ISLAMABAD: Authorities have established 13 facilitation centers for tourists in the Pakistani hill station of Murree, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Sunday, amid continuing rain and snowfall in the resort town.
The development comes after the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) urged authorities to take precautionary measures and advised travelers to exercise caution while traveling to hilly areas, with cold weather and smog expected to grip several parts of the country this week.
The Punjab PDMA said on Sunday that rain and snowfall were likely to continue in Murree over the next 24 hours, which could affect the flow of traffic on roads in and around the resort town.
“The [Murree] administration must remain alert and there should be no negligence,” Punjab PDMA Director-General Irfan Ali Kathia said in a statement.
“Snow should be cleared from roads through heavy machinery and the flow of traffic must be ensured.”
In Jan. 2022, 22 snow tourists died in their vehicles trapped by heavy snowfall and traffic snarl-ups in the resort town.
Kathia requested tourists to check the weather conditions before setting out on their journey and to exercise caution.
“Efforts are being made to ensure that no untoward incident occurs,” he added.
Authorities set up tourist facilitation centers amid snowfall in Pakistani resort town of Murree
https://arab.news/n4r27
Authorities set up tourist facilitation centers amid snowfall in Pakistani resort town of Murree
- Official advises citizens to take precautionary measures and avoid unnecessary travel
- In 2022, 22 people died in their vehicles trapped by heavy snowfall, snarl-ups in Murree
Police in Pakistan’s Karachi say 71 of 75 extortion cases traced as businesses complain of threats
- Builders told provincial authorities this week extortion calls were traced to numbers operating from abroad
- Police say 128 suspects were identified, with 91 arrested and six killed in encounters during investigations
ISLAMABAD: Police in Karachi said on Saturday they traced 71 of 75 confirmed extortion cases this year, arresting 91 suspects and killing six in encounters, amid complaints from businesses about rising threats in Pakistan’s commercial hub.
The disclosure follows recent complaints by builders and developers who told provincial authorities that extortion demands had increased in Karachi, with some calls traced to numbers operating from abroad, prompting assurances of tougher enforcement by the Sindh government.
“In 2025, a total of 171 extortion cases were registered, of which 75 were confirmed as genuine extortion,” police said in a statement. “Of these 75 cases, 71 were traced, representing a 95 percent trace rate.”
According to the report released by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Karachi, the remaining 96 cases initially registered as extortion were later found to be linked to financial disputes, land and plot conflicts, personal matters, fights and other non-extortion-related disagreements.
Police said 128 suspects were identified in the confirmed extortion cases. Of these, six were killed in encounters with the SIU, while 14 others were arrested in injured condition during operations.
A total of 91 suspects were arrested over the course of the year, the statement said, adding that crackdowns against extortion would continue.
Karachi, Pakistan’s largest and most populous city, is the country’s financial and commercial capital, accounting for a significant share of national revenue, trade and industrial activity.
The city has long struggled with crime, political violence and organized criminal networks, with members of the business community repeatedly warning that extortion poses a persistent threat to investment and economic stability.
