Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Posted on

PPSC announces three written and 10 final results of 4 departments


Lahore: The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has announced three written and 10 final results of 4 departments.



Among the candidates, seven candidates have been declared successful for the interview for 18 posts of Stenographer in the Board of Revenue, Deputy Commissioner Office Rawalpindi.



The successful candidates include Fatima Mukhtar, Anam Ghulam Rasool, Muhammad Usmanuddin, Rayan Ahmed Mughal and Seemab Hanif.



One candidate has been declared successful for the interview for three posts of Stenographer in the Board of Revenue, Deputy Commissioner Office Gujarat.



Posted on

Shafay Hussain highlights Punjab’s investor-friendly policies at Punjab-US Business Forum


Lahore: Punjab Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment Chaudhry Shafay Hussain on Friday invited American investors to capitalise on Punjab’s business-friendly environment, highlighting the province’s investor incentives, expanding industrial base and vast opportunities for bilateral cooperation.



He said this while addressing “Punjab-U.S Business Forum: Strengthening Partnerships, Expanding Opportunities, Advancing Shared Prosperity,” organized by Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) at a local hotel on Friday.



The minister welcomed the business, investment and commerce delegation from the United States in Lahore and said that Punjab was the right destination for investment, offering attractive incentives in its Special Economic Zones (SEZs), including zero customs duty on imported machinery, a 10-year income tax exemption, uninterrupted electricity and gas supply, and modern infrastructure.



He said the provincial government was committed to facilitating investors by providing roads, sewerage and other essential infrastructure, while all required no-objection certificates (NOCs) would be processed through Business Facilitation Centres within 30 days.



Shafay Hussain said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had further simplified investment procedures by allowing construction work to begin in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) even if some NOCs were still under process.



Highlighting the province’s industrial growth over the past two and a half years, he said several industries had expanded their production capacity, particularly in the surgical sector. He noted that Sialkot’s world-renowned surgical instruments were being exported extensively, with nearly 90 percent destined for the United States and Canada.



The minister said Punjab was also witnessing expansion in the sports goods, ceramics and tiles sectors within its free zones. He added that, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Vivo had launched local manufacturing, while a chip frame manufacturing facility was under construction in the Faisalabad Free Zone, with around 40 percent of the project already completed. Commercial production is expected to begin within the next one and a half years.



He said electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing had also gained momentum in Punjab, with electric bike factories already operational and investments flowing into lithium battery production. Several Chinese EV brands had also established manufacturing plants in the province.



The minister said the Punjab government was providing interest-free loans to investors through the Bank of Punjab, adding that a survey conducted last year showed around 70 percent of traders had benefited from the scheme.



Referring to his visit to the United States two years ago, Shafay Hussain said there was immense untapped potential for economic cooperation between Pakistan and the US, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector. He said Punjab was establishing a 200-acre pharmaceutical zone in the Sheikhupura Free Zone, which would serve as a high-tech hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing.



He invited the US delegation to engage with Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry, saying local companies were producing high-quality products with strong export potential for the American market.



The minister also stressed the need for collaboration in soybean cultivation, agricultural technology and cotton production, noting that Pakistan’s textile industry, which employs around 35 percent of the country’s labour force, could benefit from advanced US expertise and high-quality cotton varieties.



He said Punjab had strengthened technical and vocational education by upgrading laboratories and establishing skill development institutions in industrial zones to meet the needs of modern industries.



Calling for sustained engagement between both sides, Shafay Hussain said the government believed in practical outcomes rather than merely signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs). He emphasized that continuous follow-up and the formation of working groups would be essential to transform discussions into tangible investment and trade partnerships.



The delegation was briefed on investment opportunities in Punjab across various sectors, including energy, agriculture, livestock, minerals, mining, pink salt and other industries. More than 30 delegates attended the event.



Posted on

Minister advocates preventive healthcare, institutional excellence


Multan: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal on Friday said the true objective of healthcare was not merely to build hospitals but to prevent people from falling ill through effective public health interventions and timely medical care.



Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences at the Multan University of Science and Technology (MUST), he praised the institution for providing world-class facilities, advanced technology and a research-driven academic environment, describing it as a beacon of hope and progress for the country’s youth.



Congratulating the university administration, the minister said that due to the nature of his office he regularly received information from across the country, and whenever he encountered an atmosphere of pessimism, institutions like MUST offered a refreshing example of positivity, dedication and optimism for the future.



He said the university’s modern infrastructure, technological advancements and commitment to quality education reflected the vision and hard work of its management.



‘Success in such endeavours comes when intentions are sincere and determination is strong,’ he remarked, adding that establishing institutions of this calibre required exceptional commitment and passion.



Mustafa Kamal stressed the importance of setting benchmarks in every sector so that others could follow successful models. He said if universities across the country adopted the standards established by MUST, the institution’s administration would rightfully earn recognition for inspiring positive change in higher education.



Highlighting the government’s healthcare priorities, he said efforts were being made to strengthen preventive healthcare, improve access to quality medical services and ensure early diagnosis of diseases.



‘The goal of healthcare is not only to treat illness but to stop it from occurring in the first place,’ he said.



The minister pointed out that approximately 6.7 million children are born in Pakistan every year, while around 11,000 women lose their lives annually due to pregnancy, childbirth and related complications. He noted that mortality among children under the age of five remained a major public health challenge requiring sustained attention and investment.



Urging students to pursue excellence, he advised them not to leave the university with degrees alone but to emerge as competent professionals and experts capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.



Expressing confidence in the country’s future, Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan was destined for better days, provided the nation continued to work hard, maintain a positive outlook and focus on institutional development. He encouraged the university administration to continue its efforts with the same dedication and commitment.



The minister said he would encourage more people, including relevant authorities, to visit MUST and observe its modern facilities and academic systems, which could serve as a model for other institutions.



Responding to a question regarding medicine prices, he clarified that reducing drug prices was not solely within the authority of the federal health minister. He explained that the ministry forwarded recommendations to the federal cabinet and that a comprehensive regulatory mechanism existed for reviewing the prices of medicines and pharmaceutical products.



On the issue of creating new administrative units in the country, Mustafa Kamal endorsed recent remarks by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, stating that he had long supported the establishment of additional administrative units to improve governance and public service delivery.



Posted on

Govt prioritizes high-speed internet for small villages, remote areas


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



Posted on

Drizzle in city, more showers likely till August 4


Lahore: Drizzle was recorded at isolated locations in the provincial capital on Friday, however Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast more monsoon rains till Tuesday, with occasional breaks.



According to a spokesperson of Pakistan Meteorological Department, rain-wind/thundershowers (with scattered heavy falls at times very heavy) is expected in Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Khushab, Mianwali, Layyah, Bhakkar, Noorpurthal, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Pakpattan till 04th August with occasional gaps.



Rain-wind/thundershowers (with scattered heavy falls) is expected in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Khanpur, Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur till 03rd August with occasional gaps.



Posted on

Low-level flood at Kalabagh, Chashma in the Indus River


Lahore: According to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), water flow in most rivers of the province is normal, while there is low-level flood at Kalabagh and Chashma locations of the Indus River.



According to the PDMA spokesperson, the water level in the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej rivers is normal, while the water flow in the river attachments of Dera Ghazi Khan is also normal.



According to the PDMA, the water flow in Kalabagh is 263000 cusecs, while in Chashma it is 294000 cusecs. There is moderate flood at Nala Palkho in Wazirabad, Gujranwala, where the water flow in Nullah Palkhoo is 3600 cusecs. Similarly, the low-level flood situation persists in Nullah Basantar in Narowal.



The PDMA has said that the fourth series of monsoon rains is predicted to continue till August 5. Due to the expected rains in the upper catchments, there is a possibility of an increase in the flow of water in the eastern rivers and their adjacent rivers.



According to DG PDMA Saif Anwar Jappa, urban flooding is expected in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujarat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan, while there is a risk of landslides in Murree, Galiyat and other hilly areas.



He directed the citizens present in the riverbeds to immediately move to safer places and said that the Punjab government has set up flood relief camps in the affected areas, where the provision of basic facilities and medicines will be ensured.



The PDMA has appealed to citizens to take precautionary measures in view of the weather and flood situation, avoid unnecessary travel and recreation on the banks of rivers, canals and streams, while children should never be allowed to bathe in rivers and streams.