On Sunday, an Aramco building in Riyadh was tar­geted in an “attempted attack”, the Saudi energy ministry said, which damaged the skyscraper. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aramco facilities and infrastructure have been repeatedly targeted by the rebels in Yemen in recent months, including tankers, refineries, storage areas and the company’s headquarters as the Middle East conflict has expanded.

In its statement on Monday, the FO stressed that the targeting of civilian infrastructure demonstrated a “reckless regard for human life and regional security” and demanded the Houthis cease all attacks against Saudi Arabia “immediately and unconditionally”.

“Fortunately, no casualties were reported,” the FO said and went on to commend the “vigilance and swift response” displayed by Saudi authorities in “confronting this unjustifiable and unprovoked aggression”.

Expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia, the statement added that Pakistan stood resolutely with the leadership of the kingdom and “reaffirm our full support for all measures necessary to safeguard its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

It added that Saudi Arabia’s security was of “paramount importance” to Pakistan.

“Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our Saudi brothers and sisters remains steadfast,” the statement said.

Pakistan has condemned Houthi attacks multiple times, terming them a grave violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty.

Islamabad and Riyadh have signed two defence pacts aimed at collective deterrence, the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between the two and the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement that also includes Turkiye.

Under the Makkah Defence Alliance, Pakistani, Saudi and Turkish leaders met in Riyadh last month and agreed to deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly in the kingdom.

Pakistan is providing “whatever support is needed” to defend Saudi Arabia amid the Houthi attacks, the military’s spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said in mid-October.

However, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general also clarified that all members of the Makkah Defence Alliance were “absolutely clear […] that this alliance has no offensive intent; it is purely defensive”.

Sunday’s attack came hours after the kingdom’s education ministry announced the return of in-person schooling after weeks of remote learning in Riyadh following an earlier wave of strikes.

Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki, in a Sunday morning social media post, said that “air defences intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi terrorist militia towards Riyadh”, as loud explosions were heard in the Saudi capital.

“Aramco tower in KAFD has been targeted, that’s the sure thing,” an eyewitness told AFP, referring to the King Abdullah Financial District. Two other witnesses confirmed seeing damage to the building.

The King Abdullah Financial District is one of the most visible manifestations of the kingdom’s ongoing economic and social reform drive, with towering glass skyscrapers, high-end retail outlets and green spaces dotting the area.

The district is home to some of the kingdom’s biggest domestic companies and international firms such as Goldman Sachs.

The headquarters of the kingdom’s influential sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, and the Saudi stock exchange are also located in the heart of the district.

“Dare to raise your hand against a helpless woman who leaves her home every day to earn an honest living, and be prepared to face the same humiliation. She will have the right and the opportunity to slap you back,” she said in a post on the social media platform X.

Her comments came in response to a video of a man physically assaulting a salesgirl. According to a statement from Faisalabad police on Monday, the incident took place at Kohinoor Plaza. It said the salesgirl had informed the man that the shop was exclusively meant for women; CCTV footage shared by police on X showed that it was a lingerie shop.

Police said the “enraged” man then physically assaulted the girl, with CCTV footage showing him yanking her from behind the counter and eventually throwing her to the ground. The statement added that the suspect had been arrested and legal proceedings had been initiated against him.

According to the information shared in a visual post by the Punjab chief minister, the incident took place on Nov 8. It added that the shop owner had come to the store to collect rent, when the girl asked him to leave as it was a lingerie shop and contact the business owner.

“No one, no matter how wealthy, influential, or powerful, can now intimidate, exploit or harm an ordinary citizen with impunity. The state will stand firmly with the vulnerable and respond decisively to those who misuse their power,” CM Maryam asserted on X, also sharing a video of the alleged victim hitting the suspect in question.

“The days of the powerful getting away with abusing the powerless are over. The state will hit back!” she said.

A first information report (FIR), available with Dawn, was filed on the woman’s complaint at the Madina Town police station on Monday.

It invoked Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

In the FIR, the woman said she was working as an employee as usual at a lingerie shop on Nov 8, when the shop’s owner came to receive the rent. The woman explained that the rent was paid in instalments on various dates, so she paid him Rs5,000 and asked him to seek the rest later.

She alleged that the man escalated the matter and “started arguing about taxes”, at which point she told him that as a mere employee, she did not have the authority to decide on tax-related matters and urged him to speak to the business owner.

The woman said the man “adopted extremely unethical and insulting behaviour” with her and threatened to slap her. Despite her repeatedly telling him to take up the matter with the owner, the man began physically assaulting her and kicked her, the FIR said.

Last month, CM Maryam also took notice of a man who physically assaulted a woman riding a scooty on Mozang Ring Road in Lahore.

At the time, she said he had spoken to the victim and told her “she should slap the man as many times as he had slapped her”.

“But she said that, for her, it was enough that the government had made her feel protected, cared for, and assured that justice was on her side,” CM Maryam said. She had later also expressed displeasure at the suspect being granted bail.

In a similar incident last month, a man was accused of assaulting a petrol pump employee in Lahore. CM Maryam then shared a video of the employee slapping the arrested suspect while a cop attempted to stop him.

“This is a tight slap in the face of those entitled, spoiled brats who look down upon the poor as if they were lesser human beings,” CM Maryam said.

“They arrogantly believe that money and power put them above the law, allowing them to exploit, intimidate, and act with impunity,” she added.

The chief minister declared that she stood “firmly with the oppressed, regardless of how powerful their oppressors may be”.

“Does anybody really believe that this ‘Election’ was honest. How could the Polls be so wrong???” Trump wrote on Truth Social, alleging without evidence that large early voting “dumps” had made Republican victories impossible.

“It’s all about the machines, which are far more important than the voter!” he added.

The accusations marked a sharp reversal from Trump’s initial acceptance of the results.

“I am absolutely willing to accept those results,” he told The New York Times on election night.

The president has repeatedly made unfounded claims of election fraud, most notably following his defeat by Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

In the Nov 3 midterm elections, Democrats seized control of the US Congress, capturing the Senate and House of Representatives in a stunning, nationwide rejection of Trump.

The result was a personal humiliation for the 80-year-old Trump, leaving him as a lame duck president for the remaining two years of his term and signalling an end to his stranglehold on the Republican Party.

He had previously attempted to brush off the election results, spending the beginning of his first public appearance on Wednesday talking to reporters about the marble and Corinthian columns of his new $400 million ballroom.

But he conceded that what Vice President JD Vance said about the Iran war being a factor was “largely true because it drove the gasoline up” — a key issue for voters angered by the rising cost of living.

Still, Trump defended his war against Iran, saying: “But at the same time, if I had it to do again, I’d have to do it again. Because long term, it’s the only answer. You can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

On Sunday, Trump vowed to bounce back stronger from the midterm election loss that he called a “giant step back in history” for the US.

An emergency was declared following the collapse; construction work was suspended and workers were directed to move to safer areas. However, no loss of life was reported in the incident.

In a statement, Wapda said that water entered the under-construction power house area and a tunnel of the T-5 project after a weak rock mass collapsed during excavation work, prompting the evacuation of workers.

The authority said the incident occurred during excavation of the 2nd Bench Connecting Tunnel, when the collapse allowed water from the Intake Pit to enter the tunnel and power house area.

“All workers were immediately evacuated safely,” the statement said, adding that the water from the Intake Pit had been completely drained and no further water was entering the downstream work sites.

Wapda said dewatering work at the under-construction power house had also started.

Authorities were assessing whether the tunnel, power house and other structures in the working area had sustained any damage, Deputy Commissioner Haripur Waseem Ahmed said, quoting officials of the T-5 project.

Senior Wapda officers, the project engineer and the contractor were assessing the situation to address any challenges to the T-5 project, the statement added.

The authority also dismissed reports circulating about the collapse of the T-5 tunnel, saying the main tunnel, under-construction power house, tailrace culvert and switchyard had not been damaged.

It further said there had been no injuries or loss of life among the workforce.

There is no threat of flooding or inundation in areas downstream of Tarbela at present, a senior district administration official said.

Meanwhile, Swabi Deputy Commissioner Nasarullah Khan said that additional water had been released from Tarbela Dam due to “unavoidable” reasons and was expected to increase the flow and level of water in the Indus River.

“All citizens are requested to take precautionary measures and completely avoid bathing, swimming and boating in the Indus River to prevent any untoward incident,” he said.

The deputy commissioner also urged the public to ensure their own safety and that of their families and follow public safety notices.

“Citizens should not pay heed to rumours and should visit our official page for authentic information,” Khan added.

Earlier in July, a government-constituted inquiry committee held all three key stakeholders — the contractor, consultant and employer (Wapda) — responsible for the cofferdam collapse at the 1,530MW T-5 Project, citing post-contract unauthorised design changes as one of the main reasons for the incident.

The collapse contributed to at least a two-year delay and more than 285 per cent cost escalation in the project, whose cost has risen from Rs82 billion to Rs317bn.

The project was scheduled for completion by the end of June 2028, instead of 2026, before Monday’s incident.

The fifth extension project has an installed capacity of 1,530MW. The World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are providing $390 million and $300m respectively for its construction. Once completed, Tarbela’s total installed capacity will rise from 4,888MW to 6,418MW.

The Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council, formed by the governments of both countries, said the fund’s initial size is “multi-hundred million”, which is expected to expand based on opportunities across sectors.

In a statement, it said three-quarters of the fund will be invested in Pakistan, while the rest will go to Saudi Arabian projects.

Islamabad and Riyadh share robust bilateral cooperation, with frequent high-level diplomatic exchanges on both sides.

In August this year, the council’s chairman, Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif while visiting Pakistan, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

During their meeting, PM Shehbaz discussed avenues to expand economic cooperation and investment between the two nations.

“The Saudi side conveyed interest in investment opportunities in agriculture, ports, highways and airport outsourcing [and the] real estate sector, as well as in the energy, power distribution, and information technology sectors,” the statement read.

On August 7, ​​​​​​​Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, alongside Turkiye, also signed a joint defence agreement pledging to strengthen collective security, deepen defence cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Later that month, the two countries agreed to boost Pakistani agricultural and food exports to the Gulf state up to $3 billion.

Earlier in June, Pakistan invited Saudi investors to participate in the construction of the long-awaited Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M6) and two other major highway projects, with the motorway expected to provide uninterrupted motorway connectivity from Karachi Port to Peshawar and onward to Gilgit.

The hacks that struck hundreds of French supermarkets in early October were among the most disruptive cyberattacks of the Iran war that began in February, a conflict that has been marked by scattered incidents of alleged digital disruption. These have included hacks against the Los Angeles transit system in March, against US water treatment plants in July and against ships bound for the United States in August.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not return messages seeking comment. Iran routinely denies carrying out malicious cyber operations.

The French announcement was made only minutes after Reuters revealed that investigators privately suspected Iran of being behind the attacks. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the Iranian ambassador had been summoned to France’s foreign ministry. Barrot also threatened further EU sanctions against Iran.

The Oct 11 cyberattack, which overrode the temperature controls on commercial fridges in hundreds of establishments, appeared to have been easy to pull off, cybersecurity experts previously told Reuters.

The firm behind many of the stricken units said that several were obsolete or were running outdated firmware, which could have made it easy for hackers to break in.

The effects were still dramatic.

Some refrigerators had the temperature turned up so high they caught fire. In the hours following the hack, supermarket employees carted boxes full of perished meat and melted ice cream into giant trash containers. The attack’s total costs could add up to tens of millions of euros nationwide, one French supermarket owner estimated.

Reuters could not establish exactly how the French made their determination.

The October hacks were followed this month by a second wave of hacking that hit more than 100 establishments across Europe and even affected refrigerators used by French blood banks, prompting employees there to have to move some of the blood to different cold storage units.

The seemingly straightforward nature of the refrigerator hacks and their repetition across multiple countries prompted speculation about who might be responsible amid ongoing concerns over Russia’s suspected sabotage campaign in Europe, the war between the US and Iran and the global rise of AI-powered cyberattacks.

US refrigerator attacks

The sabotage of European supermarket fridges was preceded by at least one similar incident in the United States.

In August, refrigerators in at least half a dozen military commissaries went out of commission. Pentagon investigators are treating the malfunctions as a suspected cyberattack and are working with French officials to get to the bottom of what happened, Reuters reported last month.

Reuters could not independently establish whether there was any link between the refrigeration incidents at US military bases in August, the hacking campaign in France and the more recent wave of refrigeration hacks that struck Europe.

A person familiar with the matter said that the Pentagon considers Iran a suspect in the August commissary hacks but that the investigation is still in progress.

Reuters could not establish how the military made its determination or whether it was also looking into other suspects. That the US military considers Iran a suspect in the commissary sabotage campaign was first reported last month by news website Nextgov.

The Pentagon said on Monday that it is “aware of speculation regarding a potential cyber incident” but that military investigators were on the case and it could not offer further comment for security reasons.

Brand — the former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry who in recent years moved away from the mainstream — was convicted on Thursday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three more between 2004 and 2009. He had denied all the charges.

The 51-year-old stood in the dock at London’s Southwark Crown Court as Judge Joel Bennathan sentenced him to 10 years and six months, saying he would serve two-thirds in custody before being released on licence.

Brand was a sexual predator who believed “fame meant you could act how you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live”, Bennathan told Brand.

Brand mouthed “I love you” to his wife before he was led away by dock officers and down to the cells.

Earlier, one of Brand’s victims, whom Brand anally raped in 2009, said in a statement read by prosecutors that the trauma of the attack was “something I carry with me every day and it often feels never-ending”.

Brand’s lawyer Ian Winter said Brand — who has spoken at length about his recovery from drink and drug addiction and his new-found Christian faith — was “a fundamentally different person today and has been for a very long time”.

London’s Metropolitan Police has said Brand is under investigation for two other alleged rapes, one involving a then-16-year-old girl, and the head of the force said on Friday that he “wouldn’t be surprised if many more came forward”.

Brand, who starred in films such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, “Get Him to the Greek” and “Arthur”, had denied ever having non-consensual sex. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and an attempted indecent assault.

Opener Tayyab Arif scored an impressive 57 and Mohammad Taha a patient 51 — both playing their first Test — while Azam hit 50, with Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl on what appeared to be a green pitch in Rawalpindi seemed to backfire.

Saud Shakeel was unbeaten on 57 when bad light stopped play 15 minutes before schedule, with Ghazi Ghori seven not out.

Sri Lanka’s decision to go with a pace quartet and without a frontline spinner could also prove costly, with the pitch not offering much to the fast bowlers.

Asitha Fernando was the pick of bowlers with 2-64.

Azam looked in good touch but still failed to score an elusive century, and was dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka after the lunch break.

He hit seven fours in his 58-ball innings.

Azam has now gone 41 innings without a Test century, his last coming against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022.

Salman Agha made 16 before giving Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis his fourth catch of the innings.

Arif said Pakistan has done well under the conditions.

“We have played good and positive cricket considering the conditions,” said Arif.

“I have played a lot with some of these players so I was supported well and I am happy on scoring a half century.”

Arif put on a confident 86-run opening stand with Azan Awais (30) as Sri Lanka’s pace bowlers struggled to break through.

The 20-year-old, playing his maiden first-class season, cracked nine boundaries and a six in his impressive 51-ball knock.

Sri Lanka had to wait until the 16th over for a breakthrough, when Milan Rathnayaka had Awais caught behind by Mendis.

Fernando found an edge off Arif’s bat to Mendis, making it 90-2.

Sri Lankan bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk wasn’t happy.

“Probably not satisfied as bowling first and with the seamers we have we should have taken a couple of more wickets,” said Niekerk.

“But bowlers pulling it back in the last session was good.”

All-rounder Arafat Minhas and pace bowler Saqib Khan are also making Test debuts for Pakistan.

The second and final Test is in Lahore from November 17.

The 55-year-old inspector was shot dead, while his wife was wounded in the Sunday evening attack. Officials said the two were having tea in the front lawn of their house when two assailants arrived on a motorbike and opened fire.

Karachi Additional Inspector General (AIG) Azad Khan told Dawn that an investigation team headed by the Malir senior superintendent of police (SSP) has been constituted. He said the Malir and Korangi investigation superintendents of police (SP) and the Malir divisional SP were among the team members.

Regarding possible motives for the killing of the former station house officer (SHO), the city police chief said they were investigating with an “open mind and all [possible] angles”.

Hammad, a son of Abro, said police personnel had been deployed for the former SHO’s security, but his father had sent them on leave around a week ago. He said his father used to roam around alone and demanded that his father’s killers be traced and arrested.

The former SHO’s brother, Yaseen Abro, told the media that they had no “personal enmity” with anyone.

He said his brother, being a police officer, was fighting against criminals, recalling that another one of their brothers, police officer Mohammed Khan Abro, had also been martyred in August last year.

Funeral prayers for Abro were held at police headquarters in Karachi’s Garden area on Sunday night. They were attended by Azad, Sindh Inspector General Javed Alam Odho and other senior officers.

Last week, opposition leaders and JUI-F agreed to strengthen their alliance and parliamentary coordination amid recent tensions between the latter and the federal government.

Fazl has been critical of the federal government over the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He has accused the Centre of reneging on its commitments amid his efforts to mediate between the federal and KP governments.

Since mid-October, the veteran politician and key federal ministers have also made harsh remarks against each other, after Fazl accused the Centre of depriving the provinces of their rights.

Speaking to Dawn, TTAP spokesperson Akhundzada Hussain Ahmed Yousufzai warned that it had become apparent that JUI-F would “meet the same fate as PTI”.

“It is a war between democratic and undemocratic powers and TTAP will stand by the democratic people,” the TTAP spokesperson said, adding: “We will always support those who are being suppressed.”

Replying to a question, Yousufzai said that during a recent meeting between JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza and TTAP leaders, it was agreed in principle to gather on one platform.

“It was also decided that soon we will hold a multiparty conference (MPC), so a movement can be started against the government after that.

“We hope that Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be one of the figures who will be leading the movement,“ he said.

On Oct 16, without naming anyone, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had claimed that a “head of a party” was “extremely upset over being denied a role in the new setup in KP and not getting the governorship”.

The next day, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry rebuked Fazl directly, who later clarified his criticism was aimed at policies, not state institutions.

The row played out in the Parliament as well, where Fazl questioned Asif’s absence and Naqvi’s presence at a meeting of the Makkah pact countries and Iran in Tehran.

In his response the next day, the interior minister explained his participation and went on to assail the JUI-F for “continuously crossing the line” and accused it of “extracting wealth from the state”.

On Friday, JUI-F staged protests in different parts of Sindh and Balochistan, decrying what it called a “coordinated character assassination campaign” against its leader.

The JUI-F chief had hinted at launching street agitation while addressing a workers’ convention in Mansehra earlier this month.

Fazl urged workers to stand firmly with him as he prepared to launch a street agitation. “I see you as the strongest force in the country. You must stand firm against oppression and adversity, as activists of no other party dare to stand up at this critical juncture,” he said at the event.

‘Political dialogue, not personal attacks’

In a separate statement, the TTAP claimed that “disgraceful, derogatory and baseless allegations were being levelled against a distinguished religious scholar, senior politician and respected national political figure”, terming the allegations as “deeply regrettable, shameful and highly condemnable”.

“Political differences are the beauty of any democratic society; however, targeting someone’s honour, dignity, character and family under the pretext of political disagreement is not only contrary to religious, moral and social traditions but also pushes politics further into the depths of hatred, discord and division.

“Differences of opinion must be addressed through arguments, logic and political dialogue rather than character assassination, slander and personal attacks. Such a disgraceful and organised campaign must be stopped immediately, and those involved must abandon this reprehensible practice,“ it stated.

The opposition alliance also paid tribute to the JUI-F chief for his stance against the governor’s rule and emergency in KP.

The statement said that the important constitutional and democratic questions raised by Fazl and his party on the matter should be addressed by the government through “reason, constitutional arguments and the rule of law instead of resorting to character assassination and pressure tactics”.

“No political leader can be compelled to abandon a principled position through pressure, threats or organised character assassination.”

“Measures such as governor’s rule and emergency in KP are contrary to the spirit of provincial autonomy, the people’s mandate and parliamentary democracy, raising serious constitutional and democratic questions,” the statement said.

“The TTAP will vigorously oppose these measures at every constitutional, political, parliamentary and legal forum and continue to highlight their constitutional and democratic implications before the public,“ it stated.

In its statement, the TTAP also expressed “deep concern and regret” over the suspension of hearings by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) in cases filed under Article 199 of the Constitution following the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).

The statement said that closing the doors of justice to citizens and political workers who had approached the PHC was “extremely alarming”.

It emphasised that the fundamental responsibility of the judiciary was to protect citizens’ fundamental rights and examine state actions in the light of the Constitution and the law.

It demanded that the complete medical reports of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi — following the medical tests conducted at Adiala jail yesterday — be made public immediately to address the concerns and apprehensions surrounding their health.

The TTAP also demanded that the government ensure full and immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Imran’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital and the provision of medical treatment in the presence of his personal physicians.

Warner, one of three players banned over the ball-tampering controversy in Cape Town along with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, said he stood “with my brother” Khawaja.

“It’s been eight years since I spoke on this topic,” the former opener said on Instagram.

“Uzzie, I throw my full support behind you. I thank you for what you’ve done.

“It’s 100 per cent accurate what you’ve said. Now everyone knows the truth. It’s out there. People wanted to know it. You’ve come out and said it.”

Khawaja, Warner’s close friend and long-time opening partner, re-ignited the infamous incident on Saturday ahead of the release of his autobiography this week, where a chapter is dedicated to the issue.

“It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” Khawaja claimed about who was in on the plot to doctor the ball with sandpaper.

Cricket Australia’s original investigation found only Smith, Warner and Bancroft were in the know, with the governing body at the weekend saying it remained “comfortable” with its findings.

Bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all denied publicly in 2021 that they knew about it, while Darren Lehmann, who was head coach at the time, denied on Saturday there was widespread knowledge.

“This isn’t about reopening old wounds,” said Warner, who retired from Test cricket in 2024.

“It’s about acknowledging that some wounds never properly healed. I stand with my brother Usman Khawaja.

“Speaking your truth takes courage, especially when people would rather you stay silent.

“Time passing doesn’t replace accountability, and asking questions shouldn’t be mistaken for holding grudges. Respect, honesty and accountability. That’s all anyone can ask for.”

Smith was banned for a year and sacked as captain over the furore during the third Test in Cape Town. Warner was suspended for 12 months and stripped of all leadership roles, while Bancroft was slapped with a nine-month ban.

“These three guys (Smith, Warner and Bancroft) took the blame for all of us,” said Khawaja, who retired this year. “They’re the victims … people telling them that they’re cheats, getting nailed by the crowd. Public humiliation.”

Warner said the past eight years had been “a tough time for my family, Steven and Cameron no doubt”.

“But this is what needed to come out.”

He was scathing of the Cricket Australia investigation process, calling it “rushed and botched”.

“Uzzie was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft. Uzzie was not interviewed. How is that a thorough investigation? It baffles me,” he said.

Jatt had announced holding a mehndi event and prize-distribution ceremony at Faraz Cricket Ground on Daska Road on Oct 30. However, with hundreds gathered at the site, a stampede occurred when the stadium gates opened, killing two and injuring 18 people.

Subsequently, a first information report (FIR) was registered at the Motra Police Station, naming Jatt, his brother, the owner of Faraz Cricket Ground, six others, and 40-45 unidentified security guards.

On Monday, District Police Officer (DPO) Spokesperson Khurram Shehzad confirmed the police had arrested Jatt after the brother-in-law of one of the deceased men filed a separate FIR at the City Daska police station.

The DPO spokesperson said the family had accused Jatt of threatening them with serious consequences if they did not reach a compromise.

In his FIR, Mohammad Abu Bakar, a resident of Gujranwala’s Mafiwala area, said his brother-in-law Mohammad Rehan Arshad had died in the stampede at Faraz Cricket Ground.

The FIR, available with Dawn, named Jatt, his brother and four unknown persons.

It was registered under Sections 348 (wrongful confinement to extort confession or compel restoration of property), 109 (abetment if the act abetted committed in consequence), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 506-B (criminal intimidation if threat be to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The complainant said that on Nov 6, he was present at his “in-laws’ residence” in village Galotian along with his family to offer condolences. He claimed that at around 1pm, four unknown persons came and began pressuring them to reach a compromise in the first FIR registered over the stampede.

Abu Bakr claimed that on his intervention, two unknown persons took out their pistols and aimed them at him, threatening to kill him and the family members if they did not reach a peaceful settlement with Jatt and his brother.

The complainant said the unknown men had attempted to stop him from pursuing the case by threatening him.

Sialkot DPO retired Captain Dost Muhammad told Dawn that the investigation of the FIR would be completed on merit, with all requirements of justice fulfilled.

On Nov 3, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had granted protective — also known as transitory — bail for the TikToker until Nov 10, allowing him to avoid arrest while he approaches the relevant court to seek legal remedy. He surrendered before the court in a wheelchair.

Jatt then appeared before a Sialkot court on Nov 7, where Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Irfan Naseem Tarar ordered him to appear in court again on Nov 10 (Tuesday).

During the operation, troops “sanitised” the hideouts belonging to the India-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij, the military’s media wing said.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces recovered a huge cache of prepared improvised explosive devices (IEDs), explosive preparation material, weapons, and ammunition from hideouts, which were established inside mosques.

The statement added that the terrorists had “deliberately established hideouts in Masajid to store explosive materials and also were running torture cells there,” observing that, “this reprehensible desecration of places of worship by Indian proxy Fitna Al Khwarij serves yet another clear evidence of their utter disregard of fundamental teachings of Islam.”

ISPR maintained that the terrorists, who it had said were facilitated by the Afghan Taliban, had no connection with Islam and their “perverted interpretation and misuse of our great religion is unacceptable and fully rejected by proud and righteous people of KP and Pakistan”.

Moreover, a sanitisation operation was “being conducted by brave soldiers of Pakistan security forces to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorist hideouts in the area,” ISPR said.

“Relentless counter-terrorism campaign under vision Azm-i-Istehkam by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out [the] menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.”

President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for the successful IBO, praising their “professionalism”.

“Using mosques to store explosives and as centres of violence is a blatant violation of Islam’s fundamental teachings,” he said on X.

“Terrorist elements operating with the support of the Afghan Taliban have no connection to Islam. Arbitrary interpretations and misuse of religion are unacceptable,” the president stressed.

Meanwhile, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi described the incident as “deeply distressing” while also praising the security forces for the successful IBO, Pakistan TV reported.

The governor also called for “intensified” IBOs to restore peace across KP and reaffirmed his support for security forces in their efforts to bring lasting peace to the province, Pakistan TV stated.

KP and Balochistan have been witnessing terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time.

The country’s security environment continued to show considerable volatility from October 30 to November 5, 2026, with renewed terrorist activity in parts of KP and the former tribal districts, alongside intensified counterterrorism operations and changing patterns of militant violence, according to Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

Per the latest PICSS Weekly Insight, 49 militant attacks were recorded nationwide during the reporting period, compared with 31 in the preceding week. These incidents resulted in 25 fatalities and 21 injuries.

On October 8, security forces killed nine terrorists in an IBO in North Waziristan, while a day earlier, 18 terrorists were eliminated in separate engagements in KP and Balochistan.

Rabia, who previously co-hosted a current affairs show alongside senior journalists Amir Mateen and Rauf Klasra, was found with a gunshot wound below her neck, City Police Officer (CPO) Hassan Sukhera told reporters on Sunday. Her husband was taken into custody following a complaint filed by her brother.

A first information report was registered at Saddar Beruni police station under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 2-A of the Punjab Arms Amendment Ordinance, 2015 on Sunday.

On Monday, the suspect was presented before Area Magistrate Talat Waheed by police, who sought seven days of physical custody for further investigation.

After hearing the police request, the magistrate approved one day of physical remand of the suspect, allowing investigators to interrogate him and pursue further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the anchorperson’s death.

Following the court’s order, police took the suspect into custody for further investigation.

The judge directed police to produce the suspect on Tuesday.

A day earlier, police said that a male domestic worker at their house informed them that the victim’s husband claimed the gunshot had been fired accidentally.

First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari had “exp­ressed deep sadness over the killing” and called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts and ensure that those responsible were held accountable.

Correction: A previous version of this story stated that police had been granted two-day physical remand of the suspect. The error is regretted.

Antonio Guterres made his plea as thousands of participants descended on a sprawling expo centre in the Turkish Mediterranean city of Antalya for the UN’s annual two-week climate conference.

The summit comes after a year of punishing heatwaves in Europe, major wildfires in Indonesia and catastrophic floods in Nepal, with an exceptionally strong El Nino weather phenomenon fuelling more climate chaos.

The summit comes after a year of punishing heatwaves in Europe, major wildfires in Indonesia and catastrophic floods in Nepal, with an exceptionally strong El Nino weather phenomenon fuelling more climate chaos.

“We have entered a new age of climate extremes,” Guterres said in a statement.

He urged leaders to “get serious by cutting emissions faster, accelerating a just transition from fossil fuels and delivering the finance and protection vulnerable countries need”.

The COP31 opening ceremony opened an hour-and-a-half late without explanation.

Negotiators had been locked in discussions late Sunday over demands by developing nations to include items on climate finance in the official agenda.

“This has already been a difficult start for COP31,” said Jasper Inventor, head of Greenpeace’s COP31 delegation.

Under UN climate agreements, developed countries, which are historically responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions, have provided financial support to help developing nations adapt to climate impacts and transition to cleaner energy. But poorer countries say the sums remain insufficient.

Inventor said developed countries were “taking a hard line” over whether to include a platform, agreed at COP30 in Brazil last year, aimed at discussing how wealthy nations should provide funds to developing nations.

African countries are also pushing for the agenda to include discussions on the tripling of adaptation finance, which aims to help poorer nations pay for measures such as building sea walls or planting drought-resistant crops.

But that point was not made a standalone agenda item.

A senior European Union official warned last week that there would be “no political will” for extra funding pledges at COP31.

Observers say few major breakthroughs are expected at COP31 as countries grapple with an oil price shock and geopolitical tensions fuelled by the US war with Iran and Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.

Hottest year?

As negotiators tussled in Antalya, the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation released a report indicating that 2026 has continued a streak of exceptional global temperatures, melting ice and rising sea levels.

The EU’s climate monitor warned last week that 2026 would most likely be the second-hottest year ever recorded, while scientists say 2027 could top the chart, fuelled by El Nino.

The long-term outlook is bleak: the UN warned in September that global temperatures were on course to exceed 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, breaching the most ambitious threshold set by the Paris Agreement.

“Global leaders must pull us back from the brink and commit to rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels and expanding renewable energy, an imperative reinforced by the current energy affordability crisis,” said Rachel Cleetus, climate programme director at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Fossil fuel fight

Turkiye is presiding over COP31, with Australia leading negotiations under an unusual arrangement that settled a dispute over who would host the conference.

The partners have branded the summit as the “implementation COP”, focusing on turning commitments into concrete action after years of pledges and ambitious announcements.

Turkiye is promoting an “action agenda” alongside the formal negotiations that encourages countries to support non-binding pledges on issues from artificial intelligence to waste management.

Its centrepiece is an “electrification” drive to raise the share of global energy demand met by electricity from around 20 per cent today to 35pc by 2035.

But the initiative could become a source of friction.

The EU has called for “clean” electrification, a term that could spark debate over the role of fossil fuels in the Turkish proposal.

Countries committed to transition away from fossil fuels in a landmark pact at COP28 in Dubai in 2023 but have struggled to agree on how to turn that pledge into action.

COP30 ended with a deal that made no explicit mention of fossil fuels after oil-producing countries opposed the language.

Instead, Brazil produced a voluntary “roadmap” with proposals for phasing out fossil fuels that each country can tailor to their circumstances.

Climate diplomacy is still missing a major player, as climate-sceptic President Donald Trump has not sent officials to COP31.

A US congressional delegation, however, will come to Antalya, with Democrats beaming after last week’s historic US midterm election win.

Public details are sparse about the woman, also known as Huang Le, who had reportedly been a top figure at a Singapore-based data centre company called Megaspeed International.

Here is what we know about her and the company.

Who is Alice Huang?

Alice Huang is a Chinese citizen recruited by Beijing to collect intelligence on the Nvidia boss, according to The New York Times, which first reported that Jensen Huang was the alleged target of a spy plot.

Despite their shared surname, Alice Huang is no relation to the 63-year-old Taiwan-born head of the world’s most valuable company.

The Times, citing people briefed on the surveillance, said that Alice Huang speaks good English and is well connected at the highest level of the global AI chip industry.

The sector is highly sensitive as the United States and China race to develop advanced AI systems with potential military applications.

An online search brought up a short profile for Alice Huang, with her photo, on a Chinese fund database. It listed previous jobs, including at HSBC Bank and as a reporter for Chinese media outlets CCTV and Hunan TV.

AFP was unable to verify the contents of the profile or who had written it, but has attempted to contact the companies cited.

How are the pair connected?

Media reports last week said they had a close relationship, and Jensen Huang told Nvidia employees on Nov 8 that he was “deeply sorry” for being “unfaithful to my wife”.

One photo from an industry party in 2024, posted on LinkedIn, appears to show the leather jacket-clad Nvidia boss sitting next to a long-haired woman in glitzy jewellery believed to be Alice Huang.

The following year, they both attended a dinner hosted by Jensen Huang at a Chinese restaurant in Taiwan during Computex, the island’s top tech expo.

Journalists stood outside the restaurant filming through glass windows and doors as Jensen Huang and a woman identified as Alice Huang, who was wearing a pink dress, mingled with other attendees.

At one point, Jensen Huang can be seen putting his arm around Alice Huang as she kisses him on the right cheek, press live streams show.

Alice Huang is also seen following the Nvidia chief as he re-enters the restaurant after talking to journalists outside, running her fingers down his lower back.

They later leave the restaurant in the same car.

What is Megaspeed?

US officials concluded in 2025 that Alice Huang was targeting Jensen Huang as a spy, according to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

At the time, Alice Huang was said to be a top executive at data centre firm Megaspeed International, which rents out computing power to other companies to train and run AI.

Megaspeed’s website says it is “a core business partner of Nvidia’s computing power cloud business in the Asia-Pacific region”.

On LinkedIn, it says it has offices in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, with around two to 10 employees and 25 “associated members”.

When AFP called the number listed on Megaspeed’s website, the person who answered said they were unfamiliar with the company and that the number was a residential line.

The firm was previously called 7Road International, according to the Singapore Government’s website, suggesting links to the Chinese gaming company 7Road.

Has Megaspeed helped China evade US restrictions on chips?

Washington restricts the export to China of Nvidia’s most cutting-edge silicon chips, citing national security concerns but also seen as a measure to stay ahead in AI.

The New York Times said the US government had been probing Megaspeed since 2024 over its potential steering of Nvidia chips to China.

The company has also reportedly been under investigation by the Singapore authorities, who, The Times says, questioned Alice Huang in 2025.

AFP has contacted Singapore’s police and the Home Affairs Ministry for comment.

In 2025, Bloomberg News also reported on the Singaporean probe into Megaspeed over the alleged smuggling of Nvidia chips to China.

In December 2025, Megaspeed said Bloomberg’s reporting “contains misleading information and incorrect insinuations, including suggestions that we may have been involved in illegal chip transfers”.

“I think if I was on the ballot, it would’ve been a much different situation because you saw the level of popularity and love,” he said on CBS News’ ‘60 minutes’ on Sunday.

“They didn’t like the war … there’s a great dislike, incredibly, for Israel. There seems to be a dislike for Israel. So you have that. You have the war itself. You have the gas prices. And I think those are the primary reasons,” he said.

Separately, he also cast doubt on renewed fighting with Iran, telling CNN it was “highly unlikely”.

Trump has threatened to resume strikes in recent weeks, with US media reports suggesting that hostilities could restart after last Tuesday’s midterm elections.

The president told CNN in an interview on Sunday that renewed fighting was “highly unlikely,” but warned that his decision “depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement.”

“I would if necessary, but we hit them really hard. I hit them so hard. You don’t know how hard I hit them,” he said.

Trump is scheduled to meet Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also the country’s foreign minister, at the White House on Monday.

The meeting will be Trump’s first with a foreign leader since a massive midterm loss that saw his Republican Party lose control of Congress.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested on Sunday that peace talks had been paused while the political fallout of the vote was being assessed.

“For the past few days, there has been no more travel (by mediators), and the reason for this is the shock that the election results in the United States have caused to everyone,” Araghchi told state television.

“We now have to see how long it will take for them to digest these results, in order to determine how we are going to move forward,” he added.

‘They had enough’

Trump has acknowledged that the highly unpopular war on Iran — which began with US-Israeli strikes in late February — was at least partially responsible for the Republicans’ defeat.

Araghchi said on Monday that the US president “clearly recognises that the vast majority of Americans are disgusted with Israel.”

“Americans are evidently sick and tired of Israel bamboozling US administrations into forever wars,” Araghchi said on X. “They had enough. So has our region.”

In Sunday’s CNN interview, Trump once again suggested that the economic pressure Iran is under will force its leaders into accepting the United States’ terms.

“They’re a failing nation. It just came out, you saw this year, 301 per cent inflation,” Trump claimed.

“They’re withering away financially. We’ve hit them militarily. We could finish them off.”

Iran’s official figures put inflation at nearly 90pc year-on-year in September.

Iranian state television said the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz was attacked overnight on Sunday, hours after the official IRNA news agency reported two explosions there.

Various regional powers, including Qatar and Pakistan, have been trying for months without success to bring a definitive halt to the war.

Outright fighting has largely subsided, but Iran continues in its efforts to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, vital to global energy supplies, while the US Navy maintains its own counterblockade of Iranian ports.

Hasina, whose 15-year rule was ended by a mass uprising she tried to crush, has vowed to return in December to Bangladesh, where she was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity over the 2024 crackdown on protesters.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters on Monday that authorities were looking into Hasina’s request for a new passport, adding that she was a convicted offender who had taken refuge abroad.

“The legal basis of the application, whether it followed due process, and whether there is a right to apply for a passport — all those matters are being reviewed,” he said.

“We had already sent a letter to that country (India) seeking her extradition through due process,” he added.

Hasina’s British lawyers have requested to renew her documents after the “reported revocation” of her passport.

A letter by law firm Matrix Chambers, addressed to Bangladesh’s high commission in New Delhi and seen by AFP, requested her passport renewal — but made no mention of when or where she planned to travel.

Md Aminul Islam, chief prosecutor of the court that sentenced Hasina to death in November 2025, dismissed the application as “nothing but a political stunt”.

Hasina has said several times she intends to return, telling AFP in an email that she was “fully aware” she faced being hanged.

She has told Reuters she plans to return to surrender before a court, and her aides said on Monday the date would be announced once various formalities were completed.

Humaiun Kobir, Bangladesh’s junior foreign minister, said she should simply surrender herself to face justice.

“Let her tell India: ‘Yes, there is an extradition treaty. Please hand me over. I killed this many people, and I am ready to face the sentence. Please execute me there’,” he told reporters.

“She is a thief, a bandit and a terrorist who fled… How could she, having fled, want to come back?”

‘Trying to create panic’

Hasina fled to old ally India in 2024, and has not been seen in public since but has taken part in online news conferences by telephone.

She was convicted and sentenced in absentia.

Her continued presence in India has strained ties between Dhaka and New Delhi, which says the extradition request is under legal review.

The government of Tarique Rahman, whose party won elections in February in which Hasina’s Awami League was barred from contesting, has said it would ensure the former prime minister receives due legal process in all cases against her should she return.

“In view of the reported revocation of her existing Bangladeshi passport and National Identity Card (NID) by the interim government and other authorities, I respectfully request that you take the necessary steps to issue a new Bangladeshi passport and national identity card for our client,” Hasina’s lawyers at London-based Matrix Chambers wrote to Preeti Rahman, acting high commissioner at Bangladesh’s embassy in Delhi.

The letter asked for the applications to be processed “expeditiously” on the basis of her Bangladeshi nationality and in accordance with “obligations arising under international human rights instruments”.

But Hasina’s pledge to return presents a political challenge for Rahman’s government.

Many Bangladeshis want to see her hanged, while others fear her return could galvanise her former supporters and trigger a fresh confrontation between rival camps.

Police on Monday said they had arrested 12 people for a series of petrol bomb attacks, including against property, an empty bus and police vehicles this month, without causing any casualties.

Dhaka police spokesman Md Akhtar Hossain said the suspects were members of Hasina’s banned Awami League party.

“They are trying to create panic among people,” he told AFP. “We are remaining vigilant to deal with any untoward situation.”

The IQAir live global major city ranking for 9am to 10am on Nov 9 placed Lahore at the top, followed by Ulaanbaatar with an AQI of 177, Delhi with 174, Kolkata with 173 and Sarajevo with 170.

The ranking showed Lahore’s pollution level to be more than three times that of the second-ranked city. The platform’s historical air quality graph separately displayed an hourly reading of 647 for Lahore during the same period.

According to global health statistics, air pollution, both outdoor and indoor, is the second-leading risk factor for deaths worldwide, claiming an estimated 8.1 million lives annually. Outdoor particulate matter alone accounts for 4.7m deaths.

Within Lahore, air pollution is affecting several neighbourhoods. IQAir’s station ranking for the city shows multiple areas experiencing extremely poor air quality. Allama Iqbal Town recorded an AQI of 1,033, while CERP Office (864) and Burki Road Paragon (748) also reported hazardous levels. Hourly historical graphs indicate that pollution levels rise sharply during the early morning and late-night hours, creating dense smog that forces residents to remain indoors.

The crisis is not confined to Lahore. Other parts of Punjab are also experiencing hazardous air quality. IQAir’s real-time Pakistan city ranking showed Raiwind (688), Multan (655), Lahore (639) and Faisalabad (600) all recording air quality levels in the hazardous category.

The deterioration came a day after the Punjab government warned that smoke from Diwali fireworks in neighbouring Indian Punjab, crop-residue burning and easterly winds could aggravate air pollution in Lahore and adjoining districts.

A special report issued by the provincial government on Nov 8 had predicted that smoke from Diwali fireworks could reach Lahore within five to 13 hours. It forecast an increase in pollution levels in Lahore, Kasur and border areas on the morning of Nov 9, as easterly winds were expected to carry polluted air from Indian territory towards Pakistan.

The report identified fireworks, crop-residue burning and stagnant air during the night as factors that could contribute to a deterioration in air quality.

The Punjab government had forecast that pollution levels would remain high on Nov 9 and 10, with a slight improvement expected from Nov 11.

Amritsar, located around 50 kilometres from Lahore, was identified as a potential source of cross-border pollution. However, a measurement-based assessment would be required to establish how much of Lahore’s pollution could be attributed to fireworks and other sources across the border.

Indian media reports also highlighted deteriorating air quality after Diwali celebrations in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala. The AQI in Mandi Gobindgarh reportedly reached 445, while New Delhi also experienced a sharp increase in pollution following the fireworks.

Later in the day, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Lahore’s AQI reading had dropped to 208.

“Despite pollution from Diwali fireworks across the border, air quality is improving thanks to the sustained efforts of Punjab government agencies, improved weather conditions, effective smog control operations, better wind speeds and continuous field monitoring,” she wrote on X.

All relevant agencies remain actively deployed in the field, the minister added, urging the public to fully cooperate with enforcement bodies and follow advisories.

“Clean and healthy air is our top priority.”

As of 7pm, IQAir showed Lahore’s AQI index had dropped to 196, still categorised as unhealthy.

Air pollution worsened by agri fires

The Punjab government’s report recorded 2,347 incidents of crop-residue burning in Indian Punjab up to Nov 4. Of these, 1,081 were reported in three districts — Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Amritsar — located opposite Lahore and Kasur. These accounted for 46 per cent of the reported incidents in Indian Punjab.

However, satellite-based fire detections indicate that agricultural fires are also a major concern in Pakistan. An analysis by Hamari Hawa using NASA’s VIIRS satellite data recorded 13,241 fire detections in Pakistani Punjab, compared with 3,158 in Indian Punjab, between Oct 1 and 29, 2026, showing more than four times as many detections on the Pakistani side. The analysis found that 92 per cent of the detections in Pakistani Punjab were on farmland.

A separate analysis covering Oct 15 to Nov 1 identified 7,130 crop-associated fire detections within a 100-kilometre radius of Lahore on both sides of the border, including 781 within 40 kilometres of central Lahore.

The district-wise figures included 322 detections in Sheikhupura, 149 in Tarn Taran, 106 in Amritsar, 77 in Nankana Sahib, 62 in Lahore and 50 in Kasur. These satellite detections indicate fire activity and should not be treated as individually verified crop-burning incidents.

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab, meanwhile, reported 679 agricultural fire incidents across the province, of which 650 had been extinguished through coordinated surveillance and firefighting operations. The agency said it had intensified its crackdown on stubble burning by deploying specialised night squads, drones, tractor-mounted fire bowsers and Quick Response Units in agricultural hotspots.

According to the EPA, the Punjab Climate Watch Hub was using satellite-based fire-anomaly detection to identify vulnerable locations and alert district field formations for on-ground verification and firefighting. The campaign was being conducted in districts including Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Kasur, Sialkot, Sargodha and Gujranwala.

EPA Director General Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh has directed regional directors and field formations to prioritise anti-stubble-burning operations and personally monitor enforcement. He has also conducted surprise inspections along motorway corridors and GT roads to assess surveillance and firefighting arrangements.

The EPA said its operations against agricultural burning were being reinforced through coordination with district administrations and Agriculture Department officials, while legal action was being taken against those involved in illegal crop-residue burning.

The provincial government’s report also noted that Lahore’s nighttime PM2.5 concentration had already reached 202 micrograms per cubic metre before Diwali. It said prevailing weather conditions had increased the likelihood of pollution from fireworks and agricultural fires accumulating and spreading.

The Environment Protection Department is expected to release comparative findings on Nov 10 to assess the contributions of different pollution sources and weather conditions. Such an assessment would be important in establishing the extent of cross-border pollution and distinguishing it from emissions generated within Punjab.

The Gaza government media office said on Sunday that at least 70,000 tents had been flooded in the past 12 hours, affecting tens of thousands of displaced people and causing injuries, although no fatalities had been reported. The rains and subsequent flooding has also washed away shelters, according to authorities.

Gaza’s civil defence service said it had received 1,500 distress calls from displaced residents.

Municipal and civil defence officials ​said they were unable to cope with the storm because of fuel shortages and damage to equipment. They said Israel had destroyed hundreds ​of vehicles, including bulldozers and others used to pump water, during its assault on the territory.

PM Shehbaz said photos from Gaza had been “heart rending”, with tents being flooded and Gazan children, with nowhere to go, being trapped and subject to starvation and extreme cold.

“I have directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pursue all possible means to escalate humanitarian assistance urgently,” he posted on X.

The premier added that he was also “deeply concerned about continued Israeli illegal actions to deny basic humanitarian assistance to the brave Palestinian people of Gaza”.

“I strongly condemn these violations of the ceasefire and international law, and this continued aggression toward the Palestinian people.”

Gaza has been subjected to Israeli assault for long, particularly following an attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct 7, 2023. Palestinian authorities say more than 74,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its assault on the territory.

Last year’s US-brokered Gaza ceasefire calls for ​the eventual reconstruction of the territory. But little progress has been made towards implementing a deal and Israel continues to violate the ceasefire.

Israeli forces still hold more than 60 per cent of the territory and conduct almost daily airstrikes, while Hamas controls most of the area where more than two million Palestinians live, ​mostly in temporary shelters with what aid agencies call inadequate aid supplies.

A majority of Gazans are dependent on aid supplies, following three years of Israeli assault, repeated ​displacement and severe restrictions imposed by Israel on aid deliveries.

Heavy rains and flooding has worsened their condition.

On Sunday, at a tent encampment in Gaza City, some people tried to repair their tents, while others ​used sand to reinforce them and prevent water from entering. Some were busy getting their children out ⁠of flooded tents.

Olfat Magdoub, a Gaza resident, tried in vain to sweep water away from her tent.

“This is the first day of ​rain, and of course we are already flooded. What will happen if it rains again the next day? This is only the ​first day and we’re already overwhelmed,” said the woman.

“Two weeks ago when it rained, I swear to God, I spent four days sleeping on blankets spread on the floor because the rainwater had flooded the bedding. Same now, the mattresses are wet so we sleep on the ground.”

Another resident, Rafiq Ghattas, standing barefoot in the middle of ​a large pool of rainwater, said: “We have no resources, no tarpaulins, no tents and no one is ⁠checking on ​us.”

Born in Sialkot in 1877, Iqbal was a distinguished poet, a scholar, a gifted philosopher and Pakistan’s ideological founder. It was at the Allahabad session of the Muslim League in 1930 that Iqbal became the first politician to articulate the two-nation theory that ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.

Last week, the federal government announced November 9 as a public holiday on account of Iqbal Day. A Change of Guards ceremony was held at Iqbal’s mausoleum in Lahore on Monday morning, Radio Pakistan reported.

In his message, the prime minister said that Iqbal was responsible for awakening political consciousness among the Muslims of the subcontinent, inspiring them to recognise and assert their distinct national identity.

“This consciousness of a separate identity played a pivotal role in their historic struggle for the creation of an independent homeland,” the premier wrote.

“Allama Iqbal was a person of exceptional intellectual stature and profound wisdom. The enduring thought of this eminent philosopher and visionary continues to broaden intellectual horizons and foster the intellectual growth of our youth and future generations.”

PM Shehbaz further stated that Iqbal, as a distinguished philosopher of Islam, explored the intellectual dimensions of Islamic teachings.

“His Islamic thought continues to offer meaningful and practical guidance to Muslims in their individual and collective lives.”

The premier also announced that the government will be holding a year-long commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Iqbal, culminating on November 9, 2027.

“A comprehensive programme of national and international events is being formally launched, featuring international conferences, academic and research seminars, literary festivals, exhibitions, educational competitions and cultural activities.

“These commemorative initiatives aim to preserve and transmit Iqbal’s rich intellectual legacy to future generations.”

He further added that the government remained committed to ensuring that Iqbal’s philosophy was a part of the education system and national discourse as well as development priorities.

“Intellectual awakening, character building and collective renewal must, undoubtedly, form an essential part of our national objectives.”

Speaking of Iqbal’s concept of Khudi (selfhood), the prime minister said that it taught that “Individuals and nations can transform their destinies through self-realisation, purposeful endeavour and spiritual emancipation.”

PM Shehbaz further stated that Iqbal had regarded youth as “architects of the nation’s future.”

“His concept of the Shaheen (falcon) embodies courage, independence, lofty aspirations and an unwavering pursuit of excellence.”

PM Shehbaz said that Iqbal’s thoughts spoke of peace, social harmony, tolerance, and justice as “indispensable pillars of sustainable national development.”

“His philosophy of life categorically rejects hatred, extremism, sectarianism and discrimination.”

He also noted that Iqbal’s message of “muslim unity, universal brotherhood and peaceful coexistence” held relevance on an international level. He added that Pakistan will continue to work on developing unity and solidarity among the Muslim ummah and the resolution of international disputes.

“Allama Iqbal’s timeless message, rooted in individual, national and universal values, continues to illuminate our path and serve as a guiding beacon for the nation.”

Concluding his statement, the prime minister pledged to renew resolve to deepen the understanding of Iqbal’s message, promote “rigorous” scholarly research into his thought, foster creative thinking and strengthen our national character.

Must take inspiration from Iqbal’s poetry to boost ‘spirit of inquiry, develop critical faculties’

President Zardari also spoke of Iqbal’s role in developing political consciousness among the Muslims of the subcontinent as he paid tribute to the poet, urging the country’s youth to take inspiration from Iqbal’s poetry “as a catalyst to boost the spirit of inquiry, develop critical faculties.”

“Iqbal gave intellectual direction to the aspirations of the Muslims of the Subcontinent. His poetry also spoke to a wider human struggle: the pursuit of freedom, equality and a life of self-respect,” a statement issued by the president’s office quoted him as saying.

He continued: “Iqbal envisioned a society in which wealth, privilege and inherited status would no longer determine a person’s worth or opportunities.”

The statement added that Iqbal’s poetry sought to challenge exploitation, awaken the poor, and uphold the dignity of labour.

President Zardari stressed that Iqbal’s vision called to “build a Pakistan where the worker receives a fair wage, the farmer enjoys the fruits of his labour, and every child can learn and advance, regardless of family circumstances, gender or faith”.

He also spoke of Khudi, stressing that “national self-respect demands the capacity to make independent decisions, develop our own strengths and engage with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect.”

“For me, fidelity to Iqbal’s vision means building a Pakistan where no citizen’s dignity is diminished by poverty, no child’s future is limited by birth, and our nation stands among others with confidence and self-respect,” the president was quoted as saying.

He further stated that Iqbal’s vision had gained renewed significance as the region looked towards the “dawn of an Asian century”.

“The promise of that century must reach beyond economic growth to embrace freedom from hunger, access to knowledge and opportunity, and respect for the sovereignty of nations. Pakistan must help realise this promise through education, scientific progress, regional cooperation and peace.”

President Zardari urged the youth to translate Iqbal’s concept of Khudi into “confidence rooted in knowledge, national self-respect into hard work to transform Pakistan into a developed and strong nation, and the ideal of equality into justice in everyday life.”

“This is how we can honour Iqbal and fulfil the promise of Pakistan.”

About 800 pharmaceutical companies and more than 90,000 medicines were registered with Drap, Sajid Shah, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Health Services, told Dawn.

Shah said Drap had set up a 2D barcode system that allows consumers to scan medicine packs and ensure they receive safe, high-quality and effective products.

The centralised track-and-trace system for pharmaceutical products distributed across Pakistan became operational on October 9, he added.

Furthermore, according to the spokesperson, the system will enable authorities to track medicine supply chains and make it easier to recall products in case of complaints or quality issues. People with smartphones will also be able to scan barcodes to view product details and prices.

The idea of introducing a barcode system was first proposed in 2015. It was approved by the federal cabinet in 2017; however, bureaucratic delays prevented its implementation.

Earlier, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, taking notice of the delay, announced that the system would be launched as soon as possible.

Earlier this year, Drap had set October 1 as the cut-off date for launching the barcode system to curb the sale of counterfeit and expired medicines and eradicate black marketing.

Shah said the Ministry of National Health Services was “dedicated” to ensuring that citizens had access to high-quality and effective therapeutic products.

Trump said White, a prominent supporter, “loves the idea” of taking the job but insisted he had not been serious about the prospect, describing the suggestion as “just a little fun”.

“I will tell you, I was only kidding,” Trump told reporters, explaining that he had posted photographs of prominent UFC fighters as potential assistants to White as part of the joke.

In Saturday’s post, Trump described White as a “violent Fighter and Warrior” and suggested he bring several current or former UFC champions to serve as assistants, saying they were needed to “defend us against the Lunatic Left”.

Trump said White would visit him at the White House on Monday, but added that the meeting was planned for other reasons.

White, who has led the UFC for more than two decades, has been a close Trump ally and helped mobilise support for his 2024 presidential campaign.

He has also appeared alongside Trump at several political events and helped bring UFC fights to the White House lawn this year.

“They’re spreading pollution: up in the sky there are no borders, it can affect anywhere,” the 43-year-old said, describing areas far larger than his village of 800 people.

“This is a problem for the whole world — that is why it should be resolved at the global level.”

Khoso and 38 other farmers from Sindh who were devastated by “apocalyptic” flooding in 2022 are suing German energy firm RWE and cement maker Heidelberg Materials in a rare bid to make big polluters pay damages for climate impacts.

The companies are being targeted not over specific operations in Pakistan, but because of their climate-warming emissions. They are headquartered in Germany, where a recent legal case opened the door to such suits.

The litigation argues that the companies’ emissions contributed to climate change and turbo-charged rain that wiped out their crops, livestock and homes.

“The year 2022 was an apocalyptic scene — not even our elders had ever witnessed such weather,” Khoso, who lives in the district of Jacobabad with his wife and toddler, told AFP.

“We had nothing left.”

Both firms, which the plaintiffs estimate contributed 0.68 per cent and 0.12pc to global industrial emissions respectively, deny wrongdoing.

Khoso’s case is backed by Pakistani and European organisations hoping to win compensation and build on nascent but vigorous international efforts to extract climate damages from corporations.

“We always blame natural disasters, and sometimes we blame God, but science tells us that climate change is increasing the risks and intensity of extreme weather events,” said Mir Keerio, a development expert at HANDS Welfare Foundation, which mobilised communities for the lawsuit.

“Those who have contributed significantly to this crisis must be held accountable … we realised we must take our fight for climate justice to the major polluters.”

Debt and damages

Climate litigation is a growing field globally, but action has so far largely targeted governments, with only a handful of firms such as Shell and cement maker Holcim facing suits for climate disaster compensations.

Lawyers say a ruling requiring a company to pay out compensation proportionate to its greenhouse gas emissions would mark a major breakthrough.

Germany’s judiciary moved towards that principle last year in a case brought by a Peruvian farmer, also against RWE.

His compensation claim was rejected, but the courts left the door open to holding emitters liable.

Roda Verheyen, a German lawyer involved in both cases, told AFP the farmers’ lawsuit builds on that ruling and further accuses companies of “wrongful behaviour”.

“Large companies knew about the general impacts of climate change since the 1960s,” said Verheyen.

“They should have exercised due diligence and actually at least tried to reduce emissions, which they didn’t do enough.”

The lawsuit also draws on research documenting farmers’ losses in the floods, which hit a third of the country, killed 1,700 and affected 30 million.

Munawar Khatoon, a rare female landowner in a conservative area, said the floods struck just before the wheat harvest, submerging seeds and wiping out her family’s main source of income.

“We worry about how the next generation will manage to live if this continues,” the 43-year-old told AFP in her village Usman Samtio. “Now when the rainy season comes, we feel fear.”

In nearby Dadu district, litigant Abdul Khalique Laghari said the floods affected the region for years.

“To this day, we are unable to repay our debt,” said the 55-year-old, who estimates he lost $14,000 in assets including his house, 40 acres (16 hectares) of crops and livestock.

“When we wake in the morning, we start getting calls from the people we owe money to,” he said, pointing to crumbling walls and the remnants of flood-damaged houses.

“This has caused us serious mental harm.”

‘For justice’

RWE and Heidelberg Materials both call the claims in the suit “unfounded”.

Heidelberg Materials told AFP its operations were compliant with German laws and that firms could not be expected to retroactively face different standards.

RWE referred AFP to a statement describing the lawsuit as “yet another attempt to shift climate policy demands to German courtrooms”.

“It would be a contradiction in terms if the state allowed CO2 emissions, regulated them by law and even demanded them in some cases, but at the same time allowed retroactive civil liability for them,” it said.

Even if the case succeeds, an uphill battle remains for millions across Pakistan, ranked among the countries most affected by climate change despite contributing less than one per cent of global emissions.

The case will be considered in a civil process likely to take years. But for the litigants, the attempt is worth it.

“This case is for justice,” said Khatoon. “We hold these companies responsible for our destruction.”

Header image: This photograph taken on July 27, 2026 shows Gul Hassan Babar, one of the 39 farmers pursuing a climate lawsuit in Heidelberg against German energy firm RWE and cement producer Heidelberg Material for climate-warming emissions and over losses incurred during the 2022 floods, walking across his agricultural field at Baid Sharif village in Dadu district. — AFP

Huang said in a message to employees that he had been unfaithful to his wife and took “full responsibility” for his actions, while Nvidia said the CEO was committed to continuing to lead the company without interruption.

The developments are likely to pressure the chipmaker’s stock, which has already fallen sharply amid worries about the AI boom’s sustainability, and may also raise questions about Huang’s future at the helm of the company he co-founded, analysts said.

The New York Times reported last month that Huang had a relationship with Alice Huang, an unrelated former executive of Singapore-based company Megaspeed, who US authorities investigated and concluded was a Chinese intelligence asset.

US authorities have scrutinised Megaspeed, which buys AI chips from Nvidia, over suspicions it helped Beijing gain access to advanced AI chips that are barred from shipment to China.

“The NVIDIA Board is initiating an independent investigation in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. A committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel, will oversee the investigation,” Nvidia said.

The company said on Sunday that while its board had no reason to believe that either US national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, its inquiry would examine all available information.

The board has confidence in the CEO and his leadership team, Nvidia said, adding that Huang fully supports the review and has committed to cooperating with it.

The developments have been met with ire in China, where the foreign ministry on Monday branded the reports “entirely baseless vilification and smearing”.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had not spoken to Huang about the allegations, but called him a fine person. “I hope everything’s fine. He’s done such an incredible job,” he added.

When asked if he believed he should have acted on intelligence when he was briefed about it, Trump said: “No, I don’t think so. I think he’s an honourable guy. I think he probably has an excuse for it. You have to hear it.”

The New York Times had reported that Trump was briefed about the intelligence findings roughly a year ago and chose not to do anything with the information.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on Huang when asked by reporters earlier in the evening.

Megaspeed did not respond immediately to a request for comment outside business hours.

Huang said on Sunday that he was “committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America’s national security”.

Huang admitted to having been unfaithful to his wife, saying, “My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”

Addressing his colleagues, board, partners and shareholders, Huang said: “My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have fallen short of that responsibility. I am fully committed to NVIDIA and will work to earn back your confidence.”

China’s state-run Global Times questioned why the story had emerged soon after “the hard-won detente” between Beijing and Washington, following a meeting between the two countries’ presidents in September.

“Is someone behind the scenes pushing an agenda and stirring up confrontation?” a Global Times editorial published on Monday asked.

“If this logic of ‘presumed guilt’ is allowed to spread unchecked,” it warned, technology and trade exchanges would be hindered.

But on the streets of Beijing, people interviewed by AFP were mostly unaware of Huang’s affair and expressed scepticism at claims that he was linked to a Chinese spy.

One man surnamed Ma said that he did not think Huang’s affair was “a big deal”, doubting the incident would affect a potential meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the APEC summit next week.

Wen, a 56-year-old retiree, told AFP it was “a real shame” for Huang to have been caught cheating, as the entrepreneur is widely admired in China for his success in an “extremely critical” part of the tech industry.

Piling pressure on Nvidia

The investigation adds to pressure on Nvidia at a time investors are already pulling back amid uncertainty over the sustainability of the booming AI market that made the chipmaker one of the world’s most valuable companies.

The $4.5 trillion chipmaker’s shares have given up all their gains this year amid a broader tech market rout triggered by worries over the pace of AI spending.

Huang, who has led Nvidia for more than three decades, has been central to its rise to become a dominant supplier of AI chips.

“There is clearly risk that Jensen could be removed as CEO depending on the Board investigation and this will add risk to the stock as he is so important to the Nvidia story and strategy globally,” said Dan Ives, partner and senior managing director at Yorkville Ives & Co.

“This is a black eye moment for Jensen and will spark multiple congressional inquiries at a minimum and will create an overhang on the stock,” Ives said, adding that the news would also increase scrutiny about selling chips to China.

In late October, Huang had told Bloomberg News that his relationship and interactions with Alice Huang were related to Megaspeed and were “completely normal and not unusual”.

Josh Gilbert, lead analyst at trading platform eToro, said Huang’s fingerprints were on every part of the company’s rise, so any doubt over his position would matter to shareholders.

“While the investigation is likely to dent sentiment, it won’t alter anything long-term unless it leads to a change at the top, at which point it becomes a completely different ball game,” Gilbert added.

Top Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives had already called on Huang to brief Congress this month about the New York Times report.

The report raises “significant national security concerns regarding [China’s] access to sensitive US technology and information”, the lawmakers said in a letter dated November 4.

“It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which US national security has been placed at risk,” they added.

US export controls since 2022 have sought to restrict China’s access to advanced Nvidia chips and the equipment needed to make them.

Last month, a set pattern of vilification and persecution played out in central Delhi: 700 Muslim homes in three colonies were demolished, and 717 families forcibly moved to the outskirts. Saved by advocacy, the prime target — another mosque listed as a heritage structure — stands in the middle of the rubble.

Mr Modi’s silence throughout his reign of fear shows his endorsement of hate. In fact, BJP-linked vigilantes who deliver hostile speeches and perpetrate hate crimes are rewarded with a higher station by the party.

For over a decade, Indian society at large has shown little discomfort with this base approach. Israeli-style policing and surveillance and a willingness to remove Muslims and their identity have gained momentum in the country because of the lack of internal checks and the silence of the majority. This attitude reeks of bigotry towards minorities and the lower castes.

The world, too, has looked the other way. While lately, a youth wave, alongside a far more determined opposition, has attempted to stir India’s conscience, years of communalism and ghettoisation, amplified by a servile media, are difficult to erase. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination advised India to address hate speech, discrimination, and hate crimes, refrain from hounding Rohingya, Bengali Muslims, and migrants, and respect freedoms.

However, it will take some time before greater political consciousness prevails, and minorities and other vulnerable sections are mobilised enough to reclaim their space, history, and rights. India is a lesson for the rest of the world to choose leaders wisely.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2026

SIALKOT / KARACHI: As a debate around the possible creation of new administrative units rages in the country, another federal minister on Sunday voiced his support for the proposal, but warned against carving out units on linguistic, ethnic or political lines.

Outspoken Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who has previously voiced his support for the suggestion — first put forward by his cabinet colleague Mohsin Naqvi — said that the existing concentration of authority in provincial capitals was preventing government services and resources from reaching people at the local level.

Speaking to Geo News, Mr Asif said the idea of creating new provinces had been debated for the past two months, stressing that the country could have as many as 12 if the exercise was driven by administrative needs rather than linguistic, ethnic or political considerations.

He argued that Pakistan’s growing population called for smaller administrative units capable of delivering public services more effectively, adding that decision-making should not be confined to provincial capitals such as Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar.

Stressing the need to bring administrative authority closer to the people, Mr Asif also questioned the existing arrangement for distributing financial resources, insisting that funds provided by the federal government remained largely under the control of provincial administrations, instead of reaching local government institutions.

He maintained that local bodies, which were supposed to benefit from these resources, continued to depend on provincial governments for funds and authority.

The minister also urged political leaders to change their attitude towards the exercise of power, saying that as politicians, there was a temptation to exercise all the power themselves.

Public representatives must remember that their authority was entrusted to them by the people, he said.

Referring to past administrative arrangements, Mr Asif recalled the One Unit scheme, under which the provinces of West Pakistan were merged into a single administrative unit before the arrangement was eventually abolished.

He also pointed to Afghanistan, saying the number of its provinces had increased from around eight or 10 to more than 30.

The defence minister’s remarks come amid reports of a plan to divide Pakistan into 12 provinces through a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment, with a nationwide referendum also being contemplated.

Media reports suggested that the proposed restructuring could involve dividing Punjab into four provinces, KP and Balochistan into three each, and Sindh into two.

MQM-P renews demand

Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Mov­e­ment-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Sunday vowed to mobilise its entire organisational network and parliamentary leadership for the upcoming local government elections eyeing a “historic win”, while renewing its demand for the creation of new administrative units in Sindh to ensure the devolution of powers and resources to the grassroots level.

The resolve was expressed at a high-level meeting of the party’s political and administrative leadership, chaired by MQM-P Convener and Federal Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui at its Bahadurabad headquarters.

According to a press release, the meeting discussed a strategy to address the long-standing grievances of urban Sindh, accelerate Karachi’s development and prepare for upcoming political and local government contests.

The party leadership stressed that the establishment of new administrative units was essential to empower people at the grassroots level and ensure the equitable provision of basic municipal services.

It maintained that the devolution of authority and resources to lower tiers of government was necessary to address the administrative and civic challenges facing urban centres.

Dr Siddiqui directed parliamentarians and organisational departments to become actively involved at the neighbourhood level and mobilise workers and residents across the city ahead of the local government elections.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr Siddiqui said ending the deprivation of urban Sindh, establishing new administrative units and winning the local government elections were among the party’s foremost priorities.

“The reconstruction and development of Karachi and other major urban centres of Sindh, transparent utilisation of public funds and the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights remained at the heart of the party’s political agenda,” a statement issued after the meeting quoted him as saying.

He added that no political or administrative obstacle would be allowed to stand in the way of public welfare and development.

The meeting also underscored the party’s determination to “restore the rightful representation of urban communities in local governance through electoral success and a stronger grassroots organisational presence”.

Imran Ayub in Karachi also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2026

Chairing a meeting to review progress and implementation of the PM’s Youth Business and Agriculture Loan schemes on Sunday, the prime minister directed that the personal loan limit be enhanced from Rs7.5 million to Rs25m, which would be provided in easy installments.

According to the PM’s Office, an amount of Rs 292 billion has been allocated this year for disbursement of loans to the youth under these schemes.

Personal loan limit enhanced to Rs25m; scheme extended to include 18-year-olds

PM Shehbaz appreciated the efforts of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and his team, and considered various measures to empower the youth, provide them with business opportunities and increase their participation in the agricultural sector.

The PM directed that 30pc of loans be allocated to women, so that they can become economically independent and increase their participation in business activities.

He also ordered that the minimum age limit for obtaining loans be reduced from 21 years to 18 years, so that young people can be provided with opportunities to start businesses and participate in agricultural activities at an early age.

PM Shehbaz also called on the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) to provide all possible assistance to the youth under the scheme, including business start-up guidance, consultancy and technical assistance.

The meeting was told that since January 2023, loans have been provided to 581,341 young people, worth around Rs 313.9 billion. It is estimated that Rs292bn will be disbursed to 266,700 recipients during the fiscal year 2026-27.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Aurangzeb, SAPM on Youth Affairs Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan and SAPM on Political Affairs Talha Burki.

Separately, Federal Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Harraj called on PM Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday. According to the PM’s Office, the two men discussed matters of mutual interest and the country’s political and economic situation.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz said he was deeply saddened by the tragic shooting incident in Krakow, which has resulted in the loss of precious human lives and left several others injured.

“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people and Government of Poland in this moment of profound grief,” he wrote on X.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2026