Month: July 2026

Islamabad: The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, through its National Curriculum Council Wing (NCCW), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pakistan and ACT International, today launched the Grade IV Digital Life Skills-Based Education (LSBE) Learning Management System (LMS) Pilot in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), marking a significant step towards integrating digital innovation into school education and promoting essential life skills among young learners.

The launch ceremony was held at Islamabad College for Boys, G-6/3, and was attended by senior government officials, representatives of UNFPA Pakistan, development partners, education experts, school leaders, and teachers. Federal Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Mr. Nadeem Mahbub, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

Addressing the ceremony, the Federal Secretary reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to modernising the education sector through innovation and technology. He stated that quality education should not only focus on academic excellence but also equip children with practical life skills, including critical thinking, effective communication, problem-solving, and informed decision-making, enabling them to become responsible and productive citizens. He described the digitisation of the Grade IV LSBE curriculum as an important milestone in preparing children for the opportunities and challenges of the twenty-first century.

The Digital LSBE Learning Management System provides an interactive, age-appropriate, and gender-sensitive curriculum for Grade IV students while equipping teachers with modern digital teaching resources. The three-month pilot will be implemented in twenty schools across Islamabad Capital Territory, including eight schools under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and twelve schools under the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA). The initiative will assess the effectiveness of the digital platform, with findings expected to guide future policy decisions and support its phased expansion to additional grades and schools across the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Gulnara Kadyrkulova, Deputy Representative of UNFPA Pakistan, reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to supporting adolescents and young people through quality Life Skills-Based Education. She noted that the programme equips children with the knowledge, values, and practical skills needed to make informed decisions while fostering confidence, empathy, effective communication, and respect for diversity. She added that the digital platform would further strengthen inclusive, learner-centred education and improve access to quality learning resources for both teachers and students.

The Grade IV Digital LSBE LMS Pilot reflects the strong partnership between the Government of Pakistan, UNFPA Pakistan, and ACT International and reaffirms their shared commitment to advancing inclusive, innovative, and future-ready education for every child.

Islamabad: Chairperson of the Peace and Culture Organization and wife of incarcerated Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik, Mushaal Hussein Mullick on Wednesday called on the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government and protesting groups to immediately begin meaningful negotiations to resolve the ongoing political crisis, restore public confidence and ease tensions that have disrupted daily life, business, tourism and transport across the region for more than a month.

In a statement on the situation in AJK, Ms Malik urged both sides to demonstrate flexibility and responsibility, warning that the prevailing atmosphere of mistrust had left citizens anxious and damaged the region’s image at a critical time.

She said tensions in AJK should be defused through dialogue and consensus, stressing that confidence building measures were essential for restoring normalcy and stability.

Describing AJK as the base camp of the Kashmir freedom movement, she said all stakeholders must reflect on their responsibilities and act in the broader interests of the Kashmiri cause.

Ms Malik said the developments in AJK were drawing international attention, adding that members of the Kashmiri diaspora around the world were deeply concerned about the situation.

She noted that transport services, tourism activities and business operations had been severely affected during the prolonged unrest, creating hardships for ordinary citizens and hurting the local economy.

“Our shoulders carry the responsibility of the blood of millions of martyrs of occupied Kashmir,” she said, emphasizing that the ultimate objective remained the liberation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir from Indian rule.

She appealed to the government and protesters to prioritize dialogue over confrontation and work together to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis.

Islamabad: Government of China, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on Wednesday handed over reproductive health and family planning supplies and equipment worth $2 million to Pakistan.

These equipment were handed over in order to improve maternal and newborn healthcare services and expanding family planning access in 10 underserved districts across the country.

The reproductive health and family planning supplies and equipment were handed over to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRandC) during a ceremony held at the Rural Health Center (RHC) Tarlai in Islamabad.

Minister of State for National Health Services Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharat received the supplies from Zhang Datuo, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, in the presence of UNFPA Pakistan Deputy Representative Dr. Gulnara Kadyrkulova, Director General of the Population Programme Wing Dr. Shabana Saleem, and District Health Officer Islamabad Dr. Syeda Rashida Batool.

The donated assistance includes reproductive health and midwifery kits, two-rod contraceptive implants, clean delivery kits, and newborn baby kits designed to strengthen maternal, newborn and reproductive healthcare services.

The supplies will enhance the quality of obstetric and newborn care while expanding family planning choices in ten underserved districts including Kech, Loralai and Khuzdar in Balochistan, Hyderabad in Sindh; Rahim Yar Khan and Kasur in Punjab, Charsadda in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kotli in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

More than 300,000 women and girls of reproductive age are expected to benefit from the initiative.

In addition to the provision of essential supplies, healthcare providers will receive specialized training to ensure the delivery of high-quality reproductive health and family planning services.

Speaking on the occasion, Zhang Datuo reaffirmed China’s commitment to improving maternal health and expanding access to family planning services in Pakistan through the Global Development Initiative and the South-South Cooperation Programme.

He said the partnership reflects China’s continued support for women, families and vulnerable communities in underserved areas of Pakistan.

Islamabad: Kazakhstan’s Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry discussed ways to expand bilateral trade through Pakistani ports, enhance regional connectivity and strengthen maritime ties at a farewell meeting.

The minister appreciated Mr Kistafin’s contribution to strengthening Pakistan-Kazakhstan relations during his tenure and expressed hope that cooperation in the maritime sector would continue to grow.

Junaid Chaudhry said Pakistan was keen to enhance engagement with Kazakhstan in ports, shipping, trade facilitation and regional connectivity, adding that stronger maritime links could create new opportunities for businesses in both countries.

He said Pakistan was ready to provide port infrastructure and support for Kazakh cargo through Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar, including potential joint ventures in free zones.

‘Pakistani seaports can act as transit hubs for Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region, offering access to markets in the Persian Gulf, Africa and Southeast Asia,’ the minister said.

Mr Kistafin highlighted the potential for expanding bilateral trade and said closer engagement in the maritime and port sectors could open new avenues for commerce.

The two sides also discussed strengthening institutional linkages and exploring practical measures to facilitate Kazakh trade through Pakistani ports.

Islamabad: Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar chaired a meeting of Pakistani member universities of the CPEC Consortium of Universities to review progress and identify future priorities for strengthening Pakistan-China academic collaboration.

The meeting was attended by the Executive Director of HEC, senior HEC management , Vice Chancellors/Rectors from universities across Pakistan.

During the meeting, Director General (Global Engagement/CPEC Unit) HEC Ms. Aayesha Ikram presented the achievements of the Consortium, highlighting that it has grown from its inception in 2017 to include 93 Pakistani and 40 Chinese universities.

She highlighted that the key achievements include the establishment of six China Study Centres, collaborative research grants, faculty and student exchanges, training and talent development programmes and enhanced institutional linkages between Pakistan and China.

Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar emphasised that Pakistani universities must adopt a more proactive, results-oriented approach in their engagement with Chinese counterparts. Referring to feedback received during his recent visit to China, he noted that while a significant number of MOUs have been signed over the years, greater efforts are required to convert these agreements into tangible outcomes. He urged universities to focus on measurable deliverables such as joint and dual degree programmes, collaborative research projects, faculty and student exchanges, innovation partnerships, co-publications and Transnational Education (TNE) initiatives.

Sharing insights from meetings held with Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), Fudan University and the China Association of Higher Education (CAHE), the Chairman highlighted new avenues for collaboration in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, integrated circuits, biotechnology, public health, cybersecurity, agriculture, green technologies and emerging industries. He stressed that China’s remarkable progress in technology, higher education, infrastructure and innovation offers valuable lessons for Pakistan and encouraged universities to maximize opportunities available through academic engagement with leading Chinese institutions.

The Chairman HEC also underscored the importance of digital transformation in higher education, strengthening China Studies and Sinology programmes, establishing research and training centres and leveraging existing Confucius Institutes and China Study Centres as catalysts for deeper academic cooperation. He further encouraged universities to take full advantage of HEC’s Joint, Dual and Double Degree Policy and actively promote research placement opportunities being offered by Fudan University for Pakistani MS/MPhil and PhD scholars.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to transforming Pakistan-China academic partnerships into impactful collaborations that contribute to research excellence, innovation, human capital development and national progress.