Author: Moin Ullah Shah

By Moin Ullah Shah KARACHI: Security has been tightened across Karachi and other parts of Sindh to maintain law and order during New Year celebrations, with Pakistan Rangers appealing to the public for cooperation. According to Rangers officials, biometric verification of suspected individuals is under way at city entry and exit points as well as interprovincial check posts, in an effort to prevent any untoward incidents and respond swiftly to potential threats. A large contingent of Rangers personnel has been deployed for patrols and security duties in Karachi and across various districts of Sindh. Authorities have also imposed a complete…

By Moin Ullah Shah KARACHI: Karachi’s immigration authorities detained a passenger at the city’s international airport on allegations of illegal fundraising and misuse of a travel visa, officials confirmed. Aman Ali, a resident of Hyderabad, was stopped while preparing to board a flight to Malaysia, prompting a search of his belongings and mobile devices. During routine immigration checks, officials said they discovered evidence suggesting that Ali had been using his travel for purposes other than tourism or legitimate business. Authorities recovered videos, chat records, and sworn affidavits on his phone, which they said pointed to an unlawful fundraising campaign carried…

By Moin Ullah Shah KARACHI: Karachi’s civic authorities have completed a citywide survey and finalised comprehensive plans to repair and restore more than 550 deteriorating roads, as officials seek to improve traffic flow, public safety and urban appearance through coordinated action among multiple agencies. The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Karachi commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, where ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects were reviewed. Under the plan, 106 major roads under the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) will be repaired, while 453 internal roads falling within the jurisdiction of town administrations will be restored. Officials told the meeting that…

Balochistan girl detained en route to Karachi in CTD sweep, authorities say swift action averted a looming terror threat By Moin Ullah Shah KARACHI: A minor girl detained by Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has said she was groomed by militants and prepared for a suicide attack, as authorities said a major attack in Karachi was thwarted in time. According to the CTD, the girl was arrested during snap checking while travelling by bus from Balochistan to Karachi. Officials said the timely operation prevented a planned act of terrorism in the city. During questioning, investigators uncovered evidence that banned militant…

By Moin Ullah Shah KARACHI: Malir Cantt police have arrested 13 individuals involved in illegal gambling activities following a tip-off. The operation, conducted in the Bhitaiabad area, led to the seizure of gambling slips, tokens, and cash amounting to PKR 17,980 used for betting. The arrested suspects have been identified as Fayyaz, Abdullah, Rashid, Zubair, Shahid, Saddam, Shahid Jamali, Muhammad Ali, Shehzad, Prem, Khadim, Nasir, and Rafiq. Police stated that the suspects were found engaged in illegal gambling at a secret compound, and four of them had previously been arrested and jailed for similar offences. A case has been registered…

By Moin Ullah Shah KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to carry out a comprehensive survey of historic and heritage buildings across the province, officials said on Monday. The decision was taken at a meeting of the cultural heritage consultative committee chaired by the chief secretary of Sindh, Asif Haider Shah. The meeting was attended by the secretaries for culture and for works and services, the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority, and the director general of the department of archaeology. Committee member Hamid Haroon, noted archaeologist Dr Kaleemullah Lashari and architectural consultant Suhail Ahmed Kalhoro were also…

By Moin Ullah Shah KARACHI: Pakistan witnessed a historic rise in gold prices this year, with the per-tola rate reaching a record Rs470,000 by December, marking an increase of Rs190,000 since January 2025, when it was Rs280,000. The surge was driven by the US dollar’s strong performance and rising global gold prices, although the relative stability of the Pakistani rupee helped moderate the increase. Similarly, the price of 10 grams of gold rose by Rs162,895, closing the year at Rs402,949. Globally, gold traded at USD2,622 per ounce in January 2025, rising by USD1,835 to USD4,457 per ounce by the end…

By Moin Ullah Shah KARACHI: Commissioner of Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi has taken action against professional beggars operating at busy intersections and markets across the city. Following his directives, Deputy Commissioner East Nasrullah Abbasi and Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso launched coordinated operations in their districts, reporting the results directly to the commissioner. The operations, carried out on Saturday with the support of local police, saw Assistant Commissioner Gulraz e Hajri Irfan Nizamani leading the East district effort, while Assistant Commissioners Ahmed Murtaza and Rana Sofiyan managed the South district. According to official reports, a total of 84 beggars…

By Moin Ullah Shah KARACHI: Police in Karachi have intercepted a major drug shipment, seizing 96 kilograms of cannabis with an estimated value of more than Rs14.4m and arresting two suspects. Acting on intelligence, Keamari district police carried out a raid in the Sher Shah area, foiling what officials described as a large narcotics consignment intended for distribution in the city and other parts of Sindh. Senior superintendent of police Keamari, Amjad Ahmed Sheikh, said the drugs were recovered from a Toyota Hilux near the Lyari Expressway interchange. The two suspects, identified as Amjad and Naseer, were taken into custody…

By Moin Ullah Shah KRACHI: Former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Shamshad Akhtar, has passed away due to cardiac arrest. She was the first woman to hold the position of Governor at the central bank. Shamshad Akhtar assumed office as the 14th Governor of the State Bank on 2 January 2006. Her funeral prayers are scheduled to be held tomorrow after Zuhr in Karachi. Born in Hyderabad, Akhtar received her early education in Karachi and Islamabad. She earned a BA in Economics from Punjab University in 1974 and an MSc in Economics from Quaid-i-Azam University. She later completed…