Month: July 2026

Faisalabad: Divisional Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh on Monday ordered a fresh assessment of industries causing air pollution and discharging chemical-contaminated wastewater in urban areas.

Chairing a meeting of District Industrial Relocation Committee, the Divisional Commissioner reviewed progress on the industrial relocation programme. He also directed the departments concerned to prepare comprehensive mapping and data for the phased relocation of hazardous industrial units.

He directed the Environmental Protection Agency, Labor Department and Industries Department to conduct a fresh evaluation of industrial units operating in urban areas that contribute to air pollution or release chemically contaminated wastewater and submit a detailed report.

He stressed that industries declared hazardous to human health should be relocated in phases after proper mapping. He directed the departments concerned to compile complete data and prepare a comprehensive map identifying all polluting industrial units to facilitate informed decision-making. He said that safeguarding public health and protecting the environment remain the administration’s foremost priorities, adding that effective action would be taken against industries found to be posing serious environmental and health risks.

To monitor progress on the relocation program, the Divisional Commissioner convened another review meeting to be held after 15 days. Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) Director General Muhammad Asif Chaudhry, Deputy Director Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Usman Azhar, Director Labor Welfare Rai Yasin, Assistant Commissioner (General) Atiya Inayat and District Officer Industries Muhammad Irfan were also present in the meeting.

Multan: Deputy Commissioner Dr Faisal Saleem on Monday directed all government departments to take immediate measures for resolving public issues and improving service delivery across the district.

Chairing a performance review meeting of district departments, the deputy commissioner reaffirmed the district administration’s commitment to public relief and directed concerned institutions to improve sewerage, sanitation, and infrastructure facilities.

In view of the monsoon rains and possible flooding, he instructed WASA, Rescue 1122, and other relevant departments to keep their machinery operational and ensure preparedness for any emergency.

Dr Faisal Saleem also directed officials to make the cleanliness drive under the “Suthra Punjab” programme more effective to achieve the zero-waste target.

He ordered further intensification of the price control campaign against profiteers to provide relief to citizens.

To eliminate encroachments, he said joint teams comprising the PERA Force, Multan Development Authority, and Municipal Corporation had been constituted to take action across the district.

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KPFSandHFA) has intensified its province-wide crackdown against adulterated milk and substandard food products and has seized and destroyed more than 14, 000 liters of substandard milk and 3, 000 kilograms of adulterated ketchup during operations in Mardan, Swabi, Kohat and Peshawar.

The enforcement drive has been launched on the directives of Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Food Dr Muhammad Israr Khan, who said that no compromise would be made on public health and that strict legal action would continue against those involved in the production and sale of unsafe food.

According to the Food Authority spokesperson, in Mardan, food safety teams, assisted by a Mobile Food Testing Laboratory, intercepted milk tankers at Rashakai and Wali Khan Interchange during a late-night operation.

Laboratory testing found 10, 000 liters of adulterated and unsafe milk, which was destroyed on the spot, while the milk tankers were taken into official custody for further legal proceedings.

In Kohat, the food safety officials established a checkpoint on the Indus Highway and inspected milk transport vehicles as well as milk distribution units. During the operation, 680 liters of artificial and substandard milk were recovered from a distributor and destroyed, with legal action initiated against those responsible.

Meanwhile, in Swabi, food safety team conducted a late-night checking operation at Colonel Sher Khan Interchange, where milk tankers entering the province from Punjab were tested.

A tanker carrying 3, 400 liters of skimmed milk in violation of food safety regulations was confiscated and destroyed. The individuals concerned were fined and further legal proceedings were initiated.

Separately, in Peshawar, inspection teams raided ketchup manufacturing units and seized 3, 000 kilograms of substandard ketchup from one production facility.

The entire stock was destroyed and legal action was launched against the factory owner.

Commending the enforcement teams, Dr Muhammad Israr Khan reiterated that the provincial government would continue its zero-tolerance policy against food adulteration.

“Those endangering public health through the production or sale of adulterated and unsafe food will face strict legal action without discrimination, ” Israr said.

Kohat: A woman died and 25 others were hospitalized after suspected food poisoning at a condolence gathering in the Sher Kot area of district, the police said on Monday.

The incident occurred in the Sher Kot area under the jurisdiction of the Sher Kot Ostarzai police station, where a charitable meal was served during a “Fateha” ceremony held for the daughter of a local resident, Ismat Ali, who had died a day earlier.

The police said 26 women fell ill shortly after eating food distributed at the gathering and were taken to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.

They said a woman later died, while another was transferred to a hospital in Peshawar in critical condition, adding

the remaining patients were receiving medical care.

The police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.

The police detained the owner of the house where the meal was prepared for questioning and collected food samples for forensic examination.

Senior Superintendent, Police (SSP) Khalid Mahmood and the local station house officer visited the hospital to monitor the situation.

The officials said the exact cause of the incident would be determined after forensic reports and further investigation.

Haripur: Nearly 200 residents of the remote Union Council Nara Amazai in Haripur district received identity registration services after a NADRA Mobile Registration Van visited the area.

The mobile service enabled citizens to apply for or renew Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs), obtain Child Registration Certificates (Form B), and access other NADRA facilities without traveling to Haripur city.

Residents appreciated the efforts of NADRA Haripur Zonal Office, particularly Assistant Director Aman Ullah, Assistant Saleem, and the mobile registration team, saying the initiative saved them significant travel expenses and valuable time. They noted that obtaining a single identity card normally requires a trip to Haripur, costing around PKR 4, 000 and taking nearly two days.

Locals also praised Mobile Van In-Charge Ayub Zafar and operators Tahir and Amir for their professional conduct, courteous behavior, and prompt handling of public requests.

Residents described the deployment of the mobile registration van to the underserved area as a people-friendly initiative, adding that the facility particularly benefited senior citizens, women, persons with disabilities, and low-income families by eliminating the need for long-distance travel to obtain essential identity documents.

Sargodha: Police claimed on Monday to have arrested more than 190 criminals from various parts of the district during the last week and recovered stolen property worth million of rupees from their possession. During the crackdown, the teams of various police stations raided the areas of their jurisdiction and arrested 43 notorious criminals involved in murder and attempt to murder cases; 12 suspects involved in dacoity, robbery, burglary, cattle theft and 38 suspects involved in car and motorcycle theft cases. The police also arrested nine suspects involved in heinous crimes such as kidnapping and rape.

The police also launched targeted crackdowns against criminal gangs and arrested members of dozens of gangs operating in different parts of the district. During the operations, the police recovered stolen property worth millions of rupees from the possession of outlaws. Further investigation was underway.