Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Secretary, Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, on Saturday highlighted that population dynamics are closely linked with health, education, economic development, and social well-being.

In his message on the occasion of World Population Day on 11 th July, 2026, he underlined that realizing the aspirations of young people requires not only investments in their education and skills but also ensuring access to quality healthcare services, informed choices, and opportunities that enable them to contribute meaningfully to society.

This Day provides an important opportunity to reflect on the collective responsibility of ensuring that every individual, particularly young people, women, and children, has the opportunity to lead a healthy, productive, and dignified life, he said.This year’s theme, “Realizing the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People – Today and for the Future,” underscores the need to place people at the center of development and to create an enabling environment where future generations can thrive, he added.

This Ministry remains committed to strengthening the country’s health system and supporting national efforts aimed at improving the well-being of families and communities, he said.

He added that in close collaboration with provincial and regional governments, the Ministry continues to facilitate policy implementation, strengthen institutional coordination, and promote evidence-based approaches that improve access to essential health services across the country.

The Secretary focused that effective partnerships are central to achieving these objectives. The Ministry values its collaboration with provincial health and population departments, development partners, United Nations, agencies, non-governmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, professional bodies, academia, and the private sector.

Through coordinated action, we can ensure that national priorities are translated into practical interventions that reach communities and improve people’s lives, he said.

Special attention must be given to the health and empowerment of women and adolescents. When women are healthy, educated, and empowered, families prosper and communities become more resilient, Aslam said.

Similarly, when young people are equipped with knowledge, opportunities, and support, they become agents of positive change and contribute to national development, he added

As the federal coordinating body for health, the Ministry will continue to promote collaboration,strengthen health systems, support innovation, and facilitate the implementation of policies and programmes that improve health outcomes and advance sustainable development, he added.

On this World Population Day, I urge all stakeholders to continue working together in fostering a healthier, more informed, and more prosperous society. Through partnership, commitment, and collective action, we can create a future where the hopes and aspirations of every young person are realized and where every family has the opportunity to flourish.

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Saturday, reaffirming the importance of Pakistan’s enduring partnership with the World Bank, stressed that sustained collaboration on ongoing and future projects would be key to delivering meaningful development outcomes.

The ambassador met with World Bank President Ajay Banga. During the meeting, Ambassador Sheikh presented President Banga with ‘Triunda’ the official football produced in Pakistan for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as a commemorative gift, a press release, Saturday, said.

President Banga commended the quality of Pakistan’s sporting goods, particularly the ‘Triunda’ football.

Ambassador Sheikh said Pakistan continued to promote global unity through sports and described the selection of a Pakistan-made football as the official match ball for the FIFA World Cup 2026 as a landmark achievement and a source of national pride.

He noted that Sialkot, the country’s hub for sporting goods manufacturing, enjoys a global reputation for producing premium-quality sports goods.

The ambassador said the international community’s confidence in Pakistan’s sports manufacturing sector is a significant encouragement for the industry and reflects its commitment to maintaining world-class quality standards.

Islamabad: The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) provided timely assistance to more than 876,625 road users, reunited 115 missing children with their families and arrested 54 wanted criminals during the first half of 2026.

According to the NHMP’s performance report for the period from January 1 to June 30, 2026, NHMP continued its commitment to ensuring safe travel, providing timely public assistance, enforcing traffic laws, promoting road safety, and combating smuggling across the country’s motorways and national highways.

The force promptly responded to 26 medical emergencies, helping save precious lives. NHMP officers also extinguished 39 vehicle fires, preventing casualties and minimizing property losses, it added.

Through its 130 Toll-Free Helpline, the NHMP provided guidance to 179,408 citizens, extended various forms of assistance to 123,256 road users, delivered emergency support to 9,823 citizens, and resolved 42,111 public complaints in a timely manner.

During the reporting period, the NHMP issued 15,679 driving licences, 43 Category CE driving licences, and 528 International Driving Permits. To promote road safety nationwide, the NHMP organized 1,327 road safety awareness programmes.

More than 16.36 million (16,361,682) road users received road safety awareness at toll plazas, while over 2.27 million (2,275,043) road safety pamphlets and booklets were distributed across the country.

Demonstrating honesty, professionalism, and public trust, NHMP officers recovered and returned lost valuables to their rightful owners, including gold jewellery in two separate incidents, hundreds of mobile phones worth over Rs. 13.617 million, 23 bags containing important documents, and 31 wallets.

The NHMP also recovered 25 stolen vehicles and 22 non-custom-paid vehicles, handing them over to the relevant authorities and their rightful owners. Furthermore, 115 missing children were safely reunited with their parents, while 54 dangerous criminals wanted in various criminal cases were arrested and handed over to the respective district police.

During enforcement operations on national highways, the NHMP recovered four illegal weapons, 35 rounds of ammunition, three magazines, 21.22 grams of hashish, 26 kilograms of opium, 21 kilograms of cocaine, 2,420 litres of liquor, 400 cans of alcoholic beverages, non-custom-paid cigarettes worth Rs. 60 million, skimmed milk powder worth Rs. 1.5 million, and non-custom-paid cloth worth Rs. 12 million. All recovered items were handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies for further legal action.

As part of its anti-smuggling operations, the NHMP foiled attempts to smuggle 532 tonnes of wheat and flour, which were subsequently handed over to the relevant Food Department. The force also recovered 2,173 kilograms of unhygienic meat, arrested the suspects, and handed them over to the respective Food Authorities. In addition, 32 smuggling attempts were foiled, with all accused persons handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies.

The NHMP also recovered over 16,586 metres of stolen roadside fencing and handed the suspects over to the concerned district police.

Under its special campaign against over-speeding, the NHMP registered 817 FIRs against violators.

The report further highlights that the NHMP’s Social Media Team and FM-95 Road Safety Radio continue to keep road users informed about road safety, traffic conditions, and travel advisories.

To strengthen public engagement and ensure prompt resolution of citizens’ concerns, the NHMP also conducts a monthly Open Court (Khuli Katcheri).

The report concludes by reaffirming the National Highways and Motorway Police’s unwavering commitment to impartial enforcement of the law while providing safe, dignified, and high-quality travel services to the public.

The NHMP remains dedicated to serving the nation with professionalism, integrity, and excellence around the clock.

Islamabad: Acting President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Tahir Ayub, on Saturday called for a comprehensive national strategy to transform Pakistan’s rapidly growing population into a productive economic force through sustained investments in education, healthcare, skills development, entrepreneurship, and employment generation.

He said that with prudent planning and human capital development, Pakistan’s youthful population could become the country’s greatest competitive advantage, driving industrial growth, innovation, exports, and long-term economic prosperity.

He expressed these views while talking to different delegations of business leaders on the occasion of World Population Day on Saturday, observing that the day served as an important reminder of the need to strike a balance between population growth and sustainable economic development.

He emphasized that the true strength of a nation lied not merely in the size of its population, but in its ability to educate, empower, and productively engage its people in nation-building.

Tahir Ayub said that Pakistan was blessed with one of the largest youth populations in the region, presenting a historic demographic opportunity that could accelerate economic transformation if supported by forward-looking policies.

However, he cautioned that without timely investments in quality education, vocational and technical training, healthcare, digital literacy, and decent employment opportunities, the demographic advantage could turn into a significant socio-economic challenge.

The ICCI Acting President observed that the private sector has a pivotal role to play in creating employment opportunities, promoting entrepreneurship, investing in workforce development, and supporting innovation.

He urged the government to strengthen collaboration with the business community, academia, and development partners to equip young people with market-driven skills and prepare them for the evolving demands of the global economy.

He further emphasized that policy consistency, economic stability, and a business-friendly environment are indispensable for attracting investment and generating employment on the scale required to absorb Pakistan’s expanding workforce.

He called for greater investment in industrialization, technology, SMEs, and export-oriented sectors to create sustainable livelihoods and improve living standards.

Speaking on the occasion, ICCI Vice President Mohammad Irfan Chaudhry stressed that empowering youth through technical education, vocational training, digital skills, and entrepreneurship is essential for enhancing productivity and reducing unemployment.

He added that a vibrant SME sector, supported by enabling government policies and easier access to finance, can play a transformative role in creating jobs and ensuring inclusive economic growth.

Islamabad: Delegations from the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have begun arriving in Islamabad to participate in the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, being hosted by the Government of Pakistan on 12-13 July 2026 under the auspices of the Ministry of Human Rights.

The Conference, being held under the theme “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward,” will bring together Ministers responsible for women and family affairs, senior government officials, representatives of OIC institutions, international organizations and development partners to deliberate on advancing the socio-economic and political empowerment of women across the OIC Member States.

The visiting delegations were warmly received at Islamabad International Airport by Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, Ms. Saba Sadiq, Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights, and Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justi
ce, along with senior officials of the Ministry of Human Rights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government representatives.

Pakistan is honoured to host this important Ministerial Conference, reflecting its steadfast commitment to the objectives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and to strengthening cooperation among Member States in advancing the rights, dignity and empowerment of women. During the Conference, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights, will assume the Chair of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women on behalf of Pakistan. As Chair, Pakistan will lead the Conference proceedings and work closely with OIC Member States to foster dialogue, build consensus and advance collective efforts towards the empowerment of women across the Muslim world.

Over the next two days, participating delegations will engage in high-level discussions to review progress, exchange experiences and best practices, and identify practical pathways for enhancing
the socio-economic and political empowerment of women across the OIC Member States.

The Government and the people of Pakistan extend a warm welcome to all distinguished delegates and wish them a productive Conference and a pleasant stay in Islamabad.

Islamabad: The Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) has surpassed its annual target for Shariah-compliant investments by mobilising Rs61 billion during the fiscal year 2025-26, reflecting growing public confidence in Islamic financial products and the country’s expanding Islamic finance sector.

According to official sources, CDNS had set an annual mobilisation target of Rs55 billion for its Shariah-compliant investment portfolio but successfully achieved Rs61 billion by the end of the fiscal year spanning July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

The strong performance underscores the increasing demand for Islamic savings instruments as investors continue to shift towards interest-free financial products that comply with Shariah principles while offering secure and competitive returns.

The Senior official said the remarkable achievement demonstrates the growing role of Islamic finance in Pakistan’s financial system and highlights the public’s confidence in government-backed Shariah-compliant investment schemes.

“We intensified our efforts to promote Islamic finance during the outgoing fiscal year, and the overwhelming public response reflects the increasing trust of investors in these products,” a senior CDNS official said. “The continued expansion of Islamic savings schemes will play an important role in strengthening Pakistan’s Islamic economy and promoting sustainable financial growth.”

The official attributed the success to the increasing popularity of Islamic savings certificates and Sukuk-based investment instruments, which have attracted both individual and institutional investors seeking halal investment opportunities. Besides providing faith-based financial solutions, these products have also contributed significantly to national savings mobilisation and supported the government’s broader economic objectives.

The performance marks another milestone in CDNS’s sustained efforts to strengthen its Islamic finance portfolio. During fiscal year 2024-25, the directorate successfully achieved its Shariah-compliant investment target of Rs24 billion. Earlier, in FY2023-24, it mobilised nearly Rs75 billion through Islamic bonds, reflecting the growing acceptance and long-term potential of Islamic financial instruments in Pakistan.

The official noted that CDNS has been introducing reforms aimed at enhancing customer convenience and expanding financial inclusion. These include digital transformation initiatives, improved online services, and the development of innovative Shariah-compliant savings products designed to meet the evolving needs of investors across the country.

He expressed confidence that the continued expansion of Islamic finance, coupled with policy reforms and technological innovation, would further strengthen Pakistan’s savings culture while providing secure investment opportunities for citizens.

With the successful achievement of Rs61 billion in Shariah-compliant investments, CDNS has reinforced its position as a leading institution in promoting Islamic savings and mobilising domestic resources. Officials believe the momentum will enable the organisation to set even higher targets in the coming fiscal year and further contribute to the development of a resilient, inclusive, and Shariah-compliant financial system in Pakistan.