Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Faisalabad: The Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) has achieved a significant milestone in strengthening its financial position and institutional resources by selling a total of 284 residential plots comprising 10-marla and one-kanal areas in various blocks of FDA City to Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) for Rs. 2. 3476 billion.

An FDA spokesman said here on Saturday that under the agreement, the first installment cheque of Rs. 586 million was presented to Director General FDA Muhammad Asif Chaudhary by FESCO Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Amir during a formal ceremony held in the presence of Divisional Commissioner Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh.

The ceremony was attended by Additional Director General FDA Qaiser Abbas Rind, Chief Engineer Mehr Ayub, Directors Suhail Maqsood Pannu, Junaid Hassan Manj, Yasir Ejaz Chattha, Afnan Saeed Sandhu, and other senior officers of FDA and FESCO.

Speaking on the occasion, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh lauded FDA’s innovative and effective initiative aimed at achieving financial sustainability.

He said that modern public institutions can only become stronger, self-reliant, and sustainable by creating new revenue streams.

He appreciated FDA’s strategic planning, transparency, and foresight, stating that the authority had introduced a model that could serve as an example for other development agencies.

Divisional Commissioner said that the agreement would not only significantly strengthen FDA’s financial resources but also accelerate urban development projects, improve civic amenities and facilitate the timely completion of ongoing development schemes.

He also appreciated FESCO’s decision to provide its employees with a secure, modern, and high-quality residential environment, saying the initiative would positively impact employee welfare and institutional performance.

He expressed hope that cooperation between the two organizations would continue to grow, creating more opportunities for public service.

Briefing the Divisional Commissioner, Director General FDA Muhammad Asif Chaudhary said the authority had explored various business models to enhance financial resources and institutional self-reliance, with the sale of FDA City plots to FESCO emerging as the most effective strategy.

He said that the project received formal approval from the FDA Board of Governors, while all legal, financial, and administrative requirements were fulfilled with complete transparency.

He explained that the selected plots were initially proposed for sale to the general public on easy four-year installment plans. However, FESCO’s offer for a bulk purchase proved to be more beneficial for the authority, and after completing all legal and procedural formalities, the agreement was successfully finalized.

DG FDA said that immediate financial resources generated through the agreement would be utilized for development projects, improvement of civic facilities, and enhancement of public services.

He reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to pursuing innovative, effective, and sustainable planning initiatives to ensure long-term financial self-sufficiency.

Muhammad Asif Chaudhary thanked Divisional Commissioner Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh, FESCO CEO Muhammad Amir, officers of both organizations, and all participants for their support, emphasizing that such landmark projects could only be accomplished through strong inter-institutional collaboration.

FESCO Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Amir said the company was developing a modern, secure, and high-quality housing scheme for its employees and FDA City had emerged as the most suitable choice due to its prime location, well-planned infrastructure, and availability of all essential civic facilities.

He said that the project would provide FESCO employees and their families with a better standard of living and a safe residential environment.

He further appreciated FDA’s professional competence, transparent working practices, and the administration’s wholehearted cooperation, stating that these factors ensured the successful completion of the agreement.

He thanked Director General FDA Muhammad Asif Chaudhary, his team, and Divisional Commissioner Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh for their valuable support and expressed confidence that cooperation between FESCO and FDA would continue to expand, leading to the successful execution of more public welfare projects in the future.

Chiniot: Deputy Commissioner Ayesha Rizwan and District Police Officer (DPO) Dr. Naveed Atif on Saturday inspected polling stations in Kashmiri-populated areas of Bhawana Tehsil to review security and administrative arrangements ahead of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly refugee constituency elections.

Accompanied by army officers and senior civil administration officials, the delegation visited polling stations in Chak No. 239-JB and Chak No. 247-JB. They assessed security measures, CCTV surveillance, monitoring systems, staff deployment and voter facilities to ensure that all preparations had been completed in line with election requirements.

Deputy Commissioner Ayesha Rizwan directed officials to ensure foolproof security, effective monitoring through CCTV cameras and the smooth, transparent and orderly conduct of polling. She emphasized that no negligence would be tolerated in providing essential facilities and convenience to voters during the election process.

On this occasion, DPO Dr. Naveed Atif instructed police and other law enforcement agencies to maintain strict security and continuous surveillance throughout polling to enable voters to cast their ballots in a safe and peaceful environment. Assistant Commissioner Bhawana Sheena Azam, DSP Bhawana and officers from the local government, revenue and education departments also participated in the inspection and issued necessary directions after reviewing the overall arrangements.

Abbottabad: All arrangements have been finalized for polling in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Constituency LA-XLV (Kashmir Valley-VI) in the General Elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly 2026.

Polling will be held on Sunday, August 2, with 7, 655 registered voters set to elect their representative.

According to the Election Commission, the constituency has 4, 121 male and 3, 534 female voters. A total of 41 polling stations have been established across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including five male, 10 female and 26 combined polling stations. Seventy polling booths have been set up, comprising 33 male and 37 female booths.

Seven candidates are contesting the seat. They include Bashir Ahmad Khan (Independent), Khawaja Muhammad Dilawar (All Jammu wa Kashmir Muslim Conference), Abdul Hamid Butt (Jamaat-e-Islami), Abdul Majid Khan (Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians), Muhammad Zariab (Independent), Muhammad Fayyaz (Independent) and Mirza Khalil ur Rehman Baig (Jammu wa Kashmir United Movement).

The polling stations have been established across 21 districts of the province to facilitate Kashmiri voters. Two polling stations have been set up each in Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Lower and Upper Chitral, Abbottabad, Haripur and Kolai Pallas, while one polling station each has been established in Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, South Waziristan Lower, Tank, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Shangla, Buner, Battagram and Upper Kohistan. Swat has six polling stations, while Mansehra has the highest number with nine.

Polling in Peshawar will be held at Government Shaheed Osama Zafar Centennial Model High School No. 2 for male voters and Government Shaheed Hasnain Sharif Higher Secondary School No. 1 for female voters. Combined polling stations have also been established at District Election Commissioner offices and government educational institutions in the remaining districts.

In Mansehra, nine polling stations have been established at Government Higher Secondary School No. 1, Government Girls High School No. 1, Divisional Forest Office Siran Division, Government Post Graduate College, Government High School Bherkund, Government Primary School Inayat Abad, Government High School Shinkiari, Government Girls Higher Secondary School Shinkiari and Government Higher Secondary School Garhi Habibullah. Swat has six combined polling stations located in Mingora, Matta, Bahrain, Madyan, Kalam and Khwazakhela.

The Election Commission has advised all registered voters to reach their designated polling stations with their original Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) and cooperate with polling staff to ensure peaceful, orderly and transparent elections.

Chiniot: Deputy Commissioner Ayesha Rizwan on Saturday inspected low-lying areas of Chiniot city to review rainwater drainage operations and directed authorities to ensure prompt disposal of accumulated water throughout the ongoing monsoon season.

During the visit, the deputy commissioner assessed the performance of WASA officers, field staff and operational machinery, reviewing the effectiveness of drainage efforts in vulnerable areas. She instructed officials to keep all machinery fully operational and maintain a continuous field presence to monitor and expedite drainage activities.

Ayesha Rizwan stressed that no area should be allowed to remain waterlogged and directed officials to take immediate action wherever rainwater accumulates. She emphasized that uninterrupted drainage operations were essential to minimize inconvenience to residents during periods of heavy rainfall.

The deputy commissioner warned that negligence or delays in carrying out drainage duties would not be tolerated and said strict departmental action would be taken against any officer or official found responsible for lapses in the performance of their responsibilities.

Rawalpindi: Security Forces conducted an intelligence based operation in general area Razmak, North Waziristan District, on reported presence of Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna Al Khwarij.

During the conduct of operation, due to effective engagement by own troops, five Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell.

However, during the intense fire exchange, Major Hafiz Ihsan Elahi (age: 34 years, resident of District Mianwali), a brave officer who was leading his troops from the front, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies as well as killing of innocent civilians.

Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored kharji found in the area, as the relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment of safeguarding our nation at all costs.