Article:
Snowfall has decreased significantly in Northern Upper Balochistan, but the region remains under the grip of sleet. According to the control room in Chaman, the Quetta Ziarat highway has been closed for travelers due to the harsh weather conditions. The National Highway Authority (NHA) reported that the N-50 Zhob highway has been partially restored, but the traffic flow has been severely affected. Vehicles from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces are stuck on the N-50 highway. The residents of the area are facing a shortage of drinking water, as the water tanks and pipes have frozen. The snowfall has disrupted the traffic flow in various districts, and a light to moderate rainstorm is currently underway in different cities of Sindh and Punjab. The control room has issued a travel advisory, warning of the risk of roads becoming slippery due to snowfall in the upper regions of the country.
The N-50 Zhob highway, which had been partially restored, has once again become impassable due to the snowfall. The National Highway Authority has stated that it is conducting a salt sprinkling operation to prevent vehicles from sliding on the roads in the upper regions. The control room has directed all transporters, passengers, and travelers to adhere to the travel advisory.
Immediately after the news of the situation reached the authorities, Chief Secretary Zahid Zaman, along with other officials, rushed to the site and supervised the rescue operation. The Pakistan Navy has successfully conducted a rescue operation in the Indian Ocean. In a separate incident, a suspect involved in a gold smuggling case worth Rs 20 lakh was arrested from the Aitchra market in Lahore. Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Senator Rana Sanaullah has stated that Pakistan should take a stance alongside Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup matter. The identification process of the bodies recovered from the fire-ravaged Gul Plaza in Karachi is still underway. In a separate operation in Rajanpur’s Kachhi area, 24 most-wanted dacoits have surrendered. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has decided to reconstruct 418 roads across the city. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has seized 6.4 million kg of green leaf tobacco in the Regional Tax Office in Peshawar. Chief Fire Officer Humein Khan stated that the search operation at Gul Plaza is still underway, and the debris has significantly reduced. The coordinator to the Prime Minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Iqbal Wali, has stated that the PTI has ruined the province and now aims to cause damage to the country. Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider has addressed the leaders of the Pakistani community in Glasgow, Scotland, during his visit. Heavy snowfall has been recorded in various locations in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. The Sindh Building Control Authority has started conducting a survey of buildings in three districts of Karachi, following the fire incident at Gul Plaza. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that the 18th Amendment is being obstructed. Over 3,000 cases of dog bites have been recorded in Karachi since January 1. A case of hate speech has been registered against human rights lawyer and activist Iman Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chachar. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that Pakistan has joined the Ghazwa-e-Peace Board with the hope that peace will be established in Gaza.
