Author: Syed Tauqeer Zaidi

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) delegation met with Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Ashfaq Anwar at the Ranges Police Office in Dera Ismail Khan to discuss the security of ongoing UN projects in the region.The meeting focused on challenges faced in the field and measures to ensure the safety of UN representatives working on local development initiatives. UNDSS officials expressed full confidence in the Dera Range Police, commending their professionalism, courage, and dedication in maintaining peace and stability.RPO Syed Ashfaq Anwar assured the delegation that protecting lives and property…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Dera Ismail Khan: Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur visited the District Central Jail in Dera Ismail Khan to inaugurate two new buildings constructed at a cost of millions of rupees. The ceremony included ribbon-cutting and unveiling of commemorative plaques.He was welcomed by Superintendent Jail Ejaz Mehsud, DIG Prisons Dera Range Tahir Shehbaz, Deputy Superintendent Zafarullah Marwat, and Tank MNA Dawar Khan Gandapur. During the visit, Gandapur inspected various jail sections, met prisoners, and reviewed the quality of food, cleanliness, medical facilities, and the condition of patients under treatment. He…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Private Education Network (PEN) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has strongly condemned the Labour Department’s issuance of heavy fines and notices worth millions of rupees to private educational institutions, calling it state oppression and a blatant attack on education.PEN Pakistan’s Provincial President Saleem Khan and Deputy General Secretary Sardar Muhammad Arsalan Sadozai said private schools across the province are being systematically targeted. They claimed the campaign aims to pressure schools, create unrest, and force protests against the government, describing the actions as “unbearable and unacceptable.”The leadership emphasised that schools are not factories but guardians of…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Funeral prayers were offered for Lieutenant Colonel Imran Diyal, a Pakistan Army officer martyred in a terrorist attack, with full military honours in Dera Ismail Khan.Senior military officials, police and district administration officers, civil servants, tribal elders, and citizens attended the prayers. The body was presented with a guard of honour, while slogans of “Shaheed Zinda Hai” (The martyr lives forever) echoed across the venue.After the prayers, the mortal remains were taken to his native village, Diyal, where he was laid to rest in the local graveyard. Senior military officers laid floral wreaths…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi PESHAWAR: Under the open-door policy of the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, an open court (Khuli Kachehri) was held in Peshawar by the Labour Department to resolve issues faced by industrial workers and ensure prompt redressal of complaints.The session was chaired by Secretary Labour and Chairman Workers Welfare Board, Captain (R) Mian Adil Iqbal. Other officials present included Secretary Workers Welfare Board Sher Alam Khan, Vice Commissioner ESSI Waseem Ahmad, Director Labour Tariq Khan, Director Works Asif Majeed, and Deputy Director Medical, among others.A large number of workers, particularly women, attended the open court and presented their…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi MALAKAND: A PhD scholar at the University of Malakand successfully defended his doctoral thesis during a public defence session held at the Department of Sociology on Tuesday. Hayat Khan conducted his research under the supervision of Dr Adnan Khan, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Malakand. The public defence was evaluated by external examiners Dr Noor Sanauddin of the University of Peshawar and Dr Khalil ur Rehman of Hazara University, Mansehra, who appreciated the scholarly contribution and academic value of the research. The dean of social sciences, Prof Dr Arab Naz,…

Military teams stepped in to aid stranded residents and travelers, offering vital support as harsh conditions left communities isolated for days By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi/Ghulam Hussain Baloch KURRAM/ZHOB: Army launched extensive rescue operations across Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as unusually heavy snowfall and severe winter weather brought life in many parts of the region to a standstill. Military teams were deployed to assist residents and stranded travelers, providing critical support amid treacherous conditions that left numerous communities cut off for days. Security sources said that control centers had been established in key districts including Hoshri, Ziarat, Bolan, Zhob, and Qila…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi PESHAWAR: The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has clarified that recent notifications regarding population movement in Tirah Valley reflected preparedness for humanitarian relief and contingency planning, and should not be interpreted as endorsement of any particular security operations, officials said. In a letter to Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Shafi Jan emphasized that the provincial government’s position remains consistent: security operations must be embedded within a broader political, economic, and social framework to avoid unintended consequences, including civilian disruption, economic hardship, and displacement. The letter noted that recent…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi PESHAWAR: The Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa held a high-profile auction of personalized “choice” number plates at Nishtar Hall on Tuesday, attracting strong public interest and competitive bidding. The top bid was recorded for the plate “Wazir 1”, sold for Rs15 million. The second-highest, “Afridi 1”, fetched Rs1.4 crore and was acquired by Javed Afridi, owner of Peshawar Zalmi. “Khan 1” was sold for Rs1.11 crore to MPA Naik Muhammad Khan. Other notable sales included “Peshawar 1” for Rs10 million, “Haripur 1” for Rs8 million, and “Yousafzai 1” for Rs49.2 lakh. Smaller…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Pakistan People’s Party MNA and chairman of the National Assembly standing committee on defence, Sardar Fatehullah Mian Khel, said Dera Ismail Khan was once known as “Mini Larkana” and that the party’s ideological workers continued to stand firmly with the PPP. He said the party’s central leadership had formed a committee, led by Qamar Zaman Kaira, Humayun Khan, Faryal Talpur, Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha and Nayyar Bukhari, to address the grievances of PPP workers in Dera Ismail Khan. He was speaking at a meeting of senior and long-serving party workers and office-bearers…