Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Reinforcing its commitment to making quality education accessible across borders, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has announced admissions for the Fall 2026 Semester for overseas Pakistanis and international students. Through its advanced online education system, students from around the world can enroll in a wide range of academic programs and complete their studies without leaving their home countries.

The University is offering fully online Matriculation, Intermediate, Associate Degree, BS, B.Ed. and Postgraduate Diploma programs. Comprehensive information regarding all academic offerings is available on the University’s official website.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Nasir Mahmood said that AIOU is proud to provide modern, high-quality and accessible education to learners across the globe.

He noted that the University’s online learning system has been specifically designed to meet the educational needs of overseas Pakistanis and international students enabling them to pursue internationally recognized qualifications while residing in their own countries.

He further said that the Directorate of International Collaboration provides continuous guidance and support to students throughout the admission process and their academic journey. Currently students from 40 countries are enrolled at AIOU, while international admissions have increased by 30 percent compared to the previous semester, reflecting the growing global confidence in the University’s online education system.

All academic activities, including admissions, assignments, workshops and examinations, are conducted through the University’s Learning Management System (LMS), ensuring a seamless and fully online learning experience.

For further information and guidance, prospective students may contact the University via email at [email protected] or by phone at +92-51-9250175 and +92-51-9572495.

Islamabad: Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Aun Chaudhry Sunday called on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership to prioritize the country’s interests by exhibiting political maturity and seriousness, actively participating in Parliament before putting forward its demands.

Talking to the media, Aun Chaudhry said the government was ready to listen to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’ s reservations, but stressed that the party must first demonstrate political seriousness and maturity.

He said PTI contested elections only to tender resignations later instead of fulfilling its parliamentary

responsibilities. “They neither ensure meaningful participation in Parliament nor raise public issues on the floor of the House. This is not the way democratic politics works,” he remarked.

Aun Chaudhry said the government had repeatedly offered dialogue to PTI, but meaningful talks could only take place when the party adopted a serious and responsible approach. “The doors for dialogue remain open, but PTI must first prove its commitment to democratic and parliamentary politics,” he added.

Minister, while responding to a question about the Gilgit-Baltistan election results and Kashmir-related political narratives, said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is a respected political leader and that discussions with him had been positive.

He said that during consultations, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had accepted certain reservations and demands related to Gilgit-Baltistan.

He expressed confidence that the PPP would continue to remain an allied party working together in the broader political framework.

Chaudhry added that if any political leader issues statements during an election campaign, it is their democratic right.

He further said that political narratives during election drives are common, including in Kashmir and if any region brings change aligned with its aspirations, there is no objection as long as it reflects the will of the people.

He concluded that national stability remains a priority for the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), calling for political unity to strengthen the country’s direction.

Islamabad: Innovation unfolding as the Islamabad Traffic Police expands mobile facilitation vans across Islamabad delivering state-of-the-art doorstep services through a dynamic weekly schedule widely circulated on social media platforms for citizen awareness.

During a media channel interaction, Islamabad’s woman Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Kainat Azhar Khan said that the updated facilitation van schedule allows residents of Islamabad to access licensing and document services close to home without the need to travel to traffic offices.

Operating Monday to Sunday, the mobile vans follow a continuously revised weekly plan, ensuring fair distribution of services across multiple locations in the capital, she said, adding, the schedule is updated regularly to improve coverage and accessibility.

The system, introduced by the Islamabad Traffic Police, represents a modern approach to public service delivery through mobility and digital integration.

She further explained that ITP is regularly sharing the facilitation van schedule through Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp groups, ensuring citizens of Islamabad stay informed about upcoming visits to different locations across the federal capital. This digital outreach helps residents easily track mobile service points and access traffic-related facilities without visiting offices.

As per the announced plan, the facilitation vans will operate daily from 8: 30 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m., offering a wide range of services including learner driving permits, license renewals, duplicate driving licenses, character certificates and reporting of lost or missing documents, bringing essential services directly to the public through a mobile, efficient system.

While responding to a question, she praised the government’s modernization drive, stating that upgraded digital services have strengthened the operational capacity of the Islamabad Traffic Police in Islamabad.

She added that these improvements are aimed at providing faster, more transparent and convenient public

services.

She further emphasized that strict adherence to traffic rules is essential, as Safe City cameras continuously monitor movement across the capital. This surveillance framework supports enforcement, discourages violations, and promotes safer driving habits.

Islamabad: Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police conducted 41 large-scale combing and search operations across the federal capital during the past seven days, checking more than 3,100 individuals as part of enhanced security measures aimed at maintaining law and order.

An official told reporter on Sunday that the week-long operations were launched on the directions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and carried out under the supervision of zonal SPs in different areas of the city.

The official said lady police personnel also participated in the operations to ensure comprehensive checking.

During the operations, police checked 3,104 individuals and 1,438 households, besides inspecting 246 hotels, 312 shops, 1,588 motorcycles and 616 vehicles.

According to the official, 84 suspicious persons and 139 motorcycles were shifted to the respective police stations for further verification and legal action where required.

The official said special checking points had been established at the entry and exit points of the capital, while all patrolling units and special squads remained active across the city to strengthen security.

Citizens were urged to cooperate with police during checking and immediately report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or the Pucar-15 emergency helpline.

Islamabad: A noticeable digital shift is taking place in the event sector, with online booking of venues and photography services gaining popularity through social media platforms and modern online marketplaces, streamlining event planning, with youth leading this trend by actively using online platforms for quicker and easier arrangements.

Digital transformation is reshaping the event industry and service booking patterns, with media reports highlighting a steady rise in online platforms for venues, photography and related services. This shift reflects growing public preference for faster, more convenient and technology-based solutions in event planning.

According to event planners, the event industry is undergoing a major digital shift, with service booking for venues, photography and related arrangements increasingly moving to online platforms.

They further observe that both men and women are equally engaging in this growing digital market, highlighting wider participation and expanding opportunities across the sector.

Customers commented that while scrolling through social media platforms, they come across a wide range of options where service providers actively display their work, packages and event portfolios. This makes it easier for them to explore different choices in one place without visiting multiple offices or locations.

They also note that this digital browsing experience helps them quickly compare prices, quality and availability, allowing them to select the most convenient and suitable service according to their needs, making event planning more flexible and time-saving.

A female photographer working in the online photography sector said that it has now become much easier to grow and operate in the industry, as digital platforms are providing new opportunities for professionals.

She noted that this rising trend has opened doors for many creatives to showcase their talent and reach a wider audience.

She added that by displaying their work on social media and online marketplaces, photographers can directly connect with customers, allowing them to easily view portfolios and choose services according to their preferences. This digital exposure is helping expand opportunities and strengthen the overall photography market.

A man associated with the catering business and event planning said that in earlier times, the industry relied heavily on traditional methods, where bookings were made through personal contacts, referrals and physical visits to vendors.

He noted that this process was often time-consuming and limited in reach, making it difficult for customers and service providers to connect efficiently.

He added that in the past, there was no digital visibility, so businesses depended mostly on word-of-mouth and local reputation.

The absence of online platforms meant fewer opportunities for growth, and customers had limited options when planning events compared to the wide range available today, he added.

A female commented that while planning her brother’s wedding, she found the process much easier through online platforms.

She said that digital access to multiple vendors, services, and packages helped them organize everything more quickly and efficiently.

Female added that instead of visiting different shops and offices, they were able to compare options online and finalize arrangements with greater convenience, saving both time and effort during the wedding preparations.

Overall, the growing shift toward digital platforms is making event planning more convenient, efficient, and accessible for both service providers and customers. From photographers and catering businesses to families organizing weddings, online systems are streamlining the entire process, offering wider choices, better visibility and significant time savings compared to traditional methods.

Islamabad: Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police on Saturday reshuffled three senior police officers, assigning them key operational and administrative posts with immediate effect under a notification issued by the Office of the Inspector General of Police.

According to the notification, DIG Law and Order, Training and Discipline Muhammad Ateeque Tahir will continue in his current post and will also hold the additional charge of DIG Headquarters until further orders.

Capt (R) Hamzah Humayun, who was awaiting posting, has been appointed SSP Operations, Safe City. He has also been given the additional charge of SSP Law and Order and Training. Following his appointment, CTO Kainat Azhar Khan and Muhammad Ateeque Tahir have been relieved of the additional charges they were holding.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Shoaib Masood has been appointed AIG Establishment, replacing Syed Inayat Ali Shah, who has been relieved of the additional charge.

The notification further said Shoaib Masood would also hold the look-after charge of SP Rural Division until Flight Lieutenant (R) Zeeshan Ali returns from special duty.