Massive Fire Engulfs Ammunition Storage Facility in Surin, Triggering Continuous Explosions

Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has rejected Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s claim about the death of a party worker during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. Rana Sanaullah said Bilawal Bhutto had not received complete information about the incident. He said the PPP worker was killed during an exchange of fire between two groups. He also clarified that the PML-N candidate was not present at the scene when the firing took place. The incident occurred in the Nikyal area of Kotli during the first phase of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections. Rana Sanaullah said tensions had already existed between the two sides in the area. He said the dispute was not limited to election day. He recalled an earlier incident involving a PML-N election rally. According to him, the rally had come under fire. One PML-N worker was killed in that incident, while four others were injured. Rana Sanaullah said another firing incident during polling resulted in one death and injuries to several people. He described the incidents as isolated. He said no major incident had been reported across AJK apart from the Nikyal incident. The PML-N leader also praised the overall election arrangements. He said authorities had made satisfactory preparations to facilitate polling and maintain security. The comments came after Bilawal Bhutto expressed concern over the death of a PPP worker in Nikyal. Bilawal had questioned the authorities over the incident. He also asked where the relevant officials were and demanded action over the death of his party worker. The incident added to political tensions during the first phase of the AJK elections. Political parties had already raised concerns about alleged disruptions and security issues at some polling stations. Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said the people of AJK had rejected calls for unrest. She said voters had chosen the democratic process instead. According to Bukhari, polling was taking place despite attempts to create disorder. Bukhari also highlighted the performance of the Punjab government. She said the provincial government’s development work was being discussed among voters in AJK. She referred to the government’s response to heavy monsoon rains in Punjab. Bukhari said Lahore received several hours of continuous rainfall. She claimed that underpasses were cleared within a few hours. She also said government officials and administrative teams remained present in the field during the rain. The minister said monsoon rains had also caused rising water levels in Punjab’s rivers. She said authorities were monitoring the situation continuously. According to Bukhari, a central digital control room has been established for round-the-clock monitoring. She said the system was being used to track the situation and coordinate the government’s response. Bukhari also spoke about the Punjab Beautification Programme. She said plans were being made to shift hanging utility wires underground. The programme is aimed at improving the appearance and infrastructure of urban areas, according to the minister. The political statements came as vote counting began after polling ended in the first phase of the AJK elections. The first phase covered 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division. The constituencies are spread across Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber. Election authorities have said that security arrangements were put in place to protect voters and election staff.

A US publication has praised Pakistan’s efforts to modernise its financial system, saying the country is steadily strengthening its position in the global digital financial landscape through reforms and technological innovation. The article highlighted Pakistan’s initiatives to promote digital transformation and said the country has the potential to play a meaningful role in the evolving global digital economy. It also commended the vision of Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib, stating that Pakistan must actively position itself within the international digital financial system to benefit from emerging technologies and new economic opportunities. According to the publication, the future will belong to countries that make swift decisions and implement reforms without delay. It noted that Pakistan has the opportunity to emerge as a leader in the digital economy by embracing innovation and adopting forward-looking policies. The article further stated that governments can no longer rely solely on traditional bureaucratic systems. Instead, they must adopt the speed, flexibility and innovation-driven approach of technology startups to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global environment. It added that digital assets are becoming the foundation of the future financial infrastructure and countries investing in digital finance today will be better positioned for long-term economic growth and global competitiveness. The publication’s remarks come as Pakistan continues to promote digital payments, financial technology and cashless transactions as part of its broader strategy to modernise the economy and expand financial inclusion.