Canadian carrier resolves cabin crew strike through provisional labor agreement

The bodies of five Nepali climbers who died in an avalanche on Broad Peak have been brought to Islamabad. According to Deputy Commissioner Hamza Murad, the bodies were transported to Islamabad by air and have been placed in the morgue at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). He said the bodies would be sent to Nepal once the necessary travel documents had been completed. The avalanche struck Broad Peak about a week ago, leaving 10 climbers missing. According to the deputy commissioner, the bodies of eight climbers, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, have so far been recovered. The search for two missing climbers is still underway. They include Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi and a foreign female climber. Authorities are continuing efforts to locate the remaining climbers while arrangements are being made to repatriate the recovered bodies to their respective countries.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has called for the creation of new administrative units and provinces, saying Pakistan’s current governance system has failed and requires fundamental reforms to meet the country’s future needs. Speaking at Pakistan’s first Economic Summit in Islamabad, Naqvi said the existing administrative structure could no longer effectively address the country’s growing challenges. He stressed that establishing new administrative units was essential for improving governance and ensuring sustainable development. “The system we are living under has collapsed,” he said. “New administrative units or provinces are the only way forward.” Naqvi said Pakistan would continue facing the same problems even a decade from now unless major structural reforms were introduced. He urged policymakers to focus on fixing the country’s basic governance framework instead of relying on temporary solutions. The interior minister also highlighted the concerns of Pakistan’s youth. He said young people are no longer satisfied with receiving laptops, scholarships or financial assistance alone. Instead, they want employment opportunities based on merit and a transparent system that guarantees fairness. He warned that growing frustration among young people should not be ignored. Referring to the younger generation, he said if they unite, they could bring significant political and social change. Naqvi also pointed to Pakistan’s financial challenges, saying the country continues to rely heavily on borrowing while its debt burden keeps increasing. He argued that meaningful economic improvement would remain difficult unless the overall governance system was reset. He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s commitment to work, saying the prime minister spends long hours addressing national issues. However, he added that even working 18 hours a day would not be enough if the country’s underlying system remained unchanged. The interior minister said political parties must set aside their differences and work together to introduce reforms. He urged all major stakeholders, including the government and opposition, to sit together and develop a long-term national strategy. Later, while speaking informally with journalists, Naqvi said the country’s institutions and political leadership must improve the system if Pakistan is to achieve lasting progress. He said the efforts of the military leadership alone would not be sufficient without governance reforms. He also said all political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), should participate in efforts to improve the country’s governance structure. Responding to a question about the PTI founder, Naqvi said the matter would be decided by the courts. He also dismissed speculation about becoming foreign minister, saying he would continue serving as interior minister.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has alleged that some elements within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are weakening Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s position and creating divisions between the government and its political allies. Addressing an election rally in Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Bilawal said the PPP’s political differences with the PML-N were normal during elections. However, he claimed that the real problem was internal and involved elements within the ruling party. Bilawal said reports suggesting that the government had collapsed were incorrect. He described Prime Minister Shehbaz as a person with “good intentions”, but questioned whether the premier could succeed if people around him were working against his interests. The PPP chairman alleged that a significant section of the PML-N wanted the prime minister to confront not only opposition parties but also his coalition partners. He also criticised the phased AJK election schedule, questioning why polling was not held on a single day if the region was considered one electoral unit. Bilawal said the elections were being conducted in phases in the name of maintaining peace and ensuring free and fair polling. However, he alleged that the process had instead created opportunities for electoral manipulation. He accused the PML-N of securing seats in advance and alleged that the party had already “taken” seats in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad and was now targeting Poonch and Bagh. The PPP leader urged voters in Poonch and Bagh to respond through their votes in the upcoming elections. The AJK elections are being conducted in three phases. Polling in the Mirpur division was held on July 27, while the second phase in the Muzaffarabad division took place on August 2. The PML-N won nine of the 13 seats contested in Mirpur, while the PPP secured four. In the second phase, the PML-N won 15 additional seats in Muzaffarabad, while the PPP added six. The third phase was originally scheduled for August 10 across the Poonch division. However, the AJK Election Commission has revised the schedule because of security concerns. Under the revised plan, polling on August 10 will be held only in Bagh and Haveli districts. Elections in Poonch district and Pallandri in Sudhnoti district have been postponed. The Election Commission said it took the decision after receiving a report from the AJK home secretary highlighting concerns about the law and order situation in parts of Poonch and Pallandri. The decision follows clashes between protesters and law enforcement personnel in Rawalakot on July 27, which reportedly resulted in several casualties. Tensions have persisted in Rawalakot since early June, with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) organising periodic protests and sit-ins. The group has been demanding the abolition of 12 seats in the AJK legislature reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir.