Article:
Across Pakistan, a range of critical issues emerged this week, from political accountability and environmental concerns to security operations and social developments. Authorities in Quetta initiated action against alleged violations of the local government election code of conduct, issuing a notice to Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Liaquat Lehri, for attending a corner meeting. Lehri has been summoned by the District Monitoring Officer for clarification.
**Political and Governance Highlights**
The political landscape saw sharp exchanges as Minister of State for Finance, Bilal Azhar Kayani, controversially stated that the founder of PTI and his party were echoing the narrative of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif revealed facing pressure to condemn a statement by Nawaz Sharif. Meanwhile, Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb affirmed the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring religious freedom and representation without fear, while also referencing the ‘removal of occupying forces’ after four years, a clear nod to the previous administration. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Finance Advisor, Muzammil Aslam, reiterated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ambitious promise to attract $100 billion in foreign investment.
**Environmental and Public Health Challenges**
Pakistan continues to grapple with severe environmental degradation. Air quality across several cities reached alarming levels, with Lahore ranking as the world’s second most polluted major city, recording 337 Air Particulate Matter. Concurrently, dense fog blanketed various regions of Punjab, leading to the closure of multiple motorway sections and significantly disrupting travel. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PML-N leader Amir Maqam criticized Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for allegedly avoiding discussions on the province’s escalating health crisis and deteriorating hospital conditions. Conversely, Balochistan’s Health Department marked a significant step in digital transformation, successfully completing the first phase of its AI-powered attendance system for employees across all District Headquarters Hospitals and medical colleges.
**Security and Law Enforcement Actions**
Security forces conducted targeted operations in various areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the elimination of 13 militants. In a separate law enforcement incident, a police raid to apprehend suspect Shamrez on Thandiyani Road escalated into an exchange of fire as the suspect and his accomplices opened fire on police personnel. On a positive note, authorities successfully located a citizen reported missing from Baloch Colony, Karachi, this morning in Larkana, following a case registered at the Baloch Colony police station based on the son’s complaint.
**Economic and Social Developments**
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) appealed to the government for a swift resolution to the ongoing goods transporters’ strike, highlighting its detrimental impact on the economy. In other news, a social media campaign targeting the staff of the national airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), was officially declared baseless and misleading. Reports also emerged of Indian and Afghan social media platforms allegedly engaging in propaganda, falsely accusing Pakistani youth Sheikh Naveed of being an attacker. Culturally, a forthcoming film aims to showcase the vibrant sports culture, rich heritage, and positive aspects of Lyari. Separately, YouTubers Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak have sought court bail in a case related to the promotion of online gambling.
**International Condolences**
On the diplomatic front, President Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori separately extended their heartfelt condolences to Australia, expressing deep sorrow over the recent tragic firing incident on a Sydney beach. Two individuals were reportedly found deceased at a residence, prompting a law enforcement investigation.
