TOBA TEK SINGH: Up to 11 people were injured when a roof caved in on them during a mehndi ceremony at a house near Bank Stop in Chak 66-JB, Dhandhra, on Jhang Road in Faisalabad on Tuesday night.

Participants of the event were trapped under the debris, but Rescue 1122 staff and local residents worked to free them.

The injured, including men, women, and children, were shifted to Allied Hospital. Those identified were Abdul Ghaffar (53), Nasreen Bibi (50), Noor Fatima (3), Aqsa (17), Ayesha (26), Nasreen Razzaq (35), Amanullah (5), Anaya (6), Saima Ali (8), Khurshid Bibi (60) and Parveen Bibi (35).

ACCIDENTS: A head-on collision between two motorcycles near Wahga Kaleeka locality on Sargodha Road in Jhang injured four people due to speeding.

The injured were taken to Jhang DHQ Hospital and identified as Muhammad Khan (34), an unidentified man, Khatoon Bibi (60) and Mumtaz Begum (37).

Also, four minor students of the same family were critically injured on their way to school when their motorcycle was struck by a tractor-trolley near Churahtta Adda in Khanewal. The injured, identified as Saifullah (7), Abdullah (9), Muzammal (8) and Hasna Nawaz (13), were shifted to Kabirwala THQ Hospital.

SEMINAR: Experts have raised concerns over Pakistan’s ranking as the country with the second-fastest HIV/AIDS spread rate in the Asia-Pacific region.

Addressing a seminar titled ‘The Evolving Landscape of HIV/AIDS Complexities and Treatment’ at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), they urged for enhanced awareness and preventive measures.

The seminar, organised by the Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology and UAF Biotech Club, aimed to combat stigma and provide a deeper understanding of HIV/AIDS.

UAF Vice-Chancellor Dr Muhammad Sarwar Khan called for breaking myths and fostering a supportive community for individuals living with HIV. He called for timely treatment, awareness campaigns, and community engagement to tackle the alarming rise in infections.

Dr Nazia Ehsan, HIV/AIDS Centre at Allied Hospital in charge, explained the symptoms, causes and treatment options while debunking misconceptions surrounding the disease. She traced the first reported HIV case in Pakistan to 1987, caused by unsafe blood transfusions, and the first outbreak in Larkana in 2004 due to drug injections.

Other speakers included Dr Sumaira Riaz from the University Medical and Dental College, who discussed historical patterns and Dr Sultan Habibullah, director of the Centre for Advanced Studies. They stressed the urgency of awareness campaigns.

Dr Bushra Sadia expressed optimism about the role of such initiatives in fostering proactive responses, while Dr Irfan also shared his insights.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2024