Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved a budget grant of Rs. 507.6 million for the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology (FUUAST). Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Zabta Khan Shinwari (SI, TI) welcomed the approval and thanked the Chancellor of FUUAST, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, for approving the grant. He also thanked HEC and Federal Minister for Education Dr Khalid Maqbool and Secretary Education for their support of higher education.

The Vice Chancellor said this is an important step for the university. He said the grant will help improve the university’s financial position and support the smooth running of academic and administrative work. He said the approval shows the government’s commitment to supporting public sector universities and will help strengthen FUUAST ahead.

The Vice Chancellor also thanked the university’s administration and his team for their continuous hard work and coordination with the concerned authorities.

Islamabad: A high-level delegation, led by the Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, on Monday held a meeting with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Energy Working Group in Riyadh, reaffirming the longstanding brotherly ties between the two nations and charting a course for enhanced bilateral cooperation in the power sector.

The Pakistani delegation engaged with Eng. Nasser Al-Qahtani, Assistant Minister of Energy for Electricity Affairs, during the Joint Working Group on Energy session. Mohammed Alibrahim, Assistant Minister of Energy for Oil and Gas, and Majed Aloutaibi, Deputy Minister for Oil and Gas, also participated in the broader discussions, which provided both sides with an opportunity to exchange views on the global energy transition and the transformative reforms currently reshaping Pakistan’s power sector, said a press release.

Minister Leghari highlighted the Government of Pakistan’s comprehensive reform agenda, which is focused on improving sector efficiency, strengthening institutional governance, accelerating digital transformation, and enhancing financial sustainability.

He underscored Pakistan’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for private sector participation and foreign investment, presenting significant opportunities in power transmission infrastructure and grid modernization to support rising electricity demand and the integration of clean energy resources.

During the discussions, the Pakistani side presented significant investment opportunities in the power transmission sector emphasizing the growing need for expansion of national grid. A key area of discussion was Pakistan’s ongoing digitalization drive, particularly the deployment of Smart Metering and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) across the distribution network.

The Minister described these initiatives as critical enablers for reducing technical and commercial losses, improving operational efficiency, and delivering better services to consumers.

Reaffirming the deep-rooted and fraternal relationship between Pakistan and the Kingdom, Minister Leghari extended a formal invitation to the KSA Energy Working Group to visit Pakistan for first-hand insight into the country’s reform initiatives and to explore priority investment areas in transmission infrastructure, digitalization, and smart utility technologies. The Pakistani side assured full government support and facilitation for Saudi investors and partners.

Both delegations expressed their mutual commitment to maintaining close engagement and translating today’s discussions into tangible collaborations that contribute to sustainable economic growth, energy security, and regional cooperation. The meeting concluded with a shared vision for a resilient, technology-driven energy future that benefits both nations.

Islamabad: Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid Monday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding transparent, technology-driven and inclusive social protection services while reviewing the progress of Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported initiatives aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s social safety net.

She expressed these views during a meeting at BISP Headquarters with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Joint Review Mission, which reviewed the implementation of projects under the Integrated Social Protection Development Program (ISPDP), its Additional Financing, and BISP’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programmes for health and education.

The ADB delegation comprised Co-Mission Leader and Senior Project Officer Mansoor Ali Masood, Senior Social Sector Specialist (Health and Social Protection) Hiddo Huitzing, Co-Mission Leader and Principal Social Sector Specialist Xin Long, Technical Assistance Team Leader and National Social Protection Specialist Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, and Program Implementation Specialist Noman Ali.

During the meeting, Senator Rubina Khalid appreciated ADB’s longstanding partnership with BISP and highlighted the programme’s continued efforts to improve the delivery of social protection through greater transparency, digital innovation and inclusivity.

She also stressed the importance of sustained collaboration on data security, implementation of the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, and strengthening education and awareness initiatives under BISP’s Conditional Cash Transfer programmes.

The participants reviewed progress on the Design and Monitoring Framework (DMF), Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs), the Program Action Plan (PAP), technical assistance activities, reporting requirements, adolescent girls’ nutrition interventions, and future implementation arrangements.

The ADB mission appreciated the progress made by BISP in implementing the programme and reaffirmed the bank’s continued technical and financial support for further strengthening Pakistan’s social protection system.

Additional Secretary BISP Dr. Asmat Nawaz and all Director Generals of the programme also attended the meeting.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal reviewed the rabies situation in country on Monday and reaffirmed government’s commitment to eliminate preventable rabies-related deaths through close collaboration with provincial governments and technical partners.

He made these remarks during meeting with a delegation led by Chief Executive Officer of The Indus Hospital and Health Network, Dr Abdul Bari Khan, where they discussed urgent national measures for the prevention and effective control of rabies in Pakistan.

During the meeting, the delegation briefed the minister on the country’s current rabies situation, emphasizing the importance of development of proper national rabies surveillance system for the effective management of the disease.

Minister was apprised that according to available estimates, nearly 5,000 people die from rabies each year in Pakistan, while a large number of dog bite cases are reported annually in children and people living in rural areas and underserved urban communities, which are among the most affected segment.

Expressing deep concern over the growing burden of rabies, Mustafa Kamal gave in-principle approval for the development of a National Rabies Prevention and Control Framework, saying that a National Technical Working Advisory Group would soon be constituted to lead the preparation of the framework.

The minister also directed that a nationwide public awareness campaign be launched to protect people from the preventable disease.

He appreciated the province-wide anti-rabies campaign initiated under the leadership of the Chief Minister of Sindh and commended The Indus Hospital and Health Network for providing technical support in rabies prevention efforts.

On the occasion, Dr Abdul Bari Khan presented the minister with the “Sindh Official Guidelines for Prevention of Human Rabies (2024),” developed with the technical support of The Indus Hospital and Health Network.

The minister also paid tribute to the late Professor Naseem Salahuddin, expressing grief over her passing and condolences to her family. He said her outstanding contributions to rabies prevention and the promotion of public health in Pakistan would always be remembered.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast hot and humid weather in most parts of the country on Tuesday, with rain accompanied by wind and thunderstorms expected at isolated places in Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeast Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Met Office warned that heavy rainfall could trigger landslides and flash flooding in local streams and nullahs in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the next 24 hours, advising residents and authorities to remain alert.

In Islamabad and adjoining areas, hot and very humid weather is likely to prevail. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, most districts are expected to remain hot and humid, while isolated rain-wind/thundershowers are likely in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kalam, Malam Jabba, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Parachinar, Buner, Peshawar, Kurram, Kohat and Waziristan.

Punjab is also expected to experience hot and very humid conditions, with chances of isolated rain and thunderstorms in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Sialkot, Narowal and Okara.

In Sindh, hot and humid weather will prevail in most districts, while central and upper parts of the province are likely to remain very hot during the daytime. However, partly cloudy conditions with rain-wind/thundershowers are expected in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mithi, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Karachi and adjoining coastal areas. Balochistan is expected to remain hot and humid in most districts, although isolated rain and thunderstorms may occur in Khuzdar, Zhob and nearby areas.

Partly cloudy weather with isolated rain-wind/thundershowers is also forecast for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. During the past 24 hours, rain-wind/thunderstorms occurred at isolated places in upper Punjab, Balochistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while hot and humid conditions persisted across the rest of the country.

Okara recorded the highest rainfall of 29 millimetres, followed by Barkhan with 13mm and Babusar with 8mm. The highest maximum temperature recorded in the country on Monday was 46 degrees Celsius in Turbat, followed by Sibbi at 45C. Dadu, Nokkundi, Shaheed Benazirabad and Dalbandin each recorded 43C.

Meanwhile, the maximum temperatures expected on Tuesday include 37C in Islamabad, 36C in Lahore, 33C in Karachi, 39C in Peshawar, 37C in Quetta and 40C in Multan.

Islamabad: Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has approved a pre-merger application paving the way for an internal restructuring within the South Korean Lotte Group while finding no competition concerns in Pakistan’s food and beverage markets.

The transaction involves Japan’s Lotte Co., Ltd acquiring shareholding in Singapore-based Lotte Confectionery (S.E.A.) Pte. Ltd. from LotteWellfood Co., Ltd. As the target company owns interests in Pakistan’s LotteKolson and Lotte Akhtar Beverages, the share acquisition required prior clearance from the CCP under the Competition Act, 2010.

Following a Phase-I competition assessment, the Commission concluded that the transaction is purely a change in ownership within the Lotte Group and will not alter market structure or competitive dynamics in Pakistan.

The Commission noted that the acquiring company does not conduct confectionery or food business in Pakistan. Consequently, the transaction will neither increase market concentration nor create or strengthen a dominant position in any of the relevant product markets.

The CCP assessed competition across the markets for pasta, gum, savory snacks, sweet biscuits, cakes, and beverages, with Pakistan identified as the relevant geographic market. The review found that the market shares of LotteKolson and Lotte Akhtar Beverages would remain unchanged following the transaction, with no adverse effects on competition.

Accordingly, the Commission authorized the acquisition under Section 31(1)(d)(i) of the Competition Act, 2010, concluding that the transaction would not result in a substantial lessening of competition.

The decision reflects the CCP’s commitment to facilitating investment, corporate restructuring and business expansion through efficient merger review. By providing timely regulatory certainty for transactions that do not raise competition concerns, the Commission supports ease of doing business while continuing to safeguard competitive markets.