Category: Islamabad

Islamabad:The prudent policies, administrative measures and relief measures implemented by the government helped in effectively curb inflationary pressures amid significant drop in the inflation rate and price of essential items.

Inflation during the first six months of FY2024-25 (July-December) declined to 7.2% compared to 28.8% in the same period last year, said the Ministry of Finance in a press statement issued here.

In December 2024, inflation was recorded at 4.1%, the lowest in 80 months (since April 2018, when it stood at 3.96%).

The sharp decline in inflation is attributed to exchange rate stability, prudent fiscal management, and improved supply arrangements for essential commodities. Strict action against illegal foreign exchange companies, smuggling, and hoarding has helped stabilize the exchange rate, boost market confidence, and ensure a steady supply of goods, it added.

The Sensitive Price Index (SPI), which tracks the weekly price movement of 51 essential items, has shown a continuous decline over the last four weeks of January 2025. In the week ending on 23rd January 2025, the SPI decreased by 0.77%. During this period, prices of 12 items decreased, 14 increased, and 25 remained stable, indicating overall stability or a downward trend in the prices of essential goods.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had observed an abnormal increase in the prices of pulses and chicken in early November and took corrective measures. As a result, the price of gram pulse declined by Rs 52.5 per kg (from Rs 411.3 to Rs 358.8), and mash pulse decreased by Rs 37.4 per kg (from Rs 528.3 to Rs 490.9).

Similarly, chicken prices dropped by Rs 20.1 per kg (from Rs 460.6 to Rs 440.5), and the price of a 20kg wheat flour bag fell significantly from Rs 2816.5 to Rs 1794.3, a reduction of Rs 1022.2.

Over the past four weeks, significant price reductions have been observed in tomatoes, potatoes, pulses, eggs, and LPG.

Islamabad:The District and Sessions Court in Islamabad on Thursday adjourned the case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Rauf Hassan without a hearing, as the challan was not submitted.

Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah was scheduled to hearing the case.

Hassan faces charges for allegedly propagating against state institutions. The trial will commence once the challan is submitted.

However, the court adjourned the case till February 26, as further legal proceedings depend on the challan's submission.

Islamabad:Prime Minister's Youth Programme (PMYP) in an exciting initiative to spotlight the achievements and stories of young Pakistanis, launched a new quarterly magazine, Spark, during the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance (CAYA) Summit 2025 on Tuesday.

Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, patron of the magazine and chairman of the PMYP, expressed his pride in the endeavor.

'This magazine will serve as a platform to showcase the incredible talents and accomplishments of Pakistan's youth,' he stated.

The magazine, edited by Ishrat Saleem and produced by university students, is a collaborative effort that promises to amplify the voices of young change makers.

Its cover features Naila Kiani, the first Pakistani woman to summit 11 peaks over 8,000 meters, including Mount Everest and K2.

Naila, a symbol of resilience and determination, serves as an inspiration for young girls across the country, encouraging them to chase their dreams while promoting mountain tourism.

Spark aims to highlight the journeys of young individuals excelling in diverse fields such as technology, innovation, arts, and social entrepreneurship.

It will serve as a platform to inspire and motivate others by showcasing the potential and creativity of Pakistan's youth.

The launch of Spark represents a significant step in celebrating the contributions of young Pakistanis and emphasising their role in shaping a brighter future for the nation.

Islamabad:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday instructed the Ministry of National Health Services to modernize the healthcare institutions under the federal government's purview and make Islamabad a model for healthcare facilities for the entire country.

The prime minister, chairing a meeting to review the matters about the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, said that the government was prioritizing to ensure access to healthcare facilities across the country, a PM Office press release said.

He asked the health ministry to expedite the work on Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Center and start the pre-qualification process for timely procuring the facility's medical and surgical machinery and equipment.

He said that the pre-qualification process should be completed under the supervision of an expert consultant, besides conducting a third-party audit of the construction work and the procurement of machinery and equipment.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also directed to initiation the process of approving the charter for the university associated with Jinnah Medical Complex.

During the briefing on the healthcare facilities in Islamabad, it was told that Jinnah Medical Complex had been established as a company under Section 42 of the Companies Act. The relevant steering committee has approved the master plan for Jinnah Medical Complex.

It was briefed that the recruitment process for the Project Management Unit and Project Implementation Unit of Jinnah Medical Complex has been initiated.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Prime Minister's Coordinator for National Health Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed, and other relevant senior government officials.

Islamabad:An International Conference titled "Reviving Transpersonal Psychology through the Decolonial Lens of Islamic Psychology" (IPCON 2025) is set to held on Wednesday (tomorrow).

The conference will bring together some of the world's leading experts from countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, the USA, Russia, Sweden, and Canada, who will look at into the integration of Islamic principles with contemporary psychological practices.

It is being hosted by Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University's Department of Clinical Psychology in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the International Students of Islamic Psychology (ISIP), IPCON 2025 is more than just an academic gathering.

It's a call to action for practitioners, scholars, and students to envisage psychological well-being through a culturally relevant and spiritually enriched lens.

The conference is led by an impressive team of visionaries dedicated to advancing the field of psychology.

At the helm is the patron in Chief, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Vice Chancellor of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University. His leadership exemplifies a commitment to interdisciplinary excellence.

The Patron, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir Khalily, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, is a distinguished Professor of Neuro-clinical Psychology, widely recognized for his significant contributions to the discipline.

Dr. Neelam Ehsan, Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Psychology, serves as the principal organizer of this landmark event. The Scientific Committee is led by Dr. Tamkeen Saleem, Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology and an esteemed researcher and family therapist, who brings exceptional scholarly vision to the conference.

Dr. Ayat-e-Zainab Ali, an emerging researcher with exceptional academic achievements, serves as the conference secretary, bringing her expertise and dedication to ensuring the event's success. Adding to this powerhouse team is Dr. Uzma Masroor, a renowned Clinical Consultant psychologist in Pakistan, who is supervising the pre-conference workshops.

Together, this exemplary team ensures that IPCON 2025 will serve as a transformative platform for intellectual innovation, collaboration, and the reimagining of psychological well-being.

In addition to the main event, pre-conference workshops of esteemed international speakers like Dr. Bagus Riyono from Indonesia, Seyed Jamaluddin from Sweden, Dr. G. Rasool from Australia and Dr.Qasqas from Canada will be held on January 28, 2025.

These workshops will provide a hands-on opportunity to look deeper into specialized topics, offering participants a chance to learn directly from global experts and refine their understanding of Islamic psychology and its applications.

The conference will feature multiple scientific sessions focusing on various themes within the overarching framework of Islamic Psychology.

National and international participants will present their research contributions, advancing knowledge in the field. Additionally, there will be poster presentations, providing an opportunity for further engagement and the exchange of ideas in Islamic Psychology.

This conference marks a significant milestone in redefining the future of Islamic Psychology.

By bridging diverse perspectives and fostering a deeper understanding of human well-being through the lens of Islamic principles, it paves the way for culturally and spiritually enriched psychological practices that resonate with the needs of our time.

Islamabad:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reiterating his government's strong commitment to youth empowerment, called for fostering partnership, supporting entrepreneurship and prioritizing education and skill development to pave the way to a resilient Commonwealth and a prosperous future.

"By ensuring that youth remain central to governance and decision-making processes, we can lead the way in fostering partnerships, supporting entrepreneurship, and prioritizing education and skills development. This will ensure that our future is in the hands of an empowered young generation," the prime minister said addressing the inaugural session of the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance summit here.

The prime minister welcomed the participating delegates from several nations and said that as a founding member, Pakistan attached great importance to the Commonwealth and its institutions which served as an important platform for consensus-building and fostering partnerships.

"With over 60% of the Commonwealth population under the age of 30, the future rests in the hands of the youth. These hands must be empowered and equipped through vigorous training and access to modern technology. This will enable them to carve out a peaceful, progressive, and prosperous future."

He said Pakistan with a youth bulge of around 70% of the population under the age of 30, fully understood the potential as the challenge could easily be transformed into great opportunities.

Emphasising the undeniable role of youth in development, he told the international gathering that he always prioritized the productive employment of youth as a key focus area and devoted significant efforts to this goal.

He said that the government was committed to empowering youth through transformative initiatives such as the Youth Program empowering millions of boys and girls across Pakistan.

Referring to his term as Punjab chief minister, Shehbaz Sharif mentioned the launch of the Punjab Education Endowment Fund to provide stipends to high achievers for education, the establishment of Daanish Schools which were now being expanded to Islamabad, Azad Kashmir (AJK), and remote areas of Balochistan.

Moreover, around 600,000 laptops were distributed to high achievers which during the COVID time proved to be valuable sources for distance learning as well as earning. A fresh program had been launched for laptop distribution to high achievers from Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and AJK, coming from humble financial backgrounds, he added.

Urging the youth for dedicated efforts and contribution to nation-building, he advised, "Dream boldly, act courageously, work tirelessly, and have faith and spirit of conviction. Remember, it is you-our sons and daughters-who are the pioneers of our future. Through your knowledge and experience, you will unlock untapped potential, ensuring Pakistan's well-being, progress, and prosperity."

Earlier, the prime minister also administered the oath to the members of the newly formed National Youth Council and gave away awards to the high achievers.