National

  LAHORE: The Executive Development Institute (EDI) of the National School of Public Policy (NSPP), Lahore, successfully conducted the fifth course of its three-day Directors’ Training Program (DTP) for State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) from August 19 to 21, 2026. The training initiative was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and focused on enhancing corporate governance, leadership and institutional performance within SOEs. A total of 21 participants from across Pakistan attended the program, representing federal and provincial governments as well as the private sector. Participants included officials and executives from the Ministry of Industries and Production, SECP, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan Airports Authority, NESPAK, PASSCO, Northern Power Generation Company Limited, WAPDA, Water and Sanitation Services Company Haripur, Punjab Mineral Company, Punjab Police, Universal Service Fund, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center, and Lahore Development Authority. Rector NSPP Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of strengthening corporate governance through quality professional training. He said the program aimed to establish a new benchmark in governance training with the support of SECP. He also emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability and responsible leadership in public-sector organizations. Dr. Naveed Elahi, Dean EDI, provided an overview of the training program and explained its focus on improving SOE governance and performance through effective leadership. He said the course addressed contemporary governance requirements, including directors’ legal responsibilities, board effectiveness, risk management and ethical decision-making. He encouraged participants to actively engage in case studies, simulations, discussions and networking opportunities throughout the training. The program featured a distinguished panel of guest speakers, including Mr. Abdul Rehman Warraich former SECP Commissioner; Dr. Ishrat Hussain, former Advisor to the Prime Minister; Mr. Kashif Ahmad Noor Military Accountant General; Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja, Rector NSPP/DG CSA; Dr. Irum Saba Director, IBA Karachi; Mr. Muhammad Anwar Sheikh retired Federal Additional Secretary, Finance Division; Mr. Mairaj A. Ariff, former Director General, NIPA Quetta; Dr. Kashif Zafar Dean-SST, UMT Lahore; Mr. Imtiaz Mahmood Company Secretary, SNGPL; Mr. Tariq Bajwa former Governor State Bank of Pakistan and Ex-SAPM on Finance; and Mr. Salman Amin Member, Competition Commission of Pakistan. The three-day course covered a wide range of topics, including principles of corporate governance, SOE reforms and legal frameworks, government stewardship, directors’ selection and performance evaluation, external and internal audits, audit committees, organizational culture, Islamic finance, financial risk governance, public service obligations, competitive neutrality, business planning, cybersecurity, digitization, reporting and disclosure, board composition and structure, as well as board simulations and case studies. During the closing session, Rector NSPP thanked the participants for their active participation and valuable contributions. He also appreciated the efforts of the Dean EDI and his team in successfully organizing the program. Participants showed keen interest throughout the course and actively participated in question-and-answer sessions. At the conclusion of the training, Rector NSPP, along with the Dean EDI, distributed certificates among the participants, formally marking the successful completion of the fifth Directors’ Training Program for State-Owned Enterprises.

  ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken serious notice of the use of a ceremonial horse-drawn buggy by Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IGP) during an official function held on August 14, according to official documents. The incident occurred during the Independence Day celebrations in Islamabad, when Chief Commissioner Lt. (Retd.) Sohail Ashraf and IGP Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi travelled to the event in the ceremonial buggy. The display later drew criticism on social media and prompted the government to issue an advisory to both senior officials. According to documents, a formal advisory was issued on Monday by Establishment Division Joint Secretary (Discipline) Syeda Shafaq Hashmi to the Islamabad IGP and Chief Commissioner. The advisory stated that the prime minister had expressed “disappointment and displeasure” over the incident and had taken a serious view of the matter. The document noted that the use of the ceremonial vehicle had attracted considerable public criticism and created an impression of excessive pomp and privilege. It said such a display was inconsistent with the values and responsibilities associated with public service. The advisory reminded the officials that civil servants and public office holders serve the people and are expected to maintain humility, restraint, dignity and sound judgment while performing their duties. According to the Establishment Division, conduct that conveys an impression of ostentation or personal privilege can negatively affect public confidence in government institutions. The advisory stressed that senior government functionaries are expected to maintain high standards of propriety, discipline and responsible governance. The officials were directed to exercise greater caution in the discharge of their responsibilities and ensure that such an incident does not happen again. The instructions were issued for “strict compliance” in both letter and spirit. The controversy gained wider attention after photographs and videos of the two officials using the buggy circulated on social media during the Independence Day celebrations. The incident prompted Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to clarify the circumstances surrounding the officials’ use of the ceremonial vehicle. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi defended the Islamabad police chief and chief commissioner, saying that neither official should be blamed for using the buggy. In a statement posted on X on August 15, Naqvi acknowledged that the situation had not unfolded as intended but said the two officials were not responsible for the decision. Naqvi explained that the ceremonial buggy had originally been arranged for the chief guest. However, the chief guest and the interior minister were delayed because of a meeting involving President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He said the two Islamabad officials had initially been reluctant to begin the programme in the absence of the chief guest and the interior minister. However, they were specifically instructed to proceed with the event so that members of the public would not face unnecessary inconvenience. “The buggy was arranged for the chief guest but, unfortunately, due to unavoidable circumstances, it was used by the officers,” Naqvi explained. The minister further said that both officials had initially resisted proceeding without the dignitaries but ultimately followed the instructions given to them. Naqvi also thanked Islamabad residents for participating in the August 14 celebrations and helping make the Independence Day event successful. The episode has since sparked discussion about appropriate conduct, public perception and the standards expected from senior government officials, with the prime minister’s advisory stressing the importance of maintaining humility and public trust.

  FAISALABAD: Police in Faisalabad have arrested a suspect accused of killing a 10-year-old boy after allegedly attempting to sexually assault him and attacking him when the child resisted. According to police, the suspect was identified as Saqib, who reportedly lived in the same neighbourhood as the victim. He was taken into custody during questioning of several suspects as part of the investigation into the child’s murder. Police said the suspect eventually confessed during interrogation to killing the boy by cutting his throat with a sharp-edged weapon. Further legal proceedings against the accused are currently underway. According to a police spokesperson, the victim, identified as 10-year-old Bilal, was a resident of Rehmanpura in Faisalabad. The child had reportedly left his home five days earlier to buy ice when the suspect allegedly approached him and took him to an isolated location on the pretext of going somewhere with him. Police said the suspect then allegedly attempted to sexually assault the child. When Bilal resisted, the suspect attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon, cutting his throat and killing him before fleeing the scene. The child’s body was later recovered, prompting his father to approach the police and lodge a case against unidentified individuals. Police subsequently launched an investigation and began searching for those involved in the killing. As part of the investigation, police questioned several individuals who were considered suspects or persons of interest. During questioning, investigators reportedly found Saqib’s statements suspicious and took him into custody for further interrogation. Police said that during the subsequent investigation, the suspect confessed to killing Bilal. Investigators are now carrying out further legal proceedings against him. The incident has caused concern in the area, with the killing of the child prompting demands for swift action against those responsible. Police officials said the investigation would continue and that further evidence would be collected as part of the case. Authorities are expected to present the accused before the relevant court as the legal process moves forward. Police said action would be taken in accordance with the law following the completion of the investigation. The case has also highlighted concerns surrounding the safety of children in local communities, particularly when they leave their homes alone. Law enforcement officials have urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and ensure that children are not exposed to potentially unsafe situations. Police officials said they were examining all aspects of the case and would determine the circumstances surrounding the crime through evidence collected during the investigation. Further developments are expected as the legal proceedings continue. The accused remains in police custody as authorities proceed with the investigation into the alleged sexual assault attempt and subsequent killing of the 10-year-old boy. The police have not yet disclosed further details regarding the evidence recovered from the scene or whether additional suspects are being investigated. The incident remains under investigation, and the final determination of the accused’s guilt will be made by the court based on the evidence presented during the legal proceedings.

HANGU: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has announced that he will personally lead Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers during the party’s planned long march to Islamabad on September 27, insisting that the date is final and the movement will continue until its demands are met. Speaking during a visit to Hangu on Saturday, Afridi addressed PTI gatherings at Hangu Bazaar Chowk and Abu Bakr Siddique Chowk as part of preparations for the party’s street movement. PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar Khan, provincial ministers and other party leaders and workers were also present. Afridi called on party supporters to begin full preparations for the march, saying there would be no retreat. He told workers that he would lead them to Islamabad and expressed confidence that the movement would return with success. The chief minister also criticised what he described as the failure to implement a Supreme Court directive concerning PTI founder Imran Khan’s medical treatment. Afridi claimed that a three-member bench had ordered arrangements for Khan’s treatment at Shifa International Hospital, but the directive had not been carried out despite time being granted for implementation. He accused the authorities of applying court orders selectively, alleging that decisions involving PTI and its supporters were enforced quickly while the order concerning Khan’s treatment remained unimplemented. Afridi urged the judiciary to ensure that laws and court decisions were applied equally, arguing that the country could not operate under separate standards for different groups. Turning to the economy, the chief minister claimed that Pakistan’s public debt had climbed to Rs97 trillion while inflation and financial pressures continued to affect ordinary citizens. He also alleged that industrial investment was shifting abroad and that farmers were facing increasing difficulties. Afridi portrayed Imran Khan as a unifying national figure and argued that his return would help rebuild public trust in state institutions and contribute to political stability. He also criticised government policies that he said were contributing to loss of life while benefiting a limited section of society. Appealing particularly to young Pakistanis, Afridi urged them to take an active role in the September 27 movement. He said the youth make up a major share of PTI’s supporters and argued that they should play a decisive role in determining the country’s political future.