Hundreds of protesters targeted the diplomatic mission and were repelled by security forces

Times for today’s Iftar (Ramazan 11) and tomorrow’s Sehri (Ramazan 12) for the federal and provincial capitals are listed below: Islamabad Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:05pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:12am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:15pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:02am Karachi Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:35pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:35am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:48pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:31am Lahore Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:00pm Seh...

Protests erupt in Jammu and Kashmir over killing of Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei  Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka

Dozens of international flights rerouted as airspace restrictions mirror 1990 Gulf crisis

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mah­mood Langrial has constituted a committee to add­ress taxpayers’ issues following a meeting at the FBR Headquarters with representatives of the Pakis­tan, Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi-Islam­abad tax bar associations. An official statement said members of the Tax Bar Associations apprised the chairman of the challenges being faced by taxpayers, particularly in relation to the super tax and SRO 350(I)/2024. Mr Langrial assured par...

Two survivors of the deadly Gul Plaza inferno in Karachi testified to a judicial commission that no rescuers or building management came to aid those trapped during the fire.

Chief fire officer says two firefighters sustain minor injuries as fire is brought under control after two hours

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday framed charges against main suspect Armaghan Qureshi and co-accused Sheraz in the Mustafa Amir murder case. Amir, 23, was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by his friends — Armaghan and Sheraz — in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on Jan 6, 2025. According to the police, the accused stuffed Amir’s body in the trunk of his car and torched it in the Hub area of Balochistan. Both accused denied the charges before the court, which also su...

• In his testimony, Danish Ali alleges lack of trained staff and equipment hampered timely response • One of six survivors tells judicial commission they escaped on their own as smoke spread inside building KARACHI: A man working as a fireman in a private firm narrated his heroic efforts before the Gul Plaza Judicial Commission on Wednesday, which led to the rescue of 11 persons from the burning building on the night of Jan 17. The man, Danish Ali, maintained that he had voluntarily participa...

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission has started technical-level discussions with the State Bank of Pakistan in Karachi for the third review of the $7 billion Extended Financing Facility.

A car driver involved in a reckless driving incident that killed a young delivery rider in Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Karachi, was released on personal surety without charges.

• Justice Agha Faisal rules commission’s ToRs do not permit intervention; advises Muttahida to submit their information via email • Leased in 1883, Gul Plaza plot was sold to a private firm in 1983, says municipal commissioner KARACHI: While turning down an application of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) seeking to become a party in the proceedings, the Gul Plaza Judicial Commission on Monday recorded the testimonies of the municipal commissioner and various other officials in th...

Property prices in Karachi, particularly in DHA and Clifton, have seen significant increases over the past two years, though gold and stock markets are currently attracting more investor attention.

Pakistani actress Momina Iqbal's comment, praising conditions in Punjab and suggesting 'Maryam Nawaz for Karachi,' has gone viral online, sparking widespread debate.

Actress Momina Iqbal's comment praising Punjab conditions and mentioning 'Maryam Nawaz for Karachi' has gone viral, sparking online debate.

Five police officers in Karachi have been suspended following allegations of their involvement in the custodial torture of a man at the Sharifabad police station.

The MQM-P has declared a Sindh Assembly resolution against the creation of a new province as 'unconstitutional', following remarks by Mustafa Kamal advocating for federal control and economic capital status for Karachi.

A gas explosion in a high-rise building in Karachi triggered a fire, resulting in the death of a teenager and injuries to five other individuals.

Rising grocery prices, power bills drive informal kitchen businesses across Karachi

The Sindh Assembly has passed a resolution declaring Karachi an 'integral, inseparable part' of the province, opposing any moves to create a separate Karachi province.

Police in Karachi have arrested a builder following a gas explosion that triggered a building collapse, killing 15 people in the Soldier Bazaar area.

KARACHI: A large number of people gathered outside the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday to protest the killing of a man during an alleged encounter by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) a day earlier, alleging that the deceased was a student who was earlier arrested by law enforcers. On Tuesday, the CTD said that officials had conducted a raid on a house in Shah Latif Town on a terrorist hideout. According to the department, the men inside the house opened fire on officials, who then retaliated, leading to the deaths of four suspects. The CTD said the suspects belonged to the Bashir Zeb network of Fitna al-Hindustan, a term used by the state for Balochistan-based terrorist groups. However, on Wednesday afternoon, a large number of residents of Old Golimar, including women and children, protested and staged a sit-in outside the KPC, demanding justice for Hamdan, one of the killed suspects identified by the CTD. The deceased’s father, Mohammed Ali said that on December 29, 2025, his son Hamdan was allegedly taken away by the CTD. He said that he had also filed a petition before the Sindh High Court against the alleged disappearance of his son.  He asserted that it was a “fake encounter” and termed it an “extra-judicial killing”. He further alleged that the CTD was not even handing over the body and was demanding that he sign a form admitting that his son was a “terrorist”. He said that the CTD, in a press conference on Jan 6, 2026, had announced the arrest of his son Hamdan and others, and their affiliation with a banned terrorist organisation. He said that his son was a student who had no affiliation with any terror group. The father said that his son was supposed to be presented before a court on Wednesday after the completion of his physical remand in the CTD custody. However, the family was informed that he had been killed in an alleged encounter. He said the family visited the Edhi morgue, but were informed by officials that they would not hand over the body without the approval of the CTD.

KARACHI: A fire broke out at a chemical factory in Karachi’s SITE area on Tuesday, Rescue 1122 said. Spokesperson Rescue 1122, in a statement, said that the chemical factory was located near Valika Chowrangi and efforts were underway to control the fire. “A fire brigade truck, along with rescue teams, was immediately dispatched to the site of the incident, as soon as the Rescue 1122 received report of the incident,” the spokesperson added. A contingent of Sindh Rangers personnel was also dispatched to the site of the incident, their spokesperson said in a statement. “Rangers personnel are actively participating in the relief activities and rescue operation along with the fire brigade and rescue personnel,” the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab took notice of the incident. In a post on X, Mayor Wahab said, “KMC fire team is attending to the fire incident reported at a factory in SITE Industrial Area. Will keep everyone posted.” According to an earlier statement, Mayor Wahab had “directed all departments of the KMC to stay alert”. He issued instructions to utilise all available resources for the rescue operation. The statement added that the “water board authorities were also instructed to take emergency measures”. “All possible steps should be taken to control the fire,” the mayor was quoted as saying. “There will be no compromise made on the safety of human lives,” he added. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, as per a statement, directed Mayor Wahab and the commissioner to supervise the rescue efforts and investigate the cause of the fire. The incident comes a day after a huge fire erupted in the bushes near the University of Karachi (KU). It was brought under control later.

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched ‘Cyber Shield’, a comprehensive cyber resilience strategy, to counter growing global and domestic cyber threats to the financial ecosystem, aligning with international best practices. As part of its Vision 2028 agenda, the SBP launched Cyber Shield, a major initiative aimed at strengthening the safety and robustness of the country’s banking and financial system. The banks have been facing increasing incidents of cyber crimes, while the international organisations believe that every second Pakistani is facing the cybersecurity problem. With the rapid digitisation and very high growth of online payments, cyber threats have also increased. Bankers said the situation is not alarming, but there is a need to implement quick remedies to control it, which would help strengthen the banking system in Pakistan. Outlines key priorities to counter growing threats by 2030 “The milestones laid down in the strategy will be implemented in a phased manner by 2030. All regulated entities are required to align their internal cybersecurity programs with the strategy to ensure compliance,” said the SBP. The central bank said the strategy has been designed to better protect banks and financial institutions from cyber threats, thus ensuring that people and businesses can continue to access financial services safely. The SBP said it set out a clear roadmap to help financial institutions strengthen their systems and controls, prevent cyber incidents, respond quickly when cyber threats materialise, and recover effectively from them. “As the banking ecosystem faces increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, the strategy aims to enhance cyber defences of the regulated entities through a holistic, forward-looking and collaborative approach,” said the SBP. Bankers said cybersecurity experts are not available to meet the growing demand in financial institutions, as many young Pakistani experts prefer jobs abroad with higher pay. There is no attractive policy to retain cybersecurity experts in the country. The SBP said the Cyber Shield focuses on five key priorities: strengthening the ability of banks to withstand cyber incidents, improving governance and accountability for cybersecurity, encouraging cooperation and information-sharing across the financial sector, building skilled cyber talent, and continuously updating security practices to keep pace with new risks. “The SBP will closely monitor both global and domestic cyber developments and will update the strategy as needed to address emerging threats,” said the SBP. By strengthening cyber resilience across the banking sector, SBP aims to safeguard customers, support digital innovation in a secure environment and ensure financial stability, it added. About 90 per cent of bankers believe that cybercrime is the biggest challenge confronting the banking industry in the country, according to a previous survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Pakistan. Seventy per cent list fraud as their major concern, and 60 per cent believe terrorism financing is the biggest threat, the survey showed. “Banks in Pakistan operate within an evolving financial crime compliance ecosystem,” said the survey report. Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026

A collision between a car and a trailer on Monday claimed six lives on the National Highway in Sindh’s Naushahro Feroze District, officials said. Naushahro Feroze Senior Superintendent of Police Mir Rohal Khoso told Dawn that all six people who died were travelling in the car, while the trailer’s driver was injured. He said the accident took place between 5am and 6am, adding that “ostensibly, speeding and brake failure were probable reasons,” but the matter was being probed further. SSP Khoso elaborated that one side of the National Highway in the district was under construction, which was a “contributory factor behind increasing accidents”. He stated that, in collaboration with the motorway police, it has been decided to set up five points for checking the speed and fitness of vehicles to control the rise in accidents. Sindh Inspector General (IG) Javed Alam Odho, in a statement, ordered the Naushahro Feroze SSP to probe the accident and register a case. Expressing his grief over the loss of lives, IG Odho ordered that legal action be taken against those responsible after determining the causes behind the accident. Fatal road accidents on highways occur frequently in Pakistan, with the main reasons including speeding, hazardous overtaking, and disregard for traffic rules. On Sunday, at least 11 people were killed and eight were injured after a bus collided with a trailer on the National Highway near Tando Masti in Sindh’s Khairpur district. A day before that, 13 people died in a traffic accident involving an oil tanker and a passenger bus on the M9 Motorway near Karachi. Crackdown against overloading and speeding ordered In his statement, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the accident and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. “We share the grief of the bereaved families,” he was quoted as saying in the statement issued by his spokesperson, Abdul Rasheed Channa. The statement said that the car involved in the incident was heading from Larkana Division’s Nasirabad taluka to Karachi. CM Murad also issued directives for the strict implementation of traffic rules and regulations. He ordered the Sindh IG to carry out a “crackdown against overloading and speeding”. He further directed that monitoring and fitness checks of vehicles be made more stringent across the province. “The protection of the public’s life and property is the government’s top responsibility,” the chief minister noted.

The Sindh Chief Minister has assured affected shopkeepers from the ill-fated Gul Plaza in Karachi that they will be temporarily accommodated in other city markets.

Pakistani police on Sunday clashed ​with protesters who breached the outer wall of the U.S. consulate in Karachi, leaving nine people ⁠dead, following news of U.S. and ⁠Israeli str...

Six protesters were killed and 20 injured after they stormed the fortified US Consulate General building in Karachi, Pakistan.

Hundreds of people stormed the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, resulting in at least one protester killed and several wounded in clashes with security forces.

Protests turned violent near the US Consulate on Karachi’s Mai Kolachi Road on Sunday. According to a statement by the Edhi Rescue service, law enforcement personnel resorted to teargas shelling and baton-charging to control the situation, resulting in “injuries to several” people. An Edhi ambulance took the injured to Civil Hospital Karachi. The protests follow the assassination of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Saturday’s coordinated US-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran. Khamenei ...

Iconic food street is place to be before sundown if you’d like to catch spirit of holy month, cuisine diversity

Security has been tightened at entry points and the airport in Karachi, with police urging vigilance and warning against spreading rumors during 'Operation Ghazab Lil Haq'.

Muhammad Chand's vital role for citizens during holy month is an inheritance that 'brings joy'

(ANSA) - KARACHI, 27 FEB - The Italian Consulate in Karachi hosted an 'iftar' dinner on Thursday to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, bringing together government officials, diplomats, and members of the local community in an event aimed at promoting interfaith harmony. Italian Consul in Karachi Fabrizio Bielli welcomed distinguished guests, including Sindh Province Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, along with other senior officials and friends of Italy. In his speech, Bielli said he was proud...

A cylinder explosion at a home in Chaman, Balochistan, killed at least five people. Separately, a police officer was martyred in a blast targeting an armored vehicle on the Quetta-Karachi highway.

Times for today’s Iftar (Ramazan 8) and tomorrow’s Sehri (Ramazan 9) for the federal and provincial capitals are listed below: Islamabad Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:03pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:15am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:13pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:05am Karachi Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:33pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:39am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:45pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:35am Lahore Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 5:58pm Sehri...

THE chaos at the country’s major airports seems to be subsiding, with some order gradually restored after the state’s ham-handed efforts to crack down on unlawful travel. The past few months had been a nightmare, with passengers travelling abroad from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad routinely complaining of long queues, repeated questioning by security personnel, and extremely long waits for immigration clearance. It seems that some unscrupulous elements had also jumped at the opportunity to fl...

Says federal government will extend all possible support to ensure early completion of projects in the province

Low-income families in Karachi are struggling with food insecurity, unable to afford basic items for Sehri and Iftar during the holy month.

Two more individuals have died from rabies in Karachi, bringing the total death toll to five, with none of the victims having been vaccinated after dog bites; hospitals are warning of a surge in stray dog attacks.

KARACHI: A food delivery rider lost his life after a speeding vehicle flipped over and crashed into his stationary motorcycle in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area, according to police. The video of the incident that took place on Sunday was widely shared on social media. South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) told Dawn that the food delivery rider was on his motorcycle outside a bungalow in DHA’s phase IV when a speeding car turned over and crashed into his vehicle. “Both the rider...

Karachi blast exposes deadly cost of illegal gas compressors, chronic regulatory failure

MQM-P criticizes PPP, PML-N, JI, and PTI for their anti-Karachi stance, highlighting the disparity where a party winning 170 seats is in jail while a party with 80 seats forms the government.

PPP leader Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday said that PTI founder Imran Khan’s release was “in his own hands” as it depended on his party’s “attitude”. The Sindh senior minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters during a visit to a site of ongoing development work in Karachi. In response to a question regarding Imran’s release, the minister maintained that the incarcerated former premier’s release “was in his own hands and the attitude” of PTI. “I do not have any knowledge of his rele...

One dead, four injured as gas cylinder explosion triggers fire in Karachi building  Arab News

A gas explosion in a high-rise building in Karachi, Pakistan, triggered a fire that resulted in the death of a teenager and injuries to five other individuals.

Sindh assembly passes resolution rejecting move to separate Karachi  Arab News

Iqbal Khursheed's work is reviewed for its portrayal of oppressed lives in Karachi through irony and dark humor, creating memorable characters.

A judicial commission has summoned a top Karachi Metropolitan Corporation official to provide land records for Gul Plaza after a director failed to answer questions about the shopping mall's status and lease.

The Sindh High Court has been informed that the e-challan system for traffic violations is only being implemented on designated roads with proper signage in Karachi.

Several areas of Karachi reported mild to heavy rainfall, including hail, on Tuesday.

GUJRAT: The Gujranwala police on Monday arrested a ‘serial killer’ involved in kidnapping and killing of four people, including a woman and her two children as well as a 13 years old boy after snatching valuables from them in different hits. Gujranwala CPO Dr Ghias Gul told reporters at a news conference on Monday that police found two unidentified bodies of a 32 years old woman and her five years old son along the bank of canal near the Citi Housing Society on Feb 10. Both the deceased, he said, had been slain with a sharp-edged weapon. They were later identified as Malaika and her son Muhammad Ahmed and a case of double murder was lodged on the report of a police official. The CPO said a special investigation team under SP Civil Lines Imran Khan and DSP Hameed Virk was constituted that used modern techniques and traced a suspect namely Haroon Javed who was nabbed while making an attempt to flee to Karachi from Lahore via train. The suspect, he said, had confessed to have killed the woman and her two children – eight months old daughter Mubara through asphyxiation and threw her body into the canal. The body of deceased girl was recovered from the canal on the identification of the suspect. The suspect revealed that he had killed three people of a family just to snatch gold ornaments the woman was wearing in her ears. The suspect belongs to the same area of Alam Chowk where the deceased woman resided. The CPO said that the suspect had also revealed to have killed 13 years old boy Rehan Ali of Mado Khalil locality in the precincts of Ladhewala police on Dec 20 last. The suspect, he said, had kidnapped the boy to snatch a bridal dress from him and later murdered him. The boy had been sent by his father to deliver the dress to a customer in a nearby vicinity. A case of kidnapping of that boy had been lodged with the police against the unidentified suspects on the report of his father Muhammad Imran who ran an embroidery factory in the area. The CPO commended the police team for tracing and arresting the killer. Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026

A large fire that erupted in bushes near the University of Karachi was successfully brought under control, with no casualties reported.

The Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital refuted social media allegations regarding the withdrawal of a No Objection Certificate for a fundraising event in Karachi.

Eight killed as protesters storm US Consulate in Karachi after Iran confirms Khamenei killed  Arab News

• Civil Defence official testifies power shutdown, closed exits and lack of emergency lighting hampered evacuation • Says building was inspected twice in 2024, 2025 and fire safety mesasures were found inadequate KARACHI: An official of Civil Defence has informed the Gul Plaza Judicial Commission that the fire and rescue service of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), as well as the Rescue 1122, were equipped with advanced machinery, but failed to douse the fire efficiently and rescue ...

KARACHI: Amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, police on Saturday issued a public safety advisory which stated that Karachi had been placed on “high alert”. The advisory issued by the office of the Karachi additional inspector general of police, a copy of which is available with Dawn, said, “Karachi has been placed on high alert following increased military tensions between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban forces near the Pak-Afghan border.” “Police and other law enforcement a...

Times for today’s Iftar (Ramazan 10) and tomorrow’s Sehri (Ramazan 11) for the federal and provincial capitals are listed below: Islamabad Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:04pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:13am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:14pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:03am Karachi Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:34pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:36am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:46pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:32am Lahore Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:00pm Seh...

Times for today’s Iftar (Ramazan 9) and tomorrow’s Sehri (Ramazan 10) for the federal and provincial capitals are listed below: Islamabad Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:03pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:14am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:13pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:04am Karachi Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:34pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:38am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:46pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:34am Lahore Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 5:59pm Sehr...

KARACHI: A huge fire erupted at a factory in SITE on Thursday evening, prompting authorities to call fire tenders across the metropolis. However, no casualties were reported. Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan told Dawn that information about a fire at a textile industry near Nauras Chowrangi was received around 6:15pm. He said 10 fire tenders of Rescue 1122, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) fire brigade and two snorkels were busy controlling the blaze. “Fire tenders h...

RAWALPINDI: Several coaches and the locomotive of the empty rake of the Greenline Express train derailed a kilometre away from Rawalpindi Railway Station on Wednesday, apparently due to the poor condition of the track as described by railway officials. The rake was on its way to the Margalla Railway Station in Islamabad to prepare for 6DN journey with passengers to Karachi when the locomotive and several coaches derailed. Except for the locomotive and two passenger coaches, the remaining coac...

KARACHI: More than a month after flames ripped through Gul Plaza, leaving devastation and livelihoods reduced to ashes, relief has finally arrived for nearly 1,000 affected traders with the Sindh cabinet’s approval of a Rs7 billion compensation package, offering some hope of financial recovery to those who lost everything in the deadly blaze. The Sindh government along with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), finalised the estimate of losses incurred by the shopkeepers of Gul Plaza in...

Rift triggered by MQM demand for federal control of Karachi

Climate Week Karachi 2026 concluded on February 4, with experts and policymakers reiterating the urgent need for Pakistan to take concrete action on climate change, moving beyond mere discussions.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have agreed on the need for a no-confidence motion against Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, with JI also condemning the PPP for alleged corruption.

THE timing may be questioned, but the issue is not new. The PPP and the MQM-P are once again engaging in their old tug of war over who ‘owns’ Karachi, using bombast to stake their claims. The Sindh Assembly last Saturday passed a resolution, tabled by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, to condemn “any conspiracy aimed at the division of Sindh or the creation of a separate province comprising Karachi”. The resolution affirmed that Karachi shall “forever remain” an integral part of Sindh. The ...

ISLAMABAD: The upper house of Parliament on Monday echoed with the PPP’s displeasure over the creation of a separate Karachi province, asserting that it was an inseparable part of Sindh. The development comes two days after the Sindh Assembly passed a resolution terming Karachi an “inseparable” part of Sindh and opposed any move that suggested otherwise. Opposing the resolution in the Sindh Assembly, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) had also declared it unconstitutional. On Monda...

A delivery rider was critically injured in Karachi when a speeding car overturned at Khayaban-e-Ittehad. The driver and a companion fled the scene after the late-night crash.

Five police officers in Karachi's Sharifabad police station have been suspended following allegations of custodial torture against a man.

PPP leader Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday said that PTI founder Imran Khan’s release was “in his own hands” as it depended on his party’s “attitude”. The Sindh senior minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters during a visit to a site of ongoing development work in Karachi. In response to a question regarding Imran’s release, the minister maintained that the incarcerated former premier’s release “was in his own hands and the attitude” of PTI. “I do not have any knowledge of his rele...

A 15-year-old boy died and four others were injured after an explosion led to a fire in a residential building in Karachi's North Nazimabad area.

Cylinder explosion in North Nazimabad sparks fire, damages vehicles, prompts probe

The Sindh assembly has passed a resolution that rejects any move to separate Karachi, affirming its stance on the city's status.

The Sindh government reinstated Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Pir Muhammad Shah as the chief of the Karachi Traffic Police, it emerged on Saturday. According to a notification issued by the provincial government on Friday, Shah’s posting relieves Sindh’s Central Police Office Headquarters DIG Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh of his additional charge “with immediate effect”. “Syed Pir Muhammad Shah … is posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Karachi, relieving Mr. Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh,...

At least 16 people, including children, were killed when an explosion, likely a gas blast, caused a building to collapse in Karachi, Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Wednesday that 5G spectrum auction would be held on March 10 and no changes were likely to be made in the schedule, saying that the sale was likely to fetch between $300-$700 million. The authority is offering 597 megahertz (MHz) in several bands in the upcoming auction and three existing telecom operators have been mandated to obtain a minimum of 100 MHz in the auction process. “With the prescribed rate, even if 300 MHz is obtained by the telecommunication operators without any competitive bidding, the government will get $300 million,” PTA Director General Licensing retired brigadier Aamir Shahzad told a media briefing. “And if all the 597 MHz is sold at auction at a slightly competitive rate, $700 million will be available for the government, but this scenario is less likely to happen,” he added. Shahzad said that the auction would be conducted using a multi-round electronic clock auction format, with the main allocation stage starting on March 10. He said the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands would be offered during the first round. He added that after the auction process, the rollout of 5G services would take between three and six months as certain infrastructure was needed for the fresh spectrum. Meanwhile, Chairman PTA Hafeezur Rehman said that the auction would lead to improved quality of service and data speed. “Around 50 million new users have been added in the system during the last five years, but only 10MHz was increased in the 2021 spectrum auction,” PTA Chairman said. “Improved data service and enhanced coverage will also increase average revenue per user (ARPU) for telecommunication operators,” he said. The ARPU is a key performance indicator that measures the average revenue generated by a company from each consumer within a specific timeframe, monthly or annually. “We started with $0.7 and now the ARPU has reached $1.3. Therefore, it is likely to increase as more data is consumed by the subscribers,” Rehman said. “The authority expects mobile broadband speeds to improve by around 25 per cent following the auction,” he said. He said that the government had offered many incentives to telecom companies in the new spectrum auction, but obligations to improve the quality of service as well as coverage area had been increased. “This will help the country to embrace further upgradations like 6G and not like 5G, where we have been delayed,” the PTA Chairman said. He added the government had also eliminated the right-of-way fee that used to be around Rs36,000 per kilometre annually; this, he said, would encourage fiberisation projects. The chairman also said that telecom operators had already placed orders for 5G equipment, while local manufacturing of 5G-enabled smartphones had commenced, with 500,000 to 600,000 units produced so far. He said the other measures being taken to facilitate the faster rollout of services after the auction were options for spectrum sharing, relaxation of certain regulatory terms and incentives for network expansion. “Operators have been given one year to make the necessary capital investments without upfront spectrum payments, allowing them to focus on improving service quality,” Rehman added. However, the operators will have to expand 5G coverage to additional cities apart from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta, while fiber-to-the-site ratios will increase from 20 per cent to 35pc by 2035. Besides, the minimum download speeds for 4G service have been increased from four megabytes per second (Mbps) to 20Mbps in 2026–27 and to 50Mbps by 2030–35. For 5G, minimum download speeds will rise from 50Mbps initially to 100Mbps by 2030–35, with latency targets reduced to 35 milliseconds. Upload speeds are benchmarked at 20pc of download speeds across both technologies.

KARACHI: Robust demand further pushed outstanding auto loans for the 14th consecutive month to Rs328 billion in January, up from Rs319bn in December 2025. The State Bank of Pakistan data revealed that consumers opted for more loans in January due to the change of model year and registration, as the growth in December 2025 was slightly slower than in November 2025. Auto financing has been struggling to beat the peak of Rs368bn recorded in June 2022 when annual car sales volumes were around 240,000 units. Auto sector expert Mashood Ali Khan said that the current trend shows consumers are increasingly leveraging bank financing to purchase vehicles, contributing to a gradual recovery in automobile sales despite prevailing economic challenges. This is a strong indicator that consumer demand still exists, and it only needs supportive policy to accelerate further. The growth momentum comes primarily under the State Bank’s existing Rs3 million auto financing cap, enabling a large segment of middle-income consumers to access vehicle ownership. “I believe that the auto sector holds significantly greater potential if financing limits are revised upward to Rs6 to Rs7m.” By doing this, the auto market will witness a substantial expansion, particularly in the sedan and mid-range vehicle segment, which remains largely inaccessible to financing-dependent consumers under current limits, he added. “If financing ceilings are increased and interest rates continue to ease, Pakistan’s annual auto sales could potentially cross 200,000 units a year again,” he emphasised. He said the small-car segment remains the primary beneficiary of financing due to its alignment with the SBP financing cap. A segment of consumers is also seeking to access sedans through partial financing combined with personal savings, highlighting the demand gap created by the current financing ceiling. Banks are offering more flexible financing options, including comparatively lower markup rates, reduced down-payment requirements, and easier repayment structures. “This has supported recovery, but policy alignment is essential to unlock the sector’s full potential,” he said. Raising financing limits, while supporting consumers, would also generate broader economic benefits, including industrial production growth, employment generation, vendor development, and increased government revenues through taxes and duties, he said. He said continued interest rate moderation could further strengthen financing activity in the coming months. “I stress that revising financing limits remains the single most impactful policy intervention to accelerate growth,” Khan said. Sales are likely to remain upbeat in view of a 137pc increase in imports of semi- and completely knocked-down kits by the local assemblers to $1.144bn in 7MFY26 from $706m in the same period last fiscal year. Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026

The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has released a gas supply schedule for Karachi and surrounding areas, promising uninterrupted service during the holy month of Ramazan.

• Amid moving scenes, 23 relatives of the deceased testify before judicial tribunal • Say fire tenders ran out of water, no serious effort made to break walls and windows of the building to rescue people trapped inside KARACHI: Moving scenes were witnessed before the judicial tribunal investigating the Gul Plaza inferno on Monday when 23 relatives of 33 deceased persons narrated their ordeal, pointing fingers at the rescue work, firefighting and slow response by authorities. In their statements before the single-judge tribunal headed by Justice Agha Faisal of the Sindh High Court, they deposed that entry-exit points of Gul Plaza were closed, firefighters arrived late, ran out of water, lacked equipment and skill, while rescue authorities made no efforts to break the walls and windows to rescue people trapped inside. Many of the witnesses broke into tears while testifying before the commission, which heard them at the Deputy Commissioner South Complex. One of the witnesses, Haleem, deposed that his father and brother were inside the building when the fire broke out on Jan 17. He said his father lost his life and brother suffered injuries when he jumped out of the building to save his life. He said firefighters faced a water shortage while the building’s electricity was switched off shortly after the fire broke out. Witness Mohammad Hanif testified that his two sons were killed in the tragic incident. He said rescue officials made no efforts to break the walls and windows to rescue the people. He said police resorted to baton charge him and other relatives of the people trapped inside when they gathered near the plaza. Another witness, Qaiser, whose wife, son and sister-in-law were killed in the blaze submitted before the tribunal that he had asked the recuse and firefighters to break a wall in order to rescue people, but to no avail. He maintained that rescue authorities had lacked proper equipment and machinery. Taj Mohammad, whose father was killed in the incident, blamed the fire and recuse officials for not fulfilling their responsibilities. He said that he, along with a cousin, managed to reach the rooftop of the building, but rescue officials did not brother to reach there in order to save people. One gate of the building was opened and other exit-entry points were closed, he added. Saima, who lost her son in the incident, submitted that she and her daughter-in-law remained present outside the building for nine days, but the authorities did nothing to rescue their loved ones. She deposed that her other sons also participated in the rescue operation. Shahnaz, whose son worked at one of the Gul Plaza shops and lost his life, broke into tears during her testimony. Sanaullah said his sister was killed in the deadly fire and blamed the provincial and local authorities for the tragic incident. Abdul Hafeez, who also lost his son, informed the tribunal that the firefighters were short of fuel and water. Ahsan Ahmed, who lost his brother, also deposed that fire tenders were present on the spot but facing water shortage. Mohammad Hadi said that his son was also killed in the fire, but an assistant commissioner asked him to file an affidavit about the presence of his son in the building at the time of incident. Later, the tribunal provided the witnesses a questionnaire and asked them to submit it at the next hearing. The commission sought reply to 17 questions about the arrival of fire tenders and rescue staff, proper equipment for rescue and firefighting, prompt availability of ambulances, whether police facilitate evacuation or create confusion and the roles of district administration and the management of ill-fated building. The commission will also record the testimonies of various officials of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Sindh Building Control Authority, Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation, Sindh police, Gul Plaza Shopping Mall Association, K-Eclectic and others on Wednesday (tomorrow). Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026

• DHA, Clifton residential plots up 25-50pc; commercial plots surge 25-75pc • Industrial investment in Karachi remains weak; investors shifting to Nooriabad, Jhampir KARACHI: Property prices in Karach