Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

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Punjab taking all possible steps to prevent flood losses: Salman Rafique


Lahore: Punjab Health Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee for Disaster Management, Khawaja Salman Rafique, said that all possible measures are being taken to protect Punjab from floods in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.



He made these remarks during a visit to the Provincial Emergency Center at the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Headquarters on Friday, where Director General PDMA Saif Anwar Jappa briefed him on the latest monsoon situation and water flow in rivers across the province.



The minister said that cabinet members, the DG PDMA, commissioners and deputy commissioners were personally visiting Muridke, Pathan Colony in Ferozwala and adjoining areas to monitor relief operations. He added that uninterrupted supply of ration and animal fodder was being ensured through flood relief camps established in the affected areas.



Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Health, Rescue, Livestock and other relevant departments were fully active in the field. He added that the safe relocation of livestock was also being ensured, while affected people were being provided with food, clean drinking water, medical facilities and other essential services.



He said flood relief camps, rescue machinery, boats, emergency staff and evacuation plans had been activated in accordance with the vulnerability of different areas. The administration, he added, was fully prepared to respond to any emergency.



The minister said Rescue services had been equipped with modern equipment worth billions of rupees, while both pre-disaster and post-disaster response mechanisms had been further strengthened. He expressed confidence that these measures would help minimise flood-related risks and water hazards, adding that PDMA’s preparedness this year was significantly better than last year.



Speaking on the occasion, DG PDMA Saif Anwar Jappa said all officers remained on high alert in the field. He added that the monsoon situation and river water flows were being monitored round the clock to ensure a timely response to any emergency.



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Court acquits man in ANF drug smuggling case


Islamabad: A Special Court for Control of Narcotic Substances on Friday acquitted Shahzad Shah in a narcotics case registered by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.



Special Judge Dr. Abida Sajjad announced the verdict after hearing arguments in FIR No. 189/24 registered at ANF Police Station, Rawalpindi.



Defence counsel Danish Akbar Khan argued that his client had been arrested merely on suspicion and was later falsely implicated in the case. He maintained that the accused had no connection with the alleged narcotics and had no previous criminal record.



The defence further submitted that in narcotics cases, the prosecution is legally bound to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt, which it had failed to do.



After hearing arguments from both sides, the court acquitted the accused.



Shahzad Shah had been charged with allegedly attempting to smuggle two kilograms of hashish in the case registered at ANF Police Station, Rawalpindi.



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IGP orders enhances security across province ahead of Friday congregations


Lahore: Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Kareem ordered enhanced security arrangements across the province, including Lahore, to ensure public safety during Friday congregations.



According to a Punjab Police spokesperson here on Friday, the IGP directed all field formations to ensure strict security of mosques, imambargahs, shrines, markets and other sensitive locations.



He ordered an increase in patrolling around mosques, imambargahs, commercial centres and major roads, while personnel deployed at inter-provincial border police checkpoints were instructed to remain on high alert.



The IGP directed police to maintain close surveillance of anti-state and disruptive elements, including Fitna al-Khawarij and other hostile groups.



He further ordered enhanced checking of suspicious vehicles, individuals, and luggage at entry and exit points of Lahore and other major cities.



Search, sweep and combing operations around mosques, imambargahs, foreign consulates as well as other important and sensitive installations were also ordered to continue.



Abdul Kareem instructed senior police officers, including district police officers, to remain present in the field and personally review security arrangements.



He said maintaining law and order and protecting the lives, property and belongings of citizens remained the foremost priority of Punjab Police.



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Govt prioritizes high-speed internet for small villages, remote areas


Islamabad: Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema on Friday that the government will take all necessary measures to ensure the availability of affordable, high-speed internet services across the country, enabling citizens to participate fully in the digital economy.



The minister chaired a meeting on the National Connectivity Plan, joined by the Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja and senior officials, said a press release.



The meeting primarily focused on expanding access to high-speed internet in villages, remote areas, and small towns to bridge the digital divide and unlock new economic opportunities.



The minister said the government’s top priority is to facilitate freelancers, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and other digital professionals living in remote regions who continue to face challenges due to slow and unreliable internet connectivity.



The session also underscored the vital role of next-generation fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks and 5G infrastructure in driving national economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and fostering nationwide digital inclusion.



Highlighting the momentum of Pakistan’s digital development, officials noted that FTTH subscriptions have grown steadily to 2.8 million, supported by a robust fiber footprint of 234,000 kilometers, 5.1 million house passes, and six operational submarine cables.



To build upon this progress, Federal Minister Ahad Cheema outlined ambitious national targets under the plan, including expanding infrastructure to 10 million house passes, raising average fixed broadband download speeds to 85 Mbps, securing a place among the world’s top 50 countries for broadband performance, and increasing tower fiberization to 60 percent.



The meeting placed strong emphasis on improving digital accessibility and affordability for all citizens. In a key decision aimed at supporting consumers, participants considered targeted tax relief for internet users in remote areas to expand digital participation.



Additional strategic reforms discussed included abolishing right-of-way fees, launching a single-window approval portal, introducing district-level licensing, and making fixed broadband connectivity mandatory across public institutions, schools, and health facilities.



Emphasizing the government’s commitment to effective implementation, Federal Minister Ahad Cheema said the National Connectivity Plan will be finalized expeditiously through comprehensive stakeholder consultation.



He further stressed that a structured and sequenced approach, prioritizing essential regulatory reforms, enforcing clear operator obligations, and linking financial support to verified performance milestones, will be critical to accelerating nationwide fiber deployment while safeguarding public resources and ensuring long-term commercial viabilit



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Girl dies in firing over cricket match dispute


Bahawalpur: A girl lost her life in firing that happened due to a dispute pertaining to local cricket match in village Miani located within jurisdiction of Sadar police station.



Police sources said that two groups of local cricketers fought against each other over a dispute pertaining to a local cricket match. ‘One of the group opened indiscriminate aerial firing,’ they said, adding that a passersby girl received bullet wounds which caused her death on-the-spot.



The victim girl was identified as 13-year-old, Alisha, a resident of village Miani. Soon after receiving information, a police team of Sadar police station reached the scene. The body of the girl was shifted to hospital for postmortem and legal formalities. The police have registered a case against the suspects and launched operation to trace them and arrest them. Further probe was in process.



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Commissioner inspects protective embankments of district SBA


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.