The News on Sunday, Karachi

duly 12,2026 *

NA&qTIONAL 9


Swat grapples with growing
environmental challenges

By Mahboob Ali Yousatzal ©   Farmers say ‘unpredictable and rainfall pattems, “The
rainfall, prolonged dry spells glaciers are shrinking and

MINGORA: Though renowned and shifting growing seasons water resources are becom-
for its lush forests, snow- have reduced crop productiv- ing uncertain, Agriculture
capped mountains and gla- ity, while communities living and tourism, which provide

clers, Swat valley is facing in mountainous areas face income to many families, are | power cuts are frequent in| The Authority conducted a
Mounting environmental and increasing risks from natural both under pressure because | iraq, especially during the | detailed review of the matter

socio-economic challenges disasters.                         “of these environmental
as climate change, deforest- - The residents identified changes,” he maintained.

ation and unsustainable land deforestation as the principal
use continue to threaten the factor aggravating environ: Utror in Kalam, said climate

| -Iragis protest. |Geo News transmission to resume after

over power cuts
in sweltering:
: summer heat

payment of Rs10m fine: Pemra

— Geo
spokesperson.

Continued from page 1

_» ,. Gontinued from page 1 that the violation was of a barred, subject to applicable | spokesperson. *The chan-
to the airing of religious serious rature and wasincon- law, from being re-employed, | nel promptly acknowledged

imagery during Geo News" sistent with the obligations of appointed, engaged or assoch

Contiaued trom page a  programme ‘Safar-e-Ishq’ the icensee under the Pemra ated —     — directly or indirectly

as part of its special 10th legal framework and the stan- — in any service operating

Demonstrations against | Muharram transmission. dards of responsible broad.  under a licence, registration,

scorching summer months,

when temperatures often| July 1L.
Shahzad, a resident of] reach S0C,

In the oil-rich country,

permission or authorisation

While taking into account  fssued or regulated by Perna.
at its 19ist mecting held on “Geo News’ admission of negii- _~ The Authority wamed Geo
1                * gence, expression of remorse News that any recurrence of|
The meeting considered and unconditional public such negligence would invite
the recommendations of apologies issued across all stricter action, including pos-

tegion’s fragile ecosystem and mental degradation in the val- change had lowered agricul- ] many houscholds have just a | the Council of Complaints, media pltforms as mitigating sible revocation of its licence
few hours of state electricity | Lahore, the proceedings on factors, the Authority made it in accordance with the law,
on firewood, over- economic hardships for farm-| per day, and those who can

the livelihoods of thousands of ley, Dlegal logging, excessive tural yields and increased
people.
Recent findings based grazing, population growth and ing families. *Our standard

afford it use private genera-

on a survey of households the unchecked conversion of of living has been affected a3 | tors to keep fridges and air

across Upper and Lower agricultural land into residen- crop production has declined
Swat indicate that residents tial settlements have signif. and weather conditions have
have witnessed significant cantly reduced forest cover in become more unpredictable.

con             TuNnng,
Iraq ks the second-largest
cil producer in the OPEC car-

changes in the local climate recent years. Encroachments We need immediate action to | tel, but despite its immense oi]

over the past decade, Most into Moodplains have also protect our forests and natural
respondents reported rising increased the vulnerability of resources,” he added. ~

temperatures, while an over communities to flash floods.
whelming majority observed Zubair Torwali, a resident several barriers preventing
2 sharp decline in annual of Bahrain, Swat, said the communities from effectively’
snowfall. Many residents in effects of climate change had adapling to climate change.
Upper Swat also pointed to become increasingly visible Limited education and aware.
the rapid retreat of glaciers over the years. “The weather ness, poor communication
and increasingly erratic is no longer predictable. Tem- infrastructure, prolonged eleo-
rainfall, developments they peratures have risen, snowfall tricity outages, financial con-
believe are contributing to has declined and our farming straints and weak institutional

and gas reserves, it remains
dependent on imports to mect

.. The survey abso hightighted | its electricity needs. AFP


Govt to create
838 new posts

Continued trom page 12

frequent foods, landslides, practices are being affected. suppost continue to hamper  counseling, seven assis-
shee erosion and water These changes are directly local adaptation efforts. Many | tant directors of legal, and

ortages,                 .

‘The changing weather pat- the way we live,” he added. _sinfrastracture damaged
tems are having a profound .. Zakir Khan, from Kalam, previous floods has yet to be
impact on agriculture, live- said local communities fully restored, leaving com-
stock and tourisne the back- had experienced notice- munities exposed to future
bone of the local economy. able changes in snowfall Gisasters, . —

Maryam satisfied with admissions.

Continued from page 12 adding that the campaign under the Plant for Pakistan
schools, She said the project. marked only the beginning Spring Tree Plantation Can
was close to her heart and of a long-term environmental paign 2025, the chief minister
thanked Allah Almighty for transformation “By the grace said the restoration of Pun-
its success. She appreciated of Allah, the Punjab of the Jab’s barren lands marked
the efforts of Education Min- next decade will be a prov- another historic milestone.
ister Rana Sikandar Hayat ince of forests, clean air and She said thousands of acres
and his team for the progress  Exing rivers for generations to”  of previously barren bind had
Taade on the initiative.            come.”                                     been transformed into thriv-

Meanwhile, Maryam . She said the completion of ing green landscapes between,
Nawaz has expressed satis. Punjab’s two-year afforesta- October 2024 and June 2025,
faction over the progress of tion mission stood among the She shared details of major:
the province's pintationcane most significant environmen- plantation sites, saying that
paign, saying that Punjab's tal achievements in the prov- 1815 nulion plants had been
Green Revolution has reached ince’s history. She recalled planted over 1,500 acres at
an unprecedented scale thattwoyearsago, the gover Ghazi Ghat in Muzaffargarh,
through the cobective efforts ment had pledged to restore 560/000 plants over 2,001 acres
ofthe government and people, Punjab's forests and said that at Thul Maghraj in Rajanpur,
Tn a post on X on Saturday, the commitment had been 70$,000 plants over 1,470
she said the Punjab Planta. fulSled with nearly 50 mifion acres at Khanani and Rakh
tion Drive 2025-26 achieved trees planted across 54,956 Munghal in Muzaffargarh, and
remarkable milestones, with acres of land between April 242,000 plants over 200 acres
40 million saplings planted, 2024 and Spring 2026. She atPakhowalinGujrat.
41,342 acres brought under said the positive impact ofthe ~~ The chiefminster said res-
plantation, and 3,055 avenue campaign was visible across: toration work had also been
miles lined with trees across the province, from Muzaffare expanded to Jhok Reserve
the province, She said barren garh to Murree, Chichawaini: Forest, Lal Suhanra, Mian-
land from Dera Ghazi Khan to te Faksalabad, and Rahim Yar  ‘wali, Gujranwala and Murree,
Bahawalpur was being trans» Khan to Gujranwala, where, reflecting the government's
formed into thriving forests landscapes once noe adi were resolve to create a greener
through the dedication and tuming green                                , and healthier Punjab for
hard work of Team Punjab, +       Highlighting achiovements  future generations.


impacting our Lvetihoods and respondents complained that | three assistant directors of
during | Forensics,        .

: To strengthen ground
operations, the bulk of the
recruitment will focus on
Geld and investigation forces,
adding 133 inspectors, 97

sub-inspectors, 123 head con-
stables, and 174 constables
to the ranks. Logistics and
administrative support will
also be reinforced with the
recruitment of 64 constable
drivers, along with essential
personnel including super-
intendents, technical assis-
tants, steno-typists, upper
division clerks and lower
dhision clerks,


i)
Indonesia's
‘anti-graft

... Continued from page 12
money laundering charges,
he added. Budi and Anang
did not respond to AFP
requests to identify the sus-
pects in the case,

Police are investigating
three cases that include

. [suspected corruption and

money laundering in rela-

state utility company PLN
as well as PT Asabri, Indo-
nesian media has reported,
Febrie said before
his resignation that the]-
Attorney General's Office
remained focused on cases
that included a graft scandal

record the licensee's written chearthat these didnot negate — Pemra further directed
and oral submissions, as well the violation or its legal con- Geo News, along with all
as the relevant provisions of sequences.     sects ce Other licensed broad
the Perra Ordinance, 2002, The order upholds Pem- to establish impartial and
the rules framed thereunder, ra’s June 27, 2026 decision competent in-house monitor-
and the Electronic Media suspending the Geo News ing committees or editorial
(Programmes and Adver- licence for 15 days. The sus- boards.
tisements) Code of Conduct,  pension will remain in effect . All licensees have also
21,                                   until midnight on Saturday. ~ been instructed to submit
The Council of Com... It further states that th