Month: August 2026

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema on Friday that the government will take all necessary measures to ensure the availability of affordable, high-speed internet services across the country, enabling citizens to participate fully in the digital economy.

The minister chaired a meeting on the National Connectivity Plan, joined by the Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja and senior officials, said a press release.

The meeting primarily focused on expanding access to high-speed internet in villages, remote areas, and small towns to bridge the digital divide and unlock new economic opportunities.

The minister said the government’s top priority is to facilitate freelancers, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and other digital professionals living in remote regions who continue to face challenges due to slow and unreliable internet connectivity.

The session also underscored the vital role of next-generation fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks and 5G infrastructure in driving national economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and fostering nationwide digital inclusion.

Highlighting the momentum of Pakistan’s digital development, officials noted that FTTH subscriptions have grown steadily to 2.8 million, supported by a robust fiber footprint of 234,000 kilometers, 5.1 million house passes, and six operational submarine cables.

To build upon this progress, Federal Minister Ahad Cheema outlined ambitious national targets under the plan, including expanding infrastructure to 10 million house passes, raising average fixed broadband download speeds to 85 Mbps, securing a place among the world’s top 50 countries for broadband performance, and increasing tower fiberization to 60 percent.

The meeting placed strong emphasis on improving digital accessibility and affordability for all citizens. In a key decision aimed at supporting consumers, participants considered targeted tax relief for internet users in remote areas to expand digital participation.

Additional strategic reforms discussed included abolishing right-of-way fees, launching a single-window approval portal, introducing district-level licensing, and making fixed broadband connectivity mandatory across public institutions, schools, and health facilities.

Emphasizing the government’s commitment to effective implementation, Federal Minister Ahad Cheema said the National Connectivity Plan will be finalized expeditiously through comprehensive stakeholder consultation.

He further stressed that a structured and sequenced approach, prioritizing essential regulatory reforms, enforcing clear operator obligations, and linking financial support to verified performance milestones, will be critical to accelerating nationwide fiber deployment while safeguarding public resources and ensuring long-term commercial viabilit

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday approved the conferment of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) upon Commander National Strategic Command General Syed Aamer Raza, according to a President House statement.

The military honor comes following his elevation to the four-star rank and his appointment as Commander of Strategic Command. Prior to his new role, Aamer Raza served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Pakistan Army.

On July 24, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promoted him to the rank of Four-Star General, besides appointing him as the Commander National Strategic Command.

Islamabad: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to provide journalist Asad Toor with complete details of the allegations against him before proceeding further, disposing of his petition against the agency’s summons notice.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan heard the petition challenging the NCCIA notice. Advocate Ataullah Kundi appeared on behalf of the petitioner.

During the hearing, Justice Azam Khan asked why the petitioner was not appearing before the agency, observing, “Why are you not appearing? Do you not have a defence?”

Counsel for the petitioner replied that his client was unaware of the allegations. “We do not even know what the allegations are. How can we respond without knowing them?” he argued.

The counsel further contended that under the law, an accused must be provided with complete particulars of the allegations before any proceedings.

Justice Azam Khan observed that the court would dispose of the petition after directing the NCCIA to furnish the petitioner with all details of the allegations.

Advocate Kundi agreed with the proposal, stating that it was the relief sought in the petition.

The court subsequently disposed of the petition with directions to the NCCIA to provide the petitioner with the details of the allegations.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain on Friday chaired a high-level meeting with Robert Simpson, Deputy Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and reviewed ongoing cooperation and explore new avenues for collaboration in climate-resilient agriculture, food security and sustainable agricultural development.

Welcoming the FAO delegation, the Federal Minister appreciated FAO’s longstanding partnership with Pakistan and acknowledged its valuable support in strengthening the country’s agriculture and food systems.

He noted that Pakistan was among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite its negligible contribution to global carbon emissions and emphasized the need for enhanced technical assistance and timely implementation of ongoing projects.

The FAO delegation briefed the minister on key areas of collaboration, including the One Health Programme, food safety and phytosanitary (SPS) systems, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), sustainable agricultural mechanization, climate resilience under the Indus River Basin Programme, and the use of GIS, remote sensing and agrometeorological technologies to support climate-smart agriculture.

Robert Simpson also proposed organizing a National Climate Forum in collaboration with the Ministry to bring together government, development partners and the private sector to strengthen climate action in agriculture.

The minister welcomed the proposal and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to climate-resilient agricultural development.

Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted the government’s priorities, including strengthening food safety and SPS systems, promoting climate-resilient certified seeds through NASDRA, expanding agricultural mechanization and storage infrastructure, establishing Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), implementing the One District, One Product initiative in selected underdeveloped districts, enhancing livestock exports through improved disease control, and reducing dependence on imported wheat and edible oil.

The FAO delegation informed the minister that it would continue supporting Pakistan in mobilizing funding from international financial institutions and development partners. Both sides also discussed FAO’s upcoming policy report on Pakistan’s food production and nutrition needs, as well as the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, under which Pakistan was participating with Chilgoza, while Chaunsa Mango has been proposed for inclusion.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation in climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, livestock development and food security for the benefit of Pakistan’s farming community.

Islamabad: A Special Court for Control of Narcotic Substances on Friday acquitted Shahzad Shah in a narcotics case registered by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Special Judge Dr. Abida Sajjad announced the verdict after hearing arguments in FIR No. 189/24 registered at ANF Police Station, Rawalpindi.

Defence counsel Danish Akbar Khan argued that his client had been arrested merely on suspicion and was later falsely implicated in the case. He maintained that the accused had no connection with the alleged narcotics and had no previous criminal record.

The defence further submitted that in narcotics cases, the prosecution is legally bound to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt, which it had failed to do.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court acquitted the accused.

Shahzad Shah had been charged with allegedly attempting to smuggle two kilograms of hashish in the case registered at ANF Police Station, Rawalpindi.

Islamabad: Rainfall continued in various parts of the federal capital, with conditions ranging from heavy to light showers. Assistant Commissioners, along with sanitation teams, remained in the field to oversee drainage operations, while authorities monitored roads, low-lying areas, and stormwater channels to maintain normal conditions across the city.

According to the spokesman of Islamabad Capital Territory administration, intermittent rain continued across different sectors of the federal capital on Friday, prompting district administration officials to stay on alert.

Assistant Commissioners visited several areas with sanitation teams to review the situation and ensure that rainwater was cleared without delay. Dewatering pumps were deployed at key locations to remove accumulated water and support the drainage process.

According to the district administration, teams remained active throughout the affected areas to prevent water buildup and respond to any developing situation. Officials said drainage operations were being carried out continuously where needed.

Traffic flow on major roads and highways remained normal despite the ongoing rainfall. Authorities reported no major disruptions to vehicle movement, while field staff monitored road conditions to address any issues that could affect commuters.

The administration also continued close monitoring of low-lying areas and stormwater channels across the city. Teams were instructed to keep a watch on locations that were usually vulnerable during periods of rain.

Officials said coordination among field teams would continue until weather conditions improve. Residents have been advised to remain cautious during rainfall and follow updates issued by the district administration and relevant departments.

The district administration stated that all available resources remained in place to ensure smooth drainage, maintain traffic movement, and monitor areas that may face water accumulation during the ongoing spell of rain.