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RAWALPINDI: A four-day Special Polio Immunization Activity (SIAD) concluded in Rawalpindi on Thursday, with more than 594,000 children vaccinated during the first three days of the campaign, health authorities said. The campaign was carried out across Rawalpindi City, Rawalpindi Cantonment, Rawalpindi Rural and Taxila to strengthen children’s immunity against polio amid continued circulation of the virus in the region. According to Dr Ehsan Ghani, CEO Health Rawalpindi, around 184,000 children were vaccinated in Rawalpindi Rural, 107,000 in Rawalpindi City, more than 98,000 in Rawalpindi Cantonment and over 88,000 in Taxila during the first three days. More than 27,000 children found outside their homes and over 38,000 visiting children were also administered polio drops. The vaccination campaign was supported by 3,147 mobile teams, 169 fixed teams and 143 transit teams. A total of 525 Area In-Charges and 142 Union Council Management Officers supervised and monitored the campaign. Vaccination teams visited households, fixed sites and transit points to ensure that children travelling through or visiting the district were also covered. Dr Ghani said the campaign was preceded by extensive community engagement activities aimed at increasing public confidence in polio vaccination. Frontline workers held meetings at the neighbourhood level and engaged mosque imams, local elders and other community influencers to explain the importance of repeated vaccination and counter misinformation. Awareness activities were also conducted at health facilities, including Holy Family Hospital, where doctors and paramedical staff were briefed on vaccine confidence and the importance of supporting polio eradication efforts. The Punjab Emergency Operations Center coordinated with the district administration, health authorities, community representatives and other stakeholders to strengthen preparations for the campaign. Media and digital awareness campaigns also urged parents to welcome vaccination teams and ensure that all eligible children received the vaccine. Dr Ghani said detailed campaign data would now be analysed to identify missed children, assess vaccination coverage and improve future immunization strategies. Although no polio case has been reported in Rawalpindi, the detection of poliovirus in environmental samples from the district remains a serious warning, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and high population immunity. Dr Ghani thanked parents, caregivers, frontline workers, health authorities and local communities for their cooperation, stressing that every vaccination dose is essential to protecting children from lifelong paralysis. “Polio eradication remains a top priority. With continued commitment from parents, frontline workers, health authorities and communities, we can eliminate the virus from Rawalpindi and protect every child from this preventable disease,” he said.

LAHORE: Senior journalists, defence analysts and experts have described the Makkah Joint Defence Pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as a significant step towards strengthening regional peace, collective security and strategic cooperation. The views were expressed during a panel discussion titled “Makkah Pact: Peace, Security and Stability,” organised by the Press Information Department (PID) Lahore. PID Lahore Director General Shafqat Abbas said the agreement was not directed against any particular country but was intended to strengthen peace, stability, mutual confidence and collective security. He stressed that dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation should remain the preferred means of resolving regional disputes. He said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye brought different strengths and experiences to the partnership, creating opportunities for closer cooperation in defence, diplomacy, economics and strategic affairs. According to him, modern national power extended beyond military strength and depended equally on a strong economy, quality education, scientific advancement, technology, skilled human resources and effective diplomacy. Shafqat Abbas called for greater efforts to convert Pakistan’s defence capabilities and achievements into economic opportunities through investment in education, research, technology, skills development and exports. He said a combination of strong defence and economic stability could enable Pakistan to play a more influential role internationally. Senior journalist and analyst Mujeebur Rehman Shami highlighted Pakistan’s achievements in defence, diplomacy and foreign relations since independence. He praised Pakistani diplomats for enhancing the country’s international standing despite limited resources and stressed the urgent need to improve education, technical skills, research and scientific development. He also called for higher exports, improved productivity and stronger economic policies, saying that Pakistan’s defence successes should ultimately contribute to broader economic progress. Senior journalist Salman Ghani said the pact combined the unique strengths of its three members, describing Pakistan as a country with significant defence capabilities, Saudi Arabia as a major economic power and Türkiye as an important player in defence technology and military production. He said the partnership could open new avenues for investment, economic cooperation and regional stability. Defence analyst Colonel (retd) Abid said Pakistan’s political and military leadership had played an important role in developing the agreement. He noted that the pact carried implications beyond defence and could influence regional diplomacy, economic relations and strategic cooperation. Former Vice Chancellor of Home Economics University Dr Faleha Afzal said the agreement had further demonstrated Pakistan’s potential role in promoting peace and stability and expressed hope that other Muslim countries would eventually participate in similar cooperative initiatives. Columnist Malik Salman stressed the importance of mutual trust and collective security among Muslim countries, while urging Pakistan to maintain a balance between defence preparedness and economic development. Government College University Lahore Urdu literature professor Dr Farzana Riaz said the pact could create new opportunities for unity and cooperation among Muslim countries and encourage joint efforts to address shared regional challenges. Journalist Noorullah said the agreement could contribute to greater peace and stability in the region, but stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to convert Pakistan’s strategic and defence strengths into tangible economic and diplomatic gains. The participants agreed that closer cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye could have wider implications for regional peace, defence coordination, diplomacy and economic development. They called on Muslim countries to overcome differences, focus on common interests and pursue peace, development and collective security through dialogue and coordinated efforts. Concluding the session, Shafqat Abbas thanked the participants and said discussions of this nature were important for increasing public understanding of major national and international developments and encouraging informed debate.

  The Peshawar High Court has issued a written judgment regarding a petition filed against the non-extension of visas for an Afghan businessman and his family members. The court has directed the relevant authorities to decide the applicant’s visa extension case within 15 days in accordance with the law. According to the written decision issued by the High Court, the petitioner is a registered taxpayer with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The applicant possesses a National Tax Number (NTN) and is also a member of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The court observed that the applicant has established business ties and fulfills the necessary legal requirements as a registered member of the business community. The judgment stated that the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, Islamabad, failed to make a timely decision on the visa extension applications submitted by the petitioner. Due to the delay in processing the applications, the applicant and his family have faced difficulties and uncertainty regarding their legal status in Pakistan. The court emphasized that government authorities are required to make decisions within a reasonable period and in accordance with the provisions of the law. The judgment noted that the applicants had submitted proper applications for visa extensions after the expiry of their previous visa periods. Therefore, their pending applications should have been considered and decided promptly by the relevant department. The Peshawar High Court further directed the concerned authorities to review the pending visa extension requests and issue a detailed decision within 15 days. The court made it clear that the decision must be based on legal principles and should address all relevant aspects of the applicants’ cases. The court’s order highlights the importance of timely administrative decisions, particularly in matters involving foreign nationals who are legally residing and conducting business activities in Pakistan. Delays in such cases can create serious challenges for individuals, including difficulties related to travel, business operations, documentation, and compliance with immigration requirements. The judgment also reflects the court’s view that individuals who meet legal obligations, such as tax registration and business registration, deserve a fair and timely review of their applications. The authorities have been instructed to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure that administrative procedures are completed within the timeframe prescribed by law. The case was brought before the High Court after the applicant’s visa extension requests remained unresolved despite the submission of formal applications. The petitioner argued that the delay by immigration authorities had caused hardship for him and his family. After examining the facts of the case, the court issued directions to ensure that the pending matters are resolved without further delay. The written decision of the Peshawar High Court serves as a reminder that government departments must act efficiently and transparently when dealing with legal applications. The court’s order does not grant an automatic visa extension but requires the authorities to make a proper and lawful decision on the pending applications within the specified 15-day period.