KARACHI, July 1: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P)  has decided to launch a full-fledged public movement against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led Sindh government, ARY News reported.MQM-P central leader Anees Qaimkhani held a consultative meeting with central office bearers and members of the National and Provincial Assemblies at the temporary centre in Bahadurabad.The meeting decided to run a vigorous protest movement against the atrocities, corruption and incompetence of the PPP’s Sindh government.Anees Qaimkhani announced that MQM-P is starting a decisive public movement against the PPP’s Sindh government.In the first phase, MQM Pakistan will hold protests at the local level followed by a major protest demonstration, the meeting decided.Anees Qaimkhani directed office bearers and workers to immediately intensify public outreach to prepare for the protest movement and to finalize candidates for the local government elections.Earlier, MQM-Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar warned the government that Karachi could see an “action committee” formed if its demands aren’t met.Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Sattar said MQM-P has put four demands before the government. He called Article 140-A constitutional amendments a “bitter pill” for one party, but said it should be swallowed. Otherwise, he added, Karachi should be made a federal territory.“If the agenda isn’t made clear, an action committee will also emerge in Karachi,” Farooq Sattar said.The MQM-P leader said the time to fulfill promises made to Karachi has come. He noted promises kept coming from 2022 to 2026, but now implementation was needed. Sattar reminded the house that MQM-P’s partnership with PML-N was settled before the elections.He said Sindh has seen 18 years of poor governance and control over resources. Karachi, he added, was being sacrificed for political expediency. The city needed both an urban package and constitutional reforms, he argued.Farooq Sattar demanded full implementation of Article 140-A and an empowered local government system. He asked the government to make MQM-P’s constitutional amendment the 28th Amendment. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he said, should give a timeline for it in the next session.“Give autonomy and resources to Pakistan’s 144 cities,” Sattar demanded.Also Read: MQM-P demands empowered local govt, restoration of Kamran Tessori

KARACHI: The menace of heavy traffic continues to claim lives in Karachi, as two individuals—including a 10-year-old child—were killed in separate road accidents on Wednesday evening, ARY News reported.In the first incident, a motorcyclist was killed when his bike was struck by a dumper truck near Saleem Centre in North Karachi. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital; however, the deceased has not yet been identified. Following the accident, the dumper driver managed to flee the scene with his vehicle.In a second mishap, which occurred near Bilal Chowrangi in Korangi, a 10-year-old child died after being struck by a truck. The child was identified as Siddiq Hussain.The child's body was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for legal formalities.Meanwhile, alarming traffic statistics reveal a growing crisis on Karachi's roads.According to traffic accident data, a total of 295 people have died in road accidents across the city between January 1 and April 15, 2026, while 3,205 people have been injured.The data shows that among the deceased were 217 men, 39 women, 30 children, and nine girls. During the same period, heavy vehicles were involved in 100 fatal accidents, with trailers being responsible for the highest number, with 46 incidents.

At least five people have died and four other missing after a tourist boat carrying members of the same family capsized on Saifullah Lake in the Kalam area in Swat district, police say.According to District Police Officer (DPO) Swat Muhammad Irfan, nine members of the same family were on board when the boat overturned. Read Also: At least 16 killed, seven injured in Swat Expressway crash He said that rescue teams are continuing to search for the remaining four people, who are still missing.The DPO added that the bodies of the five victims were recovered near the Mahodand area.Muhammad Irfan Khan said that rescue personnel, police officers, and local volunteers are taking part in the ongoing search operation for the missing family members.

KARACHI: A fire broke out at the Cooperative Market located at Regal Chowk in Karachi's Saddar area on Wednesday, rescue officials told ARY News.According to rescue authorities, the fire started on the second floor of the market after a battery exploded.A fire brigade vehicle reached the scene and launched an operation to extinguish the fire.Later, rescue officials confirmed that the fire had been brought under control. They said the blaze erupted in a shop where batteries were being made.No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.Rescue officials added that the cooling process is currently underway to prevent the fire from reigniting.A similar type of incident occurred in January of this year, when a fire broke out in a flat on the fourth floor of the Saddar Cooperative Market.According to Rescue 1122, the blaze erupted on the fourth floor of a seven-storey building in the Saddar area. Firefighting teams responded swiftly and managed to bring the fire under control, while cooling operations are currently underway to prevent any flare-ups.A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 said the team took immediate action upon receiving the alert, adding that the timely response helped stop the fire from spreading to other parts of the Cooperative Market.No casualties or injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remained unknown, and authorities assessed the extent of the damage.Also Read: 600 shops affected in Saddar Cooperative Market fire: Fire Brigade

KARACHI: Following notice taken by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the Karachi administration has once again sealed the NIPA water hydrant for disrupting traffic flow on University Road, ARY News reported.The Assistant Commissioner of Gulshan-e-Iqbal deployed a mobile van at the site after sealing the facility, as long queues of water tankers at the hydrant had been causing severe traffic jams.According to sources, the Chief Minister was en route to NED University when he observed the parked water tankers, which also caused difficulties for the CM's convoy.The district administration immediately swung into action after the CM took notice of the situation. On the directions of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) East, the Assistant Commissioner of Gulshan-e-Iqbal officially sealed the NIPA hydrant.Meanwhile, officials from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) confirmed that the hydrant has been shut down for an indefinite period due to the Chief Minister's notice. They added that the transportation of water via tankers has come to a complete halt following the closure.This is not the first time the facility has faced disciplinary action. In the past, the Mayor of Karachi had sealed the hydrant for operating illegally and imposed a hefty fine of Rs. 10 million. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had also sealed it once previously. 

ISLAMABAD: Armed men allegedly forced the restoration of electricity to high-loss feeders at grid stations in Bannu and Sarai Naurang, causing severe pressure on the power system and raising fears of a major breakdown, ARY News reporeted.Officials said the incidents took place on the nights of June 24-25 and June 27, when groups led by Malik Rahat and Malik Hikmat Yar allegedly entered the Bannu and Sarai Naurang grid stations and forced staff to switch on high-loss feeders.According to PESCO, both men are brothers of former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister and current MPA Malik Pakhtun Yar.PESCO officials said the forced operation of the feeders overloaded the system and badly affected the transformer installed at the Bannu grid station.Despite repeated requests, no legal action has been taken against those involved, the officials claimed, adding that armed groups continue to force the activation of feeders at the Bannu grid station on a daily basis.PESCO said a letter has been sent to the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the commissioner and Regional Police Officer (RPO) Bannu have also been informed about the incidents.The power utility said its staff feel helpless in the face of armed individuals due to the lack of action by the authorities.Officials further claimed that many consumers stopped paying electricity bills after the feeders were forcibly restored, while the use of air conditioners on high-loss feeders has increased to dangerous levels.PESCO warned that continued overloading of the grid could lead to a major technical fault or a serious accident if immediate action is not taken.Also Read: KP MPA barges into Bannu grid station, forcefully activates all power feeders

ISLAMABAD: Hybrid vehicles assembled in Pakistan are expected to become significantly more expensive after the government increased the sales tax on them from 8.5 percent to 18 percent, a measure that came into effect with the start of the new fiscal year on 1 July 2026.The revised tax rates will apply to hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.Meanwhile, sales tax on all imported and locally assembled plug-in hybrid vehicles has been raised sharply from 1 percent to 18 percent.The change follows the implementation of the Finance Bill, which also abolished Pakistan's five-year automotive policy.Until a new auto policy is introduced, the revised tax rates will apply to hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.It was also made clear in the Finance Bill documents that the increase is a temporary measure that will remain in force until the government announces and implements a new automotive policy.The tax structure is expected to be reviewed once the new policy takes effect.Auto sector experts say the higher tax rates will affect both local manufacturers and vehicle importers, leading to an immediate increase in the prices of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles by hundreds of thousands of rupees.They also caution that the higher prices could temporarily reduce consumer demand for hybrid vehicles.

LAHORE: The heartbroken mother of one of the children who lost their lives when the roof of a tuition center collapsed in the Kahan area of Lahore shared her deep regret. She said her son had not wanted to go to tuition that day, but she forced him to go, telling him, "If you don't go, your teacher will beat you, and I don't want to see you get beaten."Another woman who lost her child stated that if the government provided high-quality schools, parents would never have to send their children to private tuition centers.Students who survived the incident explained that as soon as soil rolled over the roof, it collapsed instantly. Meanwhile, local residents blamed the owner of the house for the tragedy.A female teacher, who was injured in the collapse and is currently receiving treatment at Lahore General Hospital, recounted the horrific incident while also highlighting her financial struggles. "I have been teaching students at my house for two years, and daily, about 30 to 35 children come here for tuition," she recalled.Speaking about her difficult circumstances, she added, "Our financial situation is very poor. I started offering tuition just to make ends meet because my husband is a vegetable vendor with a pushcart, and our income is very low."Children who survived the tragic roof collapse in Kahana, an area of Lahore, Punjab, described scenes of panic. Recalling the horrific moments, students said they were completing assignments given by their teacher when the roof suddenly collapsed.In the heart-wrenching incident, 14 children lost their lives, while five children and a female teacher were injured. According to rescue officials, all are in stable condition.Two other children received first aid at the scene and were sent to home, while the teacher is being treated at Lahore General Hospital.A student who survived the incident said that some people had been working on the roof and laying bricks when it suddenly collapsed.The student said his brother was buried under the debris and lost his life, while he narrowly escaped the horrifying incident.Another student said the class had been completing an assignment when the roof suddenly collapsed.A young girl said she became trapped after a water cooler fell on her leg. Construction workers and relatives later rescued her.A mother said three of her children had been attending the tuition center. Two survived, while one was killed.Residents said construction work was underway on the roof at the time of the incident and alleged the structure was already dilapidated. 

KARACHI: The Chief Minister of Sindh (CM), Syed Murad Ali Shah, has directed the food department and district administration to launch a strict crackdown on wheat hoarding and profiteering, cautioning that artificial shortages would not be tolerated as the province prepares for its wheat requirements for the coming months.The CM Sindh has presided over a high-level meeting at the CM house to review wheat availability, stock positions, and market trends.The meeting was attended by Provincial Ministers for food, excise and taxation, agriculture and irrigation, provincial secretaries, advisors, and other senior officials.The provincial Minister for Food, Makhdoom Mahboob, briefed the CM that Sindh harvested a bumper wheat crop of 4.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) in the 2025-26 season, while the province’s annual consumption requirement stood at 6.53 MMT, indicating a structural shortfall.According to the provincial food department, Sindh had a total wheat availability of 4.94 MMT, including carryover stocks. However, after accounting for consumption between April and June and wheat transported to other provinces, officials estimate the province could face a deficit of about 2.1 MMT by March 2027 if market supplies do not continue.Minister Food told the chief minister that the Food Department currently holds 0.2218 MMT of wheat stocks, including carryover reserves and fresh procurement.The meeting was told that Pakistan had an estimated net wheat balance of 24.39 MMT, of which nearly 12.2 MMT was believed to be in the possession of farmers and households, while about 3.5 MMT is visible in markets in Punjab and Sindh, they estimate roughly 9.5 MMT remains outside normal market channels.The Chief Minister of Sindh has expressed concern that hidden stocks could fuel speculation and drive-up prices.“The government will not allow hoarders and profiteers to exploit consumers through artificial shortages. Wheat is a strategic commodity, and its availability must be ensured at all costs,” he said.The meeting was told that wheat prices have increased sharply in recent months. Current prices per 40 kilo grams were reported at between Rs.4,150 and Rs.4,350 in Punjab, Rs.4,680 in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Rs.4,600 in Balochistan.Officials noted that wheat prices in Punjab had climbed from around Rs.3,200 per 40 kg in early April to between Rs.4,200 and Rs.4,600, representing an increase of more than 30 to 40 per cent within a few months.The chief minister was also briefed that returns from holding wheat stocks had begun to exceed the returns available through National Savings instruments, creating incentives for speculative storage and hoarding.The provincial government also reviewed flour prices across Sindh, with average prices reported at Rs.135 per kilogram in Karachi, Rs.131 in Hyderabad, and Rs.124 in both Sukkur and Larkana.CM Sindh has said higher wheat prices should not be used to justify excessive increases in flour prices."Any increase in wheat prices must not become an excuse for excessive profiteering. The administration must ensure that consumers receive flour at fair prices," he said.The chief minister instructed district administrations to identify illegal stockpiles, inspect warehouses and take action against unlicensed wheat traders under the Sindh Essential Commodities Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 2005.The meeting was informed that border monitoring had already been initiated to prevent the unauthorized movement of wheat outside the province.Murad Shah also directed the food department to strictly monitor wheat stocks across Sindh; enforce licensing requirements for wheat storage and trading, strengthen border surveillance to curb unauthorized wheat movement; ensure regular market supplies to stabilize prices; and expedite proposals for fixing stock limits for flour mills.It was also proposed that wheat stocks seized from illegal hoarders be treated as government-procured wheat and shifted to official godowns. Under the proposal, the owners of seized stocks would be compensated at a rate of Rs3,500 per 40 kg.Concluding the meeting, the chief minister of Sindh, Murad Shah, has directed all concerned departments to maintain close coordination and submit regular reports on wheat stocks, prices and market conditions.

LAHORE: The tuition teacher injured in the tragic roof collapse in Kahna has said there was no construction work going on at the house at the time of the incident and that children were not being taught in unsafe conditions.According to reports, the injured teacher asserted that if construction had been underway or if the electricity had been off, she would have given the children a holiday.On June 30, 14 children lost their lives and several others, including the teacher, were injured when roof of a tuition center collapsed in Kahna area of Lahore.After the incident, rescue officials with the help of local residents, pulled the children trapped under the rubble and shifted them to the hospital.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUunmyUN6MkIn her statement, the teacher said the room where the children were being taught had a completed roof and construction work had already finished. She said her financial condition was not strong enough to rebuild the entire house or lay a new roof slab, which is why only the ceiling had been reinforced.The teacher said she herself was buried under the debris during the accident, while her own daughter, her brother-in-law’s children, and her sister-in-law’s one-and-a-half-year-old girl were also present there. She said she still does not know the condition of the other children.Also Read: Lahore tuition centre roof collapse inquiry report releasedShe denied reports that construction work was ongoing at the time of the accident and said she herself does not know why the roof fell. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine the actual cause of the accident and any possible negligence.

ISLAMABAD: A blind woman defrauded by a bank manager has recovered Rs19.2 million following court intervention, with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordering the handover of two vehicles belonging to the manager to settle the remaining dues, ARY News reported.According to reports, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed that the two vehicles of bank manager Rameez Javed be handed over to the blind woman for the outstanding amount. The court instructed the FIA to recover both vehicles of manager Rameez Javed and submit a report.Justice Azam Khan and Justice Inam Ameen Minhas heard the recovery petition. The woman’s counsel told the court that she had earlier received Rs15.9 million, while cheques worth over Rs3.3 million were handed over to her yesterday.The Assistant Attorney General told the court that the vehicles would be recovered and handed over to the woman within one week.Also Read: Woman registers fraud case against husband over using dowry carBank manager Rameez Javed is convicted in a fraud case worth crores and is imprisoned in Adiala Jail. The allegation that the bank manager embezzled more than Rs20 million belonging to the blind woman has been proven.The trial court had sentenced the bank manager to five years in prison after the crime was proven, the lawyer said. The court sought a report from the FIA and adjourned the hearing of the case until July 7.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has restored the inheritance rights of a widow and her two daughters after a 71-year legal battle, ruling that women cannot be deprived of their lawful share in property on the basis of an unproven oral gift.In a landmark judgment, a two-member bench comprising Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan and Justice Shakeel Ahmad set aside the decisions of the trial court, the appellate court and the Lahore High Court, all of which had ruled against the female heirs.The Supreme Court declared the mutation dated April 17, 1955, and all subsequent transactions based on it as illegal, void and ineffective against the inheritance rights of the petitioners.The court held that the petitioners are entitled to their respective shares in the estate of Roshan son of Bora in accordance with the applicable law of inheritance. It also directed the revenue authorities to correct the revenue record and undertake the determination and separation of the petitioners' shares in accordance with the law.Read more: Women’s inheritance a divine right, not a family choice: Federal Shariat CourtAccording to the detailed judgment in Noor Muhammad and others versus Ghulam Haider and others, the court ruled that women cannot be deprived of their inheritance rights merely on the basis of an alleged oral gift unless the party claiming the gift proves all its essential legal requirements through independent and reliable evidence.The court observed that revenue mutation entries, long possession of property and subsequent revenue proceedings do not, by themselves, constitute proof of an oral gift or ownership.It held that the burden of proving an alleged oral gift rests on the party relying on it, particularly where the claim would deprive a widow and daughters of their Islamic and legal inheritance rights.The court noted that there was no evidence on record to show that the female heirs had been informed that the alleged oral gift would permanently extinguish their ownership rights, or that they had knowingly and voluntarily relinquished those rights.The judgment held that the lower courts had erred in treating a 1955 gift mutation as conclusive proof of an oral gift. It emphasized that, under the law, a mutation serves only fiscal and revenue purposes and neither creates nor extinguishes title to property.The Supreme Court further ruled that subsequent land consolidation proceedings, exchanges of land, private partition arrangements or other revenue entries could not establish that a valid oral gift had actually taken place in 1955.The court also held that long possession alone is insufficient to prove an oral gift, as the person in possession may already have been occupying the property in the capacity of a co-heir.It reaffirmed the legal principle that possession by one co-heir is generally deemed to be possession on behalf of all co-heirs unless there is clear and unequivocal evidence that the rights of the other heirs have been expressly denied.Highlighting the importance of women's inheritance rights, the Supreme Court said that women’s inheritance rights enjoy special protection under both Islamic law and public policy.Referring to its earlier precedents, the Supreme Court observed that courts are duty-bound to closely scrutinize attempts to deprive women of inheritance through fabricated oral gifts, sham documents or manipulated revenue records, and such claims cannot be dismissed merely on the basis of delay or technical objections.The court concluded that although limitation may be relevant in certain cases, the primary question is whether the alleged oral gift has been legally proved. If the gift itself is not established in accordance with law, women cannot be deprived of their inheritance rights solely on the basis of an old mutation, prolonged possession or subsequent revenue proceedings.The court noted that any custom, practice, arrangement or device which has the effect of excluding a female heir from her lawful share not only offends the injunctions of Islam but is also inconsistent with the constitutional commitment to equality, dignity, social justice and protection of property rights.It said the responsibility, however, does not rest upon the state alone. "Families, Community leaders, Islamic scholars and orators, members of the legal profession, revenue authorities and civil society all share a collective obligation to ensure that the rights conferred by Almighty Allah are neither diluted nor defeated".The SC said that the problem is not merely legal but societal. "The denial of inheritance rights often begins not in courtrooms but within homes, families and communities where women are expected to sacrifice rights guaranteed to them by religion and law in the name of tradition, family honour or social convenience". Case background Roshan son of Bora, the owner of the disputed property, died in 1955. An inheritance mutation was entered in favour of his legal heirs on April 4, 1955.On the same day, another mutation was recorded on the basis of an alleged oral gift purportedly made by the widow and daughters in favour of the deceased's two sons. Both mutations were sanctioned on April 17, 1955.The widow and daughters maintained that no such oral gift had ever taken place and alleged that the second mutation was fraudulently sanctioned to deprive them of their lawful inheritance.After remaining in possession of the property, the sons and their successors subsequently transferred the land through exchange and gift transactions.The suit filed by the female heirs was dismissed by the trial court, while their appeal and civil revision before the Lahore High Court were also rejected. The Supreme Court has now overturned all previous judgments and restored the inheritance rights of the widow and her daughters.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday rejected India's statement regarding its strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan, with Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi describing New Delhi's remarks as "baseless."Responding to a media query about a statement issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs on June 29, the Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan's actions were "legitimate, targeted and proportionate" operations against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan."The preposterous statement has been made by a country that has historically interfered in and undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbouring countries, in contravention of the UN Charter, the Foreign Office said. "India continues to suppress the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, in violation of the relevant UN resolutions".Tahir Andrabi further stated that India has also been actively aiding and sponsoring terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan, in violation of the relevant UN Security Council sanctions regime. PR No. 158/2026 Statement by the Spokesperson🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rg73rPGrWd— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 1, 2026 "India continues to play the role of a regional spoiler. Its baseless accusations and inflammatory statements against Pakistan must not be entertained," Andrabi said.He added that Pakistan would continue to take all appropriate measures to uphold the safety and security of its citizens in accordance with international law.The statement comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistani security forces successfully neutralized four incoming drones launched by the Afghan Taliban regime across the border in Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.The Pakistan Army warned that such gimmicks of the Taliban regime are aimed at misleading the Afghan population suffering under their oppressive regime.Earlier this week, Pakistan also issued a strong démarche to the Afghan Taliban regime following the recent terrorist attack in Karachi.In a subsequent intelligence-based operation and precision strikes targeting terrorist camps and safe havens along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Pakistani security forces killed 29 terrorists.The operations followed an attack on a Pakistan Rangers Sindh camp in Karachi's Gulistan-e-Johar area, where three attackers were killed and an Afghan national was arrested in an injured condition. Three Rangers personnel were martyred and four others were injured in the assault.

KARACHI: "People commenting over the local government system in Sindh first bring the local bodies to work in their own provinces", Sindh's Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Wednesday."The people of those areas are passing resolutions, where the local government system is non-existent, local councils not even exist in Islamabad," Murad Ali Shah said while talking to media in Karachi."We also want an improvement in Sindh's local government system," chief minister said.Murad Ali Shah also condemned 12 to 18 hours power load shedding in Karachi. "There is 18 hours loadshedding in the city, while the federal government denying permission to install the power plants," he said."Federal government refuses to grant us permission for installation of solar and wind power generation plants," CM Shah said."We don't know what the issue is and when will it end," he added.

KARACHI: The Sindh government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court's Karachi Registry challenging the verdict that acquitted the accused in the Baldia factory fire case.The petition was submitted by Sindh Prosecutor General Shabbir Shah, seeking a review of the Supreme Court's decision to acquit MQM workers Rehman Bhola and Zubair Charia.The Supreme Court had earlier allowed the appeals of Rehman alias Bhola and Zubair Charia, setting aside the judgments of the Anti-Terrorism Court and the Sindh High Court. The court acquitted both men by extending them the benefit of the doubt.In its review petition, the Sindh government has invoked Article 188 of the Constitution, raising the legal question of whether the provision applies where a judgment is allegedly contrary to the facts and the law.Read more: Baldia Factory case: Main accused Zubair Charya, Rehman Bhola released from jailThe petition argues that the verdict failed to properly consider eyewitness testimony, medical evidence, and other material on record. It further contends that the evidence of injured witnesses and expert testimony regarding the use of chemicals to start the fire was overlooked.The government has also questioned whether, under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the acquittal of convicted persons can remain immune from legal challenge by the affected parties. In addition, the petition raises objections regarding the application of Articles 4 and 17 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984.

LAHORE: The Lahore Education Authority has completed its inquiry report into the roof collapse at a tuition centre in Kahna, which claimed the lives of several children.In the heart-wrenching incident, 14 children lost their lives, while five children and a female teacher were injured. According to rescue officials, all are in stable condition.According to the report, the tuition centre was operating from a residential house and was not registered with any government authority. It further states that the female teacher was privately tutoring children, most of whom were her relatives.The report notes that between 25 and 30 children were present at the tuition centre when the roof collapsed. The Education Authority has submitted its inquiry report to the district administration for further action.CEO Education Authority Tariq Mahmood said there is currently no formal registration system for tuition centres operating from private homes. He added that such home-based tuition centres do not fall under the Education Department's registration framework.He said the district administration will determine the future course of action in light of the findings of the inquiry. FIR registered Lahore police have registered an FIR following the tragic roof collapse at a tuition centre in the Kahna area of lahoare that claimed the lives of 14 children.According to the FIR, which was lodged on the complaint of the Enforcement Inspector of Nishtar Zone, states that the loss of precious lives resulted from negligence and reckless construction practices. It alleges that the tuition centre was operating beneath a structurally weak roof while repair work was being carried out above it.Investigators believe the roof collapsed after being unable to withstand the additional weight, trapping students beneath the debris. The injured include eight children and a female teacher.DIG Operations Faisal Kamran said police have taken five individuals, including the building owner, into custody. He added that legal action will be taken against those found responsible once the investigation is completed.

QUETTA: The Met Office has forecast beginning of the monsoon spell in Balochistan from today (Wednesday).The PMD forecast rainfall in the northern and northeastern parts of the province from July 1 to July 4.The monsoon rain is expected in Zhob, Sherani, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Harnai, Sibbi, Barkhan, and Dera Bugti districts of the province.The PMD has predicted rain in Sindh's Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, and Naushahro Feroze districts on July 3 and July 4.The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) earlier forecast that a monsoon spell was set to begin in the country from the first week of July.In a weather report, the department said that a westerly wave was likely to enter the upper parts of the country from June 30. While moist currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously penetrating the eastern and central parts of the country.It added that moist currents from the Bay of Bengal were expected to reach the upper parts from July 2.Monsoon rains fall across the region from June to September, are crucial to replenishing water supplies. However, heavy downpours also trigger deadly floods and landslides, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas.

ISLAMABAD: Preparations have been completed for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's official visit to Iran to attend the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.As per details, the premier is scheduled to depart for Tehran on Friday.The high-level delegation accompanying the prime minister will include Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.During the visit, the delegation, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will attend the funeral prayers of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Read more: Iran prepares for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeralGiant portraits of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s late supreme leader killed in US-Israeli airstrikes, hung from Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Tuesday as workers raced to prepare for his grand funeral ceremony.His funeral, initially delayed at the height of the Middle East war, will take place as Iran and the United States uphold a fragile ceasefire after signing a preliminary deal to halt the conflict.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a spiritual figure for many Shias, was killed aged 86 at his compound in the centre of the Iranian capital on February 28, the first day of the war.His public funeral will begin on Saturday, with his body lying in state at the colossal complex in central Tehran that hosts major Friday prayers, official ceremonies and religious gatherings.The bodies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei slain relatives will also be presented. The ceremonies are expected to draw between 15 and 20 million mourners, according to officials, which would make it the biggest state funeral in the country’s history.

CHISHTIAN: Three young men lost their lives in Saddar area of Chishtian, Bahawalnagar district, after entering a well to rescue a goat that had fallen into it, police and rescue officials said.According to police, the incident occurred when a goat fell into a well in the area. One after another, the three men entered the well in an attempt to retrieve the animal.Officials said that toxic gases inside the well and a severe lack of oxygen caused the men to lose consciousness, and all three died on the spot.The deceased were identified as Zain, Ali Raza, and Ali Akbar, all residents of the same village, with ages reported to be between 18 and 24 years.Local residents informed Rescue 1122 and Civil Defence after the men failed to respond. Rescue teams reached the site and launched an operation to recover the bodies.[video mp4="https://arynews-1313565080.cos.ap-singapore.myqcloud.com/zip-archives/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AQOdjD_rY2RnC2Qd4twI_0KPhhTONou4JEZ6Ln0x1GY3IxG6Sp5YD1WbzrMwfYSR6wufjn3z2m1pyltv4g-knk_se0NxRr7pAdSDGinVjw-2.mp4"][/video]Officials confirmed that all three bodies were retrieved from the well, after which legal formalities were completed and the remains were handed over to the families.The incident triggered grief and mourning in the area as the bodies were brought home for burial.A day earlier, in the heart-wrenching incident, 14 children lost their lives, while five children and a female teacher were injured after the roof of a tuition centre collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna area.Two other children received first aid at the scene and were sent to home, while the teacher is being treated at Lahore General Hospital.A student who survived the incident said that some people had been working on the roof and laying bricks when it suddenly collapsed.The student said his brother was buried under the debris and lost his life, while he narrowly escaped the horrifying incident. Another student said the class had been completing an assignment when the roof suddenly collapsed.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to the newly established private airline, South Air, ARY News reported.The certificate was issued under the signature of CAA Director General Nadir Shafi Dar. The airline is expected to commence operations within the next few days.According to officials, the Ministry of Defence and the Civil Aviation Authority provided full support during the certification process. DG Nadir Shafi Dar said the CAA remains committed to supporting the growth and development of Pakistan's aviation sector.South Air plans to operate flights to airports across Pakistan. The airline has already conducted test flights to the New Gwadar International Airport and Sukkur Airport, which were monitored and evaluated by CAA inspectors as part of the certification process.Last year, Saudi Arabia’s new airline, Flyadeal, commenced its flight operations to Pakistan.According to a PAA spokesperson, the first Flyadeal flight, F3 166, arrived in Karachi from Saudi Arabia at 8:04 a.m, according to the PIA spokesperson.The aircraft was given a water salute upon arrival at Jinnah International Airport. It is important to note that in November 2024, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted Flyadeal permission to operate air services in Pakistan.The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted Flyadeal approval for air operations in Pakistan upon its initial request.The Flyadeal airline will operate flights from Riyadh to Karachi, with additional flights between Karachi, Riyadh, and Jeddah.Sources from the airline suggest that this new airline will provide passengers with direct travel options, enhancing convenience for travelers between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.