Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: The second edition of the Pakistan International Food and Restaurant Awards 2026 was held in Islamabad on Friday to recognize outstanding contributions to Pakistan’s food, restaurant, hospitality and tourism industries, bringing together government representatives, diplomats, parliamentarians, business leaders and stakeholders from across the country.

The event was organized by Brain Designer Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) under the theme “Celebration of Marqa-e-Haq and Marqa Muhasiat” and “Celebrating Excellence in Food, Hospitality and Tourism.”

Speaking on the occasion, CEO of Brain Designer Pakistan and Focal Person to the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme on Tourism and Hospitality Muhammad Rauf Raja said the awards aimed to recognize excellence, innovation, quality and service in the food and hospitality sectors while encouraging young entrepreneurs, supporting the hospitality industry and promoting Pakistan as a global destination for tourism, investment, culture and hospitality.

Federal Minister for Tribal Affairs Mubarak Zeb Khan, the chief guest, appreciated the organizers for promoting Pakistan’s hospitality and tourism sectors. He stressed the importance of developing tourism, supporting local businesses, preserving cultural heritage and creating employment opportunities through the hospitality industry.

Chairman of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Aftab Ur Rehman Rana, who attended the ceremony as guest of honour, highlighted Pakistan’s tourism potential and reaffirmed PTDC’s commitment to working with public and private sector partners to promote sustainable tourism, culinary tourism and international cooperation.

Chairman Board of Governors, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), Syed Qamar Raza Shah said overseas Pakistanis

played an important role in promoting Pakistan’s positive image worldwide, adding that Pakistani cuisine and hospitality served as strong ambassadors of the country’s culture. He called for stronger engagement between overseas Pakistanis and the hospitality sector.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture, Farah Naz Akbar said Pakistan’s rich culinary traditions and cultural heritage were among the country’s greatest strengths.

She appreciated initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting Pakistan’s diverse food culture while encouraging tourism, cultural exchange and youth participation.

During the ceremony, awards were presented to leading restaurants, hotels, caf©s, food brands, chefs, hospitality professionals, entrepreneurs, tourism organizations and industry leaders in recognition of their contributions to raising standards in Pakistan’s food and hospitality sectors.

The organizers thanked government institutions, strategic partners, sponsors, diplomats, hospitality organizations, business leaders, media organizations and participants for contributing to the success of the event and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting tourism, cultural heritage, entrepreneurship, international partnerships, culinary excellence and sustainable economic growth in Pakistan.

Islamabad: Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, met with Bangladesh’s Interior Minister, Salahuddin Ahmed in New York to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional developments.

During the meeting, both ministers agreed to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including training and exchange programmes for police officers.

They also discussed strengthening collaboration to combat cybercrime and online fraud.

The two sides exchanged views on the Iran-US conflict and the current situation in the Middle East.

According to the statement, the Bangladeshi Interior Minister appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting regional and international peace.

Speaking after the meeting, Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan should make use of new opportunities to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation. He also stated that, in his view, the Prime Minister and the Field Marshal had played an important role in efforts to promote peace.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari have urged all stakeholders, government institutions, parliamentarians, academia, civil society organisations, development partners, religious leaders, the media and communities to work together in promoting the health, wellbeing and empowerment of the masses.

In his message on the World Population Day, observed globally under the theme ‘Realising the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People – Today and for the Future,’ the president highlighted that by placing women, children and young people at the centre of the national development efforts, the country could create a future that is equitable, inclusive and sustainable.

President Zardari joined the international community in reflecting on evolving population trends and reaffirming the nation’s collective commitment to building a society where every citizen can live with dignity, health and opportunity.

“Pakistan is blessed with a young and vibrant population. More than sixty-five per cent of our citizens are under the age of thirty, presenting a unique opportunity for national progress. If provided with quality education, healthcare, skills and employment opportunities, our youth can become a powerful demographic dividend, driving economic growth, innovation and social development. Investing in young people today is an investment in Pakistan’s future,” he said.

He underscored that the nation must also recognise the critical importance of improving the health and wellbeing of women and children. “Maternal health, child survival, nutrition, education and access to essential healthcare services remain fundamental pillars of sustainable development,” he said, adding that a society could not prosper when mothers face preventable risks during pregnancy and childbirth, when children suffer from malnutrition or when girls were denied opportunities to learn and thrive.

The president also recalled the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who championed womens’ rights, dignity and empowerment. She emphasised the vital role of womens’ empowerment, education and reproductive health in national development, and her legacy continues to inspire these efforts today, he said.

The president added that population and development are deeply interconnected as progress in education, healthcare, gender equality, poverty reduction and economic opportunity strengthens families and communities, contributing to a more prosperous and resilient society.

“Ensuring that every woman has access to quality healthcare and that every child receives the care, nutrition and education necessary to reach their full potential is both a moral responsibility and a national imperative. Let us renew our commitment to building a Pakistan where every person can realise their hopes and aspirations. Together, we can transform our demographic strengths into lasting national prosperity and human development,” the president concluded.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday emphasized the importance of ensuring balanced progress across the United Nations’ three core pillars: peace and security, development, and human rights.

During a meeting with Rebeca Grynspan, a candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, at the Prime Minister’s House, he stressed the need to establish effective mechanisms for the faithful implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and to uphold international law and treaties in order to promote global peace, security, and prosperity.

The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and reiterated the country’s unwavering resolve to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

He particularly emphasized the need to accelerate the implementation of the global development agenda and strengthen international cooperation to address the pressing challenges facing developing countries.

Rebeca Grynspan appreciated Pakistan’s longstanding and valuable contributions to the United Nations and commended the country’s constructive role in recent regional peace efforts.

Islamabad: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Islamabad Qazi Ali Raza visited various mosques and Imambargahs across the federal capital to review security arrangements during Friday prayers.

An official told reporter on Friday that the SSP Qazi inspected security deployments, reviewed the overall security plan and assessed the performance of police officers and personnel deployed at sensitive worship places.

Qazi met the officers and jawans on duty and gave them a detailed briefing on security responsibilities, directing them to remain vigilant and ensure strict implementation of the security plan.

The SSP Qazi emphasized the importance of maintaining a visible police presence, effective checking and prompt response to any emergency situation to ensure the safety of worshippers.

He also directed officers to perform their duties with professionalism, dedication and courtesy while ensuring foolproof security at mosques and Imambargahs during Friday prayers, the official added.

Islamabad: National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Friday reviewed preparations for MDCAT 2026, matters relating to medical education, and reforms in the pharmacy sector.

The Committee met under the chairmanship of Dr. Mahesh Kumar Mallani, MNA, was informed that the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026 will be held on 16 August 2026.

To further strengthen transparency and fairness in the examination process, the question bank has been expanded from 6,000 questions last year to 8,000 questions this year.

It was also briefed that each province will be provided with three separate question papers, from which one paper will be selected for the examination.

The Committee was informed that admissions to medical and dental colleges will be determined on the basis of 10% Matriculation marks, 40% Intermediate marks, and 50% MDCAT score.

The MDCAT paper will comprise 45% Biology, 25% Chemistry, 20% Physics, 5% English, and 5% Logical Reasoning.

The Committee was apprised that approximately 135,000 students have registered for MDCAT 2026 so far. Since nine days remain before the registration deadline, the number of applicants is expected to increase further.

he examination will consist of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), with no negative marking, a duration of three hours, and minimum qualifying marks of 55% for MBBS and 50% for BDS admissions.

The Committee deliberated on the fee structure of private medical colleges and decided that annual tuition fees should be capped between Rs. 1.8 million and Rs. 2.5 million.

Private medical colleges will also be required to justify their fee structures.

Furthermore, a third-party audit will be conducted to determine the actual per-student cost of medical education.

To further enhance transparency in the admission process, members of the Committee will hold meetings with the concerned Vice Chancellors of their respective provinces after 20 July 2026.

The Committee was informed that 188 medical colleges are currently registered with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), including 60 private institutions.

It was noted that private medical colleges produce approximately 22,000 graduates annually, while government medical colleges graduate around 14,000 students each year.

The PMDC clarified that reports regarding the proposed increase in the salary of the President, PMDC, to Rs. 1.2 million per month and the enhancement of TA/DA for PMDC Council members to Rs. 50,000 have not been finalized and remain proposals only.

The Committee also directed that medical colleges be asked to explain why approved seats remain vacant and to ensure that quality standards in medical education are fully maintained.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the briefing given by the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, the Committee directed the Council to revise the Pharmacy Council Rules, 1967, to address contemporary challenges facing the pharmacy profession.

A draft of the revised rules is expected to be presented before the Committee in October 2026 for consideration prior to being laid before the National Assembly.