Month: August 2026

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.

Karachi: Governor of Sindh Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi met a high-level delegation of American business leaders at the Governor House on Friday.

The meeting focused on promoting investment in Pakistan particularly in Sindh and explored opportunities for cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), infrastructure, dairy, livestock, agriculture, information technology and other key sectors.

The delegation was led by Muhammad Hanif Channa of the Embassy of Pakistan in the United States. Other members included Jamal Khawaja, President of Friends of Pakistan; Arif Zafar Mansoori, Chairman of Friends of Pakistan; Naveed Anwar, President of the Pakistan American Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Rana Khurram Malik, Vice President of the Pakistan American Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Naeem Zamdar, CEO of One AI; Engineer Maqsood Kambo, President of TSI Engineering; Haroon Inam, CEO of DG Matrix; Zain Jeevanjee, CEO of Insure123; as well as prominent Pakistani business leaders Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, Arshad Wali Muhammad, Ahmed Chinoy, and others, a communique said.

Welcoming the delegation, Governor Sindh Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi said that Pakistan and the United States enjoy longstanding relations based on mutual trust, respect, and shared interests, which can be further strengthened through enhanced trade, investment, and economic cooperation. He said that Pakistan is a secure, attractive, and emerging investment destination offering a business-friendly environment, a large consumer market, a young workforce, and profitable investment opportunities.

Governor Hashmi said that the Federal Government is fully committed to facilitating foreign investors, while Sindh offers immense opportunities in infrastructure, artificial intelligence, information technology, agriculture, dairy, livestock, and several other sectors. He invited American investors to explore these opportunities and contribute to strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

He said that Pakistan is a peaceful, responsible, and sovereign state that has consistently pursued a policy of regional peace, stability, and mutual respect. He stated that Pakistan has never initiated aggression against any country; however, whenever its sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national interests are challenged, the entire nation stands united alongside its Armed Forces.

Referring to the recent regional tensions, the Governor said that under the prudent leadership of the Prime Minister and the professional military strategy of the Field Marshal, Pakistan successfully defended its borders and effectively thwarted hostile designs.

Members of the American business delegation appreciated Sindh’s investment-friendly environment, government policies, and economic potential, expressing strong interest in investing and collaborating in the fields of artificial intelligence, infrastructure, agriculture, dairy, livestock, information technology, and other key sectors.

They noted that Pakistan’s economic potential, skilled workforce, and business opportunities make it an attractive destination for international investors.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-United States economic partnership by expanding cooperation in trade, investment, advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, agriculture, infrastructure, and other strategic sectors.

They also expressed confidence that enhanced private-sector engagement would further deepen bilateral relations, create new employment opportunities, facilitate technology transfer, and generate significant economic benefits for both countries.

Karachi: Students of Thar Foundation schools in Tharparkar achieved a 98.1 per cent pass rate in the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) Class 10 Annual Examination 2026, with 52 out of 53 candidates clearing the examination.

According to a statement issued here on Friday, the students from villages across Thar Block II appeared in the same national examination as candidates from leading urban schools across the country.

Among the successful candidates, five secured A1 grades and 23 obtained A grades, while the remaining students passed with B and C grades.

One of the top achievers, Rehana from Khororo village in Mithi, became the first member of her family to receive formal education. Expressing her ambition, she said she hoped to become an engineer and inspire other girls in Thar to pursue education and realise their dreams.

The statement said the schools were staffed by 249 locally trained female educators, including 228 teachers and 21 principals, serving 33 school units with an enrolment of 4,935 students, of whom 41 per cent were girls.

Principal of TCF Thar Foundation Dr Ashok Bakhtani Secondary Campus, Mithi, Kajal Dev Chouhan, said the students’ performance on a national board reflected the untapped potential of Thar and demonstrated the impact of sustained investment in education, committed teachers and community support.

General Manager of Thar Foundation Farhan Ansari said the results were a testament to the dedication of students, teachers, school leaders and parents.

He said the outcome demonstrated that high-quality educational standards could be achieved even in some of Pakistan’s most remote areas through consistent investment and sustained commitment.

Thar Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Block II entities, operates schools and implements programmes in education, healthcare and livelihoods across Thar Block II and surrounding villages, the statement added.

Karachi: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Friday, injected Rs 12,384.1 billion through Reverse Repo Purchase and Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based Open Market Operations (OMO) to maintain liquidity in the market.

The central bank conducted the Open Market Operation, Reverse Repo Purchase (Injection) for 7 and 17-day tenors on July 31, 2026, and injected Rs 11,913.1 billion against 33 bids while other Rs 471 billion were injected through Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based OMO.

The central bank, for the Reverse Repo Purchase of 17-day tenor, received 28 bids cumulatively offering Rs 11,953.1 billion at the rate of return ranging between 11.51 to 11.57%. The SBP accepted Rs 11,750 billion against 28 quotes at 11.51% rate of return. The total amount offered at 11.51% was Rs 5,443.5 billion, out of which SBP accepted Rs 5,240.4 billion on a pro-rata basis.

Moreover, the SBP also received 5 bids for the 7-day tenor, cumulatively offering Rs 163.1 billion at the rate of return ranging between 11.54% to 11.56%. The SBP accepted all the 5 quotes with the entire amount at 11.54% rate of return.

Meanwhile, SBP also conducted Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based Open Market Operation for the 7 and 17-day tenors. The central bank received 6 quotes for the 7-day tenor offering Rs 71 billion at rate of return ranging between 11.56 to 11.58%. SBP accepted the entire amount against all the 6 bids at 11.56% rate of return.

The central bank also received 5 bids for the 17-day tenor offering Rs 505.9 billion at rate of return ranging between 11.52% to 11.57%. SBP accepted Rs 400 billion at 11.52% rate of return. The total amount offered at 11.52% was Rs 252 billion, out of which SBP accepted Rs 146.1 billion on a pro-rata basis.