Day: July 24, 2026

Peshawar: A police official and a 13-year-old boy died in a shooting incident near Chashma Jat in Jangal Khel area of Kohat on Thursday.

According to Rescue 1122, the victims sustained critical injuries in the firing. Rescue medical teams reached the scene promptly, provided first aid and shifted both victims to DHQ Hospital Kohat in critical condition.

Hospital doctors later confirmed that both had succumbed to their injuries.

The deceased were identified as 50-year-old police Havaldar Rahim, a resident of Jangal Khel and 13-year-old Naqeebullah, a resident of Mian Ghari.

Police collected evidence from the scene and launched an investigation. Police said efforts are underway to determine the motive behind the shooting and trace those responsible.

Manila: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Thursday called upon the international community and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to support a peaceful resolution of core regional conflicts, emphasizing that the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute and Indian unilateral decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance remained at the heart of South Asian instability.

The deputy prime minister, addressing the 33rd ARF Ministerial Meeting here, outlined eight key challenges threatening global and regional security, highlighting South Asian stability, the Gulf situation, Gaza, counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, Ukraine, the South China Sea, and climate change.

He told the meeting that the failure to resolve long-standing disputes, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, accelerated serious regional stability issues. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advocating for a just and peaceful settlement in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions, and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Expressing deep concern over India’s unilateral decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, Dar warned that attempting to weaponize water resources violated international obligations and threatened the lives and livelihoods of 250 million people in Pakistan.

“We simply cannot afford to let this serious, provocative development remain unaddressed. Let us all be the architects of peace and stability and work together to address the challenges posed by arbitrary, illegal, unilateral actions,” he commented.

He urged the international community, particularly ARF members, to address these arbitrary, illegal, and unilateral actions and uphold international law.

Turning to the situation in the Gulf, the deputy prime minister noted that regional developments have impacted nations globally. Reaffirming Pakistan’s role in facilitating peace and de-escalation, he highlighted Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts, including facilitating a ceasefire and convening leadership-level talks that led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Dar expressed gratitude for the trust reposed in Pakistan by the United States, Iran, Gulf nations, and international partners, urging all parties to uphold their commitments, exercise restraint, and support dialogue to ensure regional stability, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the unconditioned resumption of international shipping.

Addressing the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, DPM Dar condemned the atrocities in Gaza and reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support for an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

On global counter-terrorism, he highlighted Pakistan’s immense sacrifices-losing over 90,000 lives and incurring over $150 billion in economic losses. He urged the Afghan Taliban regime to ensure its territory is not exploited by terrorist groups, including TTP (Fitna Al-Khawarij) and affiliated factions, against neighboring states, emphasizing that honoring these commitments would unlock vast trade and connectivity opportunities across South and Central Asia.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s stance on other global priorities, Deputy Prime Minister Dar reiterated support for diplomatic resolutions in Ukraine and the South China Sea while reaffirming Pakistan’s firm adherence to the One-China policy. He also highlighted Pakistan’s high vulnerability to climate change despite contributing less than 1% to global emissions, calling for international cooperation based on common but differentiated responsibilities.

The deputy prime minister welcomed the adoption of the Manila Plan of Action 2026 and commended the host nation, the Philippines, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the cardinal principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and the consensus-driven vision of the ASEAN Regional Forum.

He said that Pakistan deeply valued ASEAN’s consensus-based approach and supports stronger cooperation to address both traditional and emerging challenges, including artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, climate change, food and energy security, disaster resilience, and public health preparedness.

ARF must continue to promote dialogue, practical cooperation, and strengthen its capacity to address evolving regional and global security challenges, he added.

Tank: Swift action by the Tank district administration helped avert a potential flood disaster in Kot Pathan after floodwater was diverted away from the populated area.

According to the administration, the Deputy Commissioner issued immediate instructions to Additional Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Irfan Khan after receiving an emergency report about the threat posed by rising floodwater to the village.

He directed officials to ensure the safety of residents and take all necessary measures to prevent any loss of life or property.

Acting promptly, Muhammad Irfan Khan reached the site with heavy machinery and supervised emergency operations to divert the floodwater toward a safer direction, preventing it from entering the residential area.

The timely intervention successfully eliminated the immediate threat and protected the settlement from possible damage.

Residents of Kot Pathan appreciated the district administration’s swift response and expressed gratitude to Deputy Commissioner Jamshed Khan, Additional Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Irfan Khan, and the emergency teams for their efforts in safeguarding the community.

The district administration said it remained on high alert throughout the ongoing monsoon season and was utilizing all available resources to ensure the safety of people and protect lives and property from flood-related emergencies.

Sargodha: Deputy Commissioner Hussain Ahmad Raza Chaudhry directed all relevant departments to ensure foolproof security and comprehensive administrative arrangements for the processions of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).

He was speaking at a meeting of the District Peace Committee, jointly chaired by him and District Police Officer (DPO) Tauqeer Muhammad Naeem on Thursday while Additional Deputy Commissioner General Rana Muhammad Abu Bakar and members of the District Peace Committee attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed security, traffic management and other administrative arrangements for the upcoming religious processions. The DC said foolproof security arrangements would be ensured for all processions and urged procession organisers to strictly follow the designated routes, timings and code of conduct.

Hyderabad: SAAR Organization, through its SAAR Vocational and Technical Training Institute (SAAR VTTI), successfully organized a Career Counseling Seminar aimed at equipping young individuals with the guidance, skills, and confidence needed to navigate their professional futures. The program was organized by the institute after completion of 75% of the course outline as directed by BBSHRRDB and CBTA

SAAR Organization is a non-profit dedicated to capacity building, technical skills development, and inclusive education, particularly for youth and women in Pakistan. Through its Vocational and Technical Training Institute (VTTI) in Jamshoro, SAAR delivers skill development programs in collaboration with BBSHRRDB, SBTE, and STEVTA

The event brought together a distinguished panel of academic and professional leaders who shared their invaluable insights with enthusiastic participants. The seminar featured interactive activities in a relaxing and engaging environment, allowing students to explore career pathways, develop leadership skills, and engage directly with mentors. The institute arranged a high tea to foster informal networking and peer-to-peer learning.

The session was graced by notable speakers, including Sannum Habibullah Kabooro, Chairperson of SAAR Organization and gender expert; Imdad Ali Bughio, Director of Planning and Development at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) Jamshoro, Deputy Governor of Rotary International District 3271, and CEO of Innovare Consultants; Prof. Dr. Kamran Taj Pathan, Director of the ICT PC Center for Postgraduate Studies and Professor of Software Engineering at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro; Prof. Dr. Arifa Bhutto, Chairperson of the Department of Software Engineering at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro and Yasmeen Imran, Assistant Director of the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resource Research and Development Board (BBSHRRDB) for District Jamshoro.

The speakers addressed critical topics including career planning, skill development, entrepreneurship, and market readiness. Students participated in thought-provoking activities designed to challenge their potential and prepare them for the workforce as skilled, confident professionals.

Speaking at the event, Sannum Habibullah Kabooro emphasized SAAR Organization’s commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive education, particularly for women and marginalized communities in Jamshoro and surrounding areas in line with bridging the gap between academic learning and practical market demands.

SAAR VTTI, established in collaboration with BBSHRRDB, SBTE, and STEVTA, continues to deliver vocational training programs that build technical, digital, and leadership competencies. This initiative reflects SAAR’s ongoing dedication to creating a skilled, empowered, and employable youth workforce in Pakistan.

The seminar concluded with an interactive QandA session and a high tea reception, where students had the opportunity to network with the distinguished speakers and peers, further strengthening the institute’s mission of fostering collaboration and community engagement.

Kohat: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kohat, Muhammad Nawaz Wazir on Thursday directed revenue officials to ensure the immediate resolution of public complaints while presiding over a Revenue Darbar held at the Service Delivery Centre under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s District Service Delivery Programme.

The deputy commissioner heard complaints and applications related to land and revenue matters, including property mutations, issuance of land ownership records, demarcation, ownership disputes and other revenue issues. He reviewed each case individually and instructed the relevant officials to resolve several matters on the spot, while directing that the remaining cases be disposed of within the prescribed timeframe.

Tehsildars, qanongos and patwaris attended the open forum and provided guidance to citizens on revenue procedures. Cases requiring further legal processing were referred to the concerned authorities for early action.

Muhammad Nawaz Wazir said the District Service Delivery Programme aims to provide transparent, efficient and timely public services, improve access to government institutions and remove bottlenecks in the revenue system. He instructed revenue officials to deal with citizens courteously, avoid unnecessary delays and decide all matters strictly in accordance with the law.

The district administration said regular Revenue Darbars would continue to strengthen communication between the public and the administration, facilitate the timely settlement of land-related disputes and reduce the need for repeated visits to government offices.