Category: National

Amid growing psychological issues and suicidal tendencies in younger generation, Punjab Safe Cities has formally introduced a suicide hotline, keeping over 2,700 people from taking their lives in outgoing 2025, it has been reported.

“Keeping in view the growing psychological issues and suicidal tendencies in younger generation, Punjab Safe Cities has introduced special helpline,” Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz said in a post on X.

*Suicide Helpline*

Keeping in view the growing pshychological issues and suicidal tendencies in younger generation, Punjab Safe Cities has introduced special helpline.

Now immediate psychological help can be sought by pressing Option 7 on Emergency 15 system, where Safe Cities… https://t.co/cLCvf4Y3Th

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 22, 2026

She added that immediate psychological help can now be sought by pressing ‘7’ on emergency helpline ‘15’, where Safe Cities officers and expert psychologists will help the callers immediately.

“Safe Cities has rescued 2700 people from attempting suicide in the year 2025,” she added.

The announcement comes days after the suicide of a private university’s student in Lahore made headlines. The student, who jumped off a varsity building, was reportedly suffering from academic pressure and financial stress.

Days later, a female student at the same institute also jumped off a building, reportedly over her family’s refusal to let her marry of her own choice.

Several other cases of suicide have also been reported over the past couple of months, including that of a man in Phularwan area of Sargodha, who committed murder-suicide by jumping into a canal with his three-year-old daughter.

On Thursday, an estranged man also shot and killed his father- and mother-in-law and two minor children in Pind Mehri village of Hassanabdal before committing suicide.

Dolmen Mall Karachi has announced it will provide complimentary exhibition space and kiosks to Gul Plaza retailers as they work to rebuild their businesses following the devastating fire that killed at least 60 people last week.

“Supporting our retail community in times of need. We are offering complimentary exhibition space/kiosk to Gul Plaza retailers at Dolmen Mall Tariq Road and Dolmen Mall Hyderi as they work toward rebuilding their businesses. Together, we grow stronger,” read a social media post by the mall.

The gesture comes as retailers from Gul Plaza struggle to recover from the tragedy that destroyed the shopping centre on Saturday.

The fire broke out at the rear end of the plaza at around 10 pm and emergency responders arrived minutes later, however, the fire could not be controlled for the following two days since spreading to the front of the plaza within 11 minutes.

Preliminary investigation into the incident has dismissed earlier claims of a short-circuit and suggested that the fire started at an artificial flower shop where children were possibly playing with matches or lighters.

Flames engulfed products in the shop before spreading to electrical wiring, allowing the blaze to quickly move through the building. 

According to reports, at least 60 people died in the blaze while more than 80 remain unaccounted for.

While authorities are identifying burnt remains recovered from the debris through DNA testing, probe also noted that panic and overcrowding occurred as people rushed to exit points, with several gates reportedly closed and metal grills blocking the roof.

The building’s CCTV system was destroyed, reports said, but investigators have recorded statements from eyewitnesses and affected individuals.

A preliminary investigation report has come to light, outlining how the Gul Plaza fire unfolded, tracing the sequence of events that led to one of the city’s deadliest fires in over a decade.

Reports quoted sources as saying the fire began at an artificial flower shop inside the shopping centre, where children were reportedly present. Sources suggested it is possible the fire was triggered while children were playing with matches or lighters.

The report indicated that flames initially engulfed products in the shop before spreading to electrical wiring, allowing the blaze to quickly move through the building. According to the investigation, at least 60 people died, while more than 80 remain unaccounted for.

Burnt remains recovered from the debris are being identified through DNA testing. The probe also noted that panic and overcrowding happened as people rushed to exit points, with several gates reportedly closed and metal grills on the roof.

The building’s CCTV system was destroyed, the sources said, but investigators have recorded statements from eyewitnesses and affected individuals.

Using available footage, reports quoted sources as saying the fire broke out at the rear of the plaza at 10:07pm on Saturday, January 17. 

Emergency responders arrived around 10:12pm, while flames became visible from the MA Jinnah road side, the front side of the plaza by 10:18pm, spreading from the back to the front in approximately 11 minutes.

A notification circulating on social media has sparked confusion among students in Punjab, claiming that public and private colleges and universities in the province have ended attendance requirements.

The document, dated January 17, 2026, states that higher education institutions have been instructed not to prevent students from appearing in examinations or securing admissions on the basis of attendance shortages. It further claims that institutions have been barred from imposing fines or penalties linked to attendance.

According to the notification, strict legal and administrative action would be taken against institutions that fail to comply with the directive. The document carries the name and signature of a section officer identified as Babar Khan Gondal.

Following the circulation of the notification across social media platforms, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan issued a response, advising the public to exercise caution regarding the document.

The commission stated that the notification being shared online was not issued by the HEC and warned that unverified information was being widely circulated. The HEC urged to remain vigilant and refrain from sharing such material.

In its response, the commission advised all concerned parties to rely only on official government websites and verified social media accounts for updates related to higher education policies and regulations.

A 26-year-old German doctor has traveled to Pakistan to marry a 22-year-old man from Mandi Bahauddin.

As per the details, Muhammad Akmal, who hails from village Deefar in Mandi Bahauddin, met the doctor, namely Selma, through the online game Roblox.

While Selma holds dual citizenship with both German and Bosnian passports, she plans to build her life in Pakistan with Akmal.

“Our conversation started on the online game Roblox, and we talked to each other online for about five months. After that, Selma decided to come to Pakistan and marry me,” Akmal said during an interview with a YouTube channel.

He revealed that he proposed to Selma on their first day of talking. “I proposed to her on the very first day, and after some initial hesitation, she came to Pakistan.”

Selma described her initial experience adjusting to rural life in Pakistan. “When I came to Pakistan and saw village life and daily chores, I was surprised at first, but I was happy to be with my husband,” she said.

The German doctor found herself learning completely new skills. “Village tasks like washing clothes and dishes and making roti were a new experience. Although it felt difficult in the first few days, I learned it,” Selma said.

She also revealed that she is learning Punjabi and Urdu to communicate better with her new family and community.

Akmal said his family fully supported the marriage. “We had complete support from the family, and approximately Rs4.5 million rupees were spent on travel and the wedding ceremony.”

“Life after marriage is pleasant, and we both live with love and respect for each other,” he added.

The story is not the first of its kind as foreign women have married Pakistani men before in similar viral love stories.

In March 2021, Canadian vlogger Rosie Gabrielle married Pakistani traveler Adeel Amer after meeting him during her travels in Pakistan.

Similarly, in June 2023, 49-year-old Rosa from Mexico married 18-year-old Izaz Ali from Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), after connecting on Facebook.

Several other such stories have been reported over the past couple of years.

Authorities on Wednesday issued a weather alert following forecasts of heavy rain and snowfall across the country on January 22 and 23, warning that the spell could trigger flooding in streams and lead to road blockages.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that rain and heavy snowfall are expected in all provinces and northern regions during the two-day period. In response, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) urged the public to exercise caution amid the adverse weather conditions.

Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galiyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, and Rawalakot are likely to receive heavy rain and snowfall.

In Punjab, intermittent rain and thunderstorms are expected across several cities, including Rawalpindi and Lahore. Islamabad is forecast to remain cloudy with periods of rain, while isolated locations may experience heavy downpours and hailstorms.

Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also expected to see widespread rain and snowfall across major districts. Meanwhile, Sindh is likely to experience cold and cloudy conditions, with rain predicted in cities such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Larkana.

Given the forecast, the NDMA advised provincial and district administrations to remain vigilant. Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) also called on residents and tourists to take precautionary measures, particularly as heavy rain and snowfall are expected in Murree, Galiyat, and surrounding areas.

An autopsy report of a snow leopard found dead under mysterious circumstances in a village of the Garam Chashma Valley two days ago has concluded that the animal died due to acute diarrhoea and dehydration.

According to the postmortem report, a copy of which was obtained by a private media outlet, the leopard’s body was found to be severely emaciated at the time of examination, while no bullet injuries were detected anywhere on the body.

“No abnormal discharges from the natural orifices in mouth and nostrils were noted. Symptoms of severe diarrhoea were observed on examination of the anus resulting in dehydration and emaciation,” the report read.

It further noted that no external wounds or superficial injuries were present on the body. While all internal organs were examined and found to be normal, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (enteritis) was detected.

The deceased animal was identified as a 15-year-old male snow leopard, Dr Ghulam Mohammad, District Director of the Livestock Department in Lower Chitral, who conducted the autopsy, said.

He added that the leopard was believed to have died more than seven days prior to the discovery of its body.

The snow leopard had first been sighted in the Garam Chashma area about two months ago, where it frequently moved between four villages – Wakht, Begusht, Oveerik and Munoor – within a radius of approximately five kilometres. During this period, it reportedly killed around two dozen goats.

Local residents had repeatedly urged the wildlife department to relocate the animal to protect their livestock, as its presence had caused fear and unrest due to frequent attacks.

Snow leopards had not been seen in Chitral for more than a decade, but the species reappeared in the region in November last year.