Day: July 28, 2026

Abbottabad: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Shafi Jan on Monday administered the oath to the newly elected body of the Abbottabad Press Club and announced a series of welfare measures for journalists, including interest-free loans, funding for the Abbottabad Media Colony, and the provision of laptops.

Addressing the oath-taking ceremony, the minister said journalists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa enjoyed freedom and reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for public gatherings in the spirit of political tolerance.

He urged the federal government to release the population data of all four provinces to ensure transparency in the distribution of resources under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

Criticizing the federal government, Shafi Jan alleged that rising fuel prices and economic policies had increased public hardships, while claiming his party had come to power through the public mandate.

Commenting on the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, claimed the concerns of the Kashmiri people were not receiving adequate media coverage.

Highlighting the provincial government’s support for journalists, he said substantial funds had been allocated under the Annual Development Programme (ADP), interest-free loans would be provided for up to 10 years, and the first installment for the Abbottabad Media Colony would be released in August.

The minister further announced plans to establish a single district-level press club by replacing tehsil-level press clubs and said laptop computers would also be provided to press club members.

Kohat: A woman lost her life, and 25 other women fell seriously ill after consuming suspected poisonous food in Sher Kot, Kohat, police informed on Monday.

As per details, the affected women had gathered at a local house for a condolence gathering. Following the consumption of the food at the venue, their condition deteriorated rapidly.

Emergency response teams shifted the victims to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Kohat.

Hospital authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the medical staff is examining blood and other samples of the victims.

Faisalabad: Divisional Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh on Monday ordered a fresh assessment of industries causing air pollution and discharging chemical-contaminated wastewater in urban areas.

Chairing a meeting of District Industrial Relocation Committee, the Divisional Commissioner reviewed progress on the industrial relocation programme. He also directed the departments concerned to prepare comprehensive mapping and data for the phased relocation of hazardous industrial units.

He directed the Environmental Protection Agency, Labor Department and Industries Department to conduct a fresh evaluation of industrial units operating in urban areas that contribute to air pollution or release chemically contaminated wastewater and submit a detailed report.

He stressed that industries declared hazardous to human health should be relocated in phases after proper mapping. He directed the departments concerned to compile complete data and prepare a comprehensive map identifying all polluting industrial units to facilitate informed decision-making. He said that safeguarding public health and protecting the environment remain the administration’s foremost priorities, adding that effective action would be taken against industries found to be posing serious environmental and health risks.

To monitor progress on the relocation program, the Divisional Commissioner convened another review meeting to be held after 15 days. Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) Director General Muhammad Asif Chaudhry, Deputy Director Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Usman Azhar, Director Labor Welfare Rai Yasin, Assistant Commissioner (General) Atiya Inayat and District Officer Industries Muhammad Irfan were also present in the meeting.

Multan: Deputy Commissioner Dr Faisal Saleem on Monday directed all government departments to take immediate measures for resolving public issues and improving service delivery across the district.

Chairing a performance review meeting of district departments, the deputy commissioner reaffirmed the district administration’s commitment to public relief and directed concerned institutions to improve sewerage, sanitation, and infrastructure facilities.

In view of the monsoon rains and possible flooding, he instructed WASA, Rescue 1122, and other relevant departments to keep their machinery operational and ensure preparedness for any emergency.

Dr Faisal Saleem also directed officials to make the cleanliness drive under the “Suthra Punjab” programme more effective to achieve the zero-waste target.

He ordered further intensification of the price control campaign against profiteers to provide relief to citizens.

To eliminate encroachments, he said joint teams comprising the PERA Force, Multan Development Authority, and Municipal Corporation had been constituted to take action across the district.

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KPFSandHFA) has intensified its province-wide crackdown against adulterated milk and substandard food products and has seized and destroyed more than 14, 000 liters of substandard milk and 3, 000 kilograms of adulterated ketchup during operations in Mardan, Swabi, Kohat and Peshawar.

The enforcement drive has been launched on the directives of Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Food Dr Muhammad Israr Khan, who said that no compromise would be made on public health and that strict legal action would continue against those involved in the production and sale of unsafe food.

According to the Food Authority spokesperson, in Mardan, food safety teams, assisted by a Mobile Food Testing Laboratory, intercepted milk tankers at Rashakai and Wali Khan Interchange during a late-night operation.

Laboratory testing found 10, 000 liters of adulterated and unsafe milk, which was destroyed on the spot, while the milk tankers were taken into official custody for further legal proceedings.

In Kohat, the food safety officials established a checkpoint on the Indus Highway and inspected milk transport vehicles as well as milk distribution units. During the operation, 680 liters of artificial and substandard milk were recovered from a distributor and destroyed, with legal action initiated against those responsible.

Meanwhile, in Swabi, food safety team conducted a late-night checking operation at Colonel Sher Khan Interchange, where milk tankers entering the province from Punjab were tested.

A tanker carrying 3, 400 liters of skimmed milk in violation of food safety regulations was confiscated and destroyed. The individuals concerned were fined and further legal proceedings were initiated.

Separately, in Peshawar, inspection teams raided ketchup manufacturing units and seized 3, 000 kilograms of substandard ketchup from one production facility.

The entire stock was destroyed and legal action was launched against the factory owner.

Commending the enforcement teams, Dr Muhammad Israr Khan reiterated that the provincial government would continue its zero-tolerance policy against food adulteration.

“Those endangering public health through the production or sale of adulterated and unsafe food will face strict legal action without discrimination, ” Israr said.

Kohat: A woman died and 25 others were hospitalized after suspected food poisoning at a condolence gathering in the Sher Kot area of district, the police said on Monday.

The incident occurred in the Sher Kot area under the jurisdiction of the Sher Kot Ostarzai police station, where a charitable meal was served during a “Fateha” ceremony held for the daughter of a local resident, Ismat Ali, who had died a day earlier.

The police said 26 women fell ill shortly after eating food distributed at the gathering and were taken to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.

They said a woman later died, while another was transferred to a hospital in Peshawar in critical condition, adding

the remaining patients were receiving medical care.

The police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.

The police detained the owner of the house where the meal was prepared for questioning and collected food samples for forensic examination.

Senior Superintendent, Police (SSP) Khalid Mahmood and the local station house officer visited the hospital to monitor the situation.

The officials said the exact cause of the incident would be determined after forensic reports and further investigation.