Day: July 22, 2026

Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Tuesday forecast widespread intermittent rain-windstorms and thundershowers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab, northeastern Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected at isolated places.

The PMD has warned of possible landslides, flash floods, urban flooding and damage to vulnerable infrastructure during the wet spell.

According to the PMD, widespread intermittent rain-windstorms and thundershowers are expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab, northeastern Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. Heavy to very heavy rainfall may also occur at isolated places during the period.

The department warned that from Tuesday night to Wednesday, heavy rains may trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir.

It said heavy rains may generate flash flooding in local streams and nullahs of Kashmir, Murree and Galliyat, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern parts of Balochistan during the wet spell.

The PMD further warned that heavy rains may cause urban flooding in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Multan and Faisalabad during the forecast period.

Windstorms, lightning and heavy rains may also damage weak structures, including solar panels, electric poles and billboards, during the forecast period. In Islamabad and adjoining areas, cloudy weather accompanied by intermittent rain-windstorms and thundershowers is expected. Heavy to very heavy rainfall may also occur at isolated places during the period.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, intermittent rain-windstorms and thundershowers are likely in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan and Hangu. Heavy to very heavy rainfall may also occur at scattered places during the period.

In Punjab, widespread rain-windstorms and thundershowers are likely in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Okara, Noorpur Thal, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur. Heavy to very heavy rainfall may also occur during the period.

In Sindh, mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most districts of the province. However, rain-windstorms and thundershowers are likely in Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad and Shaheed Benazirabad, while light rain or drizzle may occur at isolated places in coastal areas.

In Balochistan, mainly hot and humid weather is expected to prevail over most districts. However, rain-windstorms and thundershowers are expected in Zhob, Musakhel, Loralai, Kalat, Khuzdar, Barkhan, Sherani, Kohlu, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Pishin, Quetta, Ziarat and adjoining areas. Heavy rainfall is also expected at isolated places during the period.

Cloudy weather with intermittent rain-windstorms and thundershowers is expected in Kashmir, where heavy to very heavy rainfall may also occur at scattered places during the period. In Gilgit-Baltistan, cloudy weather with rain-windstorms and thundershowers, accompanied by heavy rainfall at isolated places, is expected.

During the past 24 hours, rain-windstorms and thundershowers, including isolated heavy falls, occurred in Islamabad, Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while hot and humid weather prevailed over the rest of the country.

Gujranwala recorded the highest rainfall in the country with 209 millimetres, followed by Narowal with 151 mm. Jhelum and Sialkot Airport received 101 mm each, while Sialkot City recorded 77 mm. Rainfall was measured at 94 mm in Mandi Bahauddin, 90 mm in Mangla, 76 mm in Gujrat, 75 mm in Murree and 73 mm in Hafizabad.

Attock received 48 mm, Lahore Airport 41 mm and Lahore City 18 mm, while Jhang recorded 35 mm. In Islamabad, Saidpur Village received 65 mm, Golra 33 mm, Zero Point and Bokra 29 mm each and the Airport 22 mm. Rawalpindi recorded 35 mm at New Kattarian, 34 mm at Shamsabad, 26 mm at Pirwadhai, 25 mm at Gawalmandi, 22 mm at Katcheri and 9 mm at Chaklala. Other rainfall recorded in Punjab included Chakwal 27 mm, Okara and Bahawalnagar 23 mm each, Sahiwal 22 mm, Dera Ghazi Khan 16 mm, Faisalabad, Bhakkar and Kot Addu 10 mm each, Toba Tek Singh 4 mm, Karor (Layyah) 3 mm and Noorpur Thal 2 mm.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Cherat received the highest rainfall with 84 mm, followed by Peshawar City 74 mm and Peshawar Airport 58 mm. Takht Bhai recorded 64 mm, Kakul 43 mm, Balakot 28 mm, Lower Dir and Malam Jabba 25 mm each, Parachinar 14 mm, Kalam 6 mm, while Saidu Sharif and Dera Ismail Khan City and Airport recorded 2 mm each.

In Kashmir, Kotli received 51 mm of rainfall, followed by Garhi Dupatta with 48 mm, while Muzaffarabad Airport and Muzaffarabad City recorded 9 mm and 7 mm, respectively.

In Balochistan, Zhob received 32 mm of rainfall, while Astore in Gilgit-Baltistan recorded 3 mm.The highest maximum temperatures recorded on Tuesday were 47 degrees Celsius in Nokkundi and Dalbandin, followed by 45 degrees Celsius in Sibbi.

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the case involving human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari, observing that the parties may file an application for an early hearing if any emergency arises.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard the matter. During the proceedings, the Additional Attorney General informed the court that the identical case has already been fixed for hearing before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on July 24.

Counsel for Imaan Mazari, Faisal Siddiqi, argued that the High Court fixed the matter because it was sub judice before the Supreme Court. He noted that the previous hearing was adjourned upon the prosecution’s request and urged the bench to either hear arguments on the maintainability of the petition or adjourn the case for two weeks.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that the Supreme Court cannot sit and regulate the proceedings of the High Court. In response, Faisal Siddiqi argued that the Supreme Court has frequently issued directives to High Courts in various cases.

Justice Mazhar clarified that there is a distinct difference between regulating proceedings and issuing general orders, adding that adjourning the case in such a manner would amount to exercising oversight over the High Court’s proceedings.

The Additional Attorney General contended that the petitioners wanted the High Court proceedings to run under the supervision of the Supreme Court, prompting Faisal Siddiqi to remark that the case should then be allowed to proceed in the High Court.

After hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing, directing that the counsel may file an application for an early hearing in the event of any urgent situation.

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to decide a petitioner’s representation before announcing the results of its ongoing recruitment process. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued the directions while hearing a petition filed by Yasir Arafat.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Afrasiab Ahmad Rana Advocate, argued that the recruitment test included questions that were outside the prescribed syllabus. He informed the court that the petitioner had submitted representations to the FIA on July 16 and 17, but no decision had been taken.

The court disposed of the petition with directions to the FIA to decide the petitioner’s representations before declaring the recruitment results. In the written order issued later, the court clarified that it had made no observations on the merits of the case.

The court further directed the FIA to provide the petitioner an opportunity of being heard and pass a detailed, reasoned order on his representations before proceeding with the recruitment results.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb discussed Honeywell Technologies’ proposed investment in modernizing and expanding Pakistan’s refinery sector.

In a meeting with Honeywell Technologies delegation, led by its Vice President and General Manager, Barry Glickman, in Washington, D.C, the minister welcomed Honeywell’s proposed modernization and expansion of Pakistan’s refinery sector, noting its potential to enhance the country’s domestic refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.

According to press release issued by finance ministry here Tuesday, the meeting included discussions on Honeywell’s technology and equipment solutions, as well as potential financing through the U.S. EXIM Bank, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), export credit agencies, and leading international banks.

The minister emphasized that the proposed initiative would support Pakistan’s energy security, industrial development, and sustainable economic growth, the statement added.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, on Tuesday held a virtual meeting with international banking consortiums, marking the commencement of the government’s strategic partnership under Pakistan’s Global Medium-Term Note (GMTN) and International Sukuk programmes.

‘Following an evaluation process conducted in accordance with the criteria and procedures prescribed in the Requests for Proposals (RFPs), the government of Pakistan has successfully concluded the competitive procurement process for the appointment of consortiums of international banks under its Global Medium-Term Note (GMTN) Program and International Sukuk Program,’ said a press release issued by finance ministry here.

The government also announced the selection of international financial institutions for the consortiums managing Pakistan’s external financing programmes.

These include, the Eurobonds consortium which comprises Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank N.A., Deutsche Bank AG, Emirates NBD Capital and MUFG Securities Asia Limited while the International Sukuks consortium includes Standard Chartered Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC, Citibank N.A., Emirates NBD Capital and Mashreq Bank PSC, while the consortium for PKR-denominated USD-settled bonds consists of Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG.

The consortiums have been appointed for a period of three years and will support Pakistan’s sovereign capital market issuances across both conventional and Islamic financing instruments.

Upon completion of the required documentation and fulfillment of all applicable formalities, the government intends to utilize these structures for frequent issuances, as and when required, in line with its financing strategy.

This selection is not a one-off event, but rather part of a structured and ongoing process aimed at establishing a stable, diversified, and sustainable external financing framework for Pakistan. The first-time inclusion of MUFG Securities Asia Limited and Mashreq Bank further broadens Pakistan’s engagement with leading international financial institutions.

Pakistan’s re-engagement with international capital markets is supported by the country’s improving macroeconomic environment, the press statement added.

It said, sustained fiscal consolidation, the rebuilding of external buffers, strengthening debt sustainability indicators, and the continued implementation of structural reforms have collectively reinforced investor confidence and reinforced Pakistan’s economic credibility.

The positive reassessment of Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic outlook is also evident from the significant compression in sovereign credit spreads, with market pricing increasingly reflecting stronger underlying credit fundamentals and confidence in the country’s reform trajectory.

The government’s objective extends beyond raising financing to developing a diversified, market-oriented funding platform that broadens the investor base, optimizes financing costs, and strengthens Pakistan’s long-term presence in international capital markets.

‘The Government of Pakistan welcomes the selected consortium banks and looks forward to working closely with them in supporting the successful execution of Pakistan’s sovereign capital market transactions,’ it added.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has invited Chinese investors to expand investment in Pakistan’s ports, logistics and maritime sectors, saying the government was committed to transforming the country into a regional transit trade, logistics and industrial hub.

Addressing the Regional Transit Trade Hub Initiative in Beijing, organised by Jiang Tonland International Holdings, the minister said Pakistan and China shared an “All-Weather Strategic Partnership” that was entering a new phase centered on connectivity, trade facilitation, logistics, industrial development and sustainable economic growth.

He said the global trading system was being reshaped by digitalization, smart logistics, resilient supply chains, green shipping and multimodal transport, making stronger regional partnerships and innovation increasingly important, said a press release issued here on Tuesday.

Junaid Chaudhry said Pakistan’s strategic location positioned it as a natural gateway for regional and international trade. He said maritime institutions, including the Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim Authority, Gwadar Port Authority and the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, were implementing reforms to develop the country into a modern maritime, logistics and industrial hub serving regional markets.

He said the Regional Transit Trade Hub initiative complemented Pakistan’s economic priorities and offered opportunities for cooperation in port modernization, multimodal transport corridors, logistics parks, industrial infrastructure, maritime services, digital trade facilitation and value-added logistics.

Describing Gwadar Port as a flagship project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the minister said it offered investment opportunities in port operations, logistics, warehousing, free zone development and maritime industries.

He invited Chinese enterprises to invest in these sectors and assured them that Pakistan would continue to provide a transparent and investment-friendly environment while facilitating long-term partnerships beneficial to both countries.

The minister also thanked Jiang Tonland International Holdings for bringing together government representatives and business leaders to promote regional connectivity and economic cooperation.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with China, Junaid Chaudhry called for closer cooperation to build a more connected, resilient and prosperous future through enhanced trade and investment.