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6 official cattle markets active in Islamabad ahead of Eid ul Azha

ISLAMABAD: Animal trading continues at 6 officially established cattle markets in Islamabad ahead of Eid ul Azha, as the district administration reviewed security, traffic and cleanliness arrangements during a visit to the Sangjani cattle market.

Officials also warned that action would be taken against traders involved in animal sales outside approved locations.

Additional Deputy Commissioner General Sahibzada Yousaf, accompanied by Assistant Commissioner Saddar, visited the Sangjhani cattle market to inspect arrangements made for buyers, traders and transport operators.

During the visit, the Additional Deputy Commissioner General reviewed traffic management, parking facilities and cleanliness measures inside and around the market. Officials checked the movement of vehicles, availability of parking space and sanitation arrangements to ensure smooth operations during the busy trading period.

The administration also reviewed security measures at the market. Sahibzada Yousaf directed authorities to deploy additional police personnel to maintain law and order and assist visitors during trading activities.

Officials said traffic police and motorway police personnel would also remain on duty during night hours to manage vehicle flow and reduce congestion on roads leading to the market. The administration aims to avoid traffic problems and ensure safe movement for citizens visiting the cattle markets.

Speaking during the visit, the Additional Deputy Commissioner General said that animal trading is only allowed at officially approved cattle markets established by the administration. He warned that the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals at unauthorized locations would not be allowed.

Sahibzada Yousaf appealed to residents of Islamabad to purchase sacrificial animals only from government-approved cattle markets. He said official markets provide better management, security and monitoring facilities for both buyers and traders.

The administration also warned livestock traders against setting up illegal sale points in different parts of the city. Officials said strict action would be taken against traders found violating government instructions regarding unauthorized animal markets.

Authorities added that monitoring teams are actively checking different areas of the capital to prevent illegal cattle sale activities. The administration said these measures are being taken to maintain order, manage traffic flow and ensure public convenience during Eid ul Azha preparations.

District administration officials said inspections of cattle markets would continue in the coming days to review arrangements and address issues related to traffic, sanitation and security.

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Pakistani Students’ UK Visa Delays Raised by Azam Nazeer Tarar with British High Commissioner

Azam Nazeer Tarar with UK High Commissioner

ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner Jane Marriott called on Federal Minister for Law & Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar. The meeting discussed Pakistan-UK bilateral relations, matters of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Federal Minister raised the issue of delays in UK visas for Pakistani students and conveyed the Government of Pakistan’s concern to the British High Commissioner.

Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said that hundreds of Pakistani students were facing difficulties due to delays in visa processing, with a risk that the delays could result in the loss of their academic year. He stressed the need to remove obstacles faced by Pakistani students seeking education abroad and facilitate them in this regard.

The Federal Minister briefed the British High Commissioner that, on the directives of the Prime Minister, a committee under his chairmanship was working to improve the legal and institutional framework concerning Pakistani students studying abroad.

He further informed the High Commissioner that, on the Prime Minister’s directives, the committee had finalized its recommendations on the matter, and work was underway to further improve the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students pursuing education abroad.

The Federal Minister said that the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students seeking education abroad was being improved to develop an effective mechanism for addressing the issues faced by students.

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott assured the Federal Minister that the issue of delays in visas for Pakistani students would be addressed.

The meeting also discussed further strengthening educational linkages between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, as well as enhancing institutional cooperation and engagement between the two countries.

Minister of State for Law, Justice and Human Rights Barrister Aqeel Malik was also present during the meeting.

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Naqvi Sets September 30 Deadline for Completion of Islamabad Safe City Expansion

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, visited the Islamabad Safe City Headquarters on Friday and chaired a special meeting to review progress on the Safe City Expansion Project, directing officials to complete the ambitious initiative by September 30.

During the briefing, officials informed the minister that overall work on the expansion project has reached 85 percent completion. Installation of the new surveillance network is also 85 percent complete, while 415 kilometres of optical fibre have been laid to support the upgraded system. Work on the data centre, cyber architecture, and cybersecurity infrastructure has also reached approximately 80 percent completion.

Expressing satisfaction over the pace of work, Naqvi stressed that the remaining tasks must be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

He said the government’s vision is to transform the Islamabad Safe City into a modern, smart, and world-class institution comparable to those in developed countries.

The interior minister said the technologically advanced Safe City system would significantly strengthen public safety through enhanced surveillance, effective monitoring, and rapid emergency response capabilities.

He noted that the project would play a vital role in improving law enforcement efficiency and ensuring better security for residents of the federal capital.

Naqvi also assigned officials the task of completing the state-of-the-art Fusion Centre within the next three months, describing it as a critical component of the upgraded Safe City network.

He further directed the relevant authorities to finalise the Safe City Bill at the earliest and present it before the National Assembly without delay to provide the legal framework necessary for the project’s long-term operation and expansion.

The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary for Interior, the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), senior Safe City officials, and other relevant officers, who briefed the minister on the progress and future roadmap of the expansion project.

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PM Shehbaz, high-level delegation perform Umrah; pray for country’s progress

MAKKAH AL-MUKARRAMAH: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, along with his high-level delegation, performed Umrah here on Friday.

He was accompanied by his delegation including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi.

The door of Khana Kaaba was opened specially for the prime minister and his delegation.

Following the completion of the Umrah rituals, the prime minister, field marshal, and other members of the Pakistani delegation offered special prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country, the safety and unity of the Muslim Ummah, and for regional and global peace.

The prime minister arrived in Jeddah on Thursday evening for a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Besides meeting with his Saudi counterpart, he will also pay a visit to the Roze-e-Rasool (PBUH) in Madinah.