Category: Islamabad

Islamabad:An accused woman, Sonia Bibi, allegedly escaped from police custody after appearing in the district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday.

Sonia Bibi, who was arrested in a case registered at the Woman Police Station, was presented before Judicial Magistrate Yasir Chaudhry for remand along with her 2-year-old daughter.

According to reports, while in custody, Bibi requested to use the washroom. As she was being escorted by a female police officer, she managed to evade the police and escape. Her 2-year-old daughter remains in police custody.

The police have launched a search operation to apprehend the escaped accused.

Islamabad:The governing body of the National Press Club (NPC) on Thursday congratulated to the newly elected office-bearers of the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ).

RIUJ elected members included President Tariq Ali, General Secretary Asif Bashir Chaudhry, Finance Secretary Nadeem Chaudhry, Vice Presidents Raja Bashir Usmani and Ammar Burlas, Joint Secretaries Gulzar Khan and Mujahid Naqvi, and governing body members Afshan Qureshi, Asma Nawaz, Shobiya Musharraf, Aftab Jehan, Ghufran Ahmed Chishti, Nawabzada Shah Ali, Ali Akhtar, Tauseef Abbasi, Asadullah, and Rana Farhan Aslam, said a press release.

The NPC leadership including President Azhar Jatoi, Secretary Nayyar Ali, Finance Secretary Waqar Abbasi and other governing body members stated that the journalist community showed trust to the newly elected office bearers.

Highlighting RIUJ's historic role, the NPC noted the union's practical and pivotal contributions in resolving issues faced by journalists nationwide and expressed hoped that this tradition would continue.

The NPC reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with RIUJ to promote ethical journalism and safeguard media rights across the country.

Dubai: Pakistan's Ambassador to United Arab Emirates Faisal Niaz Tirmizi Thursday said in a significant boost to Pakistan's healthcare exports, several leading Pakistani companies have signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with international healthcare distributors at a high-profile business forum.

In his remarks on Pakistan's successful participation in Arab Health 2025, he said these agreements mark a major step in expanding the global reach of Pakistan's medical sector and strengthening international trade partnerships. By fostering collaboration in medical technology, diagnostics, surgical instruments, and healthcare solutions, these MoUs are expected to enhance export opportunities and position Pakistan as a key player in the global healthcare industry.

Pakistani exhibitors from the surgical industry alone expect business deals of around $15 million as outcome of this exhibition. This does not include pharmaceutical companies' potential business deals, he added.

Islamabad:The three-day Theatre Training Workshop for students and professionals concluded at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Thursday, equipping participants with valuable insights and practical knowledge about the performing arts.

The participants were registered online, with a total of 35 students enrolling for the workshop.

Renowned theatre expert and PNCA Program Organizer, Muhammad Waqar Azim, moderated the sessions.

During the inaugural ceremony, PNCA Director General, Muhammad Ayoub Jamali welcomed the participants and reaffirmed the council's commitment to promoting theatre and the performing arts.

He emphasized that PNCA will continue organizing such workshops to support and nurture artistic talent in Pakistan.

The first day of the workshop focused on the evolution of theatre worldwide, the history and development of theatre in Pakistan, and the social significance of drama.

The sessions also covered universal acting principles, their application across different media, and essential techniques for actors to enhance expressions and emotions.

On the second day, participants were trained in the role of body language in character development, with practical exercises to improve their performance. They also explored voice modulation, including the use of voice with and without a microphone.

The sessions introduced various theatrical approaches, including realism, symbolism, and abstract drama, to help actors shape their imaginative and creative abilities.

The final day covered the technical dimensions of theatre, including lighting, set design, sound effects, musical effects, and costume selection. Prominent playwright and satirist, Aslam Mughal, along with Director of Bhitai Arts Council, Rafiq

Essani, shared their insights and experiences with the participants.

As a culmination of their training, the participants staged a short play highlighting the issue of illegal migration, performed on the closing day.

At the closing ceremony, PNCA Performing Arts Division Director Samiullah Baloch, senior actor and playwright Aslam Mughal, and Director of Bhitai Arts Council Rafiq Essani distributed certificates among the participants, appreciating their enthusiasm and commitment to theatre.

Islamabad:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday said the government was determined to eradicate polio and appreciated the administration of all provinces for the timely identification of the polio cases and for the recent decrease in their incidence.

He was chairing a review meeting regarding the anti-polio campaign.

The prime minister said since September 2024, the downward trend in the polio cases was evidence of the effectiveness of the anti-polio campaign. The decrease in polio cases in all provinces was made possible due to the untiring efforts of the administration of the provinces, he added.

The prime minister said the complete erasure of polio from the country became possible only with the cooperation between the federal government and provinces.

He was informed about the progress made in the anti-polio campaign.

The anti-polio campaign was continuing in the provinces with great momentum.

The meeting was told that at the start of 2025, clear reduction was seen in the polio cases in the affected districts of Balochistan, Sindh and northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

All aspects of the polio campaign were being continuously monitored with an IT dashboard.

Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq and high level officials of departments concerned attended the meeting.

Islamabad:The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reminds international travelers bringing mobile devices into Pakistan to fulfil their tax obligations as required by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for device registration under the Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS).

To facilitate international visitors, PTA provides a temporary registration option for short-term stays.

However, travelers intending to stay beyond 120 days or seeking continuous mobile network access must formally register their devices and pay the relevant taxes mandated by FBR said a news release.

International Travelers are strongly urged to complete device registration through DIRBS and settle FBR tax obligations promptly to avoid service disruptions.

For comprehensive information on tax rates and the registration process, travelers are directed to the official FBR website

https: //www.fbr.gov.pk/mobile-devices-regularization-dirbs/51149/131261.

It may be further added that PTA emphasizes that these taxes are solely imposed and collected by FBR. Compliance with these tax requirements ensures uninterrupted access to local mobile networks and adherence to national regulations.

PTA remains dedicated to fostering a transparent and efficient telecommunications environment while supporting regulatory compliance.