Day: July 18, 2026

Khanewal: A seven-year-old girl was killed after being struck by a speeding Mazda while crossing the road near the Addhi Wala bus stop, rescuers said.

The victim, identified as Khadija, daughter of Qasoor Abbas and a resident of Addhi Wala, sustained critical injuries and could not survive.

Rescuers shifted the body to Civil Hospital Kabirwala for legal formalities before handing it over to the family.

The driver escaped the scene. Police were informed about the incident which constituted a team to arrest the absconding driver after lodging the FIR. The accident reported to have occurred due to overspeeding by the fleeing driver.

Sargodha: Citizens of Sargodha on Friday expressed appreciation for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s initiative to provide free ambulance services for transporting the bodies of deceased persons, describing it as a significant relief for deserving families.

In an opinion survey conducted by the Associated Press of Pakistan, people from various segments of society, particularly low- and middle-income groups, welcomed the initiative, saying it had eased the financial burden on families during moments of grief.

Muhammad Hafeez, a resident of a suburban area near Sargodha, said his family could not afford the high charges of a private ambulance when his grandfather passed away at Civil Hospital Sargodha. He said the free ambulance service arranged by the government transported the body to their hometown without any cost, providing much-needed support to the family.

Similarly, Ghulam Qadir said his mother passed away at THQ Hospital Sahiwal and his family was worried about arranging transportation due to financial constraints. He said the free ambulance service ensured the safe and dignified transfer of his mother’s body.

Residents said the initiative had helped protect poor families from excessive charges by private ambulance operators. They appreciated the provincial government’s welfare measures and hoped such public service programmes would continue to expand across Punjab.

Muzaffargarh: Deputy Commissioner Muzaffargarh Usman Tahir Jappa visited various parts of the district to review progress under the Saanjhi Sabzi (community vegetable) programme.

Accompanied by officials of the Agriculture Department, the DC inspected the land allocated for vegetable cultivation and reviewed ongoing farming activities, crop growth, irrigation arrangements and other related matters.

During the visit, he directed the concerned officials to ensure the effective implementation of the programme, stating that the initiative aims to provide the public with fresh, quality and affordable vegetables, promote food security and ensure the productive use of government land for public welfare.

Usman Tahir Jappa also instructed the Agriculture Department to maintain close coordination with farmers and relevant institutions, promote modern agricultural practices and ensure continuous monitoring of crops to achieve better yields and maximize the programme’s benefits for the public.

Speaking on the occasion, the deputy commissioner said that receiving the first merit badge and a cash award of Rs100,000 from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in recognition of the district’s development, improved public service delivery and outstanding administrative performance was an honour for the entire district administration.

He said the recognition would further motivate the administration to continue serving the public with greater dedication and commitment. He reaffirmed his resolve to accelerate the implementation of the Sanjhi Sabzi programme and other public welfare initiatives in line with the chief minister’s vision to provide maximum relief and improved services to the people

Sargodha: As many as 115,000 registered deserving women beneficiaries in Sargodha district have received payments under the latest tranche of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) for June-July 2026.

BISP Sargodha Deputy Director Malik Safdar Awan and Assistant Director Sumaira told the Associated Press of Pakistan on Friday that each beneficiary received Rs14,500 under the recently released tranche.

They said payments were made to 55,000 women in Sargodha, 15,000 in Bhalwal, 10,000 each in Shahpur, Bhera and Sahiwal, and 15,000 in Sillanwali.

The officials said the total number of registered BISP beneficiaries in Sargodha district was 213,000, out of which 115,000 women had received their payments so far. They added that the programme was providing all possible facilities to beneficiaries.

Malik Safdar Awan further said the SIM distribution process under the digital wallet account system was continuing, with around 90 per cent of the work completed.

Muzaffargarh: Vacant state land in Muzaffargarh district is being utilized in a novel way, community vegetable gardens to provide free seasonal produce to local residents.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given a go-ahead to the unique public welfare initiative, titled “Sanjhi Sabzi” (Shared Vegetables), which aims to utilize unused state land in both urban and rural areas to cultivate seasonal vegetables for free distribution among surrounding communities.

According to an official briefing, vegetables were currently being grown on 140 plots covering 139 kanals, and residents have started receiving free produce according to their needs.

The initiative was launched in a Christian community village in Muzaffargarh and has attracted voluntary public participation, with local residents also cultivating vegetables for the benefit of others.

Deputy Commissioner Muzaffargarh Muhammad Usman Tahir Jappa briefed Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on the project’s progress during a meeting, says an official release.He informed the CM that government land ranging from one marla to one kanal had been identified in villages for vegetable cultivation, while vacant land adjacent to government offices and public institutions in urban areas was also being brought under vegetable farming.

The project utilizes land adjoining facilities of the Health Department, Local Government Department, Forest Department, educational institutions, and the offices of assistant commissioners.

Appreciating the initiative, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif described “Sanjhi Sabzi” as a model public welfare project that should be replicated across Punjab.

In recognition of his efforts, the Chief Minister awarded Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Tahir Jappa the Chief Minister’s Merit Badge along with a cash prize of Rs100,000, and directed him to continue expanding the initiative to benefit more communities.