Royal Thai Police Launch Nationwide Illegal Firearms Crackdown

Rain is expected in several parts of Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir today, according to the latest weather and flood forecast. The Flood Forecasting Division in Lahore said water levels remain elevated at several points along the Indus River. Low-level flooding is still being reported at Kalabagh, Taunsa and Guddu barrages. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as river flows remain higher than normal at these locations. The flooding at these barrages is currently classified as low-level. Relevant departments are keeping a close watch on water levels and river flows. Meanwhile, the situation at Chashma Barrage has returned to normal. No low-level flooding is currently being reported there. The possibility of rain in parts of Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir could affect water levels in some areas. Authorities are expected to remain alert, particularly in areas located near rivers and other waterways. Residents in vulnerable areas have been advised to stay informed about weather and flood updates and follow instructions issued by local authorities.

Pakistan has assumed the presidency of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament (CD), taking a leading role in international discussions on arms control and global security. Additional Secretary for Arms Control and Disarmament Tahir Hussain Andrabi is representing Pakistan and will preside over the conference’s meetings during the presidency. Pakistan holds the final presidency of the CD’s 2026 session. It will therefore oversee the conclusion of the conference’s proceedings for the year and guide work on its annual report and the related resolution for the UN General Assembly’s First Committee. As part of the opening activities, Ambassador Andrabi chaired a meeting with former presidents of the conference for the 2026 session. He also held consultations with representatives of different regional groups. The Conference on Disarmament, headquartered at the United Nations Office in Geneva, is the principal multilateral forum for negotiating international disarmament and arms-control agreements. The forum has 65 member states, including countries that possess nuclear weapons. Its discussions cover some of the most sensitive issues affecting international peace and security. Key areas on its agenda include preventing a nuclear arms race, reducing the risk of nuclear war and stopping the weaponisation of outer space. The conference and its predecessor bodies have played a significant role in developing major international security agreements. These include the Biological Weapons Convention, Chemical Weapons Convention and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Pakistan’s presidency comes at a time when nuclear risks, arms competition and emerging security challenges remain major concerns for the international community. The Foreign Office said Pakistan’s leadership of the conference reflects international confidence in its diplomatic role and its continued engagement in multilateral arms-control efforts.

Lieutenant General Syed Aamer Raza, HI(M), SBt, has been promoted to the rank of four-star general and appointed as the Commander of the National Strategic Command, marking a significant milestone in his military career. The appointment places one of the Pakistan Army’s most experienced senior officers at the helm of the country’s strategic command structure. General Aamer Raza has built a distinguished career through a series of key command, operational and administrative appointments. Before his promotion, he was serving as the Chief of the General Staff (CGS) at the General Headquarters (GHQ), one of the Pakistan Army’s most influential positions. As CGS, he oversaw operational planning, intelligence coordination and strategic military affairs, making the role central to the Army’s command structure. Military observers view his promotion as recognition of his extensive professional experience and leadership. His tenure as Chief of the General Staff provided him with broad exposure to strategic planning, operational decision-making and national security matters, qualities considered essential for leading the National Strategic Command. General Aamer Raza also possesses significant expertise in defence technology and military procurement. He previously served as Director General Weapons and Equipment, where he supervised the acquisition, maintenance and development of military hardware. In addition, he served as Chairman of Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), one of Pakistan’s leading defence production organisations, where he played a role in strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing and modernisation efforts. Commissioned into the Armoured Corps, General Aamer Raza has held numerous command, staff and instructional appointments throughout his career. His service includes leadership roles at various operational formations as well as senior positions within military institutions, giving him extensive experience in both field operations and strategic planning. Defence analysts believe his combination of operational leadership, technical expertise and institutional experience makes him well suited for his new responsibilities. The National Strategic Command is expected to play a key role in coordinating Pakistan’s strategic capabilities, strengthening national security planning and overseeing matters related to strategic deterrence.

LAHORE: Government College University (GCU) Lahore has officially moved its administrative operations to a fully paperless digital system, marking a major step towards modernising governance and reducing reliance on traditional office files. The transformation has been achieved through the implementation of the e-Filing and Office Automation System, a cloud-based digital platform developed by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). The system has been provided to the university free of cost under special directions from the Punjab government, according to university officials. Under the new framework, administrative processes across GCU’s departments will now be handled online through a single digital platform. Routine matters such as leave applications, travel permissions, annual performance reports, official orders and departmental correspondence can now be processed electronically. The university said the system would also cover digital note sheets for proposals between departments, approval of payments for visiting faculty, purchase requests and agendas for departmental meetings. No more files moving from desk to desk One of the most significant changes will be the elimination of the traditional practice of physically moving files from one office to another. Instead, officials will be able to create, review, approve and track documents digitally through the cloud-based platform. This is expected to improve administrative efficiency while making it easier to monitor the progress of official matters. GCU Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Umar Chaudhry described the transition as more than an environmental initiative, saying digital governance was essential for a modern educational institution. He said moving administrative affairs away from paper would strengthen transparency, speed and accountability, while reducing delays associated with manual file tracking. According to the vice chancellor, removing routine administrative delays would allow faculty members and heads of departments to devote more time to teaching and research. Part of wider digital transformation The university said the paperless initiative is part of a broader digitalisation drive launched during the previous academic year under the vice chancellor’s leadership. Before implementing the complete e-office system, GCU had introduced online approval mechanisms for student society events and digital billing for payments to visiting faculty members. The administration is now preparing to take the process further with the planned launch of a comprehensive e-Services Portal. The upcoming platform is expected to streamline requests related to campus maintenance and other facilities. Officials hope the system will allow infrastructure-related problems to be reported and addressed more quickly without disrupting academic activities. Alumni records also going digital GCU’s digital reforms are not limited to current campus operations. The university is also working on a major project to digitise the records of its alumni, expanding technology-based management beyond day-to-day administration. The move towards a paperless campus could ultimately reduce paperwork, improve record management and provide university officials with faster access to important information. With administrative processes increasingly moving online, GCU Lahore is positioning itself as an example of how Pakistan’s public-sector universities can use digital technology to make governance faster, more transparent and more efficient.