Month: July 2026

Islamabad: The four-day Broghil Upper Chitral Festival 2026 will be held from July 20 to 23 at the picturesque Broghil Valley and Karambar Lake in Upper Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a series of cultural, sporting and adventure activities aimed at promoting tourism and preserving the region’s rich heritage.

According to a spokesperson for the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), the festival is being organized jointly by the Broghil Students Organization (BSO) and PTDC to showcase the area’s unique traditions, cultural diversity and spectacular mountain landscapes while attracting both domestic and international tourists.

The festival programme includes traditional Buzkashi and Donkey Polo competitions, cultural dance performances, exhibitions of indigenous handicrafts, traditional Broghil cuisine, and outdoor activities such as camping and trekking. Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the hospitality, customs and lifestyle of the local Wakhi community.

Located in the Hindu Kush mountain range near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Broghil Valley is renowned for its high-altitude meadows, pristine lakes, rare wildlife and panoramic scenery. Karambar Lake, one of the world’s highest biologically active lakes, and the surrounding Karambar National Park are among the region’s major tourist attractions, offering exceptional opportunities for nature lovers, trekkers and adventure enthusiasts.

The spokesperson said the festival aims to promote sustainable tourism by highlighting Broghil’s centuries-old traditions, cultural heritage and unspoiled natural environment.

It also seeks to create greater awareness of the region’s tourism potential, support local communities through increased visitor engagement and encourage the preservation of indigenous culture and traditional sports.

The four-day festival is expected to draw tourists, cultural enthusiasts, photographers, trekkers and adventure seekers from across Pakistan and abroad, further strengthening Upper Chitral’s reputation as one of the country’s premier eco-tourism and cultural tourism destinations.

Islamabad: Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, the chief guest, on Tuesday launched the Climate Resilient Peanut Value Chain Development for Rural Enterprise and Economic Graduation Project at the signing of a partnership agreement between the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS AAUR). Funded by PPAF and to be implemented with the technical assistance of PMAS AAUR.

The ceremony was attended by PPAF Chief Executive Officer Nadir Gul Barech as guest of honour and PMAS AAUR Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Qamar uz Zaman, the project’s Patron in Chief.

The three year project will initially be launched in the peanut growing areas of Gujar Khan in Rawalpindi district and Fateh Jang in Attock district to promote climate smart agriculture, improve productivity, strengthen value addition, create rural enterprises, generate employment and increase farmers’ incomes through research, innovation, entrepreneurship and market linkages.

Addressing the ceremony, Rana Mashhood said the government is investing heavily in education, technical skills, innovation and agricultural research to build a knowledge based economy and prepare young Pakistanis for emerging global opportunities.

He said universities must move beyond conventional degree programmes by integrating technical qualifications, professional certifications and industry relevant skills so graduates remain competitive in rapidly changing international markets.

Highlighting reforms in technical education, Chief PMYP said the government, in collaboration with NAVTTC and leading Chinese institutions, had introduced 21 modern technical trades aligned with international industry requirements.

Nearly 50 Pakistani universities are also being connected with Chinese universities to strengthen research collaboration, technology transfer and academic partnerships.

Rana Mashhood said that government planned to train up to 10,000 youth in advanced agricultural technologies.

He added that a leading Chinese agricultural university would collaborate with PMAS AAUR and other Pakistani institutions to establish state of the art research facilities and promote joint scientific research.

Referring to the success of Pakistan’s olive industry, Mr Khan said similar interventions in the peanut sector could significantly improve farmers’ incomes, promote agribusiness and expand export potential.

He said new employment opportunities are emerging for Pakistanis in Japan, South Korea, Europe, the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and other international markets.

Speaking on the occasion, PPAF Chief Executive Officer Nadir Gul Barech described the agreement as the beginning of a strategic partnership that brings together research, innovation, entrepreneurship and community development to transform Pakistan’s rural economy.

Mr. Barech said that since its establishment in 1997, PPAF had expanded its outreach to 150 districts through more than 164 partner organisations, empowering millions of people through community driven development, financial inclusion, enterprise promotion and livelihood programmes.

Highlighting PPAF’s achievements, CEO PPAF said the organisation had mobilised 2.67 million households, created nearly 2.9 million employment opportunities, disbursed 3.67 million interest free loans under the Prime Minister’s Interest Free Loan Programme, facilitated 8.4 million microfinance loans, provided skills training to more than 1.19 million people, transferred productive assets to over 206,700 vulnerable households, completed 35,300 community infrastructure projects, implemented 1,450 renewable energy schemes, supported education for more than 433,300 students, delivered 15.46 million medical consultations, and assisted 1.8 million households through disaster response and climate resilience initiatives.

Mr. Barech said PPAF’s new five-year strategy places MSME development, entrepreneurship, value chain development and economic inclusion at the heart of its future programming.

Referring to the European Union funded GRASP programme, he said it had enabled more than 45,000 MSMEs, farmers and producers to improve their businesses, generated around 88,341 new jobs, and leveraged nearly PKR3 in private investment for every PKR1 of grant funding.

He said the peanut value chain project had been jointly designed by PPAF and PMAS AAUR after extensive consultations with scientists, researchers, farmers, processors, entrepreneurs and market experts to develop Pakistan’s first integrated climate resilient peanut value chain model.

Over the next three years, he said, the project would train around 2,000 farmers, MSMEs and primary producers, modernise the university’s peanut processing facility into a demonstration and value addition centre, establish a certified seed system producing 8 to 12 tonnes of quality seed, increase peanut productivity from around 400 kilograms per acre to nearly 600 kilograms per acre, support up to 40 MSMEs, including women led enterprises, ensure at least 40% participation of women and youth, incubate two youth led agribusiness startups, and strengthen branding, packaging, access to finance and market linkages for peanut based enterprises.

He said the project’s success would be measured through higher rural incomes, stronger startups and MSMEs, greater participation of women entrepreneurs and the development of a scalable model for university led innovation, rural industrialisation and climate resilient agricultural transformation across Pakistan.

The speakers expressed confidence that the partnership would become a model for collaboration between academia, development institutions and the private sector to accelerate climate resilient agriculture, promote entrepreneurship, strengthen value chains and drive inclusive economic growth.

Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman, Vice Chancellor, PMAS-AAUR, welcomed the partnership and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to providing scientific research, technical expertise, and innovation to modernize Pakistan’s peanut value chain.

He said the collaboration would bridge research with practical implementation, enabling farmers to adopt smart climate technologies, improve productivity, and access new market opportunities while contributing to sustainable agricultural development.

The ceremony concluded with the formal signing and exchange of the partnership agreement between PPAF and PMAS-AAUR in the presence of Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan.

The agreement officially launched the Climate Resilient Peanut Value Chain Development for Rural Enterprise and Economic Graduation Project, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership to advance research, climate smart agriculture, innovation, youth entrepreneurship and sustainable rural economic transformation in Pakistan.

Islamabad: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Tuesday received Mr. Mohammed Yahya, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, on his farewell call at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, marking the successful conclusion of his tenure.

The meeting underscored the enduring partnership between the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the United Nations in advancing judicial reform, strengthening the rule of law, and promoting equitable access to justice.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan appreciated Mr. Yahya’s constructive engagement with Pakistan’s justice sector and acknowledged the United Nations’ continued support for initiatives aimed at strengthening access to justice, institutional capacity, and the rule of law.

He commended the spirit of partnership that has characterized the collaboration between the United Nations and the judiciary during Mr. Yahya’s tenure.

The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress achieved through joint engagement in areas of mutual interest, including judicial reform, gender-responsive justice, legal empowerment, and institutional capacity building.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of sustained cooperation in advancing a people-centred, inclusive, and responsive justice system aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Chief Justice also briefed the Resident Coordinator on the judiciary’s ongoing reform agenda focused on improving accessibility, efficiency, transparency, and public confidence in the administration of justice through technology-driven innovation, institutional strengthening, and enhanced service delivery.

Expressing his gratitude for the warm cooperation extended during his tenure, Mr. Mohammed Yahya appreciated the commitment of the leadership of the judiciary to advancing meaningful reforms.

He acknowledged the significant progress being made to improve justice delivery and reiterated the United Nations’ continued support for Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen the rule of law and access to justice.

The Chief Justice presented a souvenir to Mr. Yahya as a gesture of goodwill. He also conveyed his best wishes for Mr. Yahya’s future assignments and expressed confidence that the strong partnership between the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the United Nations would continue to grow in the years ahead.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Tuesday criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, saying the province had witnessed no development since the formation of the provincial government.

In a statement posted on X, the minister said the chief minister and members of the provincial cabinet had focused on staging protests outside Adiala Jail instead of addressing the province’s development needs and public welfare.

He said the provincial government’s priorities had resulted in the wastage of the province’s resources rather than improving governance and public services.

Dr Tariq Fazal further criticised legislative proposals in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, saying that lawmakers had introduced legislation aimed at serving their personal interests instead of providing relief to the public.

He questioned the rationale behind a proposal to exempt members of the provincial assembly from paying toll taxes, asking whether such a measure could be considered a public welfare initiative.

The minister also said provincial lawmakers would be able to obtain licences for eight prohibited-bore weapons under the proposed measures.

He further said preparations were underway to grant lifetime blue passports to members of the provincial assembly and their spouses.

The minister said lawmakers would also be allowed to stay free of charge for up to three days in government guest houses.

Dr Tariq Fazal questioned whether these proposals addressed the pressing issues facing the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or provided any meaningful public relief.

Islamabad: Sirajuddin Aziz, Banking Mohtasib Pakistan, called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Yahya Afridi, here at the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday.

During the meeting, matters relating to the strengthening of banking dispute resolution and ongoing reform initiatives in the banking sector were discussed. The interaction followed the recent high-level consultation convened by the Chief Justice, in his capacity as Chairman of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), to identify legislative and procedural reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of banking litigation and promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.

During the meeting, the Banking Mohtasib apprised the Chief Justice of the institution’s disposal performance, stating that 36,280 complaints were disposed of during 2025 despite 13,793 complaints having been brought forward and 35,130 fresh complaints received during the year, resulting in an eight percent reduction in overall pendency. The institution also provided relief amounting to Rs. 1.87 billion to banking customers, with the entire complaint redressal mechanism remaining free of charge for complainants.

The Chief Justice applauded the efforts of the Banking Mohtasib in swiftly disposing of a substantial number of cases and providing significant relief to banking customers.

Mr. Sirajuddin Aziz reaffirmed the Banking Mohtasib’s commitment to supporting measures aimed at improving banking dispute resolution through enhanced institutional cooperation and exchange of best practices.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to promoting efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric mechanisms for the resolution of banking disputes and to strengthening institutional collaboration in support of broader justice sector reforms.

Islamabad: The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) here at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR), commemorate Rwanda’s Liberation Day on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said that Rwanda’s Liberation Day commemorated the country’s remarkable journey from the tragedy of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to peace, reconciliation, and development. He noted that Pakistan valued its growing partnership with Rwanda, based on mutual respect and shared aspirations.

He recalled the longstanding historical linkages between the two countries, particularly Pakistan’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping and post-genocide recovery efforts. He paid tribute to former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Shaharyar M. Khan, who served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Rwanda during a critical period in the country’s recovery.

He stressed that this reflected Pakistan’s enduring commitment to peace, stability, and reconciliation in Rwanda. He also observed that the establishment of diplomatic missions in Kigali and Islamabad has opened a new chapter in bilateral relations, creating new opportunities for cooperation in trade, education, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

Experts who spoke on the occasion included Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman, BoG, ISSI; High Commissioner Harerimana Fatou, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Pakistan; High Commissioner Naeem Khan, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Rwanda; and Dr. Amina Khan; Director CAMEA. The Chief Guest on the occasion was Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed; President PAIDAR, said a press release.

Dr. Amina Khan said that Rwanda’s Liberation Day symbolized the country’s remarkable transformation from the tragedy of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to peace, reconciliation, and sustainable development. She noted that CAMEA was committed to promoting Pakistan’s engagement with Africa by strengthening institutional linkages and fostering dialogue with African partners. She highlighted that the establishment of diplomatic missions in Kigali and Islamabad has given new momentum to Pakistan-Rwanda relations and appreciated the efforts of Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan and High Commissioner Harerimana Fatou in further strengthening bilateral cooperation. She expressed confidence that the friendship between Pakistan and Rwanda would continue to deepen in the years ahead.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed praised Rwanda’s remarkable journey of resilience, reconciliation, and socio-economic transformation, describing the country as a model of stability, modernization, and digital progress. He also underscored Pakistan’s longstanding support for African liberation movements and emphasized the growing momentum in Pakistan-Rwanda relations, particularly following recent high-level diplomatic exchanges. He further reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to strengthening bilateral cooperation, enhancing people-to-people ties, and promoting Afro-Asian solidarity in an evolving global landscape.

High Commissioner Harerimana Fatou paid tribute to the soldiers of the Rwanda Patriotic Army who sacrificed their lives during the country’s struggle, saying that their courage and selfless sacrifices laid the foundation for Rwanda’s remarkable transformation into one of Africa’s cleanest, greenest, and most innovative nations. She highlighted Rwanda’s achievements in artificial intelligence, digital innovation, healthcare, and peaceful nuclear energy, as well as its emergence as a leading conference destination. Reaffirming the strong and friendly ties between Pakistan and Rwanda, she emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly in climate change and green energy, and appreciated the contributions of the Pakistani diaspora in Rwanda and the Friends of Rwanda in Pakistan in further strengthening relations between the two countries.

High Commissioner Muhammad Naeem Khan said that Rwanda’s Liberation Day marks a historic milestone and reflects the country’s extraordinary achievements in peace, development, and nation-building. He praised Rwanda’s remarkable progress in digitalization, governance, public service delivery, and transparent development, noting that its success offers valuable lessons for other countries. Highlighting the growing momentum in Pakistan-Rwanda relations, he referred to the exchange of high-level visits, including business delegations, which has contributed to increased bilateral trade. He also encouraged Pakistani businesses and tourists to explore the opportunities available in Rwanda and emphasized the need for both countries to fully capitalize on the expanding avenues of cooperation.