Month: July 2026

Islamabad: The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), on Wednesday announced the results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Part I and Part II First Annual Examination 2026, with an overall pass percentage of 59.77 per cent in SSC-I and 91.33 per cent in SSC-II.

The results were officially declared during a ceremony attended by Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training as the chief guest alongwith academicians, position holders, their parents, principals and Board officials.

The Board Chairman Prof Dr Ikram Ali Malik briefed participants on the key features of the examination and the Board’s performance.

Addressing the ceremony, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui congratulated the successful candidates and urged them to continue striving for excellence and contribute to the country’s progress through hard work and dedication.

According to the Board, overall 150,077 including regular and Ex/private candidates were enrolled in SSC-I, of whom 88,646 passed, resulting in an overall pass percentage of 59.77. Whereas overall 141,653 candidates appeared in SSC-II of whom 128,070 passed the exam with percentage stands at 91.33.

The FBISE said the results are available on its official website, through SMS and have also been communicated to candidates through SMS.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain-wind and thunderstorms, accompanied by isolated heavy to very heavy falls, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, upper and central Punjab, northeast Balochistan and Kashmir on Thursday.

While hot and humid weather is expected to persist in the southern parts of the country.

The Met Office warned that heavy rains during July 30 and 31 could trigger urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, the Pothohar region, Peshawar, Nowshera, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore and Faisalabad.

It said landslides were also likely in vulnerable hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Buner, Battagram, Mansehra, Shangla and Abbottabad, as well as Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir.

The department cautioned that heavy rainfall may generate flash floods in local streams and nullahs of Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, the Pothohar region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Balochistan during the forecast period.

It further warned that heavy rain, windstorms and lightning could damage weak structures, including solar panels, electric poles and billboards.

According to the forecast, Islamabad and adjoining areas are likely to remain partly cloudy with rain and thunderstorms, while isolated heavy falls are also expected.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain-thundershowers with scattered heavy to very heavy falls are expected in Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan and Hangu.

Punjab is also expected to receive widespread rain and thunderstorms with scattered heavy to very heavy falls in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Khushab, Mianwali, Layyah, Bhakkar, Noorpur Thal, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Pakpattan.

Most districts of Sindh are expected to experience hot and humid weather, although partly cloudy conditions with light rain or drizzle may occur in coastal areas.

Balochistan is likely to remain hot, with very hot weather in central and southern districts. However, isolated rain and thunderstorms are expected in Zhob, Musakhel, Barkhan, Khuzdar and adjoining areas during the afternoon.

Cloudy weather with rain and thunderstorms, including isolated heavy falls, is forecast for Kashmir, while Gilgit-Baltistan is expected to remain partly cloudy.

During the last 24 hours, rain-thundershowers with isolated heavy falls occurred in Kashmir, northeast Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, while hot and humid weather prevailed over the rest of the country.

The highest rainfall was recorded in Muzaffarabad Airport (98 mm), Gujranwala (94 mm), Sialkot City (74 mm), Murree (74 mm), Jhelum (64 mm), Islamabad Golra (63 mm), Gujrat (55 mm), Mangla (53 mm) and Rawalpindi Kattarian (49 mm).

The highest maximum temperatures recorded on Wednesday were 45C in Sibbi, Turbat and Dalbandin, followed by 44C in Nokkundi.

Islamabad: The Balochistan government has planned to install solar systems in 8,000 reconstructed permanent houses in Awaran district. According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the cost of the housing project financed by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has been revised from Rs2.5 billion to approximately Rs2.825 billion, an increase of about 13 percent.

The documents state that the construction of all 8,000 permanent houses has been completed. However, procurement and installation of solar systems remain at the approval stage and are awaiting clearance from the Saudi Fund for Development.

Once approved, the remaining solarisation component will complete the project, providing solar power systems to all reconstructed houses in Awaran district.

Islamabad: Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, hold a high-level meeting to deliberate on the post-National Skills Competency Test (NSCT) scenario, competency-based skills, and curriculum reforms aimed at strengthening the quality and relevance of higher education in Pakistan.

The meeting focused on aligning higher education curricula with national development priorities and emerging workforce requirements. Participants held detailed discussions on enhancing graduates’ employability through competency-based education, strengthening industry-academia linkages, and integrating practical skills into academic programmes.

Chairman HEC Prof. Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar underscored the importance of implementing curriculum reforms. He emphasized that higher education institutions must produce graduates equipped with the knowledge, competencies, and professional skills required to contribute effectively to Pakistan’s socio-economic development.

The participants also reviewed the post-NSCT landscape and discussed strategies for embedding competency-based learning, assessment, and certification mechanisms across higher education institutions. The meeting highlighted the need to ensure that academic programmes are responsive to technological advancements, industry demands, and global standards.

Reaffirming HEC’s commitment to quality enhancement, the Chairman stressed the effective implementation of the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) Curriculum, quality assurance mechanisms, and academic standards across universities. He noted that strengthening OBE practices would improve learning outcomes, foster innovation, and enhance the international recognition of Pakistani graduates.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on accelerating curriculum reforms, promoting competency-driven education, and ensuring close coordination among relevant stakeholders to develop a future-ready higher education system that supports national development goals.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the relevant authorities to identify and initiate strict legal actions against the individuals and businesses involved in the informal economy and tax evasion.

Chairing a weekly review meeting on reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the prime minister instructed to develop a comprehensive and scientific methodology to estimate the tax potential across different sectors.

For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the prime minister highlighted that the alignment between sugar production data and FBR records was clear evidence that the FBR’s installed tracking system was functioning effectively and delivering improved performance.

He also praised the efforts of the Chairman FBR and his team in this regard and said that the individuals and businesses that comply with tax laws and regularly pay taxes were valuable national assets and deserved appreciation.

He said the government had provided maximum possible facilitation to both the export and domestic sectors regarding taxation and will continue to do so in the future.

He directed the Chairman FBR and senior officials to remain present in Karachi during the first week of every month to listen to and promptly resolve the concerns of the business community.

The prime minister pointed out that a digital production monitoring system should be made operational by December for the textile, beverages, steel, poultry, edible oil and ghee, and tyro sectors.

He said appointments and transfers within the FBR will be made strictly on the basis of merit.

“The newly introduced performance evaluation system for FBR officers is commendable, and merit and transparency will remain the highest priorities,” he said adding that a list of high-performing officers should be prepared so they can be recognized with awards on Independence Day.

He further instructed that an immediate third-party audit and validation should be conducted to identify and address any irregularities in Customs bonded warehouses.

The prime minister was also briefed on the installation of the FBR’s production tracking system, reforms implemented in human resource management, and measures to improve operational efficiency.

He was informed that the tracking system was fully operational in the sugar, cement, tobacco, tiles, and fertilizer sectors.

“Implementation is in its final stages in five additional sectors with an estimated tax potential exceeding Rs 700 billion.”

Participants were further informed that work was underway with nine manufacturing sectors to design and implement tracking systems, enabling the government to tap an additional Rs 560 billion in tax potential.

The prime minister directed that the implementation of the tracking system for indirect tax collection across the manufacturing sector be completed by the end of the current year.

During the briefing on human resource reforms, it was stated that newly recruited officers are receiving training at one of the country’s leading universities, with a strong emphasis on merit and performance.

“Existing officers are also undergoing training. The training modules have been designed in line with international standards and tailored to the requirements of Pakistan’s tax system.”

The meeting was informed that, following the introduction of a peer review and evaluation system, individuals with strong professional reputations are being appointed to key positions in Customs and Inland Revenue.

It was also noted that a performance-based reward and accountability system has been introduced within the FBR to recognize high-performing officers and staff while taking disciplinary action against those with poor performance.

To strengthen transparency, 957 third-party auditors have been appointed. Meanwhile, the recruitment process for 280 Goods Evaluators under the Customs faceless system is underway, with merit and transparency being given top priority.

The faceless system has not only reduced the time required for cargo clearance and movement but has also improved revenue collection.

The meeting was further informed that a Case Scrutiny Committee is being established to reduce unnecessary tax litigation. The committee will decide, on merit, whether tax-related cases should be filed.

Similarly, under the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees (ADRCs), 152 out of 377 applications received up to June 2026 were resolved within 90 days, resulting in the recovery of PKR 54 billion in tax revenue.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Dr. Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, and other senior government officials.