Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday lauded renowned scholar, author and columnist Dr Farooq Adil for his outstanding literary and intellectual contributions, particularly his efforts to promote closer cultural and people-to-people relations between Pakistan and Trkiye.

The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with Dr Farooq Adil here at the Prime Minister’s Office, a PM Office news release said.

Dr Farooq Adil presented his travelogue titled “Shakh-e-Zareen ke Dayen Bayen” (On Both Sides of the Golden Branch) to the prime minister.

Islamabad: The prices of gold witnessed an increase in the local market on Thursday, with the price of 24-karat gold per tola rising by Rs400 to Rs425,436, according to rates issued by the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of 24-karat gold increased by Rs343 to Rs364,742, while the price of 10 grams of 22-karat gold went up by Rs314 to Rs334,358.

In the international market, the price of gold increased by US$4 to US$4,030 per ounce.

Meanwhile, the price of 24-karat silver per tola declined by Rs134 to Rs6,155, while the price of 10 grams of silver decreased by Rs115 to Rs5,276.

The price of silver in the international market also fell by US$1.34 to US$56.76 per ounce, the association reported.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Mustafa Kamal, Thursday addressed the Board of Governors of National Institute of Health (NIH), focusing effects of their actions and decisions on health sector.

While addressing, he welcomed all members, highlighting their responsibilities and role of NIH on country’s health system.

“As a member of the board, you have a huge responsibility on your shoulders,” he said, adding, ” Your decision have far- reaching impacts on patients life.”

Regarding NIH, he said, this Institution occupied central position in our health system, noting it’s role in combating epidemic diseases, diagnosis, research and training, and evidence-based policy making.

Kamal highlighted challenges faced by the country in health sector, adding that the Ministry of Health has undergone large-scale reforms.

He also ensured to take effective measures to build the NIH on modern lines.

“Practical measures to protect people from getting sick are among my priorities,” he said, adding that the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases is increasing day by day.

He focused on real-time detection of disease risks should be strengthened

Kamal said that increasing Universal Health Coverage is among his top priority.

The minister pledged to achieve Pakistan’s goal of vaccine security by promoting local vaccine production and strengthening quality assurance processes.

Reiterating the government’s commitment, Kamal said the Ministry of Health would extend all possible support to the National Institute of Health in fulfilling its mandate and enhancing the country’s public health capacity.

Islamabad: The National Coordination and Management Council (NCMC) on Thursday noted that sufficient petroleum product stocks were available in the country to meet the prevailing demand.

The meeting was convened to comprehensively review the availability of petroleum products across the country. Representatives of the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Customs Wing, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), and other relevant stakeholders attended the meeting, according to a news release.

During the meeting, the supply-side challenges highlighted by OCAC representatives were discussed and addressed.

The committee observed that the concerns raised by the OCAC primarily stemmed from an abnormal increase in petroleum product sales during the first 15 days of July.

An analysis presented by OGRA also indicated the possibility of hoarding in anticipation of a potential price increase.

The NCMC emphasized that OGRA’s enforcement mechanism should play a more proactive role and urged provincial governments to ensure there is no hoarding and that petroleum products remain readily available to the public without inconvenience.

The committee reaffirmed that petroleum product stocks in the country are sufficient and directed all relevant stakeholders to ensure an uninterrupted supply across the country.

Islamabad: Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and Air University Islamabad on Thursday jointly launched a four-month Professional Diploma in Public Procurement and Contract Management as part of its ongoing efforts to professionalize Pakistan’s public procurement system and build a skilled workforce capable of ensuring transparency, efficiency and value for money in the use of public resources.

PPRA Managing Director Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi attended the launching ceremony, held here at the Air University, as a guest of honor, a news release said.

The event was attended by Director Centre for Professional Development (CPD), Air University, Air Commodore (Retd.) Zaheer Mirza and PPRA Senior Specialist (Training and Capacity Building) Atique Sultan Raja, besides participants from various government organizations, public sector entities and the private sector.

Speaking on the occasion, MD PPRA Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, highlighted the strategic importance of public procurement in national development and good governance.

He noted that public procurement accounts for a significant share of government expenditure and directly impacts the

quality, cost, and timely delivery of public services and development projects. Qureshi highlighted that capacity building is a key pillar of PPRA’s reform agenda.

To date, he said, PPRA has trained more than 15,000 procurement professionals, government officials, and vendors, including 7,491 since the launch of the e-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS) in 2023.

He informed that PPRA has established partnerships with leading universities, including the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Air University, and COMSATS University, to introduce structured education in public procurement, procurement regulation, contract management, and procurement governance.

In collaboration with NUST, he said, PPRA has successfully completed two four-month diploma programmes, graduating around 150 professionals, while the newly launched diploma at Air University has enrolled more than 40 participants.

Qureshi further said that PPRA is working closely with universities and higher education institutions to integrate procurement studies into undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, enabling future lawyers, engineers, managers, accountants, economists, and public administrators to graduate with a strong understanding of procurement governance.

Speaking on the occasion, Director CPD of Air University, Air Commodore (Retd.) Zaheer Mirza welcomed the participants and appreciated the collaboration with PPRA.

He said the diploma program reflects Air University’s commitment to professional education by providing practical and industry-relevant learning opportunities for working professionals.

Islamabad: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, chaired a meeting with Deputy Inspector General (Headquarters), Muhammad Ateeq Tahir and Senior Superintendent of Police (Investigation), Muhammad Usman Tariq Butt to review departmental affairs and further improve the investigation system.

An official told reporter on Thursday that the meeting discussed the progress of under-investigation cases, the overall performance of the Investigation Wing and various administrative matters aimed at enhancing the efficiency of policing in the federal capital.

The IGP Rizvi reviewed the pace and quality of investigations and directed officers to ensure timely disposal of cases through professional, transparent and merit-based investigations.

He emphasized that providing citizens with prompt justice remained a top priority and instructed investigators to further improve investigation standards by adopting modern policing practices and maintaining close supervision of pending cases.

Rizvi also directed the officers to strengthen coordination, enhance accountability and ensure that every investigation was conducted impartially and in accordance with the law to reinforce public confidence in the criminal justice system.