Category: District

Peshawar: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Thursday assured the Peoples Doctors Forum (PDF) of taking up their issues with the provincial government for resolving problems faced by the medical community.

He was talking to a delegation of the Peoples Doctors Forum, led by Dr Janbaz Afridi, which called on him at Governor House.

The delegation demanded establishment of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical College and Benazir Hospital in Peshawar along with provision of modern medical facilities in existing hospitals across the province.

Governor Kundi appreciated the forum’s proposals and suggestions, saying that the doors of Governor House were open for people and professionals to raise their issues.

The Governor said the provincial government had failed to establish new hospitals and nursing colleges according to the growing needs of the population. He stressed the need for learning from the good initiatives taken by other provinces.

He also highlighted the importance of establishing a Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT)-type healthcare facility in KP.

Governor Kundi said healthcare initiatives such as Al-Shifa Camp in Dera Ismail Khan were helping patients, while organisations including Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Sundas Foundation and Ittifaq Kidney Centre could play an important role in strengthening medical services in the province.

He said despite sacrifices and challenges, the people of KP deserved development, adding that resources allocated under the former FATA reforms, including Rs100 billion annually, should be effectively utilized for the welfare of the people.

The Governor said tourism and sports sectors also needed attention, adding that the launch of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Champions League (KCL) was aimed at engaging youth and promoting the positive image of the province.

He expressed concern over frustration among youth and said practical steps were required to provide them opportunities. Members of the People Doctors Forum thanked Governor Kundi for listening to their concerns.

The People Doctors Forum was joined by a number of doctors on the occasion from various healthcare institutions, who expressed their support for the forum’s objectives and proposals. The meeting concluded with the cutting of a cake to mark the birthday of PPP President Asif Ali Zardari.

Rawalpindi: The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Rawalpindi has intensified its enforcement drive against construction site dust and air pollution, ordering strict compliance with environmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all ongoing development projects in the city.

According to EPA, developers and contractors were legally bound to install 10-foot-high green safety netting, utilize water sprinkling systems for dust suppression, prevent dumping building materials on public roads, and ensure all construction material remains fully covered.

The agency officials said that notices were being issued to non-compliant sites, warning that legal action would continue against individuals and firms failing to adhere to environmental protection laws.

EPA also appealed to citizens to support clean-air initiatives by reporting construction-related environmental violations or excessive dust pollution through the EPA helpline 1373.

Rawalpindi: Election campaigning across Rawalpindi, Islamabad and the surrounding division has reached its peak ahead of the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for August 2..

Political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, Jamaat-i-Islami and several independent candidates, have stepped up their ground mobilization through corner meetings, community conventions, door-to-door drives, and public rallies across various constituencies.

According to data released by the Election Commission, three dedicated Kashmiri refugee constituencies fall within the Rawalpindi region including LA-43 Valley-IV, LA-44 Valley-V and LA-39 Jammu-VI. A total of 27,907 registered voters comprising 14,917 men and 12,990 women are eligible to exercise their right to vote across these three seats.

A detailed constituency breakdown indicates that LA-43 Valley-IV, covering Rawalpindi city, has 3,346 registered voters (1,750 male and 1,596 female). LA-44 Valley-V, encompassing Kashmiri refugees residing in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, accounts for 3,754 voters (1,945 male and 1,809 female).

The largest constituency, LA-39 Jammu-VI, covers voters across Rawalpindi city, the wider Rawalpindi division, Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan, with 20,807 registered voters (11,222 male and 9,585 female).

Overall, 31 candidates are contesting for the three seats. Key hubs of campaign activity include Kashmir Colony, Dhoke Hassu, Dhoke Mangtal, Pirwadhai, Sadiqabad, Raja Bazaar, Committee Chowk, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Dhoke Syedan, Shamsabad, Rawalpindi Cantt and various Kashmiri settlements in Islamabad.

To facilitate polling, the Election Commission has established 15 polling stations, designating seven of them as highly sensitive. Enhanced security protocols, including additional deployments of Police and Rangers, CCTV surveillance, walkthrough gates, and strict monitoring teams, have been arranged to ensure adherence to the code of conduct.

District administrative authorities, local police, and election officials are finalizing transport grids, staff deployments, and the secure dispatch of electoral material to guarantee a peaceful, transparent voting process on August 2.

Peshawar: Armed robbers deprived a gold trader of Rs17.8 million in Bhana Mari area here on Thursday, police said. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the trader had sold 488 grams of gold before the incident and placed the cash amounting to Rs17.8 million in the trunk of his vehicle.

Police said the traders stopped near a shop in Civil Quarter area to purchase some items when armed men riding a motorcycle intercepted him. The suspects held the trader at gunpoint opened the vehicle’s trunk and took the cash before fleeing the scene.

A case has been registered at Bhana Mari Police Station and police have launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the crime scene and nearby areas is being reviewed to identify and arrest the suspects.

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.