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Eight killed as house roof collapses in Lahore

ByJustpaste.in

LAHORE: At least eight people lost their lives after the roof of a house collapsed in Lahore’s Harbanspura area late Wednesday night, prompting a major rescue operation by emergency teams.

Rescue 1122 personnel, assisted by the district administration, rushed to the scene and began clearing the debris in search of people trapped beneath the rubble.

Lahore Deputy Commissioner Capt (retd) Muhammad Ali Ijaz visited the site and supervised the ongoing rescue efforts. Heavy machinery was deployed to speed up the operation and ensure the safe recovery of survivors.

Officials said rescue workers continued searching through the debris as fears remained that more people could still be trapped.

The deputy commissioner directed all relevant departments to use every available resource to complete the rescue operation as quickly as possible. He also ordered an inquiry to determine the cause of the roof collapse.

The latest tragedy comes weeks after another roof collapse at a tuition centre in Lahore claimed the lives of 14 children. Authorities had registered a case against the building owners and contractor after investigators found that excessive weight placed on the damaged roof had caused it to cave in.

Earlier this year, four children were also killed and around 20 others injured when the roof of a classroom at a private school in Dera Ghazi Khan collapsed during construction work. An official investigation concluded that construction material placed on the roof had exceeded its load-bearing capacity, leading to the collapse.

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    PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announces Independence d…

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      Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has announced a special Independence Day surprise for cricket fans across the country, inviting them to celebrate the national occasion by watching their favourite stars in action at the stadium. Mohsin Naqvi said that the action in the National Championship Cup is currently underway, with several prominent Pakistani cricketers taking part in the tournament. He highlighted that fans will have the opportunity to watch some of their favourite players perform live on the field. According to the PCB chairman, players including Shadab Khan, Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman are among the stars featuring in the ongoing matches. He encouraged cricket enthusiasts to come to the stadium with their friends and families and enjoy the exciting cricket action together. In a special announcement for fans in Multan, Mohsin Naqvi said that entry to Multan Cricket Stadium would be free for spectators from 3pm. The initiative is aimed at giving cricket lovers an opportunity to enjoy live domestic cricket without having to pay an entry fee. The PCB chairman also urged families and groups of friends to take advantage of the opportunity and attend the matches. With several well-known players participating, the matches are expected to attract a large number of spectators and create a festive atmosphere at the stadium. Mohsin Naqvi further announced that fans would receive another special surprise at 10pm on the night of Independence Day. Although he did not reveal the details of the surprise, his announcement has generated excitement among cricket supporters who are looking forward to celebrating August 14 with a special event. The announcement comes as Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day, making the occasion particularly significant for cricket fans. Cricket remains one of the country’s most popular sports, and opportunities to watch leading players perform in front of a home crowd often attract considerable public interest. The National Championship Cup provides an important platform for established players as well as emerging cricketers to demonstrate their skills. The participation of experienced names such as Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman, alongside players such as Sahibzada Farhan, is expected to add further interest to the competition. The PCB has increasingly focused on providing fans with greater access to domestic cricket and creating an atmosphere that encourages spectators to attend matches. Free entry for the Multan Cricket Stadium matches is another step aimed at bringing supporters closer to the sport and increasing public engagement with domestic competitions. Fans in Multan and surrounding areas can therefore look forward to an exciting day of cricket, followed by the much-anticipated Independence Day surprise at night. With free stadium entry from 3pm and prominent Pakistani players scheduled to feature, cricket lovers have been given an opportunity to celebrate the national occasion through live sporting entertainment. Mohsin Naqvi’s announcement is likely to further boost interest in the National Championship Cup, while the mystery surrounding the 10pm surprise has added an extra element of anticipation for fans waiting to discover what the PCB has planned for Independence Day.

  • Senate questions OPF MD’s Rs1m salary and appointment

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    Islamabad: A controversy has emerged over the appointment of the Managing Director of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) after Senator Aimal Wali Khan raised serious questions in the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat regarding the selection process, salary package and background of the appointed official. During the meeting chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, Senator Aimal Wali Khan questioned the appointment of the OPF Managing Director and demanded complete details from the concerned authorities. Senator Aimal Wali Khan said that while the government has discussed the financial difficulties faced by ordinary citizens, concerns arise when senior government positions receive very high salaries. He pointed out that the Prime Minister had publicly stated that a person can manage monthly expenses with Rs8,000, while an individual appointed in OPF was receiving a salary of Rs1 million per month. He further informed the committee that another individual had been appointed in OPF with a monthly salary of Rs2.5 million, raising questions about government pay structures and appointment policies. The senator also raised questions regarding the nationality and background of the OPF Managing Director. He alleged that the appointed individual does not possess a Pakistani National Identity Card and is a British citizen by birth. He also questioned how a person who had faced conviction by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) could receive another government appointment. Following these concerns, the Senate Committee took notice of the matter and directed the relevant authorities to provide complete details regarding the appointment of the Managing Director of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation. The committee stressed that appointments in public institutions must follow transparency, accountability and proper procedures to maintain public confidence. Responding to questions regarding government appointments, officials of the Establishment Division informed the committee that suitable candidates are not available for certain specialised positions, which creates difficulties in filling important posts. Senator Aimal Wali Khan also criticised the broader culture of retaining officials in important positions despite long periods of inability to perform duties. He remarked that some individuals continue to hold positions even when they are unable to actively perform their responsibilities. The matter was discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat held at the Establishment Division under the chairmanship of Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan. The meeting was attended by Senators Saadia Abbasi, Abdul Qadir, Dilawar Khan, Aimal Wali Khan and Saleem Mandviwalla, along with the Secretary Cabinet Division and Secretary Establishment Division. The committee directed authorities to submit the required information so that the issue of public appointments, governance and institutional reforms could be reviewed in detail in upcoming meetings.

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    NEPRA seeks Rs34bn recovery from power consumers as industrial sector opposes tariff hike

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    ISLAMABAD: The federal government has proposed recovering around Rs34 billion from consumers of distribution companies (Discos) and K-Electric through the quarterly tariff adjustment (QTA) for April-June 2026, translating into an estimated increase of Rs1.34 per unit. The proposed adjustment has been attributed largely to higher capacity-related costs resulting from a decline in electricity consumption during the quarter. However, representatives of the industrial sector have strongly opposed the proposed increase, arguing that businesses are already facing high electricity costs and cannot absorb another financial burden. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) held a public hearing on Wednesday to examine the QTA request, during which representatives of industries, power distribution companies and the government presented their positions. Initially, the power distribution companies had requested an adjustment of Rs23.031 billion for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 under the QTA mechanism. The amount was later revised upward to Rs33.778 billion. According to the figures presented before NEPRA, the largest component of the proposed adjustment is related to capacity charges, amounting to Rs46.280 billion. Variable operation and maintenance costs account for another Rs4.936 billion. The calculation also includes a negative adjustment of Rs13.517 billion related to Use of System Charges (UoSC) and the Market Operator Fee (MOF), which partially offsets the overall increase. Similarly, Rs3.040 billion has been included to account for the impact of transmission and distribution losses on monthly Fuel Charges Adjustments (FCA). A further negative adjustment of Rs21.175 billion has been made under the incremental consumption package. The distribution companies have also claimed Rs14.211 billion for costs relating to Small Power Producers (SPPs) and Captive Power Producers (CPPs) that they say remained unrecovered. Industrial sector voices concern During the hearing, industrial representatives raised strong objections to the proposed QTA adjustment, warning that another increase in electricity prices could further weaken the competitiveness of Pakistan’s manufacturing sector. Rehan Javed, Aamir Sheikh and Tanveer Barry conveyed their concerns to NEPRA officials in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Energy and the distribution companies. The representatives argued that industries were already operating under considerable cost pressures and that any additional increase in electricity tariffs would raise production expenses and make it more difficult for local businesses to compete in domestic and international markets. Tanveer Barry, representing the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), particularly questioned the sharp rise in capacity-related charges. According to Barry, capacity charges had increased from around Rs36 billion in the first quarter to more than Rs50 billion in the period under review. He said the increase could ultimately translate into a much larger financial burden for consumers. He estimated that the combined impact could place an additional burden of approximately Rs3.50 per unit on consumers, depending on the final adjustment approved by the regulator. Barry also pointed out that eight distribution companies had reported positive capacity charges, while three had recorded negative adjustments. He urged NEPRA to examine the calculations and underlying reasons for the variations before approving any additional burden on consumers. Lower electricity demand Officials of the Peshawar Electric Power Company (Pesco) told the hearing that electricity consumption had fallen by approximately five per cent during the period under review. They attributed much of the decline to weaker demand from domestic and commercial consumers. Increasing adoption of solar energy was also cited as one of the factors reducing demand from residential consumers. NEPRA Member Maqsood Anwar Khan questioned Pesco officials about whether load-shedding was also being carried out in areas where consumers regularly paid their electricity bills. The Pesco representatives acknowledged that load-shedding was taking place. Maqsood Anwar Khan observed that interruptions in electricity supply could themselves contribute to lower electricity sales, as consumers would naturally use less grid electricity when supply was unavailable. Solarisation becomes key point of debate The growing use of solar power also featured prominently during the hearing. The NEPRA member noted that the expansion of solar generation had provided relief to the national electricity system by reducing daytime demand from the grid. He observed that without the contribution of solar energy, pressure on the power system and the need for daytime load management could have been considerably greater. He further noted that increasing solarisation was shifting the pattern of load-shedding, with pressure becoming more visible during night-time hours when solar generation was unavailable. The NEPRA member also disagreed with the assertion that solarisation alone was responsible for a decline in electricity sales, maintaining that the impact of rooftop and distributed solar generation should be assessed in a broader context. Industry questions capacity payments Industrial representatives also questioned why consumers should continue to shoulder substantial capacity payments when many areas were still experiencing load-shedding. Barry argued that consumers were effectively being asked to pay for electricity generation capacity while not receiving uninterrupted power supply. He further raised concerns about capacity payments being made to older and relatively inefficient power plants. According to him, the under-utilisation of generating units was contributing to higher capacity-related costs and ultimately increasing the price of electricity for consumers. The industrial sector also questioned whether the dispatch of power plants was fully aligned with the Economic Merit Order (EMO), arguing that deviations from the merit order could contribute to unnecessary costs. The representatives called on NEPRA to undertake a detailed review of the QTA calculations before reaching a final decision. They urged the regulator to defer the proposed increase, warning that higher electricity costs would place additional pressure on industries, increase production expenses and potentially undermine Pakistan’s export competitiveness. NEPRA is expected to examine the claims and objections raised during the public hearing before determining the final quarterly tariff adjustment applicable to consumers.

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    PM Shehbaz calls for faster rightsizing reforms

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      Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the need to improve the efficiency and performance of government institutions by adopting modern technology and enhancing the professional training of public sector employees. He made these remarks while chairing a high-level meeting on the federal government’s rightsizing initiative and measures aimed at improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of state institutions. The meeting reviewed the progress made under the government’s administrative reform agenda, which seeks to reduce the size of the public sector, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and ensure more efficient delivery of public services. Addressing the participants, the Prime Minister said that technological innovation and skill development are essential for transforming the public sector into a more responsive, transparent, and efficient system. He stressed that government institutions must embrace modern digital solutions while ensuring that employees receive the training required to adapt to new technologies and administrative practices. Shehbaz Sharif said the government’s rightsizing policy is already producing positive results by reducing unnecessary spending and improving the utilization of public resources. He noted that several major reforms have been implemented under the initiative, including the closure of the Utility Stores Corporation, Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD), and the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO). According to the Prime Minister, these decisions were taken after careful consideration to streamline government operations, eliminate overlapping functions, and reduce the financial burden on the national exchequer. He said the objective of the reforms is to build a leaner and more efficient public sector capable of delivering better services to citizens while ensuring fiscal discipline. The Prime Minister stated that the savings generated through the rightsizing initiative would help strengthen the country’s financial position and allow the government to allocate more resources toward priority sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. To ensure transparency and accountability, Shehbaz Sharif directed that all positions and institutions abolished under the rightsizing programme should undergo an independent third-party audit. He said the audit would assess whether the reforms had been implemented effectively and whether the expected financial and administrative benefits had been achieved. The Prime Minister also instructed the relevant authorities to accelerate the implementation of all remaining rightsizing measures. He emphasized that administrative reforms should be carried out efficiently while maintaining transparency and ensuring that public services are not disrupted during the restructuring process. During the meeting, officials briefed the participants on the progress achieved so far. They informed the Prime Minister that vacant positions across various federal ministries and government departments have been abolished as part of the government’s effort to reduce unnecessary staffing and improve administrative efficiency. The meeting was further informed that work is also underway on the privatization of several state-owned enterprises. Officials said the government is taking practical steps to transfer selected public sector entities to the private sector in accordance with its broader economic reform programme. The privatization process aims to reduce the financial burden of loss-making enterprises on the national budget while encouraging greater investment, improved management, and enhanced productivity. Participants also reviewed the overall progress of the government’s institutional reform agenda and discussed future steps to further improve governance and public sector performance. The Prime Minister reiterated that administrative reforms are essential for ensuring sustainable economic growth, strengthening public finances, and delivering better services to the people. Concluding the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing structural reforms aimed at creating a modern, efficient, and accountable public sector. He said that through the adoption of technology, improved training, transparent governance, and responsible financial management, Pakistan’s government institutions can become more effective in meeting the needs of citizens and supporting the country’s long-term development goals.

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    Sindh solar project to benefit 275,000 families

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    Karachi: Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has announced that the Sindh government’s Rs18.2 billion Solar Home System Project will provide clean and affordable energy to 275,000 deserving families across the province. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Memon said the initiative, launched under the guidance of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is a major step toward expanding access to renewable energy, particularly for low-income households and remote communities. According to the minister, the project will benefit 132,000 off-grid families living in areas without access to the national electricity network, while 143,000 on-grid families facing electricity-related challenges will also receive solar home systems. Each beneficiary family will be provided with a 180-watt solar panel, batteries, a central control unit, a charge controller, mobile charging facility, electric fans, and LED lights. The comprehensive package is designed to meet basic household energy needs while reducing dependence on conventional electricity sources. Sharjeel Memon said the project is progressing rapidly, with more than 15,000 solar home system kits already distributed across various districts of Sindh. He added that the government aims to complete the distribution to all 275,000 eligible families by June 2027. The senior minister described the initiative as more than just an electricity project, saying it represents a significant welfare program aimed at improving the quality of life for economically disadvantaged families. He noted that access to reliable and clean energy would help reduce household expenses, improve living standards, and support sustainable development across the province. The Sindh government views the solar project as an important investment in renewable energy and social welfare, aligning with broader efforts to promote clean energy solutions and provide long-term relief to vulnerable communities.

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    Pakistan’s Foreign office launches evening s…

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    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has introduced an evening shift for consular services, extending working hours from 8am to 8pm on weekdays to enhance accessibility and convenience for citizens, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Monday . According to an official announcement shared by Dar on X, the expanded hours represent a significant increase in service availability, allowing citizens to access consular facilities over a 12-hour window, Monday through Friday . The initiative is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to enhance efficiency and ensure citizen-centric service delivery . Previously, consular services at MOFA were limited to regular government working hours, requiring citizens to visit offices within a designated daytime schedule . The restricted timings often posed challenges for individuals, particularly overseas Pakistanis and working professionals who faced difficulties accessing services during conventional office hours . The introduction of the evening shift aims to address these concerns by providing greater flexibility to applicants, officials said . Details of the revised timings have been confirmed, and the ministry expects the move to significantly reduce bottlenecks and improve the overall citizen experience . The announcement comes amid ongoing efforts by the government to digitize and streamline public services, with the Foreign Office now joining other federal departments in extending service hours to better accommodate the public .

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