فیچرڈ

PESHAWAR: A seven-day youth festival bringing together young people from different parts of Pakistan, including a strong participation of women, was held at TMUC Peshawar with activities focused on skills development, entrepreneurship, technology and creative expression. FutureVerse 2026 was organised by the Directorate of Youth Affairs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in collaboration with The Order of Pen (TOOP). Over the course of seven days, the festival brought together participants from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the newly merged districts, as well as other parts of the country. The seven-day programme featured training sessions, competitions, workshops, exhibitions and interactive activities organised under five themes — FounderVerse, TechVerse, MindVerse, JusticeVerse and StyleVerse. Participants explored entrepreneurship, design thinking, robotics, personality development, fashion, art and other emerging fields. Industry professionals and mentors also engaged with participants during different sessions. A significant feature of the seven-day event was the participation of women from different backgrounds and regions. They took part in training sessions, competitions, creative activities and discussions covering technology, entrepreneurship, leadership and other emerging areas. Director Youth Affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abbas Khan Afridi said the participation of young people from different parts of the country, particularly women, reflected the need for broader access to learning and professional opportunities.   “FutureVerse has provided young people with a space to learn, exchange ideas and explore their potential over seven days. The participation of women and young people from different regions is particularly encouraging. We want to create more opportunities where they can gain practical skills, connect with mentors and pursue their ambitions,” he said. Mr Afridi said the Directorate would continue to support initiatives that provide young people with access to skills, mentorship and practical exposure. The festival also allowed participants to compete, collaborate and showcase their work while interacting with peers from different educational, social and regional backgrounds. The organisers said the inclusion of participants from the newly merged districts and other parts of Pakistan was intended to widen access to youth-oriented programmes and encourage greater interaction among young people from diverse communities.

ISLAMABAD: A distinguished gathering of eminent scientists, academicians, former public sector officials, engineers, and professionals attended the launch ceremony of My Struggles; Journey of a Technologist, authored by renowned scientist and technologist Dr. Farid A. Malik, held at the Islamabad Club on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by former officers of the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), a former Director General of NUST, senior representatives from academia and industry, including the Director of the Thar Coal Project, and several distinguished personalities from Islamabad. Speaking on the occasion, participants paid rich tribute to Dr. Farid A. Malik’s lifelong contributions to science, engineering, higher education, and national development. They described the book as an inspiring account of perseverance, professional excellence, and unwavering commitment to Pakistan’s scientific and technological progress. The speakers shared personal experiences and memories of working with Dr. Malik, highlighting his visionary leadership, dedication to mentoring young professionals, and his relentless pursuit of technological advancement. They noted that his remarkable journey serves as a source of inspiration for students, researchers, engineers, and policymakers alike.   Addressing the audience, Dr. Farid A. Malik presented a brief overview of his life’s journey, reflecting on the challenges, opportunities, and milestones that shaped his career as a technologist, researcher, educator, and public servant. “Success is not achieved without struggle. Every challenge presents an opportunity to learn, innovate, and contribute towards national development,” Dr. Malik remarked while sharing the key message of his book. He encouraged young professionals to remain committed to excellence, embrace innovation, and serve the country with integrity, determination, and dedication. The participants appreciated the publication as a valuable addition to Pakistan’s scientific literature, observing that it documents not only the personal journey of an accomplished technologist but also the evolution of science, engineering, and technology in the country over several decades. The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session followed by a book-signing ceremony, where attendees congratulated Dr. Malik on documenting his inspiring life journey and wished him continued success in promoting science and technology in Pakistan.

LAHORE: Government College University (GCU) Lahore has become fully paperless after shifting its administrative operations to a cloud-based digital system, marking a major step towards modern and technology-driven governance. The transformation has been achieved through the successful implementation of the Punjab Information Technology Board’s (PITB) e-Filing and Office Automation System. The platform has been provided to the university free of cost on the special directives of the Punjab government. Under the new digital framework, administrative activities across all university departments will now be managed online through a single platform. Faculty and staff can submit leave applications, travel requests and annual performance reports, while official orders and administrative correspondence will also be processed digitally. The system will also replace conventional paperwork for departmental digital notes, approval of visiting faculty payments, purchase requests and meeting agendas. As a result, the traditional practice of physically moving files from one office to another will be eliminated. Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Umar Chaudhry described the move as an important milestone in the university’s digital transformation. He said paperless administration was not merely an environmental initiative but represented a structural shift towards greater transparency, efficiency and accountability. He added that eliminating administrative delays and manual file tracking would allow faculty members and heads of departments to devote more time and attention to teaching and research. He said the initiative could position GCU as a leading example of digital transformation among public-sector universities in Punjab. According to a university spokesperson, the paperless system is part of a broader digitalisation programme launched under the vice chancellor’s leadership during the previous academic year. The university had already introduced online approval mechanisms for student society events and digital billing for payments to visiting faculty. GCU is also preparing to launch a comprehensive e-Services Portal aimed at improving campus facilities. The upcoming platform will enable staff to submit maintenance requests and seek other support services digitally, helping resolve infrastructure-related issues more efficiently without disrupting academic activities. The university’s digital transformation is also extending beyond the campus. Work is underway to digitise the records of its alumni, further expanding the institution’s efforts to establish a modern, technology-based administrative system.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has unanimously rejected any reported move to separate Haripur and Abbottabad from the province and place them under the administrative control of Islamabad, warning that any such attempt would undermine provincial autonomy and constitutional rights. The resolution was adopted during Friday’s session after Provincial Minister Akbar Ayub presented a strongly worded motion opposing any proposal by the federal government to alter the status of K-P districts, particularly Haripur and Abbottabad. The House declared that all districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are an integral part of the province and cannot be separated under any circumstances. It maintained that changing provincial boundaries for administrative, political or economic purposes, or to gain control over natural resources, would violate the constitutional rights of the province and its people. The resolution specifically highlighted K-P’s water resources, hydropower facilities, mineral wealth, forests and other natural assets, stating that these resources belong constitutionally to the province and its people. Any attempt, directly or indirectly, to take control of these resources was described as unacceptable. The provincial legislature called on the federal government to immediately drop any proposal concerning the separation of the districts and respect the existing constitutional, geographical and administrative status of K-P. The House also urged political parties, lawmakers, constitutional bodies, lawyers, civil society, young people and the media to maintain a united position in protecting the province’s territorial integrity, autonomy and public interests. During the same session, PPP lawmaker Mehr Sultana raised concerns over the lack of effective rules requiring doctors to prescribe medicines using generic names rather than specific brands. She also called for computerized prescriptions to become mandatory, pointing out that unclear handwritten prescriptions can create difficulties for patients and increase the risk of errors. She urged the provincial government to introduce legislation or regulations addressing both issues, with the aim of improving prescription practices and protecting patients.

MUZAFFARABAD: With the final phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections just days away, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has stepped up its campaign in Rawalakot Division, expressing confidence that it can secure a two-thirds majority in the 45-member Legislative Assembly. The party held a major election rally in Haveli on Friday as campaigning intensified ahead of the August 10 polling in Bagh and Haveli. The final phase will conclude the three-stage electoral process and determine the composition of the next AJK government. Addressing supporters, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah claimed that the results of the first two phases reflected strong public support for the PML-N. He said the party expected voters in Haveli and the three constituencies of Bagh to further strengthen its position and help it achieve the numbers required for a two-thirds majority. Sanaullah pledged that a PML-N-led government would implement its election promises and accelerate development projects in collaboration with the federal government. Referring to commitments made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during the campaign, he said development initiatives similar to those undertaken in Punjab would be introduced in AJK. He also said PML-N President Nawaz Sharif would personally monitor major development projects in the region. Rejecting opposition allegations of electoral manipulation, Sanaullah described the first two phases as peaceful and transparent, dismissing claims of rigging as unfounded. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam also addressed the rally, assuring voters that a future PML-N government would focus on public welfare, infrastructure and improved services. He said road connectivity and other development projects in areas close to the Line of Control would be given special priority, with the government seeking to improve infrastructure and public facilities across the region. The August 10 vote in Bagh and Haveli is expected to play a crucial role in determining whether the PML-N can translate its campaign momentum into a two-thirds majority and take the lead in forming the next AJK government.

  In a deeply distressing incident that has sent shockwaves through the small community of Khanpur, located within the Shikarpur district, at least ten individuals have fallen severely ill after reportedly consuming contaminated or unwholesome food. The situation, which unfolded rapidly over the past 24 hours, has tragically resulted in the deaths of three young children, while seven other victims, including women and other minors, remain under intensive medical care. According to official statements released by local police authorities, the harrowing sequence of events began when a group of families, gathered for what is believed to be a communal meal or a private social event, started exhibiting acute symptoms of foodborne illness. The symptoms, described by medical staff as severe and aggressive, included persistent vomiting, acute diarrhea, high-grade fevers, and in some cases, neurological distress such as disorientation and muscle weakness. The rapid onset of these symptoms alarmed family members, who immediately rushed the afflicted individuals to the nearest government-run healthcare facility and private clinics in the vicinity. Police officials, who have been deployed to the scene to maintain order and initiate a formal investigation, confirmed the grim casualty count. In a somber press briefing, a senior police officer stated that three children, all under the age of ten, succumbed to the poisoning shortly after their arrival at the hospital. Despite the frantic efforts of the attending physicians, who administered emergency first aid, intravenous fluids, and antitoxins, the children could not be revived. The deaths have plunged the already impoverished area into a state of profound grief and anger, with residents demanding immediate answers and accountability. The seven surviving victims are currently undergoing treatment in the hospital’s emergency and isolation wards. Among them are several women and more young children, indicating that the affected group was largely composed of families. Medical professionals have described the condition of at least two of the survivors as “critical but stable,” as they continue to battle severe dehydration and toxic shock. The hospital administration has mobilized additional staff and resources to manage the sudden influx of patients, while also sending samples of the victims’ stomach contents and blood to a forensic laboratory in the provincial capital for toxicological analysis. Preliminary medical reports suggest that the contamination could be due to the presence of highly toxic pesticides or spoiled meat, though this has yet to be scientifically verified. In response to the escalating crisis, the district administration has convened an emergency meeting to coordinate relief and investigative efforts. The police have cordoned off the location where the meal was prepared and served, seizing leftover food samples, cooking utensils, and water sources for thorough forensic examination. “We are treating this case with the utmost seriousness,” a police spokesperson emphasized. “We are recording the statements of the survivors, the family members, and the food handlers involved. Our primary objective is to determine whether this was a case of gross criminal negligence by a food supplier, accidental cross-contamination, or, in a more sinister scenario, deliberate sabotage.” The local community, already grappling with poverty and limited access to clean drinking water and quality healthcare, is now reeling from the tragedy. Small gatherings of grieving relatives and concerned neighbors have formed outside the hospital, many expressing outrage over the recurring incidents of food adulteration and poor hygiene standards in the region. Activists have called for a stringent crackdown on unlicensed food vendors and caterers, who often operate without basic health safety certifications. They argue that such tragedies are preventable if local authorities enforce existing food safety laws and conduct routine inspections of commercial kitchens and street food stalls. As the investigation continues, the police have assured the public that they will leave no stone unturned. They have promised to bring those responsible to justice, whether they are individual cooks, wholesale suppliers, or negligent shopkeepers. Meanwhile, the district health officer has issued a public advisory warning residents to be extremely cautious about the source and freshness of their food, particularly during the hot and humid season when perishable items spoil rapidly. This heartbreaking incident in Khanpur serves as a grim reminder of the dire consequences of food insecurity and the critical need for robust public health infrastructure. As the families of the deceased prepare for burial according to Islamic rites, the entire region mourns a loss that could have been avoided. The coming days will be crucial as forensic results are expected to shed light on the exact nature of the poison, potentially paving the way for legal action and, hopefully, preventing future calamities. The police have confirmed that a detailed case report will be filed, and all findings will be shared with the public in the interest of transparency and justice.