Day: July 30, 2026

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PM Shehbaz reaffirms Pakistan’s solidarity with Kuwait, reiterates invitation to Kuwaiti Crown Prince


Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity with Kuwait and strongly condemned recent attacks on Kuwait and other Gulf countries amid the ongoing regional conflict.



The prime minister received a call on from Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, here at the Prime Minister’s Office, a news release said.



Welcoming the visiting dignitary, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his best wishes to the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and the Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. Recalling the longstanding fraternal ties between the two nations, the Prime Minister said Pakistan and Kuwait had always stood by each other through thick and thin, underpinned by shared values and mutual trust.



The prime minister told the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister that Pakistan was playing its role as an honest and sincere mediator and facilitator in ongoing regional peace efforts, and thanked Kuwait’s leadership for supporting these initiatives.



Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in ties between the two countries and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Kuwait across trade, investment, energy, agriculture, information technology, maritime affairs and human resource development. He also praised the Kuwaiti government for hosting the Pakistani community and acknowledged its contribution to Kuwait’s socio-economic progress.



In his remarks, Foreign Minister Al-Sabah conveyed greetings from the Kuwaiti leadership to the Prime Minister and reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. He specifically expressed appreciation for the roles played by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in advancing dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the ongoing regional crisis, and thanked Pakistan’s leadership and people for their steadfast support to Kuwait during the difficult period.



Both sides agreed on the importance of continued consultation and coordination on matters of mutual interest and decided to exchange delegations in the near future to carry forward bilateral discussions. Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated his invitation to the Crown Prince of Kuwait to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient time.



The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, along with the federal ministers for Defence, Commerce, National Food Security and Research, Communications, Maritime Affairs, and Petroleum, as well as the Adviser to the Prime Minister and senior government officials.



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Police foil robbery attempt, nab one outlaw in injured condition


Sukkur: Shikarpur police on Wednesday successfully foiled robbery attempt and arrested one outlaw in an injured condition at the Jagan Link Road area within the limits of Store Ganj Police Station.



Under the leadership of SSP Muhammad Kaleem, the crackdown against criminals involved in street crime has been intensified. Police engaged in an encounter with dacoits present with criminal intent in the Jagan Link Road area within the limits of Store Ganj Police Station.



During the exchange of fire, one dacoit was injured and arrested while his accomplices managed to escape.



The injured was identified as Sahnal Banglani, who was wanted in more than eight cases including theft, robbery and police encounters. One pistol, bullets and a gun magazine were recovered from his possession.



The arrested dacoit was shifted to the Civil Hospital for medical treatment. Police operations are underway to nab his escaped accomplices.



Police have registered a case against outlaw and further investigation was underway.



SSP Muhammad Kaleem said Shikarpur Police remain fully alert to ensure the protection of the lives and property of the public.



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KP govt committed to higher education, student welfare and university reforms: CM


Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Wednesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening higher education, announcing enhanced financial support for public universities, continuation of scholarship programmes, and new initiatives for students.



Addressing the convocation of the University of Peshawar he said that all public sector universities, including the University of Peshawar, remained a top priority of the provincial government.



He said pension liabilities of universities from 2017 to 2024 had been cleared in a lump sum, while dues from 2024 to June 2026 had also been released.



He added that the financial deficit of public universities had been reduced from Rs9 billion to Rs4.5 billion, with government assistance increased to Rs12 billion.



He announced that the provincial government would continue the Ehsaas Scholarship Programme from its own resources after its discontinuation by the federal government, adding that students and youth represented Pakistan’s future and had always played a decisive role in national movements.



Highlighting youth-related initiatives, Afridi said the provincial government was introducing interest-free educational loans as well as financial assistance for students seeking higher education abroad.



He also announced that the provincial internship policy had been finalised and would be formally launched soon.



Expressing concern over the growing brain drain, the CM said many talented young Pakistanis were leaving the country due to a lack of employment opportunities and better prospects abroad.



He stressed the need to create an environment where educated youth could contribute to national development.



Referring to the provincial economy, Afridi said KP had significantly increased its own-source revenue through administrative reforms without imposing new taxes.



He said provincial revenue had risen from Rs68 billion to more than Rs150 billion, surpassing the revenue target of Rs129 billion for the fiscal year 2025-26.



The CM also called on the federal government to clear the province’s outstanding gas-related dues, noting that KP produced more than 800 MMCFD of natural gas.



He maintained that under the Constitution, gas-producing provinces should receive priority in gas supply and described gas load-shedding in the province as unacceptable.



During his address, Afridi also expressed views on national political and economic issues, emphasising the importance of democratic values, media freedom, constitutional solutions to national challenges, and economic reforms.



He urged that public issues be resolved through dialogue and constitutional means.



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Health Minister directs to institutionalize lifestyle medicine within medical education in meeting with NTLM


Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordinationon Syed Mustafa Kamal, on Wednesday directed the members of Nationals Taskforce on Lifestyle Medicine (NTLM) to institutionalize lifestyle medicine within medical education, aiming to build a healthier Pakistan through sustainable lifestyle-based interventions.



He expressed these views during second meetings with members of the National Taskforce on Lifestyle Medicine, which was conducted to review progress made since the inaugural session and to accelerate the integration of lifestyle medicine into Pakistan’s healthcare system.



During the meeting, the minister highlighted that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) will be formally advised to incorporate lifestyle medicine into undergraduate medical curricula.



In the meeting, the Taskforce reached several landmark decisions to strengthen Pakistan’s preventive health framework, including a dedicated curriculum development subcommittee was constituted to develop the required academic modules. Simultaneously, the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) will be requested to integrate lifestyle medicine into postgraduate medical education and residency training programmes.



The Federal Minster also approved the establishment of a Healthy Food Kiosk within the Ministry premises through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The initiative will benefit from the several successful experience in implementing healthy menu reforms and will serve as a model for other public sector institutions.



The Federal Minister reaffirmed that Pakistan’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases requires a decisive shift from treatment-oriented healthcare towards prevention through healthy lifestyles.



The National Taskforce on Lifestyle Medicine will continue to provide strategic guidance for integrating evidence-based lifestyle interventions into national health policies, medical education, workplace wellness, and community



Among the notable participants of the meeting were, Prof. Dr Zafar Mirza Former SAPM and President of Pakistan Association of Lifestyle Medicine (PALM),Dr Wali Khan Director General (Health) m/o NHSRC, Dr Tanwir Khaliq VC SZAMBU, Dr. Shagufta Feroz, Director Riphah Institute of Lifestyle Medicine (RILM), Prof Dr Yawar Hayat Khan, Deputy VC Riphah International University, Ms. Amena Aly Member (Development Communication) M/o PDandSI, the General Secretary of PALM Dr Sadia Fazal, Executive PALM Dr Zia Abbas, Dr Zaeem Zia CEO IHRA, Dr Muhammad Qaiser Khan Deputy Chief (Health) M/o PDSI, Member RandD HEC, Mohsin Nisar Joint ED NIH, along with Director Programs, Director (PHC), and Deputy Director PHC-ICT Coord M/o NHSRC.



The meeting brought together distinguished experts in public health, medical education, clinical sciences, lifestyle medicine, and representatives from relevant ministries and organizations to deliberate upon strategic interventions aimed at preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through evidence-based lifestyle approaches.



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WCCIS, COTHM sign MoU for women empowerment


Sialkot: The Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sialkot (WCCIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM) Sialkot to strengthen collaboration in the areas of women empowerment, entrepreneurship development, and academic excellence.



The MoU was signed by Dr. Mariam Siddiqa, President WCCIS and Talal Rana, Director of COTHM Sialkot, in a ceremony aimed at fostering a strategic partnership between the two institutions.



The collaboration reflected a shared commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for aspiring women entrepreneurs through capacity building, skills development, and enhanced industry-academia linkages. The partnership was expected to equip women with the knowledge and practical skills required to establish and grow sustainable businesses.



Representatives of both organizations emphasized the importance of collaborative initiatives in promoting inclusive economic growth and expanding opportunities for women in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.



WCCIS expressed confidence that the partnership with COTHM Sialkot will play a significant role in empowering women, encouraging innovation, and contributing to the continued development of Sialkot’s business community.



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Sale and transportation of urea fertilizer banned in Tank for one month


Peshawar: The district administration of Tank has imposed a one-month ban on the sale, purchase, storage and transportation of urea fertilizer due to security concerns.



According to an official notification on Wednesday, the decision was taken on the instructions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the district. Deputy Commissioner Tank has issued a formal order enforcing the ban across the district.



The district administration warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found involved in the sale, purchase, storage, transportation, or distribution of urea fertilizer during the ban.



Authorities have urged residents, fertilizer dealers and traders to fully comply with the orders and cooperate with the administration in maintaining peace and security.



Officials stated that the measure aims at preventing the possible illegal use of urea fertilizer and ensure public safety in the district.