Day: July 22, 2026

Islamabad: The prices of gold witnessed a sharp increase in the local market on Tuesday, with 24-karat gold per tola gaining Rs4,700 to settle at Rs429,236, according to rates issued by the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of 24-karat gold increased by Rs4,029 to Rs368,000, whereas 10 grams of 22-karat gold rose by Rs3,694 to Rs337,346.

In the international market, the price of gold increased by $47 to $4,068 per ounce.

Meanwhile, the price of silver per tola increased by Rs219 to Rs6,396, while the price of 10 grams of silver rose by Rs188 to Rs5,483.

The price of silver in the international market also increased by $2.19 to $59.17 per ounce, the association reported.

Islamabad: Pakistan Railways has finalized the inquiry reports into two major train accidents that occurred in March 2026, presenting the findings before the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways. The report attributes the mishaps to a combination of human error and technical failures, leading to immediate departmental action against nine employees.

According to the data, a total of 135 train accidents were recorded across the country over a one-year period, with defective tracks remaining the leading cause behind 34 incidents, while 35% of the total mishaps occurred at unmanned railway crossings.

The probe revealed that the collision between the Shalimar Express and a freight train at Mehrabpur was caused by gross driver negligence. The driver overshot a stop signal and failed to control the brakes in time, ramming into a stationary cargo train on the loop line, which resulted in the death of one railway employee and derailed several coaches. Railway authorities have held driver Fayyaz Muhammad, assistant driver Asif Saeed, senior train examiners Asif Hussain and Valiullah Khan, and head train examiner Imran Nisar directly responsible, while Station Master Asadullah was found indirectly negligent. Meanwhile, the second major accident involving the Tezgam Express on the Lodhran-Bahawalpur section resulted from negligent technical monitoring, where a fault in the dining car’s front trolley caused eight coaches to derail, injuring multiple passengers. For lapses in fitness inspection, disciplinary action has been launched against TXR Saqib Ghafoor and TXR Minhas Anwar for direct negligence, and Head TXR
Imran Sharif for indirect oversight.

According to Chairman Pakistan Railways Mazhar Ali Shah, around 35,000 to 38,000 trains operate annually, keeping the overall accident rate at a low 0.02%, and the administration continues to maintain infrastructure using its existing workforce despite limited resources. Elaborating on the annual statistics, he noted that apart from the 34 track defects and 35% unmanned crossing incidents, staff negligence accounted for 32 accidents, rolling stock defects caused 30, and acts of sabotage resulted in 10, while the remaining incidents were triggered by natural disasters and miscellaneous factors. The railway administration assured the committee that emergency measures are being actively implemented to curb these occurrences.

Islamabad: The District and Sessions Court of Islamabad on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in a case related to allegations of spreading misleading claims against state institutions and damaging their reputation.

The court ordered authorities to arrest Afridi and produce him before the court after he failed to appear during the proceedings. The case was heard by Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah.

During the hearing, the court expressed concern over Afridi’s continued absence and warned that stricter legal action could follow if he does not appear at the next hearing. The judge stated that if Sohail Afridi fails to attend the court again, proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender will be initiated.

According to court records, the case was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The allegations relate to statements that allegedly misled the public and harmed the reputation of state institutions.

During the hearing, the court reviewed the status of the case and noted Afridi’s non-appearance despite previous opportunities to attend. Following the proceedings, the judge issued non-bailable arrest warrants and ordered the relevant authorities to execute them.

The court adjourned further proceedings until September 3, when progress on the arrest warrants and the accused’s appearance will be reviewed.

Islamabad: Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Tuesday released 361,500 cusecs of water from various rim stations with an inflow of 507,700 cusecs.

According to the data released by IRSA, the water level in the River Indus at Tarbela Dam stood at 1509.11 feet, which was 107.11 feet higher than the dead level of 1402.00 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam were recorded as 285,700 cusecs and 210,000 cusecs, respectively.

The water level in the Jhelum River at Mangla Dam was 1178.60 feet, which was 128.60 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water were recorded as 80,500 cusecs and 10,000 cusecs, respectively.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 252,500, 185,400, 122,300, and 53,000 cusecs, respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 39,100 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera, and 80,100 cusecs were released from River Chenab at Marala.

Islamabad: Iranian Interior Minister, Iskandar Momeni was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Islamabad Police Lines on Tuesday, where a grand police parade was held in his honour during his official visit to Pakistan.

Accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Momeni received a warm welcome upon his arrival at the parade ground. A special contingent of the Islamabad Police presented an impressive guard of honour, reflecting the strong and cordial relations between Pakistan and Iran.

The national anthems of Pakistan and Iran were played during the ceremony, adding to the significance of the occasion. The Iranian interior minister, accompanied by Talal Chaudhry, inspected the parade and reviewed the smartly turned-out police contingent.

Expressing his appreciation for the professionalism and discipline displayed by the Islamabad Police, Momeni commended the force for its operational capabilities and dedication to maintaining law and order.

In recognition of outstanding service, the visiting minister distributed awards to police personnel who had demonstrated exceptional performance in the line of duty, acknowledging their commitment and professionalism.

Inspector General of Islamabad Police, Ali Nasir Rizvi, along with other senior police officials, attended the ceremony. The event underscored the growing cooperation and mutual respect between Pakistan and Iran, particularly in the fields of law enforcement, security, and institutional collaboration.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik Tuesday met with Tareq Ebrahim, Vice President Operations of Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC), to discuss opportunities for expanding cooperation in Pakistan’s petroleum sector.

The Minister described Kuwait as one of Pakistan’s closest friends, highlighting the two countries’ more than 50-year partnership in the energy sector, said a news release. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to further strengthening this longstanding relationship.

Tareq Ebrahim thanked the Minister for his support in facilitating investment opportunities and said KUFPEC sees strong potential for expanding its presence in Pakistan’s upstream energy sector.

The Federal Minister assured KUFPEC of the government’s full support and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for international investment in the petroleum sector.