فیچرڈ

Lahore: The Punjab government has approved comprehensive martyr compensation packages for the families of 14 police personnel who lost their lives while performing their duties, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the families of fallen law enforcement officials. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Minister for Law Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan at the Home Department. The meeting was attended by Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi, Additional Inspector General Imran Arshad, Additional Secretary (Police) Kanwar Anwar Ali Khan, DIG Welfare Mehboob Rashid and other senior officials. The minister directed the relevant authorities to ensure that all financial dues, housing benefits and other entitlements are provided to the families of the martyrs without delay. Approval was granted under three different martyr packages based on the circumstances of service and sacrifice. Package-1 was sanctioned for police personnel martyred in encounters with terrorists in Bhakkar and Layyah, including Constables Muhammad Shehbaz, Muhammad Faheem and Muhammad Asad Naseer. Under this package, the families of martyred constables will receive Rs10 million, a five-marla house and other benefits. Package-2 was approved for police officials who embraced martyrdom during duty in Bahawalnagar, Sargodha, Rajanpur, Faisalabad and Gujrat. The beneficiaries include Sub-Inspectors Shahid Parvez and Amir Rizwan, Constables Muhammad Nasir and Mirza Umar Aftab Baig, and Driver Constable Iftikhar Ahmed. Under this package, the families of martyred constables will receive Rs4 million, a five-marla house and additional benefits, while the families of martyred Assistant Sub-Inspectors will receive Rs5 million, a seven-marla house and other incentives. Package-3 was approved for police personnel martyred while on duty in Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Sahiwal. The approved beneficiaries include Sub-Inspector Muhammad Zaman Zia, Assistant Sub-Inspector Muhammad Bashir, Constables Muhammad Bismillah, Muhammad Ramzan, Tahir-ul-Zaman Siddiqui and Muhammad Waris. Under this package, the families of martyred constables will receive Rs3.5 million and other benefits, while the families of martyred Assistant Sub-Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors will receive Rs4 million along with additional concessions. Addressing the meeting, Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan said the welfare and protection of the families of martyrs remains one of the Punjab government’s highest priorities. He pledged that no martyr’s family would be deprived of its rightful benefits, describing the fallen officers as the pride of the nation and the country’s true heroes who laid down their lives in the line of duty. The minister also vowed that terrorists responsible for killing police personnel would be brought to justice in accordance with the law. The meeting concluded with prayers for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs.

ISLAMABAD: Senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has expressed confidence that the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are firmly backing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying recent public gatherings reflect growing support for the party ahead of the August 2 elections. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Aurangzeb said the people of Mirpur had demonstrated their trust in the PML-N during the visit of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on July 24. She described the enthusiastic public response as a clear indication of the party’s popularity in the region. She further stated that voters would reinforce this support through the ballot box by electing PML-N candidates under the party’s election symbol, the lion. According to Aurangzeb, the people believe that the progress and prosperity of Azad Jammu and Kashmir are closely tied to the PML-N’s development agenda. Referring to earlier political activity, she said Muzaffarabad had already conveyed its support for the party on July 21. Aurangzeb added that the people of Kashmir would make their final decision on polling day, August 2, by voting in favour of the PML-N.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday unveiled an enhanced  preparedness strategy, with senior ministers stressing that effective water regulation, stronger disaster management and coordinated planning are essential to reducing the impact of climate-related emergencies. The announcement came as authorities warned of another intense spell of monsoon rains expected to begin on July 29. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 107 people have lost their lives and 297 others have been injured since the current monsoon season started on June 26. Addressing a joint media briefing at the NDMA headquarters, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik said Pakistan must move beyond the traditional approach of simply storing water and instead adopt a comprehensive system that regulates water supplies throughout the year. He noted that the government is implementing region-specific disaster management plans, recognising that the challenges faced by urban centres, agricultural areas and northern regions require different responses. Malik emphasised that efficient water management is vital for ensuring food security and sustaining agricultural production. He said dams should be used not only for storage but also for regulating water availability during critical farming seasons. He also called for improvements in water monitoring systems, infrastructure and building regulations, adding that close coordination with provincial governments would help minimise losses during natural disasters. National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted the country’s growing need for additional water storage to address both floods and future shortages. He said major infrastructure projects, including the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Dasu project and Karachi’s K-IV water supply scheme, would significantly strengthen Pakistan’s water resources once completed. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb described climate change and rapid population growth as two of the country’s most pressing long-term challenges. He said Pakistan is now in a stronger financial position to respond to emergencies than it was during the devastating floods of 2022 and credited the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) for improving forecasting and disaster preparedness through advanced monitoring systems. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said preparations for the monsoon season had begun months in advance under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He praised the NEOC’s early warning capabilities for helping reduce casualties and property damage by providing timely alerts through the media and the NDMA mobile application. Tarar also urged citizens to remain vigilant and follow official advisories as heavy rainfall continues across the country. Meanwhile, the flood situation remains concerning in several regions. Although water levels in the Chenab River have shown signs of improvement, low-level flooding continues along parts of the Indus River. Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have recorded the highest number of casualties, with many deaths resulting from collapsing houses, electrocution and lightning strikes. Gilgit-Baltistan remains one of the hardest-hit areas, where flash floods, landslides and mudflows have caused widespread destruction. Disaster management authorities reported damage to 184 houses, the destruction of nine bridges and nearly eight kilometres of roads, while dozens of disaster incidents have been recorded across the region. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that the approaching weather system could trigger widespread heavy rainfall, urban flooding, flash floods and rising river levels in Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Authorities say emergency response teams have been placed on alert as efforts continue to protect lives, infrastructure and communities during the ongoing monsoon season.

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has firmly rejected any proposal to divide Sindh into administrative units, with Sindh government spokesperson Saadia Javed declaring that the province remains a “red line” for the party. Speaking to the media on Monday, Javed said the PPP has never supported the division of Sindh and has no intention of doing so in the future. She argued that Pakistan’s current economic challenges and rising inflation make the creation of additional administrative units impractical, questioning how the government would finance such a move. Criticising the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), she described the demand for new administrative units as a political stunt. Javed questioned the performance of senior MQM leaders, including Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, asking what concrete steps they had taken to address the concerns of their voters or improve education and public services. She reiterated that Karachi is the capital of Sindh and stressed that any attempt to divide the province is unacceptable to the PPP. According to Javed, while some people in Punjab may favour the creation of additional administrative units, the people of Sindh do not share that view. Addressing Karachi’s civic challenges, she acknowledged that infrastructure development is underway but admitted that progress has not been as fast as residents expect. Referring to ongoing construction on University Road, she recognised the inconvenience faced by commuters and residents. She also shared her own experience, saying that despite living in Defence for four decades, her home still does not receive a regular water supply. Javed said the provincial government is working to resolve Karachi’s longstanding issues and insisted that all of the city’s problems should not be blamed solely on the current administration. She expressed confidence that visible improvements in Karachi would emerge by the end of the year. On the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit project, the spokesperson said work is progressing at a rapid pace, adding that the deadline for completing the mixed-lane track has been set for July 31.

MULTAN: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has issued a notice to a Lahore resident, directing him to appear before its Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Multan in connection with an inquiry into alleged social media activity. According to an official notice issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), Syed Imran Shafqat has been asked to appear before investigators as part of Enquiry No. ENQ-CCRC-MTN-1549/26, registered on July 24, 2026. The notice states that the inquiry concerns allegations that the individual shared false, fabricated, malicious, and baseless content targeting government institutions and public dignitaries through social media platforms. Investigators have instructed him to present himself at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Multan along with his original Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to record his statement. The agency warned that failure to appear could result in the inquiry proceeding on the basis that no defence or explanation was offered by the recipient of the notice. The notice was issued by Sub-Inspector Tahir Mehmood of the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Multan, as part of the agency’s ongoing investigations into alleged cybercrime-related offences. It is important to note that the issuance of a notice for appearance forms part of an inquiry process and does not, by itself, establish guilt or liability.

LAHORE: A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker has submitted an adjournment motion in the Punjab Assembly, calling for a comprehensive investigation into alleged financial and administrative irregularities surrounding the Punjab University Town-III housing scheme. According to the motion submitted by MPA Raja Shaukat Aziz, the housing project was allegedly launched in 2017 by a Punjab University professor without fulfilling the required legal and regulatory formalities. It further claims that the professor entered into a development agreement with his own brother, who was appointed as the project’s developer despite the alleged absence of due legal procedures. The motion alleges that payments amounting to Rs2.70 billion were made to the developer. However, despite the release of funds, no significant development work was carried out at the project site, and plot holders have yet to receive possession of their plots. The document states that nearly 900 affected families have been waiting for justice for the past nine years, claiming they have suffered financial losses and uncertainty due to the stalled housing scheme. It further alleges that, despite repeated complaints, no effective legal action has been taken against those purportedly responsible. Seeking legislative intervention, Raja Shaukat Aziz has urged the Punjab Assembly to establish a special committee to investigate the Town-III project, determine responsibility for the alleged irregularities, and ensure appropriate legal action against those found accountable. The Punjab University Town-III housing scheme has previously remained under public and academic scrutiny over allegations of administrative and financial mismanagement. The latest move is expected to renew debate over accountability and transparency in public housing projects.