Latest news with #Zhob
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM orders completion of 100MW G-B solar project in one year
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting to review progress on 100 MW solar project for Gilgit-Baltistan in Islamabad on Aug 12, 2025. Photo: PID Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to ensure the completion of the 100-megawatt solar power project in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) within a year, reaffirming the federal government's full financial commitment to the initiative. Chairing a review meeting in Islamabad, the prime minister said the project would be executed on a priority basis to provide uninterrupted, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable electricity to the region, which frequently faces prolonged power outages. The premier said he would personally supervise the progress of the project, which he described as a crucial step toward ending energy shortages in G-B. He further instructed that the infrastructure be built to withstand the impacts of climate change. Also Read: Bilawal dismisses 27th Constitutional Amendment rumours as 'baseless' Emphasising the urgency of the matter, he said, 'Solarisation offers the most practical solution for remote regions like G-B, where 18 to 20 hours of load-shedding remain a routine challenge.' PM Shehbaz also directed that electricity supply from both hydropower and solar sources be strengthened to help residents cope with extreme weather conditions and power disruptions. To ensure effective implementation, Energy Minister Awais Leghari was appointed chairman of the Steering Committee overseeing the project. During the briefing, the meeting was informed that six solar parks would be established in Gilgit, eight in Skardu, and six in Diamer. Additionally, solar panels would be installed on 234 government buildings in Gilgit, 179 in Skardu, and 66 in Diamer. A real-time monitoring system for battery backup is also being developed. Read: At least three more terrorists killed in Zhob counter-terrorism sweep Officials assured that the project would adhere to international standards and that transparency would be ensured throughout its construction. The project had earlier been announced by PM Shehbaz during his visit to G-B, as Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) also approved the project few days later. Separately, in a meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, the prime minister directed the authority to enhance coordination with provincial governments for effective response and rehabilitation efforts amid recent rains and flooding. He called for the swift operationalisation of G-B early warning system in coordination with the Ministry of Climate Change, stressing the importance of timely alerts in vulnerable areas to reduce risks during extreme weather events.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Gunmen abduct and kill 9 passengers from 2 buses on a southwestern Pakistan highway
Gunmen in southwestern Pakistan abducted and killed nine people after stopping two passenger buses on a highway Thursday night, officials said. The overnight attacks occurred in the Zhob and Loralai districts of Balochistan province as the buses traveled from the provincial capital, Quetta, to Punjab province, district administrator Saadat Husain said Friday. The attackers fled the scene and a search is underway to track down the assailants. Authorities recovered the bodies along the highway, Husain said. Ashfaq Chaudhry, an administrator in Punjab's Dera Ghazi Khan district, said the attackers appeared to target passengers from Punjab specifically. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the abduction and killings of the bus passengers. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement condemning the 'brutal killing of passengers' in Balochistan. He blamed the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army for the deaths and said the group wanted to 'spread chaos and instability in Pakistan.' The BLA killed 23 passengers in Balochistan in a similar attack last year. However, the militant group issued a statement saying on Thursday night it was engaged in an attack on a military camp in Balochistan's Surab district, far away from the areas of the bus attacks. Baluchistan has been the scene of a long-running insurgency in southwestern Pakistan with an array of separatist groups, including the BLA, demanding independence from Pakistan's central government in Islamabad. The groups have staged attacks mainly targeting security forces and people from Punjab who travel to Balochistan for business or employment. Although Pakistani authorities say they have quelled the insurgency, violence in the province has persisted. The Pakistani government has routinely blamed India for backing the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch insurgents in Pakistan.
Arab News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Gunmen abduct and kill 9 passengers from 2 buses on a southwestern Pakistan highway
Gunmen in southwestern Pakistan abducted and killed nine people after stopping two passenger buses on a highway Thursday night, officials said. The overnight attacks occurred in the Zhob and Loralai districts of Balochistan province as the buses traveled from the provincial capital, Quetta, to Punjab province, district administrator Saadat Husain said Friday. The attackers fled the scene and a search is underway to track down the assailants. Authorities recovered the bodies along the highway, Husain said. Ashfaq Chaudhry, an administrator in Punjab's Dera Ghazi Khan district, said the attackers appeared to target passengers from Punjab specifically. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the abduction and killings of the bus passengers. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement condemning the 'brutal killing of passengers' in Balochistan. He blamed the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army for the deaths and said the group wanted to 'spread chaos and instability in Pakistan.' The BLA killed 23 passengers in Balochistan in a similar attack last year. However, the militant group issued a statement saying on Thursday night it was engaged in an attack on a military camp in Balochistan's Surab district, far away from the areas of the bus attacks. Baluchistan has been the scene of a long-running insurgency in southwestern Pakistan with an array of separatist groups, including the BLA, demanding independence from Pakistan's central government in Islamabad. The groups have staged attacks mainly targeting security forces and people from Punjab who travel to Balochistan for business or employment. Although Pakistani authorities say they have quelled the insurgency, violence in the province has persisted. The Pakistani government has routinely blamed India for backing the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch insurgents in Pakistan.
Associated Press
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Gunmen abduct and kill 9 passengers from 2 buses on a southwestern Pakistan highway
Gunmen in southwestern Pakistan abducted and killed nine people after stopping two passenger buses on a highway Thursday night, officials said. The overnight attacks occurred in the Zhob and Loralai districts of Balochistan province as the buses traveled from the provincial capital, Quetta, to Punjab province, district administrator Saadat Husain said Friday. The attackers fled the scene and a search is underway to track down the assailants. Authorities recovered the bodies along the highway, Husain said. Ashfaq Chaudhry, an administrator in Punjab's Dera Ghazi Khan district, said the attackers appeared to target passengers from Punjab specifically. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the abduction and killings of the bus passengers. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement condemning the 'brutal killing of passengers' in Balochistan. He blamed the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army for the deaths and said the group wanted to 'spread chaos and instability in Pakistan.' The BLA killed 23 passengers in Balochistan in a similar attack last year. However, the militant group issued a statement saying on Thursday night it was engaged in an attack on a military camp in Balochistan's Surab district, far away from the areas of the bus attacks. Baluchistan has been the scene of a long-running insurgency in southwestern Pakistan with an array of separatist groups, including the BLA, demanding independence from Pakistan's central government in Islamabad. The groups have staged attacks mainly targeting security forces and people from Punjab who travel to Balochistan for business or employment. Although Pakistani authorities say they have quelled the insurgency, violence in the province has persisted. The Pakistani government has routinely blamed India for backing the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch insurgents in Pakistan.
