Month: July 2026

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court has granted a final opportunity to lawyers representing PTI Founder and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to present arguments in their appeals against convictions in the £190 million case, warning that no further adjournments will be allowed.

In a written order issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif, the court said it would decide the appeals on the available record after hearing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) if the appellants’ counsel failed to advance arguments at the next hearing.

The bench accepted a request for adjournment based on an undertaking by senior lawyer Latif Khosa, whose power of attorney on behalf of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi is already on record.

According to the order, Khosa gave a clear undertaking that he would not seek any further adjournment and would present arguments on the appeals at the next hearing.

The court said the case was being adjourned solely on the basis of that undertaking, emphasizing that this was the final opportunity being granted to the appellants.

“The court makes it clear that if arguments are not advanced at the next hearing, no further adjournment will be granted, and the appeals will be decided after hearing NAB on the basis of the available record,” the order stated.

Islamabad: The prices of gold witnessed a decline in the local market on Tuesday, with the price of 24-karat gold per tola decreasing by Rs2,500 to settle at Rs434,936, according to rates issued by the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of 24-karat gold fell by Rs2,143 to Rs372,887, while the price of 10 grams of 22-karat gold declined by Rs1,965 to Rs341,825.

In the international market, the price of gold dropped by $25 to settle at $4,125 per ounce.

Meanwhile, the price of silver per tola decreased by Rs120 to Rs6,559, while the price of 10 grams of silver went down by Rs103 to Rs5,623.

The price of silver in the international market also declined by $1.20 to $60.80 per ounce, the association reported.

Islamabad: The OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) extended its scientific and educational programmes to 54 countries during 2025, training 5,000 scientists and researchers and offering 759 scholarships and fellowships, according to its recent annual report for the year 2025.

The Islamabad-based international body undertook 174 projects and initiatives during the year, awarded 52 research grants and organised 68 training programmes, while expanding its network to more than 80 universities, research centres and academic institutions from OIC member states.

According to the report, scientists, students, researchers and institutions from countries including Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Morocco, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Trkiye, Palestine and Yemen, as well as several African states, benefited from the programmes.

The 759 scholarships and fellowships formed a major part of COMSTECH’s human resource development efforts, providing students and young researchers with opportunities for higher education, research and specialised training at universities and partner institutions in Pakistan and other countries.

The report said 5,000 scientists and researchers received training through 68 programmes covering the use of advanced scientific equipment, biotechnology, health sciences, vaccine technology, information technology and other emerging fields.

Another 52 research grants were awarded to support young and women scientists in biotechnology research, international scientific collaboration and research-related activities. The grants were aimed particularly at researchers in developing countries, where limited access to funding often restricts scientific work.

The report showed that COMSTECH’s activities covered a broad range of sectors.

These included 17 initiatives in health and biological sciences, 15 in education, 13 in research, 11 in environment, climate change and water, nine in information technology and nine in development-related fields.

Several programmes were also undertaken in agriculture, food security, biotechnology, engineering, humanitarian assistance, energy and science diplomacy.

Moreover, according to the report, COMSTECH conducted free medical and relief camps in flood-affected areas of Punjab during 2025, providing medicines, medical assistance and food rations to around 5,000 affected people in southern Punjab and Chiniot district.

In another major health initiative, COMSTECH, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), LRBT and Al-Shifa Trust, launched an eye surgery campaign across Africa in collaboration with the OIC General Secretariat.

The programme provides free cataract and retinal surgeries while also building the capacity of local healthcare professionals through advanced training.

One of the report’s major features was the expansion of a network of more than 80 universities and research institutions. The network is being used to facilitate joint research, training, exchange of expertise and academic linkages across OIC member states and beyond.

The report reflects the growing role of the Islamabad-based COMSTECH Secretariat in connecting scientists, students and institutions across the Muslim world and beyond through research, higher education, capacity building and science diplomacy.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Tuesday said artificial intelligence (AI) systems must be developed and used in full compliance with international law and the United Nations Charter, with meaningful human oversight in both civilian and security domains.

Addressing the thematic discussion on “Safe, Secure and Trustworthy AI: Interoperability and Compatibility of Approaches” during the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance in Geneva, the minister said AI safety was a shared global interest but stressed that the process of defining safety must be transparent, inclusive and representative of all nations.

She said safety standards and benchmarks for trustworthy AI were increasingly being shaped by a limited number of countries and technology firms through national frameworks that excluded much of the developing world.

“Safety is not a purely technical matter. Language, culture and local realities shape it,” she said, adding that standards developed without the participation of developing countries risked being imposed rather than collectively adopted.

Shaza Fatima said Pakistan supported the formulation of AI safety norms through inclusive multilateral processes under the United Nations, where all countries could contribute as equal partners.

Highlighting the importance of interoperability, she said Pakistan supported compatible AI governance approaches, as envisioned in the Global Digital Compact, noting that interoperability promoted cross-border trade, research and data flows while allowing different national regulatory systems to coexist.

However, she cautioned that interoperability should serve as a bridge between governance systems rather than becoming a mechanism through which the rules of a few countries were imposed on others.

The minister emphasized that global AI standards should be developed through open and collaborative standard-setting bodies, ensuring safety, reliability, respect for human rights, and recognition of linguistic and cultural diversity throughout the AI life cycle.

She further stressed that trust in AI depended on countries having the capacity to independently test, evaluate and verify AI systems.

“The ability to assess AI systems remains concentrated in the countries where the technology is developed,” she said, warning that developing nations should not be expected to rely solely on external assurances of safety without having the means to verify them.

She called for strengthening AI evaluation and governance capabilities in developing countries through shared tools, technical cooperation and regional partnerships.

Shaza Fatima said safe and trustworthy AI should not mean safety for only a few while remaining opaque to the rest of the world.

She reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with international partners and the co-chairs of the dialogue to build an inclusive, transparent and durable global framework for AI governance.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday strongly condemned the attack carried out by Fitna-al-Khawarij terrorists on a police check post in Ziarat.

In a statement, the president paid tribute to the courage, dedication, and sense of duty displayed by the police officers and personnel who embraced martyrdom in the attack.

He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to thwart every attempt to undermine peace and stability in Balochistan, adding that the state will continue its operations against terrorism with full force.

The president prayed for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs in Jannah and for patience and strength for their bereaved families. He also prayed for the swift recovery of those injured in the attack.

“The sacrifices and services of our security and law enforcement agencies in safeguarding the people and maintaining peace and stability are a source of pride for the entire nation,” the president said.

Islamabad: The Health Services Academy (HSA) operating under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, announced admissions for its PhD Rehabilitation Sciences programme for the Spring 2026 semester, offering aspiring researchers and healthcare professionals an opportunity to pursue advanced studies.

According to an official statement on Tuesday, online applications will remain open until July 17, 2026.

The academy said the programme is designed to produce highly qualified professionals capable of conducting quality research, promoting evidence-based healthcare, and providing leadership in education, clinical practice and policymaking in rehabilitation sciences.

Applicants must hold an MS or MPhil degree in Rehabilitation Sciences, Physical Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, Vision Sciences, Optometry, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Public Health, Special Education, or an equivalent discipline.

The academy said graduates of the programme will be equipped for careers in universities, research organisations, public health institutions, clinical leadership, rehabilitation consultancy and health policy development, contributing to the advancement of rehabilitation services in Pakistan.