Day: July 28, 2026

Islamabad: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned until August 20 the hearing of a government appeal seeking cancellation of bail granted to 49 accused in the case related to the suicide attack on Chinese engineers in Bisham.

During the hearing, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan asked whether the accused were appearing before the trial court and whether they intended to engage legal counsel.

One of the accused informed the court that they were poor people who earned their livelihood by running handcarts and could not afford to hire a lawyer.

Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan observed that the accused were facing allegations of facilitating terrorism and should treat the matter with due seriousness by appointing legal representation.

He further remarked that the SIM card of one of the co-accused, Nazir, had been used by the suicide bomber.

The court directed all the accused to appear at the next hearing along with their lawyers, warning that failure to do so could result in cancellation of their bail.

The suicide attack took place in Bisham, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on March 26, 2024, killing five Chinese engineers and one Pakistani national. The government has approached the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to 49 accused in the case.

Islamabad: Miscellaneous applications seeking an early hearing of sentence suspension petitions filed by convicted lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial tweets case have been moved before the Islamabad High Court.

The applications, filed through Advocates Faisal Siddiqui and Zainab Janjua, submitted that the sentence suspension petitions were fixed for hearing on July 24, during which the prosecution had raised objections to their maintainability.

The petitions stated that the court had since dismissed the prosecution’s objections regarding maintainability. The applicants requested the court to fix the sentence suspension petitions for hearing during the week commencing July 27 so that the matter could be decided at the earliest.

Islamabad: The government authorised utilisation of development funds amounting to Rs820. 495 billion during the fiscal year 2025-26 under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), against a total federal allocation of Rs820. 513 billion.

According to the latest Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives data, the federal PSDP allocation comprised Rs565. 13 billion for federal ministries and divisions and Rs255. 37 billion for corporations. Authorisations amounted to Rs565. 12 billion and Rs255. 37 billion, respectively, during the fiscal year.

Among the federal ministries and divisions, the highest authorisation was made for Provinces and Special Areas, amounting to Rs195. 37 billion, followed by the Water Resources Division with Rs101. 64 billion and the Cabinet Division with Rs63. 24 billion.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) was authorised Rs34. 91 billion, Federal Education and Professional Training Division Rs26. 81 billion, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Division Rs19. 30 billion, Railways Division Rs18. 56 billion, Interior Division Rs15. 52 billion, Housing and Works Division Rs14. 24 billion, National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division Rs13. 14 billion, Revenue Division Rs12. 21 billion and Information Technology and Telecommunication Division Rs10. 12 billion.

Other notable authorisations included Rs8. 32 billion for the Defence Division, Rs5. 78 billion for the Industries and Production Division, Rs3. 33 billion each for the Information and Broadcasting Division and the Science and Technological Research Division, Rs2. 30 billion for the Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Division, Rs1. 88 billion for the Finance Division, Rs1. 63 billion for the National Food Security and Research Division, Rs1. 39 billion for the Law and Justice Division, Rs1. 22 billion for the Maritime Affairs Division, Rs1. 03 billion for the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division, Rs814. 93 million for the Defence Production Division, Rs568. 58 million for the Petroleum Division, Rs495. 36 million for the Establishment Division, Rs276. 91 million for the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Division, Rs200. 25 million for the Board of Investment, Rs190 million for the Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON Division, Rs79. 47 million for the Communications Division
(other than NHA), Rs61. 05 million for the National Heritage and Culture Division, Rs50 million for the Commerce Division, Rs49. 62 million for the Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony Division and Rs23 million for the Human Rights Division.

Among corporations, the National Highway Authority (NHA) was authorised Rs182. 23 billion, while Power Division entities (NTDC/PEPCO) received Rs73. 14 billion during FY2025-26.

Islamabad: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Mansoora on Monday, where he held a meeting with Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman to discuss the country’s overall political and security situation, regional developments, and issues affecting the public.

The meeting, held at the Jamaat-e-Islami headquarters, was attended by the party’s Acting Secretary General Nazir Ahmed Janjua and Information Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Turabi. The leaders exchanged views on national affairs and emphasized the importance of addressing public concerns through dialogue and effective governance.

During the discussion, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi highlighted the evolving regional situation and said that tensions had eased once again due to the continuous efforts of the Field Marshal. He underscored the significance of sustained efforts aimed at promoting stability and reducing regional uncertainty.

The meeting also carried a solemn tone as the Interior Minister expressed his heartfelt condolences over the demise of Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ameer-ul-Azeem. Naqvi conveyed his sympathies to Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman and the leadership and workers of the party, describing the late leader’s passing as a great loss.

The Interior Minister offered Fateha for the departed soul and prayed for eternal peace for the deceased. He also prayed that the bereaved family and members of Jamaat-e-Islami be granted patience and strength during this difficult time.

The interaction reflected a spirit of political engagement across party lines, with both sides discussing issues of national importance while also acknowledging the need for collective efforts to address public challenges and maintain stability in the country.

Islamabad: Speaker of National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Monday paid glowing tribute to Captain Raja Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider, on the occasion of his 78th martyrdom anniversary, describing his supreme sacrifice as a timeless symbol of courage, patriotism and devotion to the defence of the country.

In a statement, the Speaker said Sarwar Shaheed embraced martyrdom on July 27, 1948, while defending the motherland in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the valiant officer displayed unparalleled bravery and unwavering determination in the line of duty.

Ayaz Sadiq said that Sarwar Shaheed was the first recipient of Pakistan’s highest military award, the Nishan-e-Haider, adding that his sacrifice remains a shining chapter in the glorious traditions of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

He said the sacrifices of the country’s martyrs are the guarantee of Pakistan’s freedom, sovereignty and security, and the nation will always remember its heroes with profound respect and gratitude.

The Speaker said that Captain Sarwar Shaheed’s spirit of selflessness, sense of duty, and love for the homeland continue to inspire the younger generation.

He said that the Pakistan armed forces have always rendered unparalleled sacrifices for the defence of the country, while those who laid down their lives for the nation remain the pride of the entire nation.

Ayaz Sadiq said that Pakistan stands secure and strong today because of the unmatched sacrifices of its martyrs.

The Speaker Sardar also prayed to Almighty Allah to elevate the ranks of Captain Raja Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed and grant him the highest place in eternal peace.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday chaired the maiden meeting of the Access to Finance Steering Committee and directed all stakeholders to accelerate implementation of the Prime Minister’s Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028 to improve affordable credit for key sectors of the economy.

The committee, constituted to provide strategic oversight of the Prime Minister’s Access to Finance Plan, reviewed measures aimed at expanding affordable financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), agriculture, information technology (IT), exports, renewable energy and housing, a news release said.

The meeting received a comprehensive presentation on the proposed governance structure, targeted outcomes and implementation workstreams designed to expand access to finance, strengthen financial inclusion and enhance affordable lending for priority sectors.

Members were also briefed on progress made by the SME Finance Sub-Committee and reviewed the implementation status of the government’s flagship financing initiatives, including Zarkhez-e (Asaan Zarai Qarza), the Apna Ghar Scheme and the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) initiative, which promotes affordable electric bikes and e-rickshaws.

The committee discussed a proposed three-tier governance framework comprising monthly progress updates to the Prime Minister, fortnightly strategic oversight by the Steering Committee chaired by the finance minister, and weekly meetings of sector-specific sub-committees.

Participants also reviewed a reporting framework featuring Resolution Target Dates (RTDs), a structured escalation mechanism and periodic reporting to strengthen accountability and monitor progress across all implementation workstreams.

The finance minister also stressed the need for an effective progress-monitoring dashboard.

Addressing the meeting, Senator Aurangzeb said the Steering Committee would serve as the central platform for strategic oversight, policy coordination and progress monitoring, enabling timely decision-making, addressing cross-cutting challenges and fostering closer collaboration among regulators, financial institutions and implementing agencies.

He said the committee should remain focused on delivering measurable outcomes while providing an effective mechanism to resolve policy and operational issues affecting access to finance.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of flagship financing programmes, particularly Zarkhez-e (Asaan Zarai Qarza), focusing on application processing, approvals and loan disbursements by participating banks.

Participants were also updated on the Apna Ghar Scheme and the PAVE initiative, including application volumes, approvals, disbursements and operational challenges requiring continued engagement with participating institutions.

The committee further discussed national targets for SME financing, including increasing outstanding SME credit, expanding the share of SME lending in the banking sector and significantly increasing the number of active SME borrowers through a results-oriented monitoring framework.

Members were also briefed on ongoing reforms, including SME credit scoring, development of an Open Banking Framework and SME Digital Portal, integration with credit bureaus and measures to strengthen financing across key value chains.

The finance minister said the success of the Access to Finance Plan would depend on disciplined implementation, clear accountability and sustained institutional coordination.

He emphasised adherence to agreed timelines, stronger inter-agency collaboration and regular monitoring through data-driven performance indicators, adding that the Steering Committee would play a pivotal role in sustaining reform momentum, removing implementation bottlenecks and advancing the plan’s objectives.

The meeting was attended by Finance Secretary Imdadullah Bosal, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the Chairman of the Pakistan Banks’ Association (PBA), the Chief Executive Officer of Karandaaz Pakistan, and senior representatives of the Finance Division, the State Bank of Pakistan and the SECP.