Latest News from Balochistan
Khanewal: The district administration on Saturday retrieved 12 acres of valuable state land worth around Rs170 million from illegal occupants in Chak No. 11/8-R.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Khanewal Rohit Kumar Ganeeta, with police, Elite Force personnel and officials of concerned departments taking part.
The land was reclaimed from illegal possession and taken into official custody.
Peshawar: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday assured the business community that their genuine issues would be taken up with the relevant authorities, saying every effort would be made to seek their resolution through appropriate forums.
He was talking to a delegation of the Peoples Business Forum, led by Maulana Abdul Wali Gul Turabi, which called on him at the Governor House.
The meeting discussed the ban on wheat transportation in the province, issues faced by traders, tax relief, protection of the business community, measures to curb narcotics, and other matters of mutual interest.
The delegation appreciated the Governor for effectively highlighting the issues of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before the federal government and congratulated him on the successful holding of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Champions League.
The members also stressed the need to promote sports, particularly boxing, and encourage greater youth participation in healthy activities.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Kundi said the provincial government should approach the federal government regarding the issue of wheat supply. If required, he added, the option of importing wheat from abroad could also be considered in accordance with the relevant legal procedures.
The Governor said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was an important producer of oil and natural gas, but the absence of an oil refinery in the province remained a major concern. He also emphasized the need for the effective and sustainable utilization of the province’s rich mineral resources.
He reiterated that the concerns of the trading community would be taken up with the concerned authorities and their legitimate demands would be pursued at the appropriate forums.
Islamabad: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Quetta on Saturday and met with Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, where the two leaders co-chaired a high-level meeting to review the province’s law and order situation and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening security and ensuring lasting peace across Balochistan.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Bugti provided a detailed briefing on the overall security environment in the province, ongoing counterterrorism measures, and the government’s future strategy for maintaining peace and stability.
The meeting decided to further enhance the professional capacity of the Balochistan Counter Terrorism Force (CTF) and the provincial police. Participants also agreed to accelerate progress on previously approved measures aimed at strengthening the police force.
The Ministry of Interior assured the provincial government of its full cooperation in providing the resources required to improve the province’s security infrastructure.
Speaking on the occ
asion, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the federal government would continue extending every possible support to ensure sustainable peace in Balochistan. He emphasized that the immediate and effective implementation of the province’s peace restoration master plan was the need of the hour.
Naqvi also stressed that the government’s security strategy should benefit from the experience and expertise of former Balochistan police chiefs, adding that modern technology, enhanced intelligence capabilities, and a coordinated operational approach were indispensable in the fight against terrorism.
He said the federal and provincial governments were moving forward with complete unity and coordination to establish lasting peace, asserting that collective efforts would strengthen the state’s ability to counter evolving security challenges.
Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti reaffirmed the provincial government’s resolve to remain ahead of terrorist elements on every front and declared that no pressure would deter the s
tate’s campaign against terrorism.
He said the writ of the state would be enforced at all costs and that there would be no space for terrorists in Balochistan.
Bugti further underlined that creating opportunities for young people through education, skills development, employment, and positive engagement remained one of the government’s highest priorities.
The chief minister added that promoting meritocracy was essential to restoring the confidence of the youth and ensuring equal opportunities for their advancement. He emphasized that peace, development, and prosperity were closely interconnected and pledged that the provincial government would continue making simultaneous progress on both security and development.
Bugti concluded by saying that, with the continued support of the federal government, the implementation of peace initiatives and development projects across Balochistan would be further accelerated.
Sukkur: Sukkur IBA University and the Providentia Books Foundation (PBF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote knowledge dissemination, strengthen library resources and foster a culture of reading and lifelong learning.
According to a release on Saturday, the MoU was signed by Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Syed Mir Muhammad Shah on behalf of Sukkur IBA University and Manager Mr. Shahan Qamar on behalf of Providentia Books Foundation.
The ceremony was witnessed by Major Ali from Wackenhut and Mr. Amir Subhani, Chief Librarian, Sukkur IBA University.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Shah appreciated the efforts of PBF for promoting literacy and knowledge-sharing across Pakistan. He expressed confidence that the collaboration would create new opportunities for educational development and further strengthen the University’s mission of community service.
Representatives of the Providentia Books Foundation thanked the Sukkur IBA University management for its warm hospitality and reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate on initiatives supporting education, libraries and community development.
Later, the delegates exchanged souvenirs and visited the Sukkur IBA University Knowledge Center, where they were briefed on its modern library services, state-of-the-art automation system and extensive digital information resources.
Sukkur: The National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC) under the Higher Education Commission (HEC) conducted a Zero Visit of the BS Cyber Security programme at Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design and Heritage, Sukkur, on Saturday.
Prof. Dr Syed Asif Ali from the Department of Artificial Intelligence, Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), Karachi, visited the university as the NCEAC representative.
The visit began with a presentation by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Zahid Hussain Khand, who highlighted the university’s vision, academic progress and achievements. This was followed by a briefing on the programme by Dr Khalid Hussain, Chairman In-Charge, Department of AI and MMG.
Prof. Dr Asif Ali inspected computer labs, classrooms, the library and other academic facilities. He also held interactive sessions with faculty members and students.
He appreciated the university’s academic environment, modern infrastructure and the visionary leadership of the Vice Chancellor for promoting quality education in the region.
Kaghan: The Kaghan Development Authority (KDA), in collaboration with the Tourism Police, has intensified its monsoon safety awareness campaign across Kaghan Valley to ensure the protection of tourists visiting the region during the rainy season.
Acting on the directives of Director General KDA Rahmat Ali, officials are visiting major tourist attractions to advise visitors to stay away from the Kunhar River, seasonal streams and other areas with strong water currents. Safety pamphlets highlighting precautionary measures are also being distributed among tourists.
The authorities have urged visitors to strictly follow official advisories, avoid unnecessary movement near rivers and flash flood-prone areas, and prioritize the safety of themselves and their families throughout their stay in the valley.
Meanwhile, KDA sanitary workers have also launched an extensive cleanliness campaign in Kaghan and Naran bazaars. The sanitation staff are collecting and safely disposing of solid waste at designated dumping sites to maintain a clean, healthy and tourist-friendly environment.
The KDA has appealed to tourists and local residents to support the cleanliness drive by disposing of waste only in designated dustbins and helping preserve the natural beauty of the valley.