Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

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: 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.

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.