Month: July 2026

Islamabad: A high-level Pakistani delegation has briefed the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) about government’s commitment to eradicating polio from the country.

During the meeting with IMB in Geneva the delegation informed that the intensified government-led efforts, data-driven strategies and improved vaccination campaigns have significantly reduced virus transmission, bringing the country closer to ending the disease.

The delegation, led by Minister of State for National Health Services Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath met the IMB during its session in Geneva, where global polio eradication efforts, particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan, were reviewed.

The delegation highlighted that Pakistan has reduced polio cases by 99. 8 percent since the early 1990s-from an estimated 20, 000 annual cases to 31 in 2025, with only three cases reported so far in 2026.

Addressing the board, Dr. Bharath said the decline in virus transmission reflected strong government leadership, improved campaign quality, enhanced accountability, better use of data and the dedication of frontline vaccinators despite challenging conditions.

He said polio eradication had become a whole-of-government mission led by the Prime Minister, with coordinated efforts at all levels to ensure every vaccination campaign was implemented effectively.

Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said Pakistan had reduced polio cases by more than 50 percent, from 74 in 2024 to 31 in 2025, owing to evidence-based strategies, quality immunization campaigns, stronger disease surveillance and closer coordination with the Expanded Programme on Immunization.

She said the remaining virus transmission was concentrated mainly in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where insecurity continued to restrict access to children.

She outlined targeted local strategies to reach missed children through repeated vaccination drives and integrated delivery of essential health services, including routine immunization, nutrition, WASH and maternal and child healthcare.

The Independent Monitoring Board, an independent body of global health experts established under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, annually reviews progress in polio-endemic and high-risk countries and issues recommendations to accelerate eradication efforts.

Islamabad: In a landmark decision, the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman), Naveed Kamran Baloch has declared the employees of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi eligible for allotment of plots under the Federal Government employees quota.

He directed the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) to consider JPMC employees as Federal Government servants and to include their names in the allotment process w. e. f. filing of their respective applications.

According to the details, the JPMC doctor S. M. Tariq Rafi along with certain other employees had approached the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s Office with the plea that their organization i. e. JPMC was transferred to the government of Sindh, following the passage of the 18th Constitutional amendment. However, this step was declared unconstitutional by the Sindh High Court as well as the Supreme Court of Pakistan, restoring its federal status. This development automatically restored their federal government employees status.

The FGEHA, however, continued to exclude them from the housing schemes meant for the federal government employees.

The JPMC employees argued that this step was discriminatory and constituted a serious violation of their fundamental rights. They said that the organization’s employees had been allotted plots of land and flats from time to time in the past.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib called for a detailed report from the FGEHA. It opined that when the petitioners applied for allotment of plots their organization was under the administrative control of the Sindh government and, therefore, they were not entitled to allotment of plots under the Federal employees quota.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib after listening to both sides and minutely reviewing the available record, dismissed the plea taken by the FGEHA and termed the JPMC employees eligible for allotment of plots under the federal government employee’s quota.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment by simplifying regulations, promoting industrial development, facilitating small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and expanding Pakistan’s manufacturing base.

The Minister expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of the Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries (ICSTSI), which called on him to discuss issues relating to SMEs, taxation, industrial infrastructure, ease of doing business and export promotion.

The delegation welcomed the recent revision in the State Bank of Pakistan’s SME definition, describing it as a positive step that would enable more businesses to qualify for financial support and formal sector incentives, said a release issued here on Monday.

Jam Kamal Khan said the Government was committed to reducing unnecessary regulatory hurdles and modernising business processes through digitalisation and institutional reforms.

He stressed that outdated procedures and overlapping regulations should be gradually removed to improve the ease of doing business and encourage entrepreneurship.

The Minister said efforts were underway to simplify business registration through a more integrated and facilitative approach so that entrepreneurs could complete regulatory requirements before commencing commercial operations.

He noted that bringing more businesses into the formal economy required facilitation rather than additional compliance burdens.

The delegation highlighted that a large segment of Pakistan’s small business community remained self-financed and often avoided formal registration due to complicated procedures, repeated audits and compliance costs. The Minister observed that expanding the tax base by encouraging voluntary documentation, instead of placing greater pressure on existing taxpayers, remained an important policy objective.

Participants also called for the establishment of dedicated small industrial zones, particularly in Islamabad, equipped with essential infrastructure such as electricity, gas, water and road access.

They said many small manufacturers currently operated from residential areas and informal workshops due to the high cost of setting up formal industrial units.

Jam Kamal Khan agreed that organised industrial estates for SMEs would improve productivity, product quality, environmental compliance and employment opportunities while supporting the growth of local manufacturing.

The meeting also discussed Pakistan’s expanding food industry and the increasing role of e-commerce, digital platforms and delivery services in creating new business opportunities. The Minister noted that the food and hospitality sectors had emerged as important contributors to employment and economic activity and possessed significant growth potential.

The delegation urged the Government to establish a modern slaughterhouse in Islamabad, noting that an 8-hectare site had already been identified and planning work completed, but the project remained delayed due to administrative and environmental issues. They said a modern slaughterhouse would improve hygiene, food safety, traceability, environmental management and the quality of halal meat exports.

The Minister acknowledged the importance of strengthening Pakistan’s livestock value chain and observed that proper utilisation of animal by-products, including hides, bones, fats and blood, could generate significant additional economic value while reducing environmental waste.

The Chamber also highlighted the need to develop a 100-acre industrial project through a public-private partnership involving the Federal Government, the Punjab Government and the private sector.

Jam Kamal Khan welcomed the proposal and encouraged the business community to present commercially viable and investment-ready projects. He said public-private partnerships, technological advancement and industrial diversification would play a vital role in strengthening Pakistan’s manufacturing sector, increasing exports and generating sustainable employment.

The Minister reaffirmed that the Ministry of Commerce would continue engaging with the business community to identify practical solutions, promote investment, strengthen SMEs and create a more competitive and export-oriented economy.

Islamabad: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Monday reaffirmed his full support for the promotion of wheelchair cricket and assured all possible cooperation for the successful holding of the 3rd T20 Wheelchair Cricket Asia Cup 2026.

He said this during a meeting with a delegation of the Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Council, led by Chairperson Rukhsana Rajput, included Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Team Captain Muhammad Zeeshan, who has led the national side to two Asian championship titles.

During the meeting, both sides discussed measures to promote wheelchair cricket in Pakistan, arrangements for international sporting events and preparations for the 3rd T20 Wheelchair Cricket Asia Cup 2026.

The delegation informed the Governor that the tournament would be held in Karachi and Hyderabad from September 29 to October 8, 2026, with participation from teams across South Asia.

Congratulating the players and management on Pakistan’s achievements, Governor Kundi said the special athletes had brought international recognition to the country through their talent, hard work and determination, making the entire nation proud.

The delegation told the Governor that, as patron of wheelchair cricket, he had always played a leading role in promoting the sport.

The delegation requested Governor Kundi to write a special letter to the Chief Minister of Sindh, urging the provincial government to provide administrative support and necessary facilities for the successful organisation of the Asia Cup.

The Governor assured the delegation that he would continue extending full support for the promotion of sports for persons with disabilities and would make every possible effort in the national interest and for the development of wheelchair cricket.

“These special athletes are our national heroes, and encouraging them is a shared responsibility of all of us, ” he said.

Islamabad: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned until August 20 the hearing of a government appeal seeking cancellation of bail granted to 49 accused in the case related to the suicide attack on Chinese engineers in Bisham.

During the hearing, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan asked whether the accused were appearing before the trial court and whether they intended to engage legal counsel.

One of the accused informed the court that they were poor people who earned their livelihood by running handcarts and could not afford to hire a lawyer.

Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan observed that the accused were facing allegations of facilitating terrorism and should treat the matter with due seriousness by appointing legal representation.

He further remarked that the SIM card of one of the co-accused, Nazir, had been used by the suicide bomber.

The court directed all the accused to appear at the next hearing along with their lawyers, warning that failure to do so could result in cancellation of their bail.

The suicide attack took place in Bisham, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on March 26, 2024, killing five Chinese engineers and one Pakistani national. The government has approached the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to 49 accused in the case.

Islamabad: Miscellaneous applications seeking an early hearing of sentence suspension petitions filed by convicted lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial tweets case have been moved before the Islamabad High Court.

The applications, filed through Advocates Faisal Siddiqui and Zainab Janjua, submitted that the sentence suspension petitions were fixed for hearing on July 24, during which the prosecution had raised objections to their maintainability.

The petitions stated that the court had since dismissed the prosecution’s objections regarding maintainability. The applicants requested the court to fix the sentence suspension petitions for hearing during the week commencing July 27 so that the matter could be decided at the earliest.