Day: July 14, 2026

Sargodha: Commissioner Hafiz Shaukat Ali on Mond ay presided over the third meeting of the transition committee to review the progress of upgrading the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Mianwali to a Teaching hospital and the establishment of a medical college.

The meeting, which was conducted via video link, was attended by the Special Secretary of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education, the Special Secretary of the Health and Population Department, Deputy Commissioner Mianwali, the Chief Executive Officer of Health Mianwali, and other relevant officials.

During the meeting, the participants reviewed the implementation of decisions from previous meetings and received detailed briefings from various departments regarding the procurement of medical equipment, completion of teaching blocks, and the recruitment of faculty.

Commissioner Hafiz Shaukat Ali directed all relevant departments to ensure that every phase of the project is completed within the stipulated timelines.

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peace and combating terrorism by strengthening the provincial police force with modern technology, advanced equipment, and enhanced operational capabilities.

According to officials of Home and Tribal Affairs department , the initiative is being implemented under the leadership of Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi with the objective of improving public safety, eliminating terrorism, and protecting the lives and property of citizens.

As part of the measures, the operational capacity of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police is being enhanced through the provision of modern vehicles, while the investigation wing is being equipped with advanced tools, equipment, and facilities.

Officials said B7-level Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) have been inducted into the police force for counterterrorism operations in the southern districts. The force is also being provided with modern technology, logistical support, weapons, and operational equipment to improve its effectiveness.

Modern drones have also been supplied to enhance surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response during emergencies. Authorities said continuous efforts were underway to strengthen the professional and operational capacity of the police to effectively combat terrorism and crime.

The provincial government has also allocated increased funds in the 2026-27 budget to further enhance police capacity through the procurement of modern weapons, equipment, and other essential resources. Officials said measures were also being taken to improve the safety of police personnel, strengthen public confidence, and ensure lasting peace across the province.

They added that the ongoing reforms aim to transform Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police into a modern, professional, and well-equipped force capable of addressing terrorism, crime, and other security challenges effectively.

Hyderabad: Joint research initiatives between Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam and the private sector are beginning to produce tangible results.

Following the success of its palm oil and improved seed research programs, the university has achieved another milestone with a varietal trial of five Triple Gene cotton varieties conducted in collaboration with Pakistan’s leading agricultural company, Four Brothers. The preliminary findings indicate a significant increase in per-acre cotton yield.

SAU has been working with international organizations, universities, research institutions and private-sector partners on a range of agricultural research projects aimed at promoting climate-resilient farming and modern agricultural technologies. As part of these efforts, five Triple Gene cotton varieties including Maito, Ghazi, Shaheen, Hataf-3 and Hataf-4 were planted on one acre each at the university’s Latif Farm under an early sowing program to assess their adaptability to Sindh’s agro-climatic conditions.

The trial has produced highly encouraging results. For the first time in the history of Latif Farm, the first cotton picking was carried out in June, marking a significant milestone for the project. The second and third pickings are currently under way in July. So far, approximately 93 maunds of seed cotton have been harvested from the five-acre trial, averaging around 18.5 maunds per acre.

Among the five varieties, Maito has emerged as the best-performing cultivar, producing nearly 29 maunds per acre from the first two pickings alone. Researchers expect four to five additional pickings by September, with projected yields ranging between 45 and 50 maunds per acre, or even higher under favorable conditions.

Chairman of Four Brothers Javed Saleem Qureshi visited the experimental fields after traveling from Lahore and inspected the crop along with SAU Vice Chancellor Engr Prof Dr Altaf Ali Siyal, university scientists and agricultural experts.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Altaf Siyal said collaboration between universities and the private sector was essential for enhancing agricultural productivity, accelerating technology transfer and creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for graduates. He said the trial was designed to evaluate the adaptability and yield potential of modern Triple Gene cotton varieties under the agro-climatic conditions of Tandojam and had delivered highly encouraging results.

Javed Saleem Qureshi praised the university’s scientific expertise, technical support and the dedication of the farm staff. He said the outstanding performance of the Triple Gene cotton varieties demonstrated the value of university-industry collaboration in developing high-yielding cotton technologies that could benefit farmers and strengthen Pakistan’s cotton sector.

SAU has already completed several successful collaborative research projects with the private sector including palm oil variety evaluation with Dalda Foods and climate-resilient cotton and wheat seed development in partnership with United Bank Limited (UBL). The event was also attended by Director Farms Dr Muhammad Mithal Lund and other university officials.

Dera ismail khan: District Police Officer (DPO) Dera Ismail Khan, Ziauddin Ahmed on Monday visited hospital to inquire after the health of the police personnel injured in the improvised explosive device (IED) attack on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in Tank.

During the visit, the DPO and praised their courage, dedication and professionalism in the line of duty. He expressed his best wishes for their speedy recovery and assured them of the police department’s full support.

Ziauddin Ahmed directed the hospital administration to ensure the provision of the best possible medical care to the injured personnel. He instructed that all available medical resources be utilized to facilitate their swift recovery.

The DPO said police personnel were the nation’s frontline defenders, adding that their safety, welfare and timely medical treatment remained the department’s top priority. He reaffirmed that the injured officers would continue to receive every possible assistance until their complete recovery.

Hazro: Police have arrested a suspect wanted in a case involving alleged electricity theft in Hazro on Sunday. According to police, the case was registered after the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of the Hazro WAPDA subdivision submitted a written complaint to Hazro police.

The complaint said a detection team inspecting an electricity meter registered in the name of Umar Shah in Rahmoon village found that electricity was allegedly being drawn through a direct PVC wire connection, bypassing the meter.

Following the registration of the case, Hazro police arrested the suspect, identified as Zahir Shah, son of Umar Shah and a resident of Dhok Rahmoon in Hazro tehsil of Attock district. Police said further investigation into the case is underway.

Hyderabad: Deputy Commissioner Zain-ul-Abideen Memon visited various supermarkets in Latifabad including Max Bachat Super Market and Dawood Mart, to inspect compliance with the government-notified flour prices.

According to a handout issued on Monday, during the inspection, Max Bachat Super Market on Thandi Sarak was found selling flour above the official rate. The deputy commissioner imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the supermarket management and directed it to strictly adhere to the government-approved prices.

He said that profiteering and violations of officially notified prices would not be tolerated under any circumstances. DC added that price-checking campaigns and strict action against violators would be continued across the district without discrimination to safeguard the public interest.