Tensions Rise: Punjab Freezes Government Leaves
With the ongoing tension between Pakistan and India, the Punjab government has suspended all types of leave for employees across government departments. The directive, issued by the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), states that no government officer or employee will be allowed to proceed on leave until further notice. The notification cited the “emergent situation” as the reason for this immediate action.
While the official order did not detail the specific cause of the emergency, the decision comes in the wake of escalating regional tensions. Late Monday night, reports emerged of an Indian air attack targeting urban areas within Pakistan. According to military sources, the Indian Air Force carried out strikes under the cover of darkness, aiming at both civilian and strategic sites.
Pakistan’s armed forces responded swiftly, claiming to have shot down five Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets, and to have destroyed several Indian military installations, such as a brigade headquarters.
Although the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has yet to release an official statement, initial reports indicate that the Indian military raised a white flag at the Chura complex along the Line of Control (LoC), signaling a de facto surrender in that sector.
So far, no civilian casualties have been reported, but rescue operations are ongoing in the affected urban areas. Security measures have been intensified throughout Punjab and other provinces, with hospitals placed on high alert and emergency services instructed to remain fully operational at all times.