Day: July 25, 2026

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D-8 Disability Forum established through Karachi Declaration at Healthcare Expo 2026


Karachi: A landmark step towards regional cooperation on disability inclusion was taken during Healthcare Expo 2026 in Karachi with the formal establishment of the D-8 Disability Forum through the Karachi Declaration.



The announcement was made by Dr. Kemal Aydin, President Ibne Sina Institute and the World Council on Aging, Trkiye. Speaking at the event, Dr. Kemal emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration among the D-8 member countries to promote the rights, inclusion, rehabilitation, and empowerment of persons with disabilities. He announced the formation of a regional alliance, the D-8 Disability Forum, to advance these shared goals, said a press release received here.



As part of the Karachi Declaration, National Disability and Development Forum (NDF) Pakistan was unanimously designated as the Lead Organization of the D-8 Disability Forum, recognizing its longstanding contributions to disability inclusion, rehabilitation, advocacy, and humanitarian action.



Expressing his gratitude, Abid Lashari, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, President NDF Pakistan, said it was a great honour and an immense responsibility for NDF Pakistan to lead the D-8 Disability Forum. “We are committed to working closely with our partners across all D-8 countries to empower persons with disabilities, strengthen Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), promote inclusive policies, and enhance regional cooperation for equal opportunities and sustainable development, especially to represent voice of unheated people during COP-31, Turkey, ” he said.



The establishment of the D-8 Disability Forum marked a significant milestone in promoting collaboration among D-8 countries to ensure that persons with disabilities were fully included in social, economic, educational, and development initiatives. The Forum would facilitate knowledge sharing, capacity building, policy dialogue, and joint advocacy to advance disability rights across the D-8 region including nine countries Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Trkiye (Turkey) and Azerbaijan.



The D-8 was established in 1997 to strengthen economic cooperation, trade, investment, technology exchange, and sustainable development among its member countries, which together represent a population of over one billion people.



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India committing water terrorism by unilaterally suspending Indus Waters Treaty: Nisar Khuhro


Karachi: A protest rally led by President Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh, Nisar Khuhro was held against what the party described as the “theft” of Indus River water, under the slogan: “We will die, but we will not give up the Indus.”



The protest rally marched from Lyari to Musa Lane, Lyari Gate. PPP leaders and workers including Yousuf Baloch, Javed Nagori, Rauf Nagori, Khalil Hoat and a large number of male and female party workers participated in the rally.



Participants carried placards and chanted slogans rejecting what they called the “theft” of Sindh’s water.



Addressing the rally, Nisar Khuhro said that if injustices over the Indus River water continued, PPP Sindh would launch the third phase of its protest movement by holding divisional-level public rallies across Sindh.



“Today, protests against the theft of Indus River water were held at 130 locations across Sindh, ” Khuhro said.



“Water is life, and life cannot continue without water. We will not allow anyone to take away our lives, ” he said adding, “The Indus River flows through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Balochistan.”



He said that the water of the Indus River were under attack from every direction.



On one hand, India was committing water terrorism by unilaterally suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and conspiring to stop the flow of the Indus River and on the other hand, the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord was not being implemented, and Sindh was not receiving its rightful share of water, he said.



The PPP leader said that Water allocated to Sindh was being diverted by continuously operating the Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal, Taunsa-Panjnad Link Canal and Jalalpur Canal in an unconstitutional manner, Khuhro alleged.



He said that the TP and CJ canals were meant to carry water only during flood conditions, but water was being released into these link canals continuously in an attempt to turn Sindh barren.



Sindh is already suffering and these injustices against the province must stop.



He said that shortage of water in Sindh has severely affected crops, causing significant economic losses to the province.



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Coordination meeting held for peaceful observance of Chehlum


Quetta: Deputy Commissioner Quetta, Mehrullah Badini, chaired a District Coordination Committee meeting to review arrangements for the peaceful observance of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).

The meeting was focused on security, sanitation, lighting, medical facilities, traffic management, and other civic measures.

Representatives from the Shia Ulema Conference, Assistant Commissioners, Police, Frontier Corps, Safa Quetta, Metropolitan Corporation, PDMA, MSs of Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Civil Hospital, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, District Health Officer Quetta, District Manager PPHI, Sui Southern Gas Company, QESCO, Anjuman Tajiran, and other relevant departments attended the session.

During the meeting, a comprehensive security plan was approved. Instructions were issued to ensure cleanliness and proper lighting along the procession routes, while all government hospitals were directed to remain on emergency footing with ambulances on standby. Relevant departments were tasked to guarantee uninterrupted electr
icity and gas supply throughout the observance.

The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that Quetta was the common home of all communities and must be nurtured as a cradle of peace, brotherhood, and mutual respect. He directed all institutions to work in close coordination and maintain effective communication to ensure the Chehlum would be observed in a peaceful and organized manner.

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Provision of quality, safe healthcare services remains Sindh Govt;s foremost priority: Dr. Azra Pechuho


Karachi: The Fourth International Family Planning Summit, titled ‘Maan Rahay Salamat (Safe Motherhood)’, commenced at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) here on Friday, under the theme ‘Youth, Family Planning and Digital Innovation, ‘ with the objective of promoting maternal health, raising awareness about family planning, and addressing the challenges of rapid population growth through innovative and evidence-based approaches.



Addressing the participants as chief guest, Sindh Minister for Health, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho stated that the Government of Sindh continues to lead the country in introducing legislative and practical reforms in the health sector.



She said the government’s foremost priority is to ensure the provision of quality, safe, and timely healthcare services for all citizens.



Highlighting transportation challenges faced by women, particularly in remote areas, Dr. Pechuho said that the Sindh Government is establishing Birth Station Centers to ensure that women living in underserved communities have timely access to safe and quality maternal healthcare services.



The Minister further stated that the Government of Sindh is implementing comprehensive measures to strengthen HIV prevention and early diagnosis across the province.



She said that HIV screening has been accelerated, while additional CDC (Comprehensive Disease Control) Centres are being activated to expand testing, ensure early detection, and improve access to treatment.



Acknowledging the challenges faced by public hospitals, Dr. Pechuho said the government has recently recruited additional healthcare professionals, while further recruitment is underway to strengthen the healthcare system and improve the quality of medical services across public health facilities.



Speaking about the role of the media, the Health Minister appreciated constructive reporting, stating that responsible media coverage helps identify shortcomings within hospitals and contributes to improving healthcare services.



Dr. Pechuho expressed confidence that the Fourth International Family Planning Summit would serve as an important platform for promoting family planning, improving maternal health, engaging young people, and advancing digital innovation in healthcare, ultimately contributing to a stronger and more resilient public health system.



Ms Ayesha Leghari, Country Director PSI Pakistan; Muhammad Arshad Chohan; Dr Al Fareed Zafar; PPHI Sindh CEO Javed Jagirani; Dr Talib Lashari; and other distinguished speakers also addressed the summit.



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Road repairing starts in Ketch’s Tehsil Dasht


Quetta: On special directive of Deputy Commissioner Ketch Yasir Iqbal Dashti, the Communications and Works (CandW) Department has started the process of repairing roads in different areas of Tehsil Dasht.



According to the district administration, strict orders have been issued to all the concerned authorities to ensure transparency and complete the project in the stimulated time.



In the initial phase, the repair work has been started on Sangai and Neelgakor Road, where the staff of the Communications and Works Department was mobilizing in the field and performing their responsibilities.



Officials informed that the repair work has been significantly accelerated to ensure quality and transparency, and all the concerned Assistant Commissioners have been bound to personally inspect the ongoing development works under their respective jurisdiction.



The residents of Sangai, Kasar, Nilg and Dadhe, appreciated this timely initiative.



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Sindh decides to hold sports, youth events from July 2026 to June 2027


Karachi: The Sindh government has decided to organize major sports and youth events across 30 districts of the province from July 2026 to June 2027. The decisions to this effect were made in an important meeting chaired by Sindh Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, held regarding the annual sports calendar, said a statement on Friday.



The Sindh Minister for Sports has approved the annual sports calendar, with the events include the 19th Sindh Games in Sukkur, Sindh Punk Games, Thar Jeep Rally, Sindh Beach Games, Lyari Sports Festival, and an E-Sports Championship, among many others.



Approval was given for mega sports, youth, traditional, and special events across all 30 districts from July 2026 to June 2027.



The meeting was attended by Sports Secretary Munawar Ali Mahesar, Additional Secretary Asad Ishaq, Chief Engineer Muhammad Aslam Mahar, Dupty Director Syed Habibullah and other officials. A detailed briefing was presented on the year-long sports programs.



Minister Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Khan Mahar approved the 19th Sindh Games to be held in Sukkur in November this year, while the Sindh Special Games and Sindh Punk Games will take place in Shaheed Benazirabad in October.



Similarly, the second E-Sports Championship will be held in Karachi in November, and winter coaching camps will be set up in all 30 districts. He also approved the Sindh Beach Games in December this year and the Thar Jeep Rally 2027 in Tharparkar in February 2027.



The Thar Festival will be held in Mithi in January 2027, along with the River Sports Festival in Hyderabad.



In April, the Lyari Sports Festival will take place, followed by the Sindh Punk Football Championship in May, and in June 2027, summer camps across Sindh will conclude with a donkey cart race in Karachi.



It was decided that during the Urs of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (RA) in Bhit Shah, an All-Pakistan Malakhra competition will be held in the last week of July, while a mega Malakhra (Season Two) will be organized in Sachal Goth, Karachi, in October. In November, a bull cart race will be held in Kohistan, district Thatta, and an Iqbal Day Sports Festival in Hyderabad.



Minister Mahar announced that during the Urs of Sakhi Jam Datar in Shaheed Benazirabad, traditional games, Malakhra, and a Kabaddi tournament will be organized. In February 2027, during the Urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA), an All-Pakistan Malakhra will also be held, along with a divisional sports festival in Shaheed Benazirabad.



Additionally, a chess championship will be organized in Hyderabad.



The meeting also decided to expand sports activities to include transgender persons, differently-abled individuals, universities, schools, colleges, and even prisons.



Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar stated that competitions in traditional games such as Malakhra, Kodi Kodi, Kabaddi, Shooting Ball, and Street Children Games (football, cricket, tipcat, rope skipping) will also be held.



He added that associations of hockey, netball, badminton, throwball, and other sports will be provided financial support for the promotion of sports.



He emphasized that the purpose of these activities is to promote sports across Sindh, bring forward young talent, encourage healthy and positive activities in every district, and support women, differently-abled individuals, and traditional games.