Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

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

Islamabad: A Special Court for Control of Narcotic Substances on Friday acquitted Shahzad Shah in a narcotics case registered by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Special Judge Dr. Abida Sajjad announced the verdict after hearing arguments in FIR No. 189/24 registered at ANF Police Station, Rawalpindi.

Defence counsel Danish Akbar Khan argued that his client had been arrested merely on suspicion and was later falsely implicated in the case. He maintained that the accused had no connection with the alleged narcotics and had no previous criminal record.

The defence further submitted that in narcotics cases, the prosecution is legally bound to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt, which it had failed to do.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court acquitted the accused.

Shahzad Shah had been charged with allegedly attempting to smuggle two kilograms of hashish in the case registered at ANF Police Station, Rawalpindi.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in a coal mine explosion in the Sorange area of Quetta, where several workers were killed.

In separate statements, the president and the prime minister directed the relevant authorities to rescue all workers trapped in the mine and ensure the provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

They extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the elevation of the ranks of those who lost their lives in the incident. They also prayed for grant of strength to the bereaved families to bear the loss with patience.

They emphasized the need for strict implementation of safety measures in coal mines to protect the lives of workers and prevent such tragic incidents in the future.

President Asif Ali Zardari said the contribution of workers to the country’s development was invaluable and that ensuring their safety was a shared responsibility of the state.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and other relevant departments to continue rescue operations in an effective and expeditious manner until all affected workers had been rescued and provided with the necessary relief.

He said the country’s workers were a valuable national asset and stressed the need for permanent safety measures to safeguard the lives of coal mine workers.