Police Deploy Sniffer Dogs in Search for Missing Young Russian Siblings Near Pattaya

  A young man has been arrested in Kasur after allegedly shooting himself in the leg and staging a fake robbery in an attempt to avoid giving his salary to his family, according to police officials. The unusual incident has drawn attention due to the elaborate plan the suspect reportedly carried out to deceive both his relatives and law enforcement authorities. According to the police, the accused, identified as Adnan, had recently received his salary but did not want to hand over the money to his family as expected. Instead, he reportedly intended to use the money to purchase a new mobile phone. Fearing that his family would insist on receiving his earnings, he allegedly came up with a plan to fake a robbery in order to explain the disappearance of his salary. Police said that Adnan allegedly shot himself in the leg to make the fabricated robbery appear genuine. After sustaining the self-inflicted injury, he reportedly claimed that unidentified robbers had intercepted him, stolen his money, and opened fire before fleeing the scene. The incident initially appeared to be a case of armed robbery, prompting authorities to launch an investigation. However, as investigators examined the evidence and questioned the victim, inconsistencies began to emerge in his account of the incident. Police officers carefully reviewed the circumstances surrounding the alleged robbery and collected forensic and testimonial evidence. Their investigation eventually led them to conclude that the robbery had never taken place and that the injury had been deliberately self-inflicted as part of a staged incident. During the course of the investigation, police also uncovered the alleged involvement of three of Adnan’s friends. According to officials, the three men are accused of providing him with the firearm that was used in the incident. As a result, they were also taken into custody and are being questioned regarding their role in helping carry out the alleged plan. Police stated that the suspects now face legal action for allegedly misleading law enforcement, staging a false crime, and illegally facilitating the use of a firearm. Authorities emphasized that fabricating criminal incidents wastes valuable police resources and diverts attention away from genuine emergencies and victims who require immediate assistance. The case has generated widespread discussion on social media, where many users expressed surprise at the lengths to which the accused allegedly went to avoid giving his salary to his family. Others noted that personal financial disputes should be resolved honestly rather than through actions that could endanger lives and lead to criminal charges. Law enforcement officials reiterated that filing false reports and creating fake crime scenes are serious offenses that can result in legal consequences. They urged the public to cooperate with authorities by providing truthful information and avoiding actions that interfere with criminal investigations. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and police are expected to complete the legal process after gathering all relevant evidence and recording statements from those involved. Authorities have not yet disclosed additional details about the charges that will be filed, but they confirmed that both the main suspect and his three friends remain in custody as the investigation continues.

  LAHORE: Five people were killed and another was injured in a tragic road accident on Lahore’s Canal Road after a speeding car reportedly went out of control and struck two pedestrians before crashing into a utility pole and a tree. According to Rescue 1122, the accident occurred on Canal Road near Harbanspura in Lahore. The incident claimed the lives of three young people travelling in the car as well as two pedestrians who were walking along the roadside. According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the car was allegedly performing drifting on the road when he lost control of the vehicle. The car reportedly mounted the footpath alongside the canal and struck two young pedestrians. It then continued moving before crashing into an electricity pole and a tree. The impact of the collision was severe, resulting in multiple fatalities. Three occupants of the vehicle died at the scene, while two pedestrians also lost their lives as a result of being hit by the speeding car. An 11-year-old boy who was travelling in the car was injured in the accident. Rescue teams reached the site after receiving information about the crash and began rescue and emergency operations. The injured child was shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. According to information available after the incident, the four people travelling in the car were cousins. The victims were reportedly young, with the ages of those who died ranging between 15 and 18 years. A report regarding the circumstances before the accident stated that the four boys had allegedly left their home around 6am while their family members were still asleep. They reportedly took the car and went out, after which the fatal accident occurred on Canal Road. The incident has raised concerns about dangerous driving and the risks associated with speeding and performing stunts on public roads. Drifting, particularly at high speed and on busy roads, can result in a driver losing control of a vehicle within seconds. The consequences can be devastating not only for the occupants of the vehicle but also for pedestrians and other road users. Canal Road is an important route in Lahore and carries significant traffic throughout the day. Although the accident occurred early in the morning, the presence of pedestrians near the roadside made the situation particularly dangerous. The deaths of the young people have caused grief among their families and relatives. The fact that the victims were reportedly teenagers has added to the tragedy, while the two pedestrians who were also killed became unintended victims of the alleged reckless driving. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances of the crash, including the speed of the vehicle and the eyewitness claims that the driver had been performing drifting before losing control. Investigators may also examine the vehicle and the accident site to determine the exact sequence of events. The accident once again highlights the importance of responsible driving, particularly among young drivers. Speeding, reckless manoeuvres and driving without adequate experience can have fatal consequences. The incident serves as a tragic reminder that public roads are shared spaces and that reckless behaviour behind the wheel can put the lives of innocent pedestrians and passengers at serious risk. Families and road safety authorities have repeatedly urged young people to avoid dangerous driving practices and follow traffic regulations. Further details regarding the investigation and the condition of the injured 11-year-old are expected as authorities continue to assess the incident.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s information technology (IT) sector achieved a historic milestone in the fiscal year 2025-26, with IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) exports reaching a record $4.6 billion, marking an impressive 21 percent increase from the previous year’s $3.81 billion. Although the sector narrowly missed the government’s $5 billion export target, the achievement reinforces Pakistan’s position as one of the country’s fastest-growing export industries and strengthens its long-term goal of reaching $10 billion in IT exports by FY2028-29. Industry experts believe the strong performance reflects the steady expansion of Pakistan’s digital economy, driven by a growing pool of skilled professionals, rising demand for remote services, improved internet infrastructure and favourable tax incentives. However, they also caution that the sector must overcome structural challenges and shift towards innovation-led growth to sustain momentum. Pakistan is home to more than 600,000 IT professionals and freelancers, alongside tens of thousands of registered software and IT-enabled services companies operating from major technology hubs in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Secondary cities such as Faisalabad, Sialkot and Sukkur are also emerging as important contributors to the country’s digital workforce. Software development, business process outsourcing (BPO), enterprise technology services, call centres and freelancing remain the backbone of Pakistan’s IT exports. Meanwhile, demand for advanced services including artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, cloud computing, automation and digital consulting is expanding rapidly as global businesses seek specialised technology solutions. The United States continues to be Pakistan’s largest export destination for IT services, followed by the United Kingdom, the Gulf region, Europe, Canada and several Asian markets. Experts say significant opportunities remain untapped in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Africa and Central Asia, particularly in high-value technology sectors. Industry leaders stress that Pakistan must diversify both its export markets and service offerings. They argue that relying mainly on traditional software development and low-cost outsourcing will limit future growth, while greater investment in AI-powered solutions, enterprise software, cybersecurity and digital transformation services can significantly increase export earnings. Freelancers have also emerged as a major force in Pakistan’s digital economy, contributing an estimated $1.1 billion, or roughly a quarter of total IT exports, during FY2025-26. Online platforms have enabled thousands of professionals to access global clients, creating new employment opportunities and boosting foreign exchange inflows. Beyond export revenues, the sector continues to generate employment, with thousands of technical positions available across the country. The expansion of remote work has also increased opportunities for women and professionals living outside major urban centres. Experts believe the next phase of growth depends on moving beyond providing outsourced services to creating globally competitive technology products and intellectual property. They argue that Pakistan must position itself as a producer of innovation rather than simply a destination for low-cost software development. The country’s AI ambitions are also gaining momentum. Under the National AI Policy 2025, Pakistan plans to establish AI centres of excellence, launch dedicated funding programmes, expand public-sector AI adoption and train around one million people in AI-related skills by 2030. New AI hubs are also being developed to support startups and accelerate innovation. International partnerships are expected to play a key role in this transformation. Pakistan has strengthened technology cooperation with China through joint AI and IT initiatives and recently became a founding member of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO). At the same time, interest from the United States has grown, with American investors pledging more than $20 million for Pakistan’s technology sector during a recent investment conference. Connectivity has also improved through expanded submarine cable capacity, cross-border fibre links and stronger cloud infrastructure, making it easier for local companies to deliver digital services worldwide. Despite the progress, industry stakeholders warn that policy uncertainty, foreign exchange restrictions, internet disruptions, energy costs, weak intellectual property protection and limited access to global payment systems continue to hinder faster growth. They believe addressing these challenges while promoting innovation and AI-driven technologies will be essential if Pakistan hopes to transform its record-breaking IT industry into a global technology powerhouse.