaffirmed its support for Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate wild poliovirus, calling for sustained political commitment, funding and community engagement ahead of World Polio Day today (October 24).
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where wild poliovirus is endemic, the organisation said in a statement.
Rotary International President Olayinka Hakeem Babalola said the organisation had contributed more than $3 billion towards polio eradication worldwide, including $1.3 million raised by Rotary members in Pakistan.
More than $500 million of its global contribution had supported efforts in Pakistan, alongside volunteer work to help protect over 45 million children against the disease, he said.
Babalola, who helped lead eradication efforts in Nigeria before Africa received wild poliovirus-free certification in 2020, said the continent’s experience demonstrated that Pakistan could achieve the same goal with coordinated support.
“Africa’s achievement demonstrates that with collaboration and political and financial support, ending polio in Pakistan and eradicating it globally is possible.”
Community trust remains central
Rotary said its members continued to advocate for government support and promote immunisation in Pakistan, where vaccine refusals remained an obstacle to reaching every child.
Aziz Memon, chair of Rotary’s Pakistan National PolioPlus Committee, said addressing wider community needs was essential to maintaining public trust in vaccination efforts.
He said the committee had helped establish water filtration plants, community resource centres and facilities for frontline vaccination workers. Permanent transit posts also helped vaccination teams reach children travelling between areas.
Sustained support urged
Rotary helped establish the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, when the disease affected an estimated 350,000 children annually across 125 countries.
According to the organisation, cases have since declined by more than 99.9 per cent, and eradication efforts have spared more than 20 million people from paralysis.
Rotary urged governments, donors and partner organisations to keep polio eradication a priority, saying the tools and expertise to eliminate the disease were available.
Observed annually on October 24, World Polio Day honours Jonas Salk, who developed the first safe and effective polio vaccine, and highlights efforts to end the disease.
LAHORE – Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has urged women not to share their photographs under any circumstances, saying suspects use photos and videos to blackmail them.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, Naqvi said he was at the NCCIA office to understand the public’s problems.
He appealed to mothers and sisters not to share their pictures with anyone, saying that suspects blackmail women using their photos and videos. He said the cybercrime wing receives the highest number of harassment cases involving girls, and that an awareness campaign for girls and the general public is about to be launched.
He also advised the public not to transfer money if someone asks for it online, including if a person poses as ill and seeks funds.
The interior minister said the NCCIA has only 61 personnel across Punjab, and efforts are under way to bring staffing up to strength so that complainants’ problems can be resolved. He said the NCCIA has arrested suspects in several important cases, and that the cyber police will be strengthened in every way. Whether a government employee or anyone else, anyone found involved in cybercrime will be arrested, he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday set the illustrative price for wheat at Rs4,500 per maund for 2027, raising the procurement price set last year by Rs1,000.
“In view of the increase in production costs, the price had been raised by Rs1,000 per maund compared to last year,” a statement by the PM’s Office (PMO) said.
It quoted the premier as saying that the decision was taken with the guidance of President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and in consultation with the chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh.
The PMO statement added that the prime minister’s decision was aimed at “promoting agriculture sector in the country, protecting farmers’ economic interests and increasing wheat production next year”.
Moreover, the statement quoted PM Shehbaz as saying that the government’s objective behind increasing the proposed wheat procurement price was to provide relief to farmers amid rising production and fuel costs, as well as inflation pressure.
“Providing farmers with an incentive to cultivate wheat is among the key objectives of the decision,” the prime minister said.
He expressed hope that the new proposed price would help farmers cover their production costs and earn profit.
“Over the past years, farmers have faced financial difficulties due to inflation and rising agricultural expenses while Pakistan has also had to import wheat in the last two years,” he said, adding that the decision to increase the illustrative price would prove to be an important step forward in “strengthening the country’s food security, encouraging local production, and bringing stability to the agriculture sector”.
“The government expects that the determination of the proposed price will generate greater interest among farmers in wheat cultivation, resulting in ample sowing of wheat in the upcoming season and brighter prospects for increased national production.
“This step taken by the prime minister will prove to be an important milestone in the efforts to improve the economic well-being of farmers, stabilise the agricultural economy and make the country more self-reliant in meeting its nutritional needs. It is hoped that 2027 will bring positive results for Pakistan’s agricultural sector and its farmers,” the PMO statement said.
It added that the prime minister expressed gratitude to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her cooperation in the consultative process for the decision, as well as to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for his cooperation.
The proposed price of Rs4,500 is still Rs500 less than the price demanded by farmers.
Last month, the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad demanded a Rs5,000 per 40kg support price for wheat, warning that farmers may not sow wheat for the next season if the government delays announcing crop policies.
The association had maintained that the farmers were unable to afford balanced fertiliser use because they were not recovering production costs.
In early October, Sindh CM Murad had approved the release of government wheat at the rate of Rs12,500 per 100kg bag from Oct 15 in order to stabilise flour prices and ensure its availability in the province.
On Oct 13, PM Shehbaz chaired the first National Agricultural and Food Security Council meeting and reaffirmed that the government wanted farmers to get a fair price for wheat and consumers to have affordable wheat.
During the meeting, he declared that wheat was available in abundant quantities to meet domestic needs, and vowed no leniency for hoarders.
RAWALPINDI – Indian-sponsored terrorist attempt foiled at Gabd border crossing and in Gwadar city.
According to the ISPR, security forces killed 10 terrorists, including a female terrorist, in a clearance operation in Gwadar city and its surrounding areas.
The ISPR said one civilian was martyred in the terrorists’ attack and a few vehicles were damaged. There were no casualties among the security forces during the operations.
The ISPR said the terrorists’ aim was to obstruct Balochistan’s development and prosperity.
According to the ISPR, the attempt by the terrorists to challenge the writ of the state was foiled, and law and order and the writ of the state were restored after the operations in Gwadar were completed.
In a statement, the ISPR said that forcibly using a woman in the attack violates the sanctity of Baloch women, and that the terrorists are using Baloch women to spread propaganda and incite public sentiment. It added that the people of Balochistan have consistently rejected those who shed blood in their name.
The statement further said that the counter-terrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam will continue at full speed, and that the military is committed to eradicating foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
LAHORE – A CCD (Crime Control Department) police official in the Kahna area has been accused of raping a young woman and filming her in a state of undress. A case has been registered.
According to the FIR, the woman, a resident of Kot Lakhpat, went to Kahna Bazaar on October 1, where her mobile phone went missing from her purse. She went to Kahna police station to report the loss, where she met a CCD police official named Shabbir.
The case states that CCD official Muhammad Shabbir took her phone number and sent her away. He later called her, claiming her phone had been traced, and summoned her to Ahlu Road.
The FIR further states that when the woman reached Ahlu Road, Shabbir took her to the house of a woman named Humaira Bibi. There, he pulled out a weapon, raped her, and filmed her in a state of undress.
On October 10, Shabbir again summoned the woman to Humaira Bibi’s house on Ahlu Road. Fearing for her honor, she went, and Shabbir raped her again.
Meanwhile, the woman went to Kahna police station to file a case, but the police there stalled instead of registering it. She then appeared at the open court (khuli kachehri) of DIG Operations Faisal Kamran, where her grievance was heard.
Subsequently, a case was registered at Kahna police station on the woman’s complaint against CCD official Muhammad Shabbir, and an investigation has begun.
LASBELA – At least twelve people were killed when a van collided with a passenger coach in Lasbela.
According to police, the tragic incident occurred at Zero Point in Uthal, Lasbela, where the van and passenger coach collided.
Police said the ill-fated coach was travelling from Gwadar to Karachi. As soon as the incident was reported, police and rescue teams rushed to the scene and immediately shifted the bodies and injured to a hospital.
According to police, 12 people, including women, lost their lives in the accident.
KHUZDAR: At least 12 passengers were killed and around two dozen injured when a minibus and a passenger coach collided head-on near Zero Point in Uthal on the Quetta-Karachi Highway in Balochistan on Friday, police said.
According to police, the coach was travelling from Gwadar to Karachi, while the minibus was heading from Bela to Karachi.
“The tragic incident took place near Bela when the passenger coach hit the minibus,” the officials said, adding that seven passengers were killed on the spot, while five others succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
In-charge of the Edhi Centre in Bela Abdul Hakeem Lasi said around 22 injured passengers were shifted to hospital by Edhi workers before being taken to Karachi for treatment.
He said seven injured passengers were in serious condition. Most of the casualties occurred in the minibus, he added.
The accident occurred two days after 10 people were killed and 44 others injured when a passenger bus overturned after hitting a road divider in Rajanpur district’s Rojhan tehsil on the Indus Highway on Wednesday.
A similar accident occurred last month when two people were killed and 15 others injured in a head-on collision between a passenger coach and an LPG bowser near Balochistan’s Kharkhera Customs on the main National Highway in Winder.
In February, five people, including a local journalist, were killed in two separate road accidents in Winder and Khuzdar districts.
In January, four people were killed and several others injured in a road accident near Wadh in Khuzdar district on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway.
LAHORE – A petrol pump worker’s attempt to prevent possible accident allegedly triggered a violent confrontation in Lahore’s Jubilee Town, where a man travelling in a Prado reportedly assaulted him for asking him to stop smoking.
According to police, the worker was following safety protocols when he warned the SUV owner against smoking at the filling station. The suspect allegedly responded by beating the worker and issuing serious threats before fleeing.
سگریٹ کا دھواں روکا تو تشدد کی آگ بھڑک اٹھی، چوہنگ پولیس کی کارروائی، پٹرول پمپ ورکر پر تشدد اور سنگین دھمکیاں دینے والا ملزم گرفتار۔ حفاظتی ایس او پیز کے تحت سگریٹ نوشی سے منع کرنے پر ملزم نے ورکر کو تشدد کا نشانہ بنایا اور فرار ہو گیا۔ پولیس نے گاڑی کی مدد سے ملزم کا سراغ لگایا، دورانِ گرفتاری مزاحمت کرنے والے ملزم کے قبضے سے اسلحہ بھی برآمد ہوا۔ ملزم کے خلاف مقدمہ درج۔
After the incident was reported, Chuhng police traced the SUV. Investigators found that the vehicle had been rented, with its rental receipt providing the lead that helped identify the suspect as Idrees Bhatti. Police subsequently arrested Bhatti, who allegedly attempted to resist officers during his arrest.
DIG Operations said a weapon was also recovered from the suspect’s possession. Further legal proceedings are underway.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday that 10 India-sponsored terrorists were killed in separate engagements as security forces thwarted their attempts to “undermine the writ of the state” in Balochistan’s Gwadar district.
In a statement, the military’s media affairs wing said: “On Oct 22, Indian-sponsored terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan attempted to carry out terrorist activities in district Gwadar, in the general areas of the Gabd Border Crossing and Gwadar city.”
The state has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
“By targeting these locations, terrorists sought to harm the very people they claim to represent and wanted to obstruct the development and prosperity of Balochistan. To protect residents and clear the area, security forces launched clearance operations in and around Gwadar city,” ISPR said.
It said that in separate engagements, security forces foiled the terrorists’ designs and “their bid to undermine the writ of the state and spread their misconstrued agenda”.
“In the ensuing exchanges of fire, ten terrorists, including one female terrorist, were sent to hell. During the terrorist attacks one civilian embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and [a] few vehicles were damaged. Operations were concluded without any loss to security forces, restoring order and writ of the state,” it said.
The statement further said that the coercion of a Baloch woman into the attack was “a crime not only against the state but against the hurmat (respect) of Baloch women”.
“It exposes the terrorists’ cynical exploitation of Baloch women as an instrument of propaganda, intended to inflame public sentiment and lend false sanctity to their campaign. Such tactics are contrary to Baloch and Islamic traditions, which hold women in the highest honour. The people of Balochistan have consistently rejected those who shed blood in their name, and they will see through this deception as well,” it said.
The statement said that the counterterror campaign would continue at full pace.
“Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain resolute in eliminating foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it said.
The ISPR statement comes a day after security sources said that security forces killed three terrorists and foiled an attack on an unoccupied construction company camp in Gwadar.
Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activities in recent years, prompting security forces to intensify counter-terrorism operations.
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir said earlier on Friday the armed forces will continue the counterterrorism campaign against Indian-sponsored terrorist groups “to the fullest”, vowing to “hit them hard wherever they are”.
Earlier this week, ISPR said an army major was martyred and four terrorists were killed during intelligence-based operations in Balochistan.
The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
As per the report, Balochistan was declared the province “most affected” by terrorism.
Following the latest operations by security forces in Gwadar, President Asif Ali Zardari commended the security forces for foiling the terrorists’ attempts.
“The president also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of a citizen in a terrorism incident,” the statement issued by the Presidency said.
It further quoted President Zardari as saying that efforts to disrupt peace and stability in Balochistan could not shake the people’s resolve for development and prosperity in the province.
He stressed the importance of peace for the protection of the rights and interests of people of Balochistan and said that “using the honour of Baloch women for political interests is condemnable”.
ISLAMABAD: A state-appointed counsel on Friday cross-examined all prosecution witnesses in a security breach case against lawyers Imaan Zainab Hazir-Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha.
Imaan and her husband, Hadi, are facing a jail trial in a 2024 case pertaining to the alleged disruption of an international cricket team’s security route and incitement to public unrest.
The couple, accused of removing barriers from the route, was indicted on Oct 7.
Anti-terrorism court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra presided over the hearing held inside Adiala jail on Friday, during which state counsel Atif Mehmood cross-examined a prosecution witness.
On Saturday, the court will provide Imaan and Hadi with questionnaires under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to record their statements.
In a hearing on Thursday, the court appointed Mehmood as the state counsel to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses, replacing Taimoor Janjua, who was dismissed over his past conduct.
The court had ruled to appoint the state attorney after the defence counsel failed to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses.
During the last hearing, Imaan informed the court that she and Hadi did not need a state counsel as they already had their own lawyers.
Hadi explained that their lawyers were frequently occupied with other cases at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), while the trial court had scheduled daily hearings at Adiala, making it difficult for them to attend every proceeding.
The court had directed the prosecution witnesses to appear again on Friday, affirming that the cross-examination would proceed without further delay.
Imaan and Hadi’s rearrest
The lawyer couple has been in jail since their arrest on Jan 23 in a case registered against them for protesting outside the IHC and allegedly manhandling the IHC Bar Association president. The arrest prompted criticism by rights bodies, politicians and journalists, who stressed the couple’s right to a fair trial.
Just a day later, a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in the controversial social media posts case.
On Sept 17, following months of litigation before the courts, the Supreme Court suspended their sentences in the case. The SC ordered their release pending the Islamabad High Court’s final verdict on their appeals against the trial court’s decision.
However, the reprieve was short-lived as hours later, Islamabad police arrested the couple again in connection with another case and produced them before an ATC, which sent them to jail on judicial remand.
The fresh case in which the two were arrested was registered at the federal capital’s Kohsar police station on March 22 last year on the complaint of City Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio.
Imaan and Hadi were accused of chanting anti-government slogans and blocking roads and were nominated by name in the FIR. However, at the time of registration of the case, no section of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) had been added.
The FIR included sections 188 (disobedience of an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant), 341 (wrongful restraint), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their official duty) and 186 (obstructing a public servant in the performance of official duties).
KARACHI – Savers looking for stronger returns gets relief, with the government increasing profit rates across several National Savings schemes. Special Savings Certificates recorded the largest increase among the listed products, while Behbood Savings Certificates now offer an annual rate of 12.96%.
The revisions cover range of savings options, including regular income products, Islamic accounts and short-term certificates, as the government seeks to encourage saving and attract funds into secure savings schemes.
Special Savings Certificates saw their profit rate climb by 110 basis points to 12%. Regular Income Certificates followed with a 96-basis-point increase, taking their rate to 12.12%.
Savings Scheme
Profit Rate
Increase
Special Savings Certificates
12.00%
110 basis points
Regular Income Certificates
12.12%
96 basis points
Behbood Savings Certificates
12.96%
36 basis points
Sarwa Islamic Account
11.84%
59 basis points
Short-Term Savings Certificates — 3 months
11.12%
26 basis points
Short-Term Savings Certificates — 6 months
11.50%
64 basis points
Short-Term Savings Certificates — 1 year
11.72%
44 basis points
For investors in Behbood Savings Certificates, the rate increased by 36 basis points to 12.96%. The Sarwa Islamic Account also received an upward revision, with a 59-basis-point rise bringing its profit rate to 11.84%.
Short-term savers will also receive higher returns. The three-month certificate rate rose by 26 basis points to 11.12%, while six-month certificates registered a 64-basis-point increase to 11.50%. The rate on one-year certificates increased by 44 basis points to 11.72%.
Across the products listed, the increases range from 26 to 110 basis points.
The revised rates could lift earnings for investors in the relevant schemes, although the amount they ultimately receive will depend on their investment, scheme conditions, taxes and other applicable deductions. Investors should confirm the latest rates, their effective date and eligibility requirements with National Savings before committing funds.
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