Day: July 14, 2026

Islamabad: The Punjab government has launched an ambitious drive to train around 90,000 students by 2029 under the Improving Workforce Readiness in Punjab Project, a six year initiative that seeks to align technical education with labour market demand by upgrading training institutions, introducing industry driven courses and producing a skilled workforce for eight priority sectors of the provincial economy.

Official documents available with Wealth Pakistan reveal that the project, which commenced in 2023 and would continue through 2029, was designed to bridge the long standing disconnect between technical and vocational education and the evolving needs of industry through training programmes developed on the basis of a comprehensive skills mapping study.

A major component of the initiative is the transformation of 19 technical and vocational institutes into Centres of Excellence, including 16 institutes operated by the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and three managed by the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC).

The upgraded institutes would deliver specialised, market oriented training in eight high growth sectors comprising automotive, information and communication technology, tourism, food processing, textile, construction, healthcare and light engineering, all identified as critical drivers of Punjab’s economic expansion and employment generation.

The project aimed to equip nearly 90,000 students with practical, industry relevant skills, replacing conventional classroom based instruction with competency based training that responds directly to employers’ requirements and enhances graduates’ prospects for sustainable employment.

Alongside institutional reforms, the initiative would modernise the ‘Technical and Vocational Education and Training’ management system and strengthen the Labour Market Information System to improve workforce planning, generate reliable labour market data and support evidence based policymaking.

The enhanced information system would help policymakers, training providers and industry leaders identify existing and emerging skills shortages, enabling technical institutes to regularly update curricula and tailor training programmes to the changing demands of the labour market.

Punjab’s rapidly expanding industrial and services sectors continue to require a steady pipeline of skilled workers, particularly in information technology, construction, textile, healthcare, manufacturing and food processing. Officials believe the workforce readiness project will help close critical skills gaps, improve youth employability, strengthen technical education and enhance the province’s long term economic competitiveness through a more productive and future ready workforce.

Islamabad: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, on Monday, urged the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to move beyond declarations and translate their commitments into concrete action for women’s socio-economic empowerment, as Pakistan assumed the chairmanship of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women.

Addressing the opening session of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, as the chief guest, Gilani said empowering women is both an Islamic obligation and a prerequisite for sustainable development.

He said Islam has guaranteed women the rights to education, property, inheritance, economic participation, and dignity more than 1,400 years ago, while the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) continued to provide a timeless framework for ensuring women’s meaningful participation in society.

Welcoming ministers, parliamentarians, and delegates from OIC member states, Gilani said women constituted nearly half of the population of OIC countries, and no nation could achieve inclusive growth while excluding half of its human capital from economic and political participation.

He paid tribute to the contributions of Muslim women in education, governance, science, diplomacy, business, and public service, and described Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as the first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Muslim world whose vision continued to inspire generations.

Highlighting Pakistan’s efforts, he referred to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Waseela-e-Taleem, initiatives for women-led enterprises, financial inclusion, digital skills, and e-commerce.

He also recalled landmark legislation enacted during his tenure as prime minister, including laws against workplace harassment, acid crimes, and anti-women practices, and called on OIC member states to adopt measurable targets for girls’ education, women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and protection against gender-based violence.

Federal Minister for Law, Justice, and Human Rights, Azam Nazeer Tarar, after assuming the chairmanship of the conference, said Pakistan accepted the responsibility with humility and a firm commitment to serve all 57 OIC member states through partnership, inclusivity, and consensus.

Referring to the conference theme, “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward,” he said empowering women is not only a social imperative but also an economic necessity, a governance priority, and a cornerstone of sustainable development.

He said Pakistan would work closely with the OIC General Secretariat, the Women’s Development Organization (WDO), and member states to promote cooperation, exchange experiences, and transform shared aspirations into practical initiatives.

Tarar said Pakistan’s Constitution guaranteed equality and dignity for women, while the government is taking strong measures to strengthen women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, access to justice, and safer workplaces through legal and institutional reforms.

He also called for greater support for women affected by conflict, particularly in Palestine, Afghanistan, and Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and stressed that artificial intelligence and digital innovation should become tools of inclusion rather than exclusion.

Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs at the OIC, Ambassador Dr. Tarig Ali Bakheet, said the conference reflected the organization’s continued commitment to advancing women’s causes and sustaining efforts towards women’s empowerment.

He termed empowering women essential for the development, resilience, and prosperity of the Islamic world and expressed the OIC’s appreciation to Pakistan and Egypt for successfully hosting the ministerial conferences on women.

Executive Director of the Women’s Development Organization (WDO), Sarah Al Shoura, highlighted the organization’s efforts to strengthen cooperation among member states and promote policies aimed at expanding women’s participation in education, economic development, and leadership.

President of the Women’s Consultative Council of the 8th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, Ambassador Naela Gabr, highlighted the progress made since the previous ministerial conference and stressed the importance of sustaining momentum through stronger cooperation among OIC member states.

She called for greater investment in women’s education, economic empowerment, and leadership, saying the advancement of women was essential for inclusive development and long-term prosperity across the Islamic world.

President of Egypt’s National Council for Women, Amal Ammar, said the prosperity of nations begins with investment in people, particularly women, adding that women’s empowerment had become a strategic necessity for achieving sustainable development and stability. She said Egypt had made women’s empowerment a national priority through constitutional, legislative, and institutional reforms and the National Strategy for Egyptian Women 2030.

She highlighted Egypt’s flagship “Noura” programme for girls, the “Noor” programme for boys, the “Tahweesha” initiative for women’s financial inclusion, and the Gender Equality Seal awarded to 31 companies promoting gender-responsive workplaces.

She said women had made notable gains in leadership, with nearly 3,968 women serving as judges and prosecutors, and increased representation in parliament and senior public offices.

Amal Ammar stressed that women’s empowerment was rooted in Islamic values and called on OIC member states to deepen cooperation, exchange successful experiences, and ensure equal opportunities in education, employment, finance, technology, and leadership.

She also highlighted the plight of Palestinian women, encouraged member states yet to join the Women’s Development Organization to complete the accession process, and congratulated Pakistan on assuming the chairmanship of the conference.

Among those present at the opening session were Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Members of the National Assembly, Saba Sadiq and Wajiha Qamar, representatives of international organizations, diplomats, and delegates from OIC member states.

A documentary highlighting the contributions of women in various sectors was also screened during the opening session.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Monday assumed the chairmanship of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to promoting the socio-economic and political empowerment of women across the Muslim world through collective action, cooperation and consensus.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women hosted by Ministry of Human Rights, the minister welcomed delegates from OIC member states and said Pakistan accepted the responsibility of chairing the conference with humility and a firm commitment to serve all 57 member states in a spirit of partnership, inclusivity and mutual respect.

He said the conference, held under the theme “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward,” provided a timely opportunity for member states to translate their shared commitments into practical measures that improve the lives of women across the Islamic world.

The minister said women across OIC countries were transforming economies, advancing scientific progress, strengthening institutions, leading businesses and contributing to peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts. However, he noted that millions of women and girls still faced barriers that limited their opportunities and participation in national development.

“Empowering women is not only a social imperative but also an economic necessity, a governance priority and a cornerstone of sustainable development,” he said, adding that no nation could fully realize its potential while half of its population was denied equal opportunities to learn, work, innovate and lead.

Highlighting Islamic teachings, Senator Tarar said Islam had recognized the dignity, rights and legal identity of women more than fourteen centuries ago, emphasizing justice and human dignity as timeless principles.

He stressed that the digital future should become a bridge to inclusion rather than a barrier to equality, ensuring women and girls have equal access to education, innovation and leadership in the era of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The minister said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) provided a unique platform for strengthening cooperation through the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women and the Women’s Development Organization, enabling member states to share experiences, strengthen institutional partnerships and accelerate progress while respecting their diverse legal systems and cultural values.

He said Pakistan viewed the chairmanship not as a position of prestige but as a responsibility to foster dialogue, build consensus and help transform shared aspirations into practical outcomes for women across OIC countries.

Highlighting Pakistan’s domestic efforts, Senator Tarar said the empowerment of women remained a national priority enshrined in the Constitution and supported through legal, policy and institutional reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

He said the government, through the Ministry of Human Rights, in collaboration with provincial governments, Parliament, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, civil society and international partners, was implementing the National Gender Policy Framework, Vision 2025 and the Prime Minister’s Women Empowerment Package.

He said Pakistan had introduced landmark legislation, established Gender-Based Violence Courts, strengthened women protection authorities, expanded legal aid and rehabilitation services, launched dedicated helplines and reinforced institutions, including the National Commission on the Status of Women and the National Commission for Human Rights.

The minister said Pakistani women were serving with distinction as parliamentarians, judges, diplomats, civil servants, entrepreneurs, academics, scientists and members of the armed forces, reflecting the country’s commitment to expanding women’s leadership in both public and private sectors.

He stressed that sustainable progress required the active engagement of men and boys as partners in promoting equality, respect and shared responsibility, saying inclusive societies could only be built through collective commitment.

Referring to humanitarian crises, Senator Tarar expressed solidarity with women and girls affected by conflict, occupation and displacement, particularly in Palestine, Afghanistan and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He said their resilience underscored the need to ensure protection, dignity, justice and hope for women facing conflict and humanitarian challenges.

He emphasized that artificial intelligence and digital innovation offered unprecedented opportunities to expand access to education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, provided these technologies were governed in an inclusive manner that prevented new forms of inequality.

As chair of the conference, Pakistan, he said, would work closely with the OIC General Secretariat, the Women’s Development Organisation, and all member states to strengthen cooperation, promote the exchange of best practices and advance practical initiatives for women’s empowerment.

The minister noted that women constituted nearly 940 million people, representing about 49.3 percent of the OIC’s total population, and urged member states to transform dialogue into concrete action that would create lasting opportunities for women across the Muslim world.

He said the true success of the conference would not be measured solely by the declarations adopted during the two-day meeting but by the tangible progress achieved for women after delegates returned to their respective countries.

The minister also thanked the OIC General Secretariat, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Human Rights, the organizing committee and all partners for their support in successfully convening the conference.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Monday said Pakistan had recorded the world’s fastest reduction in the gender digital divide in mobile internet usage.

Addressing the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, hosted by the Ministry of Human Rights, she said that, according to the GSMA, Pakistan recorded the world’s largest improvement in digital inclusion, particularly in mobile internet usage.

She said that when she assumed office, Pakistan’s gender digital divide stood at 35 percent. It declined to 25 percent in 2025 and further dropped to just 8 percent in the 2026 report, making Pakistan the fastest country in the world to close the gender digital divide in mobile internet usage.

Shaza Fatima Khawaja said women’s mobile internet adoption increased from 33 percent to 45 percent over the past two years.

However, she stressed that connectivity alone was not enough, saying the real measure of success was whether women living in remote and rural areas could use technology to learn, earn, receive digital payments and become entrepreneurs.

The minister said the government’s digital transformation initiatives had empowered women from low-income households by providing them with dignified access to financial assistance through digital payment systems.

Recalling the federal government’s Ramazan subsidy programme, she said the initiative was shifted from state-owned retail outlets to digital payments, on the direction of the Prime Minister, to ensure beneficiaries received financial support with dignity.

She said the programme enabled the creation of 800,000 digital wallets within one month among the country’s lowest-income population. This year, another 900,000 women joined the digital financial system through digital wallets.

Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government, with the support of the private sector and under the leadership of the Prime Minister, also distributed 10 million free SIM cards to women across the country to help them become active participants in the digital economy.

She described these initiatives as a structural shift that would naturally expand women’s inclusion in the country’s growing digital economy.

The minister said women should not remain merely recipients of technology but must also become its creators and decision-makers, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes central to every sector. She emphasized that women’s experiences and perspectives must be reflected in machine learning models and AI algorithms to prevent systematic exclusion.

She said women must have a meaningful seat at the table in the development of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, public data systems and digital regulation. Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan believes every girl should have access to digital connectivity, while every woman should be able to obtain and control a secure digital identity and financial account.

She added that women entrepreneurs should have equal opportunities to access digital markets and participate in technology-driven economic growth.

She called for measurable indicators under the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women to monitor progress in digital ownership, technology usage, income generation, enterprise growth, professional advancement and leadership.

The minister also urged OIC member states to celebrate women who continue to break barriers in technology and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to sharing its experiences, learning from partner countries and building practical partnerships to promote women’s digital empowerment.

Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the future lies in guaranteeing digital rights, building capabilities, opening institutions and ensuring technology remains accountable to inclusion. She said women should be recognized not merely as beneficiaries of technology but as equal partners in shaping the digital future.

The social, economic and political empowerment of women was essential for building a prosperous, innovative and inclusive society, stressing that technology must serve as an enabler of women’s participation rather than a source of exclusion, she added.

The minister said societies become wealthier, happier and more civically engaged when women are empowered as decision-makers, entrepreneurs, scientists, educators, public servants and political leaders.

She said Pakistan’s vision for women’s empowerment was based on three key pillars: education, legal and economic reforms, and digital public infrastructure.

Shaza Fatima Khawaja said education remained the foundation of every other freedom, enabling women to achieve financial independence and participate meaningfully in public life. She added that legal reforms must be accompanied by an enabling ecosystem that includes finance, financial literacy, mentorship, market access and leadership opportunities.

The minister said equipping women with knowledge, technical skills and confidence would remove barriers to their participation in the economy, accelerate GDP growth, reduce poverty and promote innovation in workplaces.

She said greater participation by women in the workforce would unlock untapped talent and improve living standards across communities.

She said digital public infrastructure enables women to gain direct financial control, become visible participants in the formal economy and access education, healthcare, social protection and government services remotely. She added that digital services reduce unnecessary delays, discretionary practices and informal payments while improving access to public services.

Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication views technology as critical infrastructure for women’s empowerment.

She said a connected device could bring education to girls living far from schools, while secure digital accounts allow women to directly control their income.

Likewise, online marketplaces enable home-based entrepreneurs to expand their businesses beyond local markets and even reach international customers. However, the minister cautioned that technology could also deepen inequalities if women lacked access to mobile phones, affordable internet, digital identities, digital skills or protection from online harassment.

“The question is not simply whether technology is available, but who has access to it, who controls it and for whom it is designed,” she said, adding that digital participation must lead to institutional participation.

Referring to Pakistan’s history, she said the country has always produced strong women leaders.

She paid tribute to Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah for standing beside the nation’s founder, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as the first woman prime minister of the Muslim world, former First Lady Begum Kulsoom Nawaz for her courage during

difficult political times, and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her development-oriented leadership focused on citizens’ welfare.

The minister said Pakistani women today were excelling as entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists, startup founders and professionals across various sectors, adding that the government’s responsibility was to ensure their success became the norm rather than the exception.

Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that the constitutional jurisdiction of a High Court under Article 199 of the Constitution does not extend to resolving purely contractual disputes or rewriting agreements, arbitral awards or court decrees between parties, holding that courts cannot redefine the legal rights and obligations voluntarily agreed upon by contracting parties in the name of public interest.

A two-member Constitutional Bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan and comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi issued a detailed judgment on Monday in the Nai Gaj Dam project case, setting aside the Sindh High Court’s judgments dated October 6, 2023, and May 27, 2025.

According to the detailed judgment approved for reporting, the court held that the Sindh High Court had exceeded its constitutional jurisdiction by modifying the arbitral award between the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and the contractor, the court decree based on that award, and the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) executed between the parties.

The judgment stated that while exercising constitutional jurisdiction, courts cannot confer contractual benefits upon a party that it had not voluntarily accepted under the agreement.

The court further observed that the contractor had agreed to complete the project at 2018 prices and, therefore, was not legally entitled to seek additional payments on account of price escalation or inflation on the basis of subsequent recommendations made by the Pakistan Engineering Council.

The Federal Constitutional Court also held that the record established that the contractor had submitted a forged performance bank guarantee, a fact that was confirmed by the Bank of Punjab. Submission of a forged bank guarantee constituted a fundamental breach of the contract, and WAPDA was therefore legally justified in terminating the agreement.

The judgment further held that the Sindh High Court had no jurisdiction to interfere with or restrain investigations being conducted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), as proceedings relating to the alleged forged bank guarantee fell within the lawful jurisdiction of the accountability authorities.

The court observed that the Nai Gaj Dam project is of national importance for irrigation, agricultural development, hydropower generation and the rehabilitation of Manchhar Lake. However, it emphasized that the significance of a public project does not empower courts to disregard the law or alter the terms of valid contractual agreements.

Islamabad: Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Monday released 284,300 cusecs of water from various rim stations with an inflow of 359,800 cusecs.

According to the data released by IRSA, the water level in the River Indus at Tarbela Dam stood at 1499.21 feet, which was 97.21 feet higher than the dead level of 1402.00 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam were recorded as 211,000 cusecs and 162,400 cusecs, respectively.

The water level in the Jhelum River at Mangla Dam was 1171.80 feet, which was 121.80 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water were recorded as 38,900 cusecs and 12,000 cusecs, respectively.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 212,100, 177,000, 139,300, and 56,800 cusecs, respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 41,400 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera, and 39,300 cusecs were released from River Chenab at Marala.