Month: August 2026

Faisalabad: The Directorate of Livestock Faisalabad organised a training session on the Electronic Filing and Office Automation System (e-FOAS) to equip livestock officers and staff with modern digital office management skills in line with Punjab government’s vision of promoting transparent, efficient and paperless governance.

Director Livestock Dr Haider Ali Khan supervised the training session while officers and officials from the department participated in the program.

During session, the resource person Mr Shahid imparted detailed practical training on the effective use of e-FOAS platform.

The participants were guided about the creation of electronic files, digital movement of official files, approval workflows, electronic correspondence and efficient management of digital records.

The trainer also familiarized the participants with modern paperless office practices for improving administrative efficiency, enhancing transparency and ensuring great accountability in official business through the adoption of information technology.

Speaking on the occasion, Director Livestock Dr Haider Ali Khan said that the training program marked an important step towards effective implementation of the Electronic Filing and Office Automation System in accordance with Punjab government’s digital governance agenda.

He said that adoption of e-FOAS would streamline official procedures, accelerate file processing, improve record management and facilitate timely decision-making, ultimately leading to more efficient public service delivery.

He urged the officers and staff to fully utilize digital system in their routine official work. Continuous capacity-building initiatives would be organized to ensure successful transition to a modern, technology-driven and paperless administrative framework, he added.

Dera ismail khan: District Police Officer (DPO) Dera Ismail Khan, Ziauddin Ahmed, visited the homes of martyred Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Faqir Ahmed and Head Constable Qari Wazir, who embraced martyrdom in the limits of Chodhwan Police Station, to offer condolences to their bereaved families.

During the visit, the DPO expressed heartfelt sympathy with the families, offered Fateha, and prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the sacrifices rendered by the martyrs for the country and the nation would always be remembered and would serve as a milestone in ensuring lasting peace. He added that nations never forget their martyrs.

The DPO assured the bereaved families that the police department would stand by them at every step and would never leave them alone.

He further said that the children of the martyrs were the children of the police force, and their welfare, education, and every possible support would remain the department’s responsibility.

Rawalpindi: Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday said the results of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections reflected the public’s confidence in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), attributing the party’s performance to voter trust, the dedication of party workers and the leadership of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

Addressing party workers at the residence of MNA and senior PML-N leader Tahira Aurangzeb in Rawalpindi, she congratulated voters, party workers and all those involved in the AJK electoral process on the successful conduct of the elections.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the people of AJK had expressed their confidence in the PML-N through the ballot, adding that the party received strong support in Mirpur as well as Muzaffarabad, Poonch and other areas, where workers conducted an energetic and organized election campaign.

She said the PML-N believed in democracy, the Constitution and the power of the vote, maintaining that elections were won through public service, performance and voter confidence rather than allegations, threats or political rhetoric.

The senior minister also highlighted and she described as a record voter turnout in Rawalpindi during the AJK elections, calling it a reflection of public confidence in the democratic process.

She credited the party’s performance to the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, while praising the contributions of party leaders, including Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Malik Abrar, Barrister Danyal Chaudhry, Sardar Muhammad Naseem, and other workers. She also acknowledged the active role played by women workers during the election campaign.

The event concluded with party workers celebrating the election results by distributing sweets, chanting slogans and expressing support for the party leadership.

Marriyum Aurangzeb congratulated the workers and said the outcome reflected public trust, teamwork and the PML-N’s commitment to public service and development.

Gujrat: District Police Officer (DPO) Akhtar Farooq on Sunday inspected security arrangements at polling stations across Gujrat during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) General Elections 2026.

According to police, the DPO reviewed the deployment of security personnel and assessed arrangements put in place to ensure peaceful polling.

During the visits, he directed officers and officials on election duty to remain vigilant and perform their responsibilities with neutrality, discipline and professionalism.

Farooq also instructed personnel to facilitate voters and maintain a safe and peaceful environment at all polling stations, describing the provision of a secure atmosphere as the Gujrat Police’s foremost priority.

He warned that any attempt to disrupt the polling process or violate the law would be dealt with promptly to ensure peace and order throughout the election.

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) has held Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) responsible for flash floods in certain parts of the city.

In a brief statement issued here on Sunday by the spokesman of the Mayor of Kashif Shoro, it was claimed that all the drainage pumping stations of Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation (HWandSC) were functional during the downpour.

However, he added, due to massive power breakdown by HESCO which suspended electric supply to almost all the electric feeders of 11 KV the rainwater accumulated on roads.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) recorded 147 millimeter rainfall in 24 hours till 5. 30 pm in Tandojam while the City, Latifabad and Qasimabad talukas received up to 58 mm of rain.

Peshawar: A field visit by a team of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Strategy (IDSRS) to Dir Lower for investigating causes of cholera cases among students of a religious seminary has found one confirmed and seven suspected cases.

The inspection visit held at Union Council Khall in Dir Lower confirmed serious water-safety, sanitation, food-hygiene and environmental deficiencies at the concerned madrassa.

‘These conditions create a credible pathway for faecal-oral transmission and justify immediate control measures, ‘ says Dr Muhammad Gul Sartaj, Provincial Surveillance Officer, IDSRS, who led the team.

On the direction of DG Health Services and Program Manager, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System (IDSRS), a field visit was conducted to Union Council Khal, District Lower Dir in July 2026 to support investigation and response following confirmation of one cholera case.

The visit was aimed at supporting district authorities in characterising the event, identifying possible sources and modes of transmission, assessing ongoing public-health risk and implementing immediate measures to prevent additional cases, Dr. Sartaj added.

The team reviewed the epidemiological situation, surveillance and reporting, laboratory confirmation, active case search, specimen referral, risk communication, community engagement, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

The environmental assessment at the concerned madrassa identified multiple conditions capable of facilitating faecal contamination and waterborne transmission.

These conditions included a riverside well exposed to monsoon flooding risk, broken, leaking and repeatedly joined plastic supply pipes, an uncovered and reportedly poorly maintained concrete water storage tank, sanitation hazards adjacent to the tank, unhygienic kitchen conditions and unmanaged solid waste and standing water in the backyard.

Immediate health counselling was provided to madrassa leadership, teachers and children besides collecting a water sample from the storage tank for laboratory testing.

The IDSRS team briefed District Health Officer (DHO) on urgent control measures, including interruption of the suspected water supply, provision of safe water, strengthened surveillance, engineering assessment and rehabilitation of the water system, environmental sanitation and establishment of accessible oral rehydration points.

The team also reviewed the outbreak situation and response activities with the DHO and district outbreak response team.

The administration and students were advised to use only boiled, adequately chlorinated or otherwise verified safe water for drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing teeth.

They were also told to store treated water in clean, covered, narrow-necked containers; pour it or use a tap rather than dipping hands or cups into it. Wash hands with soap after using or cleaning a toilet and before preparing, serving or eating food.

Clean the kitchen thoroughly and remove algae, mould, food residue, debris and standing water. Keep utensils, food and drinking cups clean, dry and covered.

Conduct scheduled sanitary inspections and tank cleaning instead of waiting for another outbreak. Teach children safe water use, handwashing, food hygiene, ORS preparation and danger signs requiring prompt care.

The team recommended immediate action for district health authorities to immediately notify and investigate every suspected acute watery diarrhoea case, update the line list daily, report through IDSRS, collect stool specimens from selected early and provide adequate chlorinated or otherwise verified safe water to madrassa.

Dr. Sartaj said if recommended measures were taken, the situation would be controlled and further spread of cholera in the area would be prevented.