Day: July 16, 2026

Gujrat: A woman was killed and her husband sustained serious injuries after a dumper truck hit their motorcycle near Sadar Police Station Chowk in Gujrat.

According to Rescue 1122, the couple was travelling from Chak Sada towards Gujrat when the dumper truck, reportedly coming from the wrong side, collided with their motorcycle at the main chowk near Sadar Police Station.

As a result, Naseem Mai, 56, wife of Hashim Ali, died on the spot, while her husband, Hashim Ali, 70, son of Ghulam Muhammad, sustained serious injuries.The couple belonged to Khanewal district.

Rescue 1122 shifted the body and the injured man to Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital after providing first aid. Police were investigating the incident.

Mirpur: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Wednesday accused the banned Awami Action Committee of attempting to undermine peace, public order and state authority through activities carried out in recent days, alleging the group had escalated tensions ahead of the July 27 general elections.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Muzaffarabad, AJK Special Secretary for Home Chaudhry Guftar Hussain and AJK Police spokesperson DIG Irfan Masood Kashfi alleged that the banned organization was using the cover of public rights activism to create unrest, pressure the government and spread fear among residents.

Guftar Hussain alleged that the group had used women, children and students from schools, colleges and universities as “human shields” during protest activities. He further accused the organization of promoting anti-Pakistan narratives, making derogatory remarks about the armed forces and blocking major highways, disrupting public movement and daily life.

“The government will continue to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order, uphold the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens, and restore normalcy,” he said.

The senior Home Department official also alleged that armed elements linked to the banned committee had opened fire on law enforcement personnel in an effort to intensify tensions. He said the AJK government remained committed to holding the July 27 general elections on schedule and ensuring they were conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.

He warned that authorities would show no leniency toward armed or violent groups and vowed legal action against those found violating the law.

AJK Police spokesperson DIG Irfan Masood Kashfi said authorities had also observed what he described as a misleading social media campaign following recent firing incidents allegedly involving armed supporters of the banned group.

He alleged that videos circulating online falsely portrayed armed individuals as plainclothes security personnel and said the campaign sought to distort facts surrounding attacks that resulted in casualties among security forces and civilians.

Kashfi further claimed that weapons had been recovered from several leaders and activists associated with the banned committee and that investigators had obtained videos and photographs linked to the incidents. He alleged that the group’s leaders incited supporters before leaving protest sites.

According to the police spokesperson, roadblocks on the Kotli-Trar Khal highway disrupted traffic and caused significant inconvenience to commuters. He said Constable Aqib was killed in firing at Baithak Baloch, while one Federal Constabulary official, two Public Works Department employees and eight AJK police personnel were injured.

He added that security forces launched an operation early Wednesday to clear barricades from the Shujaabad-Kotera road, restoring traffic and ensuring the uninterrupted movement of citizens and essential supplies.

The officials reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining public order and safeguarding the electoral process ahead of the upcoming elections.

Bahawalpur: Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur Syed Hasan Raza conducted a comprehensive visit to Khanqah Sharif to review sanitation arrangements, healthcare services and the condition of educational institutions, reaffirming the Punjab government’s commitment to improving civic amenities, healthcare and education under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

During his visit, the Deputy Commissioner inspected cleanliness and sanitation arrangements under the “Suthra Punjab” initiative. He reviewed the ongoing cleanliness drive, solid waste disposal, drainage systems and overall sanitation standards in public areas. Officials briefed him on sanitation operations and drainage management.

Syed Hasan Raza directed the relevant departments to ensure uninterrupted cleanliness operations, timely disposal of waste and effective monitoring of field staff. He stressed that negligence in sanitation would not be tolerated and instructed officials to promptly address public complaints. He also ordered that drainage systems remain fully functional to prevent water accumulation during rainfall and directed authorities to utilize all available resources to maintain a clean, healthy and pleasant environment across both urban and rural areas.

The Deputy Commissioner also visited Maryam Nawaz Hospital in Khanqah Sharif, where he inspected healthcare services, the availability of medicines, cleanliness, patient care and overall administrative arrangements. He toured various departments, met patients and their attendants, and sought feedback regarding medical treatment, medicines and staff conduct. Addressing hospital officials, Syed Hasan Raza said providing quality healthcare at people’s doorstep was a top priority of the Punjab government. He instructed doctors and hospital administrators to ensure uninterrupted availability of medicines, maintain high standards of cleanliness, guarantee staff attendance and provide patients with timely and dignified medical treatment. He said all government healthcare facilities would continue to be monitored regularly to further improve public health services.

Later, the Deputy Commissioner visited Government High School Fatuwali to inspect academic, administrative and cleanliness arrangements. He examined classrooms, computer laboratories, playgrounds and lawns. Syed Hasan Raza said that upgrading public educational institutions in line with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision remained a government priority. He stressed that students should be provided with a clean, safe and conducive learning environment alongside quality education. He directed school administrations to ensure daily cleanliness of classrooms, improve landscaping by planting grass where needed, trim trees and enhance the appearance of school campuses. Inspecting the computer laboratories, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized that access to modern technology was essential for improving students’ learning outcomes. He urged teachers and school administrators to perform their duties with dedication and professionalism, adding that the Punjab government would continue to improve educational stan
dards, infrastructure and facilities in public schools.

Hyderabad: On the directives of Senior Suprintendent of Police (SSP) Hyderabad Shahzaib Chachar, traffic management meeting held in which decisions were taken to ensure strict compliance on traffic rules, e-challan system and carrying out joint operations.

Honorary Secretary Traffic Management Board Javed Iqbal, DSPs Traffic, concerned SHOs and other officers and officials participated.

In the meeting, it was decided to conduct joint operations with the district police, traffic police and relevant institutions against one-way violations, double parking, without number plates and illegal rickshaws, removal of soft encroachment and other traffic violations.

On this occasion,directives were also issued to formulate special teams in busy commercial areas and take indiscriminate actions and immediately redress the complaints of citizens and the business community.

The meeting was apprised that the e-challan system has been activated, under which a record of traffic violations will be compiled through mobile applications and cameras and an e-challan will be automatically issued to the owner of the vehicle concerned, while an awareness campaign will also be launched among the citizens regarding e-challan and traffic rules.

At the end of the meeting, it was directed that a progress report on traffic should be sent to the SSP Hyderabad and the Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad every 15 days, while the QRF should be kept active at all times on the information of traffic jams or violations so that better, safe and uninterrupted traffic facilities can be provided to the citizens.

Larkana: Regional Director of the Provincial Ombudsman Larkana, Ali Akbar Jagirani, convened a seminar on Wednesday at the Community Midwife Nursing School in Qamber to raise awareness about the Provincial Ombudsman’s institution, which was attended by a large number of teachers and students.

Addressing the seminar, Regional Director of the Provincial Ombudsman Larkana, Ali Akbar Jagirani, said that the Provincial Ombudsman’s institution is working throughout the province to provide cheap and swift justice to every common person. Complaints filed against Sindh government departments are being resolved there, for which very simple procedures are in place. You can submit an application on a simple piece of paper along with a copy of your CNIC, or you can also submit your application online. After that, the lodged complaint is acted upon immediately, and the grievance is resolved without any delay.

During the seminar, the Regional Director of the Provincial Ombudsman also advised the general public to submit their complaints without any fear or worry so that the injustices faced by them can be eliminated and justice can be provided to them.

The teachers and students present at the seminar asked various questions about the Provincial Ombudsman’s institution, to which the Regional Director of the Provincial Ombudsman Larkana, Ali Akbar Jagirani, gave satisfactory answers.On this occasion, District Health Officer Qamber-Shahdadkot, Dr. Gulzar Ahmed Tunio, and Principal Dr. Razia Sultana were also present.

Afterward, Regional Director of the Provincial Ombudsman Larkana, Ali Akbar Jagirani, convened an open court (kachehri) at the District Accounts Office in Qamber. During the open court, while addressing the Additional District Accounts Officer of Qamber-Shahdadkot, he instructed that the issues of government employees, retired employees, and the heirs of the deceased be resolved without delay so that they do not face any kind of hardship.

In the open court, he gave directives regarding pending salaries, GP funds, pensions, and cases of government employees, retired employees, and the deceased, saying that the legitimate issues of employees should be resolved immediately, complaints should be redressed promptly, and they should be properly informed about their problems.

During the open court, complaints from government employees and retired employees of various departments were presented. To resolve these, the Regional Director of the Provincial Ombudsman Larkana, Ali Akbar Jagirani, issued orders on the spot.

On this occasion, the Additional District Accounts Officer of Qamber-Shahdadkot stated that all issues of government employees will be resolved on a priority basis without any delay so that they face no trouble, and all complaints will be redressed as soon as possible.

Larkana: The Deputy Commissioner Larkana and Controller General of Prices, Tarique Manzoor Chandio, has announced new official prices for wheat flour in District Larkano by exercising the powers conferred under Section 7 of the Sindh Essential Commodities Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 2005.

According to the notification, the ex-mill price of wheat flour has been fixed at Rs. 115 per kilogram, the chakki (stone-ground) wheat flour at Rs. 117 per kilogram, and the retail price of wheat flour at Rs. 120 per kilogram. Similarly, the ex-mill price of fine flour has been fixed at Rs. 122 per kilogram, while the retail price of fine flour has been set at Rs. 125 per kilogram.

The Deputy Commissioner has directed flour mill owners, chakki operators, wholesalers, retailers, and all concerned traders to strictly comply with the notified prices and prominently display the official price list at their business premises.

He said further that all shopkeepers and traders are bound to sell flour at the officially notified rates.

Strict legal action will be taken under the Sindh Essential Commodities Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 2005, and other applicable laws against anyone found selling flour or fine flour above the notified prices.

The new prices shall come into effect immediately.