Category: District

Lodhran: Deputy Commissioner Dr. Lubna Nazir inspected the ongoing zero-waste cleanliness operation, initiated under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's Suthra Punjab vision.

The operation, being conducted through a public-private partnership, aimed to collect and dispose of 9,636 tons of waste from the district. Addressing the media during her visit, Dr. Lubna Nazir stated that 3,500 tons of waste have already been collected so far. The inspection included a detailed review of waste collection and disposal mechanism as well as a visit to the dumping site near the railway station, where she assessed the weighing and dumping processes.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Syed Waseem Hassan, Manager Multan Waste Management Company Lodhran Operations Habibullah, and other senior officials were present.

The DC also visited the office of the private contractor company involved in the operation, where she distributed uniforms to sanitation workers. She emphasized that incorporating modern machinery and private-sector expertise has significantly enhanced the efficiency and organization of the cleanliness initiative.

Dr. Nazir directed Manager Lodhran Operations for Multan Waste Management Company, to ensure 100 percent implementation of the waste management plan. She announced that daily door-to-door cleanliness operation would be conducted in urban areas, while rural areas would follow a schedule with alternate-day cleanups.

To ensure the success of this massive operation, a workforce of 550 personnel and 127 machines has been deployed. Dr. Nazir further revealed plans to procure additional machinery and recruit more personnel to make the operation even more effective.

Sargodha: The Pakistan Peoples Party will commemorate the 97th birth anniversary of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with great zeal and respect across the country.

Various events will be held nationwide to honour the founder of the PPP and his unparalleled contributions to the country's democracy and development. He served as the fourth president of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973 and later as the ninth prime minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977. Talking to reporter, PPP leader Mateen Ahmed Qureshi said that the main event would take place on January 5 at Chak No. 72, SB Moazzamabad Road, in which former Federal Minister of State Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi would participate as the chief guest. Ceremonies featuring cake-cutting and tributes to Bhutto's legacy would be organized across all tehsils of the district. Former State Minister Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for his immense sacrifices for the nation's progress, stability, and democratic continuity. "Today's democracy in Pakistan owes its roots to the relentless efforts of the PPP's founder," he added.

Bahawalpur: A student of Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) was honoured with "Youth Icon Award" on her role in efforts for youth empowerment.

According to an official press release, Nimra Mahmood, a student of Islamia University Bahawalpur, has been awarded Youth Icon Award. The award was given away to her by the Youth Parliament Summitt.

Nimra was assigned the task by the varisty to work for the IUB Character Building Society. She as President, IUB Character Building Society, worked on project 'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. Adnan Bukhari, Adviser to IUB Character Building Society. appreciated Nimra for playing a pivotal role in running a campaign for youth empowerment.

Kohat: Halal Food Safety Authority Kohat team, led by Deputy Director Kamran Khan Yousafzai, has intensified operations in order to ensure the provision of safe and quality food to the public.

According to sources, the food safety team conducted a surprise inspection of various food delivery vehicles at the Kohat Tunnel Check Post on Thursday, scrutinizing their contents and enforcing strict quality control measures.

As a result of the inspection, a fine was imposed on a vehicle found to be delivering substandard and unhealthy food items.

Abbottabad: The management of Ayub Teaching Hospital (ATH) Saturday has strongly denied the baseless propaganda circulating on social media regarding its MRI machine. Terming the allegations as unfounded and malicious, the hospital administration clarified the situation and urged the public to rely on verified information.

According to ATH officials, the MRI machine had become non-functional before the COVID-19 pandemic, contradicting claims that it broke down during the pandemic. Addressing rumors of theft, the management highlighted the absurdity of the claim, emphasizing that the machine weighs approximately 5,500 kilograms (5.5 tons), making theft practically impossible. They also explained that dismantling such a machine would require at least 15 days, making the allegations 'utterly ridiculous and laughable.'

The hospital clarified that the MRI machine's magnet malfunctioned five years ago, with its replacement cost estimated at 1 million USD. In 2018, the then-management opted for a manufacturer's upgrade policy at a cost of 1.3 million USD, adhering to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (KPRA) rules. This decision resulted in the procurement of a modern machine with updated software, hardware, and technology.

The upgraded MRI machine comes with a 3-year warranty for the entire system and a 5-year warranty for the magnet. Unlike its predecessor, which consumed helium worth 22 million PKR annually, the new machine operates without helium, reducing operational costs to zero. The total upgrade cost was 230 million PKR, significantly less than the market price of a new machine of the same model, which ranges between 700 to 800 million PKR.

'It is beyond comprehension where any loss to the institution occurred in this process. These allegations appear to be an attempt by certain elements to tarnish the hospital's reputation,' stated the ATH management.

The administration also clarified that no inquiry into the matter has been completed yet, and propagating false claims before any official report is issued is uncalled for.

The hospital has appealed to the public to ignore such baseless rumors and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and the provision of improved healthcare services. 'We urge critics to substantiate their claims with facts and ensure impartial discussions on public forums,' the statement added.

The ATH management assured that it remains dedicated to enhancing healthcare facilities and making decisions in the best interests of the public and the institution.

Faisalabad: City Police Officer (CPO) Kamran Adil suspended two police officers including the Station House Officer (SHO) City Tandlianwala police on charges of poor performance and abuse of powers.

A police spokesman said here on Saturday that the CPO received complaints against Inspector Basharat Ali, SHO City Tandlianwala, and Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Nasir Hussain that they were abusing their powers and defaming the police department whereas during inspection, their performance was also found very poor.

Taking notice, the CPO immediately suspended both police officers including Inspector Basharat Ali and ASI Nasir Hussain and directed them to report to the police lines while a departmental action against them is under progress, he added.