ISLAMABAD – The federal government has announced public holidays on June 25 and 26, 2026, on account of 9th and 10th Muharram-ul-Haram (Ashura), during which all government offices across the country will remain closed.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the two-day holiday, following which the Cabinet Division issued a formal notification confirming the closure of public offices operating under both five-day and six-day work schedules.

The holidays will fall on Thursday and Friday, marking the observance of Ashura nationwide.

According to the notification, the decision has been taken in line with annual observances of Muharram, during which religious gatherings, processions and majalis are held across the country.

Authorities are finalising administrative and security arrangements to ensure law and order during the period, particularly in view of large processions and congregations in major cities and towns.

Ashura, observed on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, holds significant religious importance for Muslims and is commemorated every year in Pakistan with mourning processions and religious gatherings.

The notification confirms that the public holidays correspond to 9th and 10th Muharram 1448 Hijri.

ISLAMABAD – A moderate earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale was felt in Islamabad and several cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Monday, prompting residents to leave their homes and offices in panic.

According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the earthquake originated in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region and occurred at a depth of 215 kilometres.

Tremors were reported in Islamabad, Peshawar, Buner, Bajaur, Faisalabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Khushab, Battagram, Mansehra, Swat, and Abbottabad, among other areas.

Residents in several cities rushed outdoors and recited prayers as the tremors were felt.

Authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.

The latest earthquake comes days after similar tremors were recorded in various parts of the country, reflecting the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity due to its proximity to major tectonic fault lines.

Pakistan frequently experiences earthquakes, particularly in its northern and western regions, which lie along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Lahore – Islamabad Police has inducted a large fleet of RIDDARA electric pickup trucks, supplied by Capital Smart Motors (CSM), in a move officials are calling a landmark step for sustainable mobility in Pakistan’s public sector promoting BEVs as per the Government’s vision.

The handover took place at the Islamabad Police facility, with a large number of RIDDARA units joining the police fleet, among the first large scale inductions of all electric pickups into law enforcement in the country.

The shift away from conventional fuel vehicles is aimed at supporting cleaner, more efficient patrol and operational duties.

The move reflects the shared vision of Capital Smart Motors to bring electric mobility into Pakistan’s institutional and public sector fleets, not just the private passenger market. Vice Chairman Jahanzaib Zahid has voiced sustainable, future ready investment, to drive a broader push towards energy efficient transport solutions.

Under CEO Imran Zahid, Capital Smart Motors has expanded its EV portfolio significantly, bringing multiple international electric brands into Pakistan. The RIDDARA rollout to Islamabad Police reflects his continued focus on practical, fleet ready BEV solutions for institutional and government clients.

Capital Smart Motors COO Abid S. Usmani has also played a key role in this push, with his leadership focused on ensuring CSM’s EV offerings are dependable and fleet ready for institutional clients, including law enforcement and, potentially, the armed forces in future phases while the company is fast developing its local manufacturing facilities.

Industry watchers say public sector adoption, especially by police and security agencies, plays a key role in building national confidence in electric vehicles. As Pakistan moves further into its BEV transition, the RIDDARA induction marks a tangible step forward, linking corporate vision with the country’s wider sustainability goals.