Karachi

The PTI is organizing nationwide protests to mark three years since Imran Khan's imprisonment, with a central rally in Peshawar. The Rawalpindi administration denied permission for a rally, and PTI lawyers were not allowed to meet Imran Khan at Adiala jail. The party emphasizes peaceful protests and demands his release.

Foreign media personnel in Pakistan now require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB) to travel outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi for news coverage. The 2026 Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines mandate registration and accreditation for foreign journalists and entities, with specific processes for obtaining NOCs, temporary/annual accreditations, and access to official media events.

Iran and Pakistan aim to expand economic cooperation through Karachi and Gwadar ports, with discussions on a free trade agreement and improving border markets. A high-level Iranian delegation met with Pakistani officials in Islamabad to advance bilateral trade and logistics initiatives.

At least 144 children in Karachi have died from measles and diphtheria since January 2026, with 1,915 measles cases and 125 deaths reported across four tertiary care hospitals. Experts attribute the deaths to low vaccination coverage, as parents fail to ensure timely immunization despite free vaccines under the Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI).

Mir Raza Ali Khan, a 25-year-old former IBA student and aspiring businessman, was found dead with a gunshot wound in Karachi. Investigators are examining inconsistencies, including missing weapons and forensic evidence, while financial losses and his deleted phone data complicate the determination of suicide versus murder.

A scuffle and chaos occurred at an MQM-P meeting in Bahadurabad, Karachi, between supporters of two rival groups led by Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Mustafa Kamal. One person was injured with a firearm wound, and police secured the scene. The incident led to the postponement of a planned press conference.

SSGC clarified that complaints of a gas leak near Karachi’s Abul Hasan Isphahani Road were due to testing of an odorisation plant during a new pipeline’s commissioning. The company emphasized no actual gas leak occurred and attributed the strong smell to higher-than-usual odorant testing.

Iranian oil smuggling into Pakistan has dropped by 60% following attacks on tankers in Balochistan, which caused significant losses for smugglers. The smuggling decline coincides with the US-Israeli war on Iran, which disrupted global oil transit via the Strait of Hormuz and increased crude oil prices. Pakistan avoided fuel rationing despite reduced smuggling, maintaining a 25-day oil reserve.

Parts of Karachi experienced light rain on Saturday, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasting continued showers until August 3. The PMD predicts light to moderate rain with dust and thunderstorms in Karachi and several districts, including Tharparker, Umerkot, and Hyderabad, accompanied by temperatures ranging between 34–36°C.

The article critiques the political discourse during budget season, highlighting a focus on infrastructure projects like new university buildings and large hospitals over essential metrics such as primary education and basic healthcare improvements. It emphasizes the constitutional mandate for education and criticizes the neglect of critical indicators like literacy rates and preventable deaths.

The PPP's Central Executive Committee will discuss creating new administrative units in Pakistan, emphasizing constitutional procedures requiring parliamentary approval. The party opposes new units in Sindh but supports a South Punjab province, while other parties like MQM-P and IPP advocate for different administrative reconfigurations.

Zubair Baloch, brother of imprisoned Uzair Baloch, was shot and critically injured in Karachi’s Lyari area. Police are investigating the attack as potential gang rivalry or personal enmity, with two passersby also injured. Zubair had joined a political party recently, and rumors suggest returned gangsters may reignite past conflicts in the region.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged political parties to resolve disputes over administrative units and provinces, stating the current system has collapsed. Conflicting demands for new provinces, including Karachi as a separate entity and South Punjab, highlight tensions between political parties.

A police constable was killed and two suspected robbers were shot dead during a shootout in Karachi's Orangi Town. The encounter occurred when police patrolling near Liaquat Chowk faced indiscriminate fire from armed suspects. Police recovered pistols, ammunition, and a motorcycle from the suspects.

Gulistan-i-Jauhar's roads, including Pehlwan Goth Road and University Road, are plagued by potholes, excavation work, and traffic congestion due to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project, causing daily travel hardships for residents.

Sindh police in Karachi are increasingly adopting Punjab's Crime Control Department (CCD) style of 'encounters' to combat crime, citing frustration with the legal system and a desire to prevent Punjab-based criminals from fleeing to Sindh. Officials claim this approach targets habitual offenders and Punjab fugitives who commit crimes in Karachi, though it carries risks of collateral damage.

MQM-P intensifies campaign for new provinces, citing governance failures in Sindh. Party chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and senior leader Mustafa Kamal separately highlighted demands for administrative reforms, with internal rifts noted as they did not attend each other's events.

Karachi experienced its second consecutive day of monsoon rain with light to moderate showers in multiple areas, prompting the provincial chief secretary to direct disaster management authorities to activate emergency protocols and prepare for continuous monitoring. The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts continued rainfall until July 27 in several districts, while Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had earlier ordered high alert status for district administrations.

Mustafa Kamal of MQM-P announced the party will protest against the Sindh government’s neglect of Karachi, citing lack of funds and basic services. He criticized the unimplemented 18th Amendment and called for new provinces to address administrative issues.

Karachi experienced its first monsoon showers with light to moderate rain in multiple localities. The traffic police warned of slippery roads, while the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasted continued cloudy and rainy conditions. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed authorities to prepare for emergency responses due to strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea.

A task force chaired by Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath was established to address systemic issues in Pakistan's healthcare system linked to rising HIV cases among children. Despite initial swift action and recommendations, there has been no official follow-through, and infections continue, with over 130 cases reported in Karachi alone. The HIV burden in Pakistan has grown significantly, with estimated cases rising from 67,000 in 2010 to 210,000-240,000 by 2021-2022.

3,172 gender-based violence cases were reported in Pakistan from January to June 2026, with murders, torture, and abductions being the most common. Punjab accounted for 74% of cases, followed by Sindh with 17%, and 10 districts were identified as most vulnerable.

Three suspects arrested in the murder of Dr. Akash Kumar during a robbery near Karachi’s Teen Talwar were killed in an exchange of fire with accomplices during a police raid in Ahmed Brohi Goth. The incident followed a robbery where Dr. Kumar, a JPMC doctor, was shot after robbers intercepted his vehicle, sparking protests and condemnation from the medical community.

Three people were killed and five injured in a gun attack on a Karachi-bound passenger bus in Balochistan's Mastung district, while a bridge on the National Highway was damaged in an explosion, disrupting traffic between Quetta and Karachi. The Balochistan Home Department imposed an indefinite curfew in Khud Kocha sub-tehsil to address the deteriorating security situation, as security forces reported killing 10 terrorists and arresting two female suicide bombers in recent operations.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to release Rs40 billion for the completion of Karachi's K-IV water supply project, citing delays and inadequate funding. The project, expected to supply 260 million gallons per day, is now scheduled for completion in December 2029, with only Rs8 billion allocated in the current federal budget.

South Air launched inaugural flights from Karachi to Quetta via Turbat and Islamabad via Bahawalpur, enhancing Pakistan's domestic air connectivity. The airline plans to expand services to Peshawar, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Gwadar, aiming to boost tourism, trade, and regional travel convenience.

A Karachi court granted a seven-day physical remand of three suspects in the murder of Dr. Akash Kumar, a doctor killed during a robbery. The suspects, linked to a criminal gang, were arrested after stealing Rs2 million from Dr. Kumar, who was carrying the cash following a bank withdrawal. Police recovered a vehicle, weapons, and mobile phones used in the crime and are seeking to identify accomplices.

Three suspects were arrested for the murder of Dr. Akash Kumar, a young doctor killed during a robbery in Karachi’s Clifton area. Robbers intercepted his vehicle, stole Rs2 million, and shot him. Police revealed an accomplice in a bank aided the gang by alerting them after Kumar withdrew cash.

Karachi ranked 170th out of 173 cities in the EIU's 2026 Global Liveability Index, scoring poorly in stability, healthcare, culture, and infrastructure but performing relatively better in education. The city's low score reflects challenges like traffic congestion, broken roads, trash accumulation, and power outages.

Police arrested the mastermind of a June 27 attack on a Pakistan Rangers camp in Karachi, which killed three security personnel and injured four. The attack was attributed to 'Indian proxy' Jamaatul Ahrar, with terrorists trained in Afghanistan and supported by Afghan-based handlers.

A young doctor, Akash Kumar, was shot dead during a robbery near Karachi's Teen Talwar. The incident involved armed suspects attempting to steal Rs2.5 million, leading to a crossfire between the robbers and a bank security guard.

K2 Airways Flight 1732, a Boeing 737-400, crashed after reporting navigation system failures, leading to a rapid 22,400 feet per minute descent. The crash killed all five crew members, with potential causes including IRU failure, spatial disorientation, and CRM breakdown. The flight operated near an active Iran-US conflict zone and GPS spoofing was reported along the route.

Mufti Taqi Usmani and other scholars declared purchasing goods with cryptocurrency impermissible under Islamic law, citing that crypto is not recognized as 'maal' (wealth) in Sharia. The fatwa mandates returning items bought with crypto and prohibits their use or resale.

The Sindh government ordered Veritas Learning Circle (Primary) in Karachi to reverse unlawful fee hikes imposed during summer holidays, citing violations of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Rules 2005. The school was directed to refund excess fees and submit a compliance report within 15 days, with threats of legal action if non-compliant.

Pakistan Navy and Maritime Security Agency recovered additional debris from a K2 Airways cargo plane that crashed into the Arabian Sea, as the search for five missing crew members entered its third day. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with challenges including rough seas and strong winds complicating the search efforts.

Pakistan Navy recovered additional debris from a K2 Airways cargo plane that crashed into the Arabian Sea, as search teams continue to look for the five missing crew members. The aircraft, en route from Sharjah to Karachi, reported a navigation malfunction before disappearing from radar. Search operations face challenges due to rough seas and shifting currents.

The family of Faisal Jatoi, co-pilot of a K2 Airways cargo plane that crashed into the Arabian Sea, awaits news as rescuers search for survivors and wreckage. The Boeing 737 freighter, en route from Sharjah to Karachi, reported navigational issues before crashing, and recovery efforts face challenges due to deep water and harsh conditions.

A 20-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting and murdering a six-year-old boy in Karachi was granted a five-day physical remand by a judicial magistrate. The child's decomposed body, showing multiple bone injuries, was found in an empty plot near Lea Market after being allegedly kept on the suspect's rooftop and later discarded.

Families of the crew aboard a crashed Pakistani cargo plane, including co-pilot Faisal Jatoi, await news as rescuers search the Arabian Sea for survivors. The K2 Airways Boeing 737 freighter crashed during a flight from Sharjah to Karachi, with wreckage located in a deep-sea operation.

Pakistani rescuers discovered the wreckage of a lost cargo plane that may have crashed into the sea southwest of Karachi. The plane experienced a series of sharp altitude changes before a steep final descent.