Day: July 29, 2026

Dera ismail khan: The district administration has launched a district-wide crackdown against underweight LPG cylinders, overcharging, and illegal LPG refilling following public complaints. In this regard, Assistant Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Hamid Sadiq conducted a surprise inspection of LPG plants to examine cylinder weights, pricing, and the supply system.

During the inspection, authorities took immediate action against complaints of underweight gas cylinders, ensuring that domestic LPG cylinders weighing 11. 8 kilograms are supplied to consumers with the full prescribed quantity of gas.

Legal action was initiated on the spot against staff found violating the regulations.

He directed all LPG plant operators to prominently display official plant rates and warned that any reduction in cylinder weight would not be tolerated. He said the measure would help eliminate unnecessary middlemen, ensure dealers receive LPG at official rates, and provide consumers with timely supplies at fair prices.

The inspection was later extended to LPG retail outlets across the city, where officials ordered retailers to prominently display cylinder prices and sell LPG strictly according to the official plant rate with the approved profit margin.

Retailers were also warned against overcharging consumers.

Dr. Sadiq reiterated that decanting LPG from one cylinder to another is illegal under the law and instructed retailers to sell only standard-weight cylinders. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone charging above the notified price or violating government regulations.

Meanwhile, the district administration has also intensified its campaign against illegal LPG filling in vehicles. Officials said shops involved in the unlawful practice are being sealed, criminal cases are being registered, and those responsible are being arrested and sent to jail.

Sialkot: Twenty-nine landless farmers in Sialkot received allotment letters on Tuesday under the Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s ‘Apna Khet Apna Rozgar’ scheme during a ceremony held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office. Deputy Commissioner Awais Mushtaq, Members of the Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Faisal Ikram, Rana Arif Iqbal Harnah and Naveed Ashraf attended the ceremony.

Under the scheme, 29 farmers from all tehsils of Sialkot have been given three to five acres of government land on a 10-year lease at Rs100 per acre per year. They will also receive Rs50, 000 per acre to help develop the land. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Awais Mushtaq said the scheme would help landless farmers and strengthen agriculture in the province. Later, the deputy commissioner distributed allotment letters among the selected

farmers.

Sargodha: Commissioner Sargodha Division, Hafiz Shaukat Ali, on Tuesday chaired a meeting to review urban flooding, city beautification project and other civic issues, directing the Deputy Commissioner to constitute an inquiry committee after rainwater entered the basements of several shops during recent heavy rainfall.

According to a spokesperson for the Commissioner’s office, the meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Hussain Ahmad Raza Chaudhry, Director Development and Finance, Managing Directors of the Suthra Punjab Authority and WASA, Chief Officer of the Municipal Corporation, Executive Engineers of Highways and officers of relevant departments.

The participants reviewed the situation arising from the recent heavy rains, particularly the incident in which rainwater inundated the basements of shops on City Road and Kutchery Bazaar. Expressing serious concern over the incident, the Commissioner questioned the performance of the departments concerned and directed the DC to immediately constitute an inquiry committee to identify those responsible and recommend disciplinary action against officials found negligent.

Hafiz Shaukat Ali said protecting citizens and the business community from inconvenience and financial losses was a collective responsibility of all civic agencies. He directed the authorities to make the drainage system fully functional, ensure the cleaning of drains and storm water channels, identify vulnerable locations and implement permanent remedial measures.

He further directed all departments to remain fully coordinated and maintain an active field presence during rainfall to effectively respond to emergencies. The meeting also reviewed progress on the city beautification project. Participants discussed measures to enhance the city’s cleanliness, remove encroachments, restore green belts, improve roads and further upgrade public amenities.

The Commissioner made it clear that negligence in resolving public issues would not be tolerated.

Peshawar: A 27-year-old WAPDA employee lost his life after suffering an electric shock while carrying out electrical work inside a well in the Gar Yousafai area of Swabi district on Tuesday. According to Rescue 1122 officials, the deceased was identified as Waqar, a government employee of WAPDA and a resident of Topi.

Upon receiving the emergency call, Rescue 1122 teams reached the scene and conducted a rescue operation, recovering the victim’s body from the well.

Rescue authorities said that after completing the necessary legal formalities, the body was handed over to the heirs.

WAPDA authorities have started getting information to determine the cause of the accident.

Sialkot: Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA) Sialkot successfully organized an insightful interactive session titled “Productivity through AI – Global Case Studies”, aimed at highlighting the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in improving business performance and operational efficiency.

The session received an overwhelming response from PHMA members, who participated with great enthusiasm and keen interest in exploring how AI-driven solutions could enhance productivity, streamline operations, save valuable time, and strengthen their competitive edge in global markets. The interactive discussion featured practical insights and international case studies, demonstrating how businesses around the world were leveraging AI technologies to optimize processes, improve decision-making, and accelerate growth. The PHMA Sialkot reaffirmed its commitment to empowering members with the latest technological advancements and industry knowledge. The association emphasized that embracing innovation and digital transformation was essential for ensuring the long-term competitiveness and sustainable growth of Pakistan’s hosiery and knitwear sector.

Lodhran: A Farmers Facilitation Center was formally inaugurated in Dunyapur to provide modern agricultural services and technical guidance to local growers. Former provincial minister Zawar Hussain Warraich inaugurated the facility by cutting the ribbon at a ceremony attended by Deputy Director Agriculture (Extension) Malik Muhammad Zafar and Assistant Director Agriculture Dunyapur Majid Khan.

The center was established at Al-Baghdad Traders in collaboration with Bayer Pakistan (Private) Limited. The center aimed to provide farmers with comprehensive agricultural support under one roof, including information on modern farming practices, quality agricultural inputs, crop protection, and technical advisory services.

Farmers visiting the center will have access to quality pesticides at reasonable prices, modern spraying equipment, expert agricultural guidance, and professional consultation on crop management and protection. The initiative was expected to help growers improve productivity through timely and effective agricultural services.

Speaking on the occasion, Zawar Hussain Warraich and Deputy Director Agriculture Malik Muhammad Zafar said the initiative reflected the Punjab government’s commitment to strengthen the agriculture sector by ensuring farmers have access to modern facilities, high-quality agricultural inputs, and the latest technical expertise.

They emphasized that farmers could also obtain up-to-date agricultural information and advisory services from the center, enabling them to adopt modern farming practices and achieve higher crop yields, ultimately contributing to greater agricultural prosperity.