Day: July 16, 2026

Peshawar: Hamdard Foundation Pakistan here Wednesday arranged monthly meeting discussing topic ” Increasing Population and Decreasing resources”.

The meeting was chaired by President Hamdard Shura Peshawar, Dr. Fakhar-ul-Islam and among others was attended by Honorary Director Academy of Letters Peshawar, Professor Dr. Gulzar Jalal.

Speakers discussed the problem of increasing population highlighting the challenges including diminishing resources. They said that the problem needs national discussion as balance between population and resources cannot be maintained without realizing the exact situation.

They said that our country is abundant with resources but their proper utilization demands effective planning and result oriented steps. They stressed we must devise plan to use abilities of our manpower for development and progress of the country.

Sibi: Deputy Commissioner Sibi, Major (R) Ilyas Kibzai, chaired a meeting of the District Coordination Committee in Sibi, reviewed development projects and security situation in the district.

Addressing the meeting, the deputy commissioner highlighted that 95 percent of development projects under the Balochistan Special Development Initiative (BSDI) Phase II have been successfully completed, while new projects under BSDI Phase III have already been approved in line with public demands and issues raised during open courts.

He announced that tenders for the approved projects will be uploaded in newspapers and on the official web portal within the next two days.

Ilyas Kibzai emphasized that all sectors have been considered comprehensively, with priority given to clean drinking water, healthcare, education, basic urban facilities, installation of tough tiles in streets, and other essential needs to ensure better services at the citizens’ doorstep.

He directed officials to closely monitor the performance of their staff and ensure that no employee is involved in suspicious or illegal activities.

The deputy commissioner also urged parents to pay special attention to the activities of their children in the current circumstances and provide them with positive guidance. The meeting reviewed law and order, ongoing development projects, timely resolution of public issues, and the performance of government institutions.

Participants reaffirmed their commitment that the district administration, law enforcement agencies, and all relevant departments will continue to work together to provide better facilities to the public, ensure timely completion of development projects, and maintain peace and order in the district.

DC Kibzai instructed all departments to prioritize public service, transparency, accountability, and coordination, ensuring that development projects are completed on time and public grievances are addressed effectively in line with the vision of the government of Balochistan.

Multan: Experts and academics called for equipping local youth with artificial intelligence, digital and entrepreneurial skills to help them compete globally and contribute to national development.

A seminar, titled “Skills for a Shared Future,” was organised in connection with World Youth Skills Day 2026 by the Young Pakistanis Organization Multan, Global Vision for Inclusive Progress Multan and Punjab Group of Colleges Multan at Punjab College, Mumtazabad.

It was presided over by Professor Osama Bashir Qureshi, Regional Director, Punjab Group of Colleges Multan.

Professor Dr Farid Sharif Farooqi, Director Public Instructions (DPI) Colleges South Punjab, Divisional Labour Officer Rana Muhammad Jamshed, CEO of Chaudhry Brothers Textile Mills Chaudhry Muhammad Zulfiqar Ali, and former Chairman Overseas Pakistanis Committee Makhdoom Shoaib Akmal Hashmi Qureshi attended as chief guests.

Addressing the seminar, the guests said that in view of rapidly changing global needs, equipping youth with modern skills, including artificial intelligence, digital technology and green economy competencies, had become essential. They stressed that young people should be trained not only in technical education but also in digital, creative, leadership, communication, social and entrepreneurial skills to enable them to play an effective role in the country’s progress.

Professor Osama Bashir Qureshi said Punjab Group of Colleges was taking comprehensive measures to equip youth with quality education alongside future-oriented skills, adding that youth were Pakistan’s valuable asset.

Young Pakistanis Organization Multan President Naeem Iqbal Naeem said the objective of World Youth Skills Day was to promote skills, innovation, self-employment, leadership and positive social roles among youth.

Principal of Punjab College Mumtazabad Professor Akbar Nadeem, educationist Professor Dr Riaz Hussain, social activist Sheikh Muhammad Mujahid, and Young Pakistanis Organization members Adeeb Ahmed, Humayun Wajid, Hafiz Muhammad Waqas Iqbal and Qari Muhammad Abdullah also attended.

At the conclusion, the youth reaffirmed their commitment to acquiring modern skills, using technology responsibly and serving society. Shields and mementos were presented to the guests, teachers and students with support from DSG Energy Private Limited Pakistan, Fourteen Street Pizza Multan, Multan Postgraduate College Multan and Care Cosmetics Pakistan.

Mirpur: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday intensified his party’s campaign for the July 27 general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), announcing that he would remain in the region until polling day to personally oversee election activities.

Bilawal made the announcement while chairing a high-level meeting in Muzaffarabad attended by former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, AJK President Chaudhry Latif Akbar, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, PPP AJK President Chaudhry Yasin, senior party officials and election candidates.

Party leaders briefed the PPP chairman on campaign activities across the region, saying the party was actively canvassing in every constituency and claiming its election drive was the most visible from Bhimber to Taobat.

Addressing participants, Bilawal said the PPP had consistently supported the people of Kashmir and would continue advocating for their political and constitutional rights. He disclosed that before arriving in AJK he had discussed public service and supply-related issues with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and urged their early resolution.

Referring to the ongoing protest movement, Bilawal said prolonged demonstrations should give way to dialogue, arguing that democratic engagement rather than confrontation offered the most effective path to securing public rights. He also criticized parties that had chosen to boycott the elections, saying participation in democratic institutions remained the best way to address public concerns.

Bilawal said Azad Jammu and Kashmir remained financially dependent on grants from the Pakistani government despite its autonomous status and called for greater constitutional and administrative clarity regarding the region’s governance and distribution of powers.

He said younger generations in AJK expected meaningful political reforms and warned that failure to address their aspirations could create opportunities for disruptive elements to exploit public dissatisfaction.

As part of broader constitutional reforms, Bilawal proposed granting AJK interim or observer representation in Pakistan’s National Assembly and including the region in forums such as the National Finance Commission (NFC), saying such measures would strengthen Kashmiris’ voice in national decision-making and resource allocation.

He also proposed establishing a constitutional forum after the elections to bring together all stakeholders to discuss Kashmir-related issues and enable residents to play a greater role in decisions affecting the region.

Bilawal said that, with the support of Pakistan’s resources and political consensus, the AJK government had addressed nearly all demands raised by protest groups. He reiterated his opposition to what he described as politics of hatred and confrontation, pledging to promote democratic engagement and political stability.

Concluding his address, Bilawal announced that he would remain in Azad Jammu and Kashmir until the July 27 elections to personally supervise the PPP’s campaign across the territory.

Neelum: At least two people were killed and six others injured after a passenger coach plunged into a deep ravine in the Athmuqam area, Neelam valley here on Wednesday.

According to initial reports the accident occurred when the driver of an over speedy passenger coach lost control over the vehicle, leading the coach into the ravine. In result, two passengers died on the spot, while six others sustained injuries. television channels reported. Rescue teams rushed to the scene after receiving information and shifted the victims to a nearby hospital.

Multan: A young labourer was electrocuted to death near Pul Rango on Khanewal Road on Wednesday.

According to Rescue 1122,the victim was clearing accumulated rainwater from the roof when he came into contact with nearby electricity wires and suffered a fatal electric shock and died on the spot.

The body was handed over to heirs.