Month: July 2026

Burewala: A local court in Burewala has sentenced a man to three years’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs20,000 after convicting him in a fake cheque case, following effective investigation and prosecution by Vehari Police.

According to police, the conviction was secured in FIR No. 547/18 registered at Model Town Police Station, Burewala. Judicial Magistrate Burewala Qaiser Hussain Maral awarded the sentence to convict Ghulam Qasim Khan after the prosecution proved the charges through investigation, evidence and witness testimony.

Police said the convict had issued a fraudulent cheque worth Rs250 million (Rs25 crore), which was dishonoured when presented for payment on the due date.

District Police Officer (DPO) Vehari Tasawur Iqbal said the police remained committed to ensuring the arrest and conviction of offenders in criminal cases through professional investigation and effective prosecution.

Rawalpindi: One person was killed and two others injured in a road accident near the old toll plaza on Srinagar Highway on Wednesday. According to Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi, rescue teams rushed to the scene immediately after receiving the emergency call and launched rescue operations.

The injured were provided first aid before being shifted to a nearby hospital, while the body of the deceased was also moved to the hospital for legal formalities.

Rescue officials said the accident apparently occurred after a milk supply vehicle skidded off the road due to the slippery conditions caused by rain. Further investigation into the incident is underway.

Peshawar: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday held a meeting with United States Charg© d’Affaires to Pakistan Ms. Natalie A. Baker at Governor House to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in investment, education, sports diplomacy, tourism, regional peace and economic development.

The meeting was attended by U.S. Consul General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Thomas Eckert, PPP Parliamentary Leader in the KP Assembly Ahmed Karim Kundi and Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah.

During the meeting, the Governor highlighted the province’s vast investment potential, particularly in minerals, gemstones, hydropower, natural gas, water resources and tourism, with special emphasis on religious tourism.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa possessed abundant reserves of precious stones and gemstones, offering significant opportunities for international investment and private-sector participation in value-addition projects in the mines and minerals sector.

Governor Kundi also proposed promoting business-to-business collaboration and partnerships with local communities to facilitate investment.

Referring to recent regional developments, he said peace and stability would enable Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to fully capitalize on its natural resources and attract greater foreign investment.

Natalie A. Baker acknowledged the province’s strong economic potential despite prevailing security perceptions and encouraged the Governor to engage with members of the U.S. Congress, officials of the U.S. Department of State and leading policy think tanks during his proposed visit to the United States.

She also suggested that the Governor be accompanied by a business delegation to showcase Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s investment opportunities and proposed exploring sister-city partnerships, including with Houston.

The meeting also discussed sports diplomacy, with Ms. Baker appreciating the Governor’s efforts to promote cricket and other sports in the province.

Governor Kundi briefed the delegation on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Champions League and his planned Governor XI cricket and football matches involving members of the diplomatic community, saying the initiatives were aimed at strengthening people-to-people contacts through sports.

The two sides also exchanged views on the security situation in the province and the fight against terrorism.

The Governor stressed that alongside effective security measures, expanding access to quality education and creating employment opportunities were essential to preventing extremism and ensuring lasting peace.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to enhancing cooperation in investment, trade, education, sports diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges while exploring new avenues of partnership between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the United States.

Bahawalpur: The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) and the British Council have agreed to strengthen their institutional partnership with the launch of IELTS-related initiatives aimed at expanding educational opportunities and enhancing English-language proficiency among students.

The understanding was reached during a meeting held at the Vice Chancellor Secretariat, Abbasia Campus. The meeting was attended by Business and Education Representative British Council Abdullah Anwar, Vice Chancellor the Islamia University of Bahawalpur Professor Dr Muhammad Kamran, Registrar Muhammad Shaji ur Rehman, Director Public Relations Dr. Shahzad Ahmed Khalid, Director Directorate of Information Technology Dr. Faisal Shahzad and Assistant Professor Department of English Linguistics and Team Lead for IELTS Dr. Misbah Rosheen Khan.

The participants held detailed discussions on strengthening institutional collaboration and exploring new avenues to expand educational opportunities for IUB students. They agreed that the first phase of the partnership would begin with the successful launch of IELTS-related initiatives at the university.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Kamran said the collaboration with the British Council reflects the university’s commitment to providing students with internationally recognized academic and professional opportunities.

He expressed confidence that the initiative would help improve English-language proficiency and prepare students for higher education and careers at the global level.

The partnership is expected to enhance access to internationally recognized English language programmes while creating new opportunities for academic exchange, professional development and global engagement for students of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur.