Author: Web Desk

The Karachi Traffic Police have announced a week long closure of Jahangir Road due to ongoing construction work, warning motorists to expect delays in the area. Traffic officials said the stretch between Teen Hatti and Guru Mandir will remain closed during the work period. According to police, vehicles moving from Teen Hatti toward Guru Mandir will be diverted toward Jail Chowrangi. Motorists have been advised to take a turn from Pir Ilahi Bukhsh Road and then move through Jail Chowrangi and Jamshed Road to reach Guru Mandir. Heavy traffic has also been diverted from Liaquatabad Dak Khana toward Nazimabad in…

Pakistan is likely to see another jump in fuel prices from February 1, as the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has finalized its price calculations and is preparing to send a summary to the Petroleum Division. According to officials familiar with the matter, the biggest increase is expected in high speed diesel. Its price may go up by around Rs 9.47 per litre. Light diesel oil is also expected to become costlier, with a proposed increase of about Rs 6.95 per litre. Kerosene oil prices may rise by nearly Rs 3.69 per litre. Petrol, however, may offer limited relief. Sources…

South Air, a new domestic airline, plans to start commercial flight operations next month with two 70 seater ATR aircraft. The airline has secured its licence and commercial approvals for domestic routes, according to its management. Air Vice Marshal Retd Ijaz Mahmood Malik, Deputy CEO of South Air, shared the details while speaking to ProPakistani on the sidelines of the Pakistan Travel Mart MoU signing ceremony held at a hotel in Islamabad on Wednesday. He said the airline is ready to begin operations after completing regulatory requirements. In the first phase, South Air will operate flights from Karachi to cities…

The death toll from a large landslide in Indonesia’s West Java province has climbed to 17, with dozens of people still missing, officials said on Monday. The landslide struck the village of Pasirlangu in the West Bandung region early Saturday after heavy rainfall triggered a surge of mud and debris. Homes were buried, forcing residents to flee the area. According to Indonesia’s national disaster agency, at least 73 people remain unaccounted for. More than 50 houses were badly damaged, while over 650 residents have been displaced. Rescue teams are using heavy machinery and manual digging to search the site near…

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday announced a detailed safety and management plan for the Basant festival in Lahore, focusing on public safety and traffic control. The decisions were shared during a review meeting on Basant arrangements. The chief minister said all departments have been put on alert and a citywide traffic plan has been finalised. Basant will be celebrated in Lahore from February 6 to 8. The government has decided to provide free safety wires to one million motorcycles to reduce the risk of injuries caused by kite strings. Authorities have already registered 621 cases related to…

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning for widespread rain, strong winds, thunderstorms, and snowfall in several parts of the country starting Monday. According to the department, cloudy weather with rain and snowfall is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan, and upper Punjab. Rain and thunderstorms may also hit parts of south Punjab and upper Sindh. PMD warned that heavy snowfall between January 26 and 27 could disrupt daily life and block roads in hilly areas. Places likely to be affected include Naran, Kaghan, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Hunza, Skardu, and parts…

KARACHI: The Sindh School Education and Literacy Department has extended revised winter school timings across the province until February 4 due to the ongoing cold wave. Under the current schedule, all public and private schools will continue to open at 9am. Closing times will remain the same. The decision was confirmed in an official notification issued on Sunday. Authorities said the move was taken because cold weather has intensified in several parts of Sindh. A department spokesperson said the extension was approved on the instructions of Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah. Earlier, winter timings had already been extended…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani rights activist and lawyer Imaan Zainab Hazir Mazari has been sentenced to 17 years in prison in a case related to alleged anti state posts on social media. A day after the court announced the verdict, Mazari’s family confirmed that she is expecting a child. Her mother-in-law also alleged that the activist was subjected to harsh treatment while in custody, raising serious concerns about her health and safety. Speaking to journalist Mutiullah Jan, Mazari’s mother-in-law claimed that she was forcibly pushed into a police vehicle at the time of arrest, handled roughly, and later denied food. The family…

Pakistani Universities have received several nominations in the Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2026 shortlist, making the country among the leading institutions across the region. The shortlist includes 80 finalists from 17 countries and territories. More than 500 entries were submitted across 10 award categories in the 8th edition of this award. Thailand tops this year’s shortlist with 16 nominations. India comes next with 12, and Hong Kong institutions appear 9 times. From Pakistan, Beaconhouse National University and Lahore University of Management Sciences are shortlisted in several categories. Beaconhouse National University was nominated for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership and…

WELLINGTON: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Wednesday that the nation would have a general election on November 7. The vote will decide whether his coalition government stays in power. Luxon said timing was affected by major sporting events, including a home match between Athe ll Blacks and Australia a month previously. He said that the date provides voters a clear choice on the country’s direction. The prime minister highlighted his government’s record on the economy and on security. He said that the administration had worked on fixing core problems since taking office two years ago. Luxon told…