AJK elections, vote counting and unofficial results continue

KARACHI: Customs authorities have recovered a large amount of foreign currency from six passengers travelling from Karachi to Dubai. According to officials, the passengers belonged to the same family. Authorities recovered $55,000 in US currency and Rs950,000 in Pakistani cash from them. Officials said the passengers were carrying foreign currency above the limit permitted by the State Bank of Pakistan. The currency had also not been properly declared before their travel. The authorities took action under the Customs Act 1969 after the undeclared currency was discovered. Customs officials said the case involved six members of one family. The recovery was made during checks at the airport before the passengers could leave the country. Officials said the passengers had exceeded the permissible limit for carrying foreign currency abroad. They also failed to meet the required declaration procedures. Customs authorities stressed that travellers must comply with regulations governing the movement of foreign currency. Passengers carrying amounts above the permitted limits are required to follow the applicable declaration procedures. The incident has once again highlighted the importance of checks at international airports. Customs officials regularly monitor passengers and baggage to detect undeclared currency and other restricted items. Authorities said preventing currency smuggling remains a priority. They are maintaining strict checks to identify attempts to move large amounts of undeclared foreign currency out of Pakistan. Customs officials said they are following a zero-tolerance policy against currency smuggling. They added that action would be taken against anyone found violating the relevant laws. The recovered amount included both US dollars and Pakistani rupees. The officials did not provide further details about the intended use of the money or the identities of the passengers. The case also highlights the need for travellers to understand currency rules before leaving Pakistan. Failure to declare currency or carrying amounts beyond the permitted limits can lead to legal action under the applicable laws. Authorities are continuing proceedings in the case under the Customs Act 1969. The recovery is among the latest incidents showing the role of airport customs checks in preventing the illegal movement of currency. Officials said such measures are necessary to protect Pakistan’s financial system and enforce foreign exchange regulations. Customs authorities reiterated that passengers travelling abroad must comply with all currency declaration requirements. They said strict action would continue against attempts to move undeclared currency across Pakistan’s international borders.

QUETTA: A sudden suspension of mobile phone and internet services has disrupted daily activities across Quetta, leaving residents struggling to communicate, conduct business and access essential online services. The connectivity shutdown affected a wide range of people, including students, healthcare professionals, traders, delivery workers and journalists. Many residents were unable to make calls, send messages or use internet-based services. Students were among those facing major difficulties. Those relying on online classes and digital learning platforms could not access study material or communicate with teachers and classmates. The disruption also affected students preparing assignments and completing other academic tasks online. The outage created problems for healthcare workers as well. Doctors, medical staff and patients often depend on mobile phones and internet services for communication. The interruption made it harder to coordinate with colleagues, contact patients and exchange important medical information. Businesses and traders also faced disruptions. Many shops and small businesses now depend on digital payments, online orders and messaging applications. The suspension affected their ability to communicate with customers and manage routine transactions. Delivery riders were particularly affected because they rely heavily on mobile applications and phone calls to receive orders, locate customers and coordinate deliveries. The loss of connectivity made these routine tasks considerably more difficult. The shutdown also created challenges for journalists reporting from Quetta. Reporters faced difficulties contacting sources, verifying information and sending updates from the field. The lack of reliable communication can slow down coverage, particularly when events are developing quickly. For ordinary residents, the disruption meant difficulty staying in touch with family members, friends and colleagues. People who depend on mobile services for work and other essential activities were forced to deal with additional inconvenience.