At least 18 killed as fire erupts in passenger bus in Pakistan’s Punjab 

In this photo released by the Rescue 1122 Emergency Department, rescue workers examine a burnt bus at the accident site on a highway in Pindi Bhattian, Pakistan, on August 20, 2023. (Photo courtesy: AP)
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Updated 20 August 2023
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At least 18 killed as fire erupts in passenger bus in Pakistan’s Punjab 

  • The bus was en route to Islamabad from Karachi when it caught fire due to a short-circuit 
  • Pakistan has poor road safety controls and thousands of lives are lost to crashes each year

ISLAMABAD: At least 18 passengers were killed after a fire erupted in a bus on M-4 Motorway in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, Motorway Police said on Sunday. 

The bus was en route to Islamabad from Karachi when it caught fire at a distance of 7 kilometers from Pindi Bhattian, according to the Motorway Police. 

“The fire broke out due to a short-circuit,” a spokesman for the Motorway Police said in a statement. “Fifteen others were injured in the mishap.” 

The bodies and the wounded passengers were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Pindi Bhattian. 

The South Asian country has poor road safety controls and thousands of lives are lost to road crashes each year, particularly in the southwestern Balochistan province. 

Earlier this month, a Portuguese tourist was killed when a speeding pick-up truck hit his motorbike near Dalbandin in the southwestern Chagai district, a day after he had entered Pakistan from the Pakistan-Iran border. 

Also in August, seven people from the same family were killed and six others injured after a passenger van collided with a truck in Layyah district of Punjab. 

 


Nine Pakistani firms showcase auto components at Automechanika Dubai 2025

Updated 09 December 2025
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Nine Pakistani firms showcase auto components at Automechanika Dubai 2025

  • Pakistan to present automotive parts, engineering goods, hybrid-tech capabilities to global buyers
  • Expo expected to draw 50,000 visitors and 2,400 exhibitors from over 60 countries, Consulate says

ISLAMABAD: Nine Pakistani companies are exhibiting automotive parts and engineering products at Automechanika Dubai 2025, one of the world’s largest auto-sector trade events, the Pakistani Consulate in Dubai said on Tuesday.

The three-day expo, being held from Dec. 9–11 at the Dubai World Trade Center, is expected to draw more than 50,000 buyers and 2,400 exhibitors from 60 countries, showcasing parts, components, lubricants, batteries, radiators, electronics, diagnostics tools, lighting, accessories, paint and body systems, as well as electric and hybrid vehicle technology.

Pakistan’s automotive and engineering sector contributes to manufacturing, employment and exports, with companies increasingly targeting Middle East and African markets for sourcing and aftermarket supply.

“Nine Pakistani companies facilitated by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) are exhibiting their products to highlight Pakistan’s strengths in automotive parts, engineering goods and related industries,” the Consulate said. 

Pakistan’s Consul General in Dubai Hussain Muhammad inaugurated the country pavilion and said participation at Automechanika reflects Islamabad’s intent to position its manufacturers in global supply chains and expand access to high-value export markets. Trade and Investment Counselor Ali Zeb Khan also reaffirmed support for exporters seeking new business linkages.

In November, Pakistan also exhibited at Big 5 Global 2025, showcasing construction materials and technologies at what is considered the world’s largest construction industry gathering.