Month: July 2026

Hyderabad: Deputy Commissioner Shaheed Benazirabad, Abdul Samad Nizamani, has appointed District Crisis Communication Focal Persons for the Polio Booster Dose Campaign scheduled to be held from 24 to 31 August 2026. A formal notification has been issued in this regard. According to notification, effective communication and the timely dissemination of information are essential for the success of National Polio Eradication Programme. To address issues arising before, during, and after the campaign and to respond promptly to public concerns and misconceptions, a District Crisis Communication Committee has been constituted.

As per notification, Additional Deputy Commissioner-I Saddam Hussain Memon has been appointed as Chairman of the committee, while District Health Officer Dr. Mudassar Hussain will serve as Co-Chairman. The committee members include District Manager PPHI Zakir Hussain Samoon, Dr. Aftab Ali Khaskheli (FPIFP), Dr. Javed Ahmed Qureshi (SIA FP), District Information Officer Aijaz Ali Teevino, Dr. Karim Bux (DSC), Dr. Niaz Ahmed (DPO-WHO), and Akbar Ali (CCO). The notification directs all concerned officers to ensure close coordination, timely dissemination of information, prevention of rumors, and an immediate response to any emergency situation during Polio Booster Dose Campaign, so that campaign is completed successfully.

Sargodha: Commissioner Sargodha Division, Hafiz Shaukat Ali, on Tuesday paid a surprise visit to the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in Sahiwal to review healthcare facilities and directed the hospital administration to ensure the uninterrupted availability of medicines, maintain high standards of cleanliness and provide timely, quality healthcare to patients with dignity.

According to the spokesperson for the Commissioner’s office here, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Hussain Ahmad Raza Chaudhry, the Commissioner inspected various hospital departments, including the emergency ward, inpatient wards, laboratory and medical store. He also interacted with patients and their attendants to obtain first-hand feedback on medical treatment, the availability of medicines and the overall performance of the hospital.

During the visit, Hafiz Shaukat Ali stressed that, in line with the directives of the Chief Minister of Punjab, the hospital must ensure 100 per cent availability of medicines and maintain exemplary hygiene standards.

He emphasised that no negligence would be tolerated in providing prompt, quality and respectful healthcare services to patients.

Sargodha: A blood donation camp was organized at Sharbat Chowk under the auspices of the TB Hospital, in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (Hilal-e-Ahmar), to promote voluntary blood donation and support patients in need.

According to the spokesperson for the Social Welfare department here on Tuesday, the prominent participants included traders’ leader Nasir Mehmood Sehgal, TB Patient Welfare Council President Abdul Quddus, and other community representatives, who donated blood to encourage the humanitarian initiative.

Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Director Social Welfare Saima Beenish said that serving humanity was the department’s foremost priority and a noble responsibility.

She added that the Social Welfare Department would continue such welfare initiatives and urged the public to actively participate in blood donation drives to help save precious lives.

A large number of citizens donated blood during the camp, while the organizers expressed their commitment to holding similar blood donation camps in the future to ensure a steady supply of blood for patients in need.

Astore: After a week of continuous efforts, effective planning, coordinated operations, and round-the-clock monitoring, the Astore Valley Road was reopened here on Tuesday for light transport vehicles (LTV).

The restoration has brought much-needed relief to thousands of residents, stranded travelers, and tourists, partially restoring transportation in the valley.

The road had suffered extensive damage at several locations due to recent heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides, resulting in a complete suspension of traffic. Despite challenging terrain, persistent bad weather, and hazardous ground conditions, the District Administration Astore, Pakistan Army, Works Department, Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), Police, and other relevant agencies worked in close coordination to carry out uninterrupted restoration operations.

Deputy Commissioner Astore, Neelam Ali, personally led the restoration operation. Following the reopening of the road, residents of the valley, along with stranded passengers and tourists, expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the efforts of the district administration and all participating agencies.

Members of the public stated that the determination, dedication, and professionalism demonstrated in completing the restoration work under extremely difficult circumstances were highly commendable.

The public particularly paid tribute to Deputy Commissioner Astore, Ms. Neelam Ali, for her dynamic leadership, timely decision-making, and continuous day-and-night supervision. They expressed hope that the same spirit of commitment and public service would continue to guide future efforts aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the people of the district.

Vehari: Deputy Commissioner , Khalid Javed Goraya on Tuesday chaired a review meeting to assess progress on a community vegetable cultivation initiative, ongoing development projects and safety measures for sewer maintenance workers.

The deputy commissioner said the provincial government’s “Sanjhi Sabzi” (Shared Vegetable) programme was being implemented in line with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

He said 126 kanals of land had been prepared for the project in Teshil, Vehari , while vegetables had already been cultivated on 16 kanals.

Goraya directed officials to ensure strict compliance with safety protocols during construction and sewer maintenance work.

He said that no sanitation worker should be allowed to enter a sewer without protective equipment, including safety kits and gas masks.

He also instructed departments to maintain constant coordination with Rescue 1122 emergency services during sewer cleaning and other hazardous operations to ensure a prompt response in case of emergencies.

The meeting was attended by senior district officials, including the additional deputy commissioners for revenue and general administration, the assistant commissioner, Vehari, agriculture officials and representatives of other relevant departments.

United nations: Pakistan expressed deep concern over the rising civilian casualties and harm to critical global food and energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine war, urged an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy when the UN Security Council met in an emergency session on Monday.

“The ripple effect of such actions negatively impact lives and livelihoods far beyond the conflict zone, especially in the Global South, ” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the 15-member Council, which was requested by Ukraine.

The Pakistani envoy spoke after UN officials warned the Security Council that intensified hostilities in Ukraine and systematic attacks on Black Sea ports are exacting a heavy civilian toll, disrupting maritime trade and threatening global food security.

“We are alarmed by the reported targeting of humanitarian actors and associated infrastructure, ” Ambassador Asim Ahmad said, calling the harm to the civilians and civilian infrastructure “reprehensible. ”

He called on the parties to abide by their International Humanitarian Law obligations, as their violation risks escalation, deepens mistrust, exacerbates human suffering, and further diminishes the prospects for peace.

“It is evident that durable peace and stability could only be achieved if the parties were to commit to an earnest, sustained and meaningful dialogue, ” reiterating that quest for a military solution will only lead to more devastation and suffering and consequences beyond the region.

The Pakistani envoy underscored the need for the implementation of the Security Council Resolution 2774, proposed by the US and supported by Pakistan and other Council members, that reiterated the principle of peaceful settlement of dispute, implored to bring a swift end to the conflict and urged a lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russia.

“We, therefore, underscore the need for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities, creating space for diplomacy, and the resumption of dialogue, ” the Pakistani envoy said.

“A mutually acceptable peaceful settlement, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and corresponding to the legitimate security interests of all sides and the relevant multilateral agreements remains the only viable path, ” Ambassador Asim Ahmad added.

At the outset of the debate, Kayoko Gotoh, Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said that Since 9 July, more than 170 civilians reportedly have been killed across Ukraine due to Russia’s aerial attack.

Kyiv, the capital, has remained under constant bombardment, with the eighth major missile attack on the city striking a residential building just yesterday, she told the Council. In July alone, at least 56 civilians reportedly have been killed and 232 injured in Kyiv.

With daily attacks also being reported in Ukraine’s Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, ‘the summertime escalation has had an increasingly destructive impact on the areas of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation.

The escalation of Russian attacks on ports and cargo ships in recent weeks raises renewed alarm about the wider regional and global impacts of this war, ‘ Ms. Gotoh continued. She pointed to the Black Sea ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, Pivdennyi, Izmail and Mykolaiv, which have seen ‘renewed, systematic’ attacks. In the Odesa region, she said, more than six attacks on civilian vessels were reported in July.