Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Islamabad: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has said that voluntary blood donation is not merely an act of charity but a national, humanitarian and moral responsibility that can save countless precious lives.

He emphasized that ensuring the availability of safe blood is essential for strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system and fostering a compassionate society.

He expressed these views while addressing the Annual Blood Conference 2026, jointly organized by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and Blood Chain Pakistan, said a press release issued on Saturday.

He observed that thousands of patients, including victims of road accidents, children suffering from thalassemia, cancer patients and others facing medical emergencies, depend on the timely availability of blood.

“A single blood donation can mean the difference between life and death, ” he remarked, urging citizens, particularly the youth, to actively participate in this noble cause.

Governor Kundi appreciated the organization’s focus on empowering young volunteers, saying that Pakistan’s youth possess the energy and commitment to transform society through organized community service.

He assured the organizers of his full support in expanding voluntary blood donation networks, strengthening awareness campaigns and promoting initiatives aimed at saving lives.

Speaking on the occasion, President ICCI Sardar Tahir Mehmood, said that saving one human life is equivalent to saving the whole of humanity, adding that regular voluntary blood donation is a social responsibility that every healthy citizen should embrace.

He recalled that during his student days, he and his friends remained readily available whenever blood was needed, emphasizing that blood donation is a safe practice that never weakens a healthy individual.

Sardar Tahir Mehmood paid rich tribute to Blood Chain Pakistan and its volunteers for their selfless efforts in supporting patients and families battling thalassemia, cancer and other blood-related diseases.

He stressed that such organizations represent hope for thousands of families facing medical emergencies.

Reaffirming ICCI’s commitment to public welfare, he announced that the Chamber would continue extending its full support to Blood Chain Pakistan by facilitating awareness campaigns, encouraging its members to participate in voluntary blood donation drives and providing its platform for future conferences and community initiatives.

The Governor, along with the ICCI President, SVP, VP and other also planted a sapling at the ICCI lawn.

Islamabad: Pakistan has launched the UN Women Gender-Responsive AI School Pakistan, a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting the ethical, inclusive and gender-responsive use of artificial intelligence (AI).

The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) in collaboration with UN Women Pakistan, with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). It is designed to build AI capacity among policymakers, government officials, parliamentarians, UN agencies, academia, civil society organizations, businesses and community leaders.

The AI School combines theoretical knowledge with practical training, offering courses on AI fundamentals, ethical and gender-responsive AI, AI governance, prompt engineering, AI agents, public administration and the application of AI for inclusive development.

Training activities began ahead of the official launch, with tailored sessions for government officials, parliamentarians, UN personnel, academics and civil society representatives to strengthen responsible AI expertise across sectors.

Pakistan has also become the first country in South Asia to host the complete national Training of Trainers (ToT) track under the UN Women AI School.

Since 2024, the regional initiative has trained more than 5, 000 policymakers, UN officials, civil society members and young innovators across Asia and the Pacific.

UN Women Pakistan Country Representative Jamshed M. Kazi said Pakistan is the first country in the region to introduce national AI training pathways spanning the executive, legislative and judicial branches, while also engaging civil society and the private sector.

The initiative seeks to address the limited integration of gender considerations in AI policymaking. According to UN Women, only a small fraction of national AI policies worldwide explicitly address gender issues. The AI School aims to promote gender equality, inclusion and greater participation of women and girls in Pakistan’s digital transformation.

Pakistan’s National AI Policy also emphasizes incorporating a gender perspective into AI development and expanding digital skills programs for marginalized women and persons with disabilities.

During the launch ceremony, MoITT and UN Women Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to institutionalize the AI School and ensure its long-term implementation under national ownership.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said AI is reshaping every sector, and Pakistan is committed to ensuring women and girls have equal opportunities to participate and lead in the country’s digital economy.

KOICA Pakistan Deputy Country Director Sodam Baek said the initiative will strengthen digital skills, encourage the responsible use of AI and expand opportunities for women and girls across Pakistan.

Islamabad: Pakistan Romania Business Council (PRBC), Advisor and Chief Operating Officer Atif Farooqi, and Chairman Sohail Shamim Firpo called on DIG Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh at the Sindh Police Central Police Office to discuss matters of mutual interest, with a particular focus on Pakistan’s investment climate, institutional stability, and the importance of coordinated engagement between the business and law enforcement communities.

During the meeting, the PRBC representatives underscored that sustained dialogue with senior law enforcement officials remains essential for promoting bilateral trade and building confidence among international investors, said a press release issued here.

They noted that in an increasingly complex and often confusing environment for foreign direct investment in Pakistan, constructive interaction with public institutions helps reinforce transparency, predictability, and trust.

DIG Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh, a senior outstanding officer of Police Service of Pakistan with over 25 years of experience in policing, revenue administration, magistracy, and banking, was recognized for his distinguished career in counter-terrorism operations, inter-provincial crime control, and institutional reform. His reputation for integrity, inter-agency coordination, and results-oriented leadership was acknowledged as reflective of Pakistan’s broader commitment to rule of law and a secure business environment.

According to Atif Farooqi, Advisor and Chief Operating Officer of the Pakistan Romania Business Council, the Council continues to engage senior law enforcement and administrative officials as part of its broader efforts to promote bilateral trade, strengthen investor confidence, and contribute to a clearer, more stable environment for foreign direct investment in Pakistan.

PRBC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining regular engagement with senior officials across relevant state institutions to advance bilateral trade objectives, support investor confidence, and contribute positively to Pakistan’s economic outreach efforts. The Council emphasized that a stable, secure, and well-coordinated institutional framework is vital for attracting and retaining foreign direct investment.

Islamabad: The federal government’s Kohlu Development Package has recorded reported expenditure of Rs7. 915 billion against an approved cost of Rs7. 958 billion across 10 development projects. According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the package comprises projects in the road, education, health, electricity, water supply and irrigation sectors.

Within the Kohlu package, the largest project is the construction of the Sibi-Rakhni Road via Maiwand, covering the Talli-Kohlu section from kilometre 24 to kilometre 164. The project’s approved cost and reported expenditure both stand at Rs6. 545 billion.

Another Rs222. 245 million has been spent on constructing various blacktop roads connecting different villages with the main Kohlu town. The amount equals the project’s approved cost.

The construction of a bypass road at Kohlu has also recorded expenditure of Rs197. 860 million, matching its approved cost.

The education component includes a cadet college and a government inter girls’ college. The establishment of the Cadet College in Kohlu district had an approved cost of Rs218. 754 million, all of which was reported as expenditure.

The Government Inter Girls’ College in Kohlu had an approved cost of Rs125 million, against which expenditure stood at Rs102. 096 million.

In the healthcare sector, the establishment of a 50-bed hospital in Kohlu district carried an approved cost of Rs225. 704 million, with reported expenditure reaching Rs205. 094 million.

The power component includes the construction of a 132-kilovolt grid station at Kohlu, with its approved cost and expenditure both recorded at Rs330. 043 million.

Another Rs10 million was spent on installing an 11-kilovolt Tamboo feeder to Mast Tawalki in Kohlu district, equal to the project’s approved cost.

The package also supported water-supply and irrigation infrastructure. The Kohlu water-supply scheme recorded expenditure of Rs67. 584 million against the same approved cost.

Similarly, expenditure on the Kahan Irrigation Scheme in Kohlu district reached Rs16. 434 million, matching its approved cost.

The document shows that expenditure equalled the approved cost for eight of the 10 projects. The only exceptions were the 50-bed hospital and the Government Inter Girls’ College. Together, these account for the Rs43. 514 million difference between the package’s total approved cost of Rs7. 958 billion and reported expenditure of Rs7. 915 billion.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi Saturday placed the Ministry of Railways on high alert to ensure the safety of passengers, protection of railway tracks and uninterrupted train operations amid the prevailing flood situation across parts of the country.

The minister also cancelled the weekly holidays of railway officers and staff and directed all officials to remain on duty until further notice to effectively respond to any emergency, said a news release.

Hanif Abbasi instructed senior railway officers to remain present in the field, while emergency measures were enforced at all field offices to closely monitor the situation and ensure an immediate response to any damage caused by heavy rains or flooding.

He warned that he would personally supervise the performance of officers and directed strict action against officials found negligent in addressing public complaints or carrying out their responsibilities.

The minister directed all Divisional Superintendents (DSs) to personally oversee repair, restoration and maintenance work in flood-affected areas to ensure the earliest possible resumption of rail services.

He further ordered Pakistan Railways’ control rooms to remain operational round the clock for continuous monitoring of the situation, adding that he would conduct surprise inspections to review the implementation of emergency directives.

Hanif Abbasi urged railway officials to demonstrate exceptional dedication in serving the public during the emergency, saying efficient officers would be appreciated while those showing negligence would face disciplinary action.

He said the safety and convenience of passengers, along with the full restoration of train operations, would remain the ministry’s top priority.

The minister also directed the railway administration to utilise all available resources and technical capabilities for the rehabilitation of flood-affected railway infrastructure and the restoration of train services at the earliest.