Month: August 2026

Hyderabad: Commissioner Shaheed Benazirabad Division, Shahmeer Khan Bhutto, accompanied by Chief Engineer Sukkur Left Bank, Ghulam Mujtaba Dhamrah, here on Friday conducted a detailed inspection of the protective embankments along Indus River passing through the limits of District Shaheed Benazirabad.

He inspected the current condition of the embankments, their structural strength, and the arrangements made to deal with any potential flood situation. During visit, officials of Irrigation Department gave Commissioner a detailed briefing on the condition of the protective embankments, vulnerable locations, flow of water in Indus River, and precautionary measures taken in view of the ongoing monsoon season.

Inspecting various sections of the embankments, Commissioner directed concerned officers to ensure continuous monitoring of the flood protection structures in light of Meteorological Department’s forecast of heavy rains and the prevailing flood situation in Punjab. He instructed that any weak points identified should be repaired and strengthened immediately to effectively cope with any emergency.

The Commissioner said that protection of human lives, property, and agricultural land was the government’s top priority. He emphasized that all concerned departments must remain fully prepared to discharge their responsibilities. He further directed that round-the-clock surveillance of protective embankments be maintained throughout the monsoon season and that all necessary machinery, manpower, and flood response equipment should be remained ready at all times to ensure a prompt response to any emergency.

The visit was also attended by Superintending Engineer Rohri Canal Atta Muhammad Chhajro, Executive Engineer Dad Division Bilawal Hussain Laghari, SDO Sakrand Bund Tejal Atta Chandio, Assistant Commissioner Sakrand Rameez Raja, and other concerned officials.

Sialkot: Government College Women University Sialkot (GCWUS) on Friday introduced new policy of Higher Education Commission (HEC) which makes AI Course mandatory for all degree programs from Fall 2026, a release of the varsity said.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced that a 3-credit-hour Artificial Intelligence (AI) course will be mandatory for all undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes at public and private universities starting Fall 2026.

This initiative aims to equip students with essential AI knowledge and practical skills, preparing graduates for the rapidly evolving digital economy and future job market.

Whether you’re pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or postgraduate degree, AI will now become an integral part of your academic journey.

Attock: All arrangements have been finalized for the central Chehlum procession of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), which will be taken out from Panjtani Imambargah in Attock city at 12:00 noon on Sunday, August 2.

Prior to the procession, a Majlis-e-Aza will be held at the Imambargah at 11:00 AM, which will be addressed by renowned religious scholar Allama Syed Muhammad Abbas Rizvi. Following the conclusion of the Majlis, the central mourning procession will commence from Panjtani Imambargah at its scheduled time.

In this connection, an important meeting was held at Panjtani Imambargah under the chairmanship of Raza Naqvi, President of Anjuman Jan Nisaran-e-Hussain. The meeting was attended by members of the organization’s cabinet, heads of volunteer teams, and officials responsible for various organizational and administrative affairs.

Addressing the meeting, Raza Naqvi said that the tragedy of Karbala remains an eternal symbol of the triumph of truth over falsehood, while the unparalleled sacrifices of the martyrs of Karbala will continue to serve as a beacon of guidance for humanity until the Day of Judgment.

He said that comprehensive arrangements have been completed to ensure the peaceful, disciplined and dignified conduct of the Chehlum procession of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS). Responsibilities have been assigned to various committees with instructions to perform their duties with dedication, discipline and mutual cooperation.

Raza Naqvi said that foolproof security arrangements have been made along the procession route. Refreshment stalls (Sabeels) for mourners, congregational Zuhrain prayers, facilities for participants in chain mourning (Zanjeer Zani) and other mourning rituals, as well as effective medical and first-aid services, have also been arranged. He added that the procession will pass through its traditional routes before concluding at its designated destination.

He further stated that continuous coordination and consultation are being maintained with the district administration, Attock Police and other relevant departments. In accordance with the directives of the Deputy Commissioner Attock and the District Police Officer (DPO) Attock, all necessary arrangements regarding security, traffic management, sanitation, Rescue 1122, the Health Department, the Municipal Committee and other concerned agencies are being finalized to ensure maximum facilitation for mourners and the peaceful, secure and well-organized completion of the procession.

Raza Naqvi urged all office-bearers and volunteers to maintain close coordination with the district administration, police, Rescue 1122 and other relevant institutions, uphold mutual respect, discipline and unity, and strictly follow all administrative and security guidelines during the procession. He also appealed to mourners to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies in promoting peace, religious harmony and orderly conduct so that all Chehlum observances of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) are concluded in a peaceful and dignified manner.

Khanewal: The Punjab Sahulat Bazaar Authority, in collaboration with the PERA Force, launched a large-scale operation against encroachments to ensure the smooth functioning of the Juma Bazaar at Sahulat Bazaar.

During the operation, Investigation Officer Mudassar Ishaq, accompanied by Sahulat Bazaar administration official Engineer Abdul Rehman Qulzam, inspected various parts of the city and removed illegal stalls and temporary structures set up on public spaces. Several violators were fined during the crackdown.

The officials directed vendors to relocate their Juma Bazaar stalls to the designated Sahulat Bazaar instead of operating at unauthorized locations across the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Sahulat Bazaar Authority official Jawad Zaheer and Engineer Abdul Rehman said the relocation of vendors to Sahulat Bazaar would promote business activity and create better livelihood opportunities for traders. They added that the initiative would also provide citizens with a more organized, convenient and comfortable shopping environment.

Investigation Officer Mudassar Ishaq assured traders that every possible measure would be taken to further improve facilities at the market and facilitate both vendors and customers.

He also appreciated the efforts of the Sahulat Bazaar management, particularly Jawad Zaheer and Engineer Abdul Rehman, for their commitment to making the market fully operational and ensuring better services for the public.

Traders welcomed the decision to hold the Juma Bazaar at Sahulat Bazaar and praised the facilities provided by the management. They expressed confidence that the move would enhance business opportunities and attract more customers.

Vehari: The Green Bus Service has officially commenced operations on the Vehari-Burewala and Vehari-Tibba Sultanpur routes, providing residents with a modern, comfortable and affordable public transport facility.

Launched with a fleet of 11 buses, the service is aimed at improving connectivity between the two routes and facilitating daily commuters, students, traders, government employees and the general public.

Speaking on the occasion, the participants hailed the launch of the Green Bus Service as a significant milestone in improving public transport facilities in the region.

They said the service would provide passengers with safe, comfortable and reliable transportation while making travel between Burewala and Vehari more convenient and accessible.

Secretary Regional Transport Authority Kamran Anwar said the Vehari-Burewala and Vehari-Tibba Sultanpur services form part of a comprehensive public transport expansion plan for the region.

He said the project is being implemented in phases, with these two routes becoming operational in the first phase. He added that five buses have been allocated to each route, ensuring regular operations and greater convenience for commuters.

Kamran Anwar said the Vehari-Burewala route has an estimated travel time of 70 minutes, while buses will operate at 80-minute intervals. He added that the Vehari-Tibba Sultanpur route has also been launched with five buses to provide a regular and dependable service for passengers. He said the initiative is aimed at enhancing regional connectivity, easing travel difficulties and providing the public with an efficient, affordable and modern transport system.

The launch of the Green Bus Service marks an important step towards strengthening the public transport network in Vehari district and meeting the growing transportation needs of the local population.

Sialkot: Government College Women University Sialkot (GCWUS) on Friday paid a rich tribute to Fatima Jinnah and marked her birth anniversary with great respect, a release said.

Today marks the birth anniversary of Madar-e-Millat (Mother of the Nation), Ms. Fatima Jinnah. She was born on 31 July 1893 in Karachi. She was a prominent leader of the Pakistan Movement and the sister of the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Ms. Fatima Jinnah was an inspiring leader who stood firmly beside Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah throughout the Pakistan Movement. Her significant contributions included awakening political awareness among Muslim women, actively supporting the Pakistan Movement, and caring for refugees after the creation of Pakistan.

She earned a degree in Dental Surgery from Calcutta and later established her own dental clinic in Bombay.

She brought together Muslim women of the Indian subcontinent on a common platform, encouraging them to become politically and socially active. In 1937, she founded the All India Muslim League Women’s Committee, which played a vital role in spreading the message of the Pakistan Movement among women.

After the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, she worked tirelessly for the rehabilitation of refugees and the provision of medical assistance.

In 1951, Ms. Fatima Jinnah inaugurated the Government College for Women, Sialkot. In 2013, the institution was upgraded to the Government College Women University Sialkot. Today, it is the only university in Sialkot District and the only women’s university in the Gujranwala Division, with more than 11,000 female students currently enrolled.