Category: Islamabad

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.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that the government was taking every possible measure to protect Pakistan’s children from the debilitating disease of polio and secure their future.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to achieving a polio-free future, the prime minister emphasized that polio eradication remained a key national priority and urged all stakeholders to further intensify their collective efforts.

He was talking to a delegation of Polio Oversight Board, which called on him at the PM House.

The delegation included Mike McGovern, Chair of Rotary’s Polio Oversight Board; Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Gates Foundation; Dr Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director of WHO EMRO; and representatives from UNICEF, Gavi, and other partners supporting Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.

The prime minister welcomed the delegation and thanked all partners for their continued cooperation with the Government of Pakistan in the fight against polio.

He directed that special attention be given to polio hotspots in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and called for the adoption of an effective strategy to address the challenge.

The prime minister expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Rotary International, the Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and all other partners for their valuable contributions to Pakistan’s polio eradication campaign.

He also commended the Federal Minister for National Health Services, the Minister of State for Health, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, the National Polio Coordinator, and all members of the government team for their dedicated efforts in combating polio.

The delegation praised the Government of Pakistan’s effective measures toward achieving a polio-free Pakistan and lauded the Prime Minister for the significant progress made.

The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, and other senior government officials.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to facilitate the provision of loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to boost the country’s exports.

The prime minister, chairing a high-level review meeting to discuss matters related to SMEDA, emphasized the need to enhance the capacity of SMEs and instructed that special facilitation, awareness, and access to easy credit should be provided to farmers for the processing of agricultural commodities and fruits.

He called for encouraging the commercial banks to design specialized financial products tailored specifically for the credit needs of SMEs, directing comprehensive assistance for SMEs during the preparation of feasibility studies and other stages.

Prime Minister Shehbaz directed the relevant authorities to formulate a comprehensive strategy in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and commercial banks to streamline and improve SMEs’ access to credit.

Calling for immediate steps to eliminate hurdles in the growth of SMEs, the prime minister stressed that SMEDA must actively support young entrepreneurs, including women, in establishing their own small and medium businesses.

Earlier, the meeting was briefed on various initiatives taken by SMEDA to facilitate the sector. It was told that 700 SMEs participated in 16 international events this year to enhance their access to global markets and boost exports. Besides, business and financial management training was also provided to SMEs across 35 cities.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister Dr. Musadik Malik, Special Assistant to the PM Haroon Akhtar, and senior officials. The chief secretaries of all four provinces, along with experts, joined the meeting via video link.

Islamabad: The district administration has intensified its campaign against the sale of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) at prices higher than the government-approved rate.

In an early-morning operation, Assistant Commissioner Rural Fahad Cheema sealed 12 LPG shops for overcharging consumers, while authorities announced that action against retailers and wholesalers involved in pricing violations will continue.

According to the district administration, the operation was carried out before dawn as part of ongoing efforts to ensure that LPG is sold at officially notified rates. Inspection teams visited several outlets in rural areas and checked prices being charged to customers. During the inspections, a number of shops were found selling LPG above the government-fixed price.

Following the violations, Assistant Commissioner Rural Fahad Cheema ordered the sealing of 12 LPG shops. Officials said the action was taken to protect consumers from unlawful price increases and to ensure compliance with government regulations.

The administration stated that LPG is an essential household fuel used by a large number of residents, and any increase beyond the approved rate places an additional burden on consumers. Authorities emphasized that all LPG dealers, distributors, and wholesalers are required to follow the prices set by the government.

Officials further said that inspections will continue across the district to monitor LPG sales and identify businesses involved in overpricing. Retailers and wholesalers found violating official rates may face sealing of their premises, fines, and other legal action under the relevant laws.

The district administration warned LPG sellers against charging customers more than the notified price and urged the public to report cases of overcharging. Authorities said public cooperation is important in helping enforcement teams identify violations and take prompt action.

Assistant Commissioner Rural Fahad Cheema reiterated that there will be no tolerance for businesses involved in overpricing essential commodities. He said inspection teams will remain active in the field and continue monitoring LPG markets to ensure that consumers receive the commodity at the government-approved rate.

The district administration added that the campaign against overpricing will continue, with further checks planned for both retail outlets and wholesale suppliers across the area.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, on Tuesday emphasized the need for specialized judicial education to equip judges with the knowledge and skills required to address emerging legal challenges arising from rapid technological advancement, evolving commercial practices, and changing societal needs.

The Minister made these remarks while addressing a delegation of Additional District and Sessions Judges participating here in the Research Society of International Law (RSIL) and Sindh Judicial Academy’s Cross-Provincial Judicial Fellowship Programme during their visit to the Ministry of Law and Justice.

Senator Tarar observed that the justice sector must continuously evolve to keep pace with technological innovation and changing societal needs. He stressed that expertise in technology law, commercial disputes, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) was becoming increasingly essential for the judiciary and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to judicial capacity building and legal reforms.

Highlighting ongoing justice sector initiatives, the Minister informed the participants that nearly 1,400 judges, lawyers, government officials, academics, and professionals have so far benefited from the International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (IMAC)’s capacity-building programmes. He also noted that the Government was undertaking a comprehensive review of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), proposing over one hundred amendments to modernize Pakistan’s criminal justice system and improve the efficiency of criminal proceedings.

Earlier, Ehsan Ullah Khan, Registrar, IMAC, welcomed the delegation and underscored the importance of closer engagement between the judiciary and public institutions. Jamal Aziz, Executive Director, RSIL, and Dr. Arif Rajput, Director, Sindh Judicial Academy, briefed the Minister on the objectives of the Cross-Provincial Judicial Fellowship Programme.

During the visit, Ms. Aisha Rasool, Senior Consultant (Research), Ministry of Law and Justice, and Project Director, IMAC, highlighted the Centre’s mandate, achievements, and ongoing initiatives to strengthen mediation, arbitration, and judicial capacity in Pakistan. She also briefed the delegation on IMAC’s efforts to promote internationally accredited ADR training and support the Government’s broader justice sector reform agenda.

Earlier, Mr. Gulfam Hameed, Additional Director, presented an overview of the Ministry’s mandate and major legal reform initiatives.

The programme concluded with remarks by Raja Naeem Akbar (H.I.), Federal Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, who reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to judicial reform, institutional collaboration, and strengthening the rule of law. He underscored the Ministry’s commitment to supporting judicial capacity-building initiatives and fostering a modern, accessible, and efficient justice delivery system.

The visit concluded with an interactive discussion between the judges and senior Ministry officials on legislative reforms, ADR, judicial modernization, and the future of Pakistan’s justice system.

The visit formed part of the Fellowship’s institutional engagement programme, designed to expose judicial officers to the Ministry’s key legal reforms, institutional innovations, and justice sector initiatives.

Islamabad: The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) here at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR), commemorate Rwanda’s Liberation Day on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said that Rwanda’s Liberation Day commemorated the country’s remarkable journey from the tragedy of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to peace, reconciliation, and development. He noted that Pakistan valued its growing partnership with Rwanda, based on mutual respect and shared aspirations.

He recalled the longstanding historical linkages between the two countries, particularly Pakistan’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping and post-genocide recovery efforts. He paid tribute to former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Shaharyar M. Khan, who served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Rwanda during a critical period in the country’s recovery.

He stressed that this reflected Pakistan’s enduring commitment to peace, stability, and reconciliation in Rwanda. He also observed that the establishment of diplomatic missions in Kigali and Islamabad has opened a new chapter in bilateral relations, creating new opportunities for cooperation in trade, education, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

Experts who spoke on the occasion included Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman, BoG, ISSI; High Commissioner Harerimana Fatou, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Pakistan; High Commissioner Naeem Khan, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Rwanda; and Dr. Amina Khan; Director CAMEA. The Chief Guest on the occasion was Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed; President PAIDAR, said a press release.

Dr. Amina Khan said that Rwanda’s Liberation Day symbolized the country’s remarkable transformation from the tragedy of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to peace, reconciliation, and sustainable development. She noted that CAMEA was committed to promoting Pakistan’s engagement with Africa by strengthening institutional linkages and fostering dialogue with African partners. She highlighted that the establishment of diplomatic missions in Kigali and Islamabad has given new momentum to Pakistan-Rwanda relations and appreciated the efforts of Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan and High Commissioner Harerimana Fatou in further strengthening bilateral cooperation. She expressed confidence that the friendship between Pakistan and Rwanda would continue to deepen in the years ahead.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed praised Rwanda’s remarkable journey of resilience, reconciliation, and socio-economic transformation, describing the country as a model of stability, modernization, and digital progress. He also underscored Pakistan’s longstanding support for African liberation movements and emphasized the growing momentum in Pakistan-Rwanda relations, particularly following recent high-level diplomatic exchanges. He further reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to strengthening bilateral cooperation, enhancing people-to-people ties, and promoting Afro-Asian solidarity in an evolving global landscape.

High Commissioner Harerimana Fatou paid tribute to the soldiers of the Rwanda Patriotic Army who sacrificed their lives during the country’s struggle, saying that their courage and selfless sacrifices laid the foundation for Rwanda’s remarkable transformation into one of Africa’s cleanest, greenest, and most innovative nations. She highlighted Rwanda’s achievements in artificial intelligence, digital innovation, healthcare, and peaceful nuclear energy, as well as its emergence as a leading conference destination. Reaffirming the strong and friendly ties between Pakistan and Rwanda, she emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly in climate change and green energy, and appreciated the contributions of the Pakistani diaspora in Rwanda and the Friends of Rwanda in Pakistan in further strengthening relations between the two countries.

High Commissioner Muhammad Naeem Khan said that Rwanda’s Liberation Day marks a historic milestone and reflects the country’s extraordinary achievements in peace, development, and nation-building. He praised Rwanda’s remarkable progress in digitalization, governance, public service delivery, and transparent development, noting that its success offers valuable lessons for other countries. Highlighting the growing momentum in Pakistan-Rwanda relations, he referred to the exchange of high-level visits, including business delegations, which has contributed to increased bilateral trade. He also encouraged Pakistani businesses and tourists to explore the opportunities available in Rwanda and emphasized the need for both countries to fully capitalize on the expanding avenues of cooperation.