Day: July 26, 2026

Islamabad: The prices of gold witnessed a slight increase in the local market on Saturday, with the price of 24-karat gold per tola gaining Rs300 to settle at Rs427, 736, according to rates issued by the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of 24-karat gold increased by Rs257 to Rs366, 714, whereas 10 grams of 22-karat gold rose by Rs235 to Rs336, 166. In the international market, the price of gold increased by $3 to $4, 053 per ounce, the association reported.

Meanwhile, the price of silver per tola declined by Rs12 to Rs6, 297, while the price of 10 grams of silver fell by Rs10 to Rs5, 398. The price of silver in the international market also decreased by $0. 12 to $58. 18 per ounce, the association added.

Islamabad: Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to regional peace and economic growth as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with British House of Lords member Lord Zamir Choudrey in Islamabad, where both leaders discussed regional stability and investment opportunities.

During the meeting, Lord Zamir Choudrey praised Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace in the region, commending the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for what he described as their “commendable efforts” toward ensuring regional stability.

He also noted that the government’s positive policies are creating greater opportunities for investment in Pakistan, expressing confidence in the country’s improving business environment.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan remains committed to working collectively for lasting peace across the region. “God willing, our efforts will once again yield positive results, ” he said, expressing optimism about ongoing diplomatic and security initiatives.

Highlighting the country’s economic potential, Naqvi said Pakistan offers vast opportunities for local and foreign investors and emphasized that the government warmly welcomes investment. He assured that investors would be provided with every possible facilitation to encourage business activity and strengthen economic growth.

The meeting reflected the shared interest in promoting regional stability while enhancing Pakistan’s appeal as an investment destination through supportive government policies and international engagement.

Islamabad: The funeral prayers of the Pakistani national who tragically lost his life on 13th July in a drowning incident at Werbellinsee Lake, Brandenburg, were offered in Berlin.

‘The Embassy expresses its profound grief over this tragic incident and extends its deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family. The untimely loss of a young Pakistani student is deeply saddening, and the Embassy stands in solidarity with the family in this hour of grief. The Embassy prays that Almighty Allah grants the departed soul eternal peace and bestows courage and patience upon the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, ‘ Pakistan Embassy in Germany said in a press release on Saturday.

Immediately following the incident, the embassy remained in close contact with the relevant German authorities and maintained continuous coordination to facilitate the search, recovery, identification, and repatriation of the deceased.

Through the dedicated efforts and close cooperation of the German Federal Foreign Office, the Brandenburg Police, and other concerned authorities, the body was successfully recovered, identified, and released to the embassy.

The body of the deceased will be repatriated to Pakistan next week.

The embassy conveys its sincere appreciation to the German Federal Foreign Office, the Brandenburg Police, and all other authorities involved for their professionalism, compassion, and unwavering support throughout this process.

Their cooperation and assistance provided considerable solace to the bereaved family and greatly facilitated the Embassy’s consular efforts.

The embassy also urged Pakistani nationals residing in or visiting Germany to exercise utmost caution while swimming or engaging in recreational activities in lakes and other natural water bodies.

Members of the community were advised to observe local safety regulations strictly, heed official warnings, and avoid entering water where conditions might pose a risk to life, it was further added.

Islamabad: In a decisive move to institutionalize real-time governance, digital accountability, and results-driven public administration, the Prime Minister’s Office convened a high-level meeting of the Secretaries Committee to accelerate the effective operationalization of the Prime Minister Office System (PMOS).

The meeting reaffirmed the Government’s resolve to transform the execution and monitoring of official business through a unified digital platform that delivers real-time oversight, enhanced inter-ministerial coordination, and faster implementation of the Prime Minister’s priorities, said a release issued on Saturday.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division, Ahad Cheema, and Adviser to the Prime Minister, Dr. Tauqeer Shah, and attended by Federal Secretaries and senior officials of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Head of the Prime Minister’s Office Governance Reforms Unit, Musharraf Rasool, delivered a comprehensive briefing on PMOS, outlining its operational features, performance-monitoring capabilities, and strategic role in modernizing government administration.

The technical team from the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) informed participants that all initial technical refinements have been successfully completed, confirming that the platform is now fully stable, responsive, and capable of supporting uninterrupted real-time monitoring across the Federal Government.

Addressing the meeting, Federal Minister Ahad Cheema described PMOS as a game-changing governance platform that replaces conventional manual follow-ups with an integrated digital system capable of delivering live monitoring, instant feedback, data-driven decision-making, and seamless institutional coordination.

He observed that under the previous manual mechanism, identifying implementation gaps and tracking progress often required repeated correspondence and time-consuming follow-ups.

PMOS now enables the Prime Minister’s Office to monitor assignments in real time, allowing for timely interventions, quicker resolution of bottlenecks, and more effective implementation of government decisions.

The Minister emphasized that PMOS will function as the Government’s central digital command and coordination platform, bringing greater transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the implementation process while strengthening collaboration among ministries and divisions.

To ensure swift and effective operationalization, Minister Ahad Cheema directed all Federal Secretaries to upload the bulk of their respective ministry data onto PMOS by the coming week. He further instructed every Federal Secretary to review and monitor assigned tasks on the platform at least twice daily, ensuring continuous engagement with the system and prompt compliance with directives issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Minister stressed that routine assignments should be executed without delay, while complex matters should be updated on PMOS with clearly identified constraints and realistic timelines. He assured participants that the Prime Minister’s Office would work closely with ministries to resolve implementation bottlenecks through dedicated review meetings involving the Minister, PMO officials, and the respective Federal Secretaries to establish clear and achievable timelines.

Concluding the meeting, Federal Secretaries highly appreciated the Prime Minister’s Office and the Pakistan Digital Authority for developing a robust digital governance platform that will significantly enhance institutional efficiency, transparency, coordination, and performance monitoring across the Federal Government.

The Secretaries reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the successful operationalization of PMOS by maintaining full engagement with the platform over the coming one to two weeks and by working closely with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Pakistan Digital Authority to promptly address any operational issues.

Islamabad: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry visited the under-construction Islamabad Model Jail on Saturday to review the progress of the long-awaited project, directing authorities to accelerate work while maintaining the highest construction standards.

During the visit, the minister received a detailed briefing on the ongoing development work and inspected various components of the project. Officials from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) were also present.

Talal Chaudhry described the Islamabad Model Jail as a priority project of Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, saying the facility reflects the government’s commitment to modernizing the country’s correctional infrastructure.

He said the project had remained pending for years before the current government moved to translate it into reality and initiated work at a fast pace. According to the minister, development projects across the country are being completed at a record speed under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Emphasizing the importance of timely completion, Chaudhry instructed the relevant departments to further accelerate the pace of construction while ensuring that quality is not compromised under any circumstances.

The visit underscored the government’s focus on completing key infrastructure projects within stipulated timelines while adhering to prescribed engineering and safety standards.