Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: The government is set to further expand cellular services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan with a proposed allocation of Rs298.875 million for the financial year 2026-27.

According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the initiative titled ‘Expansion of Cellular Services in AJK and GB Phase-IV’ began in 2024 and is scheduled to be completed in 2027. The project’s total cost is Rs1.997 billion.

The project has achieved 90% physical progress and 85% financial progress. So far, Rs1.698 billion has been spent, and the expected throw-forward of Rs298.875 million has been proposed for allocation in FY2026-27.

Under the initiative, the government plans to install 28 essential cellular sites in AJK and GB along with the required civil infrastructure. The project is designed to improve mobile connectivity, extend 4G services, and strengthen communication facilities in these difficult terrains where people often face limited access to reliable telecom services.

According to the progress report, civil work on 23 sites has been completed, while power has also been extended to all 23 locations. In addition, 4G cellular equipment has been commissioned at 23 sites, improving mobile broadband services in targeted areas.

Work on digging and laying 50 kilometres of optical fibre cable is also in progress, which will help improve network reliability and support stronger backhaul connectivity for cellular services.

The initiative is expected to benefit local communities, students, businesses, tourists, emergency services, and public sector institutions by improving access to digital communication. Better cellular coverage in AJK and GB can also support online education, telemedicine, e-commerce, tourism promotion, and disaster response.

The project reflects the government’s efforts to bridge the digital divide by extending modern telecom infrastructure to geographically challenging and less-connected regions. Once completed, the initiative is expected to provide more reliable cellular and broadband services to the remote communities across AJK and GB.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Saturday, reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring the uninterrupted supply of sugar at affordable prices.

Chairing a high-level meeting to take stock of the availability of sugar across the country and ensure price stability for consumers, he stressed that the government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy against hoarding, speculation, and artificial price hikes.

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research, in coordination with provincial food departments, briefed the Committee on current sugar stocks, production projections, and market price trends.

The meeting was attended by Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, SAPM Tariq Bajwa, Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Member FBR, and senior federal and provincial officials.

After a thorough review of the data presented on provincial and national sugar reserves, the committee expressed satisfaction over the overall availability and supply position.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Saturday held a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister of Maldives Dr. Iruthisham Adam and exchanged views on regional and international developments.

DPM/FM congratulated Dr. Adam on the forthcoming 61st anniversary of the Maldives’ Independence.

Foreign Minister Adam appreciated Pakistan’s role in mediating the Iran-US conflict.

While reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and the Maldives, the two leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

Islamabad: Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman Saturday said Pakistan’s rapidly growing population was emerging as a major challenge for the country’s economy, resources and the well-being of its people, calling for immediate and coordinated measures to address the issue.

In a message on World Population Day, she said the global population had reached 8.2 billion while Pakistan’s population had risen to approximately 259 million, making it the world’s fifth most populous country.

She said Pakistan’s annual population growth rate stood at 2.55 percent, while the country’s fertility rate of 3.6 remained the highest in South Asia. If the current trend continued, Pakistan’s population could reach nearly 390 million by 2050, making timely planning essential, she added.

Sherry Rehman said the rapidly increasing population was placing growing pressure on water resources, food security, healthcare, education, housing and employment opportunities. She stressed that the population issue was not merely about numbers but also about ensuring a better quality of life and equal access to basic services for every citizen.

She urged the government to make family planning an integral part of the national budget, economic planning and development policies to effectively manage population growth.

Highlighting social challenges, she said nearly 40 percent of children under the age of five suffered from stunted growth due to malnutrition, while around 42 percent of the country’s population was living below the poverty line despite limited national resources and the prevalence of large family sizes.

She said population growth was not solely a women’s issue but a concern for every family and the entire nation, with consequences that would affect future generations.

She added that, on average, every couple in Pakistan had one unintended child, underscoring the need for improved access to family planning services and quality healthcare.

Referring to food insecurity, the senator said around 11 million Pakistanis faced severe food shortages in 2025 and warned that unchecked population growth would further aggravate the situation.

She emphasized that controlling population growth was essential to tackling climate change, water scarcity and food security challenges, and called on Parliament, provincial governments, religious scholars, teachers, doctors and civil society to work together to raise public awareness.

Sherry Rehman said that with effective planning, greater investment in people and sound policymaking, Pakistan’s growing population could be transformed into a national strength rather than a burden.

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.