Overview
- The Pakistan Meteorological Department rejected viral posts predicting an unprecedented Jan. 16–25 cold wave, urging reliance on official forecasts as PDMA Punjab’s cold and smog advisories remain in effect.
- In a smog-related case, the Lahore High Court ordered restoration of Lahore’s Nasir Bagh under PHA supervision and barred tree pruning without the DG’s approval, seeking a compliance report at the next hearing.
- An Interior Ministry committee reviewed the preliminary report on the Islamabad G‑7/2 wedding‑house gas blast that killed eight and injured 11, with a final briefing due to the prime minister within 48 hours.
- NEPRA continued hearings on a federal plan for a uniform power tariff, with officials flagging cuts for industrial, agricultural, commercial and other categories; a decision is pending and new rates could take effect Jan. 15.
- Political friction intensified after an ordinance issued without the president’s signature was withdrawn following PPP protest, while PTI’s Barrister Gohar announced a nationwide shutdown on Feb. 8 and Sindh’s Nasser Shah urged the party to call it off.