Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, on Tuesday showed optimism regarding the upcoming Pakistan-China Business-to-Business (B2B) Pharmaceutical Conference that would mark an important step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation in the health sector.

The minister expressed these views during a meeting with the Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy to review preparations for the Pakistan-China B2B Pharmaceutical Conference scheduled to be held in Karachi from July 16 to 19.

During the meeting, both sides discussed arrangements for the conference and measures to ensure its successful organization.

The minister said representatives of leading pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers and traditional Chinese medicine enterprises from both Pakistan and China would participate in the conference, creating new opportunities for investment, technology transfer and industrial partnership.

“Conference would provide a platform to promote investment, facilitate technology transfer and expand partnerships in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector,” he underlined.

Mustafa Kamal emphasized the need for active cooperation and effective coordination among all relevant institutions to make the event productive and outcome-oriented.

He added that representatives from government institutions, regulatory authorities, industry bodies and the private sector would also attend the event.

Mustafa Kamal said the government was committed to promoting Pakistan’s local pharmaceutical industry and acquiring advanced medical technologies to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

He said Pakistan would continue to expand its strategic cooperation with China to improve public access to quality healthcare services and promote sustainable development in the health sector.

Islamabad: At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, will undertake an official visit to Pakistan on Thursday.

This will be the first-ever visit by a Croatian foreign minister to Pakistan.

‘The DPM/FM and the visiting Foreign Minister will hold talks on the entire range of bilateral ties. They would discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest including trade, investment, visa facilitation, education, defence, IT and maritime cooperation. The two Ministers will also exchange views on regional and global developments of interest,’ the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a press release

During the visit, Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman is scheduled to call on the leadership including the Prime Minister and Chairman Senate.

This high-level visit from Croatia to Pakistan will help boost bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation in the fields of mutual benefit.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) extended the registration deadline for MDCAT 2026 until July 13, 2026.

According to the PMDC, the deadline has been extended to facilitate MDCAT 2026 candidates. Candidates can now complete their registration with the regular fee until July 13, 2026, while the deadline for registration with a late fee has been set for July 18.

The PMDC has advised all candidates to complete their online registration before the deadline to avoid any inconvenience.

For further information, registration procedures, and other details, candidates are advised to visit the PMDC website.

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday suspended a notice issued by the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) to a private educational institution in the federal capital’s I-10 sector, which had sought deatails of students admitted under the mandatory 10 percent scholarship quota for deserving students .

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the petition filed by Zaafran Elahi, who operates the educational institution . Advocate Abdul Wahid Qureshi, representing the petitioner, argued that PEIRA had issued a notice on June 11, 2026, demanding data on students benefiting from the 10 percent scholarship quota . The counsel contended that the regulator’s notice was contrary to fundamental rights and should be declared void.

The court suspended the June 11 notice and issued notices to the federation and the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority seeking their responses . The bench also directed that the petition be clubbed with other related cases.

The hearing has been adjourned until the first week of August .

Islamabad: lamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police have arrested 15 suspects and recovered 15 pistols and one gun during a 24-hour crackdown against illegal weapons.

An official told reporter on Wednesday that cases had been registered against all the arrested suspects, while targeted operations were carried out in different parts of the federal capital as part of the ongoing “Weapon-Free Islamabad” campaign.

The official said the operation was aimed at eliminating illegal weapons and ensuring a safer environment for residents of the capital.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Muhammad Jawad Tariq said ICT Police remained fully committed to protecting the lives and property of citizens and would continue taking strict action against those involved in possessing or displaying illegal weapons.

He said special police teams were conducting targeted operations against individuals involved in keeping or displaying illegal weapons, adding that Islamabad Police had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against such offences.

The DIG Tariq also advised citizens possessing licensed weapons to ensure their firearms were duly registered with the relevant police stations in accordance with the law.

Islamabad: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Tuesday issued a landslide alert for the JSR Skardu Rondo Road, warning that heavy rainfall and slope erosion could trigger landslides between July 7 and 9 in Skardu and adjoining areas, prompting authorities to activate preparedness measures and urge travellers to avoid unnecessary movement.

The alert was issued by the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC), which said the evolving weather situation is consistent with its earlier forecast.

The NEOC added that it continues round the clock monitoring, risk assessment and timely dissemination of information to all relevant authorities to minimise the impact of weather related hazards.

According to the advisory, landslides are likely in several vulnerable locations, including Buromdo Nala, Chamcho, Malupa, and the Dambudas, Tormik and Haramosh section of the Skardu Rondo Road over the next two days.

The NEOC warned that soil erosion, rockfalls and debris movement in local streams could further increase the risk to commuters, making travel on mountainous routes particularly hazardous.

The NDMA advised travellers and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel in landslide prone areas, exercise extreme caution while passing through vulnerable slopes, and stay updated on weather and road conditions before undertaking any journey.

The authority has also directed the local administration and all concerned departments to remain on high alert and ensure emergency response arrangements are in place to deal with any contingency.

The NDMA urged the public to rely on official advisories and use the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert App for timely alerts, weather updates and safety guidance.