Month: July 2026

Peshawar: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has granted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government a 15-day extension in a case regarding local government elections, postponing further proceedings until July 28.

A four-member bench headed by ECP Member Sindh Nisar Durrani heard the case.

During the hearing, the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Secretary for Local Government and officials from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics appeared before the commission.

The Local Government Secretary informed the commission that maps and other required material for 15 districts had been provided by the Bureau of Statistics.

ECP members questioned the delay in supplying the required material. The commission’s Special Secretary requested that the Bureau of Statistics ensure the prompt provision of maps whenever requested by the provincial government or the ECP in the future.

During the proceedings, ECP Member from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Justice (R) Ikramullah objected to the use of the abbreviation “KP” for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the province should be referred to by its full name.

Chief Secretary Shehab Ali Shah told the commission that the provincial government had completed all necessary arrangements for the elections but was currently introducing amendments to the local government law, which are under consideration by the provincial cabinet.

He requested additional time, stating that the legal amendments were still in process. Accepting the request, the Election Commission granted the provincial government 15 days and adjourned the hearing until July 28.

Sialkot: Residents of all four tehsils of Sialkot district can now submit domicile applications at the E-Khidmat Centre on Paris Road following directions issued by Deputy Commissioner(DC) Saba Asghar Ali on Tuesday.

According to a spokesperson for the Deputy Commissioner’s Office,the facility has been extended to residents of Sialkot,Daska,Pasrur and Sambrial to improve access to public services and facilitate citizens who were unable to visit their respective tehsil offices.

The spokesperson said domicile applications will be processed through a simple and transparent procedure at the E-Khidmat Center,ensuring greater convenience for applicants across the district.

The DC urged citizens to avoid agents and unauthorized individuals for the preparation of domicile application files, stressing that guidance,document verification and application submission services were being provided free of cost at the center.

Mansehra: Rescue 1122 Mansehra has issued an important public advisory for residents and tourists, warning that the water level in the Siran River has risen above normal.

District Emergency Officer, Abrar Ali, urged the public to avoid going near the river, swimming, taking selfies, or stopping unnecessarily along the riverbanks due to the increased risk posed by the strong water flow.

He said, Rescue 1122 Mansehra teams have been placed on high alert to respond to any emergency and appealed to citizens and visitors to exercise caution and strictly follow safety guidelines to prevent accidents.

“The safety of the public depends on their own precautionary measures,” District Emergency Officer said.

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has unveiled 160 development projects for Hazara Division under the Khushhal Hazara Programme as part of the Khushhal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Budget 2026-27.

According to official documents, the projects, covering all districts of Hazara Division, will be implemented across nearly 22 sectors at an estimated cost of more than Rs206 billion.

The development portfolio includes schemes related to road infrastructure, healthcare, education, irrigation, tourism, energy, urban development, clean drinking water, and other public service sectors.

Officials said the programme is aimed at improving civic facilities, creating employment opportunities, and accelerating the socio-economic development of Hazara Division.

They added that the initiative reflects the provincial government’s commitment to balanced regional development and is expected to contribute significantly to the long-term growth and prosperity of the division.

Peshawar: The water level at Tarbela Dam has risen 82 feet above its dead level following monsoon rains while inflows into the reservoir continue to increase.

According to the dam administration on Tuesday, the water level has reached 1,484.20 feet, compared to the dead level of 1,402 feet. The dam’s full reservoir level is 1,550 feet.

Latest figures show that water inflow into the reservoir stands at 236,800 cusecs, while outflow is 157,700 cusecs. Since inflows are exceeding outflows, water storage in the reservoir is continuing to increase.

The dam administration further stated that all 17 power generation units at Tarbela Dam are fully operational. The hydropower station is currently generating 4,370 megawatts (MW) of electricity against its installed generation capacity of 4,980 MW.

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA) organized an in-house training session for its officers on the amendments introduced to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sales Tax on Services Act, 2022 through the KP Finance Act 2026.

The session was held at the Iftikhar Qutab Memorial Hall, KPRA Headquarters, Peshawar.

Additional Collector Headquarters Abdul Raziq Khan and Deputy Director Corporate Raheel Iqbal conducted the training, explaining each amendment to the Act in detail.

They elaborated on the rationale behind the changes, their legal implications, and their expected impact on tax administration and compliance.

During the interactive session, participants raised questions regarding various provisions of the amended law, which were addressed comprehensively by the trainers. Officers from KPRA’s regional offices also participated in the training through a video link.

The trainers discussed the amended provisions section by section, highlighting the improvements made to the law and their practical implications.

The session aimed to enhance officers’ understanding of the latest legislative changes and ensure their effective implementation across the Authority.