CM orders full-scale flood relief operations across Punjab

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah chaired a high-level meeting on the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), where officials reviewed the province’s security situation, operational performance, investigations, infrastructure and future requirements. Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho, Additional IG CTD Zulfiqar Larik and other senior officials attended the meeting. The meeting was informed that banned militant and insurgent organisations continue to pose a security challenge to Sindh. However, officials said terrorist incidents in the province had declined significantly during 2026. According to Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Sindh reported 37 terrorism incidents in 2025. The number fell to nine in 2026, representing a decline of around 76 per cent. The Sindh police chief told the meeting that seven of the nine terrorism cases reported this year had been traced and their investigations completed. Officials said the CTD conducted 918 intelligence-based operations across the province during 2026. These operations resulted in the arrest of 87 suspected terrorists, while four militants were killed in separate encounters. The briefing said the CTD had dismantled several militant networks allegedly involved in attacks on police personnel and sensitive installations. During a follow-up operation in Karachi, the department arrested a key suspect and an associate. Weapons and explosive material were also recovered from their possession. The suspects are allegedly wanted in several cases involving the targeted killing of police officers. According to the IG Sindh, more than 2,000 kilograms of explosive material were recovered during operations against militant networks. Four militants affiliated with banned insurgent organisations were also killed in encounters. The home minister said several planned attacks on law enforcement agencies and important installations had been foiled. He added that the CTD had also dismantled a network allegedly involved in attacks on railway tracks in northern Sindh. The operation helped prevent planned acts of sabotage, officials said. The meeting also reviewed progress in the investigation into the Karachi Training Centre attack. The police chief told the chief minister that nine suspects had so far been arrested in the case. A Joint Investigation Team has also been formed to conduct a detailed probe. Officials said several investigative sessions had been held during the inquiry and a number of alleged facilitators had been identified. The investigation is still under way. The meeting was also briefed on the performance of the CTD Fusion Centre. Officials said the centre had significantly improved the collection and analysis of intelligence as well as digital investigations. Hundreds of social media accounts allegedly linked to extremist activities have also been blocked or reported, according to the briefing. The Sindh home minister proposed additional resources for modern intelligence software and digital forensic tools. He also called for strengthening crime analytics platforms and systems equipped with artificial intelligence to improve the department’s ability to identify and respond to emerging security threats. The meeting was further informed that major projects for the development of CTD infrastructure across Sindh were under way. Officials said construction of a separate CTD complex in Sukkur had also begun under the province’s Annual Development Programme.

PESHAWAR: Poor internet connectivity is creating serious problems for girls pursuing education in the merged districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Students in remote areas often struggle to attend online classes. They also face difficulties downloading study material and submitting assignments. For 16-year-old Khadija Bibi from Kurram district, finding an internet signal has become part of her daily life. During the summer holidays, she often leaves her home and climbs a nearby hill. She carries her mobile phone with her. She stands on the rocky slope and searches for a stronger signal. She uses the limited connection to download lecture notes and complete academic tasks. She also tries to attend online classes from the hill. However, the weak network frequently disconnects. This causes her to miss lessons and submit assignments late. Khadija is a BS Computer Science student at Benazir Women University Peshawar. She said unreliable internet had become one of the biggest challenges in her education. She said students in remote areas were being left behind as education increasingly depended on digital technology. The problem is not limited to Kurram. Thousands of girls across the merged districts face similar difficulties. The region already has several major education challenges. Poverty remains a serious obstacle. Insecurity has also affected access to education. Many areas also lack proper schools and other educational facilities. The digital divide has added another challenge. Several schools in the merged districts either do not have computer laboratories or have laboratories without working computers. Some also lack internet connections. This prevents students from gaining basic computer skills. It also makes online education difficult. Official data highlights the wider education crisis in the region. Benazir Income Support Programme data shows that 66 per cent of children in North Waziristan are out of school. The rate stands at 63 per cent in Bajaur. It is 61 per cent in South Waziristan. Mohmand and Khyber each record an out-of-school rate of 51 per cent. Kurram and Orakzai each have a rate of 47 per cent. Girls face additional difficulties because of limited access to technology. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Women Empowerment Policy 2026-2030 highlights the scale of the digital divide. According to the policy, only 11 per cent of women in the merged districts have access to the internet. The female literacy rate is also extremely low. It stands at only 17 per cent. Education and digital inclusion advocates say poor infrastructure is a major reason for the situation. Weak mobile networks make internet access unreliable. Many families also cannot afford smartphones or regular internet packages. Some girls have to borrow phones from family members. This makes it difficult for them to attend online classes regularly. Access to technology is also affected by social restrictions. In some communities, families remain concerned about girls using mobile phones and the internet. Concerns about online safety and social pressure often result in restrictions. Cultural norms can also limit girls’ access to digital technology. Experts say improving internet coverage alone will not solve the problem. Girls also need greater freedom to travel to schools, universities and training centres. Better transport facilities could help students reach educational institutions more easily. It could also improve access to vocational training and employment opportunities. Experts have urged the provincial government and telecommunications authorities to give greater attention to the merged districts. They say residents should receive reliable internet services similar to those available in settled areas. Improved digital infrastructure could transform educational opportunities for girls in remote communities. Reliable internet would allow students to attend online classes without travelling long distances. They could access digital libraries and educational resources. They could also develop computer skills and participate in online training programmes. For students like Khadija, internet access is more than a technological facility. It is directly linked to education and future opportunities. Without reliable connectivity, many talented girls may continue to struggle despite their willingness to study. Addressing the digital divide therefore requires investment in telecommunications infrastructure, schools, digital devices and affordable internet services. It also requires efforts to remove social barriers that prevent girls from using technology.