Day: July 17, 2026

Faisalabad: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Faisalabad circle arrested four accused involved in human trafficking and overseas employment fraud.

They were accused of receiving millions of rupees from citizens for sending them on employment visas to Canada and Bahrain.

The accused have been locked behind bars and legal action has been initiated against them.

According to official sources here Thursday, the team held a human trafficker and recovered 4 passports, cash Rs 50,000, cell phone and one car from his possession. He has received an amount of Rs 3 million from a citizen for sending him on an employment visa to Canada. The accused was operating an organized network with co-accused from abroad.

In another action, a human trafficker identified as Talha Saeed was nabbed. He has received Rs 825,000 from a citizen for sending him to Bahrain.

Meanwhile, two accused Hamza Daraz and Umar Daraz were arrested who have extorted Rs 4 million from citizens for sending them to Canada.

Gujrat: The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) seized 60 kilograms of banned polythene bags during an enforcement drive to ensure compliance with environmental laws across the district.

According to official sources, Deputy Director Environment Usama Majid led inspection teams that visited 20 industrial units and a brick kiln. A notice was issued to one industrial unit for violating environmental regulations.

The teams also inspected five barbecue outlets, where three were found violating environmental laws. The authorities imposed fines amounting to Rs20,000 on the violators, which were recovered on the spot.

The EPA said the crackdown against environmental violations, including air pollution and the use of banned polythene bags, would continue to ensure strict enforcement of environmental laws.

Burewala: One person was killed and two others sustained injuries in a collision between a car and a Mazda truck near Chak 217/EB, Gaggoo Mandi, on the outskirts of Burewala.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, emergency teams rushed to the scene immediately after receiving information about the accident. Initial reports indicated that the car was travelling from Arifwala towards Gaggoo Mandi, while the Mazda was coming from the opposite direction when the two vehicles collided head-on. As a result of the impact, the car driver died on the spot.

Rescue 1122 personnel provided first aid to the injured before shifting them to the Rural Health Centre (RHC) Gaggoo for further medical treatment.

The injured were identified as Hafiz Zia Mustafa (46), son of Hafiz Ahmad Din, a resident of Chak 95/EB, Tehsil Arifwala, and Muhammad Sadiq (45), son of Khadam Hussain, a resident of Khairpur Tamewali.

Further investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

Sialkot: Newly-appointed Deputy Commissioner Sialkot Awais Mushtaq undertook his first early morning field visit on Thursday, beginning with an inspection of Daska, where he reviewed ongoing development projects, sanitation arrangements and civic facilities.

According to a Deputy Commissioner’s Office spokesperson, Awais Mushtaq directed the authorities to complete development schemes within the stipulated timeframe while maintaining quality standards. He also stressed strict implementation of safety measures at construction sites, prompt removal of construction debris and better coordination among departments to resolve utility-related issues.

After concluding his visit to Daska, the deputy commissioner returned to Sialkot city and paid a surprise visit to Government Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital. He inspected various wards, met patients, reviewed the availability of medicines and checked the attendance of doctors and paramedical staff, directing the hospital administration to ensure quality healthcare and timely provision of free medicines.

He also inspected the ongoing Urban Regeneration of Iqbal Road (Iqbal Manzil) project in Sialkot and directed the relevant departments to complete the heritage conservation scheme on schedule while ensuring high construction standards and strict compliance with safety measures.

Burewala: At least 13 people, including three children, sustained severe burn injuries after a fire broke out following a gas cylinder leak at a sweet shop in Burewala on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in the busy Chungi No. 5 area, where panic gripped the locality after the blaze rapidly engulfed the shop.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, emergency teams rushed to the scene immediately after receiving the alert and launched a prompt rescue operation. All the injured were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, Burewala, for emergency treatment.

Hospital sources said that the condition of six of the injured was critical, while the remaining victims were receiving medical care.

The critically injured who were later referred to Nishtar Hospital, Multan, were identified as Bashir Hussain of Marzi Pura, Ali Hussain of Jamal Pur, Habib of Akhtar Town, Habib-ur-Rehman, Sajid of Ashraf Town, Faqeer of Chak 71/12-L, Abdul Rehman of Marzi Pura, Muhammad Shafiq, Ali Raza of Chak 255-EB and Hassan Ali.

Rescue officials said preliminary investigations suggested that the fire erupted due to a gas cylinder leakage. Further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.