Day: July 16, 2026

Peshawar: A meeting of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet standing committee chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Law, Aftab Alam here Wednesday review the payment of decretal liabilities arising from land acquired for public universities and educational institutions in Mardan.

The meeting was attended by cabinet members including Meena Khan Afridi, Fazal Shakoor Khan and Muzammal Aslam; Member Provincial Assembly Zahir Shah Toru; Secretary Higher Education Dr. Anbar Ali Khan; District Attorney Mardan; Registrar Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan and senior officials from relevant departments.

The committee conducted a detailed review of decretal liabilities relating to land acquired for Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Agriculture University Peshawar, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Mardan, Bacha Khan Medical College Mardan and Ameer Muhammad Khan Campus, Mardan.

It emphasized that all outstanding payments should be made transparently in accordance with legal requirements and under a comprehensive financial plan.

Addressing the meeting, the minister said the provincial government was committed to ensuring effective implementation of court decisions, safeguarding the financial interests of public institutions and making timely payments to landowners entitled under the law.

He directed all relevant departments to coordinate closely and prepare accurate data and a practical financial strategy to avoid future legal complications.

The committee instructed Deputy Commissioner Mardan to prepare a comprehensive presentation for the next meeting. The presentation will include the principal outstanding amount along with comparative repayment schedules based on mark-up rates of 2 percent, 3 percent and 4 percent over four, five and six years to assess the financial implications and identify the most feasible payment mechanism.

Participants of the committee further directed that next meeting be provided with complete details regarding the total land acquired, the number of landowners, payments made so far, the value of outstanding liabilities, the overall financial estimate and a comprehensive record of the remaining payments to facilitate decision making.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, law minister said that KP government would continue taking all necessary measures to ensure the efficient use of public resources, timely fulfillment of legal obligations and the permanent resolution of financial and legal issues affecting development projects.

Sialkot: The University of Sialkot (SKT) distributed scholarship cheques to selected students under the Chief Minister’s Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship Program during a special ceremony held on campus.

According to USKT, the scholarship cheques were presented by Vice Chancellor Professor (Meritorious) Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman, Registrar Arif Aziz, Treasurer Shehzad Anjum, and Focal Person Usman Ali Sandhu.

The ceremony was attended by scholarship recipients and their parents, who expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Faisal Manzoor, and the Vice Chancellor for their commitment to supporting higher education. They praised the initiative as a significant step toward empowering talented students and building a brighter future for the youth.

Participants also appreciated the Punjab Higher Education Commission for its collaboration in bringing this prestigious scholarship opportunity to students at the University of Sialkot, describing it as a valuable investment in academic excellence and student success.

Reaffirming its commitment to quality education, the University of Sialkot continues to promote academic excellence by providing deserving students with opportunities that enhance their intellectual growth and help them achieve their educational aspirations.

Multan: Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) arrested a sub-inspector over allegedly accepting bribe from a citizen.

According to official sources on Wednesday, the complainant had reported that the Sub-Inspector Farhat Abbas Shah, posted at Cantt Police Station was demanding Rs.200,000 bribe to settle a case.

Acting on the complaint, the department conducted a raid and apprehended the accused, while he was allegedly receiving the money.

A case was registered against the accused under the relevant provisions of the law,while further investigation was underway.

Abbottabad: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Hazara Nasir Mahmood Satti on Wednesday hosted a farewell luncheon in honour of transferred Commissioner Hazara Fayyaz Ali Shah, paying tribute to his administrative leadership and contributions to strengthening governance, interdepartmental coordination and public service across the Hazara Region.

Speaking at the ceremony attended by senior police and civil administration officials, the DIG said that Fayyaz Ali Shah demonstrated exceptional professionalism, integrity and leadership during his tenure, playing a key role in maintaining law and order, promoting institutional coordination and improving service delivery.

He said the Commissioner maintained exemplary cooperation between the district administration and police, particularly during emergencies, religious and national events and other important occasions, enabling timely and effective public service.

Nasir Mahmood Satti said that under the Commissioner’s leadership, governance and service delivery systems in all districts of Hazara Region became more transparent, efficient and people-oriented. He added that mutual trust and coordinated efforts between institutions significantly contributed to strengthening peace and stability in the region.

The DIG expressed best wishes for Fayyaz Ali Shah’s future responsibilities and voiced confidence that he would continue serving the public with the same dedication in his new assignment.

Addressing the gathering, Commissioner Hazara Fayyaz Ali Shah thanked the DIG and Hazara Police for the farewell reception.

He said the police and district administration had always worked as one team to maintain law and order and improve public service in the region.

He appreciated the professionalism and cooperation of Hazara Police and expressed hope that the close coordination between the two institutions would continue.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, DIG Hazara presented the outgoing Commissioner with a commemorative police shield and souvenirs on behalf of Hazara Police, while other police and civil officers also presented him with farewell gifts.

Peshawar: A meeting of Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) Subcommittee on Cervical Cancer Prevention Vaccine Campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday reviewed preparations for upcoming Cervical Cancer Prevention Vaccine Campaign.

The meeting was chaired by Additional Secretary Health and Provincial Coordinator Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) also discussed key strategies to strengthen advocacy, communication, social mobilization and community engagement to ensure the successful implementation of the campaign across the province.

During the meeting, Additional secretary health reiterated that target population for the campaign comprises girls aged 9 to 14 years across all three settings-schools, madrassas, and out-of-school communities. He emphasized that all advocacy, communication and social mobilization activities should comprehensively cover these groups to ensure maximum outreach.

The committee also discussed the draft refusal redressal framework including its low, medium and high-risk categorization. The framework was accepted in principle with the direction that response timelines under each risk category should be shortened to ensure prompt and effective action.

Participants reviewed the proposed strategy for engaging Muttahida Ulema Board and agreed that consultations would begin with the board’s core members and gradually expand to a broader gathering representing all schools of thought to build support for the campaign.

The meeting further decided that the Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization component of the district action plan would be revisited and finalized during a dedicated Social and Behavior Change (SBC) team meeting.

The participants also agreed that cervical cancer prevention and awareness should be incorporated into Clinical Pathological Conferences (CPCs) at tertiary care teaching hospitals to enhance awareness among healthcare professionals and strengthen clinical preparedness.

Meeting concluded with the formulation of several action points and timelines for upcoming meetings and activities aimed at ensuring the successful rollout of the campaign and protecting adolescent girls from cervical cancer through timely vaccination.

Sargodha: The University of Sargodha (UoS) women’s baseball team secured third position in the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Intervarsity Baseball Women Championship 2025-26, held from July 10 to 14 at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi.

According to a press release issued by UoS,the championship brought together women’s baseball teams from universities across the country to compete for top honours under the auspices of the Higher Education Commission.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qaisar Abbas congratulated the team on its achievement, describing it as a reflection of the university’s commitment to promoting excellence in sports alongside academic pursuits.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Masood Sarwar Awan, Chairman University Teaching Departments Sports Committee Prof. Dr. Aamir Ali, Chairman University Sports Committee Prof. Dr. Ijaz Rasool Noorka, Chairperson University Sports Committee (Women) Dr. Asia Saif Alvi, Registrar Waqar Ahmad, Treasurer Muhammad Anwar, Director Sports Ahmad Khan Haral and Incharge Department of Sports Sciences Dr. Yasir Iqbal Warraich also felicitated the players and officials.

They commended team captain and players, Assistant Director Sports (Women) and Team Manager Ms. Shazia Nasir, Team Coach Ms. Ansa Irshad, and the staff of the Directorate of Sports for their dedicated efforts in securing the podium finish.