Month: July 2026

Islamabad: Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Wednesday released 284,600 cusecs of water from various rim stations with an inflow of 386,900 cusecs.

According to the data released by IRSA, the water level in the River Indus at Tarbela Dam stood at 1488.04 feet, which was 86.04 feet higher than the dead level of 1402.00 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam were recorded as 238,800 cusecs and 156,300 cusecs, respectively.

The water level in the Jhelum River at Mangla Dam was 1167.70 feet, which was 117.70 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water were recorded as 31,800 cusecs and 12,000 cusecs, respectively.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 223,700, 176,800, 112,800, and 50,000 cusecs, respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 48,500 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera, and 37,900 cusecs were released from River Chenab at Marala.

Islamabad: The Islamabad Excise and Taxation Department collected more than Rs 25.43 billion during the financial year 2025-26, exceeding its assigned revenue target and setting a new record for the department.

The revenue included Rs19.13 billion collected under excise taxes and over Rs 6.30 billion recovered on behalf of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Talking to reporter, Director Excise, Bilal Azam said that the achievement came in line with the directions of the Chief Commissioner Islamabad and the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad. The department reported strong collections across several categories, including vehicle registration fees, road taxes, hotel taxes, professional taxes, and other revenue streams.

The total collection of Rs 25.43 billion marks one of the highest revenue performances in the department’s history, he added. He stated that the department not only met its target but also surpassed it through improved tax collection measures and wider public participation.

Bilal Azam attributed the increase in revenue to better monitoring, the use of digital systems, improved service delivery, and stronger enforcement of tax regulations. The introduction of technology-based services helped simplify procedures for citizens and improved overall efficiency in revenue collection.

The department also highlighted efforts to expand the tax base and strengthen recovery mechanisms. The Director said that digitalization initiatives enabled taxpayers to access services more easily while improving transparency in departmental operations.

Director Excise and Taxation Islamabad, Bilal Azam, said the department remains committed to providing modern services to citizens and further improving public access to tax-related facilities. He noted that the growing use of technology and citizen-focused initiatives has contributed to greater public trust in the department.

According to the department, increased public confidence played a significant role in achieving the record revenue collection during the fiscal year. Officials added that continuous improvements in service delivery encouraged more taxpayers to fulfill their obligations through official channels.

The department has urged citizens to pay all taxes and vehicle-related dues on time and obtain services only through authorized government platforms. Officials said public cooperation is essential for maintaining an effective and transparent taxation system.

The department also announced that citizens can receive a 10 percent discount on token tax payments made through the PAK AAP application during July 2026. Authorities encouraged taxpayers to use digital platforms to benefit from the concession and complete payments without visiting offices.

Officials reaffirmed their commitment to expanding online services and introducing further improvements aimed at making tax payments and related services more accessible for residents of the federal capital.

Islamabad: Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and constitutional and international law expert Hafiz Ehsan Ahmad Khokhar has said that comprehensive, constitutional and technology-driven reforms to Pakistan’s justice system have become an urgent national necessity, as timely, transparent and effective justice is essential for upholding the Constitution, strengthening public confidence, ensuring economic stability and attracting investment.

In an interview with the Associated Press of Pakistan Khokhar said that while Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees protection under the law, fair trial, equality and access to justice, the judicial system continues to face serious challenges due to millions of pending cases, prolonged litigation and administrative shortcomings that delay the delivery of justice.

He said judicial independence remained one of Pakistan’s most important constitutional assets, but added that independence alone was not sufficient. It must be complemented by modern judicial administration, effective case management, digital technology, transparency and institutional accountability to further strengthen public trust in the justice system.

Khokhar described the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCCP) as a significant constitutional development in Pakistan’s judicial structure. However, he said the institution would achieve its full potential only if accompanied by reforms in judicial administration, case management, digital transformation and transparent judicial appointments.

He proposed the establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled National Judicial Case Management System for courts across the country, under which every case would receive a unique digital identity from filing to final adjudication. Such a system, he said, would facilitate case monitoring, record transfer, automated scheduling, judicial statistics and public access to case information online.

He further suggested nationwide implementation of e-filing, virtual hearings, digital records, online certified copies, electronic notices, AI-assisted legal research and advanced case management tools to improve judicial efficiency.

To address the growing backlog of cases, Khokhar proposed extending court working hours in major cities and considering a six-day working week for courts. He stressed, however, that such measures must be accompanied by an increase in the number of judges, court staff, research support and modern facilities to ensure that the quality of justice was not compromised.

He said merit, integrity, constitutional insight, legal competence and administrative ability should remain the guiding principles for judicial appointments, noting that public confidence in the judiciary depended on a transparent and credible appointment process.

Khokhar said the legal fraternity also had a vital role to play in judicial reforms. He urged the Pakistan Bar Council and provincial bar councils to strengthen their codes of professional conduct by discouraging unnecessary adjournments and promoting responsible advocacy.

He also recommended setting reasonable timelines and disposal targets for family, commercial, tax, constitutional and criminal cases, while expanding the use of mediation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms to reduce the burden on courts.

The legal expert called for a national dialogue involving the judiciary, Parliament, the government, the Pakistan Bar Council, provincial bar councils, universities, the business community, civil society and technology experts to develop a comprehensive, practical and constitutionally compliant roadmap for judicial reforms.

He said Pakistan possessed a strong constitutional foundation, a capable legal workforce and adequate institutional capacity. What was needed, he added, was collective political will, modern technology and effective policymaking to build a judicial system capable of delivering timely, affordable and quality justice.

Khokhar emphasized that judicial reforms were not merely about reducing the backlog of cases but were indispensable for restoring public confidence in the justice system, safeguarding fundamental rights, strengthening the rule of law, promoting democratic stability, accelerating economic growth and encouraging both domestic and foreign investment.

Islamabad: Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police have launched an investigation after the body of an unidentified teenage boy was recovered from Shahdara Nullah in the jurisdiction of Bhara Kahu Police Station on Wednesday, with initial evidence suggesting he may have drowned.

An official told reporter that at around 8: 10 a.m., a local resident, identified as Haji, informed Bhara Kahu Police that a body was lying in Shahdara Nullah near Janjua Town. A police team immediately reached the scene, secured the area and started collecting evidence.

The official said the deceased appeared to be between 16 and 17 years of age and had not yet been identified.

According to the official, the victim’s clothes were found near the nullah, indicating that he might have entered the water for bathing before apparently drowning. However, the exact cause of death would be determined only after the post-mortem examination and completion of the investigation.

The body was shifted to the hospital for medico-legal formalities, while police launched efforts to establish the identity of the deceased by contacting residents of nearby areas and examining available evidence.

The official said investigators were probing all possible angles to determine whether the incident was an accidental drowning or if any foul play was involved.

He appealed to the public to contact Bhara Kahu Police Station immediately if they had any information that could help identify the deceased teenager or assist police in the investigation.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) have successfully located and recovered the wreckage of a K2 Airways cargo Boeing 737 after a 12-hour search and rescue operation in the deep sea.

The wreckage of the missing aircraft was found approximately 53 nautical miles south of the Ormara coast, according to a statement posted by the Pakistan Airports Authority on X.

Islamabad: A two-day national seminar on Nature-based Solutions (NbS), organised by WWF Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), began in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The event brought together senior government officials, humanitarian organisations, development partners, academics, civil society representatives and private sector leaders to identify practical pathways for scaling up Nature based Solutions across Pakistan.

The seminar is aimed at strengthening partnerships and integrating NbS into climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development efforts.

Addressing the inaugural session as chief guest, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Amir Mohyuddin said Pakistan’s flood patterns are changing, with monsoon systems shifting westwards and disasters increasingly occurring in the form of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and urban flooding.

He said healthy forests, wetlands, rangelands and protected areas are vital for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.

Mr Amir appreciated the efforts of WWF Pakistan and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society in promoting innovative Nature based Solutions across the country.

WWF Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan said the organisation has developed and expanded a range of Nature based Solutions, including floating treatment wetlands, gabion bunds, check dams and recharge wells, to improve water security, reduce flood risks, restore ecosystems and strengthen climate resilience.

He said that under the Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP) project, WWF Pakistan has implemented more than 320 Nature based Solutions interventions across 16 districts of Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab during the past five years.

He said the project has benefited more than 500,000 people. Building on these achievements, WWF Pakistan is preparing to implement the Recharge Pakistan initiative across the Indus Basin.

He said the project will directly benefit more than 680,000 people and strengthen the climate resilience of over seven million people.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society Chairperson Farzhana Naek said scaling up Nature based Solutions requires stronger institutional coordination, supportive policy frameworks, sustainable financing and meaningful engagement of local communities.

She reaffirmed the need for stronger partnerships among government institutions, humanitarian organisations, academia, civil society organisations and the private sector to accelerate implementation across the country.

During technical and panel discussions, participants reviewed successful Nature based Solutions initiatives from different parts of Pakistan.

They also discussed policy reforms, financing mechanisms, innovation and cross-sector collaboration needed to expand climate-resilient development and scale up Nature based Solutions nationwide.