Day: August 1, 2026

Murree: Additional Deputy Commissioner General (ADCG) Murree, Kamran Sagheer chaired a strategic meeting on Friday to implement the provincial government’s “Model Village” initiative aimed at upgrading rural infrastructure across the district.

Addressing department heads during themeeting, Kamran Sagheer saod that the programme focuses on transforming rural settlements into self-sustaining, modern hubs by providing equitable development, upgraded civic amenities, and direct service delivery to residents.

He directed the relevant departments to strengthen inter-agency coordination, maintain strict financial transparency, and adhere to rigid timelines.

Field officers were urged to address localized rural grievances promptly to ensure the initiative’s benefits reach eligible beneficiaries directly.

Peshawar: Heavy overnight rain temporarily disrupted electricity supply on 84 feeders across the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) region, affecting parts of the Peshawar, Khyber, Mardan, Swabi and Swat circles, according to a PESCO spokesperson.

The PESCO spokesperson said that 41 feeders were affected in the Peshawar Circle, followed by 22 in Khyber, 12 in Mardan, five in Swabi and four in the Swat Circle.

PESCO immediately launched repair work to restore power supply at the earliest.

On the directives of the PESCO Chief, the General Manager (Operations) is personally supervising the restoration and repair operations to ensure the earliest possible resumption of electricity supply.

Sukkur: A two day Capacity Building Workshop for officers of Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), Khairpur commenced today at the Seminar Hall, Institute of Business Administration (IBA).

The workshop, organized under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Hissamuddin Shaikh and Inspector of Colleges Syed Muneer Rashdi, aims to enhance professional, technical and leadership skills of administrative officers with special focus on use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in official work.

Addressing online, Vice Chancellor Meritorious Prof. Dr. Yousuf Khushk appreciated the organizing committee and said such programmes are vital for enhancing administrative efficiency.

He highlighted the transformative role of AI in official work, noting that learning has no age limit. He announced that similar workshops will be organized regularly for officers and ministerial staff.

In his presidential address, Prof. Dr. Noor Ahmed Shaikh, Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, emphasized the importance of AI in modern office management and urged participants to apply the acquired skills in their offices.

Prof. Dr. Irum Rani Shaikh and Prof. Dr. Masiullah Jatoi also attended the inaugural session.

The event was attended by Registrar, Director Finance, Inspector of Colleges, Additional Registrar, Director Admissions, Heads of Sections, Administrative Officers, Senior Data Processing Officers and other officials.

Technical sessions were conducted by Dr. Mohsin Kazmi and Dr. Farhan Shahzad with practical demonstrations on AI applications in administration.

The workshop will continue on 31 July 2026 with further technical sessions and practical exercises.

Khanewal: Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani on Friday directed the authorities to expand the embryo transfer facility to all districts in phases to promote the breeding of high-quality livestock and enable farmers to benefit from modern reproductive technology.

During a visit to the FonGrow Farm in Khanewal, the minister described the embryo transfer programme at the farm as a commendable initiative that would significantly improve the genetic quality of livestock and strengthen milk and meat production across Punjab. He instructed the relevant departments to ensure the gradual expansion of the facility throughout the province.

Kirmani said, Punjab government, under CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision, was committed to promote smarter technology adoption, aimed at giving a phenomenal boost to agriculture and livestock.

Reviewing the farm’s cotton crop, minister termed it a model of modern agricultural practices and directed officials to widely disseminate its successful cultivation techniques among farmers for result-oriented replication.

Highlighting the government’s livestock disease control efforts, he said, around 450,000 animals had been vaccinated against various diseases across Punjab during the previous year. He revealed that eight Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)-free compartments had also been established in the province, with Fon Grow farm being one of them.

The minister appreciated the farm’s embryo transfer and quality semen production facilities, saying these initiatives would help accelerate the breeding of superior livestock and enhance milk and meat output.

He further said the disease-free compartments would facilitate exports of milk, meat and semen in accordance with international standards, contributing to the growth of the livestock sector and strengthening the national economy.

Mansehra: Authorities have closed the Naran-Lake Saif-ul-Malook Road to all types of traffic until further orders after heavy monsoon rains lashed the upper parts of Hazara Division, triggering landslides, flash flooding, and road blockages at several locations.

The precautionary closure was ordered in view of the ongoing heavy rainfall, the risk of cloudbursts, and weather advisories issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

The torrential downpour caused landslides and road obstructions along several mountainous routes in Upper Hazara, disrupting traffic and increasing the risk for commuters and tourists.

In District Mansehra, the River Kunhar and several seasonal streams swelled due to heavy rainfall, with authorities warning of the possibility of flash floods in vulnerable areas.

Officials said the closure of the Naran-Lake Saif-ul-Malook Road was a precautionary measure to safeguard tourists and local residents from potential hazards posed by adverse weather conditions and possible cloudburst incidents.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast that intermittent heavy rainfall is likely to continue in Hazara Division over the coming hours. The department has warned that intense downpours may trigger flash floods in rivers and streams, urban flooding in low-lying areas, and landslides in mountainous regions.

District authorities have advised tourists to postpone travel to Naran, Lake Saif-ul-Malook, Kaghan Valley, Babusar Top, and other upper tourist destinations until weather conditions improve. Local residents have also been urged to avoid unnecessary movement, particularly near rivers, streams, and landslide-prone areas, and to strictly follow official advisories.

The administration said road restoration work would commence as soon as weather conditions permit, while the Naran-Lake Saif-ul-Malook Road will remain closed to all traffic until further orders to ensure public safety.