Day: July 16, 2026

Sargodha: The Road and drainage development projects in Sargodha remain incomplete due to a shortage of funds despite repeated directives from provincial and district authorities .

Director Development Sargodha, Khalid Mahmood told APP that the district government had been unable to complete several road development schemes because of financial constraints. He said a number of planned projects had been dropped owing to a lack of funds.

According to official directives cited by local residents, the Deputy Commissioner of Sargodha on December 29, 2025, instructed the relevant authorities to complete a road and drainage projects in Mouza Thatha Hakiman, Tehsil Sahiwal.

Ahmed Hassan, a resident of the area, said that Commissioner Sargodha, Hafiz Shaukat Ali later directed then-Director Development Bilal Hassan to complete the project on the instructions of the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office.

Another resident, Ikram, said the Highways Department conducted a survey of the road on April 1, 2026. He added that the district council also left the drainage system unfinished despite a March 31, 2026, directive from Deputy Commissioner Hussain Ahmed Raza Chaudhry ordering the council to complete the remaining work in line with instructions from the Chief Minister’s Office.

The residents said no significant progress has been made to complete the drainage system and urged the provincial government to direct the district administration to finish the pending project on a priority basis to improve infrastructure and public convenience.

Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has sealed 11 buildings, including a multi-storey structure, during an enforcement operation against illegal constructions and violations of building regulations in The Avenue-1 and Mumtaz City housing schemes here on Wednesday.

According to an RDA spokesperson, the operation was carried out on the directions of the competent authority as part of the authority’s ongoing campaign against unauthorized developments and illegal construction activities.

During the operation, the RDA Enforcement Squad took action under the Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976, the RDA Building and Zoning Regulations and other relevant planning laws.

As part of the drive, eight illegally constructed residential buildings and two illegally constructed commercial buildings were sealed. The enforcement team also sealed the J7 Icon multi-storey building for violations of the approved building plan and relevant building regulations.

The operation was led by Deputy Director Planning Muhammad Daud, accompanied by Building Inspector Shafiqur Rahman and members of the RDA enforcement squad.

The spokesperson said the enforcement campaign was aimed at curbing illegal construction, ensuring planned urban development and protecting the interests of genuine property owners and investors.

He reiterated that the authority remained committed to enforcing the Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976, and the RDA Building and Zoning Regulations, adding that no illegal construction or unauthorized development would be tolerated and legal action against violators would continue without discrimination.

The RDA also advised the public to verify the legal and approval status of any housing scheme or construction project before making investments and urged citizens to report illegal constructions and unauthorized developments so that timely legal action could be taken.

Multan: The Punjab Agriculture Department has issued guidelines for cotton growers to control destructive pests affecting the crop.

According to the guidelines, farmers should conduct pest scouting twice a week to check for whitefly and remove weeds from cotton fields and surrounding areas. Whitefly on alternate host crops should also be controlled in time.

Farmers were advised to ensure the cotton crop does not face water shortage and to irrigate according to crop needs and weather conditions.

For whitefly control, growers should install 20 yellow sticky cards per acre and reapply adhesive glue every 15 days. Spray should only be carried out on the advice of local agriculture department staff once the economic threshold of five adult or nymph whiteflies, or both combined, per leaf is reached.

Farmers were urged to avoid repeated use of pesticides from the same chemical group and to calibrate spray machines before application, preferably using hollow cone nozzles or power sprayers.

The guidelines also call for controlling cotton jassid on alternate host crops, particularly okra and brinjal grown near cotton fields. Spray should be carried out on expert advice if jassid infestation reaches the economic threshold of one adult or nymph per leaf.

For thrips control, farmers should conduct pest scouting at least twice a week and eliminate weeds in and around cotton fields. Water shortage should be avoided, as thrips cause maximum damage during hot and dry weather. Spray should be applied on the advice of local agriculture experts once the economic threshold of eight to ten adults or nymphs per leaf is reached.

To detect pink bollworm infestation in time, farmers should conduct pest scouting twice a week. For monitoring, one to two pheromone traps per acre should be installed, while nine to twelve traps per acre are recommended for complete control. Pheromone capsules should be replaced every 15 days, or long-duration pheromones may be used. Additionally, 20 Trichogramma cards per acre should be installed and replaced every 15 days.

Rawalpindi: A local court on Wednesday sentenced a drug supplier to one year and seven months in prison, besides imposing a fine of Rs 40,000.

According to the details, convict, identified as Khurshid, was arrested by the Wah Cantt Police in 2024 after recovering 2.5 kilograms of hashish (charas) from his possession.

A police spokesperson added that the rigorous prosecution and solid evidence presented by the police team led to the convict’s sentencing by the honorable court. “The indiscriminate crackdown against those involved in this heinous trade will continue “, he said.

Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, handed over appointment letters to 4,306 newly recruited police constables from all eight divisions of the province, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the operational capacity and human resource base of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police.

Addressing the ceremony held in Peshawar, the Chief Minister congratulated the newly inducted personnel and expressed confidence that they would uphold throughout their professional careers the same principles of merit, transparency, integrity, honesty, and dedication on which they had been recruited.

The provincial government, he said, has institutionalized merit and transparency as the cornerstone of governance across all sectors, ensuring that appointments and public service opportunities were based solely on competence rather than political influence or nepotism.

The Chief Minister observed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), and Special Branch have earned nationwide recognition for their professionalism, courage, and operational effectiveness as a direct outcome of merit-based institutional reforms.

He noted that they were becoming part of a distinguished institution with a proud legacy of sacrifice and public service, urging them to safeguard the honour, discipline, and traditions of the force under all circumstances.

He paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police during more than two decades of frontline operations against terrorism, acknowledging the force’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of citizens.

He also honoured the sacrifices of the police martyrs, veterans, and serving personnel who have demonstrated exceptional courage in the fight against terrorism.

The Chief Minister urged the newly inducted officers to remain steadfast in the discharge of their duties, resist all forms of unlawful pressure or interference and uphold the rule of law by prioritizing the fight against crime and terrorism. He reaffirmed the provincial government’s resolve to continue its efforts until sustainable peace is fully restored.

He emphasized that the defining characteristic of a professional police officer was respectful, impartial, and courteous engagement with citizens, coupled with an unwavering commitment to justice. He assured the participants that the provincial government would continue extending full support to strengthen the institutional capacity, welfare, and professional development of the police force.

Highlighting the recruitment of women constables, the Chief Minister welcomed the increasing participation of women in the police service and reiterated that women’s empowerment remains a key priority of the provincial government.

He stated that women would continue to receive equitable access to internship programmes, interest-free loan schemes, and other government initiatives to enable their meaningful contribution to the province’s socio-economic development.

Dera ghazi khan: Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmed Chaudhry on Wednesday visited the water bottling plant established near Daraahma under the Punjab Chief Minister’s Clean Drinking Water Programme.

The Commissioner inspected various sections of the project and reviewed the construction quality, machinery installation and overall arrangements.

During the inspection, representatives of the Punjab Saaf Pani Authority briefed the Commissioner in detail about the project’s progress, water bottling process, installation of machinery and other technical matters.

Ashfaq Ahmed Chaudhry said that the the provision of clean drinking water was the top priority of the Punjab Government project,adding that the project aimed at providing safe drinking water at the doorsteps of underprivileged segments of society, particularly widows, orphans, people with disabilities and other deserving citizens.

He directed the concerned authorities to ensure that the water supply system remained effective, transparent and uninterrupted.

On the occasion,Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid and other officers concerned were present.