TOBA TEK SINGH: The Confucius Institute at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (CI-UAF) celebrated the Chinese New Year and the 75th anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic relations on Friday.

This year has been designated as the Year of the Horse, symbolising strength, energy, perseverance and progress.

UAF VC Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) VC Dr Rauf-i-Azam, Government College Women University Faisalabad (GCWUF) VC Dr Kanwal Ameen, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences VC Dr Muhammad Mazhar Ayaz, University of Faisalabad Rector Dr Amanullah Malik, CI-UAF deans Dr Saddam Hussain and Dr Zhou Changming, Faisalabad Assistant Commissioner Adil Umer, FCCI President Farooq Yousaf, Counter Narcotics Force Director Lt Col Zakir Ali Khan, Chen Diyi and 15 other representatives from Chinese industries and the Consulate General of China in Lahore attended the event.

Mr Liu from the consulate general highlighted the time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China. He said that it was a relationship built on mutual trust, respect and shared interests. He emphasised that cooperation in areas such as education, agriculture, trade and technology continued to strengthen bilateral ties, while people-to-people exchanges further promoted understanding, harmony and long-term regional prosperity for both nations.

Dr Zulfiqar Ali said that Pakistan and China were greatly benefiting from each other’s academic and research expertise. He noted that collaborative research, faculty exchanges and joint innovation in diverse fields; particularly agriculture, science and technology had been strengthening institutional partnerships.

Dr Zhou Changming said that language and cultural ties brought both nations closer and would also help promote scientific cooperation and address common challenges. He said that the Pak-China economic corridor would usher in a new avenue of development.

Dr Saddam Hussain said that this event reflected the deep-rooted historical, cultural and strategic ties between the two brotherly nations.

ARRESTED: Jhang anti corruption establishment (ACE) on Friday arrested a land record centre clerk for alleged fraud in Athara Hazari tehsil.

Jhang ACE Circle Officer Saeed Ahmad said that accused Safdar Ali allegedly made a bogus entry of property transfer of a citizen by taking a bribe from a man. As a result, he claimed that the citizen was deprived of ownership of the property worth Rs10 million.

DEATH SENTENCE: Jaranwala Additional District and Sessions Judge Saqib Farooq handed down the death sentence and a fine of Rs1 million to a murder case accused.

Prosecution said convict Faryad Ali had attacked deceased Malazan Hussain after scaling the wall of his house in Chak 433 GB on Nov 24, 2020 with a Kalshinkov and shot him dead and his three animals by indiscriminately firing over an old enmity.

ILLEGAL MONEY EXCHANGE: A Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Faisalabad composite circle team arrested three persons involved in illegal currency exchange business from Sargodha on Friday.

The accused included Rehman Hassan, Aamir Shahzad and Omar Ali. They were arrested from the Sarafa Bazaar in Joharabad. The team also claimed to have recovered 2,315 rial and Rs80,500 from them and seized all records of illegal transactions.

ROOF COLLAPSE: A woman died and two persons were critically injured when the roof of a house caved in at Faisalabad in Gaimanwala Chowk on Millat Road.

Rescue 1122 officials said the roof collapsed after a water tank fell on it. They said that the rescuers removed heavy debris to reach the occupants of the house.

The deceased was identified as Ayesha Azeem (28) and injured as Ashfaq (40) and Shakila (45) who were shifted to the Allied Hospital.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2026