Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: The Islamabad district administration has stepped up preparations for Pakistan’s Independence Day, with a review meeting held to assess arrangements for August 14 celebrations across the federal capital.

The meeting, chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue (ADCR) Farhan Ahmed, brought together representatives from the police, Air Force, Capital Development Authority (CDA), Traffic Police, and other government departments.

SSP Security Suleman Zafar represented Islamabad Police during the session. Officials reviewed plans for the central flag-hoisting ceremony, security measures, traffic management, cleanliness drives, and public events scheduled throughout the city.

During the meeting, responsibilities were assigned to all participating departments to ensure smooth coordination and implementation of Independence Day activities. Officials also discussed arrangements for public gatherings and reviewed preparations related to crowd management and traffic flow.

ADCR Farhan Ahmed directed
all departments to complete their assigned tasks without delay and finalize preparations at the earliest. He stressed the importance of coordination among institutions to ensure that all events are conducted according to plan.

The meeting also reviewed security arrangements and received a briefing on the traffic management plan that will be implemented during Independence Day celebrations.

Farhan Ahmed instructed authorities to ensure that all government buildings across Islamabad display the national flag and are illuminated as part of the celebrations.

He also directed relevant departments to develop a strategy against one-wheeling, disorderly activities, and aerial firing to maintain public safety during the festivities.

The district administration stated that preparations are being carried out across Islamabad to mark Independence Day through official ceremonies, public events, and civic activities, while ensuring security, traffic management, and public convenience throughout the celebrations.

Islamabad: Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mehak Fatima conducted a visit to various areas of the City Zone to review night patrolling and inspect security arrangements aimed at strengthening public safety.

An official told reporter on Friday that the ASP inspected police patrols and assessed security measures in different parts of the City Zone to ensure an effective policing presence during nighttime.

Mehak directed police officers to further enhance patrolling, maintain a visible presence in sensitive areas and remain vigilant to prevent criminal activities.

She also instructed officers to ensure prompt response to any emergency situation and strengthen preventive policing measures to provide a safe and secure environment for citizens.

The ASP emphasized that Islamabad Police would continue proactive night patrolling and operational vigilance to safeguard the lives and property of residents across the federal capital, the official added.

Islamabad: Candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, Macky Sall along with Former President of Guinea-Bissau Gen. Umaro Embal³, called on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday and discussed matters of mutual interest.

DPM/FM reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and support for the central role of the United Nations in the global system.

DPM/FM called for upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, ensuring respect for international law and treaties, and the faithful implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, especially on Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, for global peace and security.

He expressed the hope that, under the leadership of the incoming Secretary-General, the UN would continue to adapt itself to address emerging global challenges and advance the global development agenda.

Islamabad: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) on Friday welcomed the appointment of Raisa Adil as the new Principal Information Officer (PIO) of the Press Information Department (PID).

In a joint statement, APNS President Senator Sarmad Ali and Secretary General Muhammad Athar Kazi expressed optimism that during her tenure, the newly appointed PIO would play a pivotal role in safeguarding the freedom of the press and addressing the challenges faced by the print media industry.

They expressed confidence that the ideal working relationship and mutual cooperation between the government, PID, and the print media would continue to flourish under her leadership.

Meanwhile, the APNS office-bearers also acknowledged and appreciated the services of the outgoing PIO, Mubashir Hassan, thanking him for the extensive support and cooperation extended to the newspaper industry throughout his tenure.

The society further hoped that pending issues concerning the print media would be resolved on priority.

They specifically urged the implementation of already approved increases in government advertisement rates, an enhancement in the quantum of government advertisements, and the timely clearance of long-outstanding dues to help the print media overcome its current liquidity crunch.

Islamabad: Signaling growing parliamentary concern over the country’s security landscape, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Friday decided to hold a special meeting in Quetta to undertake an on-ground assessment of the law and order situation in Balochistan, marking a significant shift from the proposal to receive a briefing within Parliament House.

The decision came during the committee’s 28th meeting, chaired by Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, MNA, at Parliament House, where lawmakers also reviewed key legislative proposals, infrastructure delays in Islamabad, the regularization of illegal housing schemes, and longstanding land record disputes affecting residents of the federal capital.

The committee confirmed the minutes of its previous meeting held on June 9, 2026, and expressed satisfaction over the implementation of its earlier recommendations after reviewing the compliance report submitted by the relevant authorities.

Security issues dominated the proceedings as members deliberated on the prevailing law and order situation in both Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. While some lawmakers suggested an in-camera security briefing in Islamabad, the committee ultimately agreed that a visit to Quetta would provide members with firsthand insight into the situation and enable them to formulate informed recommendations for the government.

On the legislative front, the committee considered three government-sponsored measures: the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the West Pakistan Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Following detailed discussions, the committee deferred consideration of both the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill and the ICT Local Government (Amendment) Bill for further examination.

Officials from the ICT Excise and Taxation Department informed members that the Ministry of Law and Justice had advised that the objectives of the West Pakistan Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill had already been incorporated into the Finance Act, 2026-27, making separate legislation unnecessary. Consequently, the committee recommended that the bill be treated as withdrawn.

The committee also expressed serious concern over the prolonged delay in the construction of Sher Dhamial Road and Sigga Bintrar Road in Islamabad. Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) attributed the delay to inadequate budgetary allocations but assured lawmakers that additional funds would be provided subject to resource availability.

Directing the CDA to prioritize completion of ongoing road projects rather than launching new development schemes, the committee stressed that public convenience should take precedence over expansion plans. Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry informed members that the CDA would present a detailed account of available funding for the projects at the committee’s next meeting.

Urban planning and unauthorized housing developments also came under scrutiny. Discussing the proposed engagement of consultants for preparing a feasibility study on the regularization and upgradation of illegal housing schemes and settlements in Islamabad, Committee Chairman Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz observed that the CDA Board already possessed the authority to engage consultants where necessary.

He emphasized that Islamabad’s zoning regulations, building by-laws and planning framework require comprehensive revision to reflect present-day realities. The chairman noted that legally feasible regularization of existing settlements would not only improve civic service delivery but also strengthen the CDA’s financial position through the collection of regularization fees and other statutory charges.

The committee urged the government to evolve a practical regulatory framework for existing settlements while simultaneously introducing effective safeguards against future illegal developments. The CDA chairman assured members that the authority remained committed to the objective but required an appropriate policy framework and formal approvals before implementation.

Another issue drawing strong criticism from lawmakers was the continuing ban on registry and mutation (Inteqal) of land in Khanna Dak, Khanna Kak and Shakrial. Members voiced frustration over the persistent delay in transferring land records from Rawalpindi to the Islamabad administration, describing the issue as a source of prolonged hardship for affected residents.

Observing that the matter had repeatedly surfaced before the committee without tangible progress, lawmakers directed the Senior Member of the Punjab Board of Revenue, the Commissioner Rawalpindi and other concerned officials to appear before the next meeting with a definitive timeline for completing the transfer of the remaining land records.

The committee maintained that the prolonged delay could no longer be justified and called for immediate administrative action to resolve the issue.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry, MNAs Anjum Aqeel Khan, Chaudhary Naseer Ahmed Abbas (via video link), Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, Chaudhary Muhammad Shahbaz Babar, Syed Rafiullah, Sardar Nabeel Ahmed Gabol, Abdul Qadir Patel (via video link), Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani, Rana Ansar, Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq and Khushal Khan Kakar.

Senior officials from the Ministries of Interior and Narcotics Control and Law and Justice, the Capital Development Authority, the Federal Investigation Agency, as well as the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad and the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Rawalpindi, also participated in the proceedings.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Board of Investment (BOI), Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Reforms (CCoRR) to review regulatory challenges and propose reforms in the dairy and beverage sector.

The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, along with senior officials from BOI and relevant federal and provincial departments, as well as key private sector stakeholders, said a release issued here on Friday.

The meeting followed deliberations from the previous session, which focused on the fisheries sector, while today’s agenda centered on the dairy and beverage sector-one of Pakistan’s most critical economic segments.

The sector contributes approximately 14.04% to the national GDP and supports the livelihoods of nearly 8 million rural families. Pakistan ranks as the 4th largest dairy producer globally.

The reforms team presented a comprehensive regulatory mapping, identifying 40 regulatory requirements across 25 departments, including 17 federal requirements (9 departments), 17 provincial requirements (10 departments), and 4 requirements at the local government level.

Significant structural inefficiencies were highlighted, particularly in Sindh, where establishing a food processing unit requires 235 documents, with 57% duplication and an estimated processing time of 2040 days. The reforms team proposed eliminating 5 regulations, simplifying 9, digitizing and streamlining 18, and retaining 8.

Implementation of these reforms is expected to reduce documentation requirements from 235 to 83, generate economic savings of Rs. 58.4 billion, and reduce processing time to 634 days.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh emphasized that the ultimate objective of these reforms is to enhance investment in Pakistan and promote ease of doing business. He noted that while regulatory domains are largely provincial, collective efforts are required to remove barriers.

He expressed concern over resistance from provinces and stressed the need for greater representation and input from provincial governments and private sector stakeholders.

SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan highlighted that excessive and overlapping regulations are a major impediment to foreign direct investment (FDI). He remarked that provinces should compete to facilitate businesses; however, the current trend reflects an increase in regulatory burdens. He emphasized the need for a shift in mindset to prioritize economic growth.

Dr. Zeelaf Munir, Chairperson of the Pakistan Business Council (PBC), cited the example of neighboring India, where provinces compete to offer minimal regulations to attract investment through a single regulatory authority. She also pointed out that despite being the 4th largest dairy producer, Pakistan has limited exports to major markets such as the European Union.

Representatives from FPCCI Karachi endorsed the importance of the dairy sector and supported the reform agenda. Dr. Shehzad Amin, a dairy expert from FPCCI, highlighted that despite excessive regulations, product quality remains questionable.

He noted that Pakistan produces approximately 72 billion litres of milk annually, yet 40% of children under five suffer from stunted growth. He emphasized the absence of a safe milk law and supported reforms focused on quality assurance rather than excessive compliance.

Several key regulatory issues were discussed where consensus with departments remains pending. These included Sindh Food Authority’s food business licensing and product registration requirements. The reforms team proposed eliminating certain requirements or extending renewal periods from annual to three or five years.

The Committee was informed by Additional Secretary BOI, Zulfiqar Ali that the matter of harmonizing food standards has already been taken up at the Council of Common Interests (CCI). The CCI had mandated provinces to adopt national standards set by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to ensure uniformity; however, implementation remains pending. Both the Federal Minister and SAPM emphasized the need for immediate enforcement of the CCI decision.

Discussions also covered regulatory issues related to boiler and vessel permits, where concerns were raised regarding revenue dependence. The leadership reiterated that the primary objective of regulation should be facilitation rather than revenue generation, which can instead be achieved through increased business activity.

Reforms related to the Sindh Building Control Authority were also reviewed, including completion certificates and building plan approvals. The reforms team proposed integration with the Sindh Business One Stop Shop (SBOSS), introduction of time-bound approvals (e.g., within two weeks), and improved tracking systems.

SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan stressed the importance of accountability in certifications, particularly in safety incidents such as fires.

Additional areas discussed included environmental approvals, labour and HR department processes, warehouse registration, and supply chain regulations. The reforms team proposed digitization, elimination of annual renewals, and better inter-departmental coordination.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the urgent need for digitization, harmonization across federal and provincial levels, and improved data sharing mechanisms. Both Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh and SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan underscored that increasing investment and facilitating businesses must remain the central focus of all regulatory frameworks.

The Board of Investment reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regulatory reforms aimed at improving Pakistan’s business environment and attracting both domestic and foreign investment.