Illegal timber transport penalized at forest check post

Mon, 29 Dec 2025, 5:46 PM

MUZAFFARGARH, Dec 29 (APP): The forest department has taken firm action against the illegal transportation of timber by imposing a fine of Rs100,000 on a driver at the forest check post located near the toll plaza on Chowk Sarwar Shaheed–Layyah Road.

The operation was conducted by Forest Department Range Officer Amjad Nadeem Rongha, who stated that the penalty was imposed due to the transportation of wood without a valid permit. He explained that under the amended Forest Act, anyone transporting timber from one location to another must obtain prior permission from the office of the District Forest Officer after paying a prescribed fee of Rs1,000.

He added that the department has intensified monitoring at all check posts to ensure strict compliance with forest regulations. Vehicles found carrying timber without proper authorization will face confiscation or substantial fines, he said.

He urged the public, particularly those involved in timber trade and transport, to adhere to forest laws and secure the necessary permits before moving wood.

He warned that violations would lead to strict legal action and financial penalties.

The Forest Department reaffirmed its resolve to prevent illegal timber movement and protect forest resources through consistent enforcement of the law.

Man sets himself ablaze

Asif Jalal

Mon, 29 Dec 2025, 5:46 PM

MULTAN, Dec 29 (APP): A 34-year-old man sustained severe burn injuries after setting himself on fire due to mental stress in Pul Noh Bahar area on Vehari Road on Tuesday.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, the victim, identified as Wajid Riaz, allegedly sprinkled petrol on himself and set himself ablaze. Upon receiving information, Rescue 1122 teams, including an ambulance, fire and rescue vehicles, rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to Nishtar Hospital Multan.

Rescue sources said the man had suffered around 80 per cent burn injuries and was admitted to the emergency ward, where his condition is stated to be critical.

Family members told authorities that the victim was under severe mental stress due to personal and family issues.

Population growth, climate change pose major threats to food security: Rana Tanveer

Asif Jalal

Mon, 29 Dec 2025, 5:43 PM

LAHORE, Dec 29 (APP): Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain has said that rapid population growth and climate change have emerged as the most serious challenges to Pakistan’s food security.

He warned that failure to increase crop production could prevent the country from meeting its future food requirements.

He was chairing a meeting on the National Food Security Policy at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), Punjab University, here on Monday. The meeting was attended by Chairman Pakistan Academy of Sciences Professor Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik, Director CEMB Dr Muaz ur Rehman, leading scientists, food security experts, policymakers, and researchers.

Addressing the meeting, the federal minister said Pakistan does not lack talent in any sector, but emphasized that sustained research is essential for long-term development and improvement. He noted that while the benefits of institutional research are often long-term, the absence of immediate results discourages governments from making adequate investments in research.

Rana Tanveer stressed that national security is directly linked to food security, underscoring the urgent need for extensive research and innovation in the agriculture and food sectors. He said climate change is having the most severe impact on agriculture, resulting in rising production costs, reduced yields, and growing challenges for farmers.

The minister said that protecting agriculture and supporting farmers is a core responsibility of the government. In this regard, he announced that the government will purchase 6 million tons of wheat from farmers at a support price of Rs 3,500 per maund. He emphasized that wheat is Pakistan’s most essential crop and said achieving self-sufficiency in wheat production is vital for ensuring sustainable food security and economic stability.

‘Rising population major cause of socio-economic challenges’

Asif Jalal

Mon, 29 Dec 2025, 5:20 PM

SARGODHA, Dec 29 (APP): Regional Election Commissioner Abrar Ahmed Jatoi on Monday said rapidly growing population is becoming a major cause of economic and social challenges, stressing that timely and effective measures are essential to address the issue.

He expressed these views while addressing an awareness seminar organized by the Health and Population Department with the support of the World Bank, where he was the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, District Officer Health and Population Aftab Ahmed Awan emphasized the importance of balanced family planning, stating that population balance is the key to a better and sustainable future.

University of Sargodha, Department of History, Chairman Professor Abrar Zahoor presented a comparative analysis of Pakistan’s population growth at regional and global levels through statistical data, highlighting its potential long-term impacts.

Deputy District Officer Population Welfare Muhammad Altaf Hussain Panjotha outlined the objectives of the seminar and noted that such awareness programs play a vital role in educating the public on critical national issues.

Providing relief to masses cornerstone of KP Govt: CM

Asif Jalal

Mon, 29 Dec 2025, 5:14 PM

PESHAWAR, Dec 29 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi here on Monday said that providing relief to masses was a cornerstone of his government and all resources were being utilized to provide better services to them at their doorsteps.

Addressing KP Cabinet meeting, the chief minister ordered acceleration of work on the ongoing development projects in the province.

He declared that health and education were the government’s top priorities.

He directed that official delegations coming from other provinces should be served with traditions and hospitality beyond available means.

The CM said no one should feel like a stranger in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and demanded release of Accelerated Implementation Program and NFC pending amount.

He claimed that amount of Rs 4,758 billion was payable to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In the next meeting, all departments will brief the provincial cabinet on the outstanding dues, he added.

Zong, Huawei complete Pakistan’s first Full-Duplex E-Band Microwave Field Test

Asif Jalal

Mon, 29 Dec 2025, 5:14 PM

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (APP): Zong, in partnership with Huawei, has carried out Pakistan’s first field test of a full-duplex E-band microwave link, marking a major advance in ultra-high-capacity backhaul technology.

With rapidly growing data traffic driven by high-definition video streaming, augmented reality (AR), cloud services, and low-latency applications, traditional microwave backhaul solutions face increasing spectrum constraints. Zong’s full-duplex E-band solution directly addresses these challenges, enabling next-generation network performance.

With the surge in traffic driven by emerging applications, traditional microwave solutions are limited by spectrum resources and struggle to meet the growing demand for ultra-high-capacity backhaul. Due to its high-isolation integrated antenna structure and advanced interference cancellation algorithms, the microwave link can simultaneously send and receive data on the same frequency, doubling the spectrum efficiency compared to traditional solutions, with a data transmission capacity of up to 50 Gbps per link. This innovative technology will be deployed in future network infrastructures, enabling Zong to offer faster, more reliable, and scalable connectivity services, providing users with a smoother and more stable network experience.

Mao Weiliang, Chief Technology Officer at Zong, congratulated the team and reaffirmed Zong’s commitment to technological innovation and digital transformation: “By introducing ultra-high-capacity backhaul solutions, we are laying a solid foundation for Pakistan’s digital future. This advancement will support emerging technologies, enhance user experience, and contribute directly to national economic growth and digital inclusion.”

The deployment leverages advanced E-band (80 GHz) full-duplex ultra-broadband transmission technology, supporting a maximum transmission capacity of up to 50 Gbps, a landmark achievement in Pakistan’s network infrastructure evolution.

With this successful test, Zong becomes the first operator in Pakistan to deploy leading full-duplex E-band technology, reinforcing its pivotal role as a core driver of the country’s national digital transformation.

Food outlets penalized in Gujrat

Asif Jalal

Mon, 29 Dec 2025, 5:11 PM

GUJRAT, Dec 29 (APP): The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) carried out operations across the district and a total of 185 food points inspected.

According to a PFA spokesperson, 50 improvement notices were issued to food business operators for violating food safety regulations, while fines amounting to Rs176,000 were imposed in 15 cases.

During the operation, eight food samples were collected for laboratory analysis.

The spokesperson added that 2.75 kilograms of expired and prohibited food items were confiscated and destroyed.