Day: July 30, 2026

Islamabad: The DICE Forum and the Directorate General of Basic Education Community Schools(BECS), Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly implement the KITAB Project (Knowledge and Inclusion Through Access to Books), a collaborative initiative aimed at addressing foundational literacy and reducing learning poverty through the establishment of portable libraries in registered informal, non-formal and community-based schools across the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

The signing ceremony brought together senior representatives of The DICE Forum, officials of the the BECS, and the Ministry of Education reflecting a shared commitment to improving educational opportunities for children from underserved and marginalised communities.

The collaboration is founded on a shared recognition that Pakistan faces a significant learning crisis, with many children unable to acquire foundational literacy skills despite attending school, said a press release.

Informal and community-based schools play a vital role in reaching children who are often excluded from mainstream educational opportunities, making them an important platform for targeted literacy interventions.

Guided by Pakistan’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and national priorities to reduce learning poverty, the KITAB Project seeks to improve equitable access to books and learning resources while creating sustainable reading environments within schools.

Islamabad: The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has developed and approved the Federal Wellbeing and Nutrition Plan, marking an important step towards creating healthier, safer, and more inclusive schools.

According to ministry on Wednesday, the initiative recognizes that quality education extends beyond academics. When students and teachers are healthy, safe, and supported, learning thrives.

To bring the Plan into practice, the Ministry has launched a comprehensive teacher training program that will equip around 600 teachers with practical strategies on Physical Wellbeing, Nutrition, Mental Wellbeing, Inclusivity, Teachers’ Own Wellbeing.

Ministry showed commitment to build schools where every child has the opportunity not only to learn but to flourish.

Islamabad: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Nadeem alias Chino, an accused in a case involving the recovery of 265 grams of hashish, while expressing concern over unnecessary delays in the trial of narcotics cases.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan heard the case.

During the hearing, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked, “It is only 265 grams of hashish. What should we do?” He also questioned why the trial had not yet been completed.

The judge observed that cases investigated by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) usually involve only three to four prosecution witnesses, yet even their testimonies take years to be recorded.

He stressed that trials should be concluded expeditiously so that convictions, where warranted, could be secured on the basis of evidence.

The bench further observed that where the allegation relates to a comparatively small quantity of narcotics and the trial is not completed within a reasonable time, courts are left with no option but to grant bail in accordance with the law.

Subsequently, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Nadeem alias Chino and disposed of the case.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Wednesday, directed authorities to take immediate and effective measures to make the facilities of the newly established federal government-operated national central data center, Sky 47, available to all federal institutions.

He also directed that a meeting of the National Digital Commission should be convened at the earliest to take all stakeholders, including the provinces, into confidence regarding the policy.

Established under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025, the commission is headed by the prime minister, while all provincial chief ministers serve as its members.

The prime minister issued these directives while chairing a review meeting on the implementation status of the National Digital Vision, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister said that a single, integrated national data center for the public sector would provide a centralized platform for the data of all government institutions, helping eliminate the need for separate data centers and resulting in significant savings of national resources.

He observed that the Pakistan Digital Authority was providing an active, efficient and transformative direction for government services, social systems and, in particular, the delivery of citizen-centric services.

He further emphasized that implementing a national digital vision in line with contemporary requirements was essential for building an integrated society.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, and senior officials from relevant government institutions.

The prime minister praised progress under the three core pillars of the National Digital Vision-digital economy, digital citizen services and digital government services-and said that effective implementation of the integrated digital policy would strengthen international partnerships and ensure Pakistan’s effective representation at global forums.

He further stated that full implementation of the National Digital Vision, in consultation with all relevant institutions and federal and provincial governments, would align decision-making, institutional performance and transparency with international standards.

Directing authorities to prioritize key sectors, the prime minister stressed that the National Digital Vision must be implemented first in health, agriculture, utilities, housing and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to ensure the timely delivery of improved public services.

He said that upon full implementation of the vision, citizens would be able to access a wide range of public services through a single digital identity, including government document verification, banking facilities, healthcare services, transfers and other essential services through a unified platform.

During a briefing, participants were informed that, in line with the Prime Minister’s directives, the National Digital Vision is currently being implemented in the sectors of agriculture, food, health, energy, housing and SMEs.

Work is also underway in 14 additional priority sectors, which are expected to improve sectoral performance and generate positive impacts on the national economy, industry and commerce, it was added.

The authorities said that implementation of the vision in the housing sector would enable the introduction of a centralized identification number for all public and private properties, while its application in the SME sector would establish a unified system of unique legal business identities, contributing to increased national productivity.

The meeting was informed that all legal, administrative and institutional measures required for the full implementation of the National Digital Vision were being expedited.

While in this context, the opinions of global experts, international institutions and internationally recognized best practices have also been fully utilized during the process.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed Kuwait’s ratification of the Pakistan-Kuwait Defence Cooperation Agreement, signed in June 2023, terming it another important milestone in the longstanding defence partnership between the two brotherly countries.

In a statement issued here, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Tahir Andrabi said the development reflected the shared resolve of both sides to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and elevate their security partnership, which dates back to the early 1980s.

He said the Agreement provided a comprehensive institutional framework for expanding defence cooperation, encompassing military training and education, joint exercises, exchange of expertise, and other mutually agreed areas of collaboration.

The spokesperson said the pact would further enhance institutional linkages between the Armed Forces of both countries and consolidate the longstanding defence ties between Pakistan and Kuwait.

He said Pakistan and Kuwait would continue to work closely to implement the Agreement in accordance with its provisions, thereby expanding bilateral defence collaboration and strengthening their enduring partnership, underpinned by mutual trust, shared interests and close institutional cooperation.

The spokesperson added that the move would also contribute to regional peace, security and stability.

The Pakistan-Kuwait Defence Cooperation Agreement was originally signed on June 11, 2023.