Author: Syed Tauqeer Zaidi

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Pakistan has confirmed its 31st polio case of 2025, health officials reported on Tuesday, involving a four-month-old girl from Union Council Spinwam-2 in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Laboratory tests conducted by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad detected wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in samples collected from the child, who developed symptoms in December. According to the NIH, the infection underscores the ongoing vulnerability of children in areas where routine immunization campaigns face obstacles. Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has remained the most affected region,…

By Syed Tqauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Commissioner Dera Division Dawood Khan distributed scholarships worth Rs9.6 million under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s “Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa” program, in a ceremony aimed at recognizing and encouraging talented students across the district. The cheque distribution event was organized by the Dera Ismail Khan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) at Mufti Mehmood School and College, with the Commissioner serving as the chief guest. The ceremony was attended by Chairman BISE Dera, Professor Dr. Ehsanullah, Controller Secretary Dr. Qayyum Nawaz, Assistant Controller Tariq Javed, the Assistant to the Commissioner for Political Development, Sajjad…

By Syed Tqauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Accountant General’s (AG) Office in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has come under scrutiny for allegedly withholding cheques worth Rs3.63 billion that were approved for the procurement of sanitation machinery, vehicles, and loaders for Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs) across the province. The funds were initially sanctioned during the tenure of former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur as part of the provincial government’s broader “Green and Clean, Clean Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” initiative, aimed at improving cleanliness and waste management in both urban and rural areas. Despite formal approval by the provincial cabinet and subsequent clearance from the…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has demanded that the provincial chief minister clarify who is responsible for ongoing acts of terrorism, questioning why police, Frontier Corps, military personnel, and civilians continue to be targeted. Speaking at a news conference in Peshawar, Kundi said: “If Afghanistan is not involved, then who is responsible for these terrorist attacks? Who is killing our security personnel and citizens? Are they expecting the police to fight empty-handed while the army is withdrawn from the province?” The governor also criticized provincial authorities over the management of federal funds, noting that…

By Syed Tqauqeer Zaidi BANNU: Four members of a local peace committee, including a father and his son, were killed on Tuesday in a targeted terrorist attack in Bannu district, officials said, marking yet another violent strike against community leaders working to maintain law and order. Police reported that the incident took place in the Huwed area as the victims were returning from a jirga held in Gulbadin Landai Dhok. Their vehicle was ambushed at a pre-determined spot by unidentified gunmen who opened indiscriminate fire, killing all four occupants instantly. The identities of the victims have not yet been publicly…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: An emergency meeting was held under the chairmanship of Commissioner Dera Division, Dawood Khan, to review arrangements for the repatriation of Afghan nationals residing illegally, in line with directives from the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The session was attended by Regional Police Officer Syed Ashfaq Anwar, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Nasir Khan, and District Police Officer Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada. Officials briefed the Commissioner on identification, registration, and security measures, as well as the challenges encountered so far. Commissioner Dawood Khan stressed the strict implementation of the law while ensuring humanitarian treatment for women,…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Anti-Corruption Department (ACD), led by Circle Officer Minhaj Sikandar Baloch and in coordination with the Tehsildar of Kulachi, has recovered 1,400 kanals of land worth over Rs25 million in the Kulachi area. The recovery followed a complaint by Samiullah, who claimed the land originally belonged to his family but had been fraudulently taken over by Syed Mumtaz Ali in collusion with revenue officials. The land was later sold to Habib-ur-Rehman, with only Rs200,000 deposited in the national exchequer, causing a substantial financial loss to the government. After a detailed investigation, the Anti-Corruption…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: X-en PESCO WAPDA DIK Division Muhammad Imran Khan Gandapur has issued strict instructions to line staff, emphasizing that “safety must always be the first priority.” The directives were shared during the T&P Parade, attended by senior officials including SDO City Sub Division-1 Waqas Baloch, Divisional Chairman Shoaib Kundi, Zonal Secretary Iftikhar Khan Bannu Zai, Sub-Division Chairman Rizwan Sunbal, Vice Chairman Syed Kamran Shah, and other key staff. X-en Imran Khan Gandapur stressed that no work should be carried out hastily or carelessly. He said linemen must never start work without proper PTW, earthing,…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: In response to rising tribal tensions, a jirga was convened in Mir Ali Tehsil, North Waziristan, under the leadership of the local Brigade Commander. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mir Ali, and elders of the Madi Khel tribe. The jirga discussed recent clashes between the Epi and Madi Khel tribes, including reports of alleged armed drone use, highlighting threats to peace and civilian safety. Officials urged both tribes to exercise restraint, avoid confrontation, and resolve disputes through legal and peaceful channels. Tribal elders reaffirmed their commitment to promote…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur, has said that the people of Dera Ismail Khan should treat the ongoing development projects as their own and extend full cooperation to the government, stressing that while development work may cause temporary inconvenience, it will bring long-term benefits for the city and its residents. He was speaking at a ceremony organized by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Dera and the Social Welfare Department, where more than 300 Transport Special Cards for persons with disabilities, 59 tricycles and 50 hearing aids were distributed…