Month: July 2026

Islamabad: Director General Basic Education and Community Schools (BECS) Hameed Khan Niazi has inaugurated the first-ever Continuous Professional Development (CPD) teachers’ training programme at the tehsil level in Gilgit-Baltistan, marking a significant step towards strengthening the quality of education in some of Pakistan’s most remote communities.

The CPD initiative aimed to enhance teachers’ professional skills by bringing structured training directly to the grassroots level, eliminating the need for long-distance travel.

Under the programme, 776 teachers will undergo intensive three-day Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training through 24 training centres established across Gilgit-Baltistan, covering all major districts and tehsils.

The first phase from July 7-9, covers 263 teachers through eight centres in Shigar, Skardu, Kharmang and Astore. The second phase, from July 14-16, will train 255 teachers at eight centres across Ghizer, Ghanche and Diamer, while the third phase, from July 21-23, will benefit 258 teachers through eight centres in Gilgit, Hunza and Nagar.

Officials said the programme reflects BECS’ commitment to decentralising Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and ensuring educators serving remote and mountainous areas receive modern teaching methodologies and classroom management skills closer to their workplaces.

The training focuses on improving instructional practices, classroom management, student engagement and learning outcomes to further strengthen the quality of education in BECS schools across Gilgit-Baltistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General Hameed Khan Niazi said the launch of the first-ever tehsil-level CPD programme demonstrates BECS’ commitment to investing in teachers’ professional growth and improving learning standards.

He said quality education begins with well-trained teachers, and the initiative will help build a stronger and more effective education system in underserved areas.

DG expressed confidence that the programme will significantly improve classroom practices, strengthen institutional capacity and contribute to better educational outcomes across Gilgit-Baltistan.

He described the initiative as a milestone in BECS’ efforts to provide equal professional development opportunities to teachers working in remote regions and to promote inclusive, equitable and quality education throughout the country.

Islamabad: Huawei Pakistan and the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF) on Tuesday inaugurated the Huawei ICT Academy at NIBAF, reinforcing a shared commitment to developing Pakistan’s Financial Sector workforce through internationally recognized ICT education and certification.

The inauguration ceremony brought together officials of the State Bank of Pakistan, industry leaders, academia, financial sector representatives, and technology experts to celebrate the launch of the Huawei ICT Academy that would equip professionals with the advanced digital skills required to thrive in the modern economy, said a news release.

The Huawei ICT Academy at NIBAF would deliver world-class training in key technology domains including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, Data Communications, Cybersecurity, Big Data, and other emerging digital technologies.

Participants would benefit from Huawei’s globally recognized curriculum, hands-on learning, and internationally accredited certification pathways.

Speaking at the inauguration, Lubna Farooq Malik, CEO NIBAF, welcomed the collaboration and highlighted its significance for the country’s financial and technology sectors.

‘The establishment of the Huawei ICT Academy represents an important milestone in NIBAF’s journey to prepare future-ready professionals. As digital transformation accelerates across every sector, this partnership will provide our learners with access to cutting-edge technologies, globally recognized certifications, and practical skills that are increasingly demanded by employers both within Pakistan and internationally’ the CEO NIBAF said.

Addressing the ceremony, Huawei’s leadership highlighted the critical role of industry-academia collaboration in building a digitally empowered Pakistan.

Mr. Ahmed Bilal Masud, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) AI and Cloud Business, Huawei Pakistan, said: ‘Digital talent has become the most valuable resource for every nation’s future. Huawei believes that investing in people is the foundation for sustainable digital transformation. Through the Huawei ICT Academy at NIBAF, we are creating new opportunities for Pakistani professionals specifically working in the Pakistan Financial Sector to acquire globally competitive skills that will enable them to contribute to Pakistan’s digital economy while competing successfully in international markets.’

He further emphasized Huawei’s long-term commitment to Pakistan’s digital development through partnerships that promote innovation, knowledge transfer, and technology leadership.

The Huawei ICT Academy forms part of Huawei’s global education initiative that partners with leading universities and professional institutions to bridge the gap between academia and industry. The programme provides curriculum, instructor enablement, digital learning resources, laboratory platforms, certification opportunities, and participation in international innovation and ICT competitions.

Huawei has remained one of the leading contributors to Pakistan’s ICT talent ecosystem through its nationwide Huawei ICT Academy Programme, university partnerships, faculty development initiatives, ICT competitions, and national digital skills programmes. Thousands of students across Pakistan have already benefited from Huawei’s training and certification initiatives, with many pursuing successful careers in technology, telecommunications, finance, and digital services.

The launch of the Huawei ICT Academy at NIBAF further expands this ecosystem by bringing internationally benchmarked ICT education to professionals and learners seeking to build careers in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

The initiative also supports Pakistan’s broader vision for digital transformation by strengthening the country’s human capital, enhancing workforce competitiveness, promoting innovation, and preparing the next generation of technology leaders.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to facilitate the provision of loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to boost the country’s exports.

The prime minister, chairing a high-level review meeting to discuss matters related to SMEDA, emphasized the need to enhance the capacity of SMEs and instructed that special facilitation, awareness, and access to easy credit should be provided to farmers for the processing of agricultural commodities and fruits.

He called for encouraging the commercial banks to design specialized financial products tailored specifically for the credit needs of SMEs, directing comprehensive assistance for SMEs during the preparation of feasibility studies and other stages.

Prime Minister Shehbaz directed the relevant authorities to formulate a comprehensive strategy in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and commercial banks to streamline and improve SMEs’ access to credit.

Calling for immediate steps to eliminate hurdles in the growth of SMEs, the prime minister stressed that SMEDA must actively support young entrepreneurs, including women, in establishing their own small and medium businesses.

Earlier, the meeting was briefed on various initiatives taken by SMEDA to facilitate the sector. It was told that 700 SMEs participated in 16 international events this year to enhance their access to global markets and boost exports. Besides, business and financial management training was also provided to SMEs across 35 cities.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister Dr. Musadik Malik, Special Assistant to the PM Haroon Akhtar, and senior officials. The chief secretaries of all four provinces, along with experts, joined the meeting via video link.

Islamabad: Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain on Tuesday met with Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development and Forests Ahmed El Bouari, in Rabat and discussed avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector.

The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, reflecting the strong and friendly relations between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Morocco, said a press release issued by the Ministry of National Food Security.

The two ministers reviewed the existing bilateral cooperation in agriculture and food security and exchanged views on expanding collaboration in agricultural trade, livestock development, capacity building, and the exchange of technical expertise.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest and agreed to maintain close coordination to advance the agricultural partnership between the two countries.

During the meeting, Tanveer Hussain extended an invitation to Ahmed El Bouari to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his convenience. The invitation was warmly welcomed, and both ministers expressed confidence that high-level exchanges would further deepen bilateral ties and promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the agricultural sector.

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued a detailed written order in petitions alleging that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan (IK) and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were being held in solitary confinement at Adiala Jail, observing that such serious allegations could not be dismissed without prior obtaining a response from prison authorities.

In a 10-page order, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro said the allegations of solitary confinement and unlawful treatment in jail were serious and could neither be ignored nor rejected without issuing notices to the respondents and seeking a factual report from prison authorities.

The court noted that the trial court had sentenced both convicts to rigorous and simple imprisonment in the event of non-payment of fines, but had not awarded solitary confinement as part of the sentence.

The order referred to the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) position that allegations of solitary confinement were false.

The court directed the superintendent of Adiala Jail to submit a comprehensive report stating whether Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were being held in solitary confinement and, if so, under whose authority and under which legal provisions. The report must also specify the duration of any such confinement.

Justice Soomro further ordered prison authorities to provide details of the prisoners’ current conditions, the facilities being extended to them under jail rules, and to produce the complete jail record and all relevant documents through an authorized officer at the next hearing.

The court issued notices to the superintendent of Adiala Jail, the inspector general of prisons and National Accountability Bureau, observing that the question of whether the petitions were maintainable would be decided only after the prison superintendent’s report was received.

The case was adjourned until Aug 6.

Islamabad: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), in collaboration with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), will hold a joint stakeholder webinar on July 8 (Wednesday)to facilitate the conversion of Associations of Persons (AOPs) into companies in the steel sector.

The webinar forms part of the SECP’s ongoing efforts to support business formalization by providing stakeholders with practical guidance on the legal, regulatory, and tax framework governing corporatization, said a press release.

The session will also provide an opportunity for participants to engage directly with officials from the SECP and the FBR and seek clarification on the conversion process.

The SECP encourages businesses operating as AOPs, industry associations and other stakeholders from the steel sector to participate in the webinar and benefit from the information and guidance on the corporatization process and its associated regulatory and tax considerations.