Day: July 30, 2026

Karachi: Sindh Minister for Auqaf, Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr, Syed Riaz Hussain Shah Shirazi, has paid rich tribute to the great Sufi saint, poet and philosopher, Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (R.A.), on the occasion of his 283rd Urs Mubarak, describing his teachings as a lasting source of peace, love, tolerance, national unity and spiritual enlightenment.

In his message issued on Tuesday, the Provincial Minister said Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (R.A) was one of the greatest Sufi poets and intellectuals of the subcontinent whose timeless poetry continues to inspire humanity with the universal values of peace, compassion, brotherhood, patience, selflessness and mutual respect.

He said the revered saint devoted his life to spreading the teachings of Almighty Allah and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), while promoting harmony, coexistence and service to humanity.

Shirazi said the message of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (R.A.) remains as relevant today as ever, encouraging people to uphold social harmony, tolerance and public service. He noted that “Shah Jo Risalo”, the immortal literary masterpiece of the saint, is not merely a collection of poetry but a profound intellectual and spiritual legacy that offers guidance on every aspect of human life and reflects the enduring principles of justice, perseverance, sacrifice, love and human dignity.

The Minister said Sindh has long been recognized as the land of Sufi saints, adding that the poetry and philosophy of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (R.A.) represent the true spirit of Sindh’s civilization, culture and spiritual heritage.

He said the saint’s invaluable contribution to promoting Sindh’s rich Sufi traditions across the world would always be remembered with respect and admiration.

Highlighting the arrangements for the annual Urs celebrations, Syed Riaz Hussain Shah Shirazi said the Auqaf Department, Government of Sindh, has finalized all necessary preparations to ensure the successful observance of the 283rd Urs Mubarak.

He said comprehensive arrangements have been made for security, sanitation, medical facilities, accommodation, traffic management and other administrative matters to facilitate devotees and pilgrims.

He further stated that the Auqaf Department, district administration, law enforcement agencies and other relevant institutions are working in close coordination to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the Urs.

He emphasized that providing a safe, secure and well organized environment for pilgrims arriving from across Pakistan remains a top priority of the Government of Sindh.

The Provincial Minister urged the people to draw inspiration from the teachings and Sufi philosophy of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (R.A.) by promoting love, tolerance, unity, public service, national harmony and devotion to the homeland.

Concluding his message, Syed Riaz Hussain Shah Shirazi prayed that Almighty Allah, through the blessings of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (R.A.), may bless Sindh and Pakistan with lasting peace, stability, prosperity and unity, and enable the nation to move forward with harmony, brotherhood and mutual respect.

Karachi: Sindh Minister for Local Government, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, visited the Sindh Master Plan Authority, and formally inaugurated the Authority’s newly introduced advanced GIS (Geographic Information System) Technology.

During the visit, the Minister was given a live demonstration of the technology. The system will assist in the preparation of smart city plans and facilitate the identification of plots belonging to Sindh’s land management institutions. It will also enable the development of smart city plans through the use of Google imagery.

On the occasion, a balloting ceremony for Hajj 2027 was also held for the officers and employees of the Authority.

The ceremony was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Dr Waseem Shamshad, Senior Director Shakeel Siddiqui, DG KDA Asif Jan Siddiqui, along with senior officers of the Sindh Master Plan Authority and the Karachi Development Authority (KDA).

Speaking on the importance of the advanced GIS technology, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah stated that the use of modern technology would enhance transparency, efficiency, and effective monitoring in institutional affairs, while also ensuring the delivery of improved and quality public services.

Later, the Minister participated in the Hajj 2027 balloting ceremony for the Authority’s officers and employees. He congratulated the successful candidates and extended his best wishes for a safe and blessed pilgrimage. He added that the Government of Sindh remains committed to the welfare of its employees and that such initiatives help boost their morale.

On the occasion, Senior Director Shakeel Siddiqui presented a commemorative shield to Syed Nasir Hussain Shah.

Welcoming the Minister, he thanked the Government of Sindh for introducing the modern system and for its employee welfare initiatives.

He also reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to promoting transparency, good governance, and the adoption of modern technology through all possible measures.

Karachi: Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi organized a special commemorative event titled “In Memory of Fehmida Riaz” to mark the 80th birth anniversary of the celebrated poet, writer, and public intellectual Fehmida Riaz.

Held at the Josh Malihabadi Library, the event brought together leading literary figures, poets, scholars, students, and admirers of her work to celebrate her enduring literary and intellectual legacy.

The ceremony was presided over by Pakistan’s distinguished poetess Zehra Nigah, while Mohammad Ahmed Shah, President of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, attended as the chief guest.

Eminent literary personalities, including Dr. Fatima Hasan, Murtaza Solangi, and senior journalist and poet Fazil Jameeli, reflected on Fehmida Riaz’s literary achievements, intellectual contributions, and social activism.

Speakers paid rich tribute to Fehmida Riaz’s poetry, prose, intellectual vision, unwavering commitment to freedom of expression, and her invaluable contributions to Urdu literature. The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate her 80th birth anniversary.

Karachi: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Wednesday, announced plans to convene the National Conference on Pakistan Economy for discussing economic challenges, policy initiatives and key reforms and to chart a future strategy.

The central bank also invited researchers, academics, and policymakers to submit their high-quality original research papers for the National Conference on Economy, scheduled to be held on December 18, 2026, a SBP spokesperson informed.

The conference will bring together researchers from academia, policymakers, market practitioners and opinion leaders to present and discuss the contemporary issues faced by Pakistan’s economy.

The conference will also serve as a platform to promote and showcase research aligned with the SBP’s Research Agenda 2026-2029, he said, adding that the themes of the conference included monetary policy transmission amid supply shocks and structural shifts, evaluating the role of capital inflows and export competitiveness for external sector sustainability.

The one-day conference will explore how policymaking in Pakistan must adapt to meet the emerging challenges when the recurring global shocks are affecting the commodity and energy markets and price stability, amplifying the vulnerabilities for economies like Pakistan.

The conference is aimed at bringing together researchers, experts, policymakers, and thought leaders to discuss the policy prescriptions and necessary actionable reforms and to chart a strategy for the future.

The interested researchers may submit abstracts of their original research and case studies, in accordance with the SBP’s research agenda themes, by August 20, 2026 to [email protected] while the last date for submission of full-length papers is fixed at September 30, 2026.

A committee of experts will evaluate the submitted papers and accepted papers will be presented in dedicated sessions of the conference, complemented by keynote addresses and policy roundtables participated by the renowned subject experts.

Karachi: First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari, MNA, was briefed on the vision and implementation roadmap for the proposed Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Comprehensive Stroke Center on Wednesday by Dr. Syed Fazal Zaidi, Professor of Neurology at the University of Toledo, internationally renowned vascular and interventional neurologist and Founding Director of the JPMC Comprehensive Stroke Program, along with Mushtaq Chapra, Chairman of the Patient Aid Foundation.

During the briefing, Dr. Zaidi highlighted the growing burden of stroke in Sindh, noting that the province, with a population of over 55 million, records an estimated 500 stroke cases every day, including around 50 patients with severe strokes requiring highly specialised care. He emphasised the urgent need to strengthen the public healthcare system by establishing a Comprehensive Stroke Center capable of providing timely, life-saving treatment.

The First Lady was informed that while NICVD and SICVD provide valuable care for patients with ischemic stroke, Sindh currently lacks a Comprehensive Stroke Center capable of managing the full spectrum of stroke care, including both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, complex neurovascular emergencies, advanced neuro-interventional procedures, neurocritical care and specialised rehabilitation.

Dr. Zaidi said the initiative is being led through the Pakistan Stroke Initiative, a US-based non-profit organisation established to advance stroke care in Pakistan, in partnership with the Patient Aid Foundation, JPMC and the Government of Sindh.

The partnership aims to establish Sindh’s first public-sector Comprehensive Stroke Center, which will provide advanced stroke care, specialist training and research while serving as the hub of a province-wide tele-stroke network.

Mushtaq Chapra reaffirmed the Patient Aid Foundation’s longstanding commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s public healthcare system through strategic philanthropic partnerships and supporting the development of world-class medical infrastructure at JPMC to ensure equitable access to advanced healthcare services.

The delegation also shared its long-term vision of developing Pakistan’s first public-sector Comprehensive Stroke Network over the next three to five years by training stroke neurologists and neuro-interventional specialists, expanding regional stroke services, strengthening emergency referral pathways, standardising stroke care protocols and connecting district hospitals through an integrated tele-stroke network.

First Lady appreciated the collaborative efforts of the Pakistan Stroke Initiative, the Patient Aid Foundation and JPMC to improve stroke care in Pakistan. She acknowledged the importance of strengthening specialised stroke services and expressed her full support for initiatives aimed at reducing preventable deaths and lifelong disability caused by stroke, noting that such efforts would help save lives and improve patient outcomes.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing the JPMC Comprehensive Stroke Center as a landmark public-sector healthcare initiative that will complement existing services, strengthen Sindh’s stroke care system and expand access to high-quality specialised stroke care for the people of Sindh and Pakistan.

Mayor Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, was also present during the briefing.

Karachi: Pakistan Meteorological Department, Wednesday, forecast mainly hot and humid weather in most districts of Sindh during the next 24 hours while partly cloudy weather conditions with chances of light rain in coastal areas.

Weather remained mainly hot and humid over most districts of the province while partly cloudy in coastal areas on Wednesday.

The highest maximum temperature in the province was recorded as 42 C in Dadu. The maximum temperature in Sukkur and Moen jo Daro was recorded as 41 C, Nawabshah 40 C, Hyderabad Airport 37 C, Mithi 36 C, and in Thatta and

Karachi 34 C.