Day: July 10, 2026

Sargodha: The Executive Body of the Sargodha Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries on Thursday unanimously approved the election schedule for its 2026-28 term and constituted a three-member Election Commission to oversee the electoral process.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Executive Body, where members approved the timetable for the forthcoming elections, said a press release issued here.

According to the approved schedule, polling for the election of Executive Body members will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

The provisional voters’ list will be displayed on July 15, 2026, enabling members to verify their particulars and submit objections within the stipulated period.

To ensure a transparent and impartial electoral process, the Executive Body also established a three-member Election Commission comprising Khawaja Shahid Rashid, Sheikh Zakriya Bashir, and Mohsin Yousaf.

The Executive Body reaffirmed its commitment to conducting the elections in a fair, transparent and impartial manner, strictly in accordance with the Chamber’s constitution, ensuring members are provided with a democratic opportunity to elect their representatives.

Multan: Doctors at Nishtar Hospital saved the life of a 22-year-old girl who suffered critical head injuries in an alleged axe attack in a suburban area of the city here on Thursday.

A spokesperson for Nishtar Hospital said that girl was brought to the hospital’s emergency department in a critical condition after sustaining deep wounds to her head and ear.

A neurosurgical team, led by Senior Registrar Dr Ahmad Shah, along with Dr Waqar Khan and Dr Naila Akbar, performed a lengthy and highly complex emergency operation.

Dr Ahmad Shah said the patient’s condition was now out of danger due to the timely intervention and professional expertise of the doctors and supporting medical staff. He added that the woman remains under treatment and is recovering.

Medical Superintendent Dr Abdul Qadir Khan praised the neurosurgical team for successfully carrying out the challenging procedure. The spokesperson quoted him as say that providing the best possible emergency medical care to critically injured patients remains Nishtar Hospital’s top priority.

Faisalabad: Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sohail Akhtar Sukhera said that crime rate has recorded a steep decline due to the coordination of police, administration and business community while efforts have been further expedited to cement this collaboration.

Addressing the business community in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), he termed peace as a prerequisite for economic growth as exports could be enhanced and new job opportunities could be created only through industrialization.

He appreciated the resilience of the business community and said that they have put the economy on a growth trajectory despite visible odds.

He said that police were trying its optimum best to facilitate the business community and a subcommittee would be constituted very soon to settle down the cases relating to section 406 and upon its recommendation, all such cases would be transferred to FCCI for its mediated settlement.

He also appreciated the cooperation of local business community to maintain peace during the recent Muharram-ul-Haram.

He said that we worked like a team and due to our collaboration not even a single incident was reported from any part of the region.

About the security of Chinese nationals, RPO said that it has already been beefed up while FIEDMC has allocated space for the construction of a police station in M3 Industrial Estate.

He said that FIEDMC will bear the expenditure for the construction of its building.

He said that a number of jammers have also been increased while police have acquired an anti-drone gun.

He further said that after Muharram, he will now focus on narcotics and other crimes particularly relating to females.

Earlier, Farooq Yousaf Sheikh President FCCI welcomed the RPO and termed him as a people friendly officer.

He said that due to his strategy crimes have reduced to 72% while Muharram also passed peacefully.

He said that RPO used the anti-smog guns diligently during the Muharram.

He said that police were overburdened and the disputes relating to business dealings may be handed over to the FCCI for its amicable settlement.

He said that no doubt security has been improved in FIEDMC but more steps should be taken to further improve it.

Farooq Yousaf Sheikh also invited RPO to participate in Faisalabad Expo at expo center Lahore scheduled to be held on July 24-26, 2026.

Former President Engr. Rizwan Ashraf, Sadaqat Lodhi, Rana Manzoor, Umer Farooq Khaloon, Salman Arif and other participants also appreciated the performance and strategy of RPO.

Senior Vice President FCCI Naveed Akram Sheikh offered vote of thanks while President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh presented FCCI shield to RPO Sohail Akhtar Sukhera.

Later, the RPO also recorded his impression in FCCI Visitor’s Book.

Vice President Engr. Asim Munir, Muhammad Yasin, Hajji Muhammad Aslam Bhalli and other high police officials were also present during this meeting.

Hyderabad: The Department of Agriculture Extension has clarified that a news report published in a Sindhi language daily regarding pesticide laboratories, quality control and distribution licensing is contrary to the facts, baseless, fabricated, and unsupported by any credible evidence.

The Department’s spokesman Munir Kaka on Thursday asserted in a statement that all administrative and technical affairs of the department were conducted in accordance with the law, transparency, and the prescribed rules and regulations.

“The impression that the pesticide laboratories located in Rohri, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Hyderabad are non-functional is entirely incorrect,” he claimed, adding that all relevant laboratories across the province were fully operational and equipped with modern scientific instruments.

According to him, those laboratories regularly conducted testing, analysis and quality verification of pesticide and fertilizer samples in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures and internationally recognized standards.

“The allegations that companies are being issued fake or unlawful certificates for substandard agricultural pesticides or fertilizers are completely baseless,” he said.

Kaka reiterated that the laboratory reports and certificates were issued strictly in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures, technical standards, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

He also disputed the media’s report which stated that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) had been issued illegally to various companies.

The spokesman said the department did not issue NOCs to any company because it followed the procedure of issuing licences strictly under the applicable laws, including The Sindh Fertilizer (Control) Act, 1994, and The Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, 1971.

According to Kaka, only those pesticide and fertilizer distributors which fulfilled all legal requirements and prescribed regulations were duly registered across Sindh.

He explained that a high-level departmental committee conducted on-site inspections to verify the applicant company’s office, warehouses, technical staff, and compliance with all other legal requirements.

The official said the department remained fully committed to safeguarding interests of farmers, ensuring the availability of quality agricultural pesticides and fertilizers, maintaining transparency, and upholding the rule of law.

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has decided to establish computerized facilitation points for car dealers and showroom owners in all district offices of the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department.

The decision is being considered a major step towards improving transparency, facilitating the automobile trade and modernizing public services in the provinces.

The announcement was made during a meeting with a delegation comprising Haji Bakht Mir Jan, Chairman of the All Pakistan Car Dealers Association of Small Traders, Maazullah Khan, General Secretary of the Association, and Ghulam Bilal Javed, Chairman of the All Pakistan Car Dealers and Importers Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the Provincial Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Syed Fakhar Jehan in the chair here on Thursday.

The delegation discussed issues confronting car dealers and showroom owners, matters relating to the Excise Department, and proposals aimed at facilitating the automobile trade.

Director General (DG) Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Abdul Halim Khan, Excise and Taxation Officer-I Peshawar Faisal Khurshid Burki, and Excise and Taxation Officer-V Peshawar Masaud-ul-Haq were also present on the occasion.

The delegation urged the provincial minister to introduce departmental mechanisms for greater transparency in vehicle transactions, consider possible tax relief for the sector, and extend further cooperation to address issues being faced by the automobile trade.

Speaking on the occasion, Syed Fakhar Jehan said computerized facilitation points were being established at all district offices of the Excise Department to provide car dealers and showroom owners with easy access to vehicle transaction records, ownership and registration verification, official documentation, chassis verification and other essential services under one roof.

He further announced that dealers would also be provided dedicated online access through a specialized software platform, enabling them to instantly verify the complete particulars of vehicles before purchase and thereby ensuring greater transparency and confidence in vehicle transactions.

The minister said the Excise Department was committed to delivering modern, transparent and citizen-friendly services.

He informed the delegation that the procedure for obtaining Personalized Registration Marks (Personalized Number Plates) had been further simplified following the approval of the necessary legislation by the provincial cabinet.

Under the revised rules the first personalized number plate for any name will be available for Rs. 1.5 million, while subsequent number plates of the same name and series will be issued for Rs. 1 million each.

He further stated that lots comprising multiple number plates of a particular series could also be allotted to companies or individuals, creating new branding and promotional opportunities for businesses.

Describing the initiative as a valuable opportunity for the automobile trade, the minister said showroom owners and car dealers could now acquire personalized number plates bearing the names of their businesses or brands.

He also clarified that owners of personalized registration marks would retain ownership of their number plates even after selling their vehicles, and such registration marks could remain reserved in their names for up to three years without being attached to another vehicle.

Syed Fakhar Jehan assured the delegation that members of the car dealers’ community should feel free to approach Excise and Taxation offices for the resolution of their genuine issues, adding that every possible effort would be made to address their concerns on a priority basis.

The delegation thanked the provincial minister and appreciated the ongoing reforms, business-friendly policies and public facilitation initiatives undertaken by the Excise Department under his leadership.

Hyderabad: DIG Hyderabad Dr Tariq Razzak Dharejo visited Khirthar mountain range including the Gorakh hill station in Jamshoro and Dadu districts on Thursday to review the security arrangements.

The DIG’s spokesman informed here on Thursday that the DIG also visited the areas bordering Balochistan province to assess the existing and required security measures.

The security at the oil and gas refineries was also checked. Dharejo directed the district’s SSP to establish a police station at Gorakh hills and to post additional personnel in that area highlighting the need of further reinforcing the police check posts on the Sindh-Balochistan border.

Dharejo directed the officials to ensure optimal surveillance of the areas, especially the mountain tracks used to travel between the 2 provinces.