Day: August 2, 2026

Peshawar: Commissioner Peshawar Division, Riaz Khan Mehsud on Saturday directed concerned departments to immediately execute emergency cleaning and excavation work along a six-kilometer stretch of flood-affected Budni Nullah.

During an on-site inspection of stormwater Budni Nullah situated on Charsadda Road, Commissioner issued strict orders to deepen the nullah by up to 15 feet and launch an aggressive anti-encroachment drive to clear all illegal structures from its banks.

Announcing key measures for a long-term solution to recurring urban flooding during rainy season, he directed concerned quarters that clearance, dredging, and structural rehabilitation work must begin without delay as soon as water levels recede, ensuring provincial capital was safeguarded against future flood hazards.

The visit was attended by senior administrative and municipal officers, including Deputy Commissioner Sanaullah Khan, along with representatives from Irrigation Department, Rescue 1122, Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP), and local government bodies.

Stressing inter-departmental coordination, Commissioner Mehsud said that clearing bottle-necks along primary drainage channel remains crucial to mitigating potential damages and ensuring a swift, effective municipal response during peak monsoon spells.

Dera ismail khan: The district administration retrieved 10 kanals of valuable state land worth approximately Rs460 million during a major anti-encroachment operation in Dera Ismail Khan.

The operation was carried out on the special directives of the Deputy Commissioner under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Dera, Dr. Muhammad Hamid Siddiq, at Mauza Dera Ismail Khan opposite Kotli Imam Hussain.

According to the district administration, the reclaimed land belongs to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and had been acquired for the construction of a pilgrims’ hostel. The land has already been officially transferred in the name of the provincial government but was under the illegal occupation of former leaseholders of the Auqaf Department.

During the operation, authorities demolished seven illegally established shops and removed 16 under-construction commercial structures built on the government land.

The administration also served final 24-hour evacuation notices to occupants of residential houses located on the reclaimed land, warning that legal action would be initiated in case of non-compliance.

The anti-encroachment drive was conducted peacefully with the assistance of the Revenue Department, Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA), police and the Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC ).

Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Hamid Siddiq said the district administration was committed to protecting public property and ensuring the timely execution of projects serving the public interest.

He said illegal occupation of government land would not be tolerated under any circumstances, adding that indiscriminate action against encroachments would continue in accordance with the law.

He further said the proposed pilgrims’ hostel was an important public welfare project that would provide quality accommodation facilities for visiting pilgrims.

Peshawar: Acting on the directives of the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Deputy Commissioner Batagram Muhammad Shoaib chaired an important meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office to review public service delivery and administrative performance.

The meeting was attended by the additional deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, director of the service delivery center, tehsildars, district Qanoongo, and girdawars.

Participants conducted a detailed review of public facilities, service delivery mechanisms, issues faced by citizens, and various administrative matters.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shoaib directed all concerned officers to further enhance the efficiency, transparency, and quality of public service delivery to ensure that citizens receive timely and satisfactory services without unnecessary inconvenience.

He emphasized that the district administration’s top priority is to provide prompt, high-quality, and effective services to the public.

Officers and staff were instructed to treat citzens with courtesy, dignity, and respect, resolve their concerns on a priority basis, and perform their duties with honesty, transparency, and a strong commitment to public service in order to further strengthen public trust in government institutions.

Preparations for independence day celebrations were also reviewed.

Sialkot: Government College Women University Sialkot (GCWUS) athletes on Saturday won gold and silver medals at the Inter-Departmental Women’s Handball Championship 2026, bringing laurels to the institution with their performances in Faisalabad.

According to the university, three students represented GCWUS in the championship held at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.

One player, representing the Pakistan WAPDA Women’s Handball Team, secured a gold medal while another won silver as a member of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Women’s Team. A third athlete competed for the Independent Team.

The championship was organized at the university’s international handball court under the supervision of the International Handball Federation and featured players from across the country.

Vice Chancellor(VC), Prof. Dr. Shazia Bashir congratulated the student-athletes and the Deputy Director Sports on the achievement, saying their success reflected the university’s commitment to promoting sports alongside academic excellence.

She encouraged the players to continue striving for higher achievements and bring further recognition to the institution at national and international levels.

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Saturday started crackdown against non-compliant marble units in Khyber tribal district.

In continuation of the ongoing enforcement drive, and in compliance with the directions of the Secretary forest, environment and wildlife department, and the director general EPA, the staff of the agency conducted a joint operation along with the district administration tehsil Jamrud, and the assistant director industries, against non-compliant marble units at marble chowk, Mullagori in district Khyber.

During today’s operation, four marble units were sealed for operating in violation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Act, 2014, and the Environmental Protection Orders issued by the EPA.

The units were found to be causing serious environmental pollution through the discharge of marble slurry and excessive dust into the environment, posing significant risks to environmental quality and public health.

The enforcement campaign will continue until the assigned task is successfully completed and all non-compliant units are brought into compliance with the law.

EPA remains committed to ensuring environmental protection, safeguarding public health, and promoting sustainable industrial practices across Khyber.

Gilgit: A massive search and rescue operation entered its second day on Broad Peak following a devastating avalanche that struck a climbing expedition. Renowned Pakistani mountaineers Sarbaz Khan and Shehzad along with a team of seasoned international climbers are actively participating in the high-altitude rescue mission.

According to rescue officials teams are utilizing high-tech drones to scan the dangerous, treacherous, and crevassed terrain in hopes of locating the remaining missing mountaineers.

On Friday, search teams successfully recovered the bodies of three climbers and transported them to Skardu. The deceased have been identified as an Omani national, an American woman, and a Nepalese climber.

Currently, seven climbers remain missing including five Nepalese, one Pakistani, and one Chinese national. Among those missing are world-record-holding Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja (Nims) and experienced Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi. The global mountaineering community has expressed deep concern for their safety as search efforts continue under challenging weather conditions.

The tragic incident occurred on July 30 when a sudden avalanche swept through Broad Peak, burying 10 climbers. Local authorities from Shigar and Skardu, alongside rescue units and volunteer climbers, are utilizing all available resources to expedite the search operation.