Intermittent moderate to heavy rain started in parts of Karachi, as the fresh monsoon spell kicked in. The provincial education department has shut down the government and private schools on Wednesday (today) and Thursday (tomorrow) in view of weather forecasts. The Karachi university and intermediate board postponed exams.

Rainfall was also reported in twin cities, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Heavy rain continues to pummel Sindh and Balochistan. The death toll in both provinces has reached 460. Sanghar, Golarachi, Badin and low-lying areas on the coastal strip have been inundated amid more rain forecasts. The rail service from Quetta to intercity was still closed.

The change of weather has postponed the second stage of local government elections in Sindh. The Election Commission of Pakistan has postponed polls in Hyderabad, Matiari district, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Jamshoro, Dadu, Badin, Sajawal and Thatta. The commission in its meeting today (Wednesday) would review organising LB elections only in Karachi.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who cancelled his foreign trip because of heavy rains, has urged the people to help the flood affected people during his visit to flood-hit areas of Sindh. He advised the media to focus on the prevailing weather situation as the “political drama” would continue.

At least two people died due to the coronavirus over the last 24 hours, the National Institute of Health said. The Covid positivity ratio stood at 1.76%.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the government has ended the fixed tax system for traders, around 1.71 million consumers would not have to pay additional fuel adjustment charges. He reiterated that Pakistan was not going to default, adding that the government would soon control inflation.

PM Shehbaz pitched Pakistan to investors during a visit to Qatar on Tuesday. He added that investment opportunities were available in various sectors, including tourism, IT, food protection and energy.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that former prime minister Imran Khan would be arrested. He added that accused PTI leader Shahbaz Gill had admitted to giving a statement (on ARY News) by reading the script. Sanaullah alleged that perhaps Gill would have made contacts in India through the “recovered” satellite phone six months ago.

PTI chief Imran Khan has said he would not bow to the pressure, reiterating his demand for early elections while presiding over the party’s consultative meeting.

At least 18 social media accounts from “India” were involved in propaganda and hate speech against the army in the wake of the Lasbela helicopter crash, revealed a report presented to the interior ministry. The six-member inquiry committee gave a clean chit to political parties.

The Islamabad High Court has issued a show cause notice to PTI chief Imran Khan and summoned him in his personal capacity on August 31 in a case pertaining to the “contempt” of court following Saturday rally speech. PTI chief is accused of giving threats to Islamabad police heads and a female magistrate.

Another case was registered against Imran and many leaders of his party for allegedly violating Section 144 (which prohibits public gatherings of five or more people, processions, rallies in any public place within the limits of the area where the law has been imposed) during Saturday rally.

The Indian Air Force said on Tuesday the government had sacked three officers for accidentally firing a missile into Pakistan in March, an incident that the two nuclear-armed rivals handled calmly as there were no casualties.

Malaysia’s top court ordered former prime minister Najib Razak to begin a 12-year prison sentence on Tuesday after upholding a guilty conviction on charges related to a multi-billion dollar graft scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

With Ukraine set to mark its independence from Soviet rule in 1991 and six months since Russian forces invaded, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned of the risk of “brutal strikes” by Russia and said any attack would provoke a powerful response.