Month: July 2026

Rawalpindi: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted windstorms, gusty winds, and isolated heavy rainfall across the upper and central parts of the country over the next two days, advising relevant departments, tourists, travelers, and farmers to adopt precautionary measures.

According to the PMD, moist currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously penetrating the upper parts of the country, while additional moisture from the Bay of Bengal is expected to enter northeastern regions from tonight. Furthermore, a westerly wave is scheduled to influence the upper regions triggering a new spell of precipitation.

Under the influence of these weather systems, intermittent rain-windstorms and thundershowers are expected in Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from tonight until July 8, with heavy falls likely in isolated areas. Similar weather patterns are anticipated in Waziristan, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan on July 7 and July 8.

Rain, windstorms, and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls are also expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, and Jhelum, alongside other districts of Punjab, from tonight through July 8.

The Met Office warned that heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning could cause structural damage to vulnerable buildings, solar panels, electric poles, and billboards. Landslides may also disrupt traffic in the mountainous terrain of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir on July 7 and July 8, while water flows are expected to increase in local nullahs of Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan.

Tourists and travelers have been advised to avoid unnecessary journeys and exercise extreme caution during travel. Farmers are recommended to plan their agricultural activities and secure livestock in accordance with the weather forecast.

The PMD noted that the incoming rain spell will gradually reduce the prevailing intense heatwave conditions across the country, prompting all relevant disaster management and administrative departments to remain alert to mitigate any untoward situation.

Abbottabad: Allama Iqbal Open University has launched admissions in intermediate science subjects after matriculation, calling it a major step toward expanding access to education.

Speaking to media representatives at the regional office, he said students can complete their education from home through the internationally recognized university.

According to Regional Director Hazara Division Shahid Khan Orakzai, the university has introduced FSC classes after matriculation for students up to 12 years of age to align education with modern requirements and help poor, middle-class and underprivileged families in Hazara provide their children with educational opportunities.

He said admissions under the Regional Campus Hazara Region opened on July 1 for matric, FA, FSC, 12 degree programs and 21 diploma and certificate programs.

The last date for new admissions is August 10, while enrollment for continuing students will remain open until August 24. Overseas Pakistanis can also apply for all programs.

Orakzai said there is no age limit for admission to higher education at the university.

He added that all admissions can be submitted online through the registration form available on the university’s website. He said courses in artificial intelligence and online earning are also under consideration in view of students’ growing needs.

He said special fee concessions have been announced for poor and disabled students, who can benefit by applying on time. He added that Allama Iqbal Open University is the first university in Asia to have separate examination halls for male and female students at the tehsil and district levels.

Orakzai further said workshop facilities for continuing students are also available online, while fees for matric, intermediate, BS, associate degree, B.Ed and other programs are lower than those of other universities.

He urged students of Hazara Division to take advantage of the facilities available at the regional campus and secure admissions in large numbers to fulfill their dream of higher education.

Online fee submission facilities are also available for various university programs. Fees can be deposited through Easypaisa, JazzCash, Allied Bank, MCB Bank, First Women Bank and any branch of the National Bank. Eligibility and other admission details are available on the university’s website, enrollment.aiou.edu.pk.

Rawalpindi: Deputy Commissioner Murree, Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi, conducted an extensive tour of various areas across the district to review the ongoing development schemes alongside healthcare, education, and sanitation arrangements.

During the initial phase of his visit, the Deputy Commissioner inspected the ongoing road construction and carpeting work on the Murree Grand Trunk (GT) Road. He issued strict directives to the executing authorities to maintain the speed and quality of construction, ensuring the timely completion of the project to facilitate tourists and local residents.

Under the Chief Minister Punjab “Suthra Punjab” vision, the Deputy Commissioner evaluated the waste management setup at various locations. He interacted directly with the sanitary workers, listened to their grievances, and lauded their services in maintaining the aesthetic beauty of the hill station, terming them the real heroes of the city.

Later, he visited Samli Hospital to check the availability of essential medicines, attendance of medical staff, and the quality of healthcare being provided to patients. He directed the hospital administration to ensure optimal medical assistance for patients arriving from Murree and its suburban localities.

The Deputy Commissioner also visited the Government Girls High School Samli to review classroom environments, teacher attendance, and academic facilities.

He reiterated that promoting female education and providing a conducive learning environment in schools remains a key priority of the government.

In the final leg of his tour, Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi inspected the Maryam Nawaz Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Tret, checking the functionality of medical equipment and staff deployment. He urged the rural healthcare staff to remain alert and dedicated, adding that the activation of basic health centers aims to deliver healthcare services directly to the doorsteps of rural populations.

Rawalpindi: The District Emergency Board and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) have finalized a comprehensive emergency plan to handle potential landsliding, flash floods, and severe traffic congestion during the ongoing monsoon and summer tourism season.

Chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Kamran Sagheer, the meeting put all allied departments on high alert and ordered the immediate deployment of emergency machinery at critical choke points.

Under the emergency plan, the administration will enforce strict monitoring of heavy traffic on the Chahra Gali to Bastal link road and launch a crackdown on overloaded public and school vehicles on the Khohatee to New Murree route. Dedicated fire tenders will also be permanently stationed at the Murree Expressway to respond to any highway emergency.

The board directed the National Highway Authority, Highway Department, Traffic Police, and Rescue 1122 to ensure a coordinated response to maintain clear roads during heavy downpours, while district control rooms will remain operational around the clock to provide real-time travel and weather updates via social media.

The administration has urged tourists and residents to avoid unnecessary travel during adverse weather, strictly follow lane discipline, and immediately contact Rescue 1122 or the police helpline in case of any emergency.

Hyderabad: Police in its continued drive against narcotics and criminals on Monday arrested three drug suppliers and recovered gutka from their possession.

SHO Market police station, Inspector Naik Muhammad Khoso acting on a tip-off with his staff in OPD incline near Doctors Colony arrested two suspects Abdullah Shawar Thakur and Taj Muhammad Khokhar while their two accomplices Zohaib Shah and Abrar alias Helemt managed to escape.

Police have recovered 1210 sachet of gutka from their possession and registered case against the suspects under gutka and mainpuri act.

Faisalabad: Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Faisalabad introduced a GIS-based digital desilting model to ensure transparent, paperless and real-time monitoring of drainage maintenance operations, marking a major step towards modernizing service delivery through technology.

WASA spokesman said here on Monday that the new system digitized desilting activities across all operational subdivisions, enabling officers to prepare, review, approve and monitor desilting schedules through a centralized Geographic Information System (GIS) platform.

Under the new model, Assistant Directors of Operations and Maintenance (OandM) can prepare desilting schedules for their respective areas directly on the GIS platform. The proposed schedules were then shared electronically with the concerned Deputy Managing Directors and Directors for review and approval before execution, he added. He said that after approval, the field staff could update desilting activities in real time by uploading geo-tagged photographs taken before and after the work, ensuring on-ground verification and maintaining a complete digital record of every operation.

He said that the entire process had been designed to operate without paper documentation, significantly improving transparency, accountability and operational efficiency.

He said that the centralized digital dashboard would also enable the senior management of WASA Faisalabad and WASA Punjab to monitor the progress of desilting operations across the city in real time. To ensure successful implementation of the new system, a comprehensive training session was organized for all OandM Assistant Directors. Deputy Managing Director (OandM) Farhan Akram attended the session while Deputy Director GIS Rana Tasawur Hussain gave a detailed briefing on the features and operational framework of the newly digitized desilting system.

He informed the participants that further work was underway to enhance the system by integrating it with the complaint management system, consumer database and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based capabilities to further improve operational efficiency, data-driven decision-making and public service delivery.

The GIS section also facilitated the immediate operationalization of the system by creating and activating login credentials for all field staff, enabling them to start using the digital platform without delay.

WASA official said that the initiative reflected the agency’s commitment to adopting modern digital technologies to strengthen urban infrastructure management, improve transparency in public service delivery and ensure more effective maintenance of the city’s drainage network.