A rescue and search operation is underway to find survivors and recover bodies from the debris after a five-storey, decades-old building collapsed in Karachi.
The residential building, located in Lyari’s Baghdadi area, that housed over 40 people in 20 apartments, crumbled on Friday. According to the authorities’ estimation, 10-12 people may still be trapped under the rubble.
Reports, citing hospital administration, claimed that the rescuers have recovered 16 bodies—six women and 10 men—from the debris so far. Three people are undergoing treatment. While the rescue operation continues even after 20 hours.
Rescue teams are using heavy machinery to remove the debris and a Trapped Person Locator — a device that can detect heartbeats beneath the rubble, to identify any survivors. The device is used after each layer of debris is cleared, which makes the process slow but careful.
District South Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javed Khoso on Saturday said that it could take another eight to 10 hours to complete the operation.
“This building was declared dangerous three years ago. A notice was issued to the building a month and a half ago,” Khoso said, noting that there were still 22 extremely dangerous buildings in Lyari, of which 16 have been evacuated.
Additionally, the DC said that efforts were underway to evacuate the remaining buildings, warning of legal action over failure to comply with the orders.
Six people have died in a collision between a bus and a trailer in the Langar Sarai area of Muzaffargarh.
According to local police, the tragic accident also injured 18 people after the bus and trailer collided head-on.
Among the deceased are reportedly two men, including the bus driver, two women, and two children.
The bus was travelling from Jhang to Alipur when it crashed. Rescue 1122 teams arrived at the scene immediately and transported the injured to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The District Traffic Officer, DSP, and SHO also arrived at the scene with their teams to manage the situation and begin an investigation into the cause of the collision.
Authorities are investigating to determine the cause of the crash.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident on Friday, a car carrying tourists plunged into a river in the Chilana area of Neelum Valley, resulting in six fatalities, including five women, while one child remains missing.
Another fatal incident occurred in Neelum Valley last month when a jeep carrying passengers met with a terrible accident, claiming the lives of over a dozen people.
According to SSP Neelum Valley, Khawaja Siddique, the jeep was carrying 23 passengers at the time of the crash. However, four of them miraculously survived.
Pakistan’s security forces have killed 30 terrorists belonging to an “Indian proxy” outfit during an attempted infiltration through the Pak-Afghan border in the Hassan Khel tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) North Waziristan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.
The country has seen a sharp rise in terror activities, particularly in KP and Balochistan since the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
The military media wing stated that on the nights of July 2 and July 3, “movement of a large group of khwarij, belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khawarij, who were trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was detected by the security forces in general area Hassan Khel, North Waziristan district”.
According to the ISPR, “all 30 Indian-sponsored khawarij were sent to hell” as a result of the military’s “prices and skilful engagement” after the security forces foiled their bid to infiltrate the border.
“A large number of weapons, explosives and ammunition have been recovered from the slain terrorists,” the statement added.
The military media wing appreciated the security forces’ “exceptional professionalism, vigilance and preparedness” in preventing a “potential catastrophe”.
The ISPR urged the Afghan government to “check and prevent the use of Afghan soil by ‘foreign proxies’ for orchestrating terrorist activities against Pakistan”.
“The security forces of Pakistan remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers and to eradicate the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country,” the statement added.
The incident occurred days after an explosive-laden vehicle of the Indian-sponsored terrorists rammed into a security forces vehicle in the North Waziristan district, martyring 13 Pakistan Army soldiers.
Veteran journalist Azaz Syed has claimed that controversial property tycoon Malik Riaz has written two letters within last month to the Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir.
The journalist, while speaking on his YouTube channel TalkSHOCK on Wednesday, claimed that the property tycoon wrote the first letter to Field Marshal Munir on June 3, offering an apology over his recent conduct. “He [Malik Riaz] has expressed a desire to serve the country,” Azaz revealed.
The scribe further claimed that Riaz wrote a second letter to the army chief on June 12 or 13, announcing that he would dedicate 3,000 Kanals of land in the name of military martyrs.
He went on to say that some leaders in the incumbent government, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Military Intelligence (MI) Major General Wajid, want to resolve the stand-off with Riaz and bring him back to the country, given that the property tycoon is a big businessman and Pakistan needs economic stability.
However, the journalist later added that some individuals do not agree with this approach, saying, “I have heard that DG ISI, DG IB and some other personalities think otherwise.”
On May 31, three days before the property tycoon wrote the first letter to General Asim Munir, an accountability court issued non-bailable warrants for arrest of the property tycoon, his son, Ahmed Ali Riaz and others in the Bahria Town Karachi (BTK) land grab case.
The court directed investigating officer Waqar Anwar to arrest and produce them in court on July 17.
In March, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) issued a press release, claiming that it had sealed “numerous” commercial and residential properties of Riaz across the country for “defrauding people of billions of rupees.”
The accountability watchdog further said that it “once again informs the public that several cases of fraud and deception against Malik Riaz Ahmed, owner of Bahria Town, and others are currently under investigation.”
Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has filed disqualification reference with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against 26 Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), citing unparliamentary conduct, rioting, and repeated violation of assembly rules.
On June 27, 2025, during a Punjab Assembly Session, opposition MPAs staged protests and caused a disruption in proceedings. In response, Speaker Khan suspended the membership of 26 MPAs- 17 were listed as belonging to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)- for the next 15 sittings of the provincial legislature.
The members reportedly raised slogans during Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz’s June 27 speech in the assembly.
According to an order issued by Speaker Khan, the suspended legislators “became disorderly, beyond all parliamentary reasoning and practices,” including tearing agenda papers and hurling torn pieces towards the treasury benches as well as using “offensive, abusive, and unparliamentary language and slogans”.
Khan, in his order, said he repeatedly tried to call the assembly to order, but the opposition “declined to act per the Rules and persisted with misconduct and disorder and kept challenging my orders and authority”.
The speaker Khan added that opposition MPAs had “disregarded [his] authority as speaker […] consistently and willfully obstructing the business of the assembly”.
The suspension order was issued under Rule 210 of the Punjab Assembly Rules of Procedure 1997, stating that the 26 MPAs violated four provisions of Rule 223, which were (c) (shall not interrupt any member while speaking by disorderly expression or noises or in any other disorderly manner), (f) (shall maintain silence when not speaking in the assembly), (h) (shall not chant slogans, display banners or placards, throw and tear table documents and reports, etc), and (i) (shall not indulge in rowdy behaviour).
Malik Fahad Masood, Muhammad Tanvir Aslam, Syed Riffat Mehmood, Yasir Mehmood Qureshi, Kalimullah Khan, Muhammad Ansar Iqbal, Ali Asif, Zulfiqar Ali, Ahmed Mujtaba Chaudhry, Shahid Javed, Muhammad Ismail, Khayal Ahmed, Shehbaz Ahmed, Tayyab Rashid, Imtiaz Mehmood, Ali Imtiaz, Rashid Tufail, Murtaza Iqbal, Khalid Zubair, Ijaz Shafi, Saima Kanwal, Muhammad Naeem, Sajjad Ahmed, Rana Aurangzeb, Shoaib Mir and Usama Asghar Ali Gujjar were among members, suspended by the provincial speaker.
Meanwhile, Media reports claim that the speaker visited the ECP office in Islamabad to formally submit the disqualification reference, which include evidence of the MPAs’ disorderly actions. The ECP is expected to review the references and decide on the lawmakers’ fate in accordance with legal provisions.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has revealed that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s military played a role in assisting with brokering a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
Speaking to the media following a meeting with religious scholars in Islamabad on Thursday, Naqvi said that the prime minister had played a “big role” in the development in June, adding, “There is also a wardi [uniform] behind the ceasefire,” referring to Pakistan’s military.
He lauded that “our leader played a big role in convincing world leaders” in the Iran-Israel ceasefire, stressing, “Pakistan should be proud that as Muslims we played our role.”
On June 13, Israel launched attacks on Iran targeting the country’s nuclear sites to eliminate any possibility of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, which it neither confirms nor denies.
Iran claims its nuclear programme is for internal, civilian purposes only, while Iranian officials have repeatedly said they do not plan to develop nuclear weapons but will pursue their right to nuclear energy and research.
Tensions, however, intensified in the Middle East when the United States (US) became directly involved in the conflict, striking Iran’s nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
In retaliation, Iran launched missiles, targeting US bases in Qatar. Shortly after the attack, the US President, in a post on Truth Social, announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, ending the 12-day-long conflict.
Last week, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir reportedly received a call from Iran’s top military commander, with Tehran thanking Islamabad for its support during the war with Israel.
During the conversation, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, praised Islamabad’s “courageous stance” during the crisis, crediting Pakistan for standing by Tehran as Israeli strikes targeted senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, including women and children.
Recounting the conflict between Pakistan and India earlier in May, the interior minister said that one of the missiles was mistakenly fired due to a numerical error; however, Naqvi claimed it ended up hitting an Indian oil depot.
He said that when the missile was fired, “everyone got worried that it might hit civilian areas; however, divine help came, and that missile hit their [India] biggest oil depot”.
Naqvi further claimed that India launched around 11 missiles at one of Pakistan’s air bases, revealing, “We were worried that if they fell, it would cause destruction; believe me, not a single missile hit the target. It proves the divine help.”
A special audit report has revealed embezzlement worth billions of rupees in accounts of different shrines in Punjab, which are managed by the provincial Auqaf Department.
According to a report by HUM News, the audit revealed that Rs860 million (86 crores) was withdrawn from the accounts of Lahore’s Data Darbar during the financial years 2015 to 2018. The funds were a sum of 33 transactions, but there is no record of how the money was spent.
The report further said that around 48 suspicious transactions amounting to Rs190 million (19 crores) were made from the accounts of Pakpattan Sharif Darbar.
The audit report pointed to alleged fraud involving rental income from more than 600 commercial shops owned by Auqaf in Jhang and Okara, with an estimated loss of Rs 135 million (13.5 crores).
Furthermore, the report uncovered that hundreds of kanals of commercial land had been leased out at a nominal rate of just Rs 1 per year for a 99-year term. According to the report, Rs35 million (3.5 crores) was also withdrawn from the accounts of Baba Farid’s shrine.
With the audit report recommending a thorough investigation into the financial activities of the Auqaf Department, an official statement from the department remains pending.
British travel vlogger Isaac Elam recently shared what he really thinks about travelling in Pakistan and India while answering questions from his Instagram followers in a special YouTube Q&A video.
Isaac admitted that before visiting Pakistan he was nervous because of what he had always heard about the country.
“I think that’s mostly because of the news and the western media,” he said. “A lot of friends and family were actually worried and nervous about me coming over. When you’re shown things like terrorism and danger, of course they say don’t go.”
Isaac did not let the fear stop him. He explored Islamabad, Lahore and the breathtaking northern areas, calling it one of the best trips of his life.
“Pakistan is actually one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to,” he said. “I can now quite easily say I’ve recommended Pakistan to every single one of my friends and family. Even family that were scared and nervous about me going now want to visit.”
“I have never experienced hospitality like Pakistan. The taxi drivers refused my money. Restaurants did not want to take money from me. People were so kind, so gentle and generous. That’s something we don’t have back home,” Isaac shared.
One of the questions he was asked was about comparing Pakistan to India. Isaac spent six weeks in India before his Pakistan trip and did not hold back his thoughts.
“Before I visited, I thought India and Pakistan were very similar. But they are not. They are absolutely nothing alike,” he stated firmly.
He described landing in Delhi as an intense and overwhelming experience. Emphasising that he meant no disrespect, he said, “Delhi is very dirty, smells a lot and everyone’s trying to rip you off. It’s quite a busy place to land for the first time and you really need to be prepared.”
On the other hand, Islamabad left him shocked.
“Islamabad is so clean, so quiet and everybody is very gentle. No one’s trying to get money off you. It is peaceful and a really nice introduction to the country,” he said.
Talking about scams, he shared a brutal truth about India. “In India there are a lot of scams. It just seems part of the culture that people are trying to take your money. In Pakistan, maybe a shopkeeper hikes the price a bit but people try to give you things for free. You won’t ever get a free taxi in India. But in Pakistan, it happens.”
Isaac praised both countries for their natural beauty but said Pakistan’s north took the top spot for him.
“The flight into Skardu is unbelievable. You can see K2 out your window. There is a cold desert, rivers, mountains and Fairy Meadows is truly heaven on earth,” he stated with a smile.
He did face one cultural reality check when he wore shorts and a t-shirt in a small northern village and locals reminded him to respect the local customs. Isaac said it was a good lesson in being mindful as a traveler.
In his Q&A, Isaac also spoke about using his voice when he and his friends discovered that a hotel (Lexus Hunza) was allegedly dumping sewage into Lake Attabad.
“This has not changed my opinion on Pakistan at all. Pakistan is an incredible place. Some things just need to be fixed. I am glad we could use our platform in a positive way to speak up,” he said.
Western media tried to keep him away but now Isaac says Pakistan is on top of his list for travelers in 2025.
“If I could, I would take a flight tomorrow,” he said. “Pakistan is one of the best countries I have ever traveled to, potentially number one. The people, the places, the hospitality, it is unmatched. I want to show the world how incredible the Pakistani people are.”
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has revealed that US Vice President JD Vance had warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi of a potential major attack by Pakistan on the night of May 9, urging India to accept certain conditions to prevent escalation.
In an interview with Newsweek on Wednesday, Jaishankar stated that JD Vance directly called PM Modi and conveyed that if India did not concede on certain matters, Pakistan would launch a large-scale attack.
“I was in the room when the US vice president spoke to Prime Minister Modi on the night of May 9, warning that the Pakistanis would launch a very massive assault on India if we did not accept certain things,” he said.
“That night, Pakistan did launch a large-scale attack,” Jaishankar confirmed.
India alleged that Pakistan was behind the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). However, no evidence has been provided to date, whereas Pakistan has also dismissed the allegations.
The tensions between the two countries nonetheless escalated the following month. On the night of May 6–7, India illegally launched strikes in Pakistan, including Muridke and Bahawalpur, killing innocent civilians. In response, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) acted swiftly and downed six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, a Su-30, and a MiG-29.
The tension escalated when both countries directly engaged in a military confrontation.
In response to the Indian aggression, Pakistan’s armed forces launched a large-scale retaliatory military action under Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, targeting several Indian military sites across multiple regions.
After at least 87 hours, the conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US.
The ceasefire was first announced by US President Donald Trump on Truth Social after the US held talks with both sides. However, India has dismissed Trump’s claims that it resulted from his intervention and threats to sever trade talks.
On the contrary, Pakistan has acknowledged the US president’s efforts and formally recommended him for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in defusing tensions between Pakistan and India last month.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued an urgent notification, warning of a significant rise in major river water levels, flash flooding in hill torrents, and urban flooding in parts of Punjab from July 7, 2025 onwards.
Strong monsoon currents combined with a westerly wave are expected to hit upper catchments of Punjab’s major rivers from July 6, PDMA has predicted, increasing the risk of floods across the region. Flows in rivers and their associated nullahs and tributaries are likely to rise sharply, while metropolitan areas in North and Central Punjab could see urban flooding.
Flash flooding is also expected in the hill torrents of DG Khan Division, while landslides could cause road closures in vulnerable hilly areas like Murree and Galiyat.
Meanwhile, in Haripur, heavy rainfall has already caused streams to overflow and raised the water level at Tarbela Dam since Tuesday night, forcing the district administration to open the dam’s spillways on Wednesday to manage the excess water. Dam authorities have issued alerts to the Deputy Commissioners of Haripur, Nowshera, and Swabi districts to stay on standby.
Official PDMA Weather & Flood Situation:
1. Weather Situation:
Met office (vide Bulletin No C-018/25) has informed that strong monsoon currents coupled with Westerly wave are likely to affect upper catchments of all the major rivers in Punjab significantly from 6th July.
2. Flood Situation:
Flows are likely to increase significantly from July 7 in all major rivers along with their associated Nullahs/tributaries.
Flash flooding is also expected over the hill torrents of DG Khan division.
Urban flooding is likely in metropolitan cities of North and Central Punjab.
POSSIBLE IMPACTS AND ADVICE:
Landslides may cause roads closure in the vulnerable hilly areas of Murree and Galliyat during the wet spell.
Heavy downpour/windstorm and lightning may affect daily routines, and may damage weak structures like roof/wall of Kacha houses, electric poles, bill boards, vehicles and solar panels etc during the forecast period.
Farmers are advised to manage their activities keeping in view the weather forecast.
Travelers and tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and manage their itineraries according to weather conditions and avoid any untoward situation during the wet spell.
