Day: July 9, 2026

Peshawar: Expressing concern over delay in passage of `Khyber Pakhtunkhwa HIV, AIDS Prevention, Control, Treatment and Protection Bill, 2019`, Provincial Minister for Health Khaliq-ur-Rehman on Wednesday directed constitution of an expert committee to review the draft legislation and prepare recommendations for its early submission to the relevant department, paving the way for its approval.

The minister tasked the committee with determining the current status of the bill and submitting its recommendations within one month to facilitate its early passage.

He issued these directives while chairing a ministerial briefing on the proposed legislation, jointly organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) and Blue Veins, a rights-based organization working on gender equality and public health.

Blue Veins will provide technical assistance to the committee during review and amendments to the proposed bill.

The briefing was attended by Director General Health Services KP Dr Shaheen Afridi, Additional DG, Shahid Younas, Programme Director HIV Control Dr Tariq Hayat, Members Provincial Assembly Shazia Tehmas and Rehana Ismail, former MPA Shagufta Malik, Humaira Fatima, Vice President of the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zareen Akhtar and representatives of civil society and the transgender community.

“For the passage of a comprehensive law on HIV prevention, we should not act in haste. However, given the urgency of the situation and reports indicating that the number of HIV cases is increasing at an alarming pace, we must finalize a well-considered and effective law at the earliest possible opportunity,” Khaliq-ur-Rehman said.

He stressed the need to enhance public awareness about HIV and other health issues, saying that inadequate awareness continues to increase the burden of preventable diseases.

The minister said the proposed legislation would be reviewed to make it simple, practical, inclusive, and comprehensive, ensuring that it effectively addresses the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.

He also directed participants to examine HIV-related laws enacted in other provinces and incorporate relevant best practices while finalizing the proposed legislation for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In her welcome address, Chairperson KPCSW Dr Sumera Shams briefed participants on the background of the proposed legislation and factors that had delayed its passage.

She said the ministerial briefing had been convened to build consensus for the early enactment of the bill, which would strengthen HIV prevention efforts, safeguard the rights of people living with HIV and improve access to treatment and support services.

Programme Manager Blue Veins, Qamar Naseem emphasized the need to protect rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), saying that stigma and discrimination had forced nearly 20,000 patients to discontinue treatment.

He added that, according to media reports, thousands of people living with HIV in the province remain unregistered and are unable to access treatment because of fear of stigma.

MPA Shazia Tehmas appreciated salient features of the proposed bill and suggested incorporating provisions for greater coordination with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to strengthen screening and monitoring of infected passengers arriving from abroad.

Director General Health Services KP, Dr Shaheen Afridi, called for a multi-sectoral approach involving government departments, civil society, educational institutions and the media to create greater awareness about HIV prevention, testing and treatment.

Peshawar: Expressing concern over delay in passage of `Khyber Pakhtunkhwa HIV, AIDS Prevention, Control, Treatment and Protection Bill, 2019`, Provincial Minister for Health Khaliq-ur-Rehman on Wednesday directed constitution of an expert committee to review the draft legislation and prepare recommendations for its early submission to the relevant department, paving the way for its approval.

The minister tasked the committee with determining the current status of the bill and submitting its recommendations within one month to facilitate its early passage.

He issued these directives while chairing a ministerial briefing on the proposed legislation, jointly organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) and Blue Veins, a rights-based organization working on gender equality and public health.

Blue Veins will provide technical assistance to the committee during review and amendments to the proposed bill.

The briefing was attended by Director General Health Services KP Dr Shaheen Afridi, Additional DG, Shahid Younas, Programme Director HIV Control Dr Tariq Hayat, Members Provincial Assembly Shazia Tehmas and Rehana Ismail, former MPA Shagufta Malik, Humaira Fatima, Vice President of the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zareen Akhtar and representatives of civil society and the transgender community.

“For the passage of a comprehensive law on HIV prevention, we should not act in haste. However, given the urgency of the situation and reports indicating that the number of HIV cases is increasing at an alarming pace, we must finalize a well-considered and effective law at the earliest possible opportunity,” Khaliq-ur-Rehman said.

He stressed the need to enhance public awareness about HIV and other health issues, saying that inadequate awareness continues to increase the burden of preventable diseases.

The minister said the proposed legislation would be reviewed to make it simple, practical, inclusive, and comprehensive, ensuring that it effectively addresses the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.

He also directed participants to examine HIV-related laws enacted in other provinces and incorporate relevant best practices while finalizing the proposed legislation for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In her welcome address, Chairperson KPCSW Dr Sumera Shams briefed participants on the background of the proposed legislation and factors that had delayed its passage.

She said the ministerial briefing had been convened to build consensus for the early enactment of the bill, which would strengthen HIV prevention efforts, safeguard the rights of people living with HIV and improve access to treatment and support services.

Programme Manager Blue Veins, Qamar Naseem emphasized the need to protect rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), saying that stigma and discrimination had forced nearly 20,000 patients to discontinue treatment.

He added that, according to media reports, thousands of people living with HIV in the province remain unregistered and are unable to access treatment because of fear of stigma.

MPA Shazia Tehmas appreciated salient features of the proposed bill and suggested incorporating provisions for greater coordination with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to strengthen screening and monitoring of infected passengers arriving from abroad.

Director General Health Services KP, Dr Shaheen Afridi, called for a multi-sectoral approach involving government departments, civil society, educational institutions and the media to create greater awareness about HIV prevention, testing and treatment.

Sargodha: The Superintending Engineer (SE) of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Hasnain on Wednesday reviewed drainage arrangements ahead of the monsoon season during a visit to the Jinnah Colony Disposal Station.

He was accompanied by Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Deputy Managing Director Abdul Aziz.

According to WASA spokesperson,Deputy Director Zulqarnain,the assistant director and the chief sanitary inspector were also present.

The delegation inspected the drainage network,assessed the performance of the pumping station and reviewed preparedness measures to address potential urban flooding during the monsoon.

Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements,the SE commended WASA Sargodha’s timely preparations and appreciated the efforts of field teams and officers in ensuring the smooth functioning of the city’s drainage infrastructure.

Sargodha: The Superintending Engineer (SE) of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Hasnain on Wednesday reviewed drainage arrangements ahead of the monsoon season during a visit to the Jinnah Colony Disposal Station.

He was accompanied by Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Deputy Managing Director Abdul Aziz.

According to WASA spokesperson,Deputy Director Zulqarnain,the assistant director and the chief sanitary inspector were also present.

The delegation inspected the drainage network,assessed the performance of the pumping station and reviewed preparedness measures to address potential urban flooding during the monsoon.

Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements,the SE commended WASA Sargodha’s timely preparations and appreciated the efforts of field teams and officers in ensuring the smooth functioning of the city’s drainage infrastructure.

Lodhran: The Punjab government’s flagship Model Village Programme, launched under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, was in progress successfully in Lodhran district, where eight villages are being transformed into model rural communities through development schemes worth Rs903 million.

The ambitious initiative aimed to provide modern civic amenities, including safe drinking water, sewerage system, new public parks, and street lighting in main markets.

The progress of the programme was reviewed at a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ashraf, who directed the relevant departments to expedite construction work and ensure that all projects are completed within the stipulated timeframe without compromising quality.

The deputy commissioner said that two villages in Lodhran Tehsil and six villages in Dunyapur Tehsil had been selected under the programme. He directed assistant commissioners to conduct regular field inspections to closely monitor the pace and quality of development work.

Muhammad Ashraf announced that the Model Village project in Chak 299/WB, Dunyapur, has been completed and will be inaugurated soon.

He congratulated the team of the Punjab Rural Municipal Services Company (PRMSC) for completing the project successfully and on schedule.

He further stated that development work in Kundi Kotana, Sui Wala, Chak 354/WB, Chak 356, Chak 319, Chak 271, and Chak 281/WB was in full swing and these villages will soon be equipped with modern infrastructure and essential public facilities.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Finance and Planning) and Deputy Director Development Hafiz Muhammad Zafar, District Coordinator Naveed Ahmad Khera, Muhammad Atif, and other concerned officials, who reviewed the implementation progress and discussed measures to ensure timely completion of the remaining projects.

Lodhran: The Punjab government’s flagship Model Village Programme, launched under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, was in progress successfully in Lodhran district, where eight villages are being transformed into model rural communities through development schemes worth Rs903 million.

The ambitious initiative aimed to provide modern civic amenities, including safe drinking water, sewerage system, new public parks, and street lighting in main markets.

The progress of the programme was reviewed at a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ashraf, who directed the relevant departments to expedite construction work and ensure that all projects are completed within the stipulated timeframe without compromising quality.

The deputy commissioner said that two villages in Lodhran Tehsil and six villages in Dunyapur Tehsil had been selected under the programme. He directed assistant commissioners to conduct regular field inspections to closely monitor the pace and quality of development work.

Muhammad Ashraf announced that the Model Village project in Chak 299/WB, Dunyapur, has been completed and will be inaugurated soon.

He congratulated the team of the Punjab Rural Municipal Services Company (PRMSC) for completing the project successfully and on schedule.

He further stated that development work in Kundi Kotana, Sui Wala, Chak 354/WB, Chak 356, Chak 319, Chak 271, and Chak 281/WB was in full swing and these villages will soon be equipped with modern infrastructure and essential public facilities.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Finance and Planning) and Deputy Director Development Hafiz Muhammad Zafar, District Coordinator Naveed Ahmad Khera, Muhammad Atif, and other concerned officials, who reviewed the implementation progress and discussed measures to ensure timely completion of the remaining projects.