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PRCS organizes safety awareness seminar for journalists in DI Khan

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DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jul 15 (APP):The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Dera organized an awareness seminar for local journalists on “Risk Awareness and Safer Behaviour,” aimed at equipping media professionals with vital knowledge on responding to emergencies and potential hazards.
The session was attended by a large number of journalists and featured detailed presentations by PRCS District Secretary Malik Arshad Elahi Dyal, Provincial Project Coordinator Zubair Samad, Atta-ur-Rehman, and Muhammad Arsalan.
The speakers briefed participants on how to stay safe during natural disasters, identify explosive materials and suspicious objects, and respond effectively to various risks.
They emphasized the critical role of responsible behavior and timely reporting in saving lives and highlighted the increasing danger posed by explosive remnants carried by recent floodwaters from areas like Waziristan and Tank into Dera Ismail Khan. The speakers noted that children are particularly vulnerable to these threats.
The PRCS representatives also underscored the organization’s broader mission, stating that beyond emergency relief efforts, the Red Crescent is committed to public education through training sessions and awareness campaigns.
They urged upon the journalists to use their platforms and social media reach to promote public safety and report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.
The seminar also included a briefing on the history and guiding principles of the Red Crescent. The participants appreciated the PRCS’s contributions and praised the initiative for enhancing journalistic capacity in promoting community welfare.

PSX turns bearish, loses 562 points

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PSX
ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP):The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index turned around to bearish trend on Tuesday, losing 562.67 points, a negative change of 0.41 percent, closing at 135,939.87 points against 136,502.54 points last trading day.
A total of 879,118,158 shares were traded during the day as compared to 841,456,115 shares the previous trading day, whereas the price of shares stood at Rs 38.608 billion against Rs 37.051 billion on the last trading day.
As many as 478 companies transacted their shares in the stock market, 110 of them recorded gains and 345 sustained losses, whereas the share price of 23 companies remained unchanged.
The three top trading companies were Bank of Punjab with 61,318,327 shares at Rs 13.13 per share, K-Electric Limited with 56,728,152  shares at Rs5.27 per share and Trust Modaraba with 44,591,951 shares at Rs 7.72 per share.
PIA Holding Company LimitedB witnessed a maximum increase of Rs 2,876.82 per share price, closing at Rs 31,645.05, whereas the runner-up was Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited with Rs 460.68 rise in its per share price to Rs 23,796.18.
Hoechst Pakistan Limited witnessed a maximum decrease of Rs106.27 per share closing at Rs 3,145.00 followed by Atlas Honda Limited with Rs46.47 decline in its share price to close at Rs1,095.57.

DPM meets Iranian counterpart at SCO Summit; reaffirms solidarity with Iran amid regional tensions

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP):Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Tianjin, China.
During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the state of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Iran across various sectors and exchanged views on the evolving regional situation in the wake of recent Israeli aggression against Iran, a DPM’s Office news release said.
Senator Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the people and Government of Iran and underscored Pakistan’s principled commitment to regional peace and stability. He emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy must remain the only viable path toward de-escalation and achieving lasting peace in the region.

D-Chowk sees high turnout in emission testing drive

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP): The Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) has expanded its vehicle emission testing initiative across the federal capital, urging citizens to ensure their cars meet environmental standards.
The campaign aims to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality by enforcing mandatory inspections and maintenance.
According to the spokesman of ICT administration here, the Islamabad Transport Authority is actively conducting vehicle inspections under its Vehicle Emission Testing System. A dedicated inspection camp was recently set up at D-Chowk, where a large number of citizens brought their vehicles for testing.
According to ITA Chairman Irfan Memon, the inspection drive began with vehicles belonging to government departments. In the next phase, the initiative was extended to include private vehicles owned by citizens. He noted that participation from the public has been encouraging, with many residents acknowledging the importance of checking vehicle emissions to protect the environment.
Vehicles that pass the emission test at the camp are issued clearance stickers. These stickers indicate that the vehicle meets the required environmental standards.
Irfan Memon emphasized that this step is necessary to control pollution levels in the city, and it is being executed with the help of advanced machinery.
“The inspection process is not limited to one area. We plan to expand it throughout the city using modern equipment,” Irfan Memon stated. He urged all vehicle owners to voluntarily present their cars for inspection.
He further warned that vehicles failing the inspection or not maintained properly after testing will face strict action. The ITA will conduct joint operations with Islamabad Traffic Police to take action against vehicles without clearance stickers.
“This is a collective effort to improve the city’s air quality and ensure that only compliant vehicles remain on the roads,” Irfan Memon added.
The Islamabad Transport Authority’s initiative is part of broader efforts to address increasing environmental concerns, especially rising pollution from unregulated vehicle emissions. The campaign reflects the city’s commitment to sustainable urban living and public health protection.

SECP makes public “Women EquiSmart Policy 2025–2028” for Consultation

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SECP
ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP):The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has issued the Draft Women EquiSmart Policy 2025–2028, its first comprehensive gender equality framework for regulated sectors, including capital markets, insurance, non-banking finance, and the corporate sector.
The framework is now available on the SECP’s website for public consultation, said a press release issued by the SECP on Tuesday.
The draft framework reflects the SECP’s strategic shift from fragmented diversity efforts to a structured, cohesive regulatory approach to gender inclusion, aligned with national priorities and global frameworks.
Built around six core pillars—women’s leadership on boards, gender-disaggregated reporting, women’s entrepreneurship, gender-smart products, workplace inclusivity, and institutional capacity building—the policy outlines current practices, identifies existing gaps and provides actionable recommendations supported by timelines and key stakeholders.
The SECP invites feedback from all stakeholders on the policy recommendations and action plan.

Bike lifter nabbed; three stolen motorcycles recovered

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP):Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police, Lohi Bher Police Station team have arrested a wanted member of a notorious motorcycle-lifting gang and recovered three stolen motorbikes from his possession on Tuesday.
A public relations officer told APP that the arrest was made through the effective use of both technical surveillance and human intelligence, leading to the capture of the suspect, identified as Samim Farhad.
He said that the accused was involved in multiple incidents of motorcycle theft across various sectors of Islamabad. Three stolen motorcycles were recovered during the operation, while several cases had already been registered against the arrested suspect.
He said that SSP Operations Islamabad, Muhammad Shoaib Khan, has directed all zonal officers to intensify operations against those involved in street crime and theft to ensure the safety of citizens and their property.

Police honours martyrs’ families in khyber district

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PESHAWAR, Jul 15 (APP):On the special directives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed, DIG Welfare Kashif Mushtaq Kanju visited District Khyber on Monday to meet the families of 10 police martyrs.
During his visit, DIG Welfare held a special meeting at the DPO office with the martyrs’ relatives, where he presented condolence letters from the IGP and financial assistance cheques of Rs. 50,000 for each family. The letters paid tribute to the martyrs’ bravery and their ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
“Our martyrs are our pride, and serving their families remains our top priority,” said DIG.
 He highlighted that under IGP Hameed’s leadership, the Welfare Wing is ensuring not only timely financial aid but also focusing on education, healthcare, and other essential needs of the martyrs’ children.
DPO Khyber Rai Mazhar Iqbal reiterated the police force’s commitment to supporting the martyrs’ families, calling it both an “honour and a duty.” The families expressed gratitude to the KP Police, IGP Zulfiqar Hameed, and DPO Iqbal for their continued support.
The visit underscores KP Police’s efforts to uphold the welfare of martyrs’ families across the province.

KMU-UNFPA sign MoU to launch BS midwifery program

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Khyber Medical University
PESHAWAR, Jul 15 (APP):Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formally launch the Bachelor of Science in Midwifery (BSM) program.
The primary aim of this strategic partnership is to address the challenges in the field of maternal and child health through a comprehensive approach and to develop a well-trained midwifery workforce.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Zia ul Haq, Vice Chancellor of KMU, and Dr. Luay Shabaneh, Country Representative of UNFPA Pakistan.
Under the agreement, UNFPA will support the professional development of KMU faculty through specialized training sessions conducted under the supervision of international experts. In addition, UNFPA will assist in the establishment of a state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Laboratory at KMU’s Institute of Nursing Sciences in Peshawar to provide practical training to midwifery students.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Zia ul Haq stated that this partnership is a positive step towards improving maternal and child health. It will not only enhance KMU’s academic capacity but also contribute to aligning midwifery education in Pakistan with global standards.
He further emphasized that KMU’s unique model of integrating various health disciplines under one roof is yielding meaningful results, leading to the development of a more effective and comprehensive healthcare system.
The ultimate beneficiaries of this effort, he added, will be the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who will receive improved and accessible medical services.

UoS signs LOI to establish joint campus in China

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Sargodha, Jul 15 (APP):The University of Sargodha (UoS) on Tuesday signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Changjiang Li Autonomous County Government in Hainan Province, China, to establish a joint overseas campus.
The LOI was signed during an official ceremony attended by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Qaisar Abbas and Chief Mayor of Changjiang Li, Mr Liang Ming. Both sides expressed their commitment to move the project forward swiftly and collaboratively, said a press release issued here.
Chief Mayor Liang Ming welcomed the UoS delegation and lauded the initiative as a visionary leap toward strengthening Pak-China higher education cooperation.
He praised the leadership of Prof Dr Qaisar Abbas for his forward-thinking approach and commitment to building meaningful academic bridges between the two countries.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof Dr Qaisar Abbas emphasized the strategic significance of the collaboration.
He said that this initiative makes UoS the first public-sector Pakistani university to establish an academic campus in China, opening new avenues for bilateral academic exchange, regional integration, and soft diplomacy under the broader vision of Pak-China cooperation.
He stated that the joint campus will not only offer academic programmes but will also serve as a center for cross-cultural understanding, innovation, and research excellence.

Gold prices dip by Rs.700 to Rs.359,000 per tola

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP):The price of 24 karat per tola gold decreased by Rs.700 and was traded at Rs.359,000 on Tuesday as compared to its sale at Rs. 359,700 on the last trading day, All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewelers Association reported.
The prices of 10 grams of 24 karat also decreased by Rs600 to Rs.307,784 from Rs. 308,384 and for 10 grams of 22 Karat it went down by Rs.550 to Rs.282,145 from Rs. 282,695.
The rates of per tola and ten gram silver decreased by Rs73 and Rs 62 to Rs.4,014 and Rs.3,441 respectively.
The price of gold in the international market decreased by $7 to $3,365 from $3,372 whereas that of silver decreased by $0.73 to $38.30 from $39.03, the Association reported.