Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

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CDA eases parking requirement for high-rise commercial buildings in Islamabad


Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has reduced the mandatory parking requirement for high-rise commercial buildings, allowing one parking space for every 1, 000 square feet of covered area instead of the previous standard of one space per 750 square feet.



The decision was approved at the 10th CDA Board meeting of 2026, chaired by CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Sohail Ashraf at the CDA headquarters on Saturday.



According to the authority, the revised regulation brings Islamabad’s parking standards in line with those followed by regulatory bodies in other cities and is aimed at facilitating commercial construction and investment.



The board was informed that the previous requirement had posed challenges for builders and developers, who in some cases were required to excavate up to six basement levels to meet parking requirements, creating structural and safety concerns.



The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with the business community, builders and developers, had repeatedly sought a revision of the rule.



The new parking standard takes immediate effect and will also apply to commercial plots to be offered in the CDA’s open auction scheduled for Aug 4-6, as well as future commercial plot auctions.



The authority said the auction terms and conditions would be amended accordingly. The CDA said the revised policy would simplify the approval of commercial building plans and help boost construction activity in the federal capital.



Chairman Sohail Ashraf said the authority would continue introducing facilitative measures to promote planned urban development, investment and construction in Islamabad.



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11 medical stores challaned in anti-drug drive


Sargodha: Health authorities on Saturday intensified their crackdown on the illegal drug trade, challaning 11 medical stores and pharmacies and seizing a large quantity of smuggled, unregistered and expired medicines during raids across the district.



Deputy Drug Controller Shahpur, Faheem Zia led the operation, during which officials confiscated Indian-smuggled medicines, narcotics, sexual enhancement drugs, misbranded and unlabeled medicines, as well as Pregabalin capsules allegedly being sold without valid prescriptions.



The cases have been referred to the District Quality Control Board for legal action, while three medical stores were sealed for violating drug laws.



Officials said two medicine samples collected during the raids were declared substandard by the Drug Testing Laboratory.



A request has also been sent to the relevant authorities seeking registration of an FIR against the owner of a medical store over alleged violations.



According to the district administration and the health department, the crackdown will continue to curb the illegal sale of medicines and ensure the availability of safe and quality drugs to the public.



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ICCI, Blood Chain Pakistan hold annual blood conference 2026


Islamabad: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has said that voluntary blood donation is not merely an act of charity but a national, humanitarian and moral responsibility that can save countless precious lives.



He emphasized that ensuring the availability of safe blood is essential for strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system and fostering a compassionate society.



He expressed these views while addressing the Annual Blood Conference 2026, jointly organized by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and Blood Chain Pakistan, said a press release issued on Saturday.



He observed that thousands of patients, including victims of road accidents, children suffering from thalassemia, cancer patients and others facing medical emergencies, depend on the timely availability of blood.



“A single blood donation can mean the difference between life and death, ” he remarked, urging citizens, particularly the youth, to actively participate in this noble cause.



Governor Kundi appreciated the organization’s focus on empowering young volunteers, saying that Pakistan’s youth possess the energy and commitment to transform society through organized community service.



He assured the organizers of his full support in expanding voluntary blood donation networks, strengthening awareness campaigns and promoting initiatives aimed at saving lives.



Speaking on the occasion, President ICCI Sardar Tahir Mehmood, said that saving one human life is equivalent to saving the whole of humanity, adding that regular voluntary blood donation is a social responsibility that every healthy citizen should embrace.



He recalled that during his student days, he and his friends remained readily available whenever blood was needed, emphasizing that blood donation is a safe practice that never weakens a healthy individual.



Sardar Tahir Mehmood paid rich tribute to Blood Chain Pakistan and its volunteers for their selfless efforts in supporting patients and families battling thalassemia, cancer and other blood-related diseases.



He stressed that such organizations represent hope for thousands of families facing medical emergencies.



Reaffirming ICCI’s commitment to public welfare, he announced that the Chamber would continue extending its full support to Blood Chain Pakistan by facilitating awareness campaigns, encouraging its members to participate in voluntary blood donation drives and providing its platform for future conferences and community initiatives.



The Governor, along with the ICCI President, SVP, VP and other also planted a sapling at the ICCI lawn.



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Rescue 1122 Malakand responds to 420 emergencies in July: DEO


Malakand: Rescue 1122 Malakand responded to 420 emergencies during July 2026, providing timely rescue and emergency services to 407 people across the district, said District Emergency Officer Nasir Khan.



Sharing department’s monthly performance report, he said, the emergencies included 322 medical cases, 51 road traffic accidents, 12 fire incidents, 12 shooting and violence cases, four drowning incidents, 19 recovery operations, and seven deaths.



During the reporting period, the Rescue 1122 Malakand control room received 12, 076 calls, including 3, 446 informational or dropped calls, while 8, 210 were identified as fake, irrelevant, or prank calls made by children.



Under the referral ambulance service, Rescue 1122 transferred 192 patients from one hospital to another during July. Of these, 68 patients were shifted within the district, while 124 were referred to hospitals outside the district.



Nasir Khan said Rescue 1122 Malakand remains available round the clock to provide prompt, safe, and professional emergency services to the public in all types of emergencies.



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Comprehensive security, traffic deployment planned for AJK elections


Rawalpindi: District police will enforce zero-tolerance protocols against the display of arms, voter intimidation, and code violations to ensure peaceful polling during the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections.



Senior police leadership reviewed strategic deployment maps to cover polling stations, ballot transportation routes and election infrastructure with dedicated police pickets and mobile patrols, a press release said.



The security apparatus was finalized during an executive review meeting chaired by City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Hassnain Haider at Police Lines Headquarters here on Saturday.



The meeting was attended by the SSP Operations, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Divisional SPs, SDPOs and SHOs. CPO Syed Hassnain Haider directed supervisory officers to ensure strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Election Commission, cautioning that any breach of electoral guidelines or failure to maintain public order would attract immediate action.



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Abbasi explores Turkish technology partnership to modernise Pakistan Railways


Islamabad: Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi Saturday visited TÜRASAS, Sakarya and ASELSAN, where he explored opportunities for technology transfer, joint manufacturing and digital transformation aimed at modernising Pakistan Railways.

Accompanied by a high-level delegation, the minister reviewed advanced railway technologies, manufacturing facilities and digital systems being used by the two Turkish organisations, said a news release.

During the visit, Turkish Deputy Minister of Transport Osman Boyraz, TÜRASAS Director General Selim Koçbay, TCDD Tasimacilik Director General Ufuk Yalçin, the Deputy Governor of Sakarya and senior ASELSAN officials welcomed the Pakistani delegation and briefed them on the latest developments in railway manufacturing, signalling, communications and smart transportation technologies.

The delegation inspected modern passenger coaches, locomotives, Electric Multiple Units (EMUs), Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs), freight wagons and advanced production systems.

It
also visited research and development centres, quality control facilities and modern railway infrastructure units.

The two sides discussed cooperation in technology transfer, joint manufacturing and the modernisation of Pakistan Railways’ rolling stock.

They also explored collaboration in advanced signalling, telecommunications, cybersecurity, automated train control systems and intelligent railway technologies.

The discussions included proposals to upgrade the Islamabad Carriage Factory and Pakistan Railways’ workshops with modern technologies and to promote local manufacturing and production of electronic railway equipment.

Speaking on the occasion, Hanif Abbasi said the digital transformation of Pakistan Railways, modern traffic management, fibre-optic communication systems and safe railway operations were among the government’s top priorities.

He said Pakistan Railways was being transformed into a more efficient, secure and competitive organisation through the adoption of modern technologies.

The mi
nister said advanced railway technology was essential for the successful implementation of the ML-1 and ML-3 projects as well as the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) freight corridor.

He said that internationally recognised signalling and communication systems would strengthen regional connectivity and improve freight operations.

Both sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in engineers’ training, exchange of technical expertise, research, cybersecurity and human resource development, expressing confidence that the partnership would significantly strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of Pakistan Railways.

Hanif Abbasi said Trkiye as an important strategic technology partner in the modernisation and industrial development of Pakistan Railways and reaffirmed the commitment of both brotherly countries to expand long-term cooperation in railway technology, investment and regional connectivity.