Month: August 2026

Rawalpindi: Commissioner Rawalpindi Division and Director General of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Salman Ghani, on Saturday reviewed the progress of ongoing and proposed development projects and directed officials to immediately finalise the Authority’s budget for the financial year 2026-27.

Chairing a high-level meeting at the RDA headquarters, the commissioner reviewed the status of various development schemes being executed by the Authority and stressed the need to complete all ongoing projects within the approved timelines while ensuring quality, transparency and compliance with relevant standards.

The meeting was attended by Additional Director General RDA, Chief Planner Muhammad Tahir Meo, Director Administration Nosheen Israr, Director Finance Masood Arshad, Director Engineering Komal Chaudhry, Director Land Ghazanfar Ali Awan, Director Land Use and Building Control Iftikhar Ali, and other senior officers.

The participants also reviewed the planning and implementation strategy for upcoming development projects to improve urban infrastructure and public facilities in Rawalpindi.

Reviewing the Authority’s financial affairs, Salman Ghani directed the Director Finance and other concerned directors to finalise the RDA budget for 2026-27 without delay.

The commissioner directed all concerned officers to maintain close coordination to expedite the budget preparation process so that development activities and public service delivery could continue without interruption.

Reiterating the Authority’s commitment to planned urban development, he said RDA would continue to focus on improving civic infrastructure and ensuring the effective execution of development projects in the public interest.

He emphasised that regular monitoring, prompt decision-making and strict adherence to administrative and financial rules were essential to achieving the Authority’s development objectives and delivering transparent, accountable and efficient public services.

Sargodha: Police arrested 15 alleged criminals during a crackdown on law-violators across the district, here on Saturday. According to police, teams from different police stations raided various localities and arrested Khalid, Khaleel, Asghar, Nouman, Naveed, Nasrullah, Muhammad Ashfaq, Muhammad Aslam, Tariq, Waqas, Waleed and others.

Police recovered 2-kg hashish, 2-kg opium, 231 liters of liquor, nine pistols, nine guns and 211 bullets.

Further investigation was underway.

Sialkot: A delegation from the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Gujranwala on Saturday visited Government College Women University Sialkot (GCWUS) to review preparations for the Matric Position Holders Prize Distribution Ceremony.

The delegation, comprising BISE Secretary Prof. Rashid Ahmed Bhatti, Controller of Examinations Prof. Nadeem Ahmad and Research and Coordination Officer Atif Imdad Tarar, met Vice Chancellor(VC), Prof. Dr. Shazia Bashir to discuss arrangements for the event.

The meeting focused on administrative, logistical and ceremonial preparations to ensure the smooth conduct of the ceremony which will honour outstanding matriculation students for their academic achievements.

The prize distribution ceremony will be held at GCWUS on August 6, where position holders in the matriculation examinations will be recognized for their exceptional performance.

Kohat: Kohat Police arrested five suspects and recovered illegal weapons during a targeted Search and Strike Operation carried out as part of an ongoing campaign against criminal elements in the district, officials said on Saturday.

The operation was conducted on the directives of District Police Officer (DPO) SSP Rai Mazhar Iqbal and led by Station House Officer (SHO) Bilitang Waqar Khan. Police teams raided suspected hideouts in the area, resulting in the arrest of five alleged offenders.

During the operation, police recovered one Kalashnikov rifle, four pistols and dozens of rounds of ammunition of various calibers from the suspects’ possession. Separate cases have been registered against the arrested individuals, while further investigations are underway.

DPO Rai Mazhar Iqbal said the crackdown against criminals, drug traffickers and those possessing illegal weapons would continue across the district without discrimination. He reaffirmed the police’s commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens and maintaining law and order through sustained intelligence-based operations.

Faisalabad: Saddar Samundri police have arrested two members of a cattle-lifter gang and recovered cash and a stolen buffalo from them.

Police spokesman said that Saddar Samundri police conducted a targeted operation and busted out a cattle lifter gang by arresting its two active members including ringleader Zafar and his accomplice Haroon who were wanted to the police in a number of cases of robbery and cattle theft.

During operation, the police also recovered cash of Rs515, 000 and a stolen buffalo valued at approximately Rs700, 000 from their possession while further investigation was under progress, he added.

Faisalabad: An alleged robber was killed while his three accomplices managed to escape after an encounter with Crime Control Department (CCD) in the area of Ghulam Muhammad Abad police station.

A police spokesman said that a CCD team launched an operation to arrest proclaimed offenders in the Achkera area on the directions of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) CCD Waseem Riaz.

Incharge CCD Lyallpur Division Inspector Hassan Sadiq Cheema and Incharge CCD Iqbal Division Sub Inspector Ali Akram Goraya led the operation during which four accused opened indiscriminate fire on the CCD personnel as soon as they spotted the raiding party.

The CCD team returned fire in self-defense, triggering an exchange of gunfire. During encounter, one of the accused sustained bullet injuries and was taken into custody. He was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment but later he succumbed to his injuries.

The deceased was identified as Tayyab son of Munir resident of Chak No. 253-RB Jahangir Kalan and he had a criminal record involving 20 cases of robbery, theft, highway robbery and other serious offences.

He was also wanted in a robbery-cum-murder case in which a citizen was allegedly shot dead during a heist.

The three remaining accused managed to flee under the cover of firing. Police have launched a search operation to trace and arrest the absconding accomplices, spokesman added.