Rooma News : Power Bills to Rise by Rs2.56 Per Unit in November

 Islamabad

Friday, October 16, 2026

By Rooma Mehmood

Rooma News

Pakistan

Economy

World

Editorial

Pakistan · Peshawar

School Roof Collapse in Peshawar Kills at Least 31, Mostly Young Students

An FIR alleges substandard construction materials; a province-wide safety audit of educational institutions has been ordered.

By Rooma Mehmood · Islamabad

Tragedy struck Peshawar when the roof of a private school in Dir Colony collapsed, killing at least 31 people, mostly young students and one teacher, and injuring around 30 others.

Authorities registered an FIR alleging use of substandard construction materials. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary formed a fact-finding committee, while the governor ordered a province-wide safety audit of educational institutions and announced compensation for the victims’ families.

Energy

Power Bills to Rise by Rs2.56 Per Unit in November

Power consumers face an additional fuel cost adjustment of about Rs2.56 per unit in November bills, adding roughly Rs33 billion to the overall burden.

Elections

ECP Rejects Punjab’s Plea to Delay Local Government Polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan rejected Punjab’s request to further delay local government elections and resolved to issue the schedule immediately.

Politics · Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Parliament Approves Emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A joint sitting of Parliament approved the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The federal government cited a deteriorating security situation as leaving no other option.

PTI strongly rejected the move, calling it politically motivated, and the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) suspended all talks with the government until a meeting with Imran Khan.

In the courts

The Peshawar High Court has fixed related petitions for hearing on October 20.

Economy at a glance

$26.863 bn

State Bank of Pakistan reserves, up

166,000+

KSE-100 close as PSX recovery continues

Rs2.56

Fuel cost adjustment per unit, November bills

Rs33 bn

Added burden on power consumers

Textile Exports Improve, but Exporters Warn of Slowdown

Textile exports showed some improvement, though exporters warned of potential slowdowns without corrective measures.

HRCP Report Flags Minority Rights Concerns

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan released a report highlighting ongoing concerns over minority rights and the delayed formation of a national commission.

World

United States

Teen Gunman Kills Three Children and a Teacher at Oregon Elementary School

A 16-year-old opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, killing three children and one teacher. An armed community member pursued and fatally shot the attacker inside the building, preventing further casualties.

Ukraine

Ukraine Resumes Drone Strikes on Russian Refineries

Ukraine has resumed drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, ending a short pause that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow never reciprocated. He expressed strong frustration with the United States after reports that the White House ordered restrictions on the Starshield satellite system used by Ukrainian forces.

Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk publicly called for Zelenskyy to step aside amid the strained relations. European leaders met to show continued support for Kyiv.

Yemen

Houthi Missiles Hit Presidential Palace Complex in Aden

Houthi forces launched missiles at the presidential palace complex in Aden, killing five people and wounding 16. The prime minister and cabinet members were unharmed.

The group has also targeted Saudi airports, ports, and oil facilities in recent days, prompting Riyadh to accuse Iran of encouraging the escalation.

United States

Trump Cancels Livestream of Nidal Hasan Execution

US President Donald Trump cancelled plans to livestream the scheduled execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. Only victims’ immediate families will be allowed to witness it.

In brief

France

A minibus collided with a train near the Channel Tunnel, injuring 19 people.

United States

Wholesale inflation is rising, driven partly by higher fuel costs.

Albania

Violent student protests are ongoing.

Editorial

Protecting the Innocent: A Call for Accountability and Safety

The collapse of a school roof in Peshawar that claimed dozens of young lives is not merely an accident. It is a damning indictment of negligence that has become all too familiar. Children went to school expecting knowledge and a future; instead, they were crushed under the weight of substandard construction and regulatory failure. This tragedy demands more than temporary inquiries and compensation packages. It requires swift arrests of those responsible, transparent investigations free from political interference, and a nationwide, enforceable audit of every educational building, public or private.

At the same time, the decision to impose emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reflects the serious security challenges facing the province. Law and order cannot be compromised. Yet constitutional measures of this magnitude must remain strictly time-bound, clearly justified, and accompanied by a credible roadmap for restoring elected governance. Prolonged central control without accountability risks deepening political divides rather than healing them.

Pakistan stands at a difficult crossroads, grappling with regional instability, economic pressures, and internal security threats. Global events, from renewed energy strikes in the Ukraine conflict to Houthi attacks in the Middle East, only add to the uncertainty. In such times, the measure of a nation is how it treats its most vulnerable. Ensuring that every child sits under a safe roof is the most basic duty of the state. Anything less is a betrayal that no amount of rhetoric can erase. The time for genuine reform is now.

Rooma News · Islamabad · By Rooma Mehmood