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Young man dies, another injured in road mishap under Tatlay Aali police station’s limits

By
Ali Ali
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NOWSHERA VIRKAN, Jul 25 (APP):A young man here on Friday killed while another sustains injuries in road accident in Budhha Goriya area under jurisdiction of Tatlay Aali police station.
The police spokesman said the accident occurred due tyre burst of a motorcycle.
A man identified as Umair 25 years old died on the spot while Arbaz sustained injures in the accident, he added.
A Rescue 1122 team provided first aid to the injured and shifted him to District Headquarter Hospital (DHQ) in critical condition, he added.

Sindh CM meets U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to discuss strengthening USAID partnership

By
Ali Ali
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KARACHI, Jul 25 (APP):Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah met with Ms. Elizabeth Horst, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States of America to Pakistan, to discuss the progress and future of U.S. development assistance in the province.
The meeting was held at CM House and was attended by provincial ministers  Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Chairman P&D Board Najam Shah.
The USA delegation members were Consul General Scott Urbom, Deputy Consul General Jai Nair, Chief Political & Economics Section Shelley Saxen, Political Officer Trevor Earnshaw, Political Specialist Saleh Shah and Staff Assistant Charles Besnard.
The two sides reviewed completed initiatives and explored future collaboration opportunities in the fields of education, water and sanitation, health, climate resilience, and municipal services.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reaffirmed his government’s commitment to deepening its partnership with USAID. He outlined several areas where USAID’s continued support is critical:
The CM said that his government seeks USAID’s assistance in addressing post-2022 flood reconstruction needs, with over 20,000 schools fully or partially damaged. The province aims to restore educational infrastructure and scale up quality teaching through ICT and teacher training.
Murad Shah said that under the WASH project, there is a dire need for immediate rehabilitation of 799 water supply schemes, 444 drainage systems, and 1,212 RO/UF plants is underway. He proposed an additional 504 filtration units for schools and health facilities.
Climate-Resilient Settlement Planning:
The CM said that his government is launching GIS-based planning in 3,000 rural villages, aiming to benefit 264,000 households and protect 1.5 million people living outside high-risk flood zones.
The Chief Minister sought co-financing with USAID for constructing new Basic Health Units (BHUs), Rural Health Centres (RHCs), and Mother & Child Health Centres in underserved areas. Upgrades of existing BHUs and hospitals to modern standards are also planned, including solar energy systems and telemedicine support.
Laboratory Expansion and Disease Surveillance: Ms. Elizabeth Horst, US Chargé d’Affaires, was told that was expanding its lab network, including BSL-III level facilities in Karachi and BSL-II labs in all district headquarters hospitals. USAID’s technical and financial assistance is requested for equipment, personnel training, and lab information systems development.
The Chief Minister appreciated USAID’s long-standing partnership, highlighting the successful completion of several transformative programs.
Municipal Services Delivery Program (MSDP): The CM said that the MSDP concluded in June 2025, the project revitalised water supply, sewage disposal, and solid waste management systems in Jacobabad. Equipment and infrastructure have been handed over to local councils. “However, the Government of Sindh (GoS) awaits the reimbursement of the remaining committed amount of $3.501 million from USAID,” he said.
Improved Access to Water and Sanitation Services (WASH), The WASH implemented in District Umerkot and District Tank (KP) with a cost of $7.6 million, the project successfully improved WASH infrastructure and community engagement. Rehabilitation of non-functional water supply schemes has been completed.
Pakistan Climate Financing Activity (PCFA): A $ 10 million USAID initiative being executed by Chemonics is supporting Sindh in mobilising climate finance. A dedicated Climate Planning & Development Unit (CPDU) is being proposed to institutionalise these efforts.
Concluded in August 2024, the SBEP program constructed 106 schools in 10 districts for $165 million, enhancing access to quality education for thousands of students.
The Chief Minister praised USAID’s instrumental role in supporting Sindh’s development journey and expressed hope that the collaboration will continue to grow in scale and impact. “USAID has been a transformative partner in advancing inclusive, resilient, and people-centred development in Sindh,” he stated.  Elizabeth Horst acknowledged the Sindh government’s proactive role and reiterated the United States’ commitment to supporting Pakistan’s sustainable development through focused and effective cooperation.

DYAs organizes educational tour, special session on interfaith harmony for minority youth

By
Samina Ch
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PESHAWAR, Jul 25 (APP):The District Youth Affairs (DYAs) Hangu on the directions of the Deputy Commissioner Hangu Gohar Zaman Wazir and Director Youth Affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Noman Mujahid, organized a 3-day educational and cultural tour of Hassan Abdal, Mansehra and Murree for the youth of the minority community.
During the tour, the youth participated in healthy activities and also visited various historical and religious places of the Hindu community.
On this occasion, Pandit Zeeshan Kumar also organized a special session on Interfaith Harmony for the youth to make them aware of the beauty of nature and religious and cultural traditions.
Under the guidance of Youth President Sandeep Kumar Sindhu, the youth fully enjoyed the beauty of Galiyat, Murree and Mansehra.
The tour ended with special thanks to the Deputy Commissioner Hangu Gohar Zaman Wazir and District Youth Officer Hangu Razaullah Wazir.

City Centre beautification project reviewed

By
Samina Ch
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Sargodha, Jul 25 (APP):Commissioner Sargodha Division Jahanzeb Awan on Friday presided over a meeting to review progress on the City Centre beautification project, a flagship initiative of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
According to commissioner office’s spokesperson here,  the meeting focused on the remodeling of Gol Chowk and Kutchehry Bazar.
The meeting was informed that the initial phase of the project has been completed, and FESCO has finalised plans for underground electrical installations. 3D models of both markets were also presented during the briefing.
The commissioner directed the director development to obtain 3D models of City Centre beautification projects from Khushab, Mianwali, and Bhakkar. The project will be presented for approval to the Divisional Development Working Party in the next phase.
The meeting was briefed on the estimated costs, completion timeline, and potential facilities for traders and citizens. The commissioner stressed prioritising effective arrangements for rainwater drainage.
Deputy Commissioner Sargodha Capt (retd) Muhammad Wasim, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Director General Muhammad Arshad, Director Development Bilal Hassan, MD WASA Azizullah Khan, and other officials were present in the meeting.

Belorusneft shares seismic exploration plans

By
NNPS Desk
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Rechitsa District, Jul 25 (BelTA/APP): During a visit to a seismic exploration camp in Rechitsa District, Piotr Povzhik, Deputy Director General for Geology at Belorusneft, outlined the company’s seismic exploration plans for 2025, BelTA has learned.

According to the company, this year’s target includes a record-breaking 300,000 meters of rock drilling. “Nearly a third of this planned figure – almost 100,000 meters – is for prospecting and exploration. To maintain and increase oil production levels in the region by 2030, we need to sustain drilling volumes, gradually increasing them to 340,000 meters. In the future, based on the results obtained, we plan to discover small deposits and work with hard-to-recover oil reserves. I can already confidently say that scientifically grounded forecasts let us project oil production levels of 2.3 million tonnes by 2030,” Piotr Povzhik said.

Oil production was discussed earlier this week during a meeting with the president. Among the key tasks set by the head of state for the oil industry was the intensification of drilling operations.

Belorusneft, established in 1966, is engaged in the exploration, development, and extraction of oil fields, well drilling, and the production of oil and associated petroleum gas in Belarus. The company also operates in the oil sectors of other countries.

COAS visits China, meets senior Chinese political, military leadership

By
NNPS Desk
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0

RAWALPINDI, Jul 25 (APP): Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M) undertook an official visit to the People’s Republic of China and held a series of high-level meetings in Beijing with senior Chinese political and military leadership, reaffirming the ironclad strategic partnership between Pakistan and China.
The COAS called on His Excellency Han Zheng, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China and Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of China, said a news release issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Discussions focused on the evolving regional and global political landscape, connectivity initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the need for coordinated responses to shared geopolitical challenges.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the depth of bilateral engagement and reiterated their shared commitment to sovereign equality, multilateral cooperation, and long-term regional stability.
The Chinese leadership lauded the Pakistan Armed Forces as a cornerstone of resilience and a vital contributor to peace in South Asia.
On the military side, Field Marshal Asim Munir held meetings with General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), General Chen Hui, Political Commissar of the PLA Army and Lieutenant General Cai Zhai Jun, Chief of Staff of PLA Army. Upon arrival at the PLA Army Headquarters, the COAS was presented with a guard of honour, symbolizing the longstanding camaraderie between the two Armed Forces.

COAS visits China, meets senior Chinese political, military leadership
These engagements featured comprehensive exchanges on defence and security cooperation, including counterterrorism collaboration, joint training, defence modernisation, and enhanced institutional linkages. Emphasis was placed on improving operational interoperability and strategic coordination to confront hybrid and transnational threats.
The Chinese military leadership reiterated full confidence in the strength of the bilateral defence partnership and acknowledged Pakistan’s pivotal role in promoting regional peace.
Field Marshal Asim Munir appreciated China’s consistent support and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further expanding military-to-military cooperation across all domains.
The visit reflects the growing depth of politico-military ties between the two brotherly nations and underscores their shared resolve to advance regional security through sustained high-level dialogue and engagements.

Weekly inflation up by 4.07pc

By
Ali Ali
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0
ISLAMABAD, Jul 25 (APP):The weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), witnessed an increase of 4.07 percent for the combined consumption groups during the week ended on July 24, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday.
The SPI for the week under review in the above-mentioned group was recorded at 329.09 points as compared to 316.23 points during the past week, according to the PBS data.
As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 2.22 per cent.
The weekly SPI with the base year 2015-16 =100 covers 17 urban centres and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.
The SPI for the lowest consumption group of up to Rs 17,732 witnessed an increase of 3.98 per cent and going up to 317.34 points this week from last week’s 305.19 points.
The SPI for consumption groups of Rs 17,733 to 22,888, Rs 22,889-29,517; Rs 29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175, increased by 5.26 percent, 4.44 percent,3.70 percent and 3.03 percent respectively.
During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 14 (27.45%) items increased, 12 (23.53%) items decreased and 25 (49.02%) items remained stable.
The items, which recorded major increase in their average prices on a week-on-week basis included Gas Charges for Q1 (29.85%), Tomatoes (22.93%), Electricity Charges for Q1 (21.46%), Eggs (3.96%), Garlic (1.39%), Cigarettes (0.51%), Beef (0.46%), Rice Basmati Broken (0.45%), Powdered Milk (0.29%), Energy Saver (0.23%), Curd (0.17%) and Milk Fresh (0.16%).
The commodities which recorded major decrease in their average prices on a week-on-week basis included Chicken (7.95%), Sugar (4.25%), Onions (3.05%), Bananas (2.81%), LPG (2.09%), Potatoes (1.82%), Wheat Flour (1.19%), Pulse Moong (0.43%) and Pulse Gram (0.32%).
Year-on-year basis, the commodities that witnessed increase included Ladies Sandal (55.62%), Gas Charges for Q1 (29.85%), Sugar (21.89%), Pulse Moong (16.42%), Beef (14.08%), Vegetable Ghee 2.5 Kg (12.46%), Vegetable Ghee 1 Kg (12.17%), Gur (11.30%), Eggs (10.70%), Firewood (10.52%), Cooked Daal (9.47%) and Lawn Printed (7.32%).
The commodities which recorded a decrease in their average prices on year-on-year basis included Onions (49.13%), Tomatoes (30.20%), Electricity Charges for Q1 (24.23%), Garlic (23.64%), Wheat Flour (23.21%), Pulse Mash (20.76%), Tea Lipton (17.93%), Potatoes (15.11%), Pulse Masoor (8.86%) and Petrol (1.24%).

Matric supplementary exams from Sept 10

By
Samina Ch
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0
SARGODHA, Jul 25 (APP):The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Sargodha has released the schedule for Matriculation Supplementary Examinations 2025.
According to the schedule, the exams would commence from September 10, 2025. Forms could be submitted with a single fee from July 25 to August 7, 2025, admission forms with double fee could be submitted from August 8 to August 11, 2025, while the triple fee deadline is set from August 12 to August 15, 2025.
A late fee of Rs. 500 per day with triple fees is set for submission of admission forms from August 16 to August 22, 2025.
According to the Controller Examination of BISE Sargodha Riaz Qadir, candidates should submit their forms online through the BISE Sargodha portal or via their respective institutions. He added that timely submission and adherence to rules to ensure smooth processing and roll number slips and admit cards would be available online for download.

MCCI reiterates demand for 6pc policy rate

By
Samina Ch
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0
MULTAN, Jul 25 (APP):President Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Mian Bakhtawar Tanweer Sheikh reiterated the demand for bringing policy rate down to six per cent from existing 11 per cent, saying it would give a boost to trade activities and make the industrial wheel run again with full vigour.
In a statement issued here on Friday, he said that 11 per cent policy rate was very high and it did not favour trade and industry, adding that there was room to reduce it considerably at a time when inflation was down to mere four per cent and Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 0.3pc.
Highlighting the benefits, he said, it would make Pakistani export-oriented products competitive in the international markets, improve domestic investment and claimed it would also make possible Rs 3.5 trillion saving to government on payment of interest on loans. He requested the government that the policy rate be reduced adding that State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was expected to announce Monetary Policy on July 30, 2025.
The MCCI president also urged the government to review tax policy under Finance Act 2025-26, adding that it would affect small and big businesses and may trigger protests.
Bakhtawar Sheikh also demanded the Punjab government to review the new labour policy. Stating that keeping businesses and industry operational in such circumstances was becoming difficult, he urged the government and policy-making institutions to come up with business-friendly policies to restore the confidence of investors through creating conducive environment for trade and industrial operations and save the economy from stagnation.

PM: Belarus will not rest on its environmental achievements, pledges further action

By
NNPS Desk
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0

GORNO-ALTAYSK, Jul 25 (BelTA/APP): Belarus will not be complacent with its current achievements in addressing environmental challenges and will continue to intensify efforts in environmental protection and sustainable natural resource management, Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin said at the plenary session “Environmental Challenges: On the Path to Sustainable Development” at the International Environmental Conference held at the Manzherok resort in Russia’s Altai Republic, BelTA has learned.

Alekasndr Turchin noted that thanks to systematic and targeted efforts, Belarus currently ranks 32nd out of 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). He emphasized that work is being carried out across all key environmental sectors.

“Water resources, as a vital natural asset, are a national treasure in all countries. Belarus is home to over 20,000 watercourses and 10,000 lakes. Our national water protection policy is based on principles of improving the ecological state of surface water bodies and preventing pollution, siltation, and depletion. Water efficiency is assessed through the integration of recycling and reuse systems in industrial processes. Despite economic growth, Belarus has reduced water consumption by 24% compared to 2000 levels,” Aleksandr Turchin stated.

Regarding international climate obligations, Aleksandr Turchin reported: “Under the Paris Agreement, Belarus aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35-40% from 1990 levels by 2030 – a target already exceeded. Work is underway to set a new, more ambitious emission reduction goal for 2035.”

According to him, the share of renewable energy (wind, hydro, solar) in Belarus’ total heat and electricity supply has reached 7.3%.

Belarus has seen rapid growth in electric mobility, Aleksandr Turchin added. The number of electric passenger cars surged 3.4-fold in 2024. Electric public transport now accounts for over 40% of Minsk’s urban transit and continues to grow.

“The specially protected natural areas form the ecological framework of our country. Belarus has achieved significant results and demonstrates substantial progress in this direction, particularly over the past decade. The country’s existing system comprises 1,355 specially protected natural areas. As a result of systematic work, the area of protected natural territories has been steadily increasing and currently exceeds 1.9 million hectares, accounting for 9.2% of the country’s territory,” Aleksandr Turchin stated.

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