Day: July 11, 2026

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has urged all stakeholders including the federal and provincial governments, members of parliament, development partners, civil society, academia, the private sector, religious scholars, the media, and local communities, to recognize the urgency of the population rise as a national issue and fulfill their shared responsibility by promoting informed decision-making, responsible parenthood, gender equality, and sustainable development.

The prime minister, in his message on the World Population Day, said that the day provides an important opportunity to highlight the significance of population issues at the global level.

He added that this year’s theme, “Realizing the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People, Today and for the Future,” underscores the pivotal role of young people in shaping a prosperous future. Creating an enabling environment for the younger generation is our collective responsibility.

“Today, Pakistan joins the international community in observing World Population Day and reaffirms its commitment to responsible population planning as a cornerstone of sustainable development and national prosperity,” the prime minister said.

Responsible and prudent population planning and management, he said form the foundation of a welfare-oriented society, adding that a population that remains commensurate with available resources ensures equitable access to public services and contributes to the well-being and prosperity of all citizens.

“Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world and ranks among the countries with a significant youth population. More than 65 % of our population is under the age of 30, this no doubt represents a tremendous national asset and a powerful driver of economic and social progress,” PM Shehbaz said.

At the same time, he added that an annual population growth rate of 2.55 per cent, presents significant challenges for a country with regards to economic planning, employment generation, education, healthcare, housing, food security, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability.

He mentioned that to fully harness the demographic potential of our youth and realize the benefits of this demographic dividend, sustained investment in our national resources and a comprehensive strategy are indispensable. Human development and the ultimate nurturing of people’s capabilities must remain at the heart of our national development agenda, he added.

He highlighted that the federal government has recently established the National Population Council for formulation of a comprehensive and an effective national strategy on population and development. This high-level national forum, he said will ensure policy coordination between the federal and provincial governments, strengthen institutional collaboration, and provide strategic policy guidance for the implementation of the National Population Programme and will also facilitate timely and effective decision making in line with national priorities.

“Furthermore, the Council will duly accord priority to integrating population related issues into the national development agenda, promoting women’s empowerment, advancing human resource development, and formulating evidence based policies that support long term social and economic prosperity,” he said.

To achieve the overarching objective of developing capable, responsible, and empowered citizens, the government is also implementing the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and several other important national initiatives, he added.

The prime minister emphasised that every citizen, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or background, particularly the most vulnerable segments of society, deserves equal access to essential services and due consideration in future planning.

The education, healthcare, economic inclusion, and equal opportunities for women and girls remain among the Government’s foremost priorities, he said.

“Insha’Allah! through collective resolve and coordinated action, we can create an environment in which every citizen enjoys equal opportunities to lead a healthy, dignified, and productive life.

Together, we can transform Pakistan’s demographic potential into enduring national strength and secure a stable, prosperous, developed, and resilient future for both of our present and future generations,” the prime minister concluded.

Islamabad: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) on Friday welcomed the appointment of Raisa Adil as the new Principal Information Officer (PIO) of the Press Information Department (PID).

In a joint statement, APNS President Senator Sarmad Ali and Secretary General Muhammad Athar Kazi expressed optimism that during her tenure, the newly appointed PIO would play a pivotal role in safeguarding the freedom of the press and addressing the challenges faced by the print media industry.

They expressed confidence that the ideal working relationship and mutual cooperation between the government, PID, and the print media would continue to flourish under her leadership.

Meanwhile, the APNS office-bearers also acknowledged and appreciated the services of the outgoing PIO, Mubashir Hassan, thanking him for the extensive support and cooperation extended to the newspaper industry throughout his tenure.

The society further hoped that pending issues concerning the print media would be resolved on priority.

They specifically urged the implementation of already approved increases in government advertisement rates, an enhancement in the quantum of government advertisements, and the timely clearance of long-outstanding dues to help the print media overcome its current liquidity crunch.

Islamabad: National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Friday reviewed preparations for MDCAT 2026, matters relating to medical education, and reforms in the pharmacy sector.

The Committee met under the chairmanship of Dr. Mahesh Kumar Mallani, MNA, was informed that the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026 will be held on 16 August 2026.

To further strengthen transparency and fairness in the examination process, the question bank has been expanded from 6,000 questions last year to 8,000 questions this year.

It was also briefed that each province will be provided with three separate question papers, from which one paper will be selected for the examination.

The Committee was informed that admissions to medical and dental colleges will be determined on the basis of 10% Matriculation marks, 40% Intermediate marks, and 50% MDCAT score.

The MDCAT paper will comprise 45% Biology, 25% Chemistry, 20% Physics, 5% English, and 5% Logical Reasoning.

The Committee was apprised that approximately 135,000 students have registered for MDCAT 2026 so far. Since nine days remain before the registration deadline, the number of applicants is expected to increase further.

he examination will consist of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), with no negative marking, a duration of three hours, and minimum qualifying marks of 55% for MBBS and 50% for BDS admissions.

The Committee deliberated on the fee structure of private medical colleges and decided that annual tuition fees should be capped between Rs. 1.8 million and Rs. 2.5 million.

Private medical colleges will also be required to justify their fee structures.

Furthermore, a third-party audit will be conducted to determine the actual per-student cost of medical education.

To further enhance transparency in the admission process, members of the Committee will hold meetings with the concerned Vice Chancellors of their respective provinces after 20 July 2026.

The Committee was informed that 188 medical colleges are currently registered with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), including 60 private institutions.

It was noted that private medical colleges produce approximately 22,000 graduates annually, while government medical colleges graduate around 14,000 students each year.

The PMDC clarified that reports regarding the proposed increase in the salary of the President, PMDC, to Rs. 1.2 million per month and the enhancement of TA/DA for PMDC Council members to Rs. 50,000 have not been finalized and remain proposals only.

The Committee also directed that medical colleges be asked to explain why approved seats remain vacant and to ensure that quality standards in medical education are fully maintained.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the briefing given by the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, the Committee directed the Council to revise the Pharmacy Council Rules, 1967, to address contemporary challenges facing the pharmacy profession.

A draft of the revised rules is expected to be presented before the Committee in October 2026 for consideration prior to being laid before the National Assembly.

Islamabad: Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, met with Bangladesh’s Interior Minister, Salahuddin Ahmed in New York to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional developments.

During the meeting, both ministers agreed to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including training and exchange programmes for police officers.

They also discussed strengthening collaboration to combat cybercrime and online fraud.

The two sides exchanged views on the Iran-US conflict and the current situation in the Middle East.

According to the statement, the Bangladeshi Interior Minister appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting regional and international peace.

Speaking after the meeting, Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan should make use of new opportunities to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation. He also stated that, in his view, the Prime Minister and the Field Marshal had played an important role in efforts to promote peace.

Islamabad: Women passengers and students on Friday hailed Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for prioritizing women’s mobility and safety, saying that the initiative of five dedicated ‘Speedo buses’ for women on Lahore’s Metro Bus Service will reduce overcrowding and protect commuters from harassment during rush hours.

Interacting with media channels, commuters expressed appreciation for the initiative, saying the additional buses would help create a safer commuting environment for women and reduce concerns during peak travel hours.

Student girls and women commuters said they had previously faced difficulties while travelling in crowded public transport, where they often felt uncomfortable and unsafe, but the new dedicated Speedo buses had brought them a sense of relief and security.

Female passengers shared that rush-hour journeys were often challenging due to overcrowding and unpleasant experiences, adding that the new service would allow them to travel in a more peaceful and dignified manner.

Women commuters described the initiative as a much-needed facility, saying they now felt more comfortable while travelling and appreciated the effort to provide a safer transport option.

A student in Lahore said the dedicated buses would greatly benefit girls travelling to educational institutions, as the service would help them avoid the problems they frequently encountered during busy travel hours.

Female passengers expressed satisfaction with the new facility, saying it was an encouraging step toward making public transport more accessible, secure and convenient for women.

A female teacher passenger described the dedicated Speedo buses as a positive facility that would provide them with a safer, more convenient and stress-free commuting experience.

The commuters demanded that similar services be introduced in other cities as well, saying women and students everywhere deserved access to secure, comfortable and affordable transportation.

They said Metro and dedicated bus services were especially helpful for working women and students by making daily travel easier, economical and more reliable.

Islamabad: Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Friday released 293,100 cusecs of water from various rim stations with an inflow of 367,300 cusecs.

According to the data released by IRSA, the water level in the River Indus at Tarbela Dam stood at 1493.70 feet, which was 91.70 feet higher than the dead level of 1402.00 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam were recorded as 213,700 cusecs and 159,300 cusecs, respectively.

The water level in the Jhelum River at Mangla Dam was 1169.20 feet, which was 119.20 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water were recorded as 31,800 cusecs and 12,000 cusecs, respectively.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 212,800, 180,100, 121,700, and 52,800 cusecs, respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 42,800 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera, and 49,100 cusecs were released from River Chenab at Marala.