Day: July 23, 2026

Islamabad: The international recognition earned by Pakistan’s “Football for Mental Health Programme” at the United Nations has been hailed as a major milestone for Pakistan’s sporting diplomacy, reinforcing the country’s positive image while strengthening its standing within the global football community.

Officials associated with the initiative believe the acknowledgement has gone beyond celebrating a successful social programme, instead highlighting Pakistan’s growing ability to contribute meaningfully to international discussions on youth development, mental well-being and community empowerment through sport.

The recognition has also reinforced the Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) belief in the unity of the global football family, demonstrating that football continues to transcend geographical, cultural and political boundaries by bringing together nations in pursuit of common humanitarian goals.

PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani described the achievement as a significant endorsement of Pakistan’s potential to transform football into an instrument of social progress. “It proved that Pakistani people have the will and ability to serve society, while the Pakistan Football Federation possesses the professional capacity to implement globally conceived ideas focusing on building a better society by using football as a vehicle,” he said.

Gilani added that the international appreciation had projected Pakistan’s soft image before the world by showcasing the country’s commitment to innovation, social responsibility and community development through sport.

According to the PFF president, one of the most significant outcomes of the initiative was its emphasis on mental health, an issue receiving increasing attention across the global sporting landscape. “Football has the power to improve the emotional and psychological well-being of players, coaches, volunteers, supporters and families, while creating healthier and more connected communities.”

PFF Chief Operating Officer Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar said that the United Nations platform enabled Pakistan to engage with a diverse range of international stakeholders, including football administrators, policymakers, development organisations, athletes and youth leaders. “These interactions created valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, explore future collaborations and strengthen partnerships aimed at using sport to address global social challenges,” he remarked.

“Football has increasingly become an effective platform for promoting inclusion, education, health awareness and youth empowerment, with governing bodies around the world encouraging federations to expand their role beyond competition and contribute to broader community development,” Khokhar added.

The other delegation members said that Pakistan’s participation in the global dialogue reflects the PFF’s commitment to embracing this modern vision of football, where the game’s influence extends beyond the pitch to create lasting social impact.

“The recognition is also expected to encourage greater international cooperation and support for similar initiatives in the future, while reinforcing Pakistan’s reputation as a responsible and constructive member of the global football community,” they added.

Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, organized the National Workshop on Quality Computing Education and Future Skills at HEC Secretariat, here, focusing on equipping students with future-ready IT skills and bridging the gap between higher education and market needs.

The workshop brought together distinguished policymakers, vice chancellors, academics, industry leaders, representatives of accreditation bodies, technology experts, and students to deliberate on enhancing the quality of computing education and equipping graduates with future-ready competencies aligned with national development priorities and the evolving demands of the global digital economy.

Addressing the participants, Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chairman, HEC, underscored that the future of Pakistan’s digital economy depends on the provision of quality computing education.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s vision for digital transformation, he highlighted HEC’s key initiatives aimed at strengthening computing education, including the implementation of the Computing Curriculum 2025, integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into academic programmes, promotion of Outcome-Based Education (OBE), and implementation of the National Skills Competency Test (NSCT) to enhance graduates’ competencies, industry readiness, and employability.

Delivering the welcome remarks, Prof. Dr Habib Bokhari, Member of Research, Development and Innovation, HEC, stated that the workshop was organized to raise awareness among students, parents, academia, and industry about the importance of quality computing education, emerging technologies, future-ready skills, and evolving career opportunities.

He reaffirmed HEC’s steadfast commitment to modernizing computing curricula, strengthening academia-industry collaboration, enhancing quality assurance mechanisms, and equipping graduates with the knowledge and competencies required to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.

The event was graced by Mr. Hassan Saqlain, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, as the Chief Guest. Senior officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC), Virtual University of Pakistan, vice chancellors from universities, IT students from various higher education institutions, and representatives of HEC participated in the workshop.

The workshop featured an interactive panel discussion moderated by Mr. Hidayatullah Kasi, Deputy Director (Curriculum), HEC. The panel comprised representatives from PSEB, P@SHA, NCEAC, members of the National Curriculum Review Committee (NCRC) for Computing, and HEC. The discussion focused on the skills demanded by the IT industry and the future workforce, aligning computing curricula with emerging technologies and evolving market needs, strengthening accreditation systems and quality assurance mechanisms, promoting faculty development, industry immersion, and collaborative research, and expanding industry-led internships, capstone projects, professional certifications, and other initiatives to enhance graduate employability.

Representatives from academia and industry also shared valuable insights on bridging the gap between higher education and market requirements, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software engineering, data science, and digital innovation. They highlighted the need for continuous curriculum review, faculty capacity building, experiential learning, and stronger collaboration with the technology industry.

At the conclusion of the event, shields of appreciation were presented to the Chief Guest, moderator, panelists, and other distinguished contributors in recognition of their valuable support and contributions to the success of the workshop. In addition, the top 17 achievers of the National Skills Competency Test (NSCT) 2026 were honored with shields and certificates of appreciation in recognition of their outstanding performance. The awards acknowledged their academic excellence and encouraged merit, innovation, and excellence in computing education

Islamabad: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday appreciated Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov for his dedicated efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation and expand political, parliamentary, economic and people-to-people ties between the two countries during his tenure.

Bidding farewell to Ambassador Farhadov at Parliament House, the chairman commended his outstanding contribution to further strengthening the historic, brotherly and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

He said Ambassador Farhadov’s proactive engagement had significantly reinforced the enduring friendship between the two countries, founded on mutual trust, shared values and steadfast support for each other on issues of national importance.

The Chairman Senate expressed satisfaction over the unprecedented momentum in high-level exchanges between the leadership of both countries, including the landmark visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s subsequent visits to Baku.

He said these engagements had elevated bilateral relations to new heights.

Recalling his own visits to Baku, the Chairman of the Senate highlighted the growing parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening exchanges between parliamentary committees and Parliamentary Friendship Groups, noting that parliamentary diplomacy remains a key pillar of bilateral relations.

He also conveyed his best wishes to the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Ms. Sahiba Gafarova.

The Chairman Senate welcomed the positive trajectory in bilateral trade and investment and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to achieving the agreed $2 billion investment target.

He appreciated Azerbaijan’s decision to reduce the import duty on Pakistani rice to zero until 2027 and underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in energy, information technology, agriculture, healthcare, artificial intelligence, innovation and tourism.

Highlighting enhanced connectivity, the Chairman Senate welcomed the operationalisation of direct flights and the ASAN visa programme, describing them as important steps towards promoting tourism, business and people-to-people exchanges.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s principled support for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chairman Senate thanked Azerbaijan for its consistent support for Pakistan’s position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

He observed that the relationship between the two countries is rooted not only in shared strategic interests but also in deep historical and cultural links, symbolised by the historic Multani Caravanserai in Baku.

Ambassador Khazar Farhadov thanked the Chairman Senate for the warm sentiments and hospitality extended to him during his tenure and reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to further strengthening its close friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Pakistan.

Senator Kazim Ali Shah, Chairman of the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Senate; Syed Raza Ali Gillani, MNA and Chairman of the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group in the National Assembly; Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar; Ms. Misbah Khar, Adviser to the Chairman Senate; and Syed Qamar Raza, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), attended the meeting.

Islamabad: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will build and rehabilitate 980.9 kilometres of roads and construct 34 bridges across 18 districts under a Rs105.45 billion Rural Roads Development Project to improve access to markets, schools, healthcare facilities and tourist destinations by November 2029, according to official documents.

Documents available with Wealth Pakistan show that the project, approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in February 2024, aims to strengthen transport connectivity in remote, disaster-prone and economically underserved areas of the province.

The programme is being implemented by the provincial Communication and Works Department, while Minconsult SDN BHD and Creative Engineering Consultants are serving as supervisory consultants.

Under the plan, 474.2 kilometres of flood-damaged roads will be rehabilitated, 324.4 kilometres of rural access roads will be upgraded and 182.3 kilometres of tourism roads will be developed, taking the total road network covered by the project to 980.9 kilometres. In addition, 34 bridges will be constructed to improve year-round connectivity and enhance mobility in vulnerable and hard-to-reach regions.

District-wise allocations show Dera Ismail Khan receiving the largest share of flood road rehabilitation with 207.5 kilometres, while Chitral has the highest overall allocation of 192.1 kilometres, including flood rehabilitation, rural access and tourism roads.

The project also covers Karak, Kohat, Bannu, Malakand, Charsadda, Buner, Swabi, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Swat, Shangla, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Battagram, Haripur, Mansehra and Torghar.

According to the cost breakdown, Rs100.86 billion has been earmarked for civil works, including road construction and rehabilitation, bridge development, tourism access routes, utility relocation and contingencies.

A further Rs3.78 billion has been allocated for consultancy services, while Rs813 million will be spent on project management, institutional strengthening and horticultural activities.

Officials said the project is expected to enhance regional connectivity, facilitate economic activity and improve access to essential services for thousands of residents across rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Islamabad: Pakistan’s senior national hockey team defeated the Junior Under-21 side 6-4 in an entertaining friendly match played at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium here on Wednesday under the auspices of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

The contest remained closely fought throughout, with both teams displaying attacking hockey. The scores were tied at 4-4 at the end of the third quarter before the senior team made the most of its experience by scoring two goals in the final quarter to secure victory.

Despite the defeat, the Junior Under-21 team earned praise for its spirited performance against the senior side. The young players impressed with their skill, determination and fighting spirit, drawing appreciation from the spectators present at the stadium.

PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani and the federation’s international coaching staff watched the match and closely assessed the performances of both teams. They appreciated the talent and commitment shown by the junior players, terming their display an encouraging sign for the future of Pakistan hockey