Month: August 2026

Attock: Additional Deputy Commissioner General (ADCG) Attock, Anil Saeed on Friday said that Population Welfare staff’s role would be extended in other government departments in an effort to improve public service delivery and make better use of existing staff.

The ADCG announced the move while chairing a review meeting on the department’s performance at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here.

He said stronger coordination between government departments and more efficient use of human resources would help improve the implementation of official policies.

The meeting reviewed the Population Welfare Department’s performance, ongoing programmes, operational challenges and future strategy.

Saeed said delivering quality public services in line with the priorities of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif remained a key objective.

He stressed that closer cooperation and an integrated approach among government departments were essential to achieving that goal.

He directed officials to involve Population Welfare Department field staff in wider government initiatives and public welfare programmes so they could contribute more effectively to community services.

The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer Health Dr. Asad Ismail, Population Welfare Department officials and representatives from other government departments. Participants also discussed family welfare programmes, public awareness campaigns and measures to strengthen inter-departmental collaboration.

Concluding the meeting, the ADCG directed the officials to use all available resources to meet departmental targets, expand field activities and improve coordinated awareness campaigns so that government welfare initiatives reach people across the district.

Gujrat: The University of Gujrat (UoG) organised an open house at its Hafiz Hayat Campus to guide students seeking admission for the Fall 2026 semester.

According to university sources, the event was arranged to help prospective students and their families learn about the university’s academic programmes, admission process and campus facilities. Visitors met faculty members and received information about academic, research and student support services.

The Convener of the Admission Committee welcomed participants and encouraged them to benefit from the counselling sessions. University officials also briefed students about scholarships, financial assistance and admission procedures.

Information desks were set up by 33 academic departments, providing details of 147 undergraduate and graduate degree programmes. The Scholarship Office and IT Services Department also assisted visitors.

Students and their families visited laboratories, libraries and other facilities and interacted with teachers, students and administrative staff. Free shuttle service was provided between Gujrat city, Jalalpur Jattan and the campus throughout the day.

Sargodha: The Sargodha Division Inter-District Under-23 Badminton Championship (men and women) concluded at the Sports Gymnasium Sargodha on Friday, with players from across the division competing under the annual sports calendar of the Punjab Youth Affairs and Sports Department.

The championship, organized under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and the patronage of Provincial Minister for Sports Faisal Ayub Khokhar, featured teams from Sargodha, Bhakkar, Khushab and Mianwali.

Sargodha emerged as the overall champion in both the men’s and women’s team events, defeating Mianwali and Bhakkar, respectively.

In the individual competitions, Ahmad Niazi of Bhakkar won the men’s singles title by defeating Tahir Sultan of Sargodha, while Sana Ramzan of Sargodha clinched the women’s singles title after defeating Iman of Bhakkar.

Bhakkar dominated the doubles events, with Ahmad and Haseeb winning the men’s doubles title and Iman and Maryam claiming the women’s doubles crown.

Divisional Sports Officer Rana Nadeem Anjum and District Sports Officer Sargodha Saima Manzoor distributed trophies and souvenirs among the winners at the prize distribution ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Rana Nadeem Anjum said the Punjab government was committed to providing young athletes with opportunities to showcase their talent and help prepare them to represent Pakistan at the international level.

International badminton player Muhammad Rizwan also distributed sports equipment among promising athletes. Sports officials, coaches and players attended the closing ceremony.

Gilgit: Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Amjad Hussain has ordered an immediate and effective rescue operation after taking notice of reports that contact had been lost with a 10-member international mountaineering team following an avalanche on Broad Peak (8,047 metres).

According to official information from the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) and the district administration of Shigar, the Chief Minister directed all relevant departments and the district administration to remain on high alert and to expedite search-and-rescue efforts in close coordination with the Pakistan Army.

The Chief Minister said that every possible resource should be utilized to ensure the safety of the international expedition led by renowned mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja. The team includes Hunza-based Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, along with mountaineers from Nepal, the United States, Oman, China and other countries.

Despite adverse weather conditions, he instructed the authorities to keep both aerial and ground rescue teams fully prepared so that immediate assistance could be provided as soon as weather conditions permit.

Expressing deep concern over the incident, Chief Minister Amjad Hussain prayed for the safety of all climbers. He directed the concerned authorities to keep him informed of the rescue operation’s progress on a moment-to-moment basis.

Sukkur: Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho on Friday inaugurated a state-of-the-art 50-bed Trauma and Emergency Response Centre (TandERC), established under the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute of Trauma, during a visit to the Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College and Civil Hospital, Sukkur.

On the occasion, the health minister also formally launched the anti polio booster dose campaign by administering polio drops to children.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by MNA Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Sindh government spokesperson and Sukkur Mayor Barrister Arslan Islam Sheikh, Sukkur Commissioner Abid Saleem Qureshi, Deputy Commissioner Nadir Shahzad Khan, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Principal Dr Saleh Channa, District Health Officer Dr Ali Gul Shah, senior officials of the health department and other relevant authorities.

Following the inauguration, Dr Pechuho inspected various sections of the Trauma and Emergency Response Centre, including the X-ray unit, minor operation theatre, emergency wards and other modern healthcare facilities.

She directed the authorities concerned to ensure the timely, uninterrupted and quality provision of medical services to patients.

Addressing the ceremony, Dr Saleh Channa said that approximately 6,000 patients visited the hospital’s outpatient department every day, adding that the institution’s current annual budget of Rs400 million was insufficient to meet the growing demand for healthcare services.

He said that the suspension of non-development expenditure and recurrent funds, coupled with delays in the release of the revised budget, had created financial difficulties for the institution.

He requested the provincial health minister to provide additional funds for the hospital and medical college to enable them to improve and expand healthcare services for the public.

Sindh government spokesperson and Sukkur Mayor Barrister Arslan Islam Sheikh said that the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government was taking practical measures to provide modern healthcare facilities and essential public services.

He said that the establishment of institutions such as the Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD), children’s hospitals and other modern healthcare facilities reflected the government’s people-oriented policies.

MNA Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said that the Pakistan Peoples Party had completed several landmark projects in the health sector that had received recognition at the international level.

He cited the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), SICVD, the CyberKnife facility at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi, children’s hospitals and trauma centres as examples of advanced healthcare services being provided to the public.

Mr Shah said that Sukkur was an important commercial and communication hub linking Sindh with Balochistan and Punjab.

He added that traffic pressure in the city had increased following the development of the motorway network.

In such circumstances, he said, the modern Trauma and Emergency Response Centre would play an important role in providing timely and effective treatment to victims of road accidents and other emergencies.

Dr Pechuho said that Mr Shah had consistently played a significant role in promoting public welfare and strengthening the healthcare sector in Sukkur.

She said that the establishment and expansion of modern healthcare institutions, including SICVD, children’s hospitals and the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), were the result of his sustained efforts.

Taking notice of the shortage of manpower and qualified faculty at Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College, the health minister directed the authorities concerned to immediately submit a summary so that additional teaching and medical staff

could be provided after consultation with the Sindh chief minister.

Dr Pechuho reaffirmed the Sindh government’s commitment to continuing all possible efforts to ensure the provision of modern, quality and timely healthcare services to the people.

Peshawar: Provincial Minister for Local Government and Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi, Member National Assembly Shahid Khattak, and Provincial Minister Khurshid Khattak on Friday formally inaugurated a state-of-the-art public library in Karak district, marking a significant milestone in the region’s educational and intellectual landscape.

The Karak Public Library has been equipped with modern facilities to serve as a comprehensive knowledge and research center.

The facility features a central library hall, dedicated corridors for women and children, separate study rooms for male and female students, a spacious seminar hall with a seating capacity of 100, and a modern committee room for official delegations, meetings, and conferences.

The library houses a collection of approximately 18,000 quality books by renowned national and international authors, covering a wide range of subjects and disciplines.

In line with contemporary educational demands, a special section has been dedicated to emerging fields, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, and Data Science.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Provincial Minister Meena Khan Afridi formally declared the library open for citizens of all ages, students, and children.

He said the modern facility would play a pivotal role in fostering an intellectual, research-oriented, and educational environment in Karak district, while providing the youth with exceptional opportunities for quality study and academic research.

The library can accommodate around 300 readers at a time. To ensure effective service delivery and reader guidance, professional and trained staff has been deployed at the facility.

Minister urged the general public, students, and children to avail themselves fully of the modern facility, obtain library memberships, and enhance their intellectual, cognitive, and practical capabilities through reading and research.