Category: Islamabad

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.

Islamabad: Privatization Commission (PC) Board on Friday approved the signing of the Transaction Advisory Services Agreement (TASA) with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the outsourcing of operations of Islamabad International Airport (IIAP).

The approval to this effect was granted in a meeting, which held under the chairmanship of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatization and Chairman, Privatization Commission Muhammad Ali, said a press release issued by the Privatization Commission.

The PC Board reviewed the terms of the negotiated TASA and approved the agreement reached with ADB. The PC Board expressed confidence that ADB, with its expertise and experience, will be able to successfully complete this important transaction expeditiously while ensuring maximum competition and transparency.

Islamabad International Airport will be outsourced to a qualified private sector operator under a long-term concession framework through a competitive bidding process. The privatization is expected to enhance operational efficiency, improve passenger experience, and align airport services with international best practices.

Furthermore, the PC Board also granted approval for the appointment of BDO Ebrahim and Company, Chartered Accountants, as external auditors for the audit of three financial years from 2025-26 to 2027-28, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee of the Board.

The PC Board resolved to continue ensuring transparency, efficiency, and the maintenance of high standards to further strengthen investor confidence in the government’s privatization program.

Islamabad: The Emergency Response Committee (ERC), convened by the Prime Minister, reviewed and reinforced provincial and district level preparedness for Monsoon 2026 at a meeting held on Friday at NDMA headquarters in Islamabad with participation via video link.

The committee moved to ensure a rapid, coordinated response to rising risks of flash floods, urban flooding, landslides, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods and other hydro-meteorological hazards by directing continuous readiness, timely implementation of local contingency plans, protection of vulnerable communities and rapid mobilization of resources.

Chaired remotely by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal and attended by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik and NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, the meeting heard detailed briefings from provincial chief secretaries and disaster management officials on contingency planning, resource deployment and public awareness campaigns.

Officials highlighted focus on vulnerable flood plains, urban centres, hill torrent regions, coastal belts and glacier-fed valleys where the risk of flash floods and GLOFs is elevated.

The committee expressed satisfaction with preparedness measures initiated by provincial and district administrations while directing all authorities to maintain a high state of readiness throughout the monsoon season.

It stressed uninterrupted inter agency communication, swift resource mobilization and immediate implementation of local contingency plans to protect lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

NDMA, acting as the ERC secretariat, will continue to coordinate, monitor and share information among ministries, provincial administrations and district response teams to support an effective, unified national response during the season.