Weekly Current Affairs Roundup: 12-19 October 2026

This roundup covers six important stories from 12 to 19 October 2026 that are likely to be useful for current-affairs sections of PPSC, FPSC, police and other government job tests. Each item was checked against at least two reputable news outlets; figures such as death tolls were still changing, so we mention them carefully.

1. Peshawar school roof collapse (15 October)

The roof of a private school, the Al-Khair Education Centre, collapsed in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on 15 October. Al Jazeera, CNN, CBS and Reuters-based reports described dozens of students and a teacher killed, with Al Jazeera reporting at least 35 deaths and many injured. Officials pointed to weak building structure and the President and Prime Minister called for a full investigation and for school buildings to meet safety standards.

Exam point: Questions may ask about building-safety standards, disaster management and the role of NDMA/PDMA.

2. Rehman Baba Express derailment near Multan (13 October)

The Karachi-to-Peshawar Rehman Baba Express derailed early on 13 October near Sher Shah railway station, close to Multan, Punjab. Agence France-Presse reported four dead and at least 17 injured, while Euronews reported at least five dead and more than 30 injured. The cause was not known when reports were published and an inquiry was ordered.

Exam point: Pakistan Railways is a federal department; Multan lies on the main Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar line.

3. Pakistan to chair IMF and World Bank governing boards in 2027

At the annual meetings in Bangkok on 16 October, it was announced that Pakistan will chair the Boards of Governors of the IMF and the World Bank Group in 2027. The Express Tribune and Business Recorder reported that Ahad Khan Cheema will take the chair and that this is the first time since 1953 that Pakistan holds the role. Reports describe the position as largely procedural and diplomatic; it does not give Pakistan extra voting power or lending privileges. The 2027 annual meetings are to be held in Washington.

4. First Pakistani astronaut to fly from China on 25 November

On 18 October, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the first Pakistani astronaut will go on a space mission from China on 25 November (Dawn, Express Tribune, Arab News). China selected two Pakistani candidates, Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, in April 2026, and the one who flies will be a payload specialist for biotechnology experiments prepared by SUPARCO. It is planned for China's Tiangong space station. Check later news for the final crew announcement.

Exam point: SUPARCO is Pakistan's national space agency, and Tiangong is China's space station.

5. Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes

Fighting between Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban forces continued along the border in the Kurram (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Paktia (Afghanistan) areas during the week. The Washington Post and Al Jazeera reported exchanges of fire, and Pakistani security sources said Taliban positions were hit; the claims of each side could not be independently verified. Talks held in Moscow earlier in October ended without a joint statement, according to the Long War Journal.

Exam point: The Pakistan-Afghanistan border is called the Durand Line; Khyber and Kurram are tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

6. Ebola cases confirmed in Kenya

Kenya confirmed its first Ebola case on 6 October, after a man who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo died in Nairobi (Al Jazeera, Khaleej Times). By 16 October, the health ministry had confirmed a third case, a relative of the first patient who was already in quarantine (reported by AP-syndicated outlets). Officials said the cases were linked to the first patient. Health authorities in the region continue to monitor contacts.

Exam point: Ebola is a viral haemorrhagic fever; the WHO is the UN health agency.

Quick revision table

Topic	Key fact
Peshawar school collapse	15 October 2026, private school, KP
Rehman Baba Express	Derailed near Multan, 13 October 2026
IMF/World Bank 2027	Pakistan chairs the Boards of Governors; first since 1953
Pakistani astronaut	Planned flight from China on 25 November 2026
Pak-Afghan border	Clashes in Kurram/Paktia; Moscow talks no joint statement
Kenya Ebola	First case confirmed 6 October 2026

How to use this for your test

• Learn the who, what, where and when of each story in one line.
• Practise with our Current Affairs MCQs and the Daily Quiz.
• Revise static facts too: see General Knowledge MCQs and Pakistan Studies MCQs.
• Numbers such as death tolls change quickly; in an exam, choose the option matching the latest official figure.

Sources

• Al Jazeera, CNN, CBS News, France 24 (Peshawar school collapse)
• AFP via Khaleej Times, Euronews (Multan derailment)
• The Express Tribune, Business Recorder, The Week (IMF/World Bank chair)
• Dawn, The Express Tribune, Arab News (Pakistani astronaut)
• The Washington Post, Al Jazeera, FDD's Long War Journal (border clashes)
• Al Jazeera, Khaleej Times, AP-syndicated reports (Kenya Ebola)