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RAWALPINDI: The Military Lands and Cantonment on Friday unveiled a new policy for internal audit in the cantonment boards across the country.

Military Lands and Cantonment Director General Maj Gen Irfan Ahmad Malik unveiled a new initiative of Internal Audit Framework for Cantonment Boards across the country to ensure enhancing transparency, accountability and operational excellence.

According to a press release, external audits are already being conducted by the Directorate General Audit Defence Services (ADS), the need for an internal mechanism had long been felt to ensure corrective measures are taken in time and to reduce the number of audit observations during external reviews.

The newly-instituted system has been designed with clear objectives: Transparency and Uniformity in auditing practices, accountability at all levels of field offices, preventive and remedial action to identify irregularities or unwarranted practices at their earliest stage.

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) devised by Director Headquarters Dr Saima Shah, has been formulated, providing well-defined processes for conducting inspection audits in a fair and competitive manner.

This initiative standardises practices across boards, ensures compliance and creates a strong foundation for proactive governance. This reform emphasises the institution’s commitment to strengthening internal checks.

The framework will serve not just as a set of guidelines but as a pledge to build trust, ensure financial discipline and deliver impactful results at the grassroots level.

The Internal Audit Framework is primarily preventive, remedial and curative in nature. By identifying and addressing acts of omission, commission, irregularities or illegalities at the initial stage, the system curbs unwarranted practices before they escalate.

This strengthens the financial systems of cantonment boards, ensuring optimal output through adherence to rules and procedures. The Military Lands and Cantonments Department affirms that this initiative will not only streamline audit processes but also boost the overall credibility and performance of cantonment boards, reinforcing their role in service delivery and good governance.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s working masses and vulnerable eco-systems have been left at the mercy of profiteers and an unaccountable state apparatus, and only a meaningful ecological politics to transform the state and class relations can prevent the intensification of floods, smog and other climate breakdown events.

These sentiments were echoed by numerous speakers at a public seminar organised by the Awami Workers Party (AWP) at the National Press Club on Friday in the wake of ongoing floods that have devastated wide swathes of the country.

The event was attended by over a hundred students, progressive political workers, katchi abadi dwellers, intellectuals and ordinary citizens from across the twin cities as well as regions across Pakistan, according to a press release.

Speaking on the occasion, Bakhshal Thalho, Aasim Sajjad, Baba Jan, Neelum Nigar and Zubair Torwali highlighted that the 2025 floods, like those in 2022, were not a ‘natural calamity’ as much as a man-made disaster triggered by destructive profiteering and neoliberal development policies.

They highlighted the role of the timber and real estate mafias, big hoteliers, mining companies and the unbridled construction by various companies.

The speakers lamented the complete lack of concern of the political and intellectual mainstream to the floods, which seemed more interested in palace intrigues and the trappings of power.

They said the current government vacillated between photo opportunities in the name of flood relief on one hand, and garnering international aid in the name of climate change on the other hand.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2025

KARACHI: The residents of Saadi Town and surrounding gated communities in Scheme 33 of District East deserve all praise for their resilience and positive attitude during the recent flooding in their localities as most of the water receded on Friday.

A rug hangs out to dry from a balcony of a home. Grey clouds still cover the sky but life carries on as usual in Saadi Town. Just a couple of days ago, the houses here looked like water-locked islands.

“The water did not enter our houses. Since this is not that old a town, the houses are built quite above the roads so we were fine, despite being marooned,” Babar Mirza, resident of Saadi Town, Block 7, told Dawn.

Even though the water has receded, it has left the roads in bad shape with an uneven surface, cracks and potholes. But the wild grass and weeds in vacant plots are lush green from the rain. They provide distraction from the moisture stains on brick walls.

Communities in Scheme 33 say their expensive residential town ‘turns into a katchi abadi’ when it rains

Saadi Town, Pir Zaman Town, Saadi Gardens and all other townships were submerged, according to the residents. The water spared none of them. They were all in the same boat.

“It was alright. I have lived in Saadi Town for some 22 years now. We have been through this before,” said Majida Bibi, another resident. She said they were prepared for that this time. “Our pantries were well-stocked as we had only recently shopped for the entire household at the start of the month. Even though we were trapped in our homes, we had adequate supplies to live on so there was no need to panic. And see how quickly the water receded,” she pointed out.

Haji Haroon Abdul Latif who runs a pan shop in the area said that he lived nearby at Mosamiat. “By the time I closed my shop to go home, the water level had risen to two to three feet. My motorcycle stopped in the water. But there was a mechanic I knew of not far from here, who was able to fix it,” said the pan shop owner. “We did not expect the water to recede so soon but it did thankfully,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sher Azam, who runs a footwear shop built at quite a height in one street which still had some water, smilingly shared his ordeal. “My shop is quite high from the ground, as you can see. But the water reached its highest step. Then if any vehicle passed by, the current turned the water into little tides which entered my shop. Some show boxes were ruined but thankfully I got a high table just in time to shift my stuff on it and hence save it,” he said.

“Now when most of the water has left this area with just a few streets still submerged, passers-by question me why there is still so much water here, or whether I have complained about it anywhere. This is neither my doing nor my fault,” he shrugged and frowned.

Dawn then reached out to information secretary for Saadi Town, Saadi Garden Action Committee, Irfan Mughal, who said that flooding in the area was not as big an issue as the infrastructure.

“Our gutter lines, laid out in 1975, have collapsed. The builder tells us that it is not so as actually the lines in Safoora Goth are blocked. But then why are the gutters there not overflowing?” The resident and information secretary wondered.

He also informed that there was a makeshift storm-water drain dug out in their area which opens into the Malir River. “But it was blocked by one of the builders here while using it as a dumping site for trash. There is also a pipeline under the Superhighway with one end opening at the Northern Bypass and the other at Saadi Town. The flooding rainwater enters through it to reach Saadi Gardens and after passing through there it flows into Saadi Town. This flowing flood of water from the Northern Bypass to Saadi Town takes around seven to eight hours but no one cares to block it at any point from entering a residential area,” he complained.

“Then when we are flooded, we find the media here doing photo shoots of our plight,” he said.

“We are an expensive residential town but we turn into a katchi abadi [shanty town] as soon as it rains heavily,” Mr Mughal regretted. “And on top of that we are paying double residential and water taxes here as we have to pay the builder of our township as well as the cantonment board,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2025

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday visited the flood-affected areas of Zahir Pir belt near Liaquatpur and interacted with the displaced families arriving at Manchan Bund on boats.

During her visit, she assisted some flood-affected women disembarking from boats, held the hand of an elderly woman to help her and offered her a bottle of water. She also interacted with the flood-hit children.

The chief minister commended Rescue 1122 teams and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) for their dedication and tireless efforts during the ongoing rescue and relief operations. She also directed the relevant authorities to ensure provision of life jackets and life rings during all rescue and relief operations.

She was briefed by the officials about evacuation operations in 35 flood-hit villages on the outskirts of Liaquatpur, including Noorwala, Gul Muhammad Langah, Dera Fareedi and Chohan.

She was also apprised that a total of 84,721 residents and approximately 43 square kilometres of land had been severely affected by the floodwater.

The officials said that six relief camps, several medical camps, three boat clinics and 12 clinics on wheels had been set up for the flood-hit people in the area.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2025

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Friday moved the Peshawar High Court against authorities for “denying” him diplomatic passport and placing his name on travel restriction lists.

In the petition, Mr Gandapur requested the court to declare illegal the acts of respondents, including the interior ministry’s, to place his name in the Black List, Passport Control List, Exit Control List and Provisional National Identification List.

He also sought declaration of the court to the effect that the refusal to renew or issue a diplomatic passport to him was illegal and unlawful.

The chief minister sought directives of the court for the respondents to remove his name from the travel restriction lists as the same was in conflict with Article 15 of the Constitution.

Seeks PHC orders for issuance of diplomatic passport to him

He also requested the court to direct respondents to allow him to travel abroad.

The petition filed through advocate Bashir Khan Wazir includes as respondents the federal government through interior secretary, Federal Investigation Agency’s director general, its director for Peshawar region, director general of National Database and Registration Authority, and director general of Passport and Immigration Islamabad.

The chief minister said that he was a law-abiding citizen and had contested the general elections 2024 from PK-113 area in Dera Ismail Khan besides other constituencies, and was declared a returned candidate following which he was elected as the chief minister of KP.

He said that being the chief executive of the province he had to travel abroad in connection with provincial affairs and he had approached the relevant quarters for renewal of his diplomatic passport, under the prevailing rules.

Mr Gandapur noted that he was intimated that his name had been placed in black list, ECL, PCL or any other list and therefore, his request had not been entertained for passport renewal.

He contended that he was entitled under the constitutional provisions to retain a diplomatic passport for the purpose of traveling abroad.

The chief minister said that his government issued a letter to the relevant quarter for the renewal and issuance of diplomatic passport to him as per his entitlement under the Passport Rules 2021.

He added that despite the fact that he was entitled for issuance of the said passport. However, the respondents without any plausible reasons did not issue and renew the diplomatic passport of the petitioner.

Mr Gandapur contended that Article 15 of the Constitution ensured the freedom of movement in the country and travel to any other country.

He said that before putting his name in travel restriction lists, no notice was given to him to seek his reply, which was a violation of Article 10 A of the Constitution.

The chief minister contended that the act of the respondents was tantamount to depriving him of his lawful rights and it was carried out without any lawful authority.

He said that right of movement was a fundamental right, but the respondents had violated the same through their impugned illegal action.

Mr Gandapur said that he represented the entire KP province and could go to any country to further the cause of the people’s rights.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Representatives of key journalist bodies on Friday expressed serious concerns over the continued trial of a senior journalist in a local court, without meeting fair trial requirements.

The concerns came from office-bearers of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists during an emergency meeting at the National Press Club.

According to a statement, the participants expressed their dismay over the indictment of senior journalist Shahbaz Rana by a local court, despite the fact that he had filed the report based on official records.

They announced that the journalist community would hold a protest against what they called a biased trial. The case against Rana is based upon a complaint of an FBR official, who alleged that the journalist’s report was defamatory and scandalous.

However, the meeting reviewed the report and noted that not only was the information available in the official record, the report had proven to be true based on factual evidence.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2025