Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday approved the conferment of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) upon Commander National Strategic Command General Syed Aamer Raza, according to a President House statement.

The military honor comes following his elevation to the four-star rank and his appointment as Commander of Strategic Command. Prior to his new role, Aamer Raza served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Pakistan Army.

On July 24, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promoted him to the rank of Four-Star General, besides appointing him as the Commander National Strategic Command.

Islamabad: Pakistan have moved up one place to 12th in the latest International Hockey Federation (FIH) world rankings, earning 2,544.54 ranking points.

According to a spokesman for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), the improvement reflects the national team’s impressive performances and consistent efforts in recent international tournaments. As a result of Pakistan’s rise, South Africa have slipped to 13th place, while Malaysia are now ranked 14th.

The PHF spokesman said the national team’s immediate target is to break back into the world’s top 10. “With the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 approaching, where Pakistan have been placed in Pool D alongside India, England and Wales, the nation expects strong performances from the team.

The players are working tirelessly, and this improvement in the world rankings will further boost their confidence ahead of the World Cup,” the spokesman added.

Islamabad: Rainfall continued in various parts of the federal capital, with conditions ranging from heavy to light showers. Assistant Commissioners, along with sanitation teams, remained in the field to oversee drainage operations, while authorities monitored roads, low-lying areas, and stormwater channels to maintain normal conditions across the city.

According to the spokesman of Islamabad Capital Territory administration, intermittent rain continued across different sectors of the federal capital on Friday, prompting district administration officials to stay on alert.

Assistant Commissioners visited several areas with sanitation teams to review the situation and ensure that rainwater was cleared without delay. Dewatering pumps were deployed at key locations to remove accumulated water and support the drainage process.

According to the district administration, teams remained active throughout the affected areas to prevent water buildup and respond to any developing situation. Officials said drainage operations were being carried out continuously where needed.

Traffic flow on major roads and highways remained normal despite the ongoing rainfall. Authorities reported no major disruptions to vehicle movement, while field staff monitored road conditions to address any issues that could affect commuters.

The administration also continued close monitoring of low-lying areas and stormwater channels across the city. Teams were instructed to keep a watch on locations that were usually vulnerable during periods of rain.

Officials said coordination among field teams would continue until weather conditions improve. Residents have been advised to remain cautious during rainfall and follow updates issued by the district administration and relevant departments.

The district administration stated that all available resources remained in place to ensure smooth drainage, maintain traffic movement, and monitor areas that may face water accumulation during the ongoing spell of rain.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Friday expressed profound grief and sorrow over the loss of 34 precious lives in a coal mine accident in the Soranj area on the outskirts of Quetta.

The minister extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased miners and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and for strength and patience for their families to bear the irreparable loss.

In his condolence message, Hanif Abbasi said that miners are a valuable asset to the country’s economy and stressed that strict implementation of safety regulations was essential to protect their lives.

He emphasized that safety mechanisms, monitoring systems and occupational standards in coal mines should be further strengthened to prevent tragic incidents like the Soranj mine accident in the future.

The minister said that protecting the lives and property of the working class was the foremost responsibility of the state and the relevant institutions, urging effective measures to avoid such tragedies.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Zonal Office in Lahore, in close collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Corporate Crime Circle (CCC) Lahore crackdown against illegal internet service providers in Lahore.

Two successful raids were carried out at M/s Chabariya Internet Service (Internet Cable and Wireless Service Provider) and M/s Brother Cable Net, both located at Javed Colony, Ghazi Road, Lahore, said a news release.

During the raids, both premises were found to be operating unauthorised internet service distribution setups without a valid license and 02 individuals were arrested, including the owner of the setup. In addition, the telecom equipment was also recovered from the locations.

The successful efforts against illegal internet service providers can be attributed to PTA’s unwavering commitment, continuous monitoring, and persistent efforts to curb illegal internet services. These actions are crucial in preventing tax evasion and revenue misreporting, thus curtailing loss to the national exchequer.

PTA urges the public to only avail telecom services from PTA-licensed operators to avoid sudden discontinuation of service. The list of licensed operators is available on the PTA website: www. pta. gov. pk

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain on Friday chaired a high-level meeting with Robert Simpson, Deputy Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and reviewed ongoing cooperation and explore new avenues for collaboration in climate-resilient agriculture, food security and sustainable agricultural development.

Welcoming the FAO delegation, the Federal Minister appreciated FAO’s longstanding partnership with Pakistan and acknowledged its valuable support in strengthening the country’s agriculture and food systems.

He noted that Pakistan was among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite its negligible contribution to global carbon emissions and emphasized the need for enhanced technical assistance and timely implementation of ongoing projects.

The FAO delegation briefed the minister on key areas of collaboration, including the One Health Programme, food safety and phytosanitary (SPS) systems, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), sustainable agricultural mechanization, climate resilience under the Indus River Basin Programme, and the use of GIS, remote sensing and agrometeorological technologies to support climate-smart agriculture.

Robert Simpson also proposed organizing a National Climate Forum in collaboration with the Ministry to bring together government, development partners and the private sector to strengthen climate action in agriculture.

The minister welcomed the proposal and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to climate-resilient agricultural development.

Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted the government’s priorities, including strengthening food safety and SPS systems, promoting climate-resilient certified seeds through NASDRA, expanding agricultural mechanization and storage infrastructure, establishing Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), implementing the One District, One Product initiative in selected underdeveloped districts, enhancing livestock exports through improved disease control, and reducing dependence on imported wheat and edible oil.

The FAO delegation informed the minister that it would continue supporting Pakistan in mobilizing funding from international financial institutions and development partners. Both sides also discussed FAO’s upcoming policy report on Pakistan’s food production and nutrition needs, as well as the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, under which Pakistan was participating with Chilgoza, while Chaunsa Mango has been proposed for inclusion.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation in climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, livestock development and food security for the benefit of Pakistan’s farming community.