Entertainment
Pakistan reaches critical environmental tipping point as forest cover shrinks by 18%
- Deforestation, climate change contributing to devastating floods.
- KP witnesses largest share in decline in biomass production.
- GB forest cover lower than 4%, making region vulnerable to floods.
ISLAMABAD: Experts have warned that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the rest of Pakistan have reached a critical environmental tipping point due to 18% decline in the country’s forest cover — exposing the environment, economy, and national security to serious threats, The News reported on Sunday.
Deforestation, the destruction of rangelands, forest fires, and climate change-related threats are directly contributing to devastating floods, landslides, and cloudbursts.
Since 1992, forest area has decreased by 18%, while rangelands are producing only 20-30% of their potential biomass, with KP having the largest share in this decline.
The catastrophic floods of 1992, 2010, and 2025 prove that the destruction of forests and rangelands has turned the watersheds of the upper regions into “flood factories”. Environmental experts say forests in Pakistan are not just trees but the country’s first line of defence for the environment, economy, and national security.
They absorb rainwater to prevent flash floods, recharge groundwater, protect agricultural land from erosion, and sustain soil fertility for farming.
They balance the climate by reducing temperatures, storing carbon, and regulating rainfall. The forests also provide fuel, fodder, fruits, medicines, and tourism opportunities while protecting biodiversity.
They shield the country from floods, landslides, and droughts, safeguarding infrastructure, agriculture, and human settlements. The conclusion is clear without urgent restoration and strict measures.
Pakistan faces severe environmental and economic risks but with effective policies and action forests can play a decisive role in securing the nation’s future.
In Pakistan, forest cover has dropped from 3.78 million hectares in 1992 to 3.09 million hectares in 2025 — an 18% reduction. Annual deforestation, which was on peaked at about 40,000 hectares in 1992, has declined due to government intervention to 11,000 hectares in 2025, but international organisations say that even today, Pakistan continues to lose about 11,000 hectares of forest annually.
Alarming situation
Rangeland area has fallen from 60% to 58% and rangeland biomass production has dropped from 100% of potential yield to just 20%.
According to official data, in Chitral, over 3,700 hectares of forest were lost between 1992 and 2009, and experts warn of a further 23% decline by 2030. In Arandu Gol, 1.6 million cubic feet of timber was illegally cut during timber theft — the largest case in Pakistan’s history.
In Kalam, Swat, massive logging in the 1980s and 1990s severely damaged the catchment area of the Swat River, making the floods of 1992 and 2010 far more destructive. Deforestation continues to weaken slopes and increase the risk of flash floods.
This destruction is not limited to a few districts. In Buner, the August 2025 cloudburst triggered a flash flood that destroyed homes, fields, and infrastructure. Deforested mountains failed to hold back the rainwater. In Battagram, fragile geological structures and deforestation caused landslides that blocked the Karakoram Highway, cutting off northern Pakistan’s road access.
In Bajaur, a deadly cloudburst flood in 2025 claimed lives and washed away roads and bridges. In Mansehra, repeated cloudbursts triggered flash floods and landslides, while in Gilgit Baltistan, forest cover has fallen to less than 4%, making the region highly vulnerable to forest fires and glacial lake outburst floods.
Dr Adil Zareef, Convener, Sarhad Conservation Net, warns that forests regulate rainfall patterns, recharge groundwater, and stabilise slopes. Without them, bare mountains heat 5°C to 8°C more than forested areas, causing monsoon winds to rise rapidly and trigger sudden cloudbursts instead of steady rain. Without roots to hold it, soil loses stability, increasing landslides and mudslides, while glacial lake outburst flood risks also grow.
This environmental destruction is directly impacting people.
In KP, about one-third of households rely on livestock, but rangeland productivity has dropped to just 20-30% due to overgrasing and mismanagement. Families that once depended on forests for fodder and fuel are now forced to turn to even more unsustainable means.
The experts stress that the plantation drives alone cannot solve this crisis unless there is strict action against timber mafias and accountability for the involved officials.
They urge the government to declare the destruction of forests and rangelands a national emergency and adopt a comprehensive policy that includes watershed management, grazing control, wildfire management systems, and community participation.
Recommendations include an environmental monitoring system based on satellite and local data, community-based rangeland restoration, promotion of alternative fuel sources, and special units to fight forest fires in mountain districts.
Dr Khalid Khan said that the forests and rangelands of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are the first line of defence against environmental disasters. Their destruction is weakening the country’s natural shield, endangering lives, livelihoods, and national security.
Without urgent leadership and coordinated action, Pakistan will continue to face more frequent and destructive floods, landslides, and environmental emergencies.
Entertainment
Timothée Chalamet surpasses Leonardo DiCaprio milestone
Timothée Chalamet has settled into a spot previously occupied by Leonardo DiCaprio, less than a week after beating him to best actor glory at the 2026 Golden Globes.
The newly stamped winner’s film, Marty Supreme, has surpassed the DiCaprio-starrer One Battle After Another at the box office this week.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, the latest news was recorded on Tuesday, with Chalamet’s release “passing up Leonardo DiCaprio’s rival Oscar contender One Battle After Another to end the day with an estimated cume of $72.27 million.”
With the action thriller grossing “slightly north of $71.6 million” at the US box office, the A24 sports drama is currently the highest earner.
Furthermore, despite One Battle being ahead at the global turnover with an estimate of $154.5 million, Marty Supreme is also eyeing competition along the same territory.
“Based on early returns, box office experts believe Marty Supreme could do substantial business overseas and end up north of $170 million to $180 million globally, if not higher,” THR’s report claimed.
Timothée Chalamet’s latest achievement in his Leonardo DiCaprio competition comes just days after the younger star beat his formidable peer at the Golden Globes.
The American-French actor bagged Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy award, defeating the Titanic actor, who was one of his competitors in the same category.
Entertainment
Labubu doll maker accused of unfair labour practices, Chinese Labour Watch reveals
While the trendy toy Labubu has started fading from the scene after taking the world by storm, the Labubu manufacturer seems to be drawing criticism for allegedly exploiting workers, as claimed by a labour rights organisation, China Labour Watch (CLW).
CLW accused the Chinese factory that makes the popular Labubu dolls of exploiting its workforce.
A following investigation into the matter revealed that Shunjia Toys Co Ltd, a supplier for Pop Mart, subjected employees to excessive overtime, required them to sign blank or incomplete contracts, and denied them paid leave.
For those unfamiliar, the Labubu dolls, known for their viral appeal and sales in “blind boxes,” have gained immense traction worldwide.
Responding to the allegations, Pop Mart stated that it is probing the claims and emphasised its commitment to ensuring that suppliers rectify any identified issues.
Pop Mart conducts regular audits of its suppliers, including annual independent reviews by internationally recognised inspectors. The investigation by CLW involved 51 in-person interviews with factory workers regarding recruitment, contracts, and working conditions.
The factory, located in Guangdong province, has over 4,500 workers and is the primary manufacturing facility for Pop Mart.
As outlined in CLW’s report, several labour violations were committed at Shunjia Toys, including illegal overtime, unclear contract practices, and inadequate safety training.
While no child labour was found, the factory employed 16-year-olds under the same conditions as adults, violating Chinese labour laws that mandate special protections for minors.
CLW urged Pop Mart to take immediate action to address these issues, compensate affected workers, and comply with both Chinese labour laws and international standards.
Entertainment
Man shot in leg identified — here’s what we know
The Minneapolis city situation has flared up after an ICE agent shot a man in the leg who tried to flee a targeted traffic stop, says the Department of Homeland Security.
The shooting incident occurred in the 600 block of 24th Avenue North, just 12 miles north of where Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed last week.
Minneapolis ICE shooting: Here’s what actually happened
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) the officer fired the weapon after “fearing for his life and safety.”
The statement said the agents were conducting a traffic stop “of an illegal alien from Venezuela who was released into the country by Joe Biden in 2022.”
The DHS detailed the operation of what actually caused the incident to turn into a shooting, claiming, “In an attempt to evade arrest, the subject fled the scene in his vehicle and crashed into a parked car. The subject then fled on foot.”
The department claimed that after the agent caught up with the man, he “began to resist and violently assault the officer.”
That resulted in an ambush by two other people appearing from a nearby apartment building who “also attacked the law enforcement officer with a snow shovel and broom handle.”
The DHS claimed it was a defensive shot by the federal agent, adding, “Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life. The initial subject was hit in the leg.”
After one man received a shot, they fled from the scene back to the apartment and locked themselves inside but were apprehended by authorities, as reported by the Independent.
Both the detained officer and the Venezuelan man are being treated in the hospital, while the other two individuals are in detention.
On the other hand, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara called a protest that erupted in response to the shooting tonight unlawful and asked the protesters to disperse immediately.
The city police chief said, “It is well past the line, and people need to leave,” adding, “This is already a very tense situation, we do not need this to escalate any further.”
After the incident, there have been over 2,000 federal agents deployed in the city, as reported by NBC News.
The outlet also reported that, since the news broke, the situation has flared up in the city.
The DHS is claiming the operation in Minnesota is its biggest to date, with more than 2,400 people having been arrested since it began on November 29, 2025.
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