Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) issued a three-day traffic diversion plan, effective from 8: 00 a.m. on July 11 to 12: 00 midnight on July 13, to facilitate the movement of foreign delegations in the federal capital.

An ITP official told reporter on Saturday that temporary traffic diversions would remain in place on major roads, and commuters were advised to use alternate routes to avoid inconvenience.

The official said the following diversions would be implemented:

Suhrawardy Chowk to Serena Chowk: Traffic will be diverted. Motorists are advised to use Embassy Road as an alternate route.

Constitution Avenue (France Turn) to Serena Chowk: Traffic will be diverted, while one-way traffic will remain operational during the diversion.

Aabpara via Srinagar Highway towards Serena Chowk: Traffic will be diverted. Commuters should use Seventh Avenue via Srinagar Highway as an alternate route.

Kashmir Chowk towards Serena Chowk: Traffic will also be diverted.

Motorists are advised to use Seventh Avenue through Srinagar Highway.

The official urged citizens to plan their journeys in advance, allow extra travel time during the diversion period and cooperate with traffic police to ensure smooth traffic management.

He advised road users to follow the Islamabad Traffic Police WhatsApp Channel or tune in to ITP FM 92.4 for real-time traffic updates and further travel advisories.

Islamabad: At least four people were killed and nine others sustained injuries after a collision involving multiple motorcycles and a roadside-parked mini-truck in Nowshera Virkan, Punjab province, during the early hours of Saturday.

According to police, the accident occurred when five motorcycles crashed into a mini-truck that had been parked on the roadside. The collision claimed the lives of four people on the spot, while nine others sustained injured, local media channel reported.

Police and rescue teams rushed to the scene after receiving information about the incident. The victims were shifted to a nearby hospital, where the injured were provided medical treatment.

Rescue officials identified the deceased as Ali Haider, Hamza, Faisal and Sabnam Bibi. The condition of some of the injured was reported to be serious.

After the completion of medico-legal formalities, the bodies were handed over to the victims’ families for burial. Police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain on Saturday said that sufficient wheat stocks were available in the country to meet domestic requirements.

He warned that strict action would be taken against those involved in hoarding and creating artificial price hikes of the commodity.

The minister chaired the 9th Wheat Board meeting to review the country’s wheat production, availability, procurement, and market prices, said a press release.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Sindh, the Agriculture Secretaries and Food Secretaries of all provinces, senior officials of the Ministry, and representatives of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association and other relevant stakeholders.

The Board conducted a detailed review of the wheat situation across the country. The provincial representatives unanimously informed the meeting that adequate wheat stocks are available and that there is no shortage of wheat anywhere in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Rana Tanveer Hussain said it is an encouraging development that Pakistan’s wheat production this year is estimated to be 1.36 million metric tonnes higher than last year’s production.

The Board unanimously agreed that the estimated wheat production target has been achieved and that the country has sufficient wheat reserves.

The meeting noted that the provinces should closely monitor the wheat market and ensure effective market management.

The participants also emphasized the need for regular and effective coordination between the Federal and Provincial Governments.

The Federal Minister reaffirmed that protecting consumers’ interests remains the government’s foremost priority.

He said the federal government, in collaboration with the provincial governments, will take all necessary administrative and legal measures to curb hoarding, strengthen market oversight, and ensure the availability of wheat to consumers at affordable prices.

The Minister directed all relevant authorities to maintain close coordination, strengthen market monitoring, and take prompt action against any practices that disrupt the smooth supply of wheat or lead to unjustified price increases.

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman on World Population day emphasized the need for collective responsibility and public awareness to tackle rising population pressures affecting the country’s environment, water availability and food security.

On this occasion, Sherry Rehman, in her message, stressed that the increasing population is placing additional burdens on water resources, food supply, education, healthcare, housing and employment opportunities.

She said population growth is not merely a matter of numbers but also a challenge of providing better facilities and sustainable living conditions in cities.

Senator emphasised that family planning should be integrated into budget priorities, economic planning and development policies.

She said that a significant portion of the population is living below the poverty line, while limited resources and rapid population growth are creating further difficulties for families and the country, adding, population management is a shared responsibility requiring long-term planning.

Sherry added that unchecked population growth could have serious consequences for future generations, affecting access to basic facilities and quality of life.

She called for greater awareness among people about responsible population planning.

She stressed that the government, civil society and relevant stakeholders must work together to create awareness and promote sustainable solutions to address population challenges and secure a better future.

Islamabad: Pakistan will host the 9th Ministerial Conference on Women of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) here, to be held from July 12-13, bringing together around 190 delegates from 57 OIC member states, including ministers, senior government officials and prominent women leaders.

The two-day conference aims to strengthen cooperation among OIC member states for the empowerment of women by promoting their social, economic, political and professional participation while advancing inclusive and sustainable development across the Muslim world.

According to official details, delegates will deliberate on measures to expand women’s access to economic opportunities, financial systems, entrepreneurship, technology and digital platforms, besides addressing the digital gender gap and enhancing financial inclusion.

The conference will also discuss strategies to improve women’s participation in decision-making processes and review progress made on commitments adopted at previous OIC ministerial conferences. Participants are expected to exchange experiences and best practices while exploring new avenues for promoting women’s rights and socio-economic development within member states.

The meeting will further focus on expanding women’s access to quality education and healthcare and promoting policies aimed at achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development across the Muslim world.

The conference builds on the outcomes of previous OIC ministerial meetings on women, particularly the eighth session held in Cairo in 2021, which focused on women’s empowerment, protection frameworks and enhancing their socio-economic participation.

Pakistan, as the host country, is expected to use the conference as a platform to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening cooperation among OIC member states for promoting gender-inclusive development and creating greater opportunities for women across diverse sectors.

Islamabad: The prices of gold witnessed an increase in the local market on Saturday, with 24-karat gold per tola gaining Rs1,100 to settle at Rs433,536, 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 Rs943 to Rs371,687, whereas 10 grams of 22-karat gold rose by Rs864 to Rs340,725.

In the international market, the price of gold increased by $11 to $4,111 per ounce.

Meanwhile, the price of silver per tola increased by Rs30 to Rs6,462, while the price of 10 grams of silver rose by Rs26 to Rs5,540.

The price of silver in the international market also increased by $0.30 to $59.83 per ounce, the association reported.