The SHC noted the police officer has, without any justification, blatantly violated the privacy of a female suspect while arresting her among others.

The single-judge bench of the SHC, headed by Justice Omar Sial, also observed that brave and valiant officers of the Sindh police were sacrificing their lives to protect the lives and property of the people in Sindh, but officers like the SI in question were tarnishing the reputation of the police force.

The applicant in the case, Rehana, had moved the SHC through her counsel after the trial court dismissed her post-arrest bail application in March in a case about allegedly running a brothel at Gulshan-i-Hadeed.

SHC moved against sub-inspector for violating privacy of applicant’s home during raid

The counsel for the applicant argued that the applicant was framed by SI Mohammad Hasan, the complainant in the case, “for not fulfilling an undue demand” and that the allegations did not attract the offences/provisions invoked in the FIR.

The lawyer also contended that the police party, which raided applicant Rehana’s house, had violated the provision of Section 103 (Search to be made in presence of witnesses. Occupant of place searched may attend) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Moreover, there was no complaint from neighbours about the alleged offences while the applicant has no criminal record, added the lawyer.

The bench in its order said that the complainant, SI Hasan, was asked under what authority he entered not only a private home but also the bedroom of a couple.

“Neither he, nor the learned additional prosecutor general [APG] was able to justice his action, apart from a weak and feeble claim that spy information was received that the house is a brothel,” it added.

However, it also noted that APG did attempt to justify the action of the police officer by stating that the FIR had wrongly said that he had entered into the house as in reality the applicant was arrested outside the house.

The order further said, “There is not an iota of doubt in my mind that SI Hasan has blatantly violated the proverbial ‘chadar and chaar deewari’ without any justification”.

Simultaneously, the APG also informed the bench that bail had already been granted to the applicant by the trial court and the current bail application had become infructuous and was disposed of as such.

The order stated, “I am saddened to see that on the one hand, brave and valiant officers of the Sindh police are giving their lives to protect the life and property of Sindh citizens while on the other hand, officers like SI Hasan, tarnish the force reputation.

“The inspector general of police, Sindh is requested to conduct an enquiry to determine whether disciplinary action should be initiated against SI Hasan. The reputation of the Sindh police must be protected at all costs”, it concluded.

Earlier, the prosecution had submitted that police had raided a house in Gulshan-i-Hadeed in February after receiving information that a brothel was being run there and arrested the applicant along with a man named Ramzan and a woman, Shabana.

A case was lodged under Sections 371-A (selling a person for purposes of prostitution, etc.), 371-B (buying a person for purposes of prostitution, etc.) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Steel Town police station.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026

KARACHI: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), already under intense public criticism over a water supply crisis that has persisted for nearly three months in several parts of the city, is now facing another challenge as its employees took to the streets on Wednesday to demand the resolution of longstanding grievances.

The elected KWSC CBA and the Muttahida Workers Federation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan organised the protest outside the Karachi Press Club against the management of the water utility.

The demonstrators carried banners and placards highlighting various issues faced by water utility employees and demanding immediate action from the authorities.

Among their key demands were the restoration of the medical facility, approval of the Charter of Demand submitted by the Muttahida Workers Front CBA and an increase in employees’ salaries. The protesters also called for the immediate payment of dues to retired employees, those who had resigned, and the families of deceased workers.

Restoration of old medical policy, pay raise among key demands; MQM-P lawmakers assure to raise employees’ issues in Sindh Assembly

In his address, CBA Chairman Irshad Khan made a startling allegation regarding the outsourcing of KWSC’s medical services to a private insurance company. He claimed that the owner of the insurance company is a brother of senior Pakistan Peoples Party functionary.

“The employees’ welfare and their future are compromised to benefit the company. Despite the medical department having an allocated budget of Rs340 million, payments amounting to Rs740 million were made to the insurance at the behest of the KWSC chairman. We have documentary evidence of these transactions and can share with anyone who wants to challenge us.”

He also issued a strong warning to the KWSC administration, saying that any attempt to abolish or curtail employees’ medical facilities would be met with strong resistance. He said that recent changes to the medical system had caused serious difficulties for employees and their families, adversely affecting their access to healthcare services.

The KWSC employees, Khan said, serve as the backbone of the city’s water supply and sewerage system, yet their legitimate rights and welfare concerns have been ignored for years. The soaring inflation, he said, has placed workers under severe financial pressure, making salary increases and enhanced benefits an urgent necessity.

The protest was also attended by members of the Sindh Assembly belonging to the MQM-P, including Abdul Waseem, Qurrat-ul-Ain, Muhammad Dilawar, Engineer Usman and Aamir Siddiqui. Also present were MQM-P central office-bearers Masood Mahmood, Abdul Haseeb, Ashraf Ali, Labour Division In-charge Arshad Ansari and a large number of KWSC employees.

In their addresses, the MQM-P leaders expressed full support for the employees’ demands and assured protesters that their concerns would be raised forcefully in the Sindh Assembly and before the relevant authorities.

They emphasised that safeguarding workers’ rights and addressing their problems is the responsibility of both the government and public institutions, adding that continued neglect of these issues is unacceptable.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026

KARACHI: While the maximum temperature recorded in Karachi on Wednesday was 37.4 degrees Celsius, the feels-like temperature surged to 54°C, the Met Office data showed.

According to the data, the feels-like temperature gradually soared from 49°C at around 1pm to 54°C at 3pm.

It showed relative humidity was 79pc and 65pc in the morning and evening, respectively. The minimum temperature was 30°C.

Other districts of Sindh also experienced harsher weather conditions with mercury soaring to 49.5°C in Jacobabad followed by Dadu 49°C, Paddidan and Sukkur 47°C, Mohenjo Daro, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad 46.5°C, Rohri 46°C, Khairpur 45.5°C and Sakrand 45°C.

“We are expecting relief after Friday (tomorrow). The high pressure area developed over the region will gradually subside and the temperature will drop to 36°C to 34°C. But, there are no chances of rain in coming days in Karachi,” Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder Laghari told Dawn.

According to him, the highest ever recorded temperature of Karachi in the month of June is 47°C, which was recorded on June 18, 1979.

Preventive measures

Speaking about prevention from heat-related illnesses, Dr Nadeemullah Khan, Professor and Chair Department of Emergency Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, said that staying hydrated was the most important preventive step people need to take to protect themselves.

“Avoid sugary drinks, caffeinated beverages, tea, coffee and alcohol, which accelerate fluid loss. Avoid the hottest hours and use air conditioning or cooling spaces, if possible. Evidence shows that time in air-conditioned environments is among the strongest protective factors against heat death. Fans alone are insufficient when ambient temperature exceeds body temperature,” he told Dawn.

“Heavy protective gear and dark clothing significantly increase heat absorption. Women whose cultural dress limits heat dissipation are at elevated risk and should take extra precautions.

“Workers must be given adequate water, shade and rest breaks. New workers and those returning from leave require gradual acclimatisation. Heavy work should not be assigned to elderly or high-risk workers during extreme heat.”

About any special precautions needed for children and the elderly, he said they were the two highest-risk groups and required specific protective strategies.

“Children have a higher surface area-to-body mass ratio, meaning they absorb heat from the environment faster than adults. Their sweat rates are slower, they have a higher temperature threshold before sweating begins, and they produce more dilute sweat, all of which impair heat dissipation,” he added.

Children, he emphasised, must never be left in parked vehicles, temperatures inside can be fatal within minutes. “Outdoor sports and play should be restricted to early morning or evening. Frequent water breaks are mandatory.”

The elderly, he said, were vulnerable because of their diminished cardiovascular reserve, which meant reduced ability to increase heart rate and redirect blood to the skin for cooling.

“Their reduced mobility, immobility and loss of heat-shock proteins increase vulnerability. Many elderly patients live alone, in poorly ventilated homes, without electricity or air conditioning, a critically dangerous combination during heat waves.

“Community health workers and family members should conduct twice-daily welfare checks on elderly individuals during extreme heat events,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026

According to a NCCIA spokesperson, “The agency carried out an operation against an illegal call centre in Block-12 of Gulistan-i-Jauhar and arrested seven suspects for deceiving individuals through hacking and unauthorised access to their bank accounts and credit cards information.”

The held suspects were identified as Raheel Naurus, Leonard Edgar Dean, Joshua Harrison, Leon Samson Dean, Edison Aftab, Hamza Shaikh and Arnold Dean.

During the search, digital equipment including five CPUs, one laptop, nine mobile phones, two vehicles and important documents were seized.

The spokesperson said that a case under relevant sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 and Pakistan Penal Code had been registered against the seven held persons.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026

According to data from the Sukkur Barrage Control Room on Wednesday, the total upstream inflow at Sukkur Barrage was recorded at 50,620 cusecs, while the total withdrawal stood at 32,120 cusecs.

Irrigation department sources and representatives of growers and millers stated that the combined water allocation for Sindh’s seven canals is 53,200 cusecs. With the actual supply at just 32,120 cusecs, Sindh is facing an overall shortage of 21,080 cusecs, or 39.6 per cent.

In contrast, upstream barrages and canal systems in Punjab continue to withdraw water well above their allocated share. Against an allocation of 44,000 cusecs, Punjab is currently drawing 53,394 cusecs — an excess of 9,394 cusecs, or 21.35pc. This continued over-withdrawal is directly reducing water availability downstream.

Barrage and canal breakdowns

The water distribution data across key canal systems paints a critical picture:

Right Bank Canals (Sukkur Barrage): North West (NW) Canal: Receiving 2,100 cusecs against an allocation of 4,260 cusecs (50.7pc shortage).Rice Canal: Receiving 5,300 cusecs against an allocation of 8,700 cusecs (39.1 pc shortage).Dadu Canal: Receiving only 860 cusecs against an allocation of 5,997 cusecs, marking the most critical deficit at 85.7 pc.

Left Bank Canals & Kotri Barrage: Nara Canal: Receiving 8,820 cusecs against an allocation of 13,037 cusecs (32.3 pc shortage).Khairpur Feeder East: Receiving 1,440 cusecs against an allocation of 2,150 cusecs (33pc shortage).Rohri Canal: Receiving 10,530 cusecs against an allocation of 15,541 cusecs (32.2pc shortage).Khairpur Feeder West: Receiving 1,160 cusecs against an allocation of 3,525 cusecs (67.1pc shortage).Kotri Barrage: Receiving 11,905 cusecs against an allocation of 26,900 cusecs (55.74pc shortage).

Impact on Balochistan

Under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord, Balochistan is entitled to 2,200 cusecs through the North West Canal. However, because the total supply in the NW Canal has dropped to 2,100 cusecs, Balochistan is receiving less than its allocated share.

Prior to the 1991 accord, Balochistan’s share was 451 cusecs. In light of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Accord, Sindh now routes the revised 2,200 cusecs to the neighboring province. Flows are monitored at the Garang Cross Regulator, located at RD-102 of the Khirthar/North Western Canal near the Sindh-Balochistan border, which serves as the primary inter-provincial control and measurement point.

Official demands for equitable distribution

Well-placed sources confirmed that irrigation officials formally communicated the severe deficit on Wednesday to the chief engineer of the Barrage Management Unit.

The correspondence highlighted that the 85.7pc shortage in the Dadu Canal and the 50.7 pc shortage in the NW Canal are severely impacting the districts of Larkana, Shikarpur, and Qambar-Shahdadkot, alongside downstream areas in Balochistan.

The communication — which was also sent to the secretary irrigation Sindh, secretary (technical) irrigation, and the director of regulation —called for immediate steps to ensure equitable distribution. Officials warned that the current scarcity poses an acute threat to seasonal crops, particularly rice production.

Agro-economic threat to Larkana

The water crisis threatens a vital economic hub. According to Khair Muhammed Shaikh, president of the Larkana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Larkana Division is a leading rice-producing region.

“Larkana District alone produces around 242,000 metric tons of rice annually. The division contributes approximately Rs90 billion per year in foreign exchange from rice production alone. Furthermore, out of 650 rice mills in Sindh, nearly 500 are located in the Larkana region, underscoring its central role in agro-processing and trade.”

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026

Over 260 workers, including 16 who could not be identified, were burnt alive when the multi-storey Ali Enterprises garment factory was set on fire in Baldia Town on Sept 11, 2012, in what became the deadliest industrial blaze in Pakistan’s history.

On Wednesday, a three-judge SC bench, headed by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed and including Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Shakeel Ahmad, set aside the death sentences awarded to the two accused by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on charges of murder, extortion, arson and terrorism, granting them the benefit of the doubt.

Abdul Rehman alias Bhola, a former sector in-charge in the party’s organisational structure, and Zubair alias Chariya were sentenced to death in September 2020 for allegedly setting the multi-storey Ali Enterprises garment factory on fire in Baldia Town.

It should be mentioned that in 2023, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had upheld the death penalty handed down to the two workers and also set aside the life term of four employees of the factory. Later, both the convicts had challenged the verdict in the SC.

The SHC had also dismissed an appeal filed by the state challenging the acquittal of then provincial minister for commerce and industries Rauf Siddiqui and three others by the ATC in the same case.

While accepting the appeals of the two accused on Wednesday, the SC indicated that a detailed judgment will be issued later and rejected a request to implead relatives of the deceased as parties in the case, remarking that if the court makes them parties in the matter, 200 more applications may come tomorrow.

Justice Shahzad also ruled that the application to expunge the remarks made by the lower courts related to MQM had become ineffective since their decisions had been declared null and void.

During the hearing, Justice Shahzad said that there was a confessional statement from Zubair alias Chariya but not from the co-accused Abdul Rehman alias Bhola.

“Had there been a demand of extortion by MQM, why was the acquittal of other co-accused (in the case) not challenged?” he inquired.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, senior counsel Farogh Naseem argued that the petitioners were innocent and falsely implicated by the police in the case, since the two were never named in the FIR but implicated based on a 2015 Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted by the Sindh government — a report which he argued was neither legally admissible as evidence nor can be relied for awarding a death sentence or even life imprisonment.

The counsel reminded that it was a settled law that the benefit of doubt has to be resolved in favour of the accused, when the SHC had already extended the benefit of the doubt to other co-accused.

He further argued that the accused were implicated more than two and a half years after the incident, which he said otherwise proved that the prosecution witnesses were concocted.

The counsel also recalled that three gates of the Ali Enterprises Garment Factory were locked on the alleged orders of the factory owner, Abdul Aziz Bhaila, sometime before the incident.

He further argued that the sons of the owner, namely Arshad Bhaila and Shahid Bhaila, as well as the administration of the three-storey factory building, had not made adequate arrangements for emergency exits for the factory workers.

The counsel said that the iron grills were fixed on the windows due to which workers failed to escape.

The counsel further contended that the JIT was constituted by the Sindh government based on information provided by one Mohammad Rizwan Qureshi.

The appeals contended that Qureshi was never produced or cited as a witness nor made an accused by the prosecution to prove the contents of the JIT, which was recorded nine months after the incident.

It was claimed in the appeals that there was no evidence against the petitioners for the demand of “bhattaa” (extortion), which according to the prosecution was made in July, 2012, while the incident happened in September that year.

Neither were CCTV recordings produced, nor was the specific witness examined to corroborate the allegation of bhattaa from the factory owners, the appeals argued, adding the prosecution had been silent in this respect till 2013 when Qureshi was arrested.

The appeals contended that from the date of occurrence till 2015, the police/factory owners made no complaint nor registered a case for the alleged bhattaa.

The petitions also pleaded that the prosecution had failed to bring on record a report issued by Karachi University’s Science Laboratory to establish that the blaze resulted from a chemical substance.

The protest over non-payment of dues had been continuing for over a month and included a complete boycott of semester examinations.

Sources said the government assurances over employees’ demands were presented at a meeting chaired by Minister for Universities & Boards Department Muhammad Ismail Rahoo.

The attendees were: Sindh Higher Education Commission (Sindh-HEC) chairperson Dr Tariq Rafi, secretary universities & boards department Muhammad Abbas Baloch, Chairman Charter Inspection and Evaluation Committee Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, secretary Sindh-HEC Dr Noman Ahsan and representatives of KU teachers and non-teaching staff – President Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts) Syed Ghufran Alam, President KU Employees Welfare Association Zahid Hussain Baloch and President KU Officers’ Welfare Association Faisal Hashmi.

Protest over non-payment of dues had begun on May 5

Sources said the KU representatives held an initial meeting with the KU vice chancellor the same day prior to attending the high-level meeting.

“After a lengthy discussion, it was resolved that a summary will be moved by the universities & boards department, government of Sindh, regarding favourable recommendations for ex gratia and housing rental ceiling for the employees of Karachi University.

“Accordingly, the associations’ representatives assured to call off the ongoing strike at the University of Karachi after consultation. The committee already constituted will continue to work,” the minutes of the meeting released after the discussion say.

Sources said it’s the second meeting of government officials with KU representatives in a week.

Speaking to Dawn, the Kuts president confirmed that all stakeholders, including the non-teaching staff, had accepted government assurances and were postponing the protest movement.

“We all appreciate the government’s efforts as it has given us assurances in writing. This happened in the presence of top education and university officials, including the minister. Our response also means to show respect to Ashura. Let’s see how things develop and promises are delivered,” Mr Alam said, without going into the details of the consensus reached.

Earlier in the day, a large number of teachers and the non-teaching staff, supported by students and representatives of different bodies, held a major demonstration at KU’s Silver Jubilee Gate. They expressed serious concern over what they described as delaying tactics of the government and threatened that they would block University Road if their demands were not accepted.

It might be recalled that KU employees had been boycotting the semester exams since May 5 over non-payment of their dues for evening classes, copy checking, exam supervision, paper setting, exam vigilance, house ceiling and leave encashment among other things.

They had also called for an investigation into the financial crisis at the campus and refused to end the strike until the fulfilment of their demands.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2026

Her body was taken to hospital from where her family took it away for burial without a post-mortem examination, police said.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed told Dawn that the body of a woman, identified as Misbah Shaheryar, 18, was brought to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital on Tuesday from Saiful Marri Goth in Surjani Town.

The body bore marks of injuries on the head and other parts. However, the family did not allow doctors to conduct the post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death and took away the body for burial in the presence of police.

Victim’s brother says her in-laws demanded motorcycle in dowry; police surgeon confirms injury marks on body, says family did not allow autopsy

The deceased’s brother Usman told media that her elder sister Misbah had married Shaheryar with her own free will one week before Ramazan this year. However, she was allegedly tortured by her in-laws because her family was unable to fulfil their demand of a motorcycle in the dowry.

Surjani SHO Sohail Khaskheli told Dawn that it was a ‘love-marriage’. She was living with her husband Shaheryar in a Malir locality. However, she developed differences with her husband and returned recently to her parents’ home, where she died on Tuesday.

The police officer said the doctors did not tell the police about the cause of death.

The brother claimed that soon after the marriage, the husband used to beat his sister when she learnt that he had already married two women and did not do any work.

The police said the suspect had claimed that he had a job in police, but it was untrue.

Initially, the husband had demanded a motorcycle in the dowry, but the woman’s family could not arrange it, since they were poor. The girl’s father had already passed away, the brother added.

On Saturday, his sister was ‘severely’ beaten by her husband and she came to their house in Surjani Town. He said there were torture marks on her head. Besides, his female relatives also told them that there were burn injuries on her private parts caused by burning wood.

The grief-stricken brother added that they had approached the Surjani police but they did not register an FIR, saying that the case pertained to the Malir district. He alleged that the suspect was still threatening them of dire consequences.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2026

“Cruelty against voiceless animals is unacceptable under any circumstances,” the CM said, and described the incident as an inhumane act.

He also directed Tharparkar’s livestock department to ensure immediate veterinary treatment of the camel.

He sought a report on the incident from the Mirpurkhas DIG.

MPA Surendar Valasai also asked the area police to take immediate action against those involved in the incident.

Owner of the camel, Sarang Neelo Meghwar, had on Monday complained to locals and journalists outside the Chachro Press Club that a group of unruly men belonging to the Rind community attacked the animal without any reason in his village, Baghal Rind, located in Dahli taluka.

He had brought the seriously injured camel to the press club. His children and some women family members also accompanied him.

“They started beat up the camel and continued with the inhuman treatment until they gouged out both eyes of the animal at the behest of an influential figure of their community, living in the neighbouring village,” he alleged.

His ordeal prompted protests by local civil society activists in Chachro and an uproar on social media platforms.

“The suspects are threatening us with dire consequences if we approached police or any other authority for action against them,” he said.

Mr Meghwar appealed to the authorities concerned and animal rights organisations to ensure a probe into the incident and action against those involved in the inhuman act.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2026

KARACHI: The city experienced hot and humid weather throughout Tuesday, with the maximum temperature reaching 36.5 degrees Celsius. However, due to high humidity levels, the “feels-like” temperature surged to around 48°C during the day, making conditions significantly more uncomfortable for residents.

The Met Office said the maximum temperature recorded in the city was 36.5°C, while relative humidity remained at 62 per cent, significantly increasing the perceived heat.

“At around 2pm the temperature was recorded at 36°C with 60pc humidity while southwest winds were blowing 21 kilometres per hour. At that time the feels-like temperature was touching 48°C,” said an official.

In other parts of Sindh, a severe heatwave continued to grip upper and central parts of the province, with temperatures reaching extreme levels across several districts.

According to the Met Office, Dadu recorded 48°C, while Sukkur, Rohri and Khairpur registered around 46.5°C.

The Pakistan Meteoro­lo­gi­cal Depart­ment warned last week that heatwave conditions are likely to persist across Sindh, with temperatures remaining four to six degrees above normal in many areas.

According to the Met Office, the maximum temperature in Karachi on Wednesday (today) will be around 36°C but humidity may cross 70pc mark.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2026

KARACHI: Traffic congestion on M.A. Jinnah Road, one of busiest arteries of the city, has worsened significantly over the past few months due to ongoing construction of the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit extension (BRT) project, encroachments on both tracks of the road and poor traffic management. Because of these factors very little space has been left for vehicles to pass along the road, making the daily commute unbearable for tens of thousands of citizens.

The traffic issues worsened following the commencement of the Green Line extension from Numaish to the Municipal Park. The construction work in the centre of the road has reduced the available carriageway on both sides. However, encroachments have compounded the problem and turned the routine commute into lengthy ordeals for people.

The problem begins from Naz Plaza and Amma Tower Mobile Market, where motorcycles are routinely parked on M.A. Jinnah Road in double rows.

Moreover, roadside eateries have placed chairs for customers in the same row. Due to that, at this intersection of the road, only enough space remains for a single bus to pass.

Further ahead, near the auto parts market opposite Plaza, motorists face another bottleneck. Several months ago, authorities had carried out an anti-encroachment operation in the area and sealed many shops, which were de-sealed after officials obtained “assurances” from the shopkeepers that they would no longer occupy the roads. However, vehicles have once again spilled onto the roadway, with car repair work ongoing daily.

A similar situation exists outside the former Radio Pakistan building, where cars are routinely parked along the main road.

All of this leaves little space for road users and contributes to daily traffic jams. As a result, journeys that earlier took only a few minutes now take considerably more time.

A similar situation exists at the Light House signal, where pushcarts selling shoes and sneakers have occupied most of the key thoroughfare.

Commuters say that travelling from Numaish to Jodia Bazaar, a trip that previously took around 10 minutes, now regularly takes between 30 and 35 minutes. Likewise, the commute from Numaish to Tower, which once required 20 to 25 minutes, now takes between 45 and 50 minutes.

Speaking to Dawn, one car driver described the situation as unbearable. “The condition on this road is extremely bad. I do not even feel like driving through M.A. Jinnah Road anymore, but I have no choice because my job requires me to use this route every day. The traffic jams have become a major source of inconvenience and result in a significant waste of time,” he said.

He also questioned why no one was taking any action over the vehicles parked along the road. “The government does everything for money and its own benefit. The authorities must be getting some monetary benefit; that’s why they don’t take action.”

Another commuter said that he used this route every day to get to his office near I.I. Chundrigar Road. “Previously, the journey would take no more than 15 minutes. Now a 30-minute commute has become routine, and when traffic builds up, it can take as long as 45 minutes,” he said, adding that the situation caused considerable frustration.

“I am extremely concerned about the future of M.A. Jinnah Road. In my view, the road has been destroyed from a traffic-management perspective. This is one of the city’s major arteries, yet there appears to be little attention being paid to the issue by the mayor, the provincial government, the local government or the relevant town administration. I cannot see how traffic flow will improve even after the Green Line extension work is completed.”

Another city resident criticised the authorities’ handling of the road has been destroyed from a traffic-management perspective. This is one of the city’s major arteries, yet there appears to be little attention being paid to the issue by the mayor, the provincial government, the local government or the relevant town administration. I cannot see how traffic flow will improve even after the Green Line extension work is completed.”

Another city resident criticised the authorities’ handling of Karachi’s affairs and questioned the pace of work on the Green Line extension project. “If you compare the situation with Lahore, visible improvements have been made there within a relatively short period. In Karachi, however, even basic issues like road and traffic remain unresolved,” he said.

Commenting on the Green Line extension project, he added: “Very few workers appear to be engaged at the construction site. Small private contractors often seem to complete their projects faster than what we are seeing here. Considering that this is a major infrastructure project, work should be progressing much more rapidly.”

He argued that the problem extended beyond M.A. Jinnah Road itself.

“This is not just an M.A. Jinnah Road issue. Traffic management on connecting roads is equally poor, and traffic police personnel are rarely visible. Unfortunately, nobody appears to be concerned about the hardships faced by ordinary citizens. Every day I have to travel through severe congestion, and by the time I reach my office I have already gone through a mentally exhausting experience.”

When Dawn reached out to South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso and asked him what action the district authorities intended to take in this regard, he said: “We’re working on it.”

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

According to data shared by the Met Office, relative humidity was recorded at 56 per cent at 1pm, with southwest winds blowing at 26 kilometres per hour.

The city also witnessed hot and humid weather, with a feels-like temperature of 48°C a day earlier as a severe heatwave persisted across the country.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had issued a heatwave warning for various parts of the country last week. The heatwave is expected to persist till June 12.

The PMD said temperatures were expected to rise by up to seven degrees Celsius above normal during the heatwave period under the influence of a high-pressure system.

The Met Office said maximum temperatures in Karachi were likely to remain between 40°C and 43°C from June 8 to June 12, and warned that night-time temperatures were also likely to rise during this period.

The department advised that children, women and senior citizens should exercise extra caution during the heatwave. Far­m­e­­rs have been advised to plan crop-related activities in line with prevailing weather conditions and take care of their livestock.

People have been advised to avoid unnecessary exposure to direct sunlight between 10am and 4pm and to remain adequately hydrated.

He made such observations in a scrutiny note after the IO in the murder case filed an interim charge sheet before the court concerned.

The murder case was registered at the Baghdadi police station on May 9 on the complaint of an auto mechanic against Pinky, three days before her official arrest in two other cases, including those pertaining to drugs and possession of an unlicensed weapon.

In the FIR, the complainant stated that while riding his motorcycle along Haji Peer Muhammad Road on April 7, he noticed a crowd gathered at a spot where a Madadgar-15 police van and an ambulance were present.

In scrutiny note to IO, prosecutor points to one-month delay in registration of FIR

The complainant claimed that he saw the body of a man lying on the footpath. He further stated that a small tin box was recovered from the deceased, on which the name of suspect Pinky was printed.

In the scrutiny note addressed to the IO of the case, the prosecutor pointed out that the FIR was registered with a delay of one month and that the investigator had failed to provide any explanation.

He further stated that the IO also failed to obtain footage from surveillance cameras installed in the surrounding area, adding that he did not record the statement of any eyewitness or of anyone, including the suspect who was allegedly in contact with the deceased.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant’s statement is yet to be recorded before a magistrate. He further noted that the reports of serologist, chemical examiner and DNA analysis are still awaited, and that the relevant expert opinions will be added to the final charge sheet.

Meanwhile, a judicial magistrate on Monday granted the IO an additional seven days to submit an interim charge sheet in the drugs and possession of an unlicensed weapon cases registered at the Garden police station against Pinky.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

KARACHI: The horrific acid attack on a female doctor inside a government hospital in Quetta two days back drew strong condemnation from healthcare providers as they held protests at several hospitals across Sindh, demanding that the government immediately provide foolproof and robust security to healthcare professionals, especially female doctors, across the country.

On Saturday, Dr Mahnoor Nisar was seriously injured at the Civil Sandeman Hospital, Quetta when an employee of the facility threw acid on her. The doctor was rushed to Karachi, where she is currently under treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).

Sources said that Dr Mahnoor is stable with no life- or organ-threatening signs. She suffered 13 per cent burns, with 7-8pc deep patches, with the rest of superficial burns. Her reports show bilateral corneal abrasions, which will be managed conservatively. She will be admitted to a special care unit under plastic surgery services, the sources added.

On Monday, Young Doctors Association (YDA) gave a protest call and observed a ‘black day’ at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).

Expressing solidarity with the victim, the doctors taking part in the demonstration described the attack as deeply alarming that, they said, it indicated the highly vulnerable conditions in which doctors, especially female doctors, were forced to work in.

“This situation is simply unacceptable. The government must act fast as healthcare providers are losing faith in the public system,” said YDA Pakistan’s patron-in-chief Dr Umer Sultan.

He said that harassment at the workplace was rampant in the country and urgent measures were required to address it. He also extended the association’s support to colleagues demanding pay-raise in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Call to declare hospitals protected zones

Senior Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) official Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro has written a letter to the prime minister, demanding an urgent high-level meeting between government leadership and medical stakeholders to finalise a national healthcare security protocol.

“The Pakistan Medical Association can no longer stand by as our healers are systematically targeted, terrorised and murdered while serving the nation. The escalating wave of violence against doctors has reached an unsustainable crisis point, threatening the absolute collapse of our healthcare delivery system,” the letter reads.

It highlights how doctors have been subjected to violence and, in several cases, brutally murdered — Dr Mahnoor was attacked in Quetta, Dr Sarang Memon was shot dead in Karachi, Dr Mehwish Hasnain was killed in broad daylight in Kohat, Dr Warda was murdered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in December last year and Dr Sheikh Mahmood was gunned down inside his own private hospital last year in May.

“Beyond these extreme tragedies, our healthcare workers face daily threats of physical assault, hospital ransacking and intimidation by violent mobs in emergency wards across the country.

“This pervasive atmosphere of terror and insecurity is no longer just an operational hazard; it has begun to destroy the very foundation of medical education in Pakistan,” the association regrets.

“Doctors cannot heal when they feel fear for their lives. If the state cannot guarantee the basic right to life for its frontline saviours, we will face an irreversible brain drain and a total collapse of enrolment, leaving our public hospitals completely devoid of qualified medical professionals,” it adds.

The association demanded that the prime minister declare hospitals as protection zones and implement strict, armed security protocols at all public and private hospitals, restricting unchecked public entry into critical care areas.

“Pass and rigorously enforce specific federal legislation that categorises any assault on a healthcare worker or medical facility as a non-bailable, high-priority offence with exemplary punishments.

“Hold hospital administrations and local law enforcement directly accountable for lapses in the workplace safety of postgraduate trainees, house officers, and senior staff particularly female doctors who face intersectional vulnerabilities.

“Establish special judicial oversight to ensure the swift prosecution of those who incite or execute violence against medical professionals,” it says.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

The decision, officially notified by the local government department, marks a significant shift from the existing district-based structure and is expected to enhance monitoring, enforcement, and service delivery related to building control, officials said.

According to the official notification issued by the Local Government, Housing and Town Planning Department, the new town-based system will replace the current district-level administrative framework within the Karachi region. The approval of the additional posts was granted in response to a request submitted by the Director General of the SBCA.

The newly sanctioned positions include 18 Directors (Technical) in BPS-19, 14 Deputy Directors (Technical) in BPS-18, 22 Assistant Directors (Technical) in BPS-17, 22 Senior Building Inspectors in BPS-16, and 54 Building Inspectors in BPS-14.

The notification said that all appointments would be made in accordance with the prescribed recruitment rules and relevant regulations. It further clarified that the financial burden arising from the creation of these posts would be borne entirely by the SBCA through its own resources, without requiring additional funding from the provincial government.

The officials said the decision has taken immediate effect and forms part of broader efforts to strengthen urban governance and improve regulatory mechanisms in Karachi. They expressed confidence that the town-based system would enable more efficient supervision of construction activities, enhance accountability at the local level, and improve the authority’s capacity to address building-related violations and public concerns.

“The move is being viewed as an important step toward streamlining building control operations in Pakistan’s largest city amid growing urban development challenges,” said an official.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

They said that Muhammad Jameel, 50, and Akmal Azam, 40, were heading somewhere on a motorcycle when a recklessly driven water tanker hit them.

They sustained critical injuries and were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where doctors pronounced Jameel dead while Azam was admitted for treatment.

The driver responsible for the fatal accident managed to escape from the spot, leaving behind the heavy vehicle that was impounded by the police.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

Speaking to Dawn on Monday, South Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza said: “Recognising the need for a coordinated, proactive and sustainable response, the police have adopted this comprehensive anti-drug policy to safeguard students from substance abuse and foster a safe, healthy and drug-free educational environment.”

He added that the policy was founded on the principles of “prevention, early intervention, parental engagement, rehabilitation, institutional accountability and lawful enforcement”.

“It aims to establish and maintain drug-free educational institutions, protect students from exposure to narcotics and other harmful substances, and promote awareness of the physical, psychological, social and legal consequences of substance abuse,” the South DIG said.

He maintained that strengthening collaboration among educational institutions, parents, healthcare professionals and law enforcement agencies was key to achieving the policy’s objectives.

“Besides facilitating the early identification, intervention, counselling and rehabilitation of students requiring assistance, the policy also aims to prevent the infiltration of drug supplies, peddlers and criminal elements into educational environments, and foster a culture of responsible citizenship, healthy lifestyles and positive personal development,” the senior police officer said.

The senior police official added that under the policy, anti-drug committees would be formed in educational institutions, comprising institutional heads, teachers, parents and law enforcers.

DIG Asad elaborated that educational institutions would also organise regular seminars and awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of drug abuse.

“It has also been proposed that parents or legal guardians shall execute a drug prevention consent and responsibility declaration at the time of admission or readmission, authorising the educational institution to conduct reasonable and lawful drug-screening programmes,” he said.

“Educational institutions shall cooperate with law enforcement agencies to identify and report individuals or groups attempting to target students for drug-related activities.”

Furthermore, he observed that the policy represented a collective commitment by educational institutions, parents, students and law enforcement authorities to preserve the sanctity of learning environments and nurture a generation that is healthy, disciplined, productive and resilient.

He said the South district police had already established a “Campus Security and Substance Abuse Watch”, including female police officers, to strengthen surveillance and preventive intervention around educational institutions.

“Out of 158 private schools in the South district, 20 are under surveillance, while eight of the district’s 22 private colleges are under surveillance,” the South DIG said, adding: “Four of the nine private universities in the district are also under surveillance.”

DIG Asad said all senior superintendents of police had been directed to submit fortnightly progress reports highlighting enforcement actions, awareness initiatives, inspections conducted, cases registered and challenges encountered during the crackdown on narcotics.

“The objective is not merely the enforcement of the law but the protection of future generations, the preservation of public health and the strengthening of societal values,” he said.

Last year in October, the Campus Security and Substance Abuse Watch Force comprising 50 police personnel was established to curb the menace of drugs in educational institutions within the jurisdiction of the South Zone of Karachi police.

If approved by the City Council, the ‘entertainment tax’ will be collected at the rate of one per cent of the total bill generated by hotels, marriage halls, etc.

Officials said that the municipal authority intends to seek approval for the tax in its upcoming budget for the next financial year.

In a public notice, the KMC Municipal Commissioner Abrar Jaffar has invited public feedback on the proposal, setting June 10 for a hearing on objections and suggestions at the corporation headquarters.

Public hearing on proposed ‘Entertainment Tax’ set for Wednesday at KMC head office

According to the public notice, the KMC’s tourism department is seeking to strengthen its financial position and improve public services. To achieve this, it said, the corporation plans to amend the existing tax gazette by introducing a new category titled “Entertainment Tax – City Tourism and Hospitality,” along with its corresponding bylaws.

The notice stated that under the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, KMC is authorised to impose taxes, rates, tolls and fees within its jurisdiction.

The municipal body is now looking to boost its revenue collection through the proposed entertainment tax, which the officials say could become a significant source of income.

“We are eyeing the generation of one billion rupees through the entertainment tax,” the KMC spokesman said in a response to a query about the estimated revenue expected through the newly proposed tax.

The proposed tax would be the second major move by the KMC to expand its tax net after imposing MUCT in July 2024, which is collected through K-Electric (KE) bills every month, generating around Rs4bn in revenue annually from Karachiites.

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has publicly said on several occasions that the MUCT revenues are being used for city development as well as for the payment of pensions and dues of municipal employees.

The KMC and the KE had signed an agreement in June 2022, which finally became effective from July 2024 after the City Council approved the levy of the charges.

According to the agreement, the KE would collect the MUCT from its domestic and non-domestic consumers living within the jurisdiction of KMC through their monthly power bills.

However, opposition representatives, critics and leaders of KMC employees believe that the objectives of MUCT have still not been achieved.

Opposition Leader in the City Council, Saifuddin Advocate, did not oppose the implementation of the “Entertainment Tax” itself. Rather, he questioned the performance of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led city government, arguing that if an “incompetent” administration has failed to make proper and justified use of the MUCT, how can it justify generating additional revenue?

“You [Mayor Wahab] should tell us what work has been carried out with the Rs4 billion collected under the MUCT, and how it has provided relief to the people of Karachi,” he asked.

“Why is Karachi’s money not being spent on its residents? What improvements have been made to Karachi’s infrastructure over the last one-and-a-half years since you began collecting MUCT? So it’s not about revenue generation; it’s solely about the exploitation of financial resources”, he added.

According to KMC Sajjan Union (CBA) chief Zulfiqar Shah, hundreds of retired KMC employees are still waiting to receive their pensions and other outstanding dues.

“MUCT has brought us no benefit,” he said. “Our workers have been suffering since 2019. The total dues owed to our workers amount to Rs14 billion. So far, our share has consisted only of promises and assurances.”

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026

It also observed that the legislation, with deliberate intent, created room and conceived a framework for the appointment of children, as a widow upon the death of her husband becomes entitled to service benefits, including a monthly pension. As such, the children of a deceased employee were placed in preference and given priority for employment.

A two-judge constitutional bench of the SHC headed by Justice Muhammad Saleem Jessar further said that in order to get an appointment under deceased quota, the Services & General Administration Department had laid down certain conditions and the same came within its dominion and could not be interfered with by the court, as appointments in civil service fell purely under executive authority.

The court made these observations while disposing of a petition filed by a woman seeking directives for the respondents to complete scrutiny of her documents and issue an appointment order on deceased quota after the death of her husband while in service.

Bench observes a widow is eligible for appointment only if all children of deceased employee are minors

Petitioner Rabia had approached the SHC last year and argued that her spouse Mumtaz Ahmed was serving as an assistant (BS-16) in the Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Department, Sindh and died while in service in November 2022. Thereafter, she had applied for a job against the deceased quota, but the same has not been processed yet.

An additional advocate general (AAG) contended that the deceased employee was survived by two widows and had children from both wives and under Rule 11-A of Sindh Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion & Transfer), Rules 1974 (APT Rules), the government had framed a policy wherein nomination from the family and no-objection certificate (NOC) were mandatory requirements to seek a job under the deceased quota.

The AAG also stated that the deceased employee’s first wife, Sughra, had refused to tender nomination and NOC in favour of the petitioner, the second wife of the late employee, and therefore her case for appointment had not been processed.

The bench, in its order, noted that under the guidelines issued by the services & general administration department, unanimous nomination and consent of all the legal heirs were a sine qua non for appointment under the deceased quota.

It also said that Rule 11-A was inserted in APT Rules through subordinate legislation by the provincial government vide a notification issued in September 2002 to accommodate the children of deceased employees in civil service as it was a beneficial legislation aimed at supporting bereaved families of deceased civil servants who died while in service or were incapacitated to perform duties.

The bench further observed that initially, subordinate legislation provided for appointment of one of the children of a deceased employee in basic pay scales 1 to 10. Later, it underwent substantial changes through substitutions, including provision of job was extended until grade 15 and providing a cut-off date to apply for the job.

“From the perusal of above provisions of Rule 11-A, it transpired that scheme to accommodate widow of the deceased employee was introduced in year 2016, however, appointment of widow was subject to the condition that all children of deceased employee were minor. The basic intent of the legislation was to accommodate the children of civil servant who died while in service or became incapacitated to perform further job,” it added.

The order said, “The legislation with deliberate intent created room and conceived law for appointment of children as widow on death of husband becomes entitled for service benefits that includes monthly pension etc. as such children of deceased employee were placed at preference and priority for fresh job.”

It also stated that to get appointment under deceased quota, the Services & General Administration Department had laid down certain conditions, including an affidavit of other legal heirs not objecting to appointment of aspirant candidate, as Rule 3 empowered the department concerned to lay methods, conditions and qualifications for appointment to a particular post.

“The mechanism so devised by the services & general administration department falls within its dominion and cannot be interfered with by this Court as appointments in civil service purely fell under executive authority,” it added.

The bench further said that besides two widows, the deceased also had one daughter of around 19 years old and three underage sons and from perusal of Rule 11-A, it was crystal clear that preference for appointment under deceased quota shall be given to the children of the deceased employee.

Since the daughter of the deceased has become the only eligible person among the children to be considered for the job against the deceased quota and her entitlement to the job excluded petitioner from that category, therefore, the SHC directed the department concerned to appoint the deceased’s daughter for the job irrespective of the mandatory requirement of affidavit by all legal heirs.

The bench said that the girl has attained the age of majority in 2025 and her case must not be defeated on the grounds of obtaining an NOC from her stepmother or the expiry of the cut-off date for applying. Instead, she must be accommodated in civil service in a post commensurate with her qualifications.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026

The two smaller provinces have been expressing their strong reservations over “unfair” deduction in their share of the Indus water while Punjab continues to draw in excess of its allocated quantum.

Kotri Barrage reported 57pc reduction in flows on June 7 as Sindh’s overall deficit in flows rose from 22pc to 39pc within the last fortnight while Punjab, through its controversial Chashma-Jhelum (CJ) link canal keeps withdrawing more water than Kotri.

Balochistan has also come up with 71pc reduction in its share from Sukkur Barrage’s right bank canal on Saturday.

Shortage in Sindh worsens to 39pc while Balochistan gets 71pc less flows

The Balochistan irrigation department has taken up the issue with Irsa, pressing it to settle it with Sindh authorities in order to ensure its required share of 2,000 cusecs at GarangRegulator of North Western Canal (NWC). Balochistan is receiving just 571 cusecs, indicating 71pc lesser flows than its allocated share.

Controversial move

Irsa had recently announced that it was “adjusting excessive use of water by Sindh and trying to equalise shortages between Punjab and Sindh by June 10”. Sindh has strongly opposed the move but the issue has remained undecided in Irsa till date.

Sindh argues that the “flows supplied to Sindh on account of rainfall in the river system should not be deducted from its provincial share under the Water Accord 1991.

In an identical scenario, wrote an irrigation department official, such flows were utilised as ‘flood flows’ in Punjab and Sindh alike in 2024. These flows were accordingly adjusted by Irsa, instead of being deducted against share of each province, according to one assessment.

Given the water flows recorded on June 7 (Sunday), Kotri barrage topped in water shortage figures with 57pc, followed by Sukkur’s 37pc and Guddu’s 27pc.

When compared with shortage in Punjab’s canals downstream Chashma, Punjab had reported only 2.1pc shortage on June 4, otherwise the province got surplus water invariably between 4.5pc and 6.7pc from June 1 to 5 (barring June 4).

Link canals

The controversial link canals — Chashma-Jhelum (CJ) and Taunsa Panjnad (TP) — continued to draw water. It would be interesting to note that while Sindh’s water shortage trajectory continues to record an upward trend, CJ link canal alone was drawing flows more than the quantum being drawn at Kotri Barrage as of June 5. CJ Canal received 16,470 cusecs flows when Kotri got 11,645 cusecs against allocated share of 26,900 as per the 1991 Water Accord.

When Sindh submitted an indent of 130,000 cusecs on May 26, Irsa was releasing 115,000 cusecs downstream Chashma till June 3. The 115,000 cusecs flow was inclusive of the share of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan’s canals. “Out of 115,000 cusecs, Punjab received / diverted its share at Indus for Taunsa-Panjnad link canal, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan canals. Rest of the flows headed for Sindh’s barrages,” said an expert after analysing discharges in the system.

Expert’s view

Explaining the situation, he quoted one of Irsa’s flows-related communication to Sindh. He pointed out that this communication showed Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan would receive 24,000 cusecs, 90,000 cusecs and 11,000 cusecs, respectively, from June 1, taking total quantum to 125,000 cusecs whereas actual releases stood at 115,000 cusecs, showing a deficit of 10,000 cusecs.

As per the fixed share, Punjab withdrew 11,894 cusecs for TP link canal, 7,300 cusecs for Muzaffargarh and 6,500 cusecs for Dera Ghazi Khan canal, totaling 25,694 cusecs till June 5 which was over and above the share (24,000 cusecs) fixed by Irsa, thus recording 7.1pc more withdrawal by Punjab.

Irsa, however, increased releases from June 4 by providing 138,000 cusecs below Chashma Barrage whilst Sindh’s indent of 130,000 cusecs at Chashma remained unchanged. Out of the 138,000 cusecs, Punjab’s share was fixed at 26,000 cusecs, Sindh’s 100,000 cusecs and Balochistan’s 12,000 cusecs from June 7.

Till June 7, 138,000 cusecs releases at Chashma stood unchanged and by that time Sindh submitted an increased indent of 145,000 cusecs, considering requirement of canals of three barrages in Kharif. “Irsa should have released 183,000 cusecs below Chashma to meet Sindh’s indent of 145,000 cusecs so that Balochistan’s share is also met. But shortage in Sindh keeps increasing with each passing day,” said a source.

A lesser flow of 24.6pc is being released by Irsa considering indent of Sindh.

Pond level at Sukkur

Balochistan gets its share from Sukkur and Guddu Barrages. At Guddu, the share was released from Pat Feeder and NWC’s Kirthar Canal of Sukkur Barrage. For ensuring required flows to Balochistan, the Sukkur Barrage authorities needed a pond level of 199.5ft. It is currently 194.9ft — much below the required level.

The authorities hold flows to certain level to ensure required releases from the barrages in the right bank canal including NWC, which itself is reporting a reduction of 51pc at its head. This means the situation is bound to affect the entire system of the canal when the flows reach the Garang Regulator.

On June 6, Pat Feeder Canal SE Dera Murad Jamali sent a communication to the Irsa secretary complaining that arbitrary and continuous reduction in water supplies has seriously affected operational activities of Balochistan irrigation department and such actions were contrary to spirit of the Water Accord 1991.

“The matter may be taken up on an urgent basis with competent authorities of Sindh government to discontinue unjustified reductions and ensure full and equitable supply of Balochistan’s allocated share at Garang at RD-102 of Kirther canal,” he said.

Dams being filled

While shortages continued, water was being stored in Mangla Dam by Irsa despite a severe shortage in the peak Kharif season in Sindh. The dam’s level stood at 1,170ft against maximum level of 1,242ft. Water was stored in Tarbela Dam, whose level stood at 1453.3ft against maximum storage level of 1,550ft. Tarbela is the principal source of water supply to Sindh.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026

KARACHI: Hundreds of people were evacuated as a fire erupted in the cold storage of a department store situated on the ground floor of a mega shopping mall on Rashid Minhas Road in Federal B Area on Sunday afternoon, officials said.

Footage that went viral on social media showed people leaving the premises of LuckyOne Mall in panic as smoke spread rapidly.

Rescue-1122 spokesperson Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan said they received information about the blaze at Carrefour in LuckyOne Shopping Mall at around 12noon and their fire tenders responded immediately.

The mall administration had a proper ventilation system and reasonable fire safety measures, which they activated, he said.

Officials said that a large number of shoppers and those enjoying their meal in the food court area were evacuated safely.

Khan said two fire tenders managed to control the fire after hectic efforts lasting three hours.

Six employees of Carrefour, the department store, were adversely affected due to smoke inhalation. Four were provided first aid by the rescue team on the spot, while two were shifted to a nearby private hospital for treatment.

The mall was closed until 6pm when it resumed operations, the officials said.

The officials said a short circuit appeared to be the probable cause of the fire. However, investigations were underway.

An exact estimation of financial losses could not be made till late on Sunday night.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026

The project follows the announcement made by Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab during the inauguration of a mangrove park at Ibrahim Hyderi.

Speaking during a visit to the proposed project site, the mayor said that the development of the Mangrove & Biodiversity Park is not merely an environmental project but a long-term investment in the city’s future.

The mayor noted that mangroves serve as a natural defence against coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and climate-related disasters. They also provide critical habitats for marine life and contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, making them one of the most effective natural solutions to climate change.

Barrister Wahab emphasised that the KMC is among the first district governments in Pakistan to actively pursue a comprehensive green agenda.

The Mangrove & Biodiversity Park and Learning Centre will serve as a unique destination for residents, students, researchers, environmentalists, and tourists. The project is envisioned as a vibrant ecological space featuring mangrove conservation zones, biodiversity trails, educational facilities, awareness programs, and eco-tourism attractions designed to connect people with nature while promoting environmental stewardship.

The mayor further announced that the project has entered the execution phase and is expected to be completed in November this year. Upon completion, it is anticipated to attract millions of visitors annually and become one of Karachi’s premier environmental and educational landmarks.

He also expressed his gratitude to environmentalist Tariq Alexander Qaiser for his invaluable guidance, expertise and support in conceptualising the initiative.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026

Ill-famed for turf wars and drug trafficking, Lyari is also known as ‘Mini Brazil’ because while the negatives divide the community, football unites it.

The narrow winding alleys of Lyari permit the children and youth playing football here to give short passes mostly and become great dribblers of the ball. Their playing style resembles that of Brazilian players. Their looks resemble too and to enhance that particular feature you’ll find most youngsters sporting the hairstyles of their favourite Brazilian players.

This reporter must have run into five or six Neymar look-alikes just because of the hair.

With giant screens being installed and walls painted with flags, youngsters sport their favourite footballers’ hairstyles

Still, over time, there has been some change in opinions.

Abdul Waheed, a popular football coach and entrepreneur, said that earlier the people of Lyari had a favourite team, Brazil, which they all associated with. “But now, you’ll find the lovers of football here associating with particular players rather than teams. The fan following for a player is what brings them closer to the teams,” he said.

“For example, the Neymar fans are drawn to Brazil, the Messi fans cheer for Argentina and the Ronaldo fans are all for Portugal,” he explained. “That’s how the craze for Brazil in Mini Brazil has dropped from 100 per cent to 80 per cent,” he added.

The kids playing football at the Al Usmani Sports Academy, which include girls, are mostly Brazil fans. Ali Mohammad, Tanya Faisal, Umme Safa Abdul Majeed, Safa Shakeel and Sonia are all loyal Brazil fans but there are also Abdul Aziz and Saima who are willing to bet that Portugal will do better than Brazil in this World Cup.

“What to say about Portugal, Brazil will lose its very first match against Morocco on the 14th, you’ll see,” said Abdul Aziz.

“Every four years, as the football World Cup approaches, Lyari’s entire mood changes. The place just comes alive like no other. With big screens installed in all the grounds, parks and even at intersections and crossroads, we forget all our troubles to just enjoy the game despite there being no scope in football in this country,” Abdul Waheed points out.

Abdul Rasheed is a local painter and decorator in Lyari’s Baghdadi area. But during this time he diverts all his energies to painting flags of the participating nations in the World Cup on neighbourhood walls. Of course, Brazilian flags take up entire building walls. “Brazil has its own charm but I do paint other flags too besides painting portraits of various star players of different teams,” he said.

World Cup fever has reached a high temperature in Ali Mohammad Mohallah in Lyari’s Kalri area where there is no wall left that does not have a flag or a popular footballer on it.

Tied to strings, different country flags, too, fluttered away. An Iranian flag on a tall pole on the roof of a building also flapped in the evening breeze. “This year it deserved the highest point,” smiled Yasir Ali, a neighbourhood youth.

He also said that he along with other kids went around collecting money for the flags, paint and decorations. “The shopkeepers in the area happily donated 50, 100 or 200 rupees for decorating our lanes and alleys. It is not every day that you have the World Cup,” he smiled.

Among the flags was a Pakistan flag, which raised a question. He said. “People don’t realise that Pakistan is also always participating in the FIFA World Cup as all the footballs used in the over-a-month-long competition are made in Pakistan,” he reminded.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026

The impact is also affecting Dadu Canal, Rice Canal and those irrigating the Sukkur district.

Sources privy to the situation told Dawn on Saturday that the prevailing shortfall across the canal network has reached an alarming level — North West Canal (-) 64.1%, Rice Canal (-) 38.0% and Dadu Canal (-) 82.0%.

Credible data obtained from sources in Sindh’s irrigation department indicates that Punjab is currently drawing 53,394 cusecs against its allocated share of 44,000 cusecs — an excess withdrawal of around 21.35%. Similarly, Taunsa Barrage is lifting 25,694 cusecs against its entitled share of 24,000 cusecs, reflecting an over-withdrawal of approximately 9.3%.

Meanwhile, the pond level at Chashma Barrage has recorded a continuous rise, climbing from 644.9 feet on Friday to 646.4 feet on Saturday, indicating accumulation of water in the upper reaches even as downstream scarcity deepens to a more critical situation.

Official data shows crisis deepening due to over-withdrawal by Punjab

A reliable source told Dawn on Saturday that the chief engineer Barrage Management Unit was kept abreast about the current water situation. He was requested due consideration and necessary action. The matter was also conveyed to the irrigation secretary and the department’s technical secretary, besides other officials concerned.

Despite Sindh having submitted an indent of 130,000 cusecs, only 100,000 cusecs is being released, leaving the province to contend with a massive shortfall. The irrigation people said that the particular concern is the controversial Chashma-Jhelum (CJ) Link Canal, which remains operational and is drawing approximately 16,500 cusecs — a volume that exceeds the combined flow of several canals at the tail-end barrages that irrigate the country’s major agricultural zones.

The ongoing water crisis in Sindh’s Right Bank Canal System is affecting millions of acres of agricultural land and stands in direct contradiction to the principles of equitable water distribution enshrined in the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991.

In the light of the grave situation, the federal authorities are being urged to take immediate steps to ensure Sindh receives its rightful water share without delay; review and regulate excess water withdrawals in the upper reaches; streamline operations of link canals in accordance with the designated allocations; and established regulations to ensure adequate water supply to Sukkur Barrage’s Right Bank canals to meet the agricultural needs of Larkana, Shahdadkot, the Balochistan segment, Dadu and Sukkur districts.

The situation demands urgent high-level intervention before the ongoing shortfall causes irreversible damage to the region’s agriculture and rural livelihoods.

This report is based on field data and official irrigation records from the Sukkur Barrage Right Bank Canal System.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has constantly been reminding the authorities concerned that Sindh, as a major contributor to the national economy, produces 5.5 million tonnes of rice annually and generates $1.4 billion in rice exports. Cutting the province’s water share during Kharif amounts to ‘economic massacre’ of this lower riparian province.

“Sindh produces 67% of the country’s agricultural output, yet it is being deprived of its rightful water share,” he stresses.

The current shortages of water in Right Bank canals of Sukkur Barrage pertaining to Larkana, Shahdadkot, Dadu, Shikarpur, NW Canals and Balochistan are as under: NWC (-) 64.1%, Rice Canal (-) 38% and Dadu Canal (-) 82%, respectively, says Ishaq Mugheri, a former president of the Sindh Abadgar Board’s Qambar-Shahdadkot district chapter.

Most farmers and landowners in Shahdadkot, Qubo Saeed Khan and other vast areas irrigate their lands with supplies from the Saifullah Magsi branch and due to incomplete remodeling of the major irrigation channels, the paddy transplantation had not been started.

He says: “We are still waiting water to reach the tail-end to start preparing paddy nurseries.”

Mr Mughiri says that Dadu Canal allocation is 4,995 cusecs but being provided only 860 cusecs; North Western Canal allocation is 6,260 cusecs and is provided 2,100 cusecs for Larkana and Qambar- Shahdadkots.

The Rice Canal’s allocation is 8,700 cusecs but it is provided only 5,300 cusecs. The withdrawal at Taunsa is 25,694 cusecs against the entitled allocation of 24,000, 9.3% in excesses.

Another issue that would crop up between Sindh and Balochistan is over their respective water share from Grang Regulator as presently NWC is receiving lesser water, which is the key channel for water distribution, Mr Mugheri said.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026

A two-judge constitutional bench (CB-I) of the SHC comprising Justice Muhammad Saleem Jessar and Justice Nasir Ahmed Bhanbhro reserved the judgement after hearing augments from the parties concerned at length.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) in a joint raid had sealed the historic building on Dec 12, 2025 and declared it a federal trust property. Subsequently, the FIA lodged an FIR against various persons including officers of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) for allegedly relying on fake and forged documents to claim ownership of the building.

Thereafter, the KMC, Karachi Cotton Association (KCA), its many members and tenants of the subject building had filed around 10 petitions in the SHC impugning the sealing order and eviction notice as well as the FIR.

Petitioners’ counsel and Sindh AG say KMC is undisputed owner of building; DAG insists ETPB owns subject property

Representing the KMC, Advocate Haider Waheed argued that the ETPB and the FIA had no jurisdiction to treat the Cotton Exchange building as an evacuee property.

He contended that the ETPB had no jurisdiction in relation to the subject building in the province of Sindh since the passage of the 2019 Sindh Act on the subject matter in view of the 18th Amendment.

Appearing on behalf of the KCA, senior counsel Anwar Mansoor Khan and lawyer for tenants Arshad Tayebally also questioned the jurisdiction of both federal institutions and stated that the KCA had been in lawful possession of the property since 1936 through a registered conveyance and valid lease from the KMC and the association had provided offices in the subject property under the valid rental agreements to its members engaged in cotton related businesses.

They also maintained that the building was taken over without due process of law and no notice, as required under Section 25 of Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) Act, was issued prior to impugned action.

Sindh Advocate General (AG) Jawad Dero along with additional advocates general Hakim Shaikh and Sagheer Ahmed Abbasi supported the version of the petitioners’ lawyers and argued that the KMC was undisputed owner of the subject property and in lawful possession during pre-partition era and the same remained uninterrupted throughout the partition period and till to date.

They also argued that pursuant to Sections 3 and 8 of the Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) Act, 1975, the subject property was never declared as an evacuee property prior to the statutory cut-off date of Jan 1, 1957 and after the cut-off date no property could legally be declared Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) Act, 1975, the subject property was never declared as an evacuee property prior to the statutory cut-off date of Jan 1, 1957 and after the cut-off date no property could legally be declared as such.

However, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Shazia Hanjra contended that the ETPB was the owner of the subject property while an alleged lease of the KMC was based on fabricated documentation.

She claimed that a KMC official in a statement before the inquiry officer of the FIA had also admitted that entries made in the record in respect of ownership of building in favour of KMC were forged as the property belonged to ETPB.

The bench reserved the verdict after all sides completed their arguments.

It may be recalled that another constitutional bench (CB-II) of the SHC headed Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon had reserved its order on seven identical petitions about the subject building in March. However, in April, it had re-fixed the matter for a fresh hearing before the CB-I.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026

KARACHI: Highlighting how the mountain communities in northern Pakistan are being seriously affected by environmental crises, speakers at an event held on Saturday underscored the need for integrating awareness about changing weather patterns into educational framework and making mental health part of disaster response.

The programme held in connection with World Environment Day was hosted by Aga Khan University (AKU) at Habitt City.

It started off with the screening of a documentary — The Sky is Far, The Earth is Tough — that explores how natural disasters and climate change are affecting the physical health and mental well-being of mountain communities in northern areas.

Part of the Voices from the Roof of the World (VRW) documentary series, the film is directed by Haya Fatima Iqbal.

Experts call for making mental health part of calamity response

The film offered an unvarnished look at the resilience and vulnerabilities of these northern communities and brought together filmmakers, climate advocates, students and change makers from different spaces to address the urgent environmental crises facing vulnerable populations.

Discussions with experts and filmmakers following the screening, highlighted how the mountain regions had been warming at significantly higher rates than the global average, accelerating glacial melt, triggering catastrophic flash floods, and causing unpredictable landslides.

These changes had not only disrupted essential infrastructure but had also induced prolonged displacement and economic instability, creating an ongoing humanitarian and mental health crisis among indigenous communities who have contributed the least to global emissions.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rozina Karmaliani, Associate Director, South and Central Asia, AKU’s Brain and Mind Institute, said: “The climate crisis in our northern regions is no longer a distant threat; it is an active humanitarian challenge that demands immediate attention. We must integrate mental health into climate disaster response.”

“Through Voices from the Roof of the World, our goal is to bring the raw, lived realities of these mountain communities to the forefront of dialogue. Visual storytelling helps understand the true human cost and the immense resilience of those living on the frontlines of environmental collapse,” she said.

“Integrating climate change awareness into our educational framework is vital if we want to build lasting community resilience,” said Dr Fozia Parveen, Assistant Professor at AKU’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The loss of ancestral lands and the constant threat of natural disasters inflict a deep, often unrecorded trauma on these populations, said Haya Fatima Iqbal, Academy and two-time Emmy winner.

She added: “Environmental advocacy must evolve beyond regional statistics to address the profound human cost and the psychological scars left in the wake of environmental collapse.”

Tariq Essa, sustainability and climate change specialist, talked about the role businesses and individuals can play to reduce the carbon footprint.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi on Saturday inaugurated the 1296th annual urs of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi.

The governor visited the shrine in Clifton, offered fateha and laid a chador at the grave. He offered special prayers for the country’s progress, public prosperity, national unity and stability.

He said that the teachings of Abdullah Shah Ghazi conveyed a message of love, tolerance, brotherhood and service to humanity.

The governor also met with the devotees visiting the shrine and welcomed them.

He reviewed the arrangements made for devotees attending the urs.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026

Speaking to the media in Karachi, Memon said Karachi remained Pakistan’s most challenging city, facing pressures stemming from migration, trade, employment and transportation.

“We do have motorway issues. Karachi has been given low priority by the federal government,” he said, noting that as the country’s main port city, Karachi should have been prioritised in the development of the motorway network.

“When you have to start a motorway, you should start it from Karachi. But it has been built everywhere except Karachi,” he added.

The minister said Karachi’s infrastructure was under extraordinary strain as heavy traffic from across the country converged on the city.

“All of Pakistan’s heavy traffic comes into Karachi and damages the infrastructure,” he said.

To address the issue, he said the Sindh government was working on multiple projects, including plans to divert freight traffic away from the city centre.

“We have launched a project under which we aim to shift Karachi’s traffic and develop a state-of-the-art transport terminal on the Northern Bypass,” he said. He added that a railway line was also being developed to transport goods directly to the bypass so that heavy vehicles serving the ports would not have to enter the city.

Memon also highlighted the completion of the Shahrah-i-Bhutto project, describing it as a major infrastructure initiative that had already received a positive response from commuters.

“Those who are travelling from Karachi to Hyderabad, lower Sindh or other parts of the country are saving time because of this project,” he said.

Calling it a “state-of-the-art project”, he said the government had deployed police personnel, Rescue 1122 services, ambulances and other basic facilities along the corridor to facilitate commuters.

The minister said the provincial government had undertaken several difficult decisions to improve public services and infrastructure.

“We have taken some tough decisions. The public will have to face hardship, and we are apologising for that,” he said.

Responding to comparisons with Punjab, he said Karachi faced unique challenges that distinguished it from other cities and provinces.

According to the minister, around 20 per cent of the city’s water shortfall was being met through tanker services, which further contributed to traffic congestion.

He said that people from across Pakistan continued to come to Karachi in search of employment and better opportunities, increasing pressure on the metropolis’ civic infrastructure.

“Despite so many challenges, Karachi is coping, and we also have to provide facilities. When people from outside come and use the infrastructure, drainage systems, and resources, it puts additional pressure on Karachi,” he said.

PPP to clean sweep GB elections

Memon also commented on the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) elections, expressing confidence that the PPP would “clean sweep” the polls.

Referring to former PML-N leader Captain Safdar, he said his political importance was well known. He alleged that GB had historically been given low priority, claiming that individuals with no significant political role elsewhere were often posted there.

He also criticised the tone of political discourse during elections in the region, saying that the use of abusive language by some political actors was regrettable and brought shame to the democratic process.

Discussing the electoral campaign, he said the PPP’s public gatherings in GB had attracted large crowds, while the PML-N’s rallies had seen comparatively lower turnout. He maintained that this reflected growing public support for the PPP in the region.

He said he was confident that the PPP would secure victory in the GB elections, while predicting defeat for the PML-N.