Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation decreased by 0.45 percent during the week ended on July 9, 2026, for the combined consumption group, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported Friday.

According to PBS data, the SPI for the week under review fell to 352.66 points from 354.24 points recorded in the previous week. On a year-on-year basis, the SPI increased by 11.94 percent.

The weekly SPI, with base year 2015-16=100, covers 17 urban centres and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.

The SPI for the lowest consumption group (up to Rs 17,732) declined by 0.36 percent to 342.98 points from 344.22 points.

Likewise, the SPI for consumption groups of Rs 17,733-22,888, Rs 22,889-29,517 and Rs 29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175 decreased by 0.33 percent, 0.32 percent, 0.33 percent and 0.55 respectively.

During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 22 items (43.14 percent) increased, eight items (15.69 percent) decreased, while 21 items (41.17 percent) remained unchanged.

On a week-on-week basis, the prices of tomatoes witnessed the sharpest decline of 23.30 percent, followed by LPG 15.12 percent, pulse moong 2.15 percent, petrol 0.69 percent, diesel 0.63 percent, pulse masoor 0.52 percent, sugar 0.07 percent and mustard oil 0.06 percent.

On the other hand, prices of potatoes increased by 3.94 percent, followed by chicken 3.70 percent, onions 3.54 percent, wheat flour 1.61 percent, eggs 0.81 percent, beef 0.59 percent, cooked daal 0.58 percent, fresh milk 0.50 percent and washing soap 0.44 percent.

On a year-on-year basis, prices of potatoes declined by 35.89 percent, followed by pulse gram 22.23 percent, chicken 21.32 percent, sugar 20.98 percent, salt powder 14.09 percent, pulse masoor 12.93 percent, eggs 9.23 percent and pulse moong 7.70 percent over the corresponding week of last year.

Major annual increases were recorded in the prices of tomatoes by 129.01 percent, followed by onions 76.34 percent, wheat flour 71.22 percent, electricity charges for Q1 49.14 percent, gas charges for Q1 29.85 percent, LPG 25.51 percent, gents sponge chappal 16.69 percent, mutton 16.36 percent, chilies powder 15.20 percent, beef 13.56 percent, bananas 9.96 percent and bread 9.69 percent, according to the PBS.

Islamabad: Marking World Population Day, Islamabad based digital transformation company Wolfiz appealed governments and institutions to rethink approaches to population growth, arguing that the world’s greatest challenge lies not in numbers but in the capacity of public systems to keep pace with rising demand.

On World Population Day, the company underscored that rising populations are exerting mounting pressure on healthcare, transportation, housing, education, judicial systems, emergency response, public administration, and other vital services. It stressed that the central question is no longer whether populations will continue to grow, but whether the systems designed to support them are evolving swiftly enough to meet the shifting needs of society, said a press release.

“Population growth does not create crises on its own,” Wolfiz said. “It exposes the limitations of systems that were never designed to operate at today’s scale.”

Wolfiz maintained that many of the challenges commonly linked to population growth stem less from demographics than from outdated systems and governance models that have failed to evolve alongside society.

Wolfiz noted that this shift is already evident across several countries that have embraced digital transformation as a core element of public sector modernization. Estonia has established one of the world’s most advanced digital government ecosystems, Singapore continues to integrate artificial intelligence into urban planning and transport management, while the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have expanded digital public services to improve accessibility, operational efficiency, and citizen experience.

These examples demonstrate that governments are no longer required to expand bureaucracy, instead, intelligent digital systems are enabling institutions to serve larger populations through automation, integrated data platforms, predictive analytics, and AI powered decision support.

From virtual healthcare assistants that help reduce pressure on medical professionals to intelligent traffic management systems that optimise mobility and digital government platforms that simplify access to public services, technology is already transforming how nations respond to rising demand while improving efficiency and service quality.

Wolfiz said Pakistan has registered encouraging progress through initiatives to digitise public services and expand technology enabled governance. The company noted, however, that the next stage of national development hinges on accelerating the rollout of scalable digital infrastructure, strengthening interoperability among institutions, and embedding emerging technologies into the design of essential public services.

“The countries making the greatest progress are not necessarily those facing the fewest challenges,” the company observed. “They are the ones redesigning how public systems operate. Technology is no longer simply improving government services, it is redefining how governments deliver them.”

Wolfiz called for stronger collaboration between governments, technology companies, academia, and international development organisations to accelerate the adoption of proven digital solutions capable of building more resilient, efficient, and citizen centric societies.

Islamabad: Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) Chief Traffic Officer Kainat Azhar Khan p0 visited the Faizabad checkpoint to review traffic flow and inspect arrangements aimed at easing congestion during peak hours.

An ITP official told reporter on Friday that the CTO Kainat inspected traffic management measures and reviewed the deployment of traffic personnel at the busy interchange.

The official said traffic diversions are being implemented daily from 7: 00 a.m. to 10: 00 a.m. to facilitate the smooth movement of vehicles from Rawalpindi’s Murree Road towards the Islamabad Expressway during morning rush hours.

Kainat directed traffic officers to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow on the Expressway and effectively manage congestion to minimize inconvenience for commuters.

The CTO Kainat emphasized that Islamabad Traffic Police remained committed to providing safe, efficient and hassle-free travel facilities through proactive traffic management and timely deployment of officers at key traffic points across the federal capital, the official added.

Islamabad: Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) organized a road safety seminar at the Pakistan Red Crescent Headquarters to promote awareness about traffic laws and safe driving practices.

An ITP official told reporter on Friday that Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Kainat Azhar Khan attended the seminar as the chief guest. Director ITP FM 92.4 Ayesha Jamil, officers of the ITP Education Wing and officials of the Pakistan Red Crescent also participated in the event.

ITP Education Wing delivered awareness sessions on compliance with traffic laws, defensive driving, the use of seat belts and helmets, speed limits, pedestrians’ rights and the dangers of using mobile phones while driving.

Addressing the participants, CTO Kainat said adherence to traffic laws was essential not only for one’s own safety but also for protecting the lives of other road users. She urged citizens to adopt responsible driving habits to help reduce road accidents.

An interactive question-and-answer session on traffic rules was also held, and prizes were distributed among participants who gave correct answers.

At the conclusion of the seminar, commemorative shields were exchanged between officials of Islamabad Traffic Police and the Pakistan Red Crescent in recognition of their joint efforts to promote road safety awareness, the official added.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Mustafa Kamal on Friday underscored the importance of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening Basic Health Units (BHUs) through modern technology and digital healthcare services.

He made these remarks to inauguration ceremony of the ninth of 10 Telemedicine Centres at the Primary Health Centre in Phulgran, Islamabad, as initiative was part of the ministry’s healthcare digitalisation programme aimed at transforming primary healthcare facilities into modern centres.

He said the government planned to expand the network of telemedicine centres, noting that primary healthcare facilities play a vital role in treating common illnesses and reducing pressure on major hospitals. He informed that more than 14,500 people had so far received medical consultation and treatment through telemedicine centres.

“These primary healthcare centres help reduce the burden on tertiary care hospitals by treating minor illnesses at an early stage,” he said, adding that major hospitals focused should be focus on patients requiring tertiary care.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s Sehat Sahulat Programme, Kamal said the initiative had been revived after a gap of four years and currently covered treatment of up to Rs1 million per patient.

He said 44 hospitals and around 9,502 hospital beds had been brought under the programme, adding that more hospitals would be included to improve healthcare access and enhance public satisfaction.

The minister observed that despite the country’s health budget of Rs 1,153 billion, public complaints regarding healthcare services continued.

Citing a study, he said a comprehensive health insurance system, like the Sehat Sahulat Programme, could provide free treatment of up to Rs1 million for every citizen at an estimated annual cost of around Rs210 billion, while significantly improving public satisfaction with healthcare services.

Kamal stressed that the government’s primary responsibility was to formulate effective health policies and ensure their implementation, despite running hospitals.

He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to expanding quality healthcare services in remote areas through digitalisation, modern technology and telemedicine.

Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has achieved another significant milestone as PTCL Flash Fiber, the company’s flagship fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service, surpassed 900,000 subscribers.

The achievement reflects the growing trust that customers across Pakistan continue to place in PTCL’s high-speed broadband services and further strengthens the company’s position as the country’s largest internet service provider.

The milestone marks another important chapter in PTCL’s journey to deliver world-class digital connectivity across Pakistan in line with its long-term ambition of driving digital enablement and promoting the Government of Pakistan’s vision for a hyper-connected Digital Pakistan. With its expanding fiber network, PTCL Flash Fiber has become the preferred broadband choice for homes, businesses, gamers, content creators, students, and professionals who increasingly rely on fast, stable, and uninterrupted internet to power their daily lives.

PTCL Flash Fiber’s network performance has also been independently validated by Ookla, the globally respected authority on internet testing and network intelligence, with two prestigious distinctions: Best Fixed Network for Pakistan and Best ISP Gaming Experience.

The recognition was based on Ookla’s comprehensive evaluation of network performance and customer experience metrics through its Speedtest Connectivity Report, which cemented PTCL’s leadership in delivering superior network performance, low latency, and an enhanced digital experience for customers across the country.

This latest achievement reflects the accelerating demand for reliable fiber broadband as Pakistan’s digital economy continues to evolve. From remote work and online education to digital entertainment, cloud applications, and competitive gaming, PTCL Flash Fiber continues to enable seamless connectivity that supports the country’s growing digital aspirations.

Commenting on the significant development, Mohammad Nadeem Khan, President and CEO, PTCL, said: “This milestone reflects the confidence that hundreds of thousands of customers have placed in PTCL Flash Fiber. As Pakistan’s digital needs continue to grow, we remain committed to expanding our fiber footprint, investing in next-generation network infrastructure, and delivering a consistently superior broadband experience that empowers individuals, businesses, and communities across the country.”

Today, PTCL Flash Fiber is available across 78 cities nationwide, extending reliable fiber connectivity to millions of Pakistanis. The continued growth in its subscriber base reflects PTCL’s sustained investments in next-generation network infrastructure, service reliability, and customer experience, enabling users to benefit from consistent, high-performance broadband connectivity.