The helicopters were hired for 17 days, from August 28 to September 13, 2025, as the province dealt with the flood emergency.

However, the payment and subsequent regularization of the expenditure have raised several procedural and financial questions from government departments.

Finance Department Questions Delayed Payment Process

The Punjab Finance Department questioned why the process to regularize and clear the payment was initiated eight months after the helicopter services had already been provided.

According to the available record, there was no clear explanation for the delay.

The department also raised concerns about the verification of the helicopter’s flying hours. It noted that the government record did not include independent verification of the flying logs to confirm the actual number of hours for which the provincial government was billed.

Concerns Over Helicopter Service Rates

Questions were also raised regarding the rates charged by the private company.

The Finance Department observed that there was no independent assessment available to establish whether the rates were reasonable and consistent with prevailing market prices.

For emergency services, determining whether the quoted rates reflect market conditions is particularly important because direct contracting may be used without the same competitive process normally required for government procurement.

PPRA Highlights Emergency Procurement Requirements

The Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) acknowledged that direct contracting can be permitted during emergency situations.

However, it emphasized that the relevant legal provisions must be clearly identified and properly followed.

PPRA also stressed the importance of market research and analysis before determining the rates for emergency services. This would help establish whether the amount being claimed is reasonable and justified.

Tax Implications Also Under Review

The documents also highlight concerns regarding potential tax liabilities.

The Finance Department noted that applicable taxes and other tax implications had not been adequately addressed during the processing of the payment.

As a result, the government will need to examine whether all relevant tax obligations were properly considered before the Rs. 160.3 million payment is finalized.

Rs. 72.23 Billion Already Released for Flood Operations

The Punjab Finance Department had already released approximately Rs. 72.23 billion for flood rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities.

Despite the availability of substantial funds for the emergency response, questions remain over the procedure followed to hire the helicopters and the subsequent process used to regularize the expenditure.

The issue is therefore not simply about the availability of funds, but also about whether the procurement, verification and payment procedures were properly followed.

Punjab Chief Secretary Defends Emergency Hiring

The Punjab Chief Secretary maintained that the helicopters were hired under emergency circumstances and stated that payment for the services is the responsibility of the provincial government.

The government is now expected to examine the outstanding issues before the Rs. 160.3 million payment is processed.

Key areas under review include the eight-month delay in regularization, independent verification of flying hours, assessment of market-based rates and applicable tax obligations.

The case highlights the financial and procedural challenges governments can face when making urgent procurement decisions during major natural disasters, where immediate response is essential but proper documentation and accountability remain equally important.

Al Jazeera’s English-language website became inaccessible to many users across Pakistan on Monday, a day after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting publicly accused the Qatar-based news network of biased coverage of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections.

The website could not be accessed through multiple internet connections in Pakistan, including desktop browsers such as Chrome and Firefox, as well as mobile internet services. Several users also reported experiencing similar issues on social media.

At the time of publication, neither the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) nor Al Jazeera had issued a public statement confirming the cause of the disruption or whether any official restriction had been imposed.

The apparent outage follows criticism from Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which on August 2 accused Al Jazeera of “selective reporting” during coverage of polling stations in Muzaffarabad amid the AJK elections.

In a post published on its official X account, the ministry alleged that the broadcaster relied on “carefully chosen timings and scripted statements from selected individuals” to present what it described as a misleading portrayal of the electoral process. The ministry further labeled the coverage as “yellow journalism” and claimed it aligned with the interests of external actors seeking to undermine the credibility of the elections.

Despite the timing of the website’s inaccessibility, no government authority has publicly confirmed that Al Jazeera has been blocked in Pakistan. The exact cause of the disruption remains unknown, and it could not be independently verified whether the issue affected all internet service providers nationwide or was limited to specific networks.

As of publication, Al Jazeera’s website remained inaccessible through several internet connections tested in Pakistan, including desktop and mobile networks. The cause and geographic scope of the disruption have not been independently established.

Where the Sialkot manufactured football meets the stars

Can you imagine a football floating inside a space station? Well, that’s exactly what happened — and the ball was made right here in Pakistan!

NASA recently sent a FIFA World Cup football to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a 2026 research experiment. The goal? To find out how a football behaves when there’s no gravity pulling it down. Pretty cool, right?

So, What Did NASA Actually Do Up There?

Inside the ISS, NASA engineers put the ball through its paces — in zero gravity. They studied things like:

• How the ball moves without gravity affecting it
• Its aerodynamics — basically, how air flows around it in space
• How tough the materials are in extreme conditions beyond Earth’s atmosphere

They then compared all of this with how the same ball performs right here on Earth. It’s a fascinating way to push the boundaries of both sports science and space research at the same time.

Wait — The Ball Was Made in Pakistan?

Yes, and that’s what makes this story even more special! The football was manufactured in Sialkot, a city in Pakistan that the whole world already knows as a powerhouse of sports equipment production. Sialkot-made footballs have been used in some of the biggest tournaments on the planet — and now, one has literally traveled to space.

This isn’t just a win for Pakistani manufacturers. It’s a proud moment for the entire country, showing that locally made products can play a role in cutting-edge international science.

Why Does This Matter?

This experiment is a beautiful reminder that innovation doesn’t always come from where you expect it. A football stitched together in a Pakistani factory ended up helping NASA scientists better understand materials science and sports engineering in microgravity.

It’s the kind of story that bridges worlds — quite literally. From the football fields of Earth to the corridors of the ISS, Pakistan just made its mark among the stars. ⭐

What do you think about Pakistan’s growing role in global innovation? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

This development marks another significant milestone in Munir’s career, following his recent elevation to Field Marshal — a distinction previously held only by General Ayub Khan.

A new role and the ongoing debate

The position of Chief of Defence Forces was introduced last month under new legislation that also grants Munir lifetime service in uniform and immunity from arrest. The decision has drawn criticism from the party of former prime minister Imran Khan, which contends that concentrating extensive authority in a single military office could weaken democratic checks and balances.

Government officials, however, maintain that the new structure will improve joint planning and help streamline decision-making across the armed forces.

Appointment process completed

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the summary recommending Munir’s appointment as both Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces was forwarded to President Asif Ali Zardari, who approved it shortly afterward.

“The appointment is for a five-year term,” the official statement said.