Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: A late-night operation, led by the Assistant Commissioner Shalimar, resulted in the sealing of four shisha cafes in the capital.

The action was taken against one cafe in F-10 operating without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and three cafes in E-11 whose NOCs had expired.

According to the district administration, the operation was carried out as part of ongoing inspections to ensure that businesses comply with legal requirements and regulatory approvals.

During the inspection, officials found that one cafe in Sector F-10 was operating without obtaining the required NOC from the relevant authorities.

In a separate action in Sector E-11, three shisha cafes were found to be operating with expired NOCs. As a result, all three establishments were sealed on the spot for failing to meet the required legal conditions.

Officials said the operation was conducted during late-night hours to check business activities and verify compliance with administrative regulations. The district administration stated that commercial establishments were required to maintain valid permits and approvals to continue operations.

The administration said monitoring and inspection activities would continue across different sectors of the federal capital. Businesses found operating without valid permissions or in violation of official regulations might face legal action, including sealing of premises and other penalties under the law.

The Assistant Commissioner Shalimar directed inspection teams to continue checking commercial outlets and ensure that all businesses followed the rules set by the authorities. Officials also urged business owners to renew expired documents and obtained the necessary approvals before operating.

The district administration reiterated its commitment to enforcing regulations and maintaining compliance across the capital. It added that similar inspections would continue in various sectors to identify and address violations.

Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court on Tuesday directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to produce the complete record of all recruitments of Class IV sanitation workers made since 2016, saying it would examine whether the appointments were carried out in accordance with the law and prescribed rules.

A bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi issued the order while hearing a petition challenging the recruitment process.

During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioners argued that appointments had been made despite a ban on political interference and alleged that some candidates were recruited on the basis of recommendation letters issued by a member of the provincial assembly.

The Additional Advocate General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, however, rejected the allegation, saying the letter attributed to the Member Provincial Assembly was fake as it carried neither signatures, nor a reference number, nor an official seal. He remarked that such forged documents could easily be generated on a computer.

Justice Aamir Farooq responded that at least such fake documents should not be produced before the court, drawing laughter in the courtroom.

During the hearing, it also emerged that candidates holding Master’s degrees had applied for the sanitation worker posts.

Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi observed that even if highly educated candidates were appointed as sanitation workers, they would not actually perform sanitation duties. He remarked that such employees often remained in uniform while the city continued to suffer from poor cleanliness. He further noted that one of the petitioners had received religious seminary education and described it as unfortunate that educated people were being compelled to seek Class IV jobs because of limited employment opportunities.

Justice Aamir Farooq observed that even if the petitioner had been appointed, such recruitment would still have fallen within the category of appointments made in violation of the recruitment ban. He added that accommodating two individuals in a Class IV post would not make any significant difference.

The Additional Advocate General informed the court that the petitioners were now 47 years old and, therefore, granting them age relaxation was not legally permissible.

The court directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to submit the complete record of all sanitation workers recruitment made from 2016 to date and adjourned further hearing until next week.

Islamabad: Sirajuddin Aziz, Banking Mohtasib Pakistan, called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Yahya Afridi, here at the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday.

During the meeting, matters relating to the strengthening of banking dispute resolution and ongoing reform initiatives in the banking sector were discussed. The interaction followed the recent high-level consultation convened by the Chief Justice, in his capacity as Chairman of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), to identify legislative and procedural reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of banking litigation and promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.

During the meeting, the Banking Mohtasib apprised the Chief Justice of the institution’s disposal performance, stating that 36,280 complaints were disposed of during 2025 despite 13,793 complaints having been brought forward and 35,130 fresh complaints received during the year, resulting in an eight percent reduction in overall pendency. The institution also provided relief amounting to Rs. 1.87 billion to banking customers, with the entire complaint redressal mechanism remaining free of charge for complainants.

The Chief Justice applauded the efforts of the Banking Mohtasib in swiftly disposing of a substantial number of cases and providing significant relief to banking customers.

Mr. Sirajuddin Aziz reaffirmed the Banking Mohtasib’s commitment to supporting measures aimed at improving banking dispute resolution through enhanced institutional cooperation and exchange of best practices.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to promoting efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric mechanisms for the resolution of banking disputes and to strengthening institutional collaboration in support of broader justice sector reforms.

Islamabad: Director General Basic Education and Community Schools (BECS) Hameed Khan Niazi has inaugurated the first-ever Continuous Professional Development (CPD) teachers’ training programme at the tehsil level in Gilgit-Baltistan, marking a significant step towards strengthening the quality of education in some of Pakistan’s most remote communities.

The CPD initiative aimed to enhance teachers’ professional skills by bringing structured training directly to the grassroots level, eliminating the need for long-distance travel.

Under the programme, 776 teachers will undergo intensive three-day Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training through 24 training centres established across Gilgit-Baltistan, covering all major districts and tehsils.

The first phase from July 7-9, covers 263 teachers through eight centres in Shigar, Skardu, Kharmang and Astore. The second phase, from July 14-16, will train 255 teachers at eight centres across Ghizer, Ghanche and Diamer, while the third phase, from July 21-23, will benefit 258 teachers through eight centres in Gilgit, Hunza and Nagar.

Officials said the programme reflects BECS’ commitment to decentralising Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and ensuring educators serving remote and mountainous areas receive modern teaching methodologies and classroom management skills closer to their workplaces.

The training focuses on improving instructional practices, classroom management, student engagement and learning outcomes to further strengthen the quality of education in BECS schools across Gilgit-Baltistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General Hameed Khan Niazi said the launch of the first-ever tehsil-level CPD programme demonstrates BECS’ commitment to investing in teachers’ professional growth and improving learning standards.

He said quality education begins with well-trained teachers, and the initiative will help build a stronger and more effective education system in underserved areas.

DG expressed confidence that the programme will significantly improve classroom practices, strengthen institutional capacity and contribute to better educational outcomes across Gilgit-Baltistan.

He described the initiative as a milestone in BECS’ efforts to provide equal professional development opportunities to teachers working in remote regions and to promote inclusive, equitable and quality education throughout the country.

Islamabad: Uzbekistan and Belarus have taken another significant step toward strengthening their economic partnership by advancing a series of trade, investment, and agricultural cooperation initiatives during the Belagro-2026 International Agricultural Exhibition and Fair held in Minsk from June 1-6 2026.

The visit of the official Uzbek delegation underscored both countries’ commitment to expanding bilateral trade, boosting agricultural exports, attracting investment, and developing long-term partnerships in the agri-food sector, said a release issued by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Islamabad here on Tuesday.

At the exhibition, the National Pavilion of Uzbekistan, organized by UZAGROSTAR HOLDING, showcased a diverse selection of fresh and processed agricultural products, highlighting the country’s growing export potential.

The pavilion attracted high-level visitors, including Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Belarus, Rahmatulla Nazarov and Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Shuleyko, who discussed opportunities to increase the presence of Uzbek agricultural products in the Belarusian market.

The exhibition also provided a platform for productive meetings with Belarusian retail chains, importers, and wholesale market operators. Discussions focused on expanding direct business-to-business cooperation, increasing the volume and variety of Uzbek agricultural exports, and establishing long-term supply agreements.

One of the key meetings was held with the management of the Noviy Lebyajiy wholesale market in the Minsk district, where both sides explored plans to facilitate regular exports of Uzbek fruits, vegetables, and processed food products while creating dedicated trading spaces for Uzbek producers.

Cooperation in the livestock sector also gained fresh momentum. Uzbekistan signed a cooperation agreement with the Belarusian organization Belplemjivobyedineniye to supply high-yield pedigree cattle to entrepreneurs in the Samarkand region. The initiative is expected to support breeding programs and improve livestock productivity in Uzbekistan.

To strengthen logistics cooperation, the Uzbek delegation visited the Ozerco-Logistik trade and logistics center in the Minsk district. The visit offered valuable insights into Belarus’s modern logistics infrastructure, including digital cargo management systems, customs procedures, and international freight distribution practices that could help improve Uzbekistan’s export logistics.

Investment cooperation reached a new milestone with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MARAQAND MEAT LLC of Uzbekistan and the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee. The agreement outlines plans to establish a modern livestock production complex in Belarus and creates a framework for future joint investment projects in the agro-industrial sector.

The delegation also toured advanced agricultural enterprises in Belarus’s Vitebsk region, where experts exchanged experience in intensive livestock farming, farm management, feed production, digital agriculture, and sustainable agricultural development.

The visit concluded with several agreements aimed at expanding exports of Uzbek agricultural products to Belarus, strengthening partnerships between exporters and importers, improving logistics networks, importing pedigree livestock, and launching new joint investment projects.

The outcomes of Belagro-2026 reaffirm the growing strategic importance of Uzbekistan-Belarus economic cooperation and highlight the agricultural sector as one of the most promising areas for long-term bilateral partnership.

Islamabad: Leaders of the Pakistan Romania Business Council (PRBC) attended a cultural evening organized by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Karachi, featuring ‘KANYA Wonder Dance from Colombo.’

The event brought together diplomats, business representatives, and members of the cultural sector at Port Grand Karachi to celebrate Sri Lankan culture through music and dance.

The performance was choreographed and led by Sri Lankan Dance Director Chandana Wickramasinghe. The program highlighted Sri Lanka’s cultural traditions and provided an opportunity for guests to engage through artistic exchange.

Representing PRBC at the event were Atif Farooqi, Advisor and Chief Operating Officer, and Sohail Shamim Firpo, Chairman of PRBC. Their participation reflected the Council’s efforts to support cultural engagement alongside its work in promoting trade and economic cooperation.

PRBC officials said cultural events play an important role in strengthening relations between countries by creating opportunities for interaction between people, institutions, and business communities. They noted that such initiatives complement ongoing efforts aimed at expanding international partnerships and economic cooperation, including activities involving Pakistan and Romania.

During the event, PRBC leadership thanked the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Karachi for organizing the program and providing a platform to showcase Sri Lankan dance and cultural traditions. They said cultural exchanges help build understanding and create opportunities for future cooperation in different sectors.

The gathering concluded with interaction among participants from diplomatic, business, and cultural circles, reflecting the growing importance of cultural engagement in supporting international relations and community-level connections.I can also adapt it into a newspaper-style report with a stronger headline and dateline format if needed.