Day: July 19, 2026

Mingora: A sudden glacier collapse in scenic Matiltan area of Kalam has left six people injured and one person missing. According to a spokesperson for Rescue 1122 Swat on Saturday, a total of seven individuals were caught in path of collapsing ice.

Emergency response teams rushed to site to provide immediate medical assistance and launch a search operation.

First responders treated three of injured on-site before transferring them to Central Hospital Saidu Sharif for advanced medical care, while the remaining three sustained minor injuries.

Meanwhile, search efforts continue for a man identified as Syed Ali Shah, who remains missing. Although his companions fear he may have perished in the incident, official rescue teams have not yet recovered his body.

In wake of collapse, specialized water rescue teams have been placed on high alert at sensitive locations along Swat River to monitor fluctuating water levels and ensure public safety.

Sialkot: Ahmed Anwar, Deputy Director, and Ali Raza Asim, Assistant Director, Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), visited the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and called on Syed Ahtesham Mazhar, President SCCI.

During the meeting, the RUDA officials briefed the President on the vision, objectives, and salient features of the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project and other projects being implemented by the Authority.

The briefing highlighted RUDA’s initiatives for sustainable urban development, modern infrastructure, environmental conservation, and the creation of investment opportunities.

The meeting was attached by the Sialkot business community.

Peshawar: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday inaugurated a free male outpatient department (OPD) at the Pakistan Red Crescent Basic Health Unit (BHU) here at Bara Gate, saying the initiative would improve access to quality healthcare for people at their doorstep.

The Governor also inspected the newly established male OPD and emergency ward and reviewed the medical facilities being provided to patients.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, he said the male OPD had been established under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan Red Crescent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Northwest Hospital. Under the agreement, two specialist doctors from Northwest Hospital would examine patients free of cost one day every month, while free medicines would also be provided through the partnership.

Kundi said ensuring quality basic healthcare at the community level remained a top priority, adding that free specialist consultations and medicines were a valuable welfare initiative amid rising inflation.

He said similar healthcare projects were being expanded across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while free medical camps were also being organised in different districts of the province.

The Governor said the President of Pakistan was extending full support to the humanitarian activities of the Pakistan Red Crescent. He added that MoUs had also been signed with Ittefaq Kidney Hospital and Sundas Foundation to provide more advanced medical services to the public.

Talking to media later, Kundi paid tribute to the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces and security agencies in the fight against terrorism, saying the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stood shoulder to shoulder with them.

He said lasting peace was essential for attracting investment, promoting industrial growth and creating employment opportunities.

The Governor reiterated his support for safeguarding the rights and interests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and urged the province’s members of the National Assembly to effectively raise provincial issues in Parliament.

Referring to the proposed taxation in the merged tribal districts, he said the final decision rested with the prime minister, adding that the promised annual development funds of Rs100 billion for the erstwhile FATA had yet to be released.

Kundi also stressed the need for establishing a one-window operation for overseas Pakistani investors, saying the province’s abundant natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals, water resources and tourism potential, could help generate investment and employment if utilised effectively.

He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Champions League was also being launched to promote sports and provide positive opportunities for youth.

The Governor condemned attacks on election candidates in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, urging all political parties to participate in the electoral process peacefully and democratically.

He also termed JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s remarks regarding martyrs as unfortunate, reaffirming that the entire nation stood united with the armed forces and security institutions in the fight against terrorism.

Hyderabad: The Syndicate of the University of Sindh has considered and approved budget estimates amounting to Rs9.44 billion for the financial year 2026-27 besides endorsing the varsity’s new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy.

The SU’s spokesman Nadir Mugheri informed here on Saturday that the syndicate also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening academic excellence, financial sustainability, research, innovation and digital transformation.

He added that the decisions were taken at the 213th meeting of the syndicate, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri (TI) at the Vice Chancellor’s Secretariat.

The syndicate recommended the revised budget estimates of Rs8.24 billion for the financial year 2025-26 and approved budget estimates of Rs9.44 billion for 2026-27.

The proposed budget comprised Rs3.75 billion in grants from the Sindh Government in addition to Rs1.716 billion from the Federal Government and the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The university was expected to generate approximately Rs3.40 billion through its own resources.

Addressing the meeting, the VC expressed gratitude to the government and the HEC for their continued financial support, particularly acknowledging additional allocations for the development and strengthening of the university campus and constituent campuses.

He said the enhanced funding would significantly improve academic infrastructure and expand educational opportunities across Sindh.

He also thanked the HEC for its recurring and development grants.

Marri informed the Syndicate that the new budget provided increased allocations for student services, research and innovation, entrepreneurship and startup initiatives, reaffirming the university’s resolve to produce skilled graduates, promote quality research and encourage innovation among students and faculty members.

The syndicate also approved the SU’s ICT Policy, aimed at modernizing the institution’s digital infrastructure through secure, reliable and high-quality information technology and internet services.

The policy envisaged wider use of official university domain-based services and institutional email accounts to improve communication, cyber security, digital governance and academic collaboration.

The house reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening institutional governance, ensuring financial sustainability, enhancing academic quality and accelerating the varsity’s digital transformation in line with national and international standards.

The syndicate congratulated Marri on being conferred the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan in recognition of his distinguished services to higher education, academic leadership and public service.

Members described the national honour as a matter of pride for the SU and the country’s academic community.

The meeting also offered Fateha for the departed souls of former Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr A.Q. Ansari, Prof Dr Din Muhammad Shaikh and Prof Dr Saima Shaikh, paying glowing tributes to their invaluable contributions to higher education.

Pro VC Prof Dr Abdul Sattar Shah, Sindh Secretary, Universities and Boards Muhammad Abbas Baloch, Prof Dr Javed Ahmed Chandio, Prof Dr Lachhman Das Dhomeja, Prof Dr Arfana Begum Mallah, Dr Muhammad Aqeel Bhutto and Umeed Ali Rind, among other members, attended the meeting.

Larkana: Deputy Commissioner Larkana, Tariq Manzoor Chandio, chaired a high-level meeting to review the performance of NGOs and INGOs working in District Larkana.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner-I Larkana, Syed Ghazanfar Ali Shah; District Health Officer Larkana, Dr. Shaukat Abro; Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department Larkana; District Population Officer Larkana; District Education Officer (Primary and Secondary); representatives of NGOs and international NGOs working in District Larkana; and other officials.

The Deputy Commissioner Larkana welcomed the participants and briefed them on the agenda of the meeting.

Representatives of the NGOs briefed the chair of the meeting, one by one, about their work on various projects and the challenges they were facing. The

Deputy Commissioner Larkana instructed all participants to submit their performance reports (on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis) to the Deputy Commissioner’s office so that their progress could be reviewed in the next meeting.

The Deputy Commissioner Larkana directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner-I Larkana to raise the matter of the pending No Objection Certificates (NOCs) of the NGOs in the meeting of the District Intelligence Committee, and instructed the representative of the Social Welfare Department to ensure that all NGOs and INGOs submit their performance reports to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Bahawalpur: Commissioner Bahawalpur Division, Irfan Ali Kathia, and Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur, Syed Hassan Raza, visited the Social Protection Wallet SIM Center established under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) at Government High School, Bahawalpur Cantt.

During the visit, they reviewed the arrangements for the distribution of SIM cards to eligible women, the registration process, security measures, and the facilities available at various service counters established for beneficiaries. Officials briefing the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner explained that the SIM cards being issued to eligible women will enable the State Bank of Pakistan to create a Digital Social Protection Wallet for each beneficiary. ‘Under this system, future BISP financial assistance will be transferred directly into the beneficiaries’ digital wallets,’ they said, adding that the new mechanism will also allow women to carry out digital financial transactions without being restricted to a specific retailer or designated collection time.

Commissioner directed the concerned authorities to ensure that the distribution of SIM cards and the registration process are conducted with complete transparency, discipline, and strict adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the government.