Category: District

Peshawar: Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid, visited Maulvi Ji Hospital in Peshawar on Wednesday to review the Benazir Nashonuma Programme and announced further reforms aimed at improving transparency and service delivery.

During her visit, she inspected the Benazir Nashonuma Centre operating at the hospital, interacted with staff, and reviewed facilities being provided to women and children enrolled in the programme.

Hospital officials also briefed her on the centre’s performance and the progress of the nutrition initiative.

Addressing reporters, the BISP chairperson said the Nashonuma Programme was an important welfare initiative designed to improve maternal and child nutrition, adding that BISP currently supports more than 10 million deserving families across Pakistan.

She urged media organisations to verify information before publishing reports about the programme, saying inaccurate reporting could negatively affect deserving beneficiaries.

She reiterated that BISP assistance is a right of eligible families under the government’s social protection programme and should not be portrayed as charity.

Rubina Khalid said SIM cards related to the programme are issued free of cost only through authorised BISP offices and warned beneficiaries against paying any individual for such services.

She said the government was introducing reforms to reduce human intervention in the payment process.

Following the current payment cycle, beneficiaries would also be able to collect their financial assistance from authorised retail outlets across the country as part of the programme’s ongoing digitalisation efforts.

The chairperson warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone using the name of BISP to deceive the public.

She said dedicated teams had been formed to curb fraud and ensure greater transparency, reaffirming the government’s commitment to making the programme more efficient, transparent and accessible for deserving families.

Nawabshah: The District Office of Sindh Education Foundation (SEF), Shaheed Benazirabad, organized a School Partners Conference at Peoples School Junior Branch on the theme of Annual Planning and Improving School Performance in accordance with SEF Standards.

The conference was attended by SEF Regional Head Shaheed Benazirabad Maqbool Ahmed Laghari, District Head Mumtaz Ali Chandio, district office officials, SEF team members and a large number of school partners from across the district.

Addressing the participants, Regional Head Maqbool Ahmed Laghari said that the performance of schools can be significantly improved through the provision of quality education, a transparent administrative system and effective annual planning. He urged school partners to strictly implement SEF policies and standards and ensure a quality learning environment for children.

During the conference, participants were given detailed briefings on school profiling, maintenance of school records, administrative affairs, faculty management, teaching standards, improvement in students’ learning outcomes, overall school performance and school ranking.

Technical guidance on various operational and academic matters was also provided. A question-and-answer session was held at the end of the conference, during which school partners shared their concerns and suggestions. SEF officials responded in detail and issued practical guidance for addressing the issues in a timely manner. The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to further strengthen school performance in line with SEF standards, ensuring the provision of quality, inclusive and effective education for children.

Dera ghazi khan: District Police Officer (DPO) Dera Ghazi Khan paid a detailed visit to Jhangi Check Post on Thursday to review security arrangements, operational preparedness and the ongoing reconstruction of the facility, reaffirming the police’s commitment to strengthening security and combating terrorism.

During the visit, the DPO inspected the security measures in place and reviewed the progress of construction work on the check post, which had previously been damaged. Concerned officers briefed him on the pace of development and the overall operational performance of the facility.

The DPO directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the reconstruction project is completed within the stipulated timeframe while maintaining the highest standards of quality. He emphasized that providing a safe and improved working environment for police personnel remains one of the department’s top priorities.

He also met with officers and officials deployed at the check post, appreciated their professional dedication and instructed them to remain vigilant, alert and fully prepared to respond effectively to any potential security threat.

Addressing the personnel, the DPO said that cowardly acts of terrorism could never weaken the morale of Dera Ghazi Khan Police. He said the force would continue to perform its duties with courage, determination, professionalism and a spirit of sacrifice to eliminate the menace of terrorism and ensure lasting peace in the district.

The DPO further stated that all check posts across the district had been upgraded and strengthened in line with modern security requirements to enhance public safety and effectively thwart the nefarious designs of anti-state elements.

He reiterated that Dera Ghazi Khan Police would continue to take every possible measure to safeguard the lives and property of citizens and maintain peace and order across the district.

Gujrat: Director General Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Umar Abbas Mehla, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Gujrat Noor-ul-Ain Qureshi, visited irrigation projects being executed under the Punjab Development Programme (PDP).

According to official sources, the officials were briefed on five new intervention projects aimed at safely diverting rainwater from Azad Jammu and Kashmir to Bhimber Nullah and Hailsi Nullah.

The projects are intended to improve drainage capacity, reduce flood risk and protect nearby communities and infrastructure during the monsoon season.

Beijing: Loudi of Hunan Province and Gujrat of Punjab, Pakistan, signed a sister-city memorandum of understanding (MoU) on July 21, marking a new phase of institutionalized and pragmatic cooperation between the two cities.

The MoU was signed by Yang Wei, Mayor of Loudi City, and Shafay Hussain, Minister for the Industries, Commerce and Investment Department of the Government of Punjab, at a ceremony in Lahore, witnessed by Sun Yan, Consul General of China in Lahore.

The agreement established a framework for long-term collaboration in economic development, trade, investment and cultural exchange, reflecting the growing synergy between the two countries under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, CEN reported.

The sister city partnership was expected to facilitate knowledge sharing and technical cooperation in key sectors, particularly in agricultural modernization where Loudi’s manufacturing strengths complement Gujrat’s industrial and agricultural base.

During the visit, Mayor Yang Wei led a delegation of chairpersons from five leading agricultural machinery enterprises from Loudi for a three-day business mission in Lahore. The delegation conducted on-site inspections and held substantive discussions with their Pakistani counterparts to explore cooperation projects in the agricultural machinery sector.

In a parallel development, the Loudi Branch of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) signed a friendship and cooperation agreement with the Pakistan-Hunan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Under the agreement, the two sides would strengthen exchanges and cooperation in economic development, science and technology, cultural engagement, investment promotion and personnel visits, further facilitating business-to-business ties and fostering a more robust bilateral trade ecosystem.

Rawalpindi: Police have arrested a two-member gang allegedly involved in motorcycle theft and recovered seven stolen motorcycles during a successful operation here on Thursday. According to police spokesperson, the suspects were taken into custody following an investigation into motorcycle theft cases in the Taxila area.

The arrested suspects will be presented in the court with solid evidence after the completion of the investigation. SP Potohar Sardar Babar Mumtaz Khan commended police team and said those involved in depriving citizens of their valuable property would not escape the law.

He added that Rawalpindi Police remain committed to take strict action against criminal elements and to ensure the protection of lives and public property.