Day: July 29, 2026

Multan: The Horticulture Agency Multan has completed the revitalization of a Miyawaki forest on Nawabpur Road and planted more than 70 shade trees along Shujaabad Road as part of its ongoing drive to expand the city’s green cover.

Managing Director (MD) Horticulture Agency Multan Syed Waseem Hassan reviewed the plantation activities during visits to Multan-Vehari Road, Multan Avenue, Siwra Chowk and Head Muhammadwala-Nawabpur Road and issued necessary directions for further promotion of urban forestation and beautification initiatives.

Speaking on the occasion, Syed Waseem Hassan said the agency was committed to making Multan a greener and more beautiful city, adding that urban forestation had become an urgent need in view of growing environmental challenges.

He said shade trees were being planted along green belts and roadsides to improve the city’s environment and provide relief to citizens. The plantation drive from Northern Bypass to Sahu Chowk would also be completed soon, he added.

The MD stressed the importance of planting indigenous tree species in the city and said a vigorous plantation campaign would be launched in August.

He urged citizens to actively participate in the plantation drive and plant at least one tree as their contribution towards creating a greener, healthier and more sustainable Multan.

Peshawar: A team of nine young mountaineers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has achieved a remarkable feat by successfully climbing the 6, 050-metre Thalo Zom peak, highlighting the growing potential of adventure tourism in the province.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Tourism, Culture, Archaeology and Museums Malik Adeel Iqbal congratulated the climbers, saying their achievement reflected the courage, technical skills and determination of KP’s youth.

He said the provincial government was taking practical steps to promote adventure tourism and provide opportunities for young mountaineers to showcase their talent on national and international platforms.

The expedition was organised with the support and technical assistance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority.

The team comprising climbers from different districts of the province successfully reached the summit of Thalo Zom, a challenging peak situated in the Hindu Kush mountain range.

The eight-day expedition began on July 9 and concluded with the successful summit on July 17.

During the journey, the climbers faced extreme conditions while crossing difficult terrains of Kumrat and Chitral, glaciers, ice crevasses and steep snow-covered slopes.

The team completed an eight-hour continuous ascent to reach the summit and hoisted the national flag at the peak.

The mountaineers appreciated the support provided by the Culture and Tourism Authority, saying the technical guidance and assistance played an important role in accomplishing the challenging mission.

They said the successful expedition would encourage young climbers and help promote technical mountaineering and adventure tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the Tourism Authority, Thalo Zom was first conquered by Australian mountaineers in 1971 and later by an Italian expedition in 2019.

The successful team included climbers from Swat, Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Besham and Chitral, namely Rohullah, Umar Khan, Intikhab Khan, Nauman Sami, Izzatullah Shah, Saeed Akhtar, Naeem Khan, Fawad Khan and Rawaz Ali.

Rawalpindi: A special ceremony was held at the Anjuman Faiz-ul-Islam (AFI) Centre, Faizabad, on Tuesday to commemorate the 786th annual Urs of the great Sufi saint of the Subcontinent, Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya, with speakers highlighting economic self-reliance, moral integrity and character as the enduring essence of his teachings.

Dr Mehdi Al-Taheri, Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of Iran, attended the event as chief guest. Among those present were the spiritual successor to the shrine of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya and Member of the National Assembly, Zain Qureshi, renowned religious scholar Syed Ghazanfar Mehdi, historian and President of Anjuman Faiz-ul-Islam Professor Dr Riaz Ahmad, Kaukab Iqbal Kaukab, Lt Col (Retd) Mian Jameel Athar, Group Captain (Retd) Pervez Akhtar, Naeem Akram Qureshi, members of the academic community and a large number of citizens.

Addressing the gathering, Zain Qureshi said Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya had not only spread the message of Islam but had also emphasised economic self-reliance, moral integrity and strength of character throughout his life.

He said no individual or nation could exercise genuine independence without economic self-reliance, adding that the teachings of the great Sufi saints remained as relevant today as they were centuries ago.

Highlighting the saint’s contributions, he said Hazrat Bahauddin travelled from Baghdad and inspired people across Indonesia and other regions to embrace Islamic values while promoting trade and commerce to achieve economic prosperity alongside spiritual enlightenment.

He said Pakistan could attain self-reliance and national sovereignty by reviving and implementing the principles taught by its great spiritual leaders.

Zain Qureshi further said Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya had established the first residential madrassa in the Subcontinent, equipped with boarding and lodging facilities, reflecting his visionary commitment to education and public welfare.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mehdi Al-Taheri said Pakistan and Iran enjoyed deep-rooted religious, cultural and brotherly ties, reaffirming his country’s commitment to further strengthening these historic relations.

He said the people of Iran held Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya in the highest esteem and shared profound devotion to the revered saint.

Professor Dr Riaz Ahmad said the great Sufi saints had played a pivotal role in spreading Islam across the Subcontinent and paid tribute to Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya for his invaluable services to religion, education and society.

He said the teachings promoted by such revered personalities through their exemplary conduct and noble character deserved to be better understood, preserved and implemented in contemporary society.

Other speakers also stressed that Pakistan’s path towards economic freedom, self-reliance and sustainable national development lay in following the timeless teachings of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya and other great Sufi saints. They urged people to emulate their honesty, character and public conduct to build a prosperous, morally upright and self-reliant society founded on Islamic values.

Sargodha: The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) on Tuesday organised a certificate distribution ceremony at District Jail Shahpur Saddar to honour inmates who successfully completed the Adult Literacy Programme.

According to the NCHD spokesperson here, the certificates were awarded to learners (inmates) enrolled in literacy centres established by NCHD within the jail as part of its efforts to promote basic education and rehabilitation.

The event was attended by Superintendent District Jail Shahpur Muhammad Abu Bakar Abdullah, NCHD Deputy Director Sargodha Mehr Umar Daraz Jhawari, jail officials, teachers and learners.

Addressing the ceremony, Superintendent Muhammad Abu Bakar Abdullah said the literacy centres had been established through the joint efforts of NCHD and the District Jail administration to provide basic education to illiterate inmates and encourage positive behavioural change.

Rawalpindi: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) conducted five operations in different parts of the country and arrested six suspects, recovering 213. 381 kilograms(kgs) of narcotics and other contraband worth more than Rs 1. 5 million.

During an operation at a courier office on Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi, ANF recovered 2. 1 kg of ice concealed inside hockey balls from a parcel destined for Australia, an ANF spokesman said on Tuesday.

In an inter-provincial operation near the Kala Shah Kaku Toll Plaza, officials recovered 672 bottles containing a total of 204 litres of liquor from a vehicle and arrested one suspect.

In Rawalpindi, ANF seized 7. 2 kg of hashish from a vehicle near Pir Wadhai and arrested three suspects.

In another operation ANF arrested two motorcyclists near the GT Road Bus Terminal in Rawalpindi, and recovered 100 ecstasy tablets weighing 56 grams from their possession.

Separately, officials recovered 30 ecstasy tablets weighing 25 grams concealed inside a jar in a parcel at a courier office on Ring Road in Peshawar.

Cases have been registered against the arrested suspects under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997, while further investigations was underway.

Rawalpindi: City Police Officer (CPO) Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera on Tuesday assured the business community of enhanced security measures and closer coordination between the police and traders during an introductory meeting with a delegation of the Traders’ Association, emphasizing that maintaining peace and tackling civic and security challenges requires a collective effort.

SSP Operations also attended the meeting.

The delegation comprised Sharjeel Mir, Chaudhry Iqbal, Yasir Ismail Mughal, Talha Tauqeer, Saddam Abbasi, Haji Parvez Ghazi, Imtiaz Abbasi, Sheikh Suhail, Rafiq Shah, Adnan Khan, Rao Irfan, Shoaib Khan, Wahab Bhatti, Ishtiaq Mughal, Khawaja Fahad and other representatives of the trading community.

Speaking on the occasion, CPO Sukhera said Rawalpindi Police remains fully committed to protect the lives and property of citizens and is working around the clock to maintain law and order.

He said the police would continue to strengthen coordination with the business community, adding that traders could play a vital role by identifying civic and security-related issues and assisting the authorities in resolving them.

Representing the Traders’ Association, Sharjeel Mir reaffirmed the business community’s continued support for the police, saying traders have always stood alongside law enforcement for the betterment of the city.

Other members of the delegation also pledged cooperation with the police and district administration in addressing public and security concerns.

The traders appreciated the performance of Rawalpindi Police in curbing crime, describing its efforts as commendable, while both sides agreed to enhance mutual cooperation to ensure a safer and more peaceful environment for residents and the business community.