Five young lives lost as speeding car crashes into…

PESHAWAR: The Directorate of Youth Affairs, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, will organise a programme to mark International Youth Day 2026 at Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Hall, University of Peshawar, on Wednesday, August 12, from 2pm to 6pm. Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi will attend the event as the chief guest, while Advisor to the Chief Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Taj Muhammad Khan Tarand will also participate. The event has been planned as a celebration of the passion, potential and power of youth and will feature a range of activities aimed at recognising young people’s achievements and providing them with a platform for expression and engagement. A key feature of the programme will be a panel discussion featuring Akif Khan, Sumaira Shams, Samar Khan, Abaseen Yousafzai, Junaid of Jamboys and Asif Qurashi. The programme will also include the Youth Excellence Awards, through which outstanding young people will be recognised for their achievements and contributions. A youth anthem will be launched during the event, with Mehtab Ziyab associated with its presentation. The celebrations will also feature live music performances by Tamash Band and Junaid Kamran Siddique, besides a segment featuring inspirational stories. Director Youth Affairs Abbas Khan Afridi said the event was being organised to celebrate the talent, energy and achievements of young people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the Directorate remained committed to creating opportunities for young people to showcase their abilities, develop their potential and play a constructive role in society. “Our youth possess immense talent, creativity and potential. It is our responsibility to provide them with platforms where their abilities can be recognised and their voices can be heard,” Mr Afridi said. He added that the International Youth Day celebrations would bring together young people from different backgrounds and provide them an opportunity to engage with distinguished personalities, share ideas and celebrate youth achievements. The event carries the message “Empowering Youth, Shaping the Future” and will run from 2pm to 6pm at Shahzebda Abdul Qayyum Hall, University of Peshawar.

MANSEHRA: A grand Independence Day ceremony was held at Pakistan Scouts Cadet College Battarasi, Mansehra, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi as the chief guest. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi hoisted the national flag, cut the Independence Day cake and inaugurated a tree plantation campaign. He also visited the Martyrs’ Memorial, where special prayers were offered for the security, stability and progress of the country. Principal Pakistan Scouts Cadet College Battarasi Brigadier (Retd) Abdul Hafeez, Adjutant Captain Hussain, Professor Ikram Sarwar, faculty members, cadets and other guests attended the ceremony. Addressing the gathering, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said he was delighted to participate in the Independence Day ceremony at the college. He said Pakistan came into existence on August 14 after the people of the subcontinent made immense sacrifices for the establishment of the country. The governor paid tribute to the Pakistan Army and security forces, saying their sacrifices had enabled the nation to live a free and peaceful life. He said Pakistan Scouts Cadet College Battarasi was playing an important role in promoting education, while its graduates were serving the country in various fields and contributing to national development. Addressing the cadets, Governor Kundi urged them to utilize their abilities and energies for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan. He said they would soon enter practical life and should play their role in strengthening the country, while remaining ready to make every sacrifice for the national interest. He said the cadet college was not only providing quality education but was also playing an important role in character building, discipline and training of students. He assured the students that he would make every possible effort to address their issues and appreciated the college administration for its services in providing quality education and training. Speaking on the occasion, Principal Brigadier (Retd) Abdul Hafeez welcomed the governor and other guests. He said Pakistan was facing various challenges and hostile elements were attempting to undermine the country, but the security forces had always rendered exemplary services for the defence of the nation. He said that with the Pakistan Army standing firm, no enemy could dare look towards Pakistan with hostile intentions. The principal said Pakistan Scouts Cadet College Battarasi was established by former Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto with the objective of preparing future leaders and talented individuals to serve the country. Thousands of students had graduated from the institution and were now serving Pakistan in different fields. Brigadier (Retd) Abdul Hafeez expressed gratitude to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi for attending the ceremony at short notice and urged the cadets to devote their energies to education, discipline and character building.

Lahore – More than 15,000 free cardiac surgeries for children from Punjab and other parts of the country have been successfully completed since the launch of the Chief Minister’s Children Heart Treatment Programme in September 2024. The Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) developed by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has played a key role in the programme. The system has helped manage patients medical records, prepare patient lists, make electronic referrals to private hospitals and ensure timely coordination between public and private hospitals. This was revealed at a meeting chaired by PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf at the Arfa Software Technology Park (ASTP). The meeting was briefed that HMIS is providing hospitals participating in the programme across Punjab with quick and easy access to patient records. This is helping doctors make better medical decisions while also making it easier for hospital administrations to monitor and coordinate patient treatment, referrals and other related matters. The digital system has also played an important role in making the patient referral and treatment process more organized, transparent and integrated. It has accelerated the exchange of information between hospitals and helped reduce unnecessary delays in treatment. Speaking on the occasion, PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf said that the completion of more than 15,000 free heart surgeries for children was a major achievement of the Chief Minister’s programme. He said HMIS had played a significant role in speeding up, organizing and improving the treatment process through digital records, electronic referrals and effective coordination among hospitals. Faisal Yousaf further said that PITB would continue its support for promoting the use of modern digital technology in the healthcare sector to ensure the timely provision of quality medical facilities to citizens. He said that the effective use of digital systems in healthcare not only facilitates patient treatment but also improves hospital administrative efficiency, transparency and coordination among different institutions.