Deputy Interior Minister Leads Illegal Hotel Inspections in Krabi

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah contacted the provincial Health Secretary and directed him to conduct a comprehensive review of security and safety arrangements at hospitals across the province. During the discussion, it was also decided to establish monitoring teams to inspect and assess safety measures at hospitals. The teams will be tasked with checking whether hospitals are adequately prepared to deal with emergencies and whether the required safety protocols are being properly implemented. According to sources in Peshawar, the monitoring teams will include officials from several departments, including Civil Defence, the Health Department, Rescue services, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), and other relevant departments. The involvement of multiple departments is aimed at ensuring a coordinated assessment of hospital safety arrangements. Sources said the monitoring teams will particularly examine fire safety arrangements and other precautionary measures at hospitals. The teams will assess whether hospitals have adequate arrangements to prevent and respond to fire incidents and other emergencies. The move comes as the provincial government focuses on strengthening safety standards in healthcare facilities and ensuring that hospitals are properly equipped to deal with any untoward incident. The Health Department has also called a meeting to discuss safety arrangements at hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to sources, the meeting will review the preparations in place to deal with any untoward incident or emergency situation at healthcare facilities. Officials will also examine existing safety procedures and identify areas where improvements may be required. The meeting is expected to focus on ensuring that hospitals follow appropriate safety protocols and that relevant departments are prepared to respond quickly in case of an emergency. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Secretary Fayyaz Ali Shah said that standard operating procedures (SOPs) would be developed for all hospitals across the province. He stressed the importance of ensuring proper safety arrangements at healthcare facilities and said that negligence regarding fire safety measures would not be tolerated. The Health Secretary further made it clear that hospital administrations would be expected to comply with the safety requirements and take all necessary precautions to protect patients, attendants, doctors, nurses and other hospital staff. The provincial government’s decision to establish monitoring teams is expected to provide a mechanism for regularly assessing safety arrangements and identifying shortcomings at hospitals. The teams will inspect facilities and report on the condition of fire safety systems and other emergency preparedness measures. The inclusion of Civil Defence, Rescue, PDMA and other departments in the monitoring process is also intended to improve coordination between institutions responsible for emergency response and disaster management. The government has directed the Health Department to ensure that safety standards are implemented effectively across all hospitals in the province. The development of province-wide SOPs is expected to provide hospitals with clear guidelines regarding fire prevention, emergency preparedness and response procedures. Officials have reiterated that no negligence will be tolerated when it comes to fire safety arrangements in hospitals. The upcoming inspections and departmental meeting will help determine whether existing measures are sufficient and what additional steps may be required to improve safety. The initiative reflects the provincial government’s efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness and ensure safer healthcare facilities throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A renewed debate over the creation of new provinces in Pakistan has gathered political momentum after two major coalition partners publicly endorsed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s proposal to restructure the country’s administrative system. However, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has yet to officially comment, fueling speculation over its stance on the sensitive issue. The discussion began after Naqvi argued that Pakistan’s existing administrative framework had become ineffective and called for a national consensus on establishing smaller provinces to improve governance and public service delivery. His remarks quickly drew support from coalition allies, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP). Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal described the proposal as an urgent national necessity rather than a political choice, stressing that decentralizing administrative powers was essential for effective governance. The MQM-P has long advocated the creation of an additional province in Sindh, making the party one of the strongest supporters of the initiative. Privatization Minister Abdul Aleem Khan of the IPP also endorsed the proposal, suggesting that each of Pakistan’s four existing provinces could eventually be divided into three administrative regions. He argued that smaller provinces would bring government closer to the people and reduce the hardships faced by citizens traveling long distances to provincial capitals. Despite growing support from coalition partners, the proposal faces significant constitutional and political challenges. Any change to provincial boundaries requires a two-thirds majority in the affected provincial assembly, making consensus difficult to achieve. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which governs Sindh and is also part of the federal coalition, has expressed strong reservations, warning that such a move could create more problems than solutions. Opposition leaders have also criticized the proposal, arguing that the government lacks the political mandate for such a major constitutional change. They insist that strengthening democratic institutions and improving governance should take priority over redrawing provincial boundaries. Political analysts have offered differing views on the initiative. Some believe creating new provinces could deepen ethnic and regional divisions, while others see the debate as an attempt to shift public attention away from pressing national issues, including recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and ongoing security challenges in Balochistan. Many experts argue that empowering local governments under the 18th Constitutional Amendment would be a more practical and effective way to improve governance without altering provincial boundaries. Mustafa Kamal also acknowledged that stronger local governments are essential regardless of whether new provinces are eventually created. With the PML-N maintaining silence and key coalition partners taking opposing positions, the proposal has opened a fresh political debate that is likely to remain at the center of Pakistan’s national discourse in the coming months.

  ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is exploring the possibility of helping revive stalled negotiations between the United States and Iran in an effort to reduce tensions and move toward ending the conflict that has continued for nearly five months. According to informed Pakistani sources, the latest diplomatic initiative follows encouragement from China, which has expressed support for Islamabad’s mediation efforts in the region. The renewed diplomatic discussions reportedly gained momentum during the recent visit of Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, to Islamabad. It was his second visit to Pakistan within ten days, highlighting the growing importance of diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring countries amid the ongoing regional crisis. During his visit, Momeni held meetings with senior Pakistani officials, including government leaders and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. While official statements confirmed the meetings, details of the discussions were not made public. However, sources familiar with the matter indicated that the possibility of restarting indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran was among the issues discussed. Despite these efforts, officials acknowledged that significant challenges remain before meaningful dialogue can resume. Deep mistrust between the United States and Iran, combined with recent military escalations across the Middle East, continues to complicate prospects for renewed negotiations. Pakistan’s role as a potential mediator has become increasingly delicate due to rapidly evolving regional developments. Earlier this week, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, one of Pakistan’s closest regional allies. Islamabad has strongly condemned the recent Houthi attacks, reaffirming its support for Saudi Arabia, with which it signed a mutual defence treaty last year. According to the sources, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the evolving Middle East situation with Chinese officials during his recent visit to Beijing. Although Pakistani authorities have not publicly commented on the discussions, China has confirmed its support for mediation efforts led by Pakistan and other regional partners. In an official statement, China’s Foreign Ministry said Beijing supports diplomatic initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf region. The ministry also reaffirmed China’s commitment to playing an active role in encouraging dialogue and reducing tensions across the Middle East. China remains Iran’s largest trading partner and the primary buyer of Iranian crude oil despite international sanctions. Over the years, Beijing has also expanded cooperation with Tehran in areas such as technology, satellite navigation systems, and dual-use industrial components, although it has not publicly provided direct military assistance during the current conflict. Pakistan’s latest diplomatic initiative follows earlier mediation efforts undertaken jointly with Qatar. In June, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding designed to create a 60-day framework for negotiations aimed at reaching a long-term agreement. However, indirect talks failed to produce meaningful progress, with both sides accusing each other of violating the understanding, ultimately leading to renewed hostilities. The regional security situation has deteriorated further after the Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers as part of their naval blockade. The development has raised concerns over global energy supplies and increased fears that another major shipping route could be disrupted alongside the already vulnerable Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani officials believe that ending attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries is now essential before any negotiations between the United States and Iran can resume. According to one official, Islamabad has already conveyed this position to Iranian authorities, emphasizing that regional stability will be a necessary first step toward successful diplomatic engagement. As tensions continue to rise, Pakistan, supported by China, appears determined to pursue dialogue as a means of preventing further escalation and encouraging a peaceful resolution to one of the Middle East’s most pressing conflicts.