Day: August 1, 2026

Karachi: In a major step towards strengthening inclusive education and empowering persons with disabilities, the Sindh government and the Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) on Friday signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth more than Rs439 million to establish a Special Educational Needs (SEN) Unit and develop a sustainable, evidence-based inclusive education system across Sindh.

The MoU signing ceremony, held at the CM House, was witnessed by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. The agreement was signed between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), Government of Sindh, and the Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED).

Under the agreement, a dedicated Special Educational Needs Unit will be established at AKU-IED as a centre of excellence for teacher education, professional development, research, innovation, policy support and demonstration of best practices in inclusive education.

The partnersh
ip will also focus on developing specialised training facilities, including sensory rooms, therapy rooms and resource centres, while supporting evidence-based policymaking and public awareness initiatives.

The ceremony was attended by Aga Khan University President and Vice Chancellor Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, Dean AKU-IED Professor Dr Farid Panjwani, senior university leadership, representatives of the Network of Organisations Working for Persons with Disabilities Pakistan (NOWPDP), development partners, education experts, senior government officials and stakeholders from the education and disability sectors.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah described the agreement as a landmark initiative in Sindh’s efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable society. ‘Today marks an important milestone in our collective journey towards building a Sindh where every individual, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to learn, grow, contribute and thrive,’ he said.

The Chief Minister said
the Sindh government has consistently prioritised human development, social inclusion and the rights of persons with disabilities through policy reforms, social protection programmes, education initiatives and institutional strengthening.

‘This MoU is far more than a formal agreement; it is a strategic partnership to strengthen inclusive and special needs education across Sindh.

Through this collaboration, we will build institutional capacity, improve teacher preparation, strengthen research and create new opportunities for children with disabilities to access quality education,’ he said.

Mr Murad Shah said the partnership would help develop a more responsive education system through evidence-based policymaking, professional development, public awareness campaigns and stronger community engagement.

‘We look forward to new academic pathways in inclusive and special needs education, high-quality research that informs public policy and stronger policy advocacy that supports evidence-based decision-making,’ h
e added.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the initiative would serve as a model for Pakistan by demonstrating how governments and leading academic institutions can work together to build a more inclusive, knowledge-driven and equitable future.

Reaffirming his government’s commitment, he said: ‘Together, let us build a Sindh where every child is valued, every learner is supported, and every citizen has the opportunity to realise their full potential.’

Addressing the ceremony, Aga Khan University President and Vice Chancellor Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin said the partnership reflected a shared commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, has access to meaningful and high-quality learning opportunities.

‘An inclusive education system is fundamental to building an equitable and prosperous society. Aga Khan University is proud to partner with the Government of Sindh in creating sustainable institutional mechanisms that support children with disabilities and strengthen the capacity of
educators and policymakers,’ he said.

Dr Shahabuddin said AKU’s longstanding expertise in education, research and capacity building would contribute to developing innovative solutions, generating evidence-based knowledge and supporting public-sector reforms that promote inclusion and equal opportunity.

Earlier, Secretary DEPD Tuaha Ahmed Faruqui briefed participants on the vision, objectives and scope of the partnership. He said the initiative represented a significant step towards building an inclusive education ecosystem in which children with disabilities could access quality education and the support services necessary to achieve their full potential.

He explained that the collaboration would focus on teacher preparation and training, institutional strengthening, policy development, research, community awareness and sustainable support mechanisms for learners with special educational needs.

Dean AKU-IED Professor Dr Farid Panjwani presented the MoU framework and outlined plans for the proposed Special
Educational Needs Unit. He said the unit would function as a hub for training, research, innovation and policy support while facilitating faculty development, professional certification programmes and evidence-based interventions to strengthen inclusive education systems in Sindh.

The five-year partnership, effective from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031, envisages extensive collaboration in institutional strengthening, teacher education and professional development, research and evidence generation, policy advisory services, public awareness campaigns and system-wide reforms in inclusive education.

Under the financial framework, the Government of Sindh will contribute Rs278.56 million, while AKU-IED will contribute Rs160.65 million, bringing the total value of the partnership to more than Rs439 million. The initiative will also engage disability inclusion partners, including NOWPDP and other relevant organisations, to support implementation, advocacy, training and community outreach across the province.

Karachi: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has announced a new gas and condensate discovery at its exploratory well Rahi X-1 in the Shah Bandar Block, located in Sujawal district of Sindh.

According to a press release issued on Friday, the discovery marks the fourth consecutive hydrocarbon find made by PPL as the operator of the Shah Bandar Block.

PPL holds a 63 per cent working interest in the block, while Mari Energies Limited has a 32 per cent stake. Sindh Energy Holding Company Limited and Government Holdings (Private) Limited each hold a 2.5 per cent working interest.

The statement said the Rahi X-1 exploratory well was spudded on June 17, 2026 and drilled to a measured depth of 2,612 metres to assess the hydrocarbon potential of the Upper Sands of the Lower Goru Formation.

Based on drilling results and interpretation of wireline log data, a hydrocarbon-bearing zone was identified and subsequently tested through a cased-hole drill stem test (DST).

During testing, the well produced 0.493 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMscfd) and 12 barrels of condensate per day at a wellhead flowing pressure of 133 pounds per square inch through a 32/64-inch choke from the A-Sand of the Lower Goru Upper Sands.

PPL said the discovery reflected its continued commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s energy security through accelerated exploration and development activities.

Karachi: Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho on Friday launched World Breastfeeding Week, pledging stricter enforcement of laws regulating infant formula promotion and expansion of baby-friendly hospitals to improve breastfeeding practices across the province.

Launching the week-long observance, with breastfeeding promotion activities continuing throughout August, Dr Pechuho said breastfeeding remained one of the most effective interventions for protecting newborns, improving child nutrition and reducing infant mortality.

She said the government would strengthen implementation of the Sindh Protection and Promotion of Breast-feeding and Young Child Nutrition Act, which prohibits the promotion, advertising and marketing of infant formula, breastmilk substitutes and commercial complementary foods intended for children up to three years of age.

Dr Pechuho said the government would remain vigilant in enforcing the law to protect families from unethical commercial practices that discourage breastfeeding and undermine mothers’ confidence.

She said Sindh was also expanding the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative by transforming tertiary, district and regional hospitals into facilities where mothers are supported to initiate breastfeeding within an hour of birth, newborns receive immediate skin-to-skin contact and unnecessary formula feeding is discouraged.

More than 3,000 healthcare providers have already been trained in clinical lactation management, breastfeeding counselling and maternal nutrition to strengthen breastfeeding support at public health facilities, she added.

Dr Pechuho said exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months, followed by safe and nutrient-rich homemade complementary foods alongside continued breastfeeding, protected children against severe diarrhoea, pneumonia and acute malnutrition.

Along with routine immunisation, she said, optimal breastfeeding remained one of the most effective ways to improve child survival and health.

Marking World Breastfeeding Week under the theme ‘Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,’ the minister urged healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, the media and families to help create an environment in which every mother received the support needed to breastfeed successfully.

Supporting the campaign, UNICEF described breastfeeding as a shared responsibility and a cornerstone of child survival, nutrition and development, calling upon governments, health professionals, employers, communities and families to strengthen support systems for mothers.

UNICEF Sindh Chief of Field Office Prem Bahadur Chand said investing in evidence-based policies and services and protecting breastfeeding would help ensure that every child received the healthiest possible start in life.

He said UNICEF would support advocacy, awareness, community engagement and media activities across the country throughout August to promote and support breastfeeding.

Karachi: The International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) at the University of Karachi successfully conducted the entrance examination for admission to its MPhil and PhD programmes for the 2026 academic session.

According to an ICCBS spokesperson, hundreds of aspiring candidates participated in the two-hour examination, which was held from 10 a.m. To 12 noon at the Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, situated within the ICCBS premises, said a statement on Friday.

The spokesperson said that comprehensive security arrangements were implemented on the instructions of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, Director of ICCBS, to ensure a transparent and orderly examination process. Entry to the examination venues was restricted to authorised candidates only.

He added that the results of the entrance test will be uploaded on the official websites of the ICCBS and the University of Karachi on August 2, 2026.

Emphasising the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and transparency, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah stated that admissions to all MPhil and PhD programmes will be awarded strictly on merit in accordance with the University of Karachi’s admission policy for higher education.

Candidates who qualify in the written examination will be invited to appear for interviews on August 4, 2026. Successful applicants will be offered admission to the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) and the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, both constituent institutions of the ICCBS.

ICCBS also arranged a shuttle bus service to facilitate candidates from Maskan Gate and the Campus Gate (near Sheikh Zayed Islamic Center) to the examination venues, following the directives of the ICCBS Director.

Karachi: All Public and Private Educational Institutions working under the administrative control of School Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh, shall remain closed on 4th August, 2025 on account of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) (20th Safer-1448 AH), according to a notification issued here on Friday.

Karachi: Governor of Sindh Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi Friday met Punjab Ombudsperson Dr. Najma Afzal Khan at the Governor House to discuss the protection of citizens’ rights, the provision of prompt and impartial administrative justice, good governance and the promotion of institutional cooperation.

The Governor said that the institution of the Ombudsperson plays a vital role in strengthening public confidence between citizens and the state and in ensuring the effective delivery of administrative justice.

He emphasized the need to further strengthen public service institutions, ensure easy access to justice and promote the rule of law as essential elements of good governance.

Dr. Najma Afzal Khan briefed Governor Hashmi on the performance of the Punjab Ombudsperson’s Office, highlighting its efforts to ensure the effective redressal of public complaints, protect the equal rights of citizens, and maintain a transparent accountability mechanism.

The Sindh Governor appreciated the institution’s performance and its commitment to public service.

Both sides agreed to enhance the exchange of experiences between the federal units, strengthen institutional linkages, improve public service delivery mechanisms and promote the principles of good governance for the benefit of citizens.