Pakistan’s leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, has extended profound condolences to Australia in the wake of a tragic shooting incident on a Sydney beach. President Zardari offered heartfelt sympathies to the victims’ families and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. He emphasized Pakistan’s own experiences as a victim of terrorism, conveying full solidarity with Australia and strongly condemning violence against innocent civilians. Governor Tessori conveyed similar sentiments in a phone call to the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan.
Domestically, political figures have voiced concerns, with PML-N leader Amir Maqam criticizing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for allegedly sidestepping discussions on the province’s pressing healthcare crisis. Separately, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani accused the PTI founder and his party of echoing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rhetoric. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif disclosed he had faced pressure to condemn a statement made by Nawaz Sharif. Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb highlighted the province’s commitment to religious freedom and representation, asserting that those who had “occupied” the country for four years have been dislodged. Meanwhile, a social media campaign targeting national airline staff has been deemed baseless and misleading.
Pakistan continues to battle severe environmental challenges. Lahore, notably, ranked as the world’s second most polluted city with an air particulate matter reading of 337, contributing to dangerously poor air quality reported across several urban centers. This environmental degradation, coupled with severe fog in various parts of Punjab, led to the closure of multiple motorway sections, significantly disrupting traffic. Concurrently, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has urged the government to swiftly mediate an end to the ongoing strike by goods transporters, citing significant economic repercussions.
In security and law enforcement updates, security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa conducted operations that resulted in the neutralization of 13 militants across different areas. Police also reported an incident on Thandiani Road where suspects, including Shamrez, opened fire on law enforcement personnel during an arrest raid. In Quetta, actions were taken against violations of the election code of conduct for local government polls. Meanwhile, a social media campaign allegedly originating from Indian and Afghan platforms has been reported, attempting to falsely implicate Pakistani youth Sheikh Naveed as an attacker. Separately, YouTubers Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak have sought court bail in a case related to the promotion of online gambling. Authorities also reported that a citizen who went missing from Baloch Colony was later located in Larkana, with a case registered based on his son’s complaint.
In the health sector, Balochistan’s provincial health department has successfully completed the first phase of an AI-powered attendance system, registering employees of District Headquarters (DHQ) hospitals and medical colleges across all districts. Culturally, a new film project aims to spotlight Lyari’s vibrant sports culture, rich heritage, and positive community aspects. Additionally, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Advisor Muzammil Aslam reiterated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s pledge to attract $100 billion in investment to the country.
