Thai Airstrike Destroys Key Cambodian Bridge in Pursat

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has approved civil awards for 355 Pakistani and foreign personalities in recognition of their outstanding services and achievements in various fields. The awards will be presented at a special ceremony on Pakistan Day, March 23, next year. The recipients include prominent figures from politics, public service, entertainment, sports, journalism, law enforcement, medicine and other sectors. Among the personalities from the entertainment industry, singers Tarannum Naz and Nisho Begum will receive the Sitara-i-Imtiaz. Actors Ghazala Kaifi, Sania Saeed and Maria Wasti, along with singer Zohaib Hassan, will be honoured with the Tamgha-i-Husn-i-Karkardagi. Singer Shiraz Uppal will receive the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. In sports, shooter Kishmala Talat and former Test cricketer Sadiq Mohammad will be awarded the Tamgha-i-Husn-i-Karkardagi for their contributions and achievements. Several senior government officials and political figures have also been included in the awards list. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani will receive the Nishan-i-Imtiaz. Director General Intelligence Bureau Fawad Asadullah, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, Finance Secretary Imdadullah Bosal and Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul will receive the Sitara-i-Imtiaz. Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council Allama Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi will be awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, while Federal Minister Engineer Amir Muqam will receive the Hilal-i-Imtiaz for public service. Zobia Khursheed Raja of Azad Kashmir will receive the Tamgha-i-Shujaat for her bravery in confronting rioters. She reportedly risked her life to rescue an injured police officer who was surrounded by rioters. A total of 46 martyrs of law enforcement agencies will be awarded the Sitara-i-Shujaat. Group Captain Asim Tariq Shaheed will also receive the same honour. Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan CEO Dr Ubaidullah will receive the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, while Punjab Saaf and Suthra Authority Director General Babar Sahib Din will be awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. Senior journalists Saleh Zafar and Haji Nawaz Raza will receive the Sitara-i-Imtiaz. Journalists Ammar Masood, Maria Zulfiqar, Adil Shahzeb and Hamad Hassan will be honoured with the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. Two physicians associated with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Dr Jal Ratanji Patel and Dr Jal Dabu, will be conferred the Nishan-i-Quaid-i-Azam posthumously. The list also includes prominent foreign figures. Saudi Prince Saud bin Naif will receive the Hilal-i-Pakistan, while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Trade Minister Omer Bolat will each be awarded the Sitara-i-Pakistan. Dr Khalid Abbas Al-Asadi and Dr Paul Jacob Bhatti will receive the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz in recognition of their services.

Mufti Jana Mir was killed in a targeted explosion near Rustam Bazaar in Wana, the main town of Lower South Waziristan, on Monday, according to police officials. The blast occurred close to Rustam Bazaar, where unidentified attackers had allegedly planted explosive material on the ground floor of a building. The device exploded as Mufti Jan Mir passed through the area, killing him on the spot. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said the attack appeared to be a planned assassination. He confirmed that investigators believe the explosives had been installed in advance to specifically target Mufti Jana Mir. Police and security personnel rushed to the scene immediately after the explosion. The area was cordoned off, while bomb disposal and forensic teams collected evidence from the blast site. Officials said all available evidence has been secured and a detailed investigation is underway to identify those responsible and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack. Authorities have not yet claimed responsibility for the bombing, and no arrests have been announced. Security has been increased in and around Wana as investigators continue their inquiry. Mufti Jana Mir was widely respected for his efforts to promote peace and social harmony in South Waziristan. He regularly participated in peace initiatives and remained actively involved in campaigns aimed at improving law and order in the region. He was also a regular speaker at the National Peace Jirga, where he called for unity, dialogue and lasting peace. Community members regarded him as an influential religious figure who consistently encouraged peaceful coexistence and opposed violence.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched a major initiative to bring millions of out-of-school children into the education system. The provincial government has started work on a comprehensive plan. The initiative will identify children who are not attending school and provide them with suitable educational opportunities. Officials from the education, local government, health and social welfare departments have signed a memorandum of understanding for the programme. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi was also present at the signing ceremony. Officials gave a detailed briefing on the initiative. They said a province-wide survey would be conducted to identify out-of-school children. The government will also develop a “One Map” system. The system will identify the number of children who are out of school. It will also show their locations. This data will help the authorities plan enrolment drives in areas where the need is greatest. According to figures presented during the briefing, around 4.9 million children in KP were out of school according to the 2023 census. The provincial education department has estimated the number at around 2.6 million. The government has set an initial target of bringing 60% of out-of-school children into the education system during the first phase. Officials said children under the age of five would also be included in the data collection process. Their information will help the government prepare future education plans and estimate upcoming enrolment needs. The programme will use different forms of education. Government schools will be used where possible. Community schools will also play a role. Double-shift schools will be introduced or expanded in areas facing limited capacity. Digital platforms will also be used to reach children who cannot easily access conventional schools. Poverty has been identified as one of the major reasons children leave school. The government plans to provide financial support to vulnerable families. Scholarships, Zakat funds and other assistance will be used to encourage children to remain in education. Scholarship payments will be linked to attendance. Officials said students would need to maintain at least 75% attendance to qualify for the scholarship payments. The programme will also focus on skills development. Children will receive technical and vocational training under the United Nations’ Generation Unlimited programme. The initiative is aimed not only at increasing school enrolment but also at improving the future employment prospects of young people. The government has also planned independent verification of the survey data. An independent organisation will verify 5% of the collected data to improve transparency and ensure that the figures accurately reflect the situation on the ground. Authorities said the survey would provide a clearer picture of the out-of-school population in the province. The data will then be used to design targeted education programmes.