Author: Syed Tauqeer Zaidi

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi PESHAWAR: Relief goods for families affected in Tirah Valley and Kurram have arrived at the Governor House in Peshawar, officials said, following special instructions from the governor of Punjab. The items were handed over by the Punjab Red Crescent Society to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Merged Districts branch of the Red Crescent during a ceremony at the Governor House. The event was attended by Principal Secretary to the Governor Zubair Arshad, PRCS Merged Districts representative Imran Wazir, Secretary Shahid Malik, PRCS Punjab general secretary Mehboob Qadir Shah, and Zeeshan Ashfaq. The relief consignment includes 500 food packages,…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched a comprehensive initiative to protect students and the younger generation from the dangers of drug abuse, officials said.Alongside a zero-tolerance policy against drug mafias, dealers, smugglers and sellers, the government has begun organizing awareness sessions and seminars in universities and other educational institutions to educate students and society about the social and health risks associated with drugs.Provincial Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Syed Fakhar Jehan visited the University of Peshawar to formally inaugurate the campaign and to initiate a series of visits to educational institutions…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Darazinda police have foiled a major drug smuggling attempt and recovered 2,031 grams of high-quality “ice” from secret compartments of a truck, arresting the accused smuggler and registering a case, officials said.According to police, under the supervision of District Police Officer Dera Ismail Khan Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada, district police have continued indiscriminate operations against criminals and drug smugglers. Acting on a tip-off, a team from Darazinda Police Station, led by SP Saddar Division Muhammad Nawab Khan and SDPO Inamullah Khan Gandapur, along with SHO Abdullah Khan, was carrying out routine checking at the…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has issued a second weather alert, warning of a Western weather system set to affect most districts of the province from Sunday, 25 January, to Tuesday, 27 January, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The PMD forecast predicts heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snowfall in upper districts, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Galiyat, Malakand, Bannu, and Bajaur. Meanwhile, other districts such as Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Kurram, Khyber, and Waziristan are expected to experience general rain, thunderstorms, and…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is currently confronting extraordinary challenges, including terrorism and climate-related disasters, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information and Public Relations, Shafi Jan, said on Friday. Responding to remarks made by the opposition leader, Shafi Jan highlighted the severe difficulties faced by residents of Tirah Maidan in Khyber District following heavy snowfall. Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Provincial Minister for Local Government and Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi, along with MPA Abdul Ghani, visited the affected areas to assess ongoing relief operations. Shafi Jan said that the Chief Minister…

Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN:A deadly suicide attack claimed the lives of five people and injured ten others during a wedding ceremony at the residence of Aman Committee chief Noor Alam Mehsud near Qureshi Mor on Friday. The explosion occurred while guests were attending the ceremony, with some youths performing the traditional Attan dance. The powerful blast caused one room to collapse, spreading panic and chaos. Among the martyrs were prominent Aman Committee leader Abdul Waheed (Commander Jagri) and MZI leader Abdul Majeed (Laghari Advocate). Police confirmed the attack was likely carried out by a suicide bomber, with the…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A thought-provoking debate on countering violent extremism was recently held at Government Girls Degree College No. 1 in Dera Ismail Khan. The session, titled “Countering Violent Extremism through Multiple Strategies,” brought students together to discuss one of the most pressing challenges facing Pakistan and the wider region. The event was organized under the guidance of Principal Afia Saadat Qaisrani, whose leadership ensured the smooth conduct of the debate. It followed the Asian Parliamentary style, with participants assigned roles as Speaker, Ruling Party, and Opposition, allowing for structured discussion and dynamic engagement. Students demonstrated…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi KOHAT: Security forces and police successfully foiled a major terrorist plot in Kohat, preventing what could have been widespread destruction across the city. Authorities said verified intelligence had indicated that a group of terrorists was hiding in a farmhouse within the city and planning coordinated attacks in Kohat and surrounding areas. Acting on this information, police and counter-terrorism personnel launched an immediate operation at the farmhouse under the jurisdiction of MRS Police Station. District Police Officer Shahbaz Elahi stated that the area had been fully cordoned off, with advanced surveillance equipment deployed to monitor the site.…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control, Syed Fakhar Jehan, chaired the department’s first-ever E-Open Court (Kuli Kachehri) on 22 January 2026, directly addressing public complaints and ensuring their swift resolution. The session, attended by Secretary Excise Khalid Ilyas and senior departmental officers, received 46 phone calls from across the province and beyond, while 280 public comments were submitted via Facebook Live. Taking serious notice of reports about officials checking citizens’ mobile phones at checkpoints, the minister declared such acts illegal and warned that strict legal action would be taken against offenders. He…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi chaired a high-level meeting on 22 January 2026 to review ongoing healthcare reforms, key challenges, and the future strategy of the provincial Health Department, officials said. The Chief Minister urged authorities to move away from a “firefighting” approach and adopt a comprehensive and sustainable strategy to ensure the long-term provision of quality healthcare facilities to the public. He emphasized the need to strengthen primary and secondary hospitals to reduce pressure on major medical centers, discouraging unnecessary referrals. While ensuring that unavoidable referrals were properly justified. Officials were also…