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RPO holds open court

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RPO
SARGODHA, Jun 10 (APP):Regional Police Officer (RPO) Shariq Kamal Siddiqui held an open court at his office here on Monday.
He listened to public grievances and issued orders for their early solution. He directed police officers to utilise all resources for the provision of justice to citizens at their doorsteps.
Siddiqui said the basic purpose of holding open courts was to provide speedy justice and early resolution of public grievances. The provision of justice is the top priority of the police department and no negligence would be tolerated in this regard, he added.
A large number of people and police officers attended the open court.

Search operation conducted in Lalazar

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search operations
RAWALPINDI, Jun 10 (APP):The police on special directives of City Police Officer (CPO), Syed Khalid Mehmood Hamdani here on Monday launched a search operation in Lalazar and adjoin areas in the jurisdiction of Morgah police station .
A police spokesman said that heavy police contingent, Elite Force, Special Branch personnel and Ladies police along with officials of Morgah police conducted search operation.
A total of 22 houses, 12 shops and 55 suspects were questioned during the operation.
The search operations to net criminals and proclaimed offenders were regularly being conducted under National Action Plan in different areas of the district particularly to ensure law and order, he added.

IHC orders to pay Rs 3 mln to missing person’s father

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IHC
ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP):The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday directed the government to pay a compensation of three million rupees to the father of Haroon Muhammad, a missing person from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb presided over the hearing of Haroon Muhammad’s recovery case.
During the course of the hearing, the court directed the government to ensure the provision of compensation to the affected father and the Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) to provide security to the petitioner.
Additionally, the court directed that a case be filed against the involved security personnel and adjourned the hearing for two weeks.

Chairperson BISP visits Garhi Khuda Bakhsh

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LARKANA , Jun 10 (APP):Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), chairperson Rubina Khalid visited Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto on Monday and offered fateha at shrines of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto, Shaheed Shahnawaz Bhutto and other martyrs besides laid flowers on the graves.  
Speaking to the media, Rubina Khalid said that the institution established in the name of martyr Benazir Bhutto is sacred for us, and added that no injustice will be tolerated in this regard.  
President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had given the responsibility to work for  the rights of poor and provide relief to them in a transparent manner.  
 “I will try my best to fulfill this great responsibility in a better way, ” she said.  
She said that President Asif Ali Zardari has instructed that there shouldn’t be any kind of deduction from the money given to the beneficiaries under BISP.  
She said, we are creating a system through which, the poor people could get money in a dignified manner.  
 In reply to a question, the BISP Chairperson said that this system is linked to NADRA, it may have errors but after reviewing the program it will be cleared from errors.  
She said that all the facilities would be provided to the deserving people at the centers to protect them from heat.

Zubaida Trail: A historic passage for pilgrims

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Zubaida Trail
ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP):The Arabian Peninsula boasts a rich tapestry of history, and the Zubaida Trail is a vibrant thread woven into its fabric.
This ancient pilgrimage route, echoing through time, served not only as a path for religious journeys but also as a vital artery for trade and cultural exchange.
Renowned for its efficiency, the Zubaida Trail was the shortest route between Kufa and Makkah. Its meticulously planned path featured designated stations and rest areas, offering weary pilgrims respite from the harsh desert sun. In sandy stretches, the trail was paved with stones, a testament to the thoughtful engineering of the trail, SPA reported.
Scattered along the Zubaida Trail are the silent sentinels of history: archaeological sites and structures. Wells, pools, dams, palaces, and mosques are testament to a bygone era, each landmark whispering tales of the past.
Travelers on the Zubaida Trail were not left to wander blindly. Geographers and explorers, like Lady Anne Blunt in her book “A Pilgrimage to Najd”, documented the trail’s importance.
Tour guide Khalaf Al-Ghofaily sheds light on the stone markers and beacons that served as a navigational system. These strategically placed structures, some square and some circular, spaced approximately 24 kilometers apart, guided travelers throughout their journey.
Abdulrahman Al-Tuwaijri, a researcher in archaeology and history, emphasizes the sophisticated signage on the trail.
Beacons, stone piles, and milestones not only marked the route but also facilitated navigation, during both day and night. Convergence points at junctions prevented travelers from losing their way, while placement on hills and natural elevations ensured clear visibility.

President directs payment of compensation to 1500 affectees of Diamer Bhasha Dam

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President

ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday directed the authorities concerned to ensure the payment of compensation worth Rs4.7 million each to 1500 affectees of the Diamer Bhasha Dam.

The president said this in separate meetings with Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam and Energy Minister Dr Musaddik Malik here, according to a President House press release.

Highlighting the necessity of establishment of a medical college and hospital in GB, the president instructed the relevant departments to take measures on priority for the purpose.

Besides, he also directed for extending the scope of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) to the people of GB to provide them healthcare facilities.

A few days ago, the GB governor and the Members of GB Council had apprised the president of the issues faced by the GB people. The president had also assured them for the measures to help resolve the problems.

Diafat Al Madinah association provides extensive services to pilgrims

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Diafat Al Madinah

ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP): The Diafat Al Madinah Association, playing a crucial role in assisting pilgrims and visitors during this year’s Hajj season, has provided over 1.3 million services across various frequented sites.

The association’s dedicated volunteers contributed 600 hours of service from the 11th of Dhu Al-Qi’dah to the 1st of Dhu Al-Hijjah.

Services included providing 285,380 meals and distributing 834,990 water bottles through the soqia (watering services) program at pilgrim dispatch centers and border crossing points, SPA reported.

Additionally, 85,225 pilgrims benefited from the hospitality program, and more than 10,000 umbrellas were distributed to pilgrims and visitors.

The association also assisted 28,442 elderly pilgrims and pilgrims with disabilities.

We are still in the World Cup: Gary Kirsten

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Gary Kirsten
Naeem Niazi
LAHORE, Jun 10 (APP):Pakistan Head Coach Gary Kirsten has said that Pakistan’s defeat against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixture from a position of ascendency was a disappointing loss as they could not get across the line from the position they had got into.
Speaking during the post-match press conference after losing to India at the Nassau cricket stadium, he said it was disappointing that Pakistan were placed at 72-2 with 6-7 overs remaining but we faltered as we lost wickets at regular intervals and fell agonizingly short by 6 runs.
Pakistan sent the Indian team packing for 119 runs in 19 overs and needed 120 runs to record their first win against the arch rivals at the World Cup 2024 but Pakistan lost the advantage and could only score 113-7 in the 20 overs. Responding to the reasons behind Pakistan’s shocking defeat, the head coach held both the batsmen and the bowlers responsible for the defeat. Pakistan (0) are yet to play against Ireland and Canada and victories by big margins may ensure their presence as the  ‘poor decision making at important phases of the game in the Pakistan innings cost us the match, he said to a question, adding that Rizwan played a very good knock. He said with 80 runs in the pocket and run a ball not required, the middle order wilted and we lost the script.
With two defeats from two matches, Kirsten was of the view Pakistan team was yet to play two matches and was not out of the tournament
With the talk centered on Nassau cricket stadium pitch as a dangerous one, Kirsten disagreed with the idea of a small total put up by India, adding that taking the character of the surface into consideration we knew it was good total, adding that “I think it was not dangerous, the odd one rose while it generally kept low and the fairly slow outfield made run scoring difficult. I would have said 140 was a good total on the pitch but the India did no put up the total and in difficult to score for both sides “it is sometimes fun to have games like this and not having time like not always about getting 230 and 240 runs games but sometimes you can have an entertaining game on a 120 chase”
On responsibility for the loss, Gary Kirsten said ‘everyone is responsible for the poor performance against India, we accept the loss as the team has not done well and take the heat,’ adding that we will do whatever we can to rectify this defeat. I have been here for twelve days, it is a new journey me understanding the players who can win games for Pakistan
On Babar’s captaincy, Kirsten said Babar captained really well today, adding that he marshalled his bowlers very well, spread them across very well and his bowling changes were spot on. On Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan’s performance, the head coach said these boys have played the T20I cricket for many many years for Pakistan, adding that it was up to them to decide how they are going to take the game forward
Kirsten lavished praise on the bowlers for very good bowling display, adding that the bowlers bowled really well except for the 10-15 runs they leaked towards the end of the innings it was time to executing better as bowlers and batsmen I knew it was a good total
On his assessment of the loss and performance of the cricketers, he said he had joined the team merely twelve days back and he was looking into the environment and what the issues were.
“These guys are playing for their country for many many years and that is why there are many disappointed faces in the dressing room the most important thing for me is to see every international growing and developing as a player and what the demands of international competition are the game is changing every year now and if you are not up to it, you are not improving you are going to find out somewhere, “ the Head Coach responded.
About the message to the batsmen at the water break during Pakistan innings, he said the message from all of us was look for the odd boundary and try to capitalize on loose balls and get as many ones as possible. He said the things were under control then we lost wickets and stopped scoring runs. We were on the track by the 15th over and then lost the plot.
On Pakistan’s bowling performance, Kirsten said he was excited for the bowling performance, adding that we checked the stats of Pakistan bowling in the past 15 matches between overs 10-20 and they are up with the best in the world. On the bowling performance against India, he said we are a difficult side to contend with if we bowl like this, however, he was critical of the batsmen and wanted them to take responsibility.
He said Imad Wasim was promoted up the batting order in order to have left and right hand combination, adding that the plan was to ward off India spin bowlers.

Deputy Governor of Makkah inspects Holy sites to ensure readiness for Hajj season

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ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP):The Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, inspected several locations in the holy sites to ensure their readiness to receive pilgrims during the Hajj season of 1445 AH. 
Director of Public Security, Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Bassami, and several high-ranking officials accompanied the deputy governor during the inspection tour, SPA reported.
He commenced his visit by inspecting the readiness of the Al-Mashaer Train to transport pilgrims between the holy sites during this Hajj season. 
He reviewed the operations and control center’s activities, its readiness to operate trains and stations, and the interactive screens containing information about trial operations and crowd management. 
This year’s Hajj plan aims to transport over two million passengers through more than 2,000 trips over seven days of actual operation.
Moreover, he listened to an explanation about the role of the Facilities Security Forces at Al-Mashaer Train stations and their efforts in organizing pedestrian movement and crowd management at the stations. 
These efforts aim to prevent congestion and manage the density of people, with the movement of pedestrians also monitored through the control room to ensure the safety of pilgrims entering the stations.
Additionally, he visited East Arafat Hospital and reviewed the workflow in several departments, including the emergency department, isolation rooms, clinics, intensive care units, operating rooms, and heatstroke treatment units. The hospital has a total bed capacity of 405 beds.
He also visited the Arafat Camps Development Project, a two-story facility executed by the Company of Mutawifs for Pilgrims from African Non-Arab Countries under the supervision of Kidana Development Company, the main developer of the holy sites.
The project aims to enrich the pilgrim service by providing all essential services needed for performing the rituals, making optimal use of space in the holy sites, enhancing service quality, and introducing new innovative services to increase pilgrim comfort and raise the capacity in the holy sites.
Furthermore, he reviewed the first phase of Muzdalifah’s pedestrian road path, which spans 70,000 square meters and can accommodate 60,000 pilgrims. The project includes 10,000 square meters of green spaces and features cooling of pedestrian walkways, climate moderation, humanization of the Al-Mashar Al-Haram Mosque area, visual improvement, eco-friendly products, and year-round sustainability. The project also includes pedestrian paths for the elderly and people with special needs, golf cart paths, service areas, and commercial kiosks.
The deputy governor then visited the mobile field hospital in Muzdalifah, operated by the Ministry of Defense, which contains 50 beds and provides necessary medical services to pilgrims. The hospital includes departments for inpatient care, isolation, heatstroke treatment, critical care, emergency, operating and recovery rooms, radiology, laboratory, and sterilization.
At the end of the tour, Prince Saud bin Mishal chaired a meeting attended by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, the Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Mohammed Altamimi, and several leaders of the digital economy sector.
During the meeting, he was briefed on the preparations of the system for this year’s Hajj season, the growth indicators of the communications and technology sector, and the readiness of all plans and the robustness of networks in the holy sites, in coordination with public and private sector entities and the committees overseeing the Hajj season.

KFSH&RC study shows 74.6% reduction in heat stroke cases during Hajj season

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Hajjj
ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP):A recent study by the Research & Innovation Centre at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) has shown the effectiveness of preventive measures taken to protect pilgrims from health risks associated with high temperatures during Hajj, according to SPA.
Despite an average temperature increase of 0.4 degrees Celsius per decade in Makkah, the study found a 74.6% decrease in the number of heat stroke cases, and a 47.6% decrease in mortality rates. These positive outcomes can be attributed to the implementation of preventive measures, which create a safe and healthy environment for pilgrims.
The study, published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, examines four decades of meteorological data and records of heat-related illnesses during the Hajj season in Makkah, highlighting the relationship between rising temperature and the associated health risks.
According to the study, Saudi Arabia has implemented several measures at individual, structural, and community levels to mitigate heat-related health risks for pilgrims during Hajj. These measures include using water mist sprays to cool the air in open spaces and reduce heat for the crowds, providing water and umbrellas to pilgrims, and ensuring the availability of air-conditioned transport, including metro lines operational since 2010, which offer comfortable transportation for pilgrims.
Moreover, the Kingdom has focused on increasing awareness among pilgrims and healthcare providers about heat-related illnesses, ensuring access to free healthcare services during Hajj, and improving the surveillance and management of cases.
This includes implementing heat-related disease management guidelines set by the Ministry of Health, which outline specific procedures before and after hospital admission.
The release added that these measures enable quick identification and treatment of heat-related cases during Hajj for a better outcome. Additionally, environmental engineering strategies and building design have been integrated to enhance natural ventilation, decrease heat retention at the holy sites, increase shading areas, and reduce overcrowding.
The results of the study extend beyond the local context and can be generalized to the global population.  The Hajj serves as “a unique microcosm” for studying heat-related risks, as it is attended by millions of pilgrims from over 180 countries who perform rituals in a high-temperature desert environment. This aspect holds “immense scientific value” for planning and improving responses to rising global temperatures, according to the release.
KFSH&RC has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 20th globally, in the list of the world’s top 250 Academic Medical Centers for the second consecutive year, and recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to the 2024 Brand Finance rankings. Additionally in the same year, it was ranked among the world’s best 250 hospitals by Newsweek magazine,” the release said.