Day: July 20, 2026

Peshawar: At least four tourists, including two women were killed and one person injured after their vehicle plunged into a deep ravine near Dimnarian in Kaywai area of Balakot in Mansehra district, on Sunday.

According to Rescue 1122, the tourists were traveling from Sialkot in a mini van bearing registration number AGJ-957 when the driver reportedly lost control causing the vehicle to fall into a deep gorge.

Upon receiving the emergency call, Rescue 1122 Mansehra dispatched ambulances and rescue teams to the scene.

The deceased were identified as Shahroz, son of Sahir; Junaid, son of Sohail, who was driving the vehicle and two women whose identities have not yet been released.

The injured passenger, Tanveer, son of Khurram was provided first aid at the scene before being shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Balakot for further treatment.

Rescue personnel retrieved all the victims from the ravine and transported them to Kaywai Hospital.

The bodies of the deceased were later moved to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Balakot, for legal formalities.

Rescue officials said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Mansehra: Rescue 1122 Mansehra on Sunday issued a public advisory warning to residents and tourists to avoid rivers, streams and seasonal waterways following intermittent rainfall that has caused a sharp increase in water flow across parts of the district.

According to Rescue 1122, water flow in rivers, streams and seasonal channels in Balakot Tehsil has become extremely swift, while a low-level flood has been reported in the Siran River in Siran Valley. The emergency service warned that water levels and the intensity of the flow could rise suddenly at any time due to continuing rains.

On the directives of District Emergency Officer Mansehra Abrar Ali, Rescue 1122 has deployed all emergency teams, particularly Water Rescue (Diver) units, at temporary water rescue points established across the district. The teams are carrying out continuous patrols, monitoring vulnerable locations and conducting public awareness campaigns to prevent accidents.

Rescue 1122 urged citizens and tourists to stay away from rivers, streams, flash flood channels and other fast-flowing water bodies. Parents were also advised not to allow children near water unattended and to strictly follow the instructions of rescue personnel.

The emergency service advised the public to immediately contact Rescue 1122 in case of any emergency.

Abbottabad: The district administration Abbottabad and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Halal Food Authority Sunday imposed fines of Rs500,000 on milk suppliers found violating food safety standards and destroyed 2,600 liters of substandard milk during a joint inspection campaign launched to ensure the supply of safe and quality milk to consumers.

The operation was carried out by Assistant Commissioner Abbottabad Afrasiab Zubair Hundal and Additional Director of the Halal Food Authority Abbottabad Tahir Habib.

During the campaign, officials inspected 64 milk transport vehicles entering the city, 52 milk shops and key supply points. A total of 200 milk samples were collected and tested using modern testing kits for formalin, urea, neutralizers, maltodextrin, boric acid and other chemical adulterants.

According to the inspection results, none of the samples contained formalin, urea, neutralizers, maltodextrin or boric acid. However, 13 samples were found adulterated with skim milk powder. Of these, four samples were linked to suppliers from Punjab, two from Haripur and seven from local suppliers in Havelian.

The authorities imposed cumulative fines of Rs500,000 on the violators and disposed of 2,600 litres of substandard milk on the spot to protect public health.

Speaking on the occasion, officials warned milk vendors to ensure the sale of only pure and quality milk, stating that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found violating food safety regulations in future.

The district administration and the Halal Food Authority reaffirmed their commitment to continuing joint enforcement operations to ensure the uninterrupted supply of safe, hygienic and high-quality milk and other food items to the public.

Rawalpindi: Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) has broken new ground in women’s higher education by launching an array of market-driven bachelor programmes, including Data Science, Fintech, and Forensic Science, making it the first public-sector university in the twin cities to offer these specialised disciplines to female students.

The initiative, aimed at bridging the gap between academic theory and industrial requirements, follows the overwhelming success of the BS Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics programme introduced during the previous academic year.

FJWU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Bushra Mirza (TI) expressed this during an exclusive interview with reporter, sharing that the university’s academic council is continuously aligning its curriculum with international academic trends to ensure local graduates can compete in the global job market.

“The university is introducing these advanced BS programmes for the first time in its history to meet local and international market demands,” Dr. Bushra Mirza said, adding, “This is a deliberate stride toward bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring our graduates are highly employable globally.”

The newly introduced disciplines for the current academic session include BS Data Science, BS Computer Systems, BS Forensic Science, BS Financial Technology (Fintech), BS Business Analytics, and BS Fashion and Interior Design.

Detailing the scope of these innovative faculties, the vice chancellor highlighted that the BS Data Science and BS Computer Systems degrees integrate hardware and software components to meet the escalating global demand for specialized IT experts.

“By launching the BS Forensic Science programme, we are breaking traditional boundaries to enable the professional participation of women in criminal investigations and the justice system,” she noted.

She emphasized that FJWU holds a unique distinction in this regard, as no other public-sector university in Rawalpindi or Islamabad currently offers a formal degree in forensic sciences.

She further elaborated that forensic sciences is not merely linked with criminology, but the it is rooted with biological sciences and other allied basic sciences.

Furthermore, she observed that the BS Fintech and BS Business Analytics tracks are designed to create next-generation financial strategists capable of driving data-backed economic decisions, while the BS Fashion and Interior Design programme will provide a platform for female youth to polish and commercialise their creative talents.

“The university administration and academic council continuously review international academic trends to adapt our curriculum and educational standards accordingly,” Dr. Bushra said and added that university’s primary goal is to fully align FJWU with global educational benchmarks while providing a secure and productive learning environment.

To support these advanced curricula, the university has set up state-of-the-art incubation centres and modern research labs on campus, managed by highly qualified faculty members to foster entrepreneurial and investigative skills.

Dr. Bushra maintained that as Pakistan’s first-ever formal women’s university, FJWU remains dedicated to providing a secure, productive, and empowering environment.

She added that a vast majority of the university’s alumni are already serving in leadership roles across public, semi-public, and private organizations at both national and provincial levels.

“These modern disciplines will serve as a milestone in strengthening women’s empowerment and increasing their participation in the national economy,” she said.

Responding to a question regarding industry exposure, the Vice Chancellor highlighted that FJWU is actively expanding corporate and external collaborations to guarantee hands-on internship opportunities for students before they graduate.

“I strongly urge parents to encourage their daughters to opt for these modern scientific and technical tracks to secure a bright, competitive future,” she underscored.

The admission process for these newly established programmes is currently underway.

Hyderabad: In a significant action to safeguard public health, a joint intelligence-based operation was conducted by the Assistant Commissioner City Hyderabad, Intelligence Bureau (IB), and the Sindh Food Authority following credible information regarding the storage and sale of expired beverages in Hyderabad City.

During the operation, the inspection team raided a warehouse where a large quantity of expired beverages was discovered. The expired products were found mixed with other stock, indicating an attempt to conceal and distribute unfit beverages in the market.

Taking immediate action, the Assistant Commissioner, City Hyderabad Syed Noor Hussain, ordered the sealing of the premises to prevent the sale and distribution of hazardous products. The Sindh Food Authority initiated further legal proceedings under the relevant food safety laws.

Assistant Commissioner City Hyderabad, Syed Noor Hussain, reiterated that the district administration will continue taking strict action against individuals involved in the sale and storage of expired or adulterated food items. He urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any such illegal activities to the authorities to help ensure the availability of safe and quality food products for the public.

Peshawar: A joint intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted by the police, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and security forces in Greda Shah Jahan area of Bannu district resulted in the killing of one militant and arrest of eight suspects.

According to police on Sunday, the operation was carried out under the supervision of District Police Officer (DPO) Captain (R) Muhammad Furqan Bilal. Personnel from the District Police, Elite Force, CTD and security forces participated in the operation.

During the operation, security forces established blocking positions around the area to prevent any escape routes.

Police said one militant was killed, and a Kalashnikov, several magazines and a bandolier were recovered from his possession.

Authorities also detained eight suspects who have been handed over to the CTD and District Police for joint technical investigation.

Police further stated that a search of the house of wanted militant commander Zargul alias “Uncle” led to the recovery of two Honda CD-125 motorcycles and one rickshaw.

Bannu Police reaffirmed their commitment to continuing joint operations with law enforcement agencies to eliminate terrorism, maintain peace and order and protect the lives and property of the public.