Day: July 23, 2026

Bahawalpur: Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Irfan Ali Kathia inspected the ongoing development projects at Dring Stadium, including the under-construction commercial plaza being developed under a sustainable model, and directed officials to ensure timely completion while maintaining high construction standards.

During the visit, Director Development briefed the Commissioner on the project’s progress, informing him that the commercial plaza has a total approved cost of Rs. 68.53 million, of which Rs. 40 million has already been utilized.

The briefing revealed that the overall physical progress of the project stands at 64 percent, while construction of the commercial plaza has reached 70 percent completion. Officials further informed the Commissioner that 100 percent of the funds allocated for the previous financial year had been utilized, and construction work is progressing at a satisfactory pace. Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia directed the concerned authorities to complete the commercial plaza at the earliest in accordance with prescribed quality standards, stating that the project would generate additional revenue for the stadium, create new income opportunities and strengthen sports infrastructure in the region.

The Commissioner also inspected the stadium grounds and other ongoing development works. He instructed officials to complete all projects within the stipulated timeline without compromising construction quality and to ensure that all facilities become operational as soon as possible so that residents, athletes and youth of Bahawalpur can benefit from improved, modern and high-quality sports and recreational facilities. Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia said the Punjab government is committed to providing modern sports and recreational facilities to the public. He emphasized that all relevant departments should ensure the timely, transparent and quality completion of development projects so that citizens can benefit from these initiatives without delay. Director Development, Director Sports, Deputy Director Technical, and other relevant officials were also present during the inspection.

Mirpur: Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Wednesday expressed confidence that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would secure a decisive victory in the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, saying the large turnout at an election rally in Nikyal reflected growing public support for the party. Addressing the gathering despite heavy rainfall, Ashraf said the enthusiastic participation of supporters indicated that the PPP was well positioned to win all seats in Kotli district. He also conveyed greetings from PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and urged voters to support PPP candidate Haji Javed Iqbal Budhanvi on polling day.

The rally was attended by senior PPP leaders, including former federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, PPP AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, Syed Hassan Murtaza, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Nabeela Ayub and Shazia Akbar. Addressing party workers, Kaira called on supporters to intensify the election campaign and work collectively to secure what he described as a historic victory for the party, while describing Nikyal as a traditional PPP stronghold.

Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin said the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir stood with the PPP and urged voters to participate in the electoral process without fear. PPP candidate Haji Javed Iqbal Budhanvi reaffirmed his commitment to the party’s manifesto and pledged to work for the welfare and development of the constituency if elected, while other speakers reiterated the party’s commitment to democratic values, public rights and development.

PPP leaders said the large public gathering demonstrated increasing confidence in the party’s leadership and vision ahead of the polls. They urged party workers to strengthen voter outreach, take the party’s message to every household and remain united to ensure the success of PPP candidates in the July 27 elections.

Bahawalpur: Deputy Commissioner Syed Hasan Raza visited Government Abbasia Higher Secondary School to review the academic environment, cleanliness, infrastructure and administrative arrangements under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s “Parha Likha Punjab” initiative.

During the visit, the District Education Officer and the Senior Headmaster accompanied the Deputy Commissioner and briefed him on the facilities available at the institution, educational resources provided to students and the school’s overall performance. Syed Hasan Raza inspected the school’s computer laboratory and emphasized the effective utilization of modern educational technology. He directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the computer lab remains fully operational so that students can benefit from digital learning resources.

The DC also visited the school library, where he reviewed the availability of books, reading facilities and the overall learning environment. He instructed the administration to further strengthen library services and promote reading habits among students. He conducted a detailed inspection of the school building, classrooms, furniture, playground, green areas and cleanliness arrangements. He directed officials to maintain high standards of sanitation throughout the institution and ensure regular maintenance of the school grounds and landscaped areas. He further instructed the authorities to carry out timely pruning of trees and plants to enhance the campus environment and ordered the early completion of repair and painting work on classrooms, cupboards, doors and other school infrastructure on a priority basis.

Later, the Deputy Commissioner visited a Google Workspace Training Workshop being held at the school and reviewed the training activities. He said modern technology and digital tools can significantly improve the teaching and learning process, urging teachers to apply the digital skills acquired through the training in their classroom instruction.

Peshawar: Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) has restored electricity supply to 132 of the 148 feeders that tripped across its operational region due to recent heavy rains, while repair work is continuing on the remaining 16 feeders.

According to PESCO, restoration efforts continued throughout the night, enabling power supply to resume in most affected areas. However, repairs took longer in some localities where electricity poles were uprooted and power lines were damaged by the downpour.

PESCO said field teams remain deployed in the affected areas and are working to complete the remaining repairs within the next few hours

Sialkot: Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Punjab Chaudhry Faisal Ikram, accompanied by Khawaja Sultan Tipu, visited various parts of Sialkot to inspect the drainage situation following recent rainfall and review the performance of the city’s drainage system.

The inspection covered Commissioner Road, Railway Road, Capital Road Disposal Station, Model Town, and other areas of the city. During the visit, Managing Director (MD) Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Sialkot Faisal Shehzad briefed the delegation on the rainfall situation, ongoing drainage operations, and measures taken to ensure the timely disposal of rainwater.

The MPA reviewed the operational arrangements and directed the authorities to keep all disposal stations fully functional throughout the monsoon season. He also instructed officials to ensure the availability of backup generators to maintain uninterrupted drainage operations in case of power outages.

He said the monsoon season has begun and noted that timely desilting of drains had played a key role in facilitating the swift drainage of rainwater. He further directed WASA officials to ensure staff remain present at operational camps and respond promptly to all public complaints.

The visit aimed to monitor the effectiveness of drainage arrangements and ensure that all necessary measures are in place to minimize public inconvenience during the ongoing monsoon season.

Mirpur: Election authorities on Wednesday organized a training workshop for Presiding Officers in Mirpur as part of preparations for the phased Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, beginning on July 27. The session, chaired by District and Sessions Judge and District Returning Officer (DRO) Mirpur Jahangir Ahmed Jarral, was attended by Returning Officers of constituencies LA-2, LA-3 and LA-4, Deputy Commissioner Sajid Aslam, Senior Superintendent of Police Khurram Iqbal and Presiding Officers from across the district.

Participants were briefed on electoral laws, the code of conduct, polling procedures, voter facilitation and their responsibilities on polling day. The workshop aimed to equip election officials with the knowledge and skills required to conduct the electoral process in a transparent, impartial and efficient manner.

Addressing the participants, Jahangir Ahmed Jarral said Presiding Officers played a central role in ensuring free, fair and credible elections. He directed them to discharge their duties with complete neutrality, integrity and professionalism while strictly adhering to the Election Commission’s rules and code of conduct. He added that close coordination among election authorities, the district administration and law enforcement agencies would be maintained to ensure the smooth conduct of polling and promptly address any issues.

The district returning officer said comprehensive monitoring arrangements had been put in place to safeguard transparency throughout the electoral process and warned that negligence or dereliction of duty would not be tolerated. Describing Presiding Officers as the backbone of the polling process, he said every effort would be made to provide equal opportunities and facilities to candidates and voters and to ensure the conduct of peaceful, free and transparent elections across the district.