Day: July 22, 2026

Peshawar: A meeting of Legislative Committee chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Law, Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs Aftab Alam here Tuesday reviewed proposed amendments to various legal drafts, including KP Local Government Amendment Bill and KP Stamp Amendment Bill.

The meeting was attended by Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary Law Department, Secretary Local Government and Rural Development Department, officials of revenue, law departments.

The meeting was informed that following the bifurcation of existing territories and alterations in administrative boundaries, it had become imperative to incorporate the newly created districts into the local government framework.

The proposed amendment to KP Local Government Act, 2013 seeks to amend the Ninth Schedule to structurally accommodate the altered boundaries of the parent districts. The amendment will facilitate the delimitation of the revised boundaries without increasing the aggregate ceiling of councils.

The proposed legislation also seeks to make necessary administrative adjustments in the number of Village Councils and Neighborhood Councils in Hangu and Karak districts thereby aligning the local government system with the existing administrative boundaries and ground realities.

The committee also reviewed the proposed amendments to KP Stamp Amendment Bill. The meeting was informed that Stamp Act, 1899 does not provide a separate legal framework for the assignment of rights, title or interest in immovable property resulting in the non-uniform regulation of such transactions under the existing stamp-duty regime.

Under the proposed amendment, a new Article 11-AA would be inserted in Schedule-I to introduce an ‘Assignable Deed’ as a distinct class of instrument and prescribe the applicable stamp duty. The proposed amendment aims to provide legal certainty in transactions involving the assignment of rights, title or interest in immovable property, promote the formal documentation of such transactions and strengthen compliance with stamp laws.

The committee reviewed various aspects of the proposed amendments to both legal drafts and received briefings from the relevant departments.

Chilas: At least two people were killed and ten others injured after a passenger van overturned near Babusar Top in the Chilas area on Tuesday, according to police sources quoted by tv channels.

According to initial reports, the van was traveling in the area when it overturned, reportedly due to brake failure. Rescue teams rushed to the scene after receiving information about the incident and shifted the bodies of the deceased and the injured to a nearby hospital.

The injured are receiving medical treatment. Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.

Gujranwala: Two people were killed and five others injured on Tuesday when the roof of a house collapsed in the Nowshera Road area of Gujranwala, according to TV channels quoting rescue sources.

According to initial reports, the victims belonged to the same family. The roof suddenly caved in, trapping the family members under the debris. Two people died on the spot, while five others sustained injuries.

Rescue teams rushed to the site immediately after receiving reports of the incident. They pulled the deceased and the injured from the rubble, shifting them to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment. Meanwhile, authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the roof collapse.

Kohat: Funeral prayers for Police Constable Ibrahim, who was martyred after sustaining injuries during an operation against militants in Hangu, were offered with full state honors at the New Police Lines in Kohat on Tuesday.

According to officials, Constable Ibrahim was critically injured during an encounter with militants in Hangu and later succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Kohat.

The funeral was attended by senior civil, military and police officials, including Commissioner Kohat Mutassim Billah Shah, DIG Kohat Irfan Tariq, DPO Kohat Shehbaz Elahi and DPO Hangu Tariq Habib, as well as officers of the Pakistan Army, police personnel, relatives of the deceased and members of the public.

A police contingent presented a guard of honour to the fallen constable, while senior officials laid floral wreaths on the coffin and offered prayers for the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family.

Following the funeral, the commissioner, senior police officers and other officials visited the martyr’s family to express their condolences. They said the sacrifices of police personnel who lay down their lives in the line of duty would not be forgotten and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to honoring those who sacrificed their lives for peace and security.

Peshawar: Provincial Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education, Arshad Ayub Khan on Tuesday visited District Khyber to review the overall performance of education sector, monitor development projects, assess teacher training programs and address public concerns regarding education.

Upon arrival at the District Education Officer (Male) Office, the Minister was warmly received by senior officials of elementary and secondary education department and the district administration.

A review meeting was held at the DEO Office wherein District Education Officers and Deputy Managing Director Merged Areas Education Foundation (MAEF) presented a detailed briefing on educational landscape of District Khyber.

The Minister was informed about the overall performance of government schools, student enrolment initiatives, availability of basic facilities, progress on ongoing development schemes, utilization of Parent-Teacher Council (PTC) funds, teacher recruitment, implementation of the e-transfer policy, second-shift schools, government community schools and donor-supported education projects.

The briefing also highlighted key challenges confronting the district and measures being taken to improve educational standards.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress made in several areas, the minister stressed that sustained efforts were required to overcome existing challenges. He directed the concerned officers to prepare a comprehensive and result-oriented district action plan in collaboration with civil society, elected public representatives, school heads, Parent-Teacher Councils and parents to improve student enrolment, reduce dropout rates and enhance academic performance.

He also visited a number of government schools across the district where he inspected classrooms, assessed the learning environment, reviewed teachers’ attendance and examined the availability of essential facilities including furniture, safe drinking water, sanitation and washrooms.

During his interaction with students and teachers, the minister underscored the importance of discipline and punctuality. He remarked that teachers are the backbone of the education system and have a vital role in shaping the future of the nation.

He urged them to perform their responsibilities with sincerity, dedication and a strong sense of public service to ensure that every child in KP receives quality education.

Later, the minister visited the Regional Professional Development Centre (RPDC) in District Khyber, where he reviewed ongoing professional development programs for newly recruited as well as in-service teachers.

He emphasized that continuous professional development, ethical values, innovative teaching methodologies and the effective use of modern educational practices are indispensable for improving the quality of education. He encouraged teachers to regard their profession as a sacred national responsibility and to strive for excellence to produce confident, skilled and responsible future citizens.

He directed all concerned officers to ensure timely completion of development schemes, transparent utilization of public funds, strict adherence to merit and accountability and ensure prompt resolution of public complaints related to education.

Sargodha: The district administration launched practical measures to provide free vegetables to locals under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s ‘Sanjhi Sabzi, Sasti Nahin Muft’ initiative.

According to an official spokesperson, vegetable cultivation has been successfully completed on two kanals of land at the Agricultural Research Farm, Chak (Risala) No. 5, under the technical supervision of the Agriculture Department. The project was now being expanded, with the cultivation of various seasonal vegetables on additional land.

The Director of the Agricultural Research Farm in Sargodha visited the site to review the progress and directed the staff to ensure proper crop care, irrigation, and other agronomic practices to achieve better-quality production.

Deputy Commissioner Sargodha Hussain Ahmad Raza Chaudhry said the initiative aims to provide fresh, free vegetables to local residents, particularly low-income families. He said the district administration, in collaboration with the Agriculture Department, was expanding the project to benefit a larger number of people.

He said the vegetables would be harvested and distributed free of charge among deserving families through a transparent mechanism. In the next phase, more government land would be brought under cultivation as part of the initiative.

The deputy commissioner also encouraged citizens to grow seasonal vegetables in their homes, streets, and other vacant spaces to meet household needs and ensure access to fresh, healthy produce. He added that the Agriculture Department would provide technical guidance to residents, while vegetable seeds would also be made available through the prescribed procedure.