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Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Massive landslide kills seven in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan
As many as seven local volunteers were killed and seven others injured after a massive landslide hit individuals who were working to restore the flood-damaged water channel in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) region, officials said on Monday. All the seven injured people were taken to nearby hospitals, where emergency services were activated to manage the crisis. The volunteers were reportedly working to repair Danyor Nullah which had been damaged due to recent floods in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit when a sudden mudslide buried them under the rubble. Police said four people were brought out from the debris in critical condition during the rescue operation, Pakistan's leading news channel Geo News reported. PoGB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said that the search and rescue operation had been completed. Monsoons rains have wreaked havoc across Pakistan, with floods and landslides claiming lives of over 260 people. Several people are still missing along with massive damage to the infrastructure. Last month, PoGB's local leader Gulbar Khan said that at least 10 people were killed and four others were injured in the region in floods caused by monsoon rains. In addition, infrastructure worth over Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 20 billion was damaged in the floods. He said that 300 houses were destroyed while 200 were partially damaged. Furthermore, 30-40 per cent of water channels and 15 to 20 kilometres of roads were damaged. While addressing a press conference, Khan said that the floods had a major impact on seven districts of the region, destroying roads, water channels, homes and agricultural land, Pakistan's The News International reported. He stated that the limited resources are "insufficient to recover from the scale of this disaster" and requested the Pakistani government to provide assistance. The leader mentioned that they have requested the federal government to provide PKR seven billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
536 people killed in accidents in Karachi in 2025
As many as 536 people have been killed in traffic accidents in Pakistan's Karachi so far in 2025. Among those deceased, 60 deaths occurred in accidents involving trucks, the police said on Sunday. Numerous traffic accidents have occurred in Karachi in the ongoing year, frequently leading to deaths, which has resulted in enraged people setting fire to the vehicles involved in the incident on many occasions, Pakistani daily The News International reported. Elaborating on accident-related statistics, the police said 25 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2025, where buses were involved, 11 people were killed in accidents involving minibuses, six involving coaches, while 48 people lost their lives in accidents involving trailers. Meanwhile, 44 people were killed in accidents involving water tankers, 20 people involving dumpers, while six people were killed in accidents involving oil tankers. Furthermore, 15 people died in collisions of vans, five in jeeps and 58 in accidents involving car collisions, according to police. The accidents involving high-speed dumper trucks have caused the deaths of several people and injured others in recent months, prompting authorities to announce various safety measures. This alarming frequency of accidents has sparked calls for stricter implementation of existing traffic laws and significant improvements to the city's road infrastructure to stop further tragedies. On Sunday, two siblings were killed in an accident at the Rashid Minhas Road, after which an angry mob set fire to at least seven dumpers. The deceased were identified as Mahnoor, 22, and her younger brother, Ahmed Raza, 14. The accident took place in the night between Saturday and Sunday in Karachi's Federal B Area, where the truck ran over the motorcycle, Geo News reported. Addressing reporters, SP Gulberg Iqbal Shaikh said that a father, along with his son and daughter, were travelling on the motorcycle at the time of the accident. According to the officer, the residents assaulted the dumper truck driver before he was taken into custody in an injured state. He further stated that all three people were injured, but the siblings succumbed.
Hans India
27-07-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
10 killed as torrential rainfall lashes Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan
As many as 10 people were killed and four others injured in floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains across Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), local media reported on Sunday. In addition, infrastructure worth over Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 20 billion was damaged in the floods. As torrential monsoon rainfall continues to batter Pakistan, the death toll since the onset of monsoon has reached 266, according to the latest report issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), local media reported on Friday. While addressing a press conference, Gilgit-Baltistan's local leader Haji Gulbar Khan said that the floods had a major impact on seven districts of the region, destroying roads, water channels, homes and agricultural land. He said that the limited resources are "insufficient to recover from the scale of this disaster" and requested the Pakistani government to provide assistance, Pakistan-based The News International reported. He said that they have requested the federal government to provide PKR 7 billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure. Meanwhile, multiple sections of Fairy Meadows Road in PoGB were blocked due to landslides after heavy rains, as aerial operation remained suspended due to adverse weather conditions, the leading Pakistani media outlet Geo News reported on Saturday. According to the Chilas deputy commissioner, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has dispatched teams to the site, while search operations for missing persons are underway. According to the Met Office, rain is likely to continue until July 31 in Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley and Rawalakot areas of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and PoGB's Hunza and Skardu regions. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a nationwide alert on widespread rain, wind, and thundershowers, and warned of heavy to heavy rainfalls in several regions, raising concerns over potential flash floods, urban flooding, and landslides. Heavy downpours have also raised fears of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Okara, Nowshera, and Peshawar. Meanwhile, heavy downpours early Wednesday morning submerged low-lying areas in Lahore and several other cities across Punjab province, hampering daily activities and electricity supply in multiple neighbourhoods. Furthermore, rainfall also disrupted dozens of power feeders as water accumulated on major roads, severely affecting mobility and local infrastructure. Relentless rainfall also lashed Lahore, inundating several underpasses and streets and crippling the drainage systems.
Economic Times
19-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Pakistan: Billions wasted on joggers, ice, socks as audit lifts financial irregularities in law enforcement purchases
A recent audit reveals financial irregularities within Pakistan's law enforcement. Agencies under the Interior Ministry misused billions of rupees. The audit highlights non-transparent tenders and advance payments for undelivered goods. Contracts were awarded to non-compliant firms. There were unauthorized contract extensions and excessive purchases. The report points to a disregard for procurement rules. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Islamabad: Billions of rupees have been spent by Pakistan's civil law enforcement agencies under the country's Interior Ministry during the 2023-24 fiscal year on items ranging from jogger shoes and warm trousers to advance payments for undelivered boats and excessive ice purchases--often without adhering to fundamental procurement rules, The News International reported on to The News International, an audit report has revealed a recurring pattern of irregular expenditures, favouritism toward certain suppliers, and serious breaches of financial regulations in such audit, which covers multiple departments including the Pakistan Rangers , Frontier Corps, and Pakistan Coast Guards, reveals gross misuse of public funds, with issues ranging from non-transparent tender processes and advance payments without delivery to repeated contract renewals and unjustified purchasing instance, Punjab Rangers awarded contracts worth PKR 43 million for woollen socks and half-sleeve vests to companies that failed to meet required standards, The News International reported. Despite this, the technical committee declared the bids "responsive" instead of rejecting auditors described this as "undue favour" and called for an investigation, recommending accountability measures, including for an Interior Ministry official a PKR 45 million contract for joggers was awarded to a company that violated procurement policies, prompting a recommendation for a fact-finding inquiry into how the non-compliant firm secured the contract, as reported by The News strikingly, the Pakistan Coast Guard paid PKR 560 million upfront to a private company for boats that were not delivered within the four-month deadline, which ended on July 23, 2024. This advance payment was unauthorised and contravened the tender to The News International, as of January 2025, the boats remained undelivered, leading to instructions to impose food supplies also came under scrutiny. The Inspector General of Frontier Corps of KP (North) spent PKR 7.8 billion on meat, milk, chicken, and cooking oil during 2023-24 without fresh contracts, merely extending previous agreements with rate increases, The News International reported. This practice violated procurement norms and lacked illegal contract extensions amounting to PKR 2.3 billion were found for vegetables, fruits, firewood, carriage, and animal irregularities continued with the FC South DI Khan office making PKR 297 million in advance payments for items such as joggers, vests, socks, and warm trousers--many of which were delayed in delivery. Auditors suspect payments were rushed to avoid budget expiry despite no goods being the IGFC (South) procured 20,847 pairs of joggers worth PKR 61 million through advance payments without meeting technical standards--a repeated offence from the previous year involving PKR 46 million, The News International reported. The audit emphasised that this repeated irregularity is deeply a surprising finding, IGFC South spent PKR 43 million on ice purchases, far exceeding actual needs and without justification. Similarly, Rangers Sindh awarded contracts worth PKR 73 million for uniforms without conducting laboratory tests on the materials, raising doubts about the quality and report also highlighted the unauthorised hiring of a private bank by Commandant, Chiltan Rifles, FC North, to disburse pay and allowances totalling PKR 1.8 billion, done without required approvals or a competitive process, The News International individual expenses on socks, ice, and vests may seem small, collectively, these irregularities represent billions of dollars in public funds, pointing to a troubling culture of impunity and disregard for procurement rules in law enforcement agencies.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pakistan: Billions wasted on joggers, ice, socks as audit lifts financial irregularities in law enforcement purchases
Islamabad: Billions of rupees have been spent by Pakistan's civil law enforcement agencies under the country's Interior Ministry during the 2023-24 fiscal year on items ranging from jogger shoes and warm trousers to advance payments for undelivered boats and excessive ice purchases--often without adhering to fundamental procurement rules, The News International reported on Friday. According to The News International, an audit report has revealed a recurring pattern of irregular expenditures, favouritism toward certain suppliers, and serious breaches of financial regulations in such agencies. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Healthcare Cybersecurity Others MCA Data Science Artificial Intelligence Project Management Product Management healthcare Leadership Operations Management MBA others Data Analytics Degree PGDM Management Data Science CXO Digital Marketing Public Policy Design Thinking Finance Technology Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details The audit, which covers multiple departments including the Pakistan Rangers , Frontier Corps, and Pakistan Coast Guards, reveals gross misuse of public funds, with issues ranging from non-transparent tender processes and advance payments without delivery to repeated contract renewals and unjustified purchasing decisions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Remember Tiger's Ex-Wife? Try Not To Smile When You See Her Now Paperela Undo For instance, Punjab Rangers awarded contracts worth PKR 43 million for woollen socks and half-sleeve vests to companies that failed to meet required standards, The News International reported. Despite this, the technical committee declared the bids "responsive" instead of rejecting them. The auditors described this as "undue favour" and called for an investigation, recommending accountability measures, including for an Interior Ministry official involved. Live Events Similarly, a PKR 45 million contract for joggers was awarded to a company that violated procurement policies, prompting a recommendation for a fact-finding inquiry into how the non-compliant firm secured the contract, as reported by The News International. More strikingly, the Pakistan Coast Guard paid PKR 560 million upfront to a private company for boats that were not delivered within the four-month deadline, which ended on July 23, 2024. This advance payment was unauthorised and contravened the tender conditions. According to The News International, as of January 2025, the boats remained undelivered, leading to instructions to impose penalties. Basic food supplies also came under scrutiny. The Inspector General of Frontier Corps of KP (North) spent PKR 7.8 billion on meat, milk, chicken, and cooking oil during 2023-24 without fresh contracts, merely extending previous agreements with rate increases, The News International reported. This practice violated procurement norms and lacked transparency. Other illegal contract extensions amounting to PKR 2.3 billion were found for vegetables, fruits, firewood, carriage, and animal feed. The irregularities continued with the FC South DI Khan office making PKR 297 million in advance payments for items such as joggers, vests, socks, and warm trousers--many of which were delayed in delivery. Auditors suspect payments were rushed to avoid budget expiry despite no goods being received. Furthermore, the IGFC (South) procured 20,847 pairs of joggers worth PKR 61 million through advance payments without meeting technical standards--a repeated offence from the previous year involving PKR 46 million, The News International reported. The audit emphasised that this repeated irregularity is deeply concerning. In a surprising finding, IGFC South spent PKR 43 million on ice purchases, far exceeding actual needs and without justification. Similarly, Rangers Sindh awarded contracts worth PKR 73 million for uniforms without conducting laboratory tests on the materials, raising doubts about the quality and transparency. The report also highlighted the unauthorised hiring of a private bank by Commandant, Chiltan Rifles, FC North, to disburse pay and allowances totalling PKR 1.8 billion, done without required approvals or a competitive process, The News International reported. Although individual expenses on socks, ice, and vests may seem small, collectively, these irregularities represent billions of dollars in public funds, pointing to a troubling culture of impunity and disregard for procurement rules in law enforcement agencies.
