Iran appoints former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei as national security chief

  Lahore, July 2026: HomeNet Pakistan, in partnership with AwazCDS/PDA, organized a high-level policy dialogue with Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), including members of the Standing Committee on Local Government, to discuss legislative reforms aimed at promoting a stronger, more inclusive, and constitutionally compliant local government system in Punjab. The dialogue brought together parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and governance experts to exchange views on the future of local governance and explore ways to strengthen democratic institutions at the grassroots level. The session focused on ensuring political continuity, enhancing public participation, and improving the effectiveness of elected local governments.   Opening the event, Mr. Zia ur Rehman, Chief Executive of AwazCDS-Pakistan, highlighted the constitutional importance of Article 140A, which requires the devolution of political, administrative, and financial authority to elected local governments. He stressed that an effective local government system is essential for democratic governance and improved public service delivery. He urged the Punjab Assembly to introduce legal and institutional reforms that would safeguard democratic continuity, ensure the timely conduct of local government elections, and strengthen the autonomy of elected local bodies.   During the session, Ms. Ume Laila Azhar, Executive Director of HomeNet Pakistan, presented a set of policy recommendations designed to reinforce democratic governance at the local level. She emphasized the need for a stable and party-based electoral framework for local governments, noting that frequent legislative changes have weakened institutional continuity. She referred to the replacement of the Punjab Local Government Act 2022 with the Punjab Local Government Act 2025 as an example of policy shifts that have contributed to delays in restoring elected local governments across the province. She called for legal safeguards to prevent repeated delimitations and unnecessary postponements of local government elections. HomeNet Pakistan also recommended a transparent and representative mechanism for filling reserved seats allocated to women, youth, minorities, workers, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. According to the organization, such measures would promote broader democratic participation and ensure that local governments better reflect the diversity of society.   In addition, the organization emphasized the importance of returning key municipal responsibilities—including water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, and local infrastructure development—to elected local governments. It proposed that provincial and district administrations should primarily provide technical guidance and institutional support rather than directly managing these essential services. The dialogue was attended by Ms. Sumbal Malik Hussain, Ms. Fizzah Maimona Rao, Ms. Somia Atta, Ms. Rukhsana Kausar, Ms. Farzana Abbas, Ms. Nasreen Riaz, and Ms. Attia Hanif, alongside representatives from civil society organizations and governance experts. Responding to the recommendations, the participating MPAs appreciated the constructive engagement and acknowledged the importance of strengthening democratic local governance. They reaffirmed the Punjab Government’s commitment to transparency, institutional reforms, and democratic accountability, expressing confidence that these principles would continue to guide the ongoing local government reform process. The parliamentarians informed participants that the delimitation process had made substantial progress, with geographical boundaries largely finalized. They stated that the remaining objections were expected to be addressed by the end of July 2026. Following the completion of the statutory process, they expressed optimism that the election schedule would be announced, paving the way for timely local government elections. The MPAs also committed to sharing the recommendations emerging from the dialogue with the Honorable Speaker of the Punjab Assembly and pledged to advocate for legislative reforms that promote constitutional compliance, political continuity, and an empowered local government system capable of responding effectively to citizens’ needs. Concluding the event, HomeNet Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with parliamentarians, government institutions, and civil society partners to advance democratic governance, strengthen inclusive representation, and support the timely restoration of empowered elected local governments across Punjab.

  Pakistani mountaineers have achieved a landmark feat by opening a brand-new climbing route on Broad Peak, one of the world’s highest mountains. The accomplishment is being hailed as a major milestone for Pakistan’s mountaineering community, showcasing the country’s growing expertise in high-altitude climbing and technical expedition planning. Broad Peak, standing at 8,051 metres (26,414 feet), is located in the Karakoram mountain range of Gilgit-Baltistan, approximately five miles from K2. Ranked as the world’s 12th-highest mountain, Broad Peak has long attracted climbers from around the globe because of its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions. The newly established route, officially named the Mirza Ali Legacy Route, begins above Camp 3 and offers a fresh approach to the summit. The route was created after an intensive three-day effort that required climbers to navigate deep snow, steep rock faces, and mixed sections of snow and rock under extremely demanding conditions. The expedition was led by renowned Pakistani mountaineer Mirza Ali, founder of Karakorum Expeditions. Along with his team, he spent days fixing ropes and securing the mountain to make the route accessible for future expeditions. Their summit push began at 2:00 a.m. local time on July 19. Battling continuous snowfall, freezing temperatures, and severe weather, the climbers finally reached the summit at 9:55 p.m. after more than 24 hours of nonstop climbing. To establish the route, the team installed over 1,600 metres of fixed rope and placed permanent rock pitons at critical points to improve safety and stability. According to expedition organisers, the new line is shorter, more direct, and significantly safer than the traditional path, which passes through Broad Peak’s hazardous “V Section.” The redesigned route is expected to reduce climbers’ exposure to avalanches and falling rocks, two of the mountain’s most serious risks. Organisers estimate that under normal weather conditions, climbers using the new route should be able to reach the summit from Camp 3 within seven to eight hours and descend in approximately two to three hours, making the ascent both faster and more efficient. The route was unanimously named in honour of Mirza Ali to recognise his 16 years of dedication to Pakistan’s mountaineering sector. Throughout his career, he has trained aspiring climbers, organised national and international expeditions, and promoted Pakistan as a premier destination for adventure tourism. Reflecting on the achievement, Mirza Ali said the successful opening of the route demonstrates the technical capability, determination, and resilience of Pakistani climbers. He also stressed the importance of investing in mountaineering education, safety training, and adventure tourism, highlighting Gilgit-Baltistan’s enormous untapped potential within the mountain economy. International members of the expedition also praised the accomplishment. Argentine climber Juan Toro described the project as a historic milestone for Pakistani mountaineering, while Hungarian climber David Klein called the newly opened path an innovative and technically brilliant route that reflected the team’s exceptional skill and perseverance. The summit team included Mirza Ali, Ahmed Baig, Rizwan Dad, Waqar Ali, Nawaz Ali Khan, Zaman Karim, Juan Toro, and David Klein. To support future expeditions and improve emergency response, the team also recorded all major anchor locations using Garmin inReach GPS technology, ensuring the new route can be safely managed for climbers in the years ahead.