Welfare pharmacy seal-off adds to poor patients’ woes

Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of eight mountaineers following the devastating avalanche on Broad Peak, while the search continues for two missing climbers. Another victim has been identified, but the body remains trapped in an area that rescuers have so far been unable to reach. Speaking to the media, the President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan described the incident as one of the deadliest accidents in the history of Broad Peak. He said a total of 11 climbers are believed to have been caught in the avalanche, triggering a large-scale rescue operation. He said the first phase of the operation began immediately after the incident. On the opening day, rescuers recovered the bodies of two climbers and also found partial human remains believed to belong to another victim. According to the Alpine Club, the first two recovered victims were a Nepalese mountaineer and a female climber from Oman. Rescue operations were carried out under extremely difficult weather and terrain conditions at high altitude. The Pakistan Army assisted the mission by providing helicopters to transport rescue teams and airlift the recovered bodies from the remote mountain. The aerial support played a key role in speeding up the recovery process. The Alpine Club president said that during the latest phase of the operation, the bodies of four Nepalese climbers and one Chinese mountaineer were successfully recovered and transported from the mountain. He added that rescuers have also identified another climber’s body. However, it is located in an inaccessible area, making immediate recovery impossible because of dangerous terrain and the continued risk of avalanches. Search teams are still looking for the remaining two missing climbers. Rescue officials said every effort is being made to locate them despite severe weather, snow-covered slopes and difficult mountain conditions. The tragedy has shocked Pakistan’s mountaineering community and highlighted the dangers faced by climbers attempting to scale some of the world’s highest peaks. Broad Peak, located in the Karakoram mountain range, is one of Pakistan’s tallest mountains and attracts climbers from around the world each year.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has granted bail to an Afghan national, who is married to a Pakistani woman, against surety bonds worth Rs20,000 in a case registered under the Foreign Act. During the hearing, the government lawyer informed the court that the accused had been arrested under the Foreign Act. He argued that the man did not possess a marriage certificate proving his marriage to the Pakistani woman at the time of his arrest. The prosecution further stated that the marriage certificate was obtained in 2024, although the accused claimed to have married in 1993. The lawyer also told the court that the man had no documentary evidence of his entry into Pakistan and was not carrying an Afghan passport. Justice Hashim Kakar questioned the prosecution’s arguments, observing that in many rural areas marriages are conducted without immediately registering a formal marriage certificate. The defence counsel told the court that the couple had married in 1993 and only later obtained official documentation. Justice Kakar also noted that two high courts had already directed authorities to issue the man a domicile, adding that the government itself had allowed Afghan nationals to enter Pakistan in the past. He remarked that they had even been provided ration support. The judge further questioned the prosecution, asking what additional proof of marriage was required when the couple had two children together. He also asked how the authorities had concluded that the accused was an Afghan citizen if he allegedly had no identification or official documents. After hearing the arguments from both sides, the Supreme Court approved the Afghan national’s bail, subject to the submission of surety bonds worth Rs20,000.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has welcomed the joint defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, calling it an important strategic step toward strengthening regional security and stability. OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed strong appreciation for the agreement, describing it as a significant development that reflects the three countries’ commitment to closer cooperation. In a statement, the OIC said the agreement could serve as an important pillar for promoting security and stability in the region and across the wider Muslim world. The organisation also highlighted the pact’s potential to strengthen coordination among its member states in response to growing security challenges. Taha praised the leadership and efforts of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, saying the agreement demonstrated their shared determination to enhance collective security and constructive partnerships. The OIC secretary-general also expressed hope that the new arrangement would contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond. The agreement was signed on Friday during a trilateral summit in Makkah, bringing together the leadership of the three countries. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the pact at the Al-Safa Palace during the summit. Under the agreement, the three countries have committed to strengthening collective security and expanding defence cooperation. The pact has also been presented as part of broader efforts to promote peace and stability. The agreement comes amid growing security concerns across the region, making closer coordination between major Muslim countries particularly significant. The OIC’s endorsement gives the agreement additional diplomatic weight and underlines the organisation’s support for greater cooperation among its member states. With Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye seeking deeper strategic ties, the new defence framework could become an important platform for future cooperation in security and defence, while its broader impact on regional stability will be closely watched.

A proposed NADRA counter at the Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo, expected to benefit nearly 30,000 to 35,000 Pakistanis living in Japan, has remained stalled for the past three to four months due to delays in the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC), despite receiving formal approval from NADRA. According to official documents, NADRA granted in-principle approval for the establishment of the counter on April 22, 2026, and requested the relevant authorities to issue the required NOC without delay. The documents stated that the counter would become operational immediately after the NOC is issued. The delay has prevented the project from moving forward, leaving thousands of overseas Pakistanis in Japan facing continued difficulties in accessing essential identity and registration services. Sources said the initiative was made possible through the persistent efforts of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Chairman Syed Qamar Raza Shah. During his visit to Japan in April, he met members of the Pakistani community, listened to their concerns, and identified the absence of NADRA services as one of their most pressing issues. After returning to Pakistan, Shah reportedly pursued the matter with the relevant departments and raised it at senior government levels, resulting in NADRA’s formal approval for establishing the counter at the embassy. Under the approved plan, NADRA agreed to provide biometric machines, fingerprint devices, cameras, technical support, and staff training. The Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo is responsible for providing office space, computers, internet connectivity, furniture, and other administrative facilities. Officials said all technical and administrative arrangements have already been finalised. However, the project remains on hold because the required NOC has yet to be issued by the concerned ministry. As a result, Pakistani nationals living in Japan continue to face significant challenges in obtaining or renewing national identity cards, completing family registration, biometric verification, and accessing other NADRA-related services. Members of the Pakistani community in Japan have praised Syed Qamar Raza Shah for his efforts, saying the project would likely not have reached the approval stage without his personal involvement. They urged the relevant authorities to demonstrate the same commitment by removing the remaining administrative hurdles and ensuring that the approved project is implemented without further delay. The community has also appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar to personally intervene and direct the concerned authorities to issue the pending NOC so that the NADRA counter can be established at the Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo as soon as possible, providing long-awaited relief to thousands of overseas Pakistanis.