Day: July 9, 2026

Islamabad: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) extended the registration deadline for MDCAT 2026 until July 13, 2026.

According to the PMDC, the deadline has been extended to facilitate MDCAT 2026 candidates. Candidates can now complete their registration with the regular fee until July 13, 2026, while the deadline for registration with a late fee has been set for July 18.

The PMDC has advised all candidates to complete their online registration before the deadline to avoid any inconvenience.

For further information, registration procedures, and other details, candidates are advised to visit the PMDC website.

Islamabad: Federal Tax Ombudsman, Zafar Hijazi, has ruled that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) cannot lawfully retain money recovered under an assessment order once that order has been set aside by the appellate authority.

The FTO held that once an assessment order is annulled in appeal, it ceases to exist in the eyes of law. Consequently, the legal basis for recovery also disappears and the recovered amount cannot be withheld merely because reassessment proceedings are pending, said a press release issued by the FTO on Wednesday.

Rejecting the department’s objection regarding jurisdiction, the FTO observed that the complaint related to maladministration arising from failure to implement the appellate order, continued attachment of the taxpayer’s bank account, and delay in deciding the pending refund application. These issues fall squarely within the jurisdiction of the FTO.

The FTO directed FBR to immediately implement the appellate order by lifting the bank attachment, decide the refund application strictly in accordance with law, and submit a compliance report within 45 days.

The decision reaffirms that while tax authorities are free to complete reassessment proceedings in accordance with law, they cannot deny taxpayers the relief flowing from a valid appellate order or retain amounts without lawful authority. It reinforces the principles of lawful administration, prompt implementation of appellate decisions, and protection of taxpayers against arbitrary recovery measures.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday emphasized the importance of flawless execution during the final stage of preparations for 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women

to be hosted by the country and instructed all concerned ministries and agencies to ensure seamless coordination, and execution of outstanding tasks within the stipulated timelines.

The deputy prime minister chaired the 7th meeting of the High-Level Committee overseeing preparations for the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, which Pakistan will host on 12-13 July 2026, a DPM’s Office news release said.

The committee conducted a detailed review of the preparations, including the conference venue, programme, delegate facilitation, protocol, security, logistics, media arrangements, and inter-ministerial coordination, to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the Conference.

The meeting was attended by SAPM Tariq Bajwa, Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights, Saba Sadiq, the Federal Secretaries of Human Rights and the Cabinet Division, and senior officials of the relevant ministries.

Islamabad: Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, held a meeting with Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Alexandrovich Kolokoltsev at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation on key security issues.

The two ministers held detailed discussions on the prevailing regional situation and explored avenues to enhance collaboration in counter-narcotics, counterterrorism, cybercrime prevention, and joint police training exercises. They also discussed developing a coordinated strategy to counter terrorist networks operating in the region, particularly in Afghanistan.

During the meeting, Pakistan and Russia agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their respective interior ministries to institutionalize and expand bilateral cooperation. The discussions also included a review of progress made on decisions taken during their previous meeting.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi invited his Russian counterpart to visit Pakistan, underscoring Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening engagement with Moscow.

Speaking during the meeting, Naqvi said that more than 25 terrorist organizations are currently active in Afghanistan, describing the elimination of extremist groups as a shared international responsibility.

“We need to work together and take effective measures to eradicate this menace,” Naqvi said, emphasizing the importance of coordinated regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Chairman, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday discussed the current situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

The PPP Chairman called on the deputy prime minister here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the DPM/FM congratulated Bilawal Bhutto on forming the government in GB, and the latter thanked the deputy prime minister for all the support of PML-N in the induction of an elected government in GB, a DPM’s Office news release said.

Both leaders agreed on the importance of holding free, fair, and transparent forthcoming general elections in AJK.

Islamabad: A seminar was organized jointly by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Council (JKLC) here at the Kashmir House, to commemorate the 10th martyrdom anniversary of Burhan Muzaffar Wani.

The seminar concluded with the unanimous adoption of a resolution paying tribute to Wani and all those described by the participants as martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir.

The participants also pledged to continue what they termed the struggle until its stated objectives are achieved.

The event was attended by a large number of students and members of civil society.

Addressing the seminar were former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan, former President and Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Yaqoob Khan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government Minister Nabela Ayub, and Hurriyat leaders Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, Altaf Hussain Wani, Muhammad Ahmad Sagar, Shamim Shawl, Abdul Rashid Turabi, and Raja Afsar Khan.

The speakers paid tribute to those killed in the Kashmir conflict and highlighted what they described as their sacrifices and the ongoing struggle over the Kashmir issue.

The resolution called for the immediate release of political leaders and human rights activists detained in Indian prisons, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Masarat Alam Bhat, Asiya Andrabi, Naeem Ahmad Khan, and human rights defender Khurram Pervaiz, along with other detainees.

The resolution described Jammu and Kashmir as an indivisible entity and reaffirmed support for the pursuit of the right to self-determination in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

It also emphasized strengthening the historical relationship between Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and rejected any attempts to undermine those ties.

The participants further condemned what they described as India’s repressive measures and continued human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019.

While appreciating Pakistan’s political, diplomatic, and moral support, the resolution urged Pakistan to utilize its diplomatic and military achievements in efforts related to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

The seminar also appealed for the peaceful resolution of differences within Azad Jammu and Kashmir to promote unity in support of the movement.