Day: July 17, 2026

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UNFPA, SDPI urge data-driven reporting on population issues in KP


Peshawar: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), on Thursday convened a meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Media Coalition on Reproductive Health and Family Planning to promote evidence-based reporting on population, health and development issues.



The meeting, supported by the Government of the Netherlands, brought together journalists, researchers and development experts to share updated data on youth, population, family planning and child marriage in the province.



Speaking on the occasion, UNFPA Programme Specialist Dr. Shahid Khan said the agency was working with government and civil society partners to help reduce preventable maternal deaths, expand access to family planning and eliminate gender-based violence.



SDPI Deputy Executive Director (Research) Dr. Sajid Amin said KP’s population had reached nearly 41 million in the 2023 census and was estimated to have crossed 42 million, stressing that rapid population growth, unemployment and poverty posed serious development challenges.



SDPI Deputy Executive Director (Policy) Dr. Shafqat Munir urged journalists to highlight population issues through data-driven reporting, saying population dynamics were closely linked with climate change, resource management and economic development.



The participants also identified potential investigative reporting topics on youth, population, family planning and child marriage for the coming months.



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Shahidullah Khan assumes charge as Hazara Commissioner, outlines governance priorities


Abbottabad: Shahidullah Khan on Thursday formally assumed charge as the Commissioner of Hazara Division and said that public service, transparent governance and timely implementation of development projects would be his top priorities.



According to an official statement, officers and staff of the Commissioner’s Office welcomed the new commissioner upon his arrival.



After assuming office, Shahidullah Khan, held an introductory meeting with departmental officers and emphasized effective governance, transparency and efficient delivery of public services.He said the district administration and all relevant departments would work in close coordination to ensure better civic facilities and improve service delivery across Hazara Division.



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CS visits Global Virtual School


Peshawar: Chief Secretary (CS) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah on Thursday visited Global Virtual School Gulbahar, Peshawar to review the state-of-the-art digital learning initiative of KP Education Foundation.



Designed as a future-ready education hub, the Global Virtual School aimed to redefine classroom learning by integrating cutting edge technology, artificial intelligence and interactive digital education into the province’s school system.



During visit, CS inspected advanced infrastructure including seven smart virtual classrooms covering science, arts and other academic disciplines, seven fully equipped digital laboratories for practical learning, a podcast studio for producing educational and awareness content and a modern training hall for teacher development and capacity building.



The entire campus has been developed as a fully digital, smart facility with uninterrupted power backup systems to ensure seamless online learning and operational sustainability.



CS was informed that Global Virtual School would serve as the central hub of a province-wide virtual education network connecting with 175 virtual classrooms in more than 500 schools across KP. The initiative also features an AI-powered teaching system, enabling technology-assisted instruction and personalized learning experiences for students.



Interacting with the newly recruited technical professionals and teaching experts, Shahab Ali Shah congratulated them on their induction and urged them to become pioneers of educational transformation.



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CEO health visits THQ Hospital Kharian


Gujrat: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) District Health Authority (DHA) Gujrat Dr Syed Ata-ul-Munim paid a surprise visit to Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Kharian to review healthcare services and patient care. According to official sources, he inspected the emergency ward, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), labour room and indoor wards. He also reviewed the functionality of biomedical equipment and checked the availability of medicines. During the visit, Dr Ata-ul-Munim met patients, obtained their feedback on treatment and examined their medical charts. He expressed satisfaction over free availability of medicines for admitted patients and the overall cleanliness and sanitation arrangements at the hospital.



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South Air Launches Scheduled Flights from Karachi, Expanding Domestic Connectivity


Islamabad: Pakistan’s domestic aviation network received a significant boost on Wednesday as South Air commenced scheduled flight operations from Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, introducing new routes aimed at improving regional connectivity and supporting tourism and economic activity across the country.



The airline launched scheduled services from Karachi to Quetta via Turbat and from Karachi to Islamabad via Bahawalpur, marking its entry into regular passenger operations from Pakistan’s busiest airport. The inaugural flights, Z8911 to Turbat and Z8942 to Bahawalpur, departed from Jinnah International Airport earlier in the day.



The new operations add fresh capacity to the country’s domestic aviation sector, offering passengers more travel options while improving access to key regional destinations. The move is expected to strengthen links between southern Pakistan and other parts of the country, particularly underserved areas where air travel plays an important role in mobility and commerce.



Under its initial schedule, South Air will operate one weekly flight on the Karachi-Turbat route and three weekly flights on the Karachi-Bahawalpur route. The airline has also announced plans to further expand its domestic network with future services connecting Karachi to Peshawar, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Gwadar.



Operating under the Tourism Promotion and Regional Integration (TPRI) Licence, South Air’s expansion is expected to contribute to the promotion of tourism, facilitate trade and business travel, and improve access to regional destinations through enhanced air connectivity.



The launch of the new services reflects continuing efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s domestic aviation infrastructure by expanding route networks and improving connectivity between major urban centres and emerging regional destinations. The addition of new operators and routes at Jinnah International Airport is also expected to provide greater convenience and flexibility for travellers while supporting broader economic and tourism development initiatives.



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PM Shehbaz directs full preparedness against regional tensions, lauds public support for austerity, fuel-saving drive


Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the relevant authorities to maintain complete preparedness to counter any potential challenges arising from the prevailing uncertainty in the region and lauded the public support for the austerity and fuel-saving drive of the government.



Chairing a high-level meeting to review the impact of regional tensions on the national economy, the prime minister said that by the grace of Allah, the national economy remained stable at present, but stressed the need to formulate a comprehensive strategy to enable timely action.



The meeting was briefed that the country currently possessed sufficient reserves of petroleum products to meet domestic requirements, and that measures had been put in place to ensure their continued supply in the future.



PM Shehbaz commended the effective and timely response of the government’s strategy, which he said, had ensured optimal management of the fuel supply situation in the country.



He noted that the government had extended protection to the common man, motorcyclists, rickshaw drivers and transporters, and that subsidies provided by the state had helped contain the impact of any increase in fuel prices.



The prime minister directed that, in coordination with provincial governments, strict action be taken against elements responsible for creating an artificial shortage of petroleum products in the market.



Reflecting on the government’s earlier austerity campaign, the prime minister expressed heartfelt gratitude to the public for the role they had played in its success, and called for the same spirit to be adopted nationwide going forward. “Just as the people extended full support during the previous simplicity campaign, austerity must now be embraced at the national level,” he said.



He also acknowledged the public’s cooperation in the national campaign for the conservation of petroleum products and energy, describing it as a significant contribution to the country’s economic resilience.



The prime minister warned that escalating tensions in the region could adversely affect the country’s economic outlook going forward, and reiterated the need for vigilance and readiness across all relevant institutions.



The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ali Pervaiz Malik and Awais Khan Leghari, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmed, and senior government officials.