Category: District

Peshawar: A police official and a 13-year-old boy died in a shooting incident near Chashma Jat in Jangal Khel area of Kohat on Thursday.

According to Rescue 1122, the victims sustained critical injuries in the firing. Rescue medical teams reached the scene promptly, provided first aid and shifted both victims to DHQ Hospital Kohat in critical condition.

Hospital doctors later confirmed that both had succumbed to their injuries.

The deceased were identified as 50-year-old police Havaldar Rahim, a resident of Jangal Khel and 13-year-old Naqeebullah, a resident of Mian Ghari.

Police collected evidence from the scene and launched an investigation. Police said efforts are underway to determine the motive behind the shooting and trace those responsible.

Nowshera virkan: A 10-year-old boy was killed after the roof of his house collapsed in a Village, Manj Wali here following days of heavy rainfall, the official sources said on Thursday. The incident occurred in Manj Wali village near Nowshera Virkan, where the victim, identified as Azan Ali, was trapped beneath the debris when the weakened roof gave way.

The residents launched a rescue effort and pulled the child from the rubble, but he had already succumbed to his injuries. The tragedy comes amid persistent rains that have damaged vulnerable structures in several parts of the province.

Bahawalpur: Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Irfan Ali Kathia chaired a review meeting on the DREAMS (Developing Resilient Environment and Advanced Municipal Services) project of the Bahawalpur Waste Management Company (BWMC), where officials reviewed the project’s progress, waste segregation initiatives, door-to-door public awareness campaign and other modern solid waste management measures.

During the meeting, Chief Executive Officer, Bahawalpur Waste Management Company, Muhammad Naeem Akhtar briefed participants on the project, stating that, with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Punjab, the DREAMS project will establish a modern scientific landfill site, a waste segregation plant, recycling facilities, biogas and compost production units, and other advanced waste processing infrastructure. He informed the meeting that, under the ongoing door-to-door awareness campaign, residents are being encouraged to separate dry and wet waste at the household level. Two-bin waste collection systems are also being introduced in selected areas to promote proper waste segregation and recycling.

Addressing the meeting, Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia described the DREAMS project as a major step towards establishing a modern, sustainable and environmentally friendly solid waste management system in Bahawalpur. He said the initiative would significantly improve sanitation standards, strengthen environmental protection efforts and promote recycling across the city. The Commissioner assured the district administration’s full support for the timely implementation of the project and directed the concerned authorities to establish dedicated awareness teams in schools, colleges and universities to educate the younger generation about cleanliness, waste segregation, recycling and environmental responsibility. He further instructed officials to introduce “City Codes” as part of the city’s cleanliness campaign to encourage responsible civic behavior and enhance public participation in maintaining a clean and sustainable urban environment.

United nation: Pakistan told the UN Security Council that natural resources must serve as instruments of shared prosperity rather than tools for coercion.

At the high-level debate on ‘Natural resource governance: the foundation of peace, security and prosperity,’ Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, warned against the weaponization of vital resources and called for equitable, rules-based global governance.

The debate was presided over by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which hold the 15-member Council’s presidency for the month of July.

‘Resource wealth can contribute to affluence with peace only when accountability by strong institutions, transparency, national ownership and prioritizing people’s welfare,’ the Pakistani envoy said, adding that the minerals-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo’s example is illustrative.

Pakistan, he said, has long stood in solidarity with African countries in their pursuit of sovereign control over their natural wealth. Africa’s experience demonstrates that resource wealth can contribute to affluence with peace, only when accompanied by strong institutions, transparency, national ownership and prioritizing people’s welfare.

For decades, he said, illicit exploitation and trafficking of natural resources have financed armed groups and deprived the Congolese people of the benefits of their country’s immense national wealth.

He called for strengthened traceability mechanisms – including lessons from the Kimberly Process – responsible supply chains and regional cooperation, which are essential to disrupt conflict financing.

“Natural resource governance must remain firmly anchored in the UN Charter and international law, Ambassador Asim Ahmad said. The right of peoples to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources, as enshrined in General Assembly resolution 1803, remained fundamental.

“International cooperation must strengthen national capacities while respecting national ownership, priorities and policy space,” he added.

“The Security Council has an important responsibility where the exploitation or weaponization of natural resources, threatens international peace and security, whether through the illicit exploitation of minerals that fuels and perpetuates conflict, or the unilateral actions to exploit shared natural resources as instruments of coercion in disregard of international law and binding treaty obligations,” the Pakistan envoy said.

“The Council should make full use of the tools at its disposal, including preventive diplomacy, peaceful resolution of disputes, sanctions regimes and monitoring mechanisms to address these threats.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also addressed the Council, urging an end to the “plundering” of resources and calling for transparency in the global supply chain.

Mirpur (ajk): The authorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have intensified preparations to ensure the July 27 elections are conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner, a senior district official said on Wednesday.

Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Sajid Aslam chaired a meeting in Mirpur to review election arrangements with officials from the district administration, police and key government departments, according to an official statement.

The representatives from the health, education, local government, civil defence, highways, buildings, social welfare, Auqaf and information departments briefed the meeting on logistical preparations, assigned responsibilities and measures to support polling operations.

The meeting decided to strengthen the election monitoring and control system to enable timely coordination and response to any emerging situation.

The departments were instructed to appoint focal persons to maintain constant communication and ensure rapid information sharing throughout polling day.

Addressing the meeting, Sajid Aslam directed all departments to complete election-related arrangements well before the vote and carry out their responsibilities with diligence.

He also directed the education department to provide administrative support where required for election management.

The deputy commissioner said close coordination among the district administration, police and other departments would be essential to ensuring a transparent and orderly electoral process.

He called on officials to remain in regular contact through designated focal persons and make full use of available resources to provide voters with a safe and peaceful environment.

Appealing to the public, Sajid Aslam urged eligible voters to cast their ballots peacefully on July 27 and participate actively in the electoral process, adding it would help strengthen democratic institutions.

The meeting concluded with participating departments reaffirming their commitment to coordinated efforts for the peaceful, secure and successful conduct of the AJK elections.

Peshawar: Rescue 1122 Buner has recovered the body of a man who was swept away by a flash flood triggered by monsoon rains in the Kalabat area of Gadezai tehsil after an extensive search operation.

Officials said the victim, identified as Siyab, was driving a rickshaw when he was caught in a rain-fed torrent.

Rescue divers and water rescue personnel launched a search operation immediately after the incident and continued efforts until the body was located in the Kalabat Kogai area.

The body was shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Pacha, after completion of legal formalities.

Deputy Commissioner Buner Shehryar Qamar visited the hospital to monitor the operation and commended the Rescue 1122 teams for their prompt response and professional handling of the search and recovery mission.

Rescue officials urged the public to avoid crossing flooded roads and streams during the ongoing monsoon season to prevent such incidents.