Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Peshawar: President Abasin Columnists Association (ACWA) and prominent senior columnist, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi (Sitara Imtiaz) has termed the appointment of Ansarullah Khilji as Director General Public Information Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a good move.

In a statement, he said that Ansarullah Khilji is a senior and experienced officer of the Information Department who has served in important positions not only in the Information Department but also in national and international organizations. He graduated with distinction in Journalism from the University of Peshawar.

Zia said Ansar Khilji is a well-known Pashto language poet and author of several books. His appointment is being welcomed by journalists, columnists, intellectuals, newspaper owners, business community and officials of the Information Department.

Sargodha: The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) foiled an attempt to steal a government-installed safety fence on the motorway and arrested the suspect red-handed before handing him over to the local police.

According to an NHMP spokesperson, officials of Beat No. 12, Faizpur, of MC-One Zone in the M-2 South Sector were on routine patrol when they spotted a man attempting to steal a section of the safety fence at kilometre 5 southbound near Lima.

Upon seeing the Motorway Police patrol vehicle, the suspect attempted to flee. However, the officials acted swiftly and apprehended him at the scene.

During the initial investigation, the suspect was identified as Zeeshan, son of Allah Ditta, a resident of Mason Colony.

The accused was later handed over to Kot Abdul Malik Police Station for further legal proceedings, where a case was registered against him.

Sargodha: Commissioner Sargodha Division Hafiz Shoaib Ali visited various parts of the city on Friday to review the ongoing rainwater drainage operation following the latest spell of rainfall.

According to the spokesperson for the Commissioner’s office here, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Hussain Ahmad Raza Chaudhry and Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Managing Director Abu Bakar Imran, the Commissioner inspected Kutchery Bazaar, City Road, low-lying localities and other rain-affected areas.

During the visit, the officials from WASA and the district administration briefed him on the progress of drainage operations and the measures being taken to clear accumulated rainwater. The Commissioner directed all relevant departments to remain in the field until complete drainage of rainwater is achieved and to ensure maximum relief for citizens.

He warned that no negligence or delay in the drainage operation would be tolerated and instructed authorities to utilise all available machinery and manpower efficiently.

On the occasion, the DC informed the Commissioner that WASA, the district administration, the Cantonment Board and Suthra Punjab teams were jointly carrying out drainage operations across the city.

He said disposal stations, heavy pumps and underground storage tanks had been kept fully operational to ensure the timely removal of rainwater.

WASA Managing Director Abu Bakar Imran also remained in the field, supervising the operation alongside field officers to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of drainage activities.

Rawalpindi: Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Salman Ghani on Friday directed all relevant departments to remain alert to protect the lives and property of citizens during the ongoing monsoon spell, as intermittent rain continued across Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The commissioner instructed deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners to maintain continuous field monitoring and ensure immediate response during and after rainfall.

He directed all departments to ensure the timely drainage of rainwater from roads, streets and low-lying areas to minimise inconvenience to the public. He also ordered enhanced surveillance of Nullah Lai and other stormwater drains and called for strengthened safety arrangements at vulnerable locations.

Salman urged residents of low-lying areas to adopt precautionary measures and follow official advisories. He also advised citizens to stay away from electricity poles and broken power lines to avoid the risk of electrocution, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain, and remain updated on weather conditions.

He further appealed to parents to prevent children from going near rivers, rainwater channels and open manholes during the monsoon.

According to official rainfall data, 103 millimetres of rain was recorded at Rawalpindi Kutchery, 68 at Saidpur, 52 mm at Golra, 42 mm at Bokra, 65 mm at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), 73 mm at Shamsabad, 60 mm at Pirwadhai and 59 mm at New Katarian.

Meanwhile, civic agencies remained on high alert as the rain continued across the twin cities.

Managing Director Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Rawalpindi Azizullah Khan said WASA personnel and heavy machinery had been deployed in low-lying areas, including Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk Underpass, Murree Road and Sadiqabad, to ensure uninterrupted drainage.

He said Nullah Lai was under continuous monitoring and the water flow remained normal.

Khan said field officers were personally supervising drainage operations. He also urged citizens not to throw garbage into drains or sewer lines and not to remove manhole covers to ensure the smooth flow of rainwater.

The Suthra Punjab Agency(SPA) also continued drain cleaning, waste collection, waste lifting and manual sweeping despite the rain to prevent waterlogging in vulnerable areas.

The agency said sanitation workers remained deployed across the city, while awareness campaigns were conducted in residential neighbourhoods and markets, urging citizens not to dump garbage or construction debris into drains and to dispose of waste through designated containers or sanitation workers.

Managing Director SPA Rawalpindi Rana Sajid Safdar said maintaining cleanliness during the monsoon remained the agency’s top priority.

He said sanitation workers were ensuring timely drainage in low-lying areas, while the Clean Punjab Helpline 1139 enabled citizens to register sanitation-related complaints without delay.

Media Coordinator Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi Muhammad Usman Gujar said rescue personnel had been deployed along Nullah Lai and in low-lying areas, including Katarian and Gawalmandi, and would remain on duty throughout the rainy spell.

He advised the public to exercise caution during the monsoon, urging parents not to allow children near Nullah Lai or electricity poles during rainfall, motorists to drive carefully, residents to avoid weak structures, flooded areas, rivers and streams, and tourists to avoid travelling to vulnerable destinations during periods of heavy rain and possible cloudbursts. He urged citizens to contact the Rescue 1122 helpline immediately in case of any emergency.