Swat peace rally blast kills 14, injures over 20

The Sindh government has approved the introduction of a Facial Recognition Attendance Monitoring and Evaluation System (FRAMES) in public schools as part of a broader effort to improve governance, transparency and accountability in the education sector. The decision was taken during a meeting of the School Education Department chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The meeting was attended by Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah, the chief secretary and other senior government officials. During the meeting, the education minister gave a detailed briefing on the proposed system and informed participants that all technical preparations for its implementation have been completed. He said the project is designed to introduce data-driven governance and improve monitoring of teachers and non-teaching staff across government schools. According to the briefing, the first phase of the project will begin in six districts, with one district selected from each division of Sindh. Registration of teachers and non-teaching employees in these districts has already been completed, paving the way for the system’s launch. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced that the new attendance system will become operational in the selected districts from August 17. If the pilot phase is successful, it will be expanded gradually to all districts across the province. Under the FRAMES system, attendance of teachers and school staff will be recorded through facial recognition technology. Officials said the system will automatically record employees’ arrival and departure times, creating a secure, accurate and tamper-proof attendance record. The education department also informed the meeting that geo-tagging of government schools has been completed. Officials said the system has been designed to function effectively even in remote areas with weak internet connectivity, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring throughout the province. Murad Ali Shah said improving teachers’ attendance is essential for raising educational standards and ensuring quality education for students. He said every child has the right to receive quality education, and achieving that goal requires teachers and school staff to perform their duties regularly and responsibly. The chief minister emphasized that the use of modern technology would strengthen accountability and improve discipline within the education system. He said digital monitoring would help eliminate irregularities, increase transparency and provide education authorities with reliable data for decision-making. He directed officials to establish an effective support and monitoring mechanism during the initial implementation phase. He also instructed the education department to provide schools with all necessary technical assistance and training to ensure the smooth operation of the new system. Officials said information collected through the facial recognition platform will help education authorities evaluate attendance patterns, improve administrative oversight and identify areas requiring further reforms. They added that the initiative is expected to enhance institutional discipline, strengthen governance and improve the overall performance of public schools.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Sunday launched five development projects worth more than Rs2 billion in Jamrud, District Khyber, saying the schemes would improve public services and accelerate development in the merged tribal districts. The projects include the construction of a Nursing College in Jamrud at a cost of Rs636 million, the establishment of artificial intelligence (AI) classrooms at the Institute of Applied Sciences for Rs32 million, the rehabilitation and solarisation of 21 drinking water supply schemes worth Rs502 million, the beautification of Jamrud Bazaar for Rs430 million, and the widening, rehabilitation and improvement of the 10-kilometre Takhta Beg Road in Bara at a cost of Rs424 million. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Afridi said the people of his constituency had given him overwhelming support in the elections, making him the first chief minister from the merged tribal districts. He said the trust placed in him by the public had increased his responsibility to ensure balanced and transparent development across the province. The chief minister described the newly launched projects as the rightful entitlement of the people and said his government was committed to improving healthcare, education, road infrastructure, clean drinking water and urban facilities in underdeveloped areas. Afridi also spoke about the political situation facing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying the party leadership was going through a difficult period. He reiterated the party’s stance that former prime minister Imran Khan had been denied adequate access despite pursuing legal and constitutional avenues. He claimed PTI had exhausted all efforts aimed at reconciliation and said the party would continue its political struggle through public mobilisation. The chief minister announced that PTI would hold a major public gathering in Peshawar on August 5, urging supporters to participate in large numbers. He described the event as a significant moment for the party and pledged to stand alongside its workers during the movement.

A high-level delegation from Somalia, led by Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, met Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi to discuss bilateral defence cooperation and regional security. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, the evolving regional security environment and ways to strengthen defence and military cooperation between Pakistan and Somalia. Both sides emphasised the importance of expanding military-to-military relations and enhancing cooperation in training and capacity-building initiatives to address shared security challenges. They also discussed the need for closer collaboration to promote peace and stability in the region. During the meeting, the Somali defence minister acknowledged Pakistan’s continued support for Somalia and praised the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces in contributing to regional peace and security. Field Marshal Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting Somalia in strengthening its security institutions and enhancing defence capabilities. He said Pakistan values its longstanding relationship with Somalia and remains committed to deepening bilateral cooperation in the defence sector. The meeting reflects the growing defence ties between the two countries and their shared commitment to enhancing security cooperation and addressing common regional challenges.