MANSEHRA: The police have deployed additional personnel on their posts along the Karakoram Highway following the launch of an operation against miscreants in Upper Kohistan district.

“We have begun a search-and-strike operation to rid the district of miscreants and ensure the safety of Chinese engineers and workers executing the Dasu and Diamer-Basha hydropower projects, and have arrested 10 outlaws in the mountainous parts,” Upper Kohistan district police officer Tahir Iqbal told reporters on Monday.

He said the police had already taken enhanced precautionary measures to ensure the security of Chinese engineers and workers engaged in energy projects across the district and completely sealed all entrance and exit points of the district.

“We have established eight police posts along the Karakoram Highway within our jurisdiction to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals working on various energy and development projects,” he said.

The DPO said that though no terrorists were apprehended during the ongoing operation, 10 criminals wanted for murder and other heinous crimes were held along with arms and ammunition.

DPO says safety of Chinese engineers, workers being ensured

He urged residents to remain vigilant and report the movement of strangers in their villages and neighbourhoods to police.

“The police are fully vigilant to maintain law and order in the district. The people should cooperate with them by promptly reporting any suspicious activity,” he said.

Mr Iqbal said the Chinese-funded projects being executed in the district would not only help address the country’s electricity shortfall but also improve the lives of local communities.

“The people have always been cooperative and supported the police in maintaining law and order. We are optimistic that they will continue to do so,” he said.

BAN ON WHEAT SUPPLY: Residents on Monday demanded of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to lift the ban on the transportation of wheat and wheat flour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the restriction has caused a sharp rise in prices.

“The price of a flour bag has surged from Rs1,700to Rs3,000since the Punjab government banned the transportation of wheat and flour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” resident Mohammad Ayub told reporters.

Accompanied by a group of citizens, he said people in the province, already bearing the brunt of the country’s highest-ever inflation, were struggling to meet even basic household and educational expenses.

“The Punjab chief minister should immediately lift the interprovincial ban on the transportation of wheat and wheat flour so that prices of this essential commodity come down,” he said.

He also urged the federal government to take notice of the ban and ensure an uninterrupted supply of wheat flour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the “larger public interest”.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2026