Month: July 2026

Multan: All Pakistan Women Association (APWA) Multan chapter awarded certificates to women upon completion of various skill development courses at a ceremony here Wednesday.

Certificate distribution ceremony was held at Nawan Shehr Apwa centre on Abdali Road after women and girls successfully completed courses on freelancing, fashion designing, cooking, stitching and special training programmes for widows.

The women-exclusive ceremony was attended by Assistant Commissioner Multan Azka Sehar as the chief guest. Other distinguished participants included President District Bar Association (DBA) Bushra Naqvi, Apwa vice chairperson Farah Faisal, general secretary Nazia Yasir, joint general secretary Tehmina Munir, executive members Tahira Najam, Dr. Shehla Aftab, Alia Nabeel, Yasmeen Khalil Bukhari and Riffat Sadaf, principal Abida Ashfaq, and a large number of trainees and guests.

Addressing the participants, Azka Sehar said that women are increasingly being recognized for their contributions in every field and emphasized that success depends on confidence in one’s abilities rather than gender. She praised Apwa Multan for its continued efforts in empowering women and shared her own professional experiences as a female civil servant.

Although women officers face challenges, they are also respected for their dedication and professional competence, she added while explaining the responsibilities of an assistant commissioner. She later responded to questions from students and participants.

President DBA Multan Bushra Naqvi shared her professional journey and encouraged students and interns to pursue education alongside practical skills. She said hard work, honesty, self-confidence and commitment to the rule of law are the foundations of success and urged young women to play a positive role in society while striving to achieve their goals.

Apwa general secretary Nazia Yasir said, Apwa is successfully running programmes in freelancing, fashion designing, cooking, stitching, driving, self-grooming, social work, daily life skills, traffic awareness, leadership development, teamwork, cancer awareness, learning programmes and community support initiatives.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Apwa vice chairperson Farah Faisal and AC Azka Sehar distributed certificates among women and girls who had successfully completed various training courses.

Hyderabad: Governor Sindh Syed Muhammad Nihal Hashmi visited Hala on Wednesday and paid homage at the shrine of Hazrat Ghous-ul-Haq Makhdoom Nooh Sarwar.

He laid a floral wreath, offered Fateha and prayed for the peace, prosperity and stability of the country. The Governor also visited the grave of Makhdoom Shah Nawaz, where he offered Fateha.

According to a handout, talking to the media on the occasion, Nihal Hashmi said that visiting the shrine of Makhdoom Nooh Sarwar in Hala was a great honour and blessing for him. He said the Sufi saints had always preached the values of love, brotherhood, tolerance and peace.

He emphasized the need to promote the message of peace, love and harmony taught by the Sufi saints throughout society.

Beijing: Pakistan has reaffirmed its strong support for China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI), with Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi calling for greater international cooperation, preventive diplomacy, and sustainable development during a high-level meeting marking the fifth anniversary of the initiative’s launch.

The event, held in Beijing, brought together diplomatic envoys, United Nations agencies, think tanks, and academic experts.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered the keynote address.

In his remarks, Ambassador Hashmi recalled the global circumstances surrounding the launch of the GDI by Chinese President Xi Jinping and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to China’s vision of placing development at the center of global governance. He said the initiative aligns with the principles of the UN Charter and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Hashmi noted that, through the GDI, China has provided more than US$23 billion in financial assistance for approximately 1,800 development projects worldwide.

He added that the initiative has received support from more than 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations.

Highlighting the close relationship between peace and development, the ambassador emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, mediation, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

He called for increased international investment in preventive diplomacy while advocating an open, fair, and international law-based global economic order.

The ambassador also pointed to Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran. He said Islamabad had supported diplomatic engagement through the Islamabad Talks, which resulted in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and established a framework for a ceasefire and continued negotiations on outstanding issues.

Looking ahead, Hashmi outlined five priorities to strengthen the Global Development Initiative. These include promoting a stable, peaceful, and open international environment for development; revitalizing multilateralism and global partnerships; narrowing the technology and artificial intelligence divide; expanding industrial cooperation by combining developing countries’ strengths with China’s technological capabilities and investment; and enhancing collaboration in marine geology, water resource management, climate action, and biodiversity conservation.

The ambassador said these areas of cooperation would help advance inclusive and sustainable development while reinforcing international partnerships to address shared global challenges.

Malakand: Twenty passengers, including women and children, were injured when a passenger coaster travelling from Madian Swat to Peshawar met with an accident in Tunnel No. 3 of Swat Motorway on Wednesday.

According to Rescue 1122 Malakand, soon after receiving information about the accident, medical teams and ambulances were dispatched to the site. Rescue personnel carried out emergency operations, provided first aid to the injured and shifted them to Palai Hospital. Later, on the advice of doctors, the injured were referred to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Batkhela for further treatment.

The injured passengers included 35-year-old Adam son of Momin Khan, and his children Ahmad (7), Salman (8) and Samana Kanza daughter of Adam (3), along with Samana Shahida wife of Adam (30), all residents of Madian Swat.

Other injured passengers included Abu Bakar Khalil (12), Abinaz daughter of Umerin (16), Abdul Basit son of Muhammad Yousaf (32), Manisha wife of Abdul Basit (20), one-and-a-half-year-old Mabeena daughter of Abdul Basit, Khairul War wife of Sher Ali (55), Hawli Bibi wife of Arhat Ali (25), two-year-old Sufyan son of Arhat Ali, Masooma daughter of Imad Khalil (14), Sara wife of Imad Khalil (40), Nazha daughter of Maqbool Khan (12), two-year-old Azan son of Imad Khalil, Niaz Begum wife of Mahmoli (50), Alisha daughter of Sabeel (6), and five-year-old Asim son of Imad. Most of the injured passengers belonged to Peshawar.

Rescue 1122 officials said the injured were being provided medical facilities at DHQ Hospital Batkhela. Teams of Alkhidmat Foundation and Nizamuddin Team also participated in the relief activities and assisted Rescue 1122 personnel.

District Emergency Officer Malakand Nasir Khan remained present at the scene and supervised the rescue operation, directing teams to ensure timely assistance and medical support to the injured.

Tank: The district police have launched a district-wide security operation featuring special checkpoints and intensified search measures in view of the prevailing law and order situation and reported security threats.

According to a police spokesman following the directives of District Police Officer (DPO) Abdul Samad Khan these measures have been aimed to further strengthening security arrangements and ensuring public safety across the district.

Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs) supervised checkpoint operations within their respective circles, while Station House Officers (SHOs) established special checkpoints at major highways, entry and exit points, sensitive locations, and other key routes.

Strict checking and surveillance were also maintained at all police posts throughout the district.

During the operation, police conducted thorough searches of suspicious individuals, inspected vehicles, motorcycles, and public transport, and verified identity documents.

Several individuals also underwent biometric verification and other legal checks where required.

Police remained vigilant against the movement of suspicious persons, prohibited items, and criminal elements.

DPO Abdul Samad Khan directed all officers to further enhance search and checking operations to maintain peace, prevent crime, safeguard the lives and property of citizens, and ensure timely action against anti-social elements.

He said that the Tank police remained on high alert and were fully prepared to respond to any emergency.

The DPO reiterated that the protection of citizens’ lives and property remains the top priority of Tank Police and appealed to the public to report any suspicious individuals, objects, or activities to the nearest police station or police helpline to help maintain peace and security in the district.

Hyderabad: The ‘Sugharan Ji Kachehri’ was held at the H.T. Sorley Hall as part of the 283rd annual Urs celebrations of great Sufi poet Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (RA). Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan attended the event as chief guest. Sindh minister for culture, tourism, antiquities and archives Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah was also present on the occasion.

According to a handout, the event commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by renowned broadcaster and writer Naseer Mirza performing the duties of stage secretary.

Addressing the gathering, the governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (RA) was a great spiritual figure whose teachings were highly relevant in today’s era. He said Latif conveyed the universal message of Islam, love, humanity, brotherhood and peace through his timeless poetry, which continues to guide the whole nation.

He added that the teachings of sufi saints help eliminate hatred and promote love, tolerance and unity in society, while introducing the younger generation to these teachings was a collective responsibility.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh minister for culture, tourism, antiquities and archives Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah said the teachings of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (RA) were a precious asset not only for Sindh but for the entire humanity.

He said the Sindh government was taking extensive measures every year during the Urs celebrations to promote Shah’s philosophy, message of love, peace, tolerance and brotherhood through literary, cultural and other activities.

The provincial minister said that ‘Sugharan Ji Kachehri’ reflected Sindh’s centuries-old literary and cultural traditions.

During the event, renowned sufi artists of Sindh presented the poetry of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (RA) in melodious tunes, while Sughar (folk intellectuals) received appreciation from the audience for their poetry, folk literature, wisdom and intellectual expressions. The participants highly praised the sufi poetry and cultural performances presented during the program.

At the conclusion of the event, Sindh minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah presented Ajrak and Sindhi caps, symbols of Sindh’s cultural identity, to the governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and other distinguished guests. He also presented the famous book ‘Shah Jo Risalo,’ a collection of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry, as a gift.

Deputy Commissioner Matiari Muhammad Danish Zakir, SSP Abdul Aleem Baloch, officers of the district administration, writers, poets, Sughar, artists, intellectuals and people from different walks of life were also present on the occasion.