Punjab health survey data sparks security concerns

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials have deposited numerous gifts received from foreign dignitaries in the Toshakhana. The government has released details of gifts received by senior officeholders during the recent period. The Cabinet Division has also made records of gifts received by public officials since 2002 available on its official website. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said details of deposited gifts are published periodically. He said the records cover gifts received by the president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, federal ministers and other government officials. However, the names of the foreign dignitaries who presented the gifts have not been made public. The Cabinet Division has stated that the valuation of some of the newly listed gifts is still being completed. It has also clarified that the published information is based on records and declarations submitted by individuals and departments. The records show that President Zardari received several valuable and ceremonial items. These included a tea set, sword, golden desert model, woollen overcoat and a Vacheron Constantin Geneve wristwatch. Other gifts listed for the president included a decorative piece, ceremonial sabre set, chessboard, serving bowl and an oil painting. First Lady Assefa Bhutto-Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari also received jewellery. The records show that both received necklaces. Jewellery sets were also listed among their gifts. Assefa Bhutto-Zardari additionally received a Kumis set. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also received a wide range of gifts. The items included shields, souvenirs, portraits, ties, frames and swords. Some jewellery items were also listed among the gifts received by the prime minister. The records further show several watches, including Rolex and Patek Philippe models. Other items included a coin, traditional dress, clock, sugar bowl and car model. Cups, pens and cufflinks were also among the listed gifts. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar received several items as well. His gifts included a decorative piece and a traditional Chinese stamp. The records also mention a Burmese string puppet, a Myanmar cultural frame, a Rolex watch, vase, medal and Chinese leather belt. Dar also received an Egyptian statue, pen and cufflink set. Several other federal officials were also listed in the records. Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema received a book about Uzbekistan and a T-shirt. Economic Affairs Secretary M. Humair Karim received a ballpoint pen. Information Minister Tarar was listed as having received a Rolex watch. Several members of the president’s staff also received watches. These included the military secretary, chief security officer, Air ADC, principal staff officer and presidential spokesperson. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq received a large ceramic jar. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla received a Bvlgari watch. Former NAB chairman retired Lt Gen Nazir Ahmed received a wristwatch and an INTERPOL commemorative book. Deputy Chief of State Protocol Hafeezullah received a Tag Heuer watch. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi received a Rolex watch and a hand-chased tea set. Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media Mosharraf Ali Zaidi received a Tag Heuer watch. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhter received a hand-chased tea set with 24-karat gold plating. The government has said the details of Toshakhana gifts will continue to be uploaded periodically. The Cabinet Division has also placed a disclaimer on the records. It said the information is based on available records and declarations made by officials and departments under the rules applicable at the time.

PESHAWAR: Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has called for the creation of additional administrative provinces, saying Pakistan needs major structural reforms to improve governance and public service delivery. In a statement issued on Sunday, Saif said the proposal to establish new provinces should be taken seriously, arguing that the existing administrative framework is no longer capable of addressing the growing needs of the population efficiently. He said discussions alone would not bring meaningful change and urged the federal government to move beyond proposals by initiating practical measures for administrative restructuring. According to him, governance can only improve if reforms are implemented instead of remaining limited to public debate. Saif maintained that decision-making authority is concentrated within a small section of the bureaucracy, which limits administrative efficiency and delays the resolution of public issues. He stressed that a more balanced distribution of powers would strengthen governance and improve accountability. He said Pakistan requires comprehensive administrative reforms that would transfer greater authority to lower levels of government. Establishing new provinces, he added, would bring the government closer to the people, improve access to public services and ensure faster responses to local challenges. The former adviser also highlighted the importance of an effective local government system, saying empowered local bodies are essential for addressing citizens’ problems at the grassroots level. He argued that decentralisation and stronger local institutions would enhance transparency, improve service delivery and promote sustainable development across the country.

Lahore police have registered a case against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Sarwar Road Police Station and 10 other personnel following a raid at the residence of Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Awan. According to police, the officers had information about a house adjacent to the Attorney General’s residence. However, they allegedly entered the wrong property during the operation. The FIR states that the SHO and 11 police personnel were charged for allegedly exceeding their authority during the raid. The incident has also prompted further action against the officials involved. Awan’s driver, Irfan, claimed that the SHO and other police officers entered the house by jumping over the gate. He further alleged that the police took away the CCTV camera system during the raid. According to the driver, only domestic staff were present at the residence when the police arrived. The Attorney General reached home after finishing a meeting after being informed about the incident. Irfan also alleged that the police later returned the digital video recorder (DVR) after deleting CCTV footage from the system. The raid reportedly caused damage to property outside the residence, including flower pots placed near the entrance. Police officials said the raid was conducted based on information concerning the neighbouring house and that the officers mistakenly entered Awan’s residence. Meanwhile, the SHO of Sarwar Road Police Station has obtained interim bail from the court in connection with the case.

Multan Commissioner Aamir Karim Khan has said the Punjab government is taking a keen interest in the development of Multan and other parts of southern Punjab, stressing that the government, administration, business community and journalists must work together to address public issues and promote regional development. He made these remarks while speaking to journalists during a session titled “Guftagu” at the Multan Press Club. He also responded to questions regarding development projects, civic problems and other issues faced by citizens. The commissioner said the responsibility of government officers was not limited to sitting in offices. Officials must visit the field, assess public problems and take practical steps to resolve them. He said public service required officials to move beyond their comfort zones and remain connected with citizens. Aamir Karim Khan appreciated the Punjab government’s focus on Multan and southern Punjab, saying several major development projects were currently underway in the city. He stressed that timely availability of funds, proper engineering designs and other technical requirements were essential for completing development schemes. He said major sewerage projects in Multan were particularly important for the city and would provide significant relief to residents once completed. Work was also continuing on several major roads and development schemes, although some projects had faced delays because of land acquisition and other legal and administrative procedures. The commissioner said projects in areas including Eidgah Road and Shah Shams Park were being completed in phases. He added that a proposal worth around Rs6 billion had been sent to the Punjab government for improving roads from Delhi Gate to Daulat Gate and removing encroachments. Work on the project would begin once funds were made available. He said the preservation of Multan’s historic heritage, improvement of ancient gates and beautification of the city were among the administration’s priorities, along with the provision of basic civic facilities. He said action against encroachments on graveyards was continuing. Encroachments had been removed from a graveyard in Hassan Parwana, while similar operations would be carried out at other graveyards. The administration was also considering the renovation of smaller graveyards and provision of basic facilities there. The commissioner said a “Multan Enforcement Management Squad” had been established to tackle encroachments. The squad comprises officials from different departments and has been provided with motorcycles. It will monitor the city around the clock and identify encroachments. Its formal operations will begin on September 1. If the initiative proves successful, it will be expanded to other areas. Speaking about special education, Aamir Karim Khan said nearly 3,000 hearing-impaired children had been screened across 14 tehsils of the Multan Division. Around 320 children were identified as requiring hearing devices. With support from the business community, hearing aids had already been provided to 175 children. He said efforts were also underway to improve the speaking abilities of these children. The commissioner added that the Punjab government had been requested to introduce legislation making hearing screening mandatory for every child within six months of birth. Early diagnosis, he said, could significantly improve children’s education and future prospects. Regarding Jalalpur Public School, the commissioner said authorities had taken notice of the low number of students and were working with relevant departments to improve its functioning. He said the Punjab government was also working on a new public-private partnership scheme under which inactive government schools could be handed over to the private sector for better management. Aamir Karim Khan highlighted the important role of journalists in resolving civic problems. He urged journalists to use their observation, reporting and writing skills to identify public issues and contribute to social improvement. He said constructive criticism and highlighting genuine problems could help guide the administration. He also said direct communication with journalists would be strengthened so their concerns could be addressed more effectively. On cleanliness, the commissioner said maintaining a clean environment was a shared responsibility of the government and citizens. He urged shopkeepers to keep areas outside their businesses clean and residents to ensure cleanliness around their homes. During the meeting, Press Club President Shakeel Anjum briefed the commissioner about issues faced by the journalist community, particularly problems concerning the journalists’ colony. He stressed the need for their early resolution. The commissioner assured the journalists that he would contact the Director General of the Multan Development Authority regarding the issues and take steps for further progress. He said genuine concerns of the journalist community would be addressed on a priority basis. Aamir Karim Khan also answered journalists’ questions on various issues and assured them that practical measures would be taken to resolve public problems. He said the development of Multan was a collective responsibility and all stakeholders would have to work together to achieve this goal.