Category: District

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.

Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Tuesday directed the authorities to accelerate work on major hydropower and water resource projects, emphasizing timely completion to strengthen irrigation, energy production and water supply in the province.

Chairing a high-level review meeting at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, the chief minister assessed progress on the Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) Lift Canal, Mohmand Dam, New Munda Headworks and Dasu Hydropower Project. Senior federal and provincial officials, including WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Saeed, attended the meeting.

Afridi instructed the relevant departments to expedite land acquisition for the CRBC Lift Canal Project and ensure adequate security for project staff. He said the scheme would significantly expand cultivable land and enhance agricultural productivity, adding that the provincial government would continue to provide its share of funding on a priority basis.

The meeting was informed that construction on the CRBC Lift Canal was progressing under multiple work packages, while the Mohmand Dam Project has achieved substantial progress and was expected to provide irrigation, hydropower generation and a reliable supply of drinking water upon completion.

The chief minister also reviewed the progress of the Dasu Hydropower Project and New Munda Headworks, directing all concerned agencies to improve coordination and promptly resolve implementation issues. He stressed that these strategic projects would contribute to national energy security, sustainable water management and long-term economic development.

United nations: Haiti, the strife-torn Caribbean island nation, needs “unity of purpose” to move forward, Pakistan told the UN Security Council.

“Long-term stability of Haiti, requires a holistic and responsive Haitian-led and owned process, underpinned by dialogue and cooperation, backed by well-coordinated and executed international and regional support,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the 15-member Council.

He was speaking in the Council’s discussion on how worsening violence is colliding with a humanitarian crisis, as well as plans to restore security and hold election in Haiti, which is awash in gang violence, scarred by past foreign interventions and long paralyzed politically.

Briefing the Security Council, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), said, ‘[Haiti’s] transition stands at a critical moment.

‘Success depends on security, political engagement, and humanitarian action reinforcing each other,’ Massieu said.

But security operations alone will not produce lasting peace, he stressed. The international community’s engagement in Haiti is longstanding. From 2004 to 2017, the UN deployed its Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which was succeeded by an Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).

However, the country continued to be plagued by violence. In October 2023, the Council authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Support – largely compose of Kenyan troops – which officially transitioned to a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) through the adoption of Council resolution 2793 (2025) last September.

In his remarks, the Pakistan envoy underscored the imperative need for political stability.

“We welcome the Haitian authorities’ focus on improving the security situation, with a view to holding of elections; We hope that all political actors will work in unison, to ensure the organization of elections in an agreed time frame.”

Ambassador Asim Ahmad hoped that the arrangements put in place by Security Council resolution 2793, including the GSF supported by UNSOH will help create necessary space for the Haitian Security institutions, more importantly the National Police, to take over the long-term security responsibilities in the country.

Noting that the humanitarian situation remains dire with children and women facing the brunt, he said association of children with gangs is a central challenge, hoping that the Haitian authorities would continue to take lead in formulating a strategy best suited to the country’s conditions.

The Pakistani envoy also called for effective regional and international efforts to implement 2653 Sanctions regime would curb the illicit arms flow into the country and disrupt the ability of gangs to perpetrate violence.