Day: July 10, 2026

Peshawar: Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, on Thursday stressed the need for national unity and adherence to the Constitution, saying Pakistan’s peace and stability required collective efforts beyond political and sectarian differences.

Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club alongside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Khateeb Maulana Tayyab Qureshi, Maulana Ruhullah Madani, Syed Yousaf Shah, Maulana Muhammad Shoaib and Dr. Shamsur Rehman Shams, Ashrafi Pakistan had rendered great sacrifices for Islam and Muslims, adding that the country had achieved significant progress.

Referring to the recent conflict with India, he said Allah had granted victory to Pakistan through its armed forces and claimed that the international community was now referring to Islamabad as a “land of peace.”

Ashrafi also emphasized the importance of national unity, paid tribute to the martyrs of Balochistan and other parts of the country, and appreciated the peaceful observance of Muharram across Pakistan.

He urged people to respect differences among schools of thought, saying, “Do not abandon your own school of thought, but do not interfere with that of others.”

Condemning terrorism and violence, he said Islam did not permit the killing of innocent people and denounced elements attempting to undermine Pakistan’s security and create instability.

He reiterated the support of religious scholars for state institutions and called on the nation to stand united for the country’s peace, security and development.

Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Tayyab Qureshi said Muharram had passed peacefully due to close coordination among religious scholars, the public, police and other institutions.

He said the ulema of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had made immense sacrifices and declared that terrorism and actions against the Pakistan Army were forbidden under Islamic teachings.

He also urged those issuing decrees against Pakistan to refrain from such actions.

The press conference concluded with special prayers for the martyrs of the security forces and civilians affected by terrorism, as well as for Pakistan’s peace, stability and prosperity.

Rawalpindi: Police on Thursday have arrested a man accused of impersonating a price magistrate and attempting to extort money from local businesses.

According to a police spokesperson, the suspect allegedly visited various hotels, introducing himself as a price magistrate and demanding money from the management.

Hotel staff became suspicious of his claims and lodged complaint to the local police. Responding promptly, Race Course Police reached the scene and questioned the individual.

During the inquiry, he failed to produce any official identification or evidence to support his claim of being a government official. Police registered a case against the suspect and took him into custody.

Superintendent of Police Potohar, Sardar Babar Mumtaz Khan said the accused would be presented before the court with substantial evidence as the investigation proceeds. Police said further legal action is being carried out in accordance with the law.

Rawalpindi: A major agricultural modernization initiative under the Jalalpur Irrigation Canal Project is set to boost crop yields by up to 30 percent and save 30 percent water across Jhelum and Khushab districts through an extensive command area development drive backed by the Asian Development Bank.

Punjab Director General of Agriculture (Water Management) Rana Tajammal Hussain and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Director Dr. Bilal Iftikhar announced these targets during a high-level progress review of the project here on Thursday. The multi-billion rupee initiative aims to transform thousands of acres of arid and uncultivated land into highly productive zones by deploying advanced water conservation technologies and high-efficiency irrigation systems, says a press release.

Under the comprehensive development plan, the provincial agriculture department is constructing 485 lined watercourses and leveling 30,000 acres of agricultural land using precision laser land levelers.

Furthermore, modern drip and sprinkler irrigation systems are being installed across 2,000 acres of land to optimize water usage. To sustain these interventions and ensure equitable water distribution at the grassroots level, 485 community-led Water User Associations have been institutionalized.

Addressing the session, Rana Tajammal Hussain stated that the project has already distributed advanced agricultural machinery and specialized implements to 212 local farmers. He emphasized that the introduction of modern farm-level infrastructure will trigger an immediate 20 to 30 percent surge in the production of vital food crops, including wheat, maize, rice, vegetables, and fodder, directly revitalizing the regional rural economy.

ADB Director Dr. Bilal Iftikhar reiterated the bank’s commitment to financing sustainable agricultural frameworks in Pakistan. He highlighted that the project’s core focus relies on building climate-resilient farming systems and reclaiming barren lands. Alongside infrastructure development, a massive capacity-building campaign is underway to practically train 30,000 local farmers in modern agronomic practices, ensuring long-term profitability and environmental conservation across the target districts.

Sargodha: Chairman Zakat and Ushr Council Punjab and Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Rana Munawar Ghous Khan on Thursday welcomed the launch of the ‘Apna Ghar Mahfooz Ghar’ program by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, describing it as a landmark initiative for public welfare.

Talking to reporter, the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) MPA stated that the decision to provide financial assistance of Rs 500,000 for the renovation of dilapidated houses and Rs 1 million in interest-free loans for the construction of additional stories or new floors was a commendable step for the province’s residents.

Rana Munawar Ghous maintained that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was prioritizing practical measures over mere claims to serve the people of Punjab effectively.

He highlighted that such initiatives would significantly benefit the lower-income strata in Sargodha and across the region, ensuring better living standards and residential security for the common man.

The Chairman Zakat and Ushr Council added that the provincial government’s focus on housing reflects its commitment to address the basic needs of the vulnerable population through transparent and accessible welfare programs.

Kohat: The district Police conducted a large-scale search and strike operation in the Gumbat Circle on Thursday, intensifying efforts to curb criminal activities and strengthen law and order across the district.

The operation was launched on the directives of District Police Officer (DPO) Shehbaz Elahi and supervised by DSP Gumbat Sajjad Haider. Police teams, including personnel from Gumbat, Bilitang, Khushal Garh and Shadi Pur police stations, Elite Force, Quick Response Force (QRF), Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) units and drone surveillance teams, participated in the operation.

Police carried out extensive search and combing activities in Chorlaki, Khulgai Khula, Ango Khula, Ziarat Sheikh Allah Dad, Zameer Gul Dam, Shadi Pur, Pista Sanda, Ziarat Fateh Gul Baba and surrounding mountainous areas. Drone technology was used to monitor difficult terrain, while security checks were conducted at various locations.

According to police, the operation was aimed at tracking down criminals, proclaimed offenders and anti-social elements, while enhancing public confidence and maintaining lasting peace in the area.

In a separate action, Kohat Police arrested a suspect wanted in a double murder case during a targeted operation carried out by City Police Station.

Police said SHO Saifullah Khan Khattak and his team, using technical surveillance and intelligence-based information, apprehended Muhammad Afzal alias Bilal, a resident of Mohammadzai, Kohat, who had been evading arrest following a double murder reported in the Regi Shino Khel area.

The suspect, wanted under multiple provisions of the law, has been shifted to the City Police Station, where further investigation is underway, police added.

Northern california: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday called upon the Pakistani diaspora in the United States to rise above political differences and unite under the banner of “Pakistan First” to support the country’s economic transformation through innovation, technology and exports.

Addressing a breakfast reception hosted by the Pakistani community during his visit to Northern California, the minister said Pakistan’s future prosperity depended on economic self-reliance driven by exports, innovation, technology and human capital development.

He said the government’s URAAN Pakistan initiative was steering the country towards a knowledge-based, technology-driven and sustainable economy, with the goal of transforming Pakistan into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2035 and increasing exports to over US$ 100 billion.

Highlighting the role of overseas Pakistanis, Ahsan urged the diaspora to serve as ambassadors for Pakistan by promoting investment, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and international business linkages.

He said the United States remained Pakistan’s largest export market, making the Pakistani-American community a vital bridge for expanding bilateral trade and investment.

The minister said E-Pakistan was a national priority and described artificial intelligence as a historic opportunity for the country.

He informed participants that the government was establishing National Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Big Data, Robotics, Genomics and Quantum Computing to prepare Pakistan for the next wave of technological advancement.

He also highlighted the ongoing US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor initiative aimed at developing world-class human capital through partnerships with leading international universities.

During an interactive session, community members proposed transforming Pakistani consulates into centres for export promotion, technology cooperation and investment facilitation, creating advisory groups of Pakistani experts in Silicon Valley to support AI adoption and curriculum reforms, strengthening partnerships between Silicon Valley professionals and Pakistan’s National Innovation Centres, and attracting global technology firms to establish research and development facilities in Pakistan.

Welcoming the proposals, Ahsan said Pakistan should translate recent diplomatic goodwill into stronger economic partnerships, innovation-led growth and technology collaboration.

Later, the minister met Saeed Amidi, founder and chief executive officer of Plug and Play Tech Center, to discuss cooperation for strengthening Pakistan’s startup ecosystem and integrating local entrepreneurs with global innovation networks.

During the meeting, Plug and Play expressed interest in supporting up to 300 startups from Pakistan’s leading universities, connecting entrepreneurs with its network of more than 600 global corporate partners, and assisting startups in securing investment and expanding into international markets while retaining their operations in Pakistan.

The company also offered to issue a Letter of Intent for establishing offices in Islamabad and Karachi.

Welcoming the proposal, the minister accepted the offer in principle and invited the company to share its Letter of Intent and proposed areas of collaboration to facilitate a high-level delegation’s visit to Pakistan.

He said Pakistan possessed significant advantages in its youthful population, competitive engineering workforce and continued investment in digital and information technology skills, adding that with the right international partnerships, the country’s growing startup ecosystem could emerge as a leading regional innovation hub.

During his engagements in Northern California, the minister also interacted with leading Silicon Valley technology professionals and attended a dinner reception hosted by members of the Pakistani-American community.

Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, innovation, entrepreneurship, investment and technology transfer.

Members of the Pakistani community reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Pakistan’s economic transformation through investment, knowledge sharing and technology collaboration, while endorsing the minister’s “Pakistan First” message and pledging support for the goals of URAAN Pakistan.