The announcement came four days after the Sindh government cancelled the construction contract for the BRT Red Line, saying that it would be re-awarded on an “emergency basis”.

Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon had told Dawn that the contract had been terminated due to delays in the project’s execution by the contractor. He had said the Asian Development Bank, which funds the project, was unhappy with the pace of work, as were stakeholders concerned about environmental impact.

Subsequently, Wahab posted on X: “Happy to inform that work on the University Road has resumed from today by FWO. The Sindh chief minister has given a deadline to have the work on the mixed traffic corridor and drain completed within 90 days. God willing, will keep you all posted with the progress.”

In another post, he said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had visited the construction site to “personally monitor the resumption of work by FWO”.

Separately, a statement issued by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) said the CM, accompanied by Wahab and other officials, visited the sites of various development projects in Karachi on Sunday.

Among those projects, the statement said, CM Murad reviewed the BRT Red Line and was given a briefing on it by FWO officials, Sindh Transport Secretary Asad Zamin and TransKarachi Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zubair Channa.

The statement said the CM directed that the project’s construction should be completed expeditiously and the traffic corridor should be improved.

Later, a post on the Sindh CM’s X account said Murad “apologises for delays on University Road [and] assures restoration of mixed traffic lanes within three months. During the visit to BRT Red Line, he said re-tendering of Lot-II, with work resuming in 2 days and shifting to full speed operations for completion.”

The stalled construction on the Red Line had resumed in November 2025, after the removal of several bottlenecks following the chief minister’s intervention.

Meanwhile, thousands of University Road commuters continue to face daily hardships.

Designed to cover around 27 kilometres from Malir Halt to Numaish via University Road, the BRT Red Line project was announced in 2017 with an initial cost of around Rs79 billion, but due to persistent delays and mismanagement by the provincial government, the estimated cost has now escalated to Rs103bn.

After commencement of the work in early 2022, the project was initially scheduled for completion by 2023, which was later pushed to 2024 and subsequently extended to the end of 2026.

For many, even the revised timeline appears to be wholly unrealistic as the project continues to progress at a snail’s pace. Various factors have been cited by officials to justify these delays, including disputes with contractors, safety stoppages, rising construction costs due to depreciation of the rupee, difficulties in land acquisition, relocation of utilities and coordination failures between implementing agencies.

In December of last year, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed authorities to expedite work on the line during an inspection of the project from Malir Cantonment to Numaish. He was told that delays were because of heavy rains, utility relocation issues and design changes.

In September, the SHC said that all stakeholders should be taken on board and efforts should be made to resolve disputes to ensure that work on the project is carried out continuously.

The boy, Zahid Mohammed Khan, was swept away around 2pm on Friday while swimming in the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC)’s line in Scheme-33 near Al-Azhar Garden.

Rescue 1122 and the Edhi service issued separate statements, confirming that the boy’s body has been recovered.

The Edhi statement said the deceased child was 12 years old. The body was shifted to Edhi’s morgue in Sohrab Goth.

Lifeguards from Rescue 1122 and the Edhi Foundation searched until Friday night, but were unable to recover the boy. Subsequently, the operation was paused due to a lack of visibility.

With the help of the district administration, rescuers had resumed their search efforts on Saturday at two separate locations, near Samama Shopping Mall and Continental Bakery in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

Last year, the drowning of a three-year-old boy in an open manhole near Karachi’s NIPA had sparked public outrage. The boy’s body was found after a 15-hour rescue operation.

Earlier in 2024, the Jinnah Town chairman had announced plan to preserve the giant 60-tonne structure, which was to be removed to pave the way for the construction of the Bus Rapid Transit Red Line project, and relocated it to the National Stadium. However, the plan never materialised.

On Saturday, Mayor Wahab while inaugurating the Landhi Sports Complex announced that, considering the historical significance of Empress Market, memorials dedicated to martyrs would be established there, while the historic globe of Islamia College would be preserved and relocated to Hasan Square.

He also appealed to the public to offer suggestions regarding historical monuments so that the city administration could extend its cooperation.

The mayor said that the residents of Landhi and Korangi had been “deliberately deprived” of basic facilities in the past, but the present administration had come “with a message of improvement and development.”

He said, “When intentions are sincere, God makes the path easier, and it is this spirit that is helping us address public issues”.

“The primary responsibility of any municipal government is to resolve citizens’ problems, but Kara­chi’s condition was deliberately allowed to deteriorate over the past three to four decades,” he said.

The swimming pool at the KMC sports complex has also been upgraded to modern standards, with memberships to be offered at affordable rates so that a wider segment of the public can benefit.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026

On Saturday, the water utility started final interconnection work on a new transmission line at the Dhabeji Pumping Station and took offline nine pumps.

It had said that 250MGD water shortfall would persist for two days as seven pumps would be restored by April 27, while two will remain offline for five more days to finish technical work.

However, a KWSC spokesman said that four of the nine pumps had been restored late on Saturday night.

He said that water supply from the K-3 pumping house at Dhabeji had been resumed after technical restoration work.

“With four pumps now operational, the system has added nearly 100 MGD back into Karachi’s distribution network, easing pressure on the city’s water supply,” he added.

The spokesperson added that out of 21 pumps at the Dhabeji system, 16 were now functioning normally, while five remain temporarily shut down for necessary maintenance and technical upgrades.

“These repairs are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the system’s long-term efficiency and reliability,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026

KARACHI: Seventy-one children, including 40 in Sindh, have already lost their lives to measles in the first four months of this year as the provincial government held a series of public awareness activities on Saturday in connection with World Immunisation Week.

The week 2026 — being observed globally from April 24 to April 30 — is dedicated to the theme ‘For Every Generation, Vaccines Work’ — aims to create public awareness and increase rates of immunisation.

According to official data, of the 71 children died of measles across the country Sindh topped the list with 40 deaths followed by 12 each in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and four in Balochistan in the first four months.

Sources said a total of 4,541 confirmed measles’ cases were reported in the first quarter of this year in the country with 1,712 in KP, 1,198 in Punjab, 1,183 in Sindh, 197 in Balochistan, 151 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 55 in Islamabad and 45 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

‘Unvaccinated children’

Responding to concerns over measles’ deaths and high number of cases, Dr Raj Kumar, Programme Director EPI, Sindh, explained that there was a large cohort of unvaccinated children formed during the Covid-19 that the government was trying to cover through different strategies.

He pointed out that while the government had made substantial progress in improving overall vaccination coverage, there were certain districts seeing frequent measles’ outbreaks.

“These areas include Khairpur and parts of the northern belt. We are responding to these issues by developing strategies specifically tailored to address gaps in vaccination coverage in these areas. Besides, we just have been through a season that usually sees a peak in measles’ cases,” Dr Kumar said.

On the ‘zero-dose’ children, he said that some 40,000 to 50,000 ‘zero-dose’ children were now covered in every anti-polio drive.

The government, he said, had doubled its financial support to the EPI programme and there wouldn’t be any issues even if international donors withdrew their assistance and that it had also increased the numbers of vaccinators to address the human resource gaps.

Polio cases

Polio, the sources said, remains a national challenge with the continued prevalence of the disease amid rising security concerns for vaccinators. This year, one polio case has been detected in Sujawal, Sindh.

Pakistan reported 74 polio cases in 2024 and 31 cases in 2025, while Sindh recorded nine cases in 2025, with nearly 80 per cent of environmental samples testing positive for the virus.

Recently, however, the Sindh chief minister had claimed significant progress in battling polio, with environmental positivity rates declining to 24pc.

“While the government continues its efforts, there are multiple challenges with respect to routine immunisation. The most important one is vaccine hesitancy,” said Dr Khalid Shafi representing the Pakistan Paediatric Association.

He emphasised the need for devising effective public awareness strategies.

“We know that all vaccines in the routine immunisation programme are available free of cost at all centres but still parents are reluctant to get their children vaccinated, risking their lives and safety,” Dr Shafi said.

He also stressed the need for increasing the number of female vaccinators to encourage public confidence.

Alarm over ‘zero-dose’ crisis

In its statement, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) expressed its concern over the high burden of vaccine-preventable diseases and a staggering number of “zero-dose” children in the country.

“Pakistan continues to trail behind countries like China and Iran, which maintains near-universal coverage (over 95pc), and India and Bangladesh, both of which have surpassed 90 per cent through aggressive outreach.

“Currently, over one million children in Pakistan remain ‘zero-dose’, having never received a single vaccination. This vulnerability results in a high burden of disease, for instance, 25,000 measles cases are reported annually across the country,” said Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, representing the association.

Fifty-eight per cent of Pakistani children remained at risk due to being unimmunised or under-immunised, he added.

To bridge the gap and move Pakistan towards the coverage levels seen in neighbouring nations, he called for immediate investment in national facilities to begin local vaccine manufacturing, reducing long-term reliance on imports.

“There is also a need for nationwide expansion of digital registry to replace unreliable paper-based records and ensure accurate tracking and utilising mobile teams to reach a scattered population,” he said, while calling for strengthening the primary healthcare system and providing protection to healthcare.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026

Leaders of the Sindh Rahbar Committee, including JSM-R Chairman Riaz Ali Chandio, and leaders of various other Sindhi nationalist parties paid homage to their late ideological idol at the gathering.

The committee announced holding of a protest march and sit-in against the oppressive policies on May 19 in Mithi.

The speakers reminded the audience of G. M. Syed’s July 13, 1972 speech highlighting the importance of awakening Sindhis’ consciousness and defending the province’s sovereignty with unity, patriotism and resistance.

Riaz Chandio highlighted the political and existential challenges to Sindh, and remarked that Sindhis were being oppressed in the name of democracy and brotherhood.

He claimed that Sindh’s resources — lands, islands, minerals and rivers — were being snatched from its people under the imposed hybrid governments or martial laws.

He also criticised illegal dams being built and canals drawn from the Indus River to cause harm or loss of Sindh’s delta and biodiversity, besides devastation of its forests and wildlife.

Mr Chandio condemned the current hybrid political system “designed to serve the interests of the ruling elite”.

He warned the government against its policy of doling out lands to the corporate sector under the dictates of the IMF and World Bank at the cost of Sindh’s interests.

He called upon people of Sindh to reject this oppressive system and raise their voice for the protection of Sindh’s land, rivers and resources through peaceful resistance.

The others who spoke at the gathering included Dr Niaz Kalani, Nawaz Khan Zaunr and Shabbir Ahmed Jamali.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026

The Mithadar police said that Noor Aziz, 22, was killed while an unknown person was wounded.

South DIG Syed Asad Raza said it appeared to be a targeted killing but the exact motive was yet to be ascertained.

He said three persons, including Aziz, were sitting outside a shop when assailants riding a motorbike emerged there.

One of them got off the two-wheeler and opened indiscriminate firing and rode away. As a result, bullets hit Aziz, who died on the spot.

Another man also suffered a bullet wound in the leg and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

The deceased originally hailed from Bannu.

The body was shifted to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi for medico-legal formalities.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026

The boy, Zahid Mohammed Khan, was swept away around 2pm on Friday while swimming in the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC)’s line in Scheme-33 near Al-Azhar Garden.

Lifeguards from Rescue 1122 and the Edhi Foundation searched until Friday night, but were unable to recover the boy. Subsequently, the operation was paused due to a lack of visibility.

On Saturday, Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Hassanul Haseeb Khan told Dawn that officials resumed the search operation at two separate locations, near Samama Shopping Mall and Continental Bakery in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, with the help of the district administration but the boy was not found.

He referred to other incidents that had occurred in the vicinity in the recent past, saying the bodies were later recovered at the aforementioned locations, where iron grills had been installed by the KWSC to block objects flowing with the water.

Khan added that the water’s rapid flow may have taken the boy further.

Last year, the drowning of a three-year-old boy in an open manhole near Karachi’s NIPA had sparked public outrage. The boy’s body was found after a 15-hour rescue operation.

• CM Murad distributes Rs511.7m among 200 out of 1,209 shopkeepers affected by Jan 17 blaze • Promises action against whoever is held responsible by Judicial Commission • Says he is aware of ‘memes’ about University Road; tells gathering govt to bring in new company to ‘quickly’ complete key artery

KARACHI: As many as 200 fire-hit Gul Plaza shopkeepers, out of total 1,209, were given compensatory cheques on Friday by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who distributed Rs511.7 million among the tragedy victims, unveiling a Rs7 billion relief package.

A ceremony was held at the CM House which was also attended by representatives of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

Speaking as the chief guest, the chief minister said the provincial government had approved a comprehensive Rs7bn financial package for the people affected by the Jan 17 devastating fire that claimed lives of 73 people and destroyed the three-storey shopping mall.

He said that Rs5.657bn had already been secured through the Accountant General’s office for distribution based on assessments by the KCCI.

Outlining earlier relief efforts, CM said that Rs10m each had been announced for families of the deceased persons in the first phase. “Payments have been completed in 64 cases, while four are under verification and four are pending due to legal heir issues,” he added.

In the second phase, the chief minister said, 849 affected shopkeepers received Rs500,000 each as immediate relief during Ramazan to help rebuild their livelihoods.

“No financial assistance can compensate for the pain and losses suffered, but we are committed to your rehabilitation and support,” he told the affected traders.

He added that every verified affected person would receive compensation and no one would be left behind.

He described the Gul Plaza tragedy as a painful incident that caused immense human and financial losses to families and the business community.

The chief minister said that a committee had been constituted to implement the recommendations of the Judicial Commission tasked with investigating the inferno.

He said that the committee’s proposals would be presented before the next meeting of the provincial cabinet.

“Whoever has been identified as responsible in the report will face action,” he promised.

CM Shah said that a Chinese company had prepared a comprehensive firefighting plan to strengthen Karachi’s emergency response systems after President Asif Ali Zardari had taken up the issue with Chinese authorities.

He also briefed the participants on major infrastructure initiatives across Karachi.

“Over Rs300 billion in development schemes have been earmarked this year,” he said, adding: “Shahrah-i-Bhutto will be inaugurated in the first 10 days of May by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.”

Talking about the Bus Rapid Transit Red Line project, CM Shah said wherever he went, people asked when University Road would be completed and this became quite embarrassing.

He said that the government had cancelled the contract of a firm and was going to bring in a new company to complete University Road quickly.

“There are memes saying the Strait of Hormuz has opened but University Road hasn’t. They have heard you, and get the Strait of Hormuz closed again,” he said on a lighter note.

Businessmen Group Chairman Zubair Motiwala of the KCCI thanked the provincial government, saying “a great deal of work has been done in a very short period.”

He confirmed that compensation was being processed based on verified losses and that every rightful claimant would receive dues.

Representatives of the affectees also echoed their sentiments, thanking the provincial government for its sustained support.

Affected shopkeeper Muhammad Ashraf said, “This is not just a compensation cheque, it is hope.”

Another trader, Ilyas Shah, appreciated that the government stood with victims after the January 17 tragedy.

The chief minister assured that a new Gul Plaza building with the same number of shops would be constructed within two years.

He said that beyond compensation, the government was focused on stronger safety oversight to prevent such incidents.

The ceremony was attended among others by provincial ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Jam Ikramullah Dharejo, Mukesh Kumar Chawla and Saeed Ghani, Adviser Gyan Chand Essrani, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, and KCCI representatives.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

“Mere pendency of proceedings or involvement in concluded cases, particularly after acquittal, cannot by itself sustain continued restriction on a citizen’s fundamental right to travel,” noted a two-judge bench headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon.

The bench made these observations while allowing a petition filed by a former managing director of the Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) seeking removal of his name from the no-fly list.

Citing the ministry of interior, Federal Investigation Agency and others as respondents, Syed Wamiq Abrar Bukhari approached the SHC and argued that he had served as MD of the PPL from 2015 to 2018 whereas two FIRs were registered against officials of the PPL in 2022 and he was also implicated in absentia.

The petitioner stated that at the time of registration of such cases he was abroad and subsequently his name was placed on the ECL along with freezing of his bank accounts through the impugned memorandum issued in June 2023.

Bench orders authorities to remove name of ex-PPL chief from exit control list

The counsel for the petitioner argued that after the full-fledged trial, all accused persons including the petitioner were acquitted by a special court through the judgments handed down in April and July last year which have also attained finality.

However, the lawyer also contended that despite repeated representations, the respondents failed to remove the petitioner’s name from the ECL and to unfreeze his bank accounts without assigning any lawful justification.

An assistant attorney general argued that necessary correspondence had already been initiated by the FIA for removal of the petitioner’s name from the ECL through a letter sent last month thereby indicating that no further impediment survived for continuation of his name on the no-fly list.

The federal law officer contended that the matter was already under active consideration of the competent authority in light of recommendations of the FIA and appropriate orders were expected to be passed in accordance with law.

The bench in its order said that the petitioner’s grievance was pertaining to his continued placement on the ECL despite subsequent acquittal of all accused persons in both cases.

It also noted that no speaking order, independent application of mind or contemporaneous justification has been produced by the respondents to demonstrate that the petitioner continued to fall within any recognised legal category warranting restriction under the Exit from Pakistan (Control) Ordinance, 1981 or the relevant ECL Rules.

The bench also said, “It is well-settled that placement on the ECL constitutes a serious curtailment of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 15 and 25 of the Constitution, and such restriction must satisfy the test of legality, necessity, proportionality, and reasonableness. In the present case, none of these constitutional thresholds appear to have been met once the foundational criminal proceedings have resulted in acquittal and the investigating agency itself has recommended removal.”

It further observed that continued retention of the petitioner’s name on the ECL despite clear departmental recommendations in his favour reflected administrative inaction without lawful justification rendering the impugned memorandum arbitrary and unsustainable in law.

While setting aside the impugned memorandum, the bench directed the respondents to forthwith remove the petitioner’s name from no-fly list and extend all consequential relief in accordance with law.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Officials said an exchange of gunfire took place between police and suspects near Jahangirabad, within the remit of the Rizvia Society police station. As a result, one suspect was killed on the spot, while his accomplice managed to escape.

The deceased was identified as Mohammed Rasheed alias Rashid, described by police as a “habitual criminal” involved in street crimes and motorcycle snatching.

Initial investigations suggested that he was an active member of the Mannu gang allegedly involved in robberies and other offences.

Police said a pistol and a motorcycle were recovered from his possession.

In a separate incident, another encounter took place in Block-T, North Nazimabad, within the jurisdiction of the Shahrah-i-Noor Jehan police station. During the exchange of gunfire, a suspect, later identified as Zeeshan, was killed.

Police claimed that Zeeshan was involved in the snatching of motorcycles. A snatched motorcycle, a pistol, a mobile phone and a wallet were recovered from his custody.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

KARACHI: The Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) commenced for thousands of O/A level students across Pakistan, including Karachi, on Friday.

Long queues of vehicles were seen near the examination centres located in several parts of the city in the early morning and afternoon.

Roads leading to the Expo Centre, where one of the examination centres is located, were choked for hours on the first day of the exams.

Like every year, parents — who invested heavily in the children’s future in the shape of their school fees, tuition fees, examination fees and other expenses — are again seen doing the drill of getting the kids to their designated exam centres, which may also be at a long distance from their homes.

Traffic jams on roads leading to examination centres and lack of arrangements for waiting parents mark first day

However, at various exam centres, especially in DHA Phase VIII and outside Dawood Public School in Bahadurabad, a large number of parents were seen waiting for their children under the scorching heat as no proper arrangements were made for them to collect their wards.

They waited for hours, only to do the same thing again the next day. Parents with more than one child sitting for the exams go through double trouble as they drive back and forth while burning expensive fuel to get one exhausted child back home and pick up the other one to then wait for that one at his or her centre.

While there were doubts and fears earlier about whether the exams are going to go on as per schedule due to their cancellation across the Middle East, things are quite normal here.

Due to the impact of the war in the Middle East the exams have been cancelled as students in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait will be graded on their existing work and teacher assessments.

The same scenario was feared in Pakistan but the CIE has said that for Pakistan the exams are going to proceed as planned.

“We are monitoring the situation with the British Council and if there are any updates to the planned exams, the students and schools will be notified accordingly,” a CIE spokesperson told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Lawyer Riaz Ali Solangi had lodged a complaint against the YouTuber in January 2025 at the Hyderi Market police station, under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

At the outset of the hearing for confirmation or otherwise of the interim bail, counsel for the YouTuber filed an application before the additional district and sessions judge (Central) for condonation of absence, seeking exemption for Butt from personal appearance on medical grounds.

After hearing the defence counsel and the complainant who opposed the application, the court dismissed the plea and recalled its Dec 19, 2025 order granting interim bail.

“The applicant was required to ensure his presence before the court, but he has failed to do so without sufficient cause. Consequently, the instant bail before application is dismissed for non-prosecution,” the court order said.

The case is about a viral video of the YouTuber in which he was, according to the complainant, allegedly “disrespecting” prayer (Namaz).

It is pertinent to mention that as the video went viral on social media, Butt posted videos on his official Facebook page in which he was seen sitting with scholars from different schools of thought.

In the three-part video, he had issued an apology, stating that if anyone’s feelings were hurt by his unintentional actions, he deeply regretted it.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

East Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nasrullah Abbasi, who was supervising the rescue operation, told Dawn that the boy, Zahid Mohammed Khan, was swept away around 2pm while swimming in the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC)’s line.

He was not recovered until late at night, when the last updates were received.

Lifeguards from Rescue 1122 and Edhi Foundation carried out the search for him, the DC said, adding that the delay in finding the boy could have been due to the heavy flow of water.

Rescue 1122 said in a statement that its two teams were searching for the boy at two spots.

The DC said KWSC officials had also visited the spot and had estimated that the boy may end up as far away as in Gulistan-i-Jauhar’s Block-1 near Continental Bakery, where an iron grill had been installed in the line. But that might take one to two days, he said, citing KWSC officials.

A camp had been installed near that spot for the boy’s recovery, the DC said. He added that rescue teams were also present at the camp.

DC Abbasi said he had directed the officials concerned to cover the water line to prevent such incidents in the future, adding that KWSC officials had informed him that they had placed slabs on the line previously as well, but they were probably removed by area residents or addicts.

Last year, the drowning of a three-year-old boy in an open manhole near Karachi’s NIPA had sparked public outrage. The boy’s body was found after a 15-hour rescue operation, and the episode highlighted systemic issues in Karachi.

A Dawn editorial published soon after the incident stated: “Sewer fall accidents are all too common in the metropolis. In 2023, some 68 people were reportedly lost to manholes. This year (2025), as per reports, gaping drains and sewers consumed 24 residents of which five were children … Despite a budget of millions for the maintenance of sewer safety, negligence on the part of the KWSC and other institutions has reportedly left 50pc of Karachi’s low-income areas with uncovered death holes.”

In January, CM Murad had told the Sindh Assembly that the provincial government would demolish and reconstruct Gul Plaza within two years, ensuring no increase in the number of shops.

Addressing a ceremony for distributing compensation cheques among the affected shopkeepers in Karachi on Friday, CM Murad said, “The Sindh government will rebuild Gul Plaza as promised, and will make the same number of shops as before. All the losses will be recompensed and no one will benefit through unfair means.”

He said that this was the first phase of distributing the cheques to the affected shopkeepers.

CM Murad also expressed his gratitude to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) for providing the temporary places of business to these shopkeepers, especially in Ramazan, in Karachi Expo Centre and Bagh-i-Jinnah.

“Rs500,000 was also distributed to each affected shopkeeper immediately after the incident so they could stand on their feet,” he stated.

CM Murad added that Rs7 billion was set aside for the affected community, thanking his cabinet members for approving the funds immediately.

“The funds are there and they can be released immediately, but the valuation of losses is the real challenge,” he said.

Talking about the demolition of the plaza to initiate the rebuilding process, he said that a first information report was registered after the incident and a court order would be sought to begin the demolition process.

CM Murad also noted that in the aftermath of the incident, a lot of criticism was levelled against authorities, after which the Sindh government formed the judicial commission to probe the incident.

“It has submitted its report. It was a very detailed report, so we formed a cabinet sub-committee to recommend how to execute all the recommendations made by the report,” he said, adding, “In the next cabinet meeting, the sub-committee will submit its report.

“I haven’t read the report in detail, but have scanned it. Action will be taken even if I am held responsible, or anyone else,” he asserted.

CM Murad added that President Asif Ali Zardari was very distraught over the incident.

“President Zardari contacted a Chinese entity, which came to Pakistan twice after the incident. We didn’t ask them for financial or material support, but we asked them for a plan on how to manage the things, and we are working on it,” he stated.

After a preliminary hearing, a two-judge constitutional bench of the SHC, headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon, issued notices the Sindh government, Taplur, Dr Asim, the chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the advocate general and other officials, and adjourned the hearing for four weeks.

The petitioner, Ghulam Akbar, submitted before the SHC that the Sindh government had allotted 9,600 acres of land in different dehs of District Malir, without conducting any inquiry, in the name of Dr Asim for development of the Education City project. However, he claimed that the project had not been developed to date.

He further said that the Sindh government had once again allotted an additional 10,000 acres of land in District Malir for the same purpose. The petitioner said that a total of 19,600 acres had effectively been allotted. He said the scheme was aimed at “usurping the precious land belonging to innocent people”.

Petitioner says project aims to ‘usurp precious land belonging to innocent people’

The petition asked the court to pass order for cancellation of the allotment of the 19600 acres in the different Deh of Malir which was allegedly allotted in the name of Education City project.

He also sought policy direction and legislation, regarding the agricultural lands cultivated by local people, which were originally leased for periods ranging from 10 to 30 years.

These leases, he said, have not been renewed for a considerable time, leaving thousands of farmers in a state of uncertainty.

He proposed that a comprehensive policy and necessary legislation be introduced for the “extension and renewal of agricultural land leases, ensuring long-term tenure security for local farmers who depend on these lands for their livelihood.”

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) said that the final interconnection work on the new transmission line No. 5 would begin on Saturday evening and be completed in 48 hours.

A water utility spokesperson said that the shutdown, scheduled from 12 noon on April 25 to April 27, was part of the KWSC Improvement Programme (KWSSIP) aimed at modernising the city’s ageing water network.

He said that during the interconnection, water supply from the Fourth Phase, K-II and K-III systems would remain suspended. “Areas facing complete disruption include North Karachi, Surjani Town, Scheme 33 and Gulistan-i-Jauhar. Parts of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Saddar and Chanesar Town will also see temporary shortages,” he added.

The spokesman said that the upgrade would improve transmission efficiency and stabilise system-wide pressure once completed.

To connect the newly built Central Line No. 5 with the existing network, nine out of the total 21 pumps at Dhabeji will be taken offline. Seven pumps will be restored by April 27, while two will remain offline for five more days to finish technical work.

The Nipa, Safoora and Sakhi Hasan hydrants will stay closed during the work.

Karachi normally receives 650MGD, but supply will drop to around 400MGD during the maintenance window.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026

The meeting brought together a broad coalition of federal and provincial heads, including senior representatives from Nadra, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the National Highway Authority (NHA), and the Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco). Also present were officials from the Sui Southern Gas Company, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, and the district administration leadership.

Inter-departmental coordination

Governor Hashmi placed a heavy emphasis on inter-departmental coordination, warning that bureaucratic silos would no longer be tolerated at the expense of public service. He specifically directed the operations head of Sepco to provide an immediate and detailed performance report, while calling for greater transparency within export processing zones (EPZs) and the consumer categorisation framework.

Acknowledging the work of law enforcement and the FIA, the governor also issued a specific mandate to Nadra to prioritise and enhance facilities for persons with disabilities, ensuring that the state’s primary registration body remains inclusive.

A firm hand on online misconduct

Addressing the rise of online misconduct, the governor ordered a robust legal crackdown on individuals utilising social media for “irresponsible activities”. He expressed particular concern regarding digital content that targets women or undermines traditional societal values, advocating instead for a “responsible and positive digital environment” that serves the national interest.

Commitment to M6 Motorway

Speaking to the media in the historic land of saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Governor Hashmi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the M6 Motorway. He noted that while the project — originally the vision of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif — had faced historical delays, the momentum has now shifted.

“Work on two phases is already complete,” the governor stated. “Under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif, we intend to award the remaining contracts shortly. Construction is set to resume in June, with a target to complete the entire link within two years — well ahead of the original schedule.”

On broader economic matters, the governor addressed the NFC Award, clarifying that the federal government remains diligent in distributing provincial shares while ensuring the remainder is funnelled into vital national development.

In a strong statement on foreign policy, he reiterated that Pakistan would never recognise Israel. He attributed Pakistan’s rising global stock to the diplomatic efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, noting that both regional neighbours like Iran and global powers like the United States have reaffirmed their friendship with Pakistan.

Regarding inflation, the governor urged the public to find perspective in the country’s stability, noting that despite global pressures, Pakistan has avoided the fuel queues and total shortages seen elsewhere in the region.

Concluding his visit, Governor Hashmi struck a populist note, describing himself as a “common man” appointed to serve the entire province from Karachi to Jacobabad. He declared that the doors of the Governor House are now open to every citizen.

Before departing, the governor visited the residences of local PML-N stalwarts to offer condolences following recent losses.

He met with the families of Sukkur PML-N general secretary Adnan Azam Khan and senior leader Badr Rafiq Qureshi, paying tribute to their lifelong dedication to the party and the public.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026

Ferozabad SHO Adeel Afzal said that the police party indicated pillion riders to stop for checking on Shaheed-i-Millat Road. Instead of obeying the signal, the suspects resorted to firing and in the ensuing exchange of fire, one suspect was killed while his associate fled.

Later, the killed suspect was identified as Usman alias Noorul Bashar.

The officer said that the police recovered weapons, a mobile phone, a motorcycle and snatched cash from his possession.

“The killed suspect had established a reign of terror in East and Korangi districts,” he said.

He added that seven FIRs had been registered against the suspect at different police stations.

Suspect arrested

Police on Thursday claimed to have arrested a suspected robber in an injured condition after an alleged encounter.

The suspected robber had allegedly shot dead a citizen at Jauhar Mor the other day over resistance during mobile phone snatching.

Sharea Faisal police, acting on a tip-off, conducted an operation near Dalmia graveyard. On seeing the police, two armed suspects resorted to firing.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026

South-DIG Syed Asad Raza said that FBR inspector Shah Mir Lashari was shot at and injured in a firing incident carried out by Agha Sher, son of former SSP Agha Asghar, after a road accident in Clifton late Wednesday night.

The suspect and his associate also assaulted the injured officer and his brother.

The wounded officer was shifted to the Ziauddin Hospital, Clifton, for treatment.

Clifton police have registered an FIR against Agha Sher and his gunman on the complaint of the wounded officer’s brother, Shahzeb Khan, under Sections 324, 337-A(i) and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the contents of the FIR, the complainant said that he was a landlord by profession and lived in Clifton, Block-1. He and his brother Shah Mir Lashari were travelling in an SUV. When they reached opposite the Islamic Chamber in Block-9, Clifton at around 1:45am, their vehicle collided with another SUV with the number plate SPD-970.

Consequently, two people came out of the other vehicle and the complainant and his brother also came out of their vehicle. Without any provocation, the suspects resorted to firing with intent to kill them, resulting in three bullet wounds to the complainant’s elder brother on the shoulder, leg and abdomen, it stated.

The FIR added that the suspects also beat the brothers. Both wounded brothers were admitted to the hospital for treatment.

Later, the complainant said he came to know that Agha Sher and his gunman had attacked them, and he wanted legal proceedings against them.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026

A statement issued by the office of Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar said “four civilians were killed in a drone attack in Saeed Khan Lakho village”.

Both Lanjar and Sindh Inspector General (IG) Javed Alam Odho also took strict notice of the incident and sought a report from the Sukkur deputy inspector general (DIG).

IG Odho also issued directives for the suspension of the Kandhra, Patni and Saleh Pat SHOs in Sukkur, ordering “strict legal and departmental action” against them.

Subsequently, an order issued by the Sindh Police Department stated that Kandhra SHO Shoukat Ali Arain, Patni SHO Imran Khan Bhayo and Saleh Pat SHO Allauddin Phulpoto have been placed under suspension and “closed to ‘B’ Company PHQ/Garden Karachi”.

“During the period of suspension, they will draw their pay and allowances as admissible under the rules,” the police order said. They would be reporting to ‘B’ Company PHQ/Garden Karachi.

According to the statement issued by IG Odho’s office, a committee headed by the Ghotki senior superintendent of police (SSP) was formed to probe the reported incident.

The police chief directed that the individuals “violating the law and the SOPs in the incident” be arrested and legal action be ensured against them.

The home minister also ordered a “transparent and comprehensive investigation” into the incident. “All aspects of the incident should be reviewed in detail,” he was quoted as saying by his office.

Lanjar also appointed the Counter Terrorism Police Additional IG Zulfiqar Larik as the inquiry officer.

The minister asserted that any kind of negligence or unlawful action would not be tolerated, ordering that strict action be taken under the law against those responsible.

The chief minister held a meeting with Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi at the CM House and discussed the revival of the KCR, rehabilitation of old tracks, and introduction of new trains on the Karachi-Rohri and Karachi-Jacobabad (via Kotri and Dadu) routes.

The meeting also agreed to develop green corridors along railway tracks to improve urban mobility and environmental sustainability in Karachi.

It was noted that encroachments on railway land were identified as a major hurdle in the smooth functioning of rail services.

Murad, Railways Minister Abbasi discuss rehabilitation of KCR tracks, introduction of new trains in Sindh

The chief minister directed the district administrations to extend full support to PR for removing illegal encroachments.

“Encroachments cannot be allowed to compromise public infrastructure. We will provide full administrative backing to clear railway land,” he asserted.

The railway minister stressed strict action, saying: “Railway land is a national asset. We will work with the Sindh government to ensure its protection and lawful utilisation.”

According to a statement, the meeting was attended, among others, by Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Local Government (LG) Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, LG Secretary Waseem Shamshad, and Transport Secretary Asad Zamin.

Chairman of PR, Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, and General Manager (GM) Hafeezullah, Addl GM Railways Hammad Mirza, Divisional Superintendent (DS) Karachi Jamshaid Alam and DIG Railways South Muneer Shaikh were also present in the meeting.

The meeting focused on the revival and sustainable operation of suburban train services, particularly in Karachi, to address growing urban transport challenges.

The participants agreed that the suburban rail network, including the KCR, offered an affordable and “environmentally friendly” solution for daily commuters.

The chief minister stressed the need for a coordinated framework between the federal and provincial governments to rehabilitate infrastructure, improve scheduling, and ensure regular operations.

Assuring full cooperation from PR, the federal minister said, “We are committed to restoring suburban train services in Karachi. With joint efforts, we can transform this system into a reliable and modern mode of transport”.

The chief secretary informed Abbasi that the Sindh government was planning to construct an underpass at Malir Halt, but due to delays in the issuance of the no-objection certificate (NOC), the project had been pending.

The federal minister directed the PR chairman to issue the NOC so that it could be constructed.

The meeting also discussed a proposal to develop greenbelts and linear plantations along railway corridors, particularly from Karachi Cantonment to Jumma Goth, in collaboration with the Sindh government.

It was decided that the forest and LG departments would work with PR to implement plantation drives with proper maintenance mechanisms.

The issue of outstanding dues for the maintenance and upgradation of railway level crossings across Sindh also came up for discussion.

The chief minister directed that a comprehensive reconciliation be carried out to settle pending liabilities. “Public safety is our top priority. High-risk level crossings must be upgraded without delay to prevent accidents,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026

Sources said the 17-year-old victim was a worker at a cattle farm in Tando Adam.

He initially reported at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and was later referred to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SID&HRC).

“He presented to us with fever and bleeding yesterday. Upon clinical evaluation, the patient was suspected to be a CCHF case,” said Dr Yahya Tunio, deputy executive director at the JPMC.

The patient, he said, was managed in the isolation facility and his samples were promptly sent for analysis to the Aga Khan University Hospital. He tested positive and was transferred to SID&RH where he passed away on Wednesday morning.

According to the World Health Organisation, the CCHF virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks. They have a case fatality rate of up to 40 per cent.

The virus is primarily transmitted to people from ticks and livestock animals. Human-to-human transmission can occur resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected persons.

CCHF is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia, in countries south of the 50th parallel north.

There is no vaccine available for either people or animals.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026

Participants at a panel discussion titled ‘A Call to Conscience’ stressed that Earth Day is not just about the environment but also about all life that depends on it.

Dedicated animal welfare activist Jude Allen said that animal welfare needs to be pushed for with consistency. He shared how he was able to have Madhubala, the elephant, shifted from Karachi Zoo to the Safari Park and Rano, the Himalayan brown bear, relocated from the Karachi Zoo to a wildlife sanctuary in Islamabad.

“Here at the zoo, the bear was drinking water from a small pond in her enclosure which also had her faeces. Meanwhile, she also had maggots that were eating her brain,” Jude remembered with a shudder.

He also recalled Madhubala’s agony. “The elephant was alone and grieving after Noor Jehan’s death at the Karachi Zoo. She needed to be reunited with her sisters, Malika and Sonu, at Safari Park or she would have reached a fate similar to her partner Noor Jehan,” he said.

Wildlife activists remember elephant Noor Jehan on Earth Day; posters made by schoolchildren call for zoos to be shut down

“When I visited Islamabad during the winter hoping to meet Rano at the sanctuary, I was informed that she was hibernating. But sensing my presence, Rano woke up and came out to greet me. She spent five minutes with me before going back to sleep,” he smiled, adding how animals show their love and appreciation.

“While helping animals we continue to face challenges from here and there but we remain consistent in our efforts to get results,” he added.

Environmentalist Tofiq Pasha Mooraj said that it is a shame that animals do not at all figure in our plans. “Imagine asking the government to install powerful lights in the Karachi Zoo. So what about the zoo animals who fall asleep at sun down? Imagine asking to close the Frere Gardens behind walls and big gates,” he said. “We have to keep fighting against such things constantly,” he added.

“I have six to seven dogs at my place who used to be strays. But I’m looked at with surprise. People don’t understand why I care for dogs at a time when people are killing each other. They want all dogs eradicated from the planet. To them I say let’s eradicate humans to help our planet flourish again because it is humans who are the main cause of the plant’s destruction,” he joked.

Filmmaker Mohammad Ali Ijaz, who makes documentaries about the environment and who has documented the work for the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned animals at a sanctuary in Islamabad, said that each animal at the sanctuary has a heartbreaking story. “The people who run the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Islamabad are people who truly love animals and go out of their way to care for them. And they know what they are doing, taking their dedication to the next level,” he said.

Animal rights activist Haris Ibrahim said that he loves animals so much that if anyone is rude or unkind to them he will be the same to them. “It got me arrested too,” he said, adding that he was put behind bars for standing up for a cat being stepped on and licked by a cruel individual.

Earlier, the documentary Haven in the Hills: Islamabad’s Wildlife Ark, produced by Mohammad Ali Ijaz, was screened. The 12-minute film showcases the Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre for wild animals at the site of the old Islamabad Zoo, which was shut down by the Islamabad High Court in 2020.

The gathering, screening and panel discussion was followed by the viewing of a student protest through an art exhibition titled Shut Down Zoos by the students of several schools in the city.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026

“This initiative will not only enhance transparency but also significantly help eliminate corruption,” Local Government Minister Nasir Shah said while speaking at a ceremony held to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at his office.

The MoU was signed between Sindh Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, and Bank of Punjab in collaboration with the Board of Revenue (BoR), local government and information technology departments.

The initiative represents a major step toward a more transparent, efficient, and fully digitised revenue collection system across the province.

Since SITC assumed operational control of the e-Stamping system in September 2025, the platform has processed over one million challans and collected more than Rs18 billion in revenue through 431 bank branches across Sindh.

The minister said that the system for collecting taxes on property transfers at the local council level is being fully digitised and simplified.

He stated that the existing tax collection system is being upgraded and integrated with the online system of the BoR to make the process of property transfer faster, easier, and more transparent.

He said that direct collection of stamp duty and other taxes will strengthen local councils financially and improve their performance.

He highlighted that the local government, BoR and the three major banks are being interconnected through a unified online system, making the tax collection process more efficient and reliable.

Speaking on the occasion, SITC Chief Executive Zainulabedin Shah said that the same proven digital infrastructure is now being extended to municipal tax collection, enabling greater efficiency, transparency and convenience for citizens.

Under the new arrangement, IPT will be automatically generated along with the e-Stamping challan and calculated at one per centof the total property value. No separate challan will be required.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026

Speaking at a news conference at the local press club on Wednesday, he said that Hyderabad, in fact, needed a new hospital like LUH instead of its separation, which was “illogical”.

He said that LUH, one of the oldest teaching hospitals in Sindh, should not be separated as it would defeat the very purpose of its establishment.

He added that all emergency cases were handled at the LUH City branch, and then patients were shifted to the LUH Jamshoro branch.

Dr Jatoi maintained that the Rajputana Charitable Hospital was lying abandoned and could be used to set up a new hospital, otherwise it might fall prey to “interested quarters”.

He said that people could not afford expensive treatment in Karachi, as they could not bear the cost of treatment there.

“LUH can be run efficiently if better administration is ensured by the health department,” he said.

Dr Jatoi said that only recently, some unconcerned individuals had intruded into a ward, where a woman started raising a hue and cry. He regretted that such incidents occurred at LUH.

He noted that multiple newborns were kept on a single bed in the paediatric ward due to a lack of resources.

He alleged that a “system” existed in the health department and that “positions” were sold for millions.

Dr Jatoi said that this had been the case previously and that he had headed LUH and also served as DG Health Services Sindh before his retirement.

He maintained that the Health Management Board of LUH, which met last Friday, had discussed the proposal for the hospital’s separation, but the decision of the board’s meeting had not yet been made public.

He disclosed that there used to be checks and balances on professors working under the university’s administration, but now no such mechanism existed.

The former DG said that the separation proposal of LUH was also discussed by Faisal Gabol, adviser to the Sindh government on health, but the idea was dropped.

He said that the proposal would be detrimental to the public and that he and other like-minded people would oppose it.

He demanded that Hyderabad also needed space for graveyards, as existing ones had no capacity left for burials.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026

A red notice is a request to law enforcement agencies by Interpol to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

DIG Raza said the Interpol secretariat in Lyon, France had issued the notice against Lakho on the request of Pakistani authorities.

According to the notice, seen by Dawn, Lakho had been involved in murders, extortion and assault on police in Karachi.

It said Lakho was wanted for prosecution in more than 60 cases of “heinous nature”. Among them, Interpol issued a red notice for his arrest in a 2014 case registered at Karachi’s Kalri police station under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of their duty), 324 (attempt to murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Elaborating on the case, the notice said a police party had reached Karachi’s Daryabad area upon receiving information that Lakho was present there along with his accomplices, who were associated with Lyari gang war, with the intention to commit a “heinous crime”.

Police cordoned off the area after reaching the site, the notice said, adding that Lakho and his accomplices opened fire on law enforcers with the intention to kill upon seeing them.

“Police also started firing in self-defence. Resultantly, one accused person, Abdul Jabbar, fell down … due to a bullet injury while other accused persons succeeded in escaping,” it read.

The notice said police arrested the injured suspect and found a TT pistol and ammunition in his possession.

It said that during interrogation, arrested suspect Abdul Jabbar named one of the suspects who had fled as Wasiullah Lakho.

Lakho “has fled to avoid arrest. Competent court of law has declared him a proclaimed offender and issued a perpetual warrant of arrest for him. The accused is wanted for prosecution”, the notice read.

The government cancelled the contract for the Mosamiyat–Numaish section of the project.

The stalled construction on the Red Line resumed in November after the removal of several bottlenecks following the chief minister’s intervention, but there is still no clear timeline in sight for the project’s completion as thousands of University Road commuters continue to face daily hardships.

Speaking to Dawn, Memon confirmed that the contract had been terminated due to delays in the project’s execution by the contractor.

He said the contractor was issued several warnings to complete the work within the stipulated time, but failed to comply.

The government, he added, tried its level best to accommodate the contractor by resolving issues related to rate escalation.

Memon added that the Asian Development Bank, which funds the project, was unhappy with the pace of work, as were stakeholders concerned about environmental impact.

He said the remaining work on the Red Line project would now be contracted out on an emergency basis.

“To ensure early completion, the remaining work will be split into smaller packages and awarded to more than one contractor,” he added.

SHC dismisses plea seeking de-sealing of site

Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court (SHC) heard a petition challenging the decision on Wednesday. A two-member bench headed by Justice Mohammad Saleem Jessar presided over the hearing and directed the appointment of an observer to visit the site of the BRT Red Line project.

The court stated that the observer will prepare a list of the machinery present at the site. During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer, Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed, contended that the contractor’s office and the site be de-sealed and argued that the contract for the project was given to a Pakistani and a Chinese company.

“TransKarachi provided the design of the BRT Red Line project to the contractor after two-and-a-half years.“

He further argued that “a board formed to resolve the dispute also held the government responsible for the delay, deciding to pay the contractor Rs3.7 billion in additional expenses”.

The petitioner’s counsel elaborated that a day earlier, Mukhtiarkar, police, and the deputy commissioner “misused their powers by sealing the office,” adding that they did not hold the authority to seal the office.

Ahmed further informed the court that machinery “worth a billion rupees” was present at the site.

The petitioner requested the court to order the de-sealing of the contractor’s office; however, the court rejected the request.

The two-member bench also issued notices to TransKarachi, the Sindh government, Mukhtiarkar, police, and DC East and adjourned the hearing to April 29.

Designed to cover around 27 kilometres from Malir Halt to Numaish via University Road, the BRT Red Line project was announced in 2017 with an initial cost of around Rs79 billion, but due to persistent delays and mismanagement by the provincial government, the estimated cost has now escalated to Rs103bn.

After commencement of the work in early 2022, the project was initially scheduled for completion by 2023, which was later pushed to 2024 and subsequently extended to the end of 2026.

For many, even the revised timeline appears to be wholly unrealistic as the project continues to progress at a snail’s pace. Various factors have been cited by officials to justify these delays, including disputes with contractors, safety stoppages, rising construction costs due to depreciation of the rupee, difficulties in land acquisition, relocation of utilities and coordination failures between implementing agencies.

In December of last year, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed authorities to expedite work on the line during an inspection of the project from Malir Cantonment to Numaish. He was told that delays were because of heavy rains, utility relocation issues and design changes.

In September, the SHC said that all stakeholders should be taken on board and efforts should be made to resolve disputes to ensure that work on the project is carried out continuously.

According to President House media wing press release, the provision of improved social services, governance, ongoing development initiatives and enhancing public welfare were reviewed in detail during the meeting.

The president emphasised the need for effective governance in the province and stressed ensuring the well-being of the people through efficient administrative measures.

Discusses political situation with CM Murad and Governor Hashmi in Bilawal House meeting

He also directed that collaboration between the government and various segments of society, including social, political, and business communities, be strengthened to achieve better results.

Highlighting the importance of coordination, the president underscored the need to enhance synergy at both national and provincial levels to make public service delivery more effective.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2026

KARACHI: As the ongoing matric examinations continue under the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK), multiple incidents of cheating, paper leaks and other irregularities have surfaced in the city, exposing the incompetence of the board which had been claiming a “zero tolerance” against such practices.

Videos circulating on social media showed students using mobile phones during examinations at various centres.

In Orangi Town, some private schools did not even send their candidates to officially designated centres and instead arranged unauthorised venues with fake permits to facilitate cheating.

Footage on social media showed students using mobile phones openly in the presence of invigilators at various centres, with little to no apparent enforcement of examination rules. At several centres, candidates were also seen copying from books and handwritten notes.

Faced with severe criticism by the public, school associations, the media as well as political parties, the board officials took action and suspended some superintendents at examination centres and also cancelled a few centres.

The board officials said that hundreds of students had been caught cheating and disciplinary action had been initiated against them.

As per statements issued by the board, the centre superintendent at Government Boys Secondary School, A. Area Kala Board, Malir, had been suspended.

Similarly, the board said a superintendent of a government boys secondary school in PECHS had been suspended.

The board statement added that new superintendents had been appointed along with additional external supervisors, while a special vigilance team had been constituted to assess the situation and take action where necessary.

Minister for Universities and Boards Ismail Rahoo conducted surprise visits to multiple examination centres, says a BSEK statement.

During these inspections, action was taken against institutions found involved in irregularities, with some centres cancelled and alternative venues designated.

Rahoo further warned that those found involved in malpractice could face blacklisting from appearing in board examinations in future years.

However, the situation has drawn harsh criticism from stakeholders.

‘External elements’

In a statement, the All Sindh Private Schools and Colleges Association alleged that “external elements” have taken control of hundreds of examination centres in Karachi, leaving a large number of students vulnerable.

The association termed the cancellation of two examination centres by the board a “symbolic action”, claiming it did not reflect the scale of the problem.

It criticised what it described as the board’s “zero tolerance” stance, saying it instead reflected “zero control” over examination centres.

It also alleged that solved papers were being shared via WhatsApp shortly after the start of exams and students were using mobile phones without restriction.

The association also raised security concerns, particularly at girls’ centres. It said interference by unauthorised persons and inadequate arrangements had created an atmosphere of unease among female students and their parents.

It also alleged frequent, unannounced changes in examination centres, claiming these had disrupted the process and contributed to administrative confusion.

Political parties see BSEK failure

Similarly, talking to Dawn, Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi said that cheating, paper leaks, and such irregularities were not happening for the first time; rather, these issues occur every year because the government and board authorities have failed to prevent them.

He said that various methods have been tried repeatedly, laws have been amended, and new measures have been introduced, but none have succeeded in curbing cheating.

Khurshidi was of the view that the only solution to this problem is a “complete revamp”. This alone can improve Karachi’s education system and the quality of education, which is currently in a very poor state.

“However, we cannot expect that from the Sindh government as it has consistently failed in this regard,” he added.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) also criticised the examination process. In a statement, its Karachi chapter president Raja Azhar said repeated reports of paper leaks pointed to administrative failures at the BSEK and the “incompetence of the Sindh government”.

He alleged that a “cheating mafia” had been operating in the province for years and the future of Sindh’s youth was being destroyed.

Azhar claimed that, in some exam centres, teachers were taking bribes to provide students with so-called “VIP rooms” to facilitate cheating.

The PTI leader called for immediate action against those involved and measures to ensure transparency.

90 to 95pc exam centres are completely secure: BSEK controller

Dawn reached out to BSEK Controller of Examination Ahmed Khan Chutto.

When asked why such incidents occur every year despite the board’s claims of full preparedness, he responded that “Karachi is a very large city with 521 examination centres. It’s difficult to manage everything completely.”

However, he added that action is being taken wherever incidents of cheating and centre issues are reported.

Speaking specifically about paper leaks, he said that if a paper is leaked 10 to 12 hours in advance, students can take advantage of it; however, if it is leaked 15 to 20 minutes before the exam, it does not offer any real help to them.

Chutto also claimed that 90 to 95 per cent of examination centres in the city are completely secure and exams are being conducted there as per routine.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2026