A joint IOM and UNHCR report says 517 Afghans were arrested in Chagai, Peshawar and Karachi between Oct 11 and 17. Undocumented Afghans and ACC holders made up 97pc of all arrests and detentions, and PoR holders made up 3pc. In the same week, 3,883 Afghans returned through the Torkham, Chaman and Bahramcha crossings, including 499 deportations. Returns fell 10pc and deportations fell 48pc from the previous week. Fear of arrest was the main reason for return, cited by 95pc of undocumented people and ACC holders and 68pc of PoR holders. Since Sept 15, 2023, about 2,744,068 Afghans have been sent back from Pakistan.

Pakistan has set an indicative wheat price of Rs4,500 per maund for 2027, up Rs1,000 from last year. That is about a 29 percent rise, against inflation of 10.3 percent. But a price on paper does not fill a farmer’s pocket. Farmers need government buying at the announced rate, payment on time and procurement centres close to their villages. Farmer groups say they need Rs5,000. Farmers can also raise their income with soil testing, certified seed, crop rotation, water saving and better storage. Families need protection too. A 20 kg flour bag averages Rs2,976 nationally, and costs Rs3,540 in Karachi. Relief should go to poor households, and hoarding must stop. Fair pay for farmers and affordable bread for families must go together. digdebate.com/wheat-price-20…

Can the Middle East achieve lasting prosperity while regional tensions continue to escalate? Dr.Ishtiaq Ahmed explains that Saudi Arabia is pursuing a vision centred on economic transformation, development, and regional stability. Yet, the region continues to face recurring crises, raising difficult questions about Israel’s regional policies and their implications for peace and security. Is the Middle East moving towards a future of cooperation and prosperity, or will regional rivalries continue to undermine its stability? @ahmadishtiaq

What if Pakistan’s greatest economic opportunity lies beneath its own mountains? Dr.Farrukh Saleem highlights that Pakistan is blessed with vast mineral resources, but the real wealth lies in how we use them. By exploring our mineral potential, investing in local industries, and transforming raw materials into finished products, we can create jobs, boost exports, attract investment, and build a stronger economy. From extracting valuable minerals to establishing processing plants and manufacturing industries, every step can unlock new opportunities for local communities and empower Pakistan’s youth with skills and employment. The vision is clear: Turn natural resources into industrial growth, economic opportunity, and prosperity for the people of Pakistan. @SaleemFarrukh

Pakistan has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on mourners attending a funeral at a church in Jordan’s Karak governorate. In a statement dated October 24, the Foreign Office expressed condolences to Jordan’s government, its people and the bereaved families, wished the injured a speedy recovery, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Jordan in combating terrorism. The attack took place on October 23 at Hamoud Church, a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan. Seven people were killed and dozens injured when gunmen opened fire during the funeral. Jordanian authorities described the attack as an act of terrorism, while investigations and the search for the attackers continued.

A van taking children to a madrasah fell more than 500 metres into a rocky ravine near Ghorray Nakkah Morr in Nagdar, Neelum Valley, around 8:30am on Saturday. The driver was negotiating a sharp bend about half a kilometre into the journey from Nagdar, which is roughly 22 kilometres from Athmuqam. Three children died at the scene and a fourth died later at the District Headquarters Hospital in Athmuqam. The injured were moved to Muzaffarabad in critical condition. Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq expressed grief and urged drivers to take care on mountain roads. Similar accidents occurred in April, when three people were killed in Maidan Nambatai, and on May 11, when four people died after a jeep fell into a streambed.

Foreign ministers of the R4 group (Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia) met their counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom in Istanbul on Oct 23. They discussed the US, Israel and Iran conflict, the Israeli and Palestinian conflict and the need for a negotiated two state solution, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el Mandeb and the Black Sea. In a joint statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Saturday, the ministers agreed on the “urgent need” to resolve conflicts through dialogue, diplomacy and easing tensions, in line with UN resolutions, and said they will keep meeting in this format. The R4 group formed in March and focuses on regional security and mediation between the US and Iran. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attended its sixth meeting a day earlier.

Is anti-Pakistan sentiment rooted in Afghanistan’s history, or reinforced through generations? Salman Javed explores the historical roots of Afghanistan–Pakistan tensions, arguing that resentment toward Pakistan runs deep in Afghan society and is reflected in the country’s educational curriculum. The discussion examines how historical grievances, national narratives, and perceptions of Pakistan may shape bilateral relations and influence the future of the two neighbours. Watch the full conversation to explore the history behind one of South Asia’s most complex relationships. @M_EssJay

Our youngsters are struggling in silence. Are we listening? Depression and emotional pressure are challenges many young people face today. How can we recognise their struggles, offer support, and help them navigate these challenges? Raja Zia ul Haq, Member of Youth Club shares insights on tackling depression among youngsters and the importance of understanding youth mental health. It's time to listen, understand, and break the silence. @ZiaulHaqRaja @youthclubpk

Muhammad Sadeq, an Afghan father, has fathered more than 70 children, 58 of whom are alive. His youngest is just three months old, and he says he can't remember all their names, mostly calling them "son" or "child." The family lives in mud houses with no proper doors or windows, only thin curtains. Paper is often burned for cooking because firewood is unaffordable, many children walk barefoot, and at times they go to bed hungry. Sadeq works at a car dealership and earns about $15 per car sold, which is the household's only income. He acknowledged that he has failed his family, and said he wouldn't have had so many children had he known they'd struggle for basic food. He also said all four of his wives married young, and that many children died in infancy from illnesses like tuberculosis, whooping cough and measles, which he linked to the mothers' youth and lack of childcare experience. Girls married as children are blamed for failing to raise children. The story contains no account from the women themselves. His story reflects a wider pattern. Child marriage remains widespread in Afghanistan, and UNICEF data from 2023 shows over four million women aged 20 to 24 were married before turning 18. The UN says three in four Afghans can't meet their basic needs. Doctors warn that marrying girls aged 12 to 14 is highly dangerous. Education bans add pressure. UN Women projected that by 2026 the bans on girls' secondary and university education would raise child marriage by 25%, adolescent childbearing by 45% and maternal mortality by at least 50%. Public opinion pushes the other way. A UN survey found 92% of Afghans consider girls' education important and oppose the bans. Sadeq's case is extreme, but the forces behind it are not: poverty, early marriage, and few options for girls. The question is what it takes to change them.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said Pakistan will continue its campaign against Indian-sponsored terrorist outfits “to the fullest” and “hit them hard wherever they are,” during a visit to Corps Headquarters Peshawar. He was briefed on the security situation, ongoing counter-terrorism operations, border management measures, and the operational preparedness of formations deployed in the province, and directed troops to maintain vigilance and the highest standards of readiness. Paying tribute to the Shuhada and Ghazis of the security forces, he said that with the support of the people, Pakistan will inflict total defeat on the terrorists and their perverted ideology. @OfficialDGISPR

Suraj Kushwah, a 27-year-old from Bareilly, created the free online game “Jantar Mantar Chalo” after watching the news and deciding to make something “out of sarcasm,” as he told the Press. A tech. enthusiast who works at a cloud gaming company, he built it with AI in about a day and a half. Players relive the Delhi protest scenes, including tear gas and water cannons. It isn’t the only game of its kind: “Jantar Mantar to Jail” lets players step into the shoes of Cockroach Janta Party members Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, dodging falling jail bars and police while collecting coins marked “Accountability” and “Democracy.” Another game features Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with players tapping him on the head as a satirical scoring exercise.