Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: In line with the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and the Government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare and uplift of the working class, the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, has issued special directives to the Secretary of the Workers Welfare Fund, Zulfiqar Ahmad, to ensure the implementation of a landmark initiative aimed at providing educational facilities to an additional 100,000 children of registered workers across the country, from Grade 1 to 12.

This initiative is not merely an expansion of educational opportunities; it is a reflection of the State’s trust, respect, and commitment to securing a brighter future for the working class and their families, said a press release issued here.

Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain stated that this historic decision is a practical manifestation of the Government’s commitment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to providing equal opportunities for prosperity, and social advancement to every working family in Pakistan.

“Pakistan’s progress is not solely dependent on industries; it is equally linked to the education of the children of those workers whose hard work and dedication keep these industries running. Today, we are not merely providing educational facilities to another 100,000 children; we are giving hope, dignity, and a better future to 100,000 families, he mentioned.

The Federal Minister emphasized that the Government firmly believes that education is a fundamental right of every child and not a privilege reserved for any particular segment of society. The children of workers deserve the same opportunities and access to quality education as those available to all other members of society.

He further stated that this initiative will significantly expand educational access across the country, ensuring that no deserving child is deprived of education due to financial constraints.

Chaudhry Salik Hussain reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to transforming the Workers Welfare Fund into a modern, efficient, transparent, and people-centric institution, where every policy and every initiative revolves around the welfare of workers and their families.

Concluding his message he stated: “The hands that built Pakistan will now see their children write Pakistan’s future.”

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Sunday clarified that the proposed Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) bill , 2026 would not allow anyone to occupy private land.

Addressing a press conference alongside Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, she said the proposed telecom amendment bill sought to amend the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996, which she said no longer adequately addressed the requirements of modern digital technologies.

She said the bill was tabled in the National Assembly in January this year and underwent detailed deliberations in the relevant standing committee, where members thoroughly reviewed its provisions.

Following extensive consultations and the development of broad consensus, including amendments proposed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the bill was passed by the National Assembly in June.

Shaza Fatima said the legislation was subsequently introduced in the Senate and referred to the relevant standing committee as part of the normal legislative process.

During the committee proceedings, the government explained the intent of the proposed amendments and responded to concerns raised by committee members.

She added that the meeting was later deferred to allow for further discussion and additional input from lawmakers.

The minister said that after public concerns and media discussions emerged regarding the bill, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the matter and constituted a committee, headed by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, to examine the proposed legislation.

Highlighting the rationale behind the proposed amendments, Shaza Fatima said the existing telecommunications law governs Pakistan’s digital connectivity, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), and the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.

She said the law was enacted when 2G technology was in use and was no longer sufficient to meet the demands of modern technologies such as 5G and next-generation digital connectivity.

The minister said Pakistan had witnessed a nearly 25 percent increase in data consumption over the past two years, driven by population growth and the rapid adoption of digital technologies.

She added that spectrum availability had increased from 274 MHz to approximately 750 MHz through the country’s largest-ever spectrum auction, while the rollout of next-generation telecommunications infrastructure was also underway.

She said the proposed amendments were intended to equip Pakistan’s telecommunications sector to meet future technological requirements and support the country’s expanding digital economy.

Shaza Fatima said the proposed telecom amendment bill was aimed at facilitating investment in Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, expanding high-speed internet access, and removing regulatory barriers without compromising citizens’ fundamental rights.

The minister said the nationwide rollout of modern telecommunications services required extensive infrastructure, including fibre-optic networks, telecom towers, and both underground and overground installations.

She said that, out of Pakistan’s population of around 240 million, only three million households had fibre-based internet connections when the present government assumed office.

Over the past two years, she said, the number of fibre connections had increased to more than five million through various policy and technical interventions.

Shaza Fatima said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had set a target of extending wired broadband internet to at least 10 million households over the next three years.

However, she said the country’s existing regulatory framework had not been conducive to attracting the investment needed to achieve that objective.

The minister said the proposed amendments were intended to improve the overall regulatory environment and address long-standing challenges related to the right of way for telecom infrastructure.

She added that all provincial governments had played a constructive role in implementing structural reforms, while the federal government had also introduced measures to encourage greater investment in the sector.

She said ensuring internet access for every household and every child in Pakistan remained one of her ministry’s primary responsibilities and pledged that the government would continue its efforts to improve nationwide digital connectivity.

Referring to allegations made against her and the IT secretary regarding their financial integrity, the minister said she had requested Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to order a formal inquiry into the matter.

The minister said she would fully accept responsibility if any wrongdoing was established through the investigation and would abide by whatever decision the prime minister made.

However, she added that if the allegations were found to be baseless, both she and the IT secretary reserved the legal right to pursue legal action under the Constitution and relevant laws after consulting legal experts.

Speaking on the occasion, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the allegations of financial benefit against the IT minister and the IT secretary, made under the pretext of the bill, were unfounded.

He added that expanding internet access across the country was the responsibility of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication in line with the prime minister’s vision.

Tarar said the parliamentary committee had found no evidence that the legislation was intended to favour any individual and noted that the National Assembly had passed the bill with six amendments.

The law minister said the legislation primarily addressed issues involving housing societies that entered into agreements but later created obstacles to the development of telecom infrastructure.

He clarified that the consent of property owners would remain mandatory before laying fibre-optic cables through private land.

He emphasized that any citizen who did not wish to allow telecom infrastructure on their private property had the legal right to refuse, reiterating that the proposed law would not result in the forced use or occupation of anyone’s private property.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider on his 27th martyrdom anniversary.

In a statement, he said the extraordinary sacrifice of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed will live forever.

“The martyrs of Pakistan are our national asset; their sacrifices will always be remembered with appreciation and respect,” he said adding, “The nation is indebted to the sacrifices of its martyrs; it is these sacrifices that have made Pakistan’s defence impregnable.”

Islamabad: Indian police arrested three Kashmiri youths in Bandipora district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir amid continuing allegations by political analysts and rights observers that repeated detentions and crackdowns are designed to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation to silence dissent.

Political analysts and human rights observers have urged the international community and global human rights organizations to take notice of the continuing arrests and alleged rights violations in IIOJK.

They have called for independent monitoring of the situation and appealed for measures to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people.

the youth, identified as Sayar Ahmad Malla, Meraj-ud-Din Hajam and Aamir Tariq Ganaie, were arrested at a checkpoint in the Hajin area of the district.

To justify the arrests, police accused the three youth of involvement in drug trafficking and registered a case against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Hajin police station.

It is pertinent to mention that, according to political analysts and rights observers, Indian forces have continued to arrest and detain Kashmiri youth across IIOJK under various security-related allegations. They contend that such actions are intended to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, suppress dissent, and discourage Kashmiris from pursuing what they describe as their UN-recognized right to self-determination.

The continuing arrests have drawn concern from rights observers, who have urged the international community and global human rights organizations to closely monitor the situation in IIOJK and press for the protection of fundamental rights and civil liberties.

More than 3,000 Kashmiris including Hurriyat leaders, political activists, youth, scholars and human rights defenders are currently detained in prisons across India and IIOJK.

Islamabad: A woman posing as a magistrate was arrested in Tarnol, while the Islamabad district administration intensified action against individuals accused of deceiving citizens in the name of government authorities.

The arrest followed a tip-off from a local trader and was carried out by a special surveillance team working under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner.

According to officials, the district administration received information from a trader who reported suspicious activity by individuals claiming to represent government authorities. Acting on the complaint, the Deputy Commissioner’s surveillance team launched an immediate operation within the jurisdiction of Tarnol Police Station.

During the action, a woman allegedly impersonating a magistrate was taken into custody.

Authorities said she was presenting herself as a government official and was suspected of misleading citizens under the cover of official duties.

Following her arrest, a criminal case was registered and further investigations were initiated to determine whether other individuals were involved in the alleged fraud.

Officials stated that surveillance operations are being conducted daily across Islamabad to identify and stop people who misuse the names of government departments and public offices for personal gain.

The district administration said monitoring efforts have been expanded in different parts of the city to prevent similar incidents.

The Deputy Commissioner urged citizens and members of the business community to remain vigilant and report any person claiming official authority without proper identification or documentation. He said public cooperation plays a key role in helping authorities take timely action against such activities.

The district administration also appealed to residents to immediately inform the official helpline about any suspicious activity or individuals claiming to represent government departments.

Officials said prompt reporting can help prevent fraud and support law enforcement efforts.

Authorities reiterated that action against those involved in impersonation, fraud, or misuse of government authority will continue, and legal proceedings will be pursued in accordance with the law.

Islamabad: Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gillani on Sunday termed July 5, 1977, a “Dark Day” (Yaum-e-Siyah) in the nation’s history, saying it was the day when the constitutional and democratic government of the country’s first elected prime minister, Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was unlawfully overthrown.

In his message on the occasion, the Senate chairman said the unconstitutional act of July 5 was not merely the end of a government but a severe blow to Pakistan’s Constitution, federation, and democratic institutions.

He said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave the nation the consensus Constitution of 1973, which serves as the ultimate guarantee of the country’s survival and security, adding that its suspension pushed the nation into the darkness of dictatorship.

Yousaf Raza Gillani paid tribute to the sacrifices made by Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for democracy and the rights of the people.

He said the leadership and workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had historically endured floggings, imprisonment, and even laid down their lives for the restoration and survival of democracy.

The Senate chairman added, “On this day, we must reiterate our resolve that the supremacy of Parliament, the sovereignty of the Constitution, and the sanctity of the people’s vote will never be compromised. Those who launched a midnight assault on democracy have faded into the oblivion of history, while the name and philosophy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto live on in the hearts of millions.”

He concluded by saying that the only path to national stability and progress lay in a strong Parliament and uninterrupted democratic continuity, adding that the Senate of Pakistan would continue to play its pivotal role in strengthening the federation and upholding constitutional supremacy.