Category: District

Peshawar: The funeral prayer of renowned tribal elder, also known as peace ambassador and active member of the local Peace Committee, Shaheed Haji Izzat Gul, was offered with state honours at the Orakzai Headquarters on Wednesday.

The funeral was attended by the Commandant of Tull Scouts, Kohat Commissioner Mutasim Billah Shah, the Deputy Commissioner of Hangu, the District Police Officers (DPOs) of Hangu and Orakzai, along with senior officials from the police and civil administration.

A large number of tribal elders, political and social figures and members of the public from different walks of life also participated.

During the ceremony, senior officials laid floral wreaths on the martyr’s coffin, offered prayers and paid tribute to his dedicated efforts in promoting peace and stability in the region.

Special prayers were also offered for the elevation of his ranks and for patience and strength for his bereaved family.

According to police, Haji Izzat Gul was martyred a day earlier in Hangu district after an improvised explosive device (IED), planted by militants exploded.

He was widely respected for his role in promoting peace, social harmony and public service and remained actively involved in local efforts to maintain stability.

His martyrdom has drawn widespread grief and condemnation from local residents, tribal elders and political and social leaders, who reaffirmed their commitment to eliminating terrorism and ensuring lasting peace in the region.

Hyderabad: On the directives of deputy commissioner Hyderabad Zain-ul-Abideen Memon, a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) was held under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner-I Gada Hussain Soomro and Additional Deputy Commissioner-II Mehwish Buriro to review preparedness for the 2026 monsoon season.

The meeting reviewed the preparedness of relevant departments, coordination, drainage arrangements, safety measures and contingency plans to effectively deal with expected rainfall and any emergency situation during the monsoon.

According to a handout issued here on Wednesday, officials from WASA, HESCO, the health department, sindh building control authority, irrigation, SIDA, HMC, town municipal corporations and other relevant departments attended the meeting.

Addressing the participants, Additional Deputy Commissioner-I Gada Hussain Soomro directed all departments to complete their preparations in view of the forecast of rainfall on July 26 and 27 and work under a coordinated strategy to respond effectively to any emergency.

During the meeting, officials informed that cleaning of major rain-water drains including Wadhu Wah had been completed, while desilting work at Churi Bazaar and other locations was progressing rapidly.

WASA officials said drainage lines in different areas of Qasimabad were being cleaned through machinery, while the Fasadi Wah pumping station was fully operational.

The meeting also reviewed the strengthening of protective embankments, drainage arrangements in railway colony, medical emergency preparedness, HESCO’s priority power supply to pumping stations, contingency plans for dilapidated buildings, cattle colony and new cattle colony, the availability of registered NGO volunteers and the immediate removal of hazardous billboards across the city.

Soomro directed all departments to complete their assigned responsibilities well before the expected rains, ensure full implementation of the monsoon emergency plan, immediately submit lists of registered NGO volunteers and complete the clearance of billboards and other safety measures without delay.

He also directed that another review meeting be held before the expected rainfall to reassess preparedness and ensure an effective response to any possible emergency.

Sargodha: The Punjab Council of the Arts (PUCAR) Sargodha division invited applications for various art classes to polish creative skills of youth and art enthusiasts, with the registration deadline set for August 5, 2026.

According to a press release issued by the Arts Council on Wednesday, the council is offering specialized training in painting, calligraphy, singing, and harmonium. The three-month short courses will be conducted under the supervision of expert instructors to provide practical and quality training to students to refine their artistic abilities.

A council spokesperson stated that the fee for each course was fixed at Rs 4,000, while classes will be held three days a week. The spokesperson added that the primary objective of these courses is to promote positive and creative activities among the younger generation and ensure the promotion of fine arts in the region. The Punjab Council of the Arts urged citizens, especially the youth, to benefit from this opportunity by enrolling in their preferred courses to enhance their creative potential. In this regard, Assistant Director Stage Management Muhammad Farooq Khawaja was appointed as the focal person, and interested individuals may contact him at 0333-5294920 for registration and further information.

Faisalabad: As many as 1.71 million consumers of Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) have so far completed their registration by scanning the QR codes printed on their electricity bills to secure uninterrupted power subsidy.

FESCO Spokesman Muhammad Saeed Raza said that with the government’s digital drive to make electricity subsidy delivery more transparent and targeted, FESCO has accelerated a consumer registration campaign by urging millions of protected category electricity users to scan QR codes printed on their bills and complete verification to ensure uninterrupted access to future relief measures.

He said that this initiative has been launched on the directives of Power Division, Ministry of Energy and Chief Executive Officer FESCO Engineer Muhammad Amir for making subsidy mechanism more secure, transparent and technology-driven while ensuring that government assistance reaches only deserving consumers.

He said that the government had introduced QR code-based registration system on electricity bills to improve effectiveness of the cross-subsidy mechanism for eligible consumers.

He said that consumers were required to scan the QR code available on their electricity bills to verify their identity and complete registration so that subsidy benefits could be delivered to genuine deserving households without interruption. He said that out of around 3.95 million protected consumers in the FESCO region, approximately 1.71 million consumers had so far completed their registration by scanning the QR codes printed on their electricity bills.

However, around 2.23 million consumers were yet to complete the process, which could create difficulties for them in receiving government subsidy benefits in the future, he added.

He explained that the QR code registration system would help verify consumer identities, prevent misuse of subsidies and ensure timely delivery of government relief.

The digital mechanism would enable direct transfer of benefits to deserving consumers while minimizing chances of exploitation by ineligible users, he added.

He advised the consumers, who had not yet registered, to immediately scan the QR code on their latest electricity bill, enter their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) number, provide their registered mobile number, enter the received One-Time Password (OTP) and complete the registration process.

He said that the registration procedure was simple and could be completed within a few minutes, but it was imperative for ensuring continuity of subsidy benefits in the future.

He urged the consumers to use only the QR code printed on their official electricity bills and complete registration through the government’s authorized system. He also cautioned them against entering personal information, CNIC details or mobile numbers on any suspicious website, link or unauthorized platform to avoid fraud and cyber scams.

Mirpur: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday described the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections as a defining moment for the region, urging voters to give his party a strong mandate. Addressing a large public rally in Mirpur, Bilawal said the election would shape the future of Kashmir and pledged that a two-thirds PPP majority would enable the party to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening the rights of Kashmiris, including what he described as greater self-governance, ownership of natural resources and expanded employment opportunities for young people.

Bilawal linked the PPP’s election campaign to the party’s political legacy, highlighting the contributions of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari. He said the party would continue advocating for a stronger constitutional and political role for AJK, including greater representation in Pakistan’s national institutions, while preserving the region’s distinct constitutional identity. He also criticized the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), accusing it of seeking to centralize decision-making at the expense of the powers of the AJK government.

Referring to the recent political unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the PPP chairman called for dialogue to resolve differences and proposed the establishment of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine public grievances. He also expressed concern over internet restrictions, saying uninterrupted communication was important for ensuring a transparent electoral process, and urged the relevant authorities to facilitate conditions conducive to free and fair elections.

Calling on voters to reject divisive politics, Bilawal urged the electorate to support PPP candidates Yasir Sultan, Qasim Majeed, Sohaib Arshad and Afsar Shahid in the upcoming polls. He expressed confidence that the party would secure a strong mandate in AJK, saying the PPP would continue to work for democratic governance, public welfare and the protection of the political and economic rights of the people of Kashmir.

Sargodha: A motorcyclist was killed on Wednesday in a collision with a speeding dumper near the 85 Jhal area, close to G.O. Petroleum, within the jurisdiction of Factory Area Police Station.

According to Rescue 1122 sources, Muhammad Shareef, a resident of Abbaspur Colony, Shahpur, was traveling to Sargodha on his motorcycle when a fast-moving dumper struck his vehicle, killing him on the spot.

Upon receiving information, teams from Rescue 1122 and the local police reached the scene and shifted the body to the hospital for necessary legal formalities.

Police have registered a case and further investigation was underway.