Month: August 2026

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Board of Investment, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh on Friday emphasized the need for collective efforts to ensure rapid progress and prosperity for the people of Pakistan.

Speaking to a news channel program, the minister said that all political parties, including the opposition, have a shared responsibility to work together for the country’s development and to improve the living standards of the common people. He urged the opposition, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to move beyond political differences and engage in constructive dialogue on the key challenges faced by the nation.

Commenting on the proposal for creating new provinces or administrative units, he said such reforms could strengthen governance, improve administrative efficiency, and enhance the delivery of public services across the country. He reiterated that national development required cooperation among all stakeholders and stressed the importance of prioritizing the public interest over political divisions.

In reply to a question, he said the government under the leadership and dynamic vision of the prime minister Shehbaz Sharif was working to increase foreign investment in the country.

Islamabad: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia in federal capital, on Friday launched the second phase of the COMSTECH-Consortium of Excellence (CCoE) Somalia Programme to strengthen the capacity of Somali scientists, researchers and professionals through fully funded fellowships, research, and technical training.

Speaking at the launching ceremony held here at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat, Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary said human resource development remained one of COMSTECH’s highest priorities, stressing that sustainable development in the Muslim world depended on investment in education, scientific research, innovation and advanced technical skills.

He said the COMSTECH-CCoE Somalia Programme marked another significant milestone in COMSTECH’s efforts to empower Somali youth, researchers, scientists and professionals through quality education, specialized training and institutional collaboration.

He appreciated the cooperation of the Embassy of Somalia and member institutions of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence for supporting the initiative and expressed confidence that it would contribute significantly to Somalia’s socio-economic development and institutional capacity.

Somalia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Sheikhnur Mohamed Hassan, thanked COMSTECH, the Government of Pakistan and member institutions of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence for their continued support to Somalia in higher education, science, technology and capacity building.

He said the fellowship programme would enable Somali scientists, researchers and professionals to acquire advanced knowledge and practical skills to strengthen the country’s academic, scientific and development sectors. He described the initiative as a reflection of the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Somalia and appreciated COMSTECH’s leadership in promoting scientific cooperation among OIC member states.

Under the second phase of the programme, 25 fully funded fellowships have been announced for Somali nationals currently living and working in Somalia. The fellowships are being offered by leading member institutions of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence in collaboration with the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP).

The programme includes three- and six-month research fellowships in STEM disciplines and public health, technical training in industrial settings, short courses in allied health sciences and nursing, and specialized training in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Cyber Security, Remote Sensing, Biotechnology, Digital Skills, Precision Agriculture, Food Processing and Agricultural Research.

It also promotes faculty exchanges, joint research supervision, curriculum development, laboratory support, institutional partnerships and academic collaboration between Pakistani and Somali universities.

The programme is open to Somali nationals pursuing or holding Master’s, PhD and postdoctoral qualifications, with the objective of equipping them with advanced knowledge, research expertise and practical skills to contribute to Somalia’s national development.

The capacity-building initiative will be jointly coordinated by COMSTECH and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia to ensure transparent application processing, selection and placement of candidates.

The ceremony was attended by vice chancellors and rectors of leading public and private universities, ambassadors of Sudan, Tajikistan, Yemen and Rwanda, senior officials of the Somali Embassy, representatives of partner institutions and senior officials of OIC-COMSTECH.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam, on Friday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in a gas explosion at the Sorange coal mine near Quetta, where several miners were killed.

According to initial reports, a large number of the victims belonged to Shangla district.

The minister contacted Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti by telephone and urged a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the tragedy, while the provincial government assured a full inquiry into the incident.

Expressing heartfelt condolences, Mr Muqam said the nation stood with the bereaved families in their hour of grief and sorrow.

During his conversation with Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, the federal minister stressed the need to determine the causes of the explosion and ensure accountability through an impartial investigation.

The Balochistan chief minister assured him that a complete probe would be conducted and all aspects of the incident would be thoroughly examined.

Mr Muqam also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls, the elevation of their ranks, and strength and patience for the families left behind.

The deadly explosion has triggered widespread grief across the country, particularly in Shangla, from where many of the deceased miners are believed to have originated, according to preliminary information.

Islamabad: Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, Senator Rubina Khalid on Friday paid glowing tribute to Madar-e-Millat, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah on her 133rd birth anniversary, saying her unwavering commitment to democracy, the constitution and the rights of the people continued to inspire the nation.

In a message issued on the occasion, Senator Rubina Khalid extended heartfelt congratulations to the entire nation on the birth anniversary of Madar-e-Millat and paid rich tribute to her invaluable national services.

She said the 133rd birth anniversary of Fatima Jinnah reminded the nation of her unparalleled struggle for democracy, constitutional supremacy and the protection of public rights.

She added that Fatima Jinnah played a historic role in creating awareness among women about their active participation in national development and the democratic process, and her contributions would always be remembered.

The BISP chairperson said Fatima Jinnah’s honesty, courage and principled politics served as a guiding light for future generations.

She urged the nation to renew its commitment to building a stronger, democratic and people-centric Pakistan by following the vision and ideals of Madar-e-Millat. Senator Rubina Khalid also said the Benazir Income Support Programme would continue to draw inspiration from Fatima Jinnah’s vision in its mission to empower women and promote their socio-economic development.

She reaffirmed that the nation saluted the outstanding services of Madar-e-Millat, whose name would always be remembered with the utmost respect and honour.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Friday directed the Director General Trade Organizations (DGTO) to ensure that the upcoming nationwide elections of Chambers of Commerce and trade associations are conducted in a transparent, fair and credible manner through strengthened monitoring, digitalization and institutional reforms.

Addressing the media in his video message after receiving a detailed briefing from Director General Trade Organizations (DGTO) Bilal Khan Pasha on preparations for the 2026-28 trade bodies’ elections, the Minister said the Government remains committed to strengthening the institutional framework governing trade organizations and ensuring that the electoral process reflects the highest standards of transparency, accountability and fairness.

Jam Kamal Khan said that following Parliament’s approval of amendments to the Trade Organizations Act, significant reforms have been introduced to streamline the regulatory framework and improve the functioning of trade organizations.

He added that the Ministry of Commerce is extending full institutional support to the DGTO to modernize and digitalize its operations so that it can facilitate Chambers and Trade Associations more effectively, both during the elections and beyond.

The Minister directed the DGTO to accelerate the digital transformation of election management by establishing a dedicated elections portal on the Ministry’s website carrying election schedules, applicable laws and rules, notifications, voter lists, election results and other relevant information for stakeholders.

He also instructed the DGTO to develop a digital dashboard for real-time monitoring of election activities across the country and directed all trade organizations to submit election schedules, voter lists and election results in soft-copy format to facilitate efficient digital management and oversight.

Emphasizing transparency and equal access to information, the Minister directed that final voter lists be published in accordance with the Trade Organizations Act and Rules and that comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) be issued to ensure uniform implementation of election procedures across all trade organizations.

Jam Kamal Khan further highlighted that, for the first time, the DGTO has been strengthened with additional human resources to support election monitoring.

Officers from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade Development Authority Pakistan, State Life Insurance Corporation and other government organizations will serve as independent observers and witnesses during the elections to enhance transparency and provide credible documentation for any subsequent complaints or appeals.

The Minister also said that the Ministry is coordinating with provincial authorities to ensure appropriate administrative and security support at larger polling venues where high voter turnout is expected, to maintain a peaceful and orderly election environment.

He encouraged Chambers and Trade Associations to modernize their own internal election management systems by adopting stronger monitoring mechanisms and greater use of digital tools, noting that transparent and well-documented processes would significantly reduce post-election disputes and appeals.

Earlier, DGTO Bilal Khan Pasha briefed the Minister that the election process for Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations has commenced and will continue until 30 September 2026, while elections of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) will begin on 1 October and conclude by 31 December 2026.

He informed the Minister that around 380 registered trade organizations fall under the DGTO’s regulatory framework, of which 320 organizations are scheduled to hold elections this year.

The DGTO further briefed the Minister on the complete election process, including preparation of voter lists, scrutiny of nominations, constitution of election commissions, ballot paper management, polling arrangements, monitoring mechanisms, dispute resolution procedures and post-election appeals.

The Minister informed the House that comprehensive arrangements have been made to strengthen transparency through deployment of trained election observers, development of SOPs, improved documentation of polling and vote counting, and enhanced coordination with relevant authorities wherever required.

Concluding his remarks, Federal Minister Jam Kamal Khan directed officials to maintain complete neutrality, ensure strict compliance with the Trade Organizations Act and Rules, and facilitate free, fair and transparent elections throughout the country.

He also extended his best wishes to all Chambers, Trade Associations, candidates and voters participating in the 2026-28 trade bodies’ elections, expressing confidence that the entire electoral process would be completed peacefully, transparently and in a spirit of cooperation.

Islamabad: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on providing market-driven vocational training to Punjab’s most vulnerable segments, particularly women and youth, under the Benazir Hunarmand Programme.

The MoU signing ceremony was held at the PSDF office in Lahore. The ceremony was attended by Director General CI BISP Syeda Adeela Bokhari, Director General Punjab BISP Haider Murtaza, Deputy Director (NSER Punjab) Roheena Iqbal, Focal Person Benazir Hunarmand Programme Humaira Farooq, Regional Outreach Coordinator (Punjab) Benazir Hunarmand Programme Nayab Jan, PSDF Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Khan, Manager Program Design Ummara Zeeshan, Jafar Ali, Specialist Program Design, and other officials.

Under the partnership, BISP will mobilise eligible beneficiaries through its regional network and the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER), enabling deserving women and youth to access quality vocational training opportunities. In addition to beneficiary mobilisation through BISP’s outreach mechanism, eligible candidates will also be able to self-register through the Benazir Hunarmand Portal, ensuring wider accessibility and participation in the programme.

As part of the collaboration, PSDF will provide market-driven vocational training, learning materials, stipends where applicable, and co-branded certifications recognised by the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and aligned with the Higher Education Commission’s National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF).

The partnership aims to establish a structured graduation pathway from social protection to sustainable employment by equipping beneficiaries with industry-relevant skills, enhancing their employability, and creating better livelihood opportunities.

Through this initiative, BISP and PSDF seek to empower vulnerable women and youth with market-oriented technical and vocational skills, enabling them to achieve economic self-reliance and contribute to the country’s workforce and economic development.