Month: July 2026

Islamabad: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday granted the Federal Police a further seven-day physical remand of suspect Saad Abbasi in the murder case of Pakistan Air Force Group Captain, (Shaheed) Asim Tariq.

ATC Judge, Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the case after the expiry of the suspect’s previous seven-day physical remand.

During the hearing, Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kiani requested a further 15-day physical remand, informing the court that the pistol allegedly used in the murder had been recovered.

He submitted that the suspect had concealed the weapon after the incident and that investigators still needed to recover his mobile phone and complete further investigation. After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its decision on the remand request.

Later, the court granted a further seven-day physical remand of the accused and handed him over to the Federal Police. The court directed the investigating authorities to produce the suspect again on August 3.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday held an interactive session with participants of the URAAN Overseas Pakistanis Summer Scholars Programme, a six-week internship initiative organized by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.

The programme brings together overseas Pakistani students and young scholars from leading international universities, providing them an opportunity to engage with public institutions and contribute their education, research, and international exposure towards Pakistan’s development and prosperity, said a release issued here on Monday.

Welcoming the participants to the Finance Division, the Finance Minister appreciated the initiative for strengthening engagement with Pakistan’s young global talent. He encouraged the scholars to remain connected with the country and leverage their knowledge, innovation, and international experience to contribute towards Pakistan’s long-term economic development.

During the interaction, the Finance Minister shared an overview of Pakistan’s economic outlook and the Government’s reform agenda. He highlighted the progress made over the past two and a half years in strengthening macroeconomic stability and noted that the Government’s focus is now on achieving sustainable economic growth through higher exports, increased investment, fiscal discipline, and continued structural reforms. He emphasized that creating an enabling environment for private sector-led growth remains central to the Government’s economic strategy.

The Finance Minister also highlighted recent improvements in Pakistan’s sovereign credit profile and shared the Government’s efforts to strengthen engagement with international capital markets.

He referred to Pakistan’s successful return to global capital markets, including the inaugural Panda Bond issuance, and outlined ongoing initiatives to diversify financing sources through innovative financial instruments. He also noted that these developments reflect growing international confidence in Pakistan’s economic direction and reform agenda.

Highlighting the Government’s efforts to position Pakistan for the digital economy, the Finance Minister briefed the participants on the establishment of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to provide a modern regulatory framework for digital assets. He emphasized that the initiative would promote responsible innovation, strengthen regulatory oversight, and enable Pakistan to capitalize on emerging opportunities in digital finance.

Finance Minister further outlined the Government’s measures to improve the business environment by reducing the cost of doing business through rationalized taxation, affordable financing, competitive energy pricing, and reforms aimed at strengthening export competitiveness. He underscored the importance of productivity, innovation, and export diversification to enhance Pakistan’s competitiveness and support sustainable economic growth.

During an interactive question-and-answer session, participants exchanged views with the Finance Minister on a range of issues, including economic reforms, export promotion, climate finance, and investment opportunities.

Finance Minister encouraged the scholars to apply their education, research, and international exposure in contributing to Pakistan’s economic transformation and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to creating opportunities for young professionals to play a meaningful role in the country’s future.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday paid tribute to Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider, on his 78th martyrdom anniversary, commending his sacrifice, unwavering bravery, and selfless devotion to the motherland.

In their separately issued statements, the president and the prime minister expressed homage on behalf of the entire nation, highlighting that the martyr set an everlasting benchmark of duty, valor, and patriotism by rendering his life for the freedom of Kashmir during the First Kashmir War on July 27, 1948.

Highlighting his distinction as Pakistan’s first Nishan-e-Haider recipient, they said that his unique honor and unforgettable sacrifice for the nation would endure forever.

President Zardari said that the Captain Sarwar Shaheed’s ultimate sacrifice for Kashmir’s liberation remained a timeless symbol of bravery, duty, and patriotism.

He emphasized that the brave officer created a legacy that coming generations would always recall with deep respect and pride. The martyrs who laid down their lives for the defense of Pakistan remain a precious national asset, he added.

He said that the martyr etched his name in history through exceptional devotion to duty, courage, valor, and professional strategy and that brave soldiers like him were the pride of the nation and the guarantee of Pakistan’s invincible defense.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that through his steadfastness and bravery, Captain Sarwar Shaheed demonstrated that the entire nation stood as an iron wall when it comes to defending the motherland. His patriotic spirit, sense of duty, and timeless sacrifice on the battlefield will continue to serve as a guiding light for future generations, he added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed that the nation remained immensely proud of Captain Sarwar Shaheed and all the martyrs who laid down their lives in defense of Pakistan.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Mustafa Kamal, visited the near completion 200-bed New Emergency Center at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where he was briefed by the hospital administration on the project’s progress, available medical facilities, and various stages of completion.

During the briefing, officials informed the Minister that the state-of-the-art emergency facility is in its final phase of becoming operational. The Minister directed the concerned authorities to ensure that all cleaning, finishing, and technical work is completed in accordance with the highest quality standards.

Highlighting the increasing patient load at PIMS, Mustafa Kamal emphasized that the early operationalization of the new emergency center is an urgent necessity. He instructed the relevant authorities to expedite the completion of the project and make the facility available to the public at the earliest. He also directed that the process for completing the project’s PC-4 documentation be accelerated to avoid any delays.

The Minister was informed that the new emergency center will feature a 30-bed Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), a 10-bed Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), two state-of-the-art operation theatres, and two minor operation theatres, significantly enhancing the hospital’s emergency and critical care capacity.

Speaking on the occasion, Mustafa Kamal stated that the Government is taking practical steps to ensure the provision of timely, high-quality emergency healthcare services to the public. He said the establishment of this modern emergency center at PIMS would mark a significant milestone in strengthening Pakistan’s public healthcare system and improving emergency medical services.

Later, the Federal Health Minister also visited the Pediatric Emergency Center established at PIMS with the support of the ChildLife Foundation, where he reviewed the healthcare services being provided to children.

The Minister reaffirmed that providing children with timely, high-quality, and safe healthcare services remains one of the Government’s highest priorities. He stressed that no negligence or shortcomings in pediatric healthcare would be tolerated and assured that every possible resource would be utilized to provide children with the best available medical treatment.

Mustafa Kamal further reiterated the Ministry of National Health Services’ commitment to improving the performance of public sector hospitals and ensuring better healthcare services for all citizens.

Islamabad: NUST Business School (NBS) has achieved a landmark milestone by securing accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), one of the world’s most prestigious and globally recognized accrediting bodies for business education.

With this distinction, NBS joins fewer than six percent of business schools worldwide that held AACSB accreditation.

Extending his felicitations to the NUST community and the nation, Rector NUST, Dr. Muhammad Zahid Latif, termed the accreditation a landmark achievement not only for NUST but also for Pakistan’s higher education landscape, said a press release on Monday.

He further said, “AACSB accreditation is a testament to NUST’s pursuit of quality, innovation and global engagement. This distinction reinforces our resolve to develop ethical, globally competitive and future-ready leaders who will create lasting value for business and society. ”

Commenting on the achievement, Dr Naukhez Sarwar, Principal and Dean NBS, said, “AACSB accreditation marks a defining moment in the School’s journey towards global eminence. It will further strengthen NBS’s global standing by expanding opportunities for international partnerships, student and faculty mobility, collaborative research and enhancing employer confidence in our graduates. ”

Established in 1916, AACSB evaluates business schools against rigorous international standards encompassing strategic direction, academic quality, faculty credentials, research impact, learner success and industry engagement. Recognized globally as the benchmark for quality in business education, AACSB accreditation signifies an institution’s commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and meaningful impact, reinforcing NBS’s position amongst the world’s foremost business schools.

Islamabad: A total of 47 professional beggars were detained and shifted to police lockups during late-night operations carried out by Assistant Commissioners in different parts of the federal capital.

The crackdown resulted in the detention of 16 individuals in City areas, nine in Industrial Area, and 22 in Shalimar, according to district administration officials.

District administration teams remained active in the field late into the night as part of ongoing efforts to address professional begging in the federal capital. Assistant Commissioners led the operations in their respective areas and

took action against individuals identified as being involved in organized begging activities.

According to official details, the Assistant Commissioner City conducted operations that led to the detention of 16 professional beggars. In the Industrial Area jurisdiction, nine individuals were taken into custody, while the Assistant Commissioner Shalimar oversaw operations that resulted in the detention of 22 people.

The detained individuals were shifted to police lockups for further legal proceedings. Officials said the campaign was part of a broader effort to discourage organized begging and maintain order in public spaces across the city.

The district administration also appealed to residents to support the campaign by avoiding the encouragement of professional begging. Citizens were urged to report such activities and assist authorities in identifying individuals involved in the practice.

Officials stated that public cooperation remained important for the success of the drive. They said information provided by residents could help authorities take timely action and prevent the spread of organized begging networks in different sectors of the capital.

The administration reiterated its commitment to continuing such operations and called on citizens to play their role by reporting cases of professional begging. Authorities thanked residents for their cooperation and support in the ongoing campaign.

With 47 people detained in a single round of operations, the administration signaled that action against professional begging would continue across the city.