Month: July 2026

Mirpur: Deputy Commissioner Mirpur Chaudhry Sajid Aslam on Wednesday reviewed preparations for the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, directing all departments to complete arrangements in time to ensure the polls are conducted in a peaceful, free, fair and transparent manner. The meeting was attended by officials from the district administration, police, health, education, local government, civil defence, highways, social welfare, Auqaf and other relevant departments.

Officials briefed the deputy commissioner on the preparedness of their respective departments, including election management, logistical arrangements and contingency plans. The meeting decided to further strengthen the district’s control and monitoring system, while all departments were instructed to nominate focal persons to ensure effective coordination, timely exchange of information and a swift response to any emergency on polling day.

Addressing the meeting, Sajid Aslam said the peaceful conduct of the elections was a shared responsibility of all stakeholders and stressed the need for close coordination among the district administration, police and other government departments. He directed officials to remain in constant contact through designated focal persons, complete all arrangements before the stipulated deadline and utilize all available resources to facilitate voters. The Education Department was also asked to provide necessary administrative support for election management.

The deputy commissioner appealed to citizens to exercise their right to vote peacefully on July 27 and actively participate in the electoral process to strengthen democratic institutions. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation by all participating departments of their commitment to work in close coordination to ensure the peaceful, secure and successful conduct of the AJK elections.

Multan: Secretary Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal department Punjab, Saira Umar, paid a visit city to review the performance of welfare institutions and assess facilities being provided to vulnerable segments of society under the Punjab government’s social welfare initiatives.

Accompanied by Divisional Director Social Welfare Multan Um-e-Farwa Hamdani and Deputy Director Social Welfare Abdul Aziz Khan, the secretary visited the Social Welfare Complex, including the Shelter Home, Drug Rehabilitation Centre, Violence Against Women Centre, Nasheman, Women Protection Centre, Women Transitional Home, Old Age Home, Sanatzar Vocational Centre and the Divisional Director’s Office.

During the visit, Saira Umar inspected administrative arrangements, reviewed service delivery and interacted with children, senior citizens, women and persons with disabilities residing in the institutions. She listened to their problems and examined the facilities being provided for their care and rehabilitation.

She directed the heads of all welfare institutions to treat residents with dignity and ensure strict implementation of the minimum service standards set by the Punjab government.

The secretary also reviewed ongoing repair, renovation and beautification work at various institutions and issued necessary instructions for timely completion. She appreciated the maintenance and renovation work carried out at the Women Transitional Home.

Later, Ms. Saira Umar held a meeting with Fadia Kashif, Chief Executive Officer of Taray Zameen Par Trust, to discuss matters related to the welfare institutions operating under the Social welfare department.

Attock: Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Justice Aalia Neelum on Wednesday inaugurated a newly established Ladies’ Bar Room and a modern e-Library at the District Bar Association Attock, reaffirming the judiciary’s commitment to improving facilities for lawyers and promoting the use of digital legal resources. She was accompanied by Lahore High Court Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, District and Sessions Judge Attock Ali Zulqarnain Awan and other senior judicial officers.

During her visit, the chief justice also held a meeting with judges and senior judicial officers at the District and Sessions Court to review judicial affairs and discuss measures for the efficient administration of justice. Later, she visited the District Bar Association, where she was received by office-bearers of the bar and senior members of the legal fraternity.

After inaugurating the new facilities, Justice Neelum met women lawyers and discussed their professional experiences, emphasizing the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for legal practitioners. She also inspected the e-Library, equipped with modern legal research facilities, and expressed hope that it would strengthen access to digital legal resources.

Addressing members of the bar, the chief justice described the legal profession as a noble calling founded on integrity, honesty, dedication and hard work. She said these principles were essential for maintaining public confidence in the justice system and achieving professional excellence. The ceremony was attended by senior advocates, women lawyers and a large number of members of the District Bar Association Attock.

Rahim yar khan: Three persons including a child were killed in a tragic road accident in Rahim Yar Khan after a rashly driven tractor-trolley collided with a motorcycle, on Wednesday, according to rescue sources quoted by tv channels.

According to initial reports, the accident occurred in the CHK No. 229-P area, where the tractor-trolley struck a motorcycle passing through the locality. The impact of the collision claimed the lives of all three riders on the spot.

Rescue team rushed to the scene after receiving information about the incident and shifted the bodies to a nearby hospital. Police also reached the accident site and launched a search operation to arrest the tractor-trolley driver, who fled the scene immediately after the collision.

Mirpur: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday described the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections as a defining moment for the region, urging voters to give his party a strong mandate. Addressing a large public rally in Mirpur, Bilawal said the election would shape the future of Kashmir and pledged that a two-thirds PPP majority would enable the party to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening the rights of Kashmiris, including what he described as greater self-governance, ownership of natural resources and expanded employment opportunities for young people.

Bilawal linked the PPP’s election campaign to the party’s political legacy, highlighting the contributions of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari. He said the party would continue advocating for a stronger constitutional and political role for AJK, including greater representation in Pakistan’s national institutions, while preserving the region’s distinct constitutional identity. He also criticized the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), accusing it of seeking to centralize decision-making at the expense of the powers of the AJK government.

Referring to the recent political unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the PPP chairman called for dialogue to resolve differences and proposed the establishment of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine public grievances. He also expressed concern over internet restrictions, saying uninterrupted communication was important for ensuring a transparent electoral process, and urged the relevant authorities to facilitate conditions conducive to free and fair elections.

Calling on voters to reject divisive politics, Bilawal urged the electorate to support PPP candidates Yasir Sultan, Qasim Majeed, Sohaib Arshad and Afsar Shahid in the upcoming polls. He expressed confidence that the party would secure a strong mandate in AJK, saying the PPP would continue to work for democratic governance, public welfare and the protection of the political and economic rights of the people of Kashmir.

Hyderabad: On the directives of deputy commissioner Hyderabad Zain-ul-Abideen Memon, a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) was held under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner-I Gada Hussain Soomro and Additional Deputy Commissioner-II Mehwish Buriro to review preparedness for the 2026 monsoon season.

The meeting reviewed the preparedness of relevant departments, coordination, drainage arrangements, safety measures and contingency plans to effectively deal with expected rainfall and any emergency situation during the monsoon.

According to a handout issued here on Wednesday, officials from WASA, HESCO, the health department, sindh building control authority, irrigation, SIDA, HMC, town municipal corporations and other relevant departments attended the meeting.

Addressing the participants, Additional Deputy Commissioner-I Gada Hussain Soomro directed all departments to complete their preparations in view of the forecast of rainfall on July 26 and 27 and work under a coordinated strategy to respond effectively to any emergency.

During the meeting, officials informed that cleaning of major rain-water drains including Wadhu Wah had been completed, while desilting work at Churi Bazaar and other locations was progressing rapidly.

WASA officials said drainage lines in different areas of Qasimabad were being cleaned through machinery, while the Fasadi Wah pumping station was fully operational.

The meeting also reviewed the strengthening of protective embankments, drainage arrangements in railway colony, medical emergency preparedness, HESCO’s priority power supply to pumping stations, contingency plans for dilapidated buildings, cattle colony and new cattle colony, the availability of registered NGO volunteers and the immediate removal of hazardous billboards across the city.

Soomro directed all departments to complete their assigned responsibilities well before the expected rains, ensure full implementation of the monsoon emergency plan, immediately submit lists of registered NGO volunteers and complete the clearance of billboards and other safety measures without delay.

He also directed that another review meeting be held before the expected rainfall to reassess preparedness and ensure an effective response to any possible emergency.