Category: District

Attock: Deputy Commissioner Dr. Mudassar Ahmad Shah on Tuesday visited Hazro Tehsil to review monsoon preparedness, inspecting the drainage system and rainwater disposal arrangements while directing all concerned departments to remain on high alert during the ongoing rainy season.

Accompanied by Assistant Commissioner Hazro Dr. Imran Rafiq, Managing Director WASA Aqeel Ahmad and Assistant Commissioner Attock Arif Qureshi, the deputy commissioner inspected storm water drains, drainage infrastructure and water flow at various locations in Hazro city. He reviewed the cleaning of drains and assessed the preparedness of departments responsible for emergency response.

Dr. Shah directed the relevant departments to maintain continuous monitoring of low-lying areas, keep the drainage system fully operational, immediately remove blockages from drains and complete all precautionary measures to deal with any emergency caused by heavy rainfall. He also instructed field officers to remain present in their respective areas and ensure an immediate response to public complaints and emergencies.

The deputy commissioner said the protection of lives and property remained the district administration’s top priority in line with the Punjab government’s directives. He stressed the need for close coordination among all departments and directed Rescue 1122 and other agencies to keep their machinery, manpower and emergency equipment ready for immediate deployment.

Expressing satisfaction with the arrangements, Dr. Shah directed officials to continue monitoring vulnerable locations throughout the monsoon season and ensure timely, coordinated and effective action to provide the best possible services to the public in the event of any emergency.

Gujrat: Deputy Commissioner Noor-ul-Ain Qureshi, accompanied by Managing Director (MD) Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Gujrat Kashan Hafeez Butt, visited various parts of the city and disposal stations to review the ongoing rainwater drainage operation during the monsoon. According to official sources, the DC inspected drainage arrangements at Jail Chowk, Kutchery Chowk, Nawabzada Chowk, Prince Chowk, Fawara Chowk and other low-lying areas.

Assistant Commissioner Abdul Qadeer Zarkoon and Director Engineering Sheikh Abdul Wahab also accompanied the visit. The sources said all disposal stations were operating at full capacity, while 18 WASA emergency teams remained deployed across the city’s three operational zones. Dewatering sets, suction machines and heavy machinery were being used to remove accumulated rainwater.

Deputy Managing Director WASA Faisal Hasnain Bhalli monitored the operation from the central control room. The DC directed officials to continue the drainage operation round-the-clock until the rain subsides and ensure timely relief to citizens.

She also instructed officers and field staff to remain on high alert, adding that the district administration and WASA would continue joint monitoring under the monsoon emergency plan to minimize public inconvenience.

Beijing: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, met with Xu Zhitao, Vice Chairman of Xizang Autonomous Region, on the sidelines of the 5th China-Xizang Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation, with both sides agreeing to expand collaboration in environmental protection and sustainable development.

Welcoming the Pakistani delegation, the Vice Chairman briefed the minister on Xizang’s history, economic progress, and cultural heritage, highlighting a development model built around ecological conservation. He noted that the region, home to 47 national parks, has witnessed remarkable socio-economic transformation in recent decades while keeping environmental protection at the heart of its development strategy. He also pointed to Xizang’s cultural and religious diversity, including the historical presence of a small Muslim community of Kashmiri origin.

Dr. Malik thanked his host for the warm hospitality and reaffirmed the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Pakistan and China. He observed that Pakistan and Xizang shared similar mountain ecosystems and stood to gain significantly from knowledge-sharing and institutional partnerships, China Economic Net reported.

The two sides discussed avenues for cooperation in climate change, scientific research, innovation, mountain ecosystem conservation, and biodiversity protection. They also noted the potential of traditional knowledge systems, observing that several medicinal practices associated with Tibetan medicine were familiar in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, opening doors for academic and research collaboration.

Dr. Malik expressed confidence that closer cooperation in climate action and scientific research would further deepen the enduring friendship between the two countries.

Chiniot: Deputy Commissioner, Chiniot , Ayesha Rizwan Tuesday inspected public services, development projects and emergency preparedness in Bhuwana and directed to accelerate infrastructure works, improve healthcare facilities and maintain monsoon response measures.

Accompanied by Assistant Commissioner, Sheena Azam, the deputy commissioner began her visit at the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, Bhuwana and reviewed medical and administrative operations, sanitation standards and patient care.

She met patients to inquire about the availability of medicines and the quality of treatment before instructing hospital authorities to enhance cleanliness, maintain green spaces, ensure medical equipment remains operational and strengthen patient care.

The deputy commissioner later inspected MC Karoriya Park and ordered municipal authorities to expedite its restoration, improve landscaping and upgrade public amenities.

During a visit to the under-construction Para Office in Bhuwana, the deputy commissioner expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work and directed the building department to accelerate construction to complete the project as soon as possible.

She also reviewed arrangements at a monsoon emergency relief camp established by the Municipal Committee on Main Jhang Road and instructed officials to keep the facility fully operational throughout the rainy season, with staff and machinery on standby to respond promptly to emergencies.

At the Green Bus terminal at Bhuwana’s Lorry Adda, the DC inspected passenger facilities and sought feedback from commuters on the provincial public transport service launched by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. According to officials, the passengers welcomed the service and described it as a significant improvement in public transport.

The visit concluded with an inspection of ongoing urban beautification projects, where the deputy commissioner directed municipal and district council officials to further improve civic infrastructure and public spaces across the tehsil.

Sargodha: Deputy Commissioner Hussain Ahmad Raza Chaudhry paid a surprise visit to Government Mola Bakhsh Hospital to review medical facilities, cleanliness and the availability of medicines.

During the visit here on Tuesday, he inspected the emergency ward, nursery and other sections, met patients and their attendants, and inquired about treatment, medicine availability and the conduct of doctors and paramedical staff. He also checked the hospital’s medical store and reviewed its medicine stock and records.

The deputy commissioner directed the hospital administration to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medicines and the provision of all healthcare facilities announced by the Punjab government.

Peshawar: A meeting of Legislative Committee chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Law, Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs Aftab Alam here Tuesday reviewed proposed amendments to various legal drafts, including KP Local Government Amendment Bill and KP Stamp Amendment Bill.

The meeting was attended by Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary Law Department, Secretary Local Government and Rural Development Department, officials of revenue, law departments.

The meeting was informed that following the bifurcation of existing territories and alterations in administrative boundaries, it had become imperative to incorporate the newly created districts into the local government framework.

The proposed amendment to KP Local Government Act, 2013 seeks to amend the Ninth Schedule to structurally accommodate the altered boundaries of the parent districts. The amendment will facilitate the delimitation of the revised boundaries without increasing the aggregate ceiling of councils.

The proposed legislation also seeks to make necessary administrative adjustments in the number of Village Councils and Neighborhood Councils in Hangu and Karak districts thereby aligning the local government system with the existing administrative boundaries and ground realities.

The committee also reviewed the proposed amendments to KP Stamp Amendment Bill. The meeting was informed that Stamp Act, 1899 does not provide a separate legal framework for the assignment of rights, title or interest in immovable property resulting in the non-uniform regulation of such transactions under the existing stamp-duty regime.

Under the proposed amendment, a new Article 11-AA would be inserted in Schedule-I to introduce an ‘Assignable Deed’ as a distinct class of instrument and prescribe the applicable stamp duty. The proposed amendment aims to provide legal certainty in transactions involving the assignment of rights, title or interest in immovable property, promote the formal documentation of such transactions and strengthen compliance with stamp laws.

The committee reviewed various aspects of the proposed amendments to both legal drafts and received briefings from the relevant departments.