Category: Islamabad

Posted on

PMDC directed to revoke medical colleges’ licenses on non-compliance

Islamabad: The Sub-Committee of Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services Regulations and Coordination on Wednesday directed the Pakistan Medical and Dentil Council (PMDC) to revoke the licenses of private medical colleges upon non-compliance.

The committee meeting which was chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan discussed the hefty fees charged by the medical colleges and the steps taken by the PMDC in this regard.

The committee has received complaints from students of Sargodha Medical University stating that private medical colleges are charging hefty fees without providing state-of-the-art facilities.

The committee forwarded these complaints to the Health Ministry and recommended that the anonymity of the students be maintained.

Senator Palwasha Khan stated that the PMDC should take action against private medical colleges charging excessive fees.

The committee recommended that the PMDC reimburse students for the extra fees charged before introducing the fee structure for the year 2024-25.

The President of PMDC Dr. Rizwan Taj informed that the recommendations have been sent to Deputy Prime Minister regarding the fee structure for the year 2024-25.

The committee also directed the PMDC to cancel the licenses of private medical colleges within two weeks if they fail to comply with the committee's recommendations.

Regarding the non-implementation of the rebate regulations by private medical colleges in Islamabad, the President of PMDC informed that the private medical colleges have agreed to rebate the amount claimed by the students.

The committee also decided to visit the private medical colleges in Islamabad to observe the facilities provided to students in exchange for the hefty fees.

Posted on

Afzal asks PTI to submit written CoD for making dialogue process constructive


Islamabad: Coordinator to Prime Minister Rana Ihsan Afzal on Wednesday asked the leaders of PTI to submit charter of demand (CoD),



in written form for making dialogue process constructive. PTI was not submitting written demands before the committee



despite repeated requests, he said while talking to a private television channel.



He said that PTI founder’s controversial statements on twitter was also creating hurdles in dialogue process.Verbal assurance and demands from the PTI members are not sufficient for making the dialogue session successful, he said.



In reply to a question, he said that written demands from PTI leaders would help address political issues. To a question about slow internet services in the country, he said that concerned department was working on it. He said, we are also making efforts to control misuse of social media.



Posted on

CDA chairman pushes for stricter oversight of private housing societies

Islamabad: Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Wednesday stressed the need for stringent measures to regulate private housing societies in Islamabad.

The meeting, attended by senior officials from the Planning Wing, including Member Planning and Member Estate, focused on restructuring the Housing Societies Directorate and addressing violations by private developers.

The Chairman was briefed on the ongoing reforms and actions being taken against non-compliance by housing societies.

Officials reported that notices have already been issued to societies violating approved layout plans.

To enhance monitoring, Chairman Randhawa directed that surveys of all private housing societies be expedited.

He emphasized the use of satellite imagery and Google-based tools to oversee development activities and identify irregularities.

He also called for strict enforcement against societies failing to comply with approved layouts and reiterated the importance of transferring amenity plots to the CDA.

Stressing the welfare of residents, Randhawa urged societies to ensure the provision of basic amenities such as water, electricity, and sanitation.

In an effort to protect the public from fraud, the Chairman instructed that the list of illegal housing societies be made publicly available on the CDA website.

He also proposed launching awareness campaigns in the media to educate potential buyers about the risks associated with unapproved projects.

Posted on

Governor KP emphasizes role of social welfare organizations in serving humanity

Islamabad: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, on Wednesday said that those who serve humanity are highly valued, emphasizing the need for active social welfare organizations in the province to contribute to the betterment of society.

The Governor said this during a meeting with Asif Chishti, Head of Operations at Muslim Aid Pakistan, who briefed him about the organization's relief work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including flood-affected areas in Chitral and Upper and

Lower Dir.

Governor Kundi acknowledged the importance of social organizations in helping the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said that the residents of the southern districts of the province such as Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Karak, and Waziristan are also awaiting assistance from these organizations.

He commended the Red Crescent Society of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for its active role in emergency situations through out the province.

He called for collaboration between Muslim Aid and the Red Crescent to further enhance welfare activities in the province.

During the meeting, it was also decided that, ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, food items and tents would be provided to the people affected by the floods in Kurram.

Chairman of the Red Crescent Society Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Habib Malik Orakzai, was also present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Director of the Chinese construction company, Overseas Representative Office Union, Li Ping, met with the Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.

During the meeting, Li Ping briefed the Governor about the ongoing construction work on the N-5 in Sindh.

Governor Kundi praised the company's work and suggested that the company consider participating in the Chashma Lift Canal project.

He highlighted that the Chashma Lift Canal is not only a key development project for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but for the entire country.

He emphasized that the involvement of globally recognized companies in the project is crucial for its sustainability and long-term success.

Similarly, Renowned political and social figure from Oxford, Pakistan-born, Mumtaz Fareed Nartopa, also called on Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.

During the meeting, they discussed various topics, including the security situation in the province, women empowerment, youth engagement, peace-building efforts, and initiatives to promote the province's soft image.

Governor Kundi emphasized that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is home to many talented youth, and it is essential to encourage and support them.

He further said that enhancing the province's soft image would contribute positively to Pakistan's overall international reputation.

Mumtaz Fareed Nartopa praised the Governor's efforts, particularly in promoting interfaith harmony and inter-sectarian unity at the Governor's House.

Posted on

‘Child Abuse Cases’ to get justice within 6 months in separate courts: Nosheen Iftikhar


Islamabad: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of National Assembly (MNA) Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar thanked all political parties on Wednesday for backing the ‘Separate Child Courts Bill’, which will ensure swift justice in child abuse cases within six months in a child-friendly environment.



In an interview with a private news channel, MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar has introduced separate child courts aimed at providing faster resolution for child abuse cases, ensuring justice is served within six months in a specialized and supportive court environment.



Syeda Iftikhar expressed her gratitude to all political parties for their support of the bill, emphasizing that it is a collective effort prioritizing child safety and justice, rather than a political maneuver.



A new bill aims to expedite justice for child abuse victims by establishing separate child courts, she said, adding, one key provision is that decisions in rape cases involving children must be made within six months, significantly speeding up the justice process.



According to Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, who presented the bill, this change will help ensure timely justice for victims and reduce the emotional toll of prolonged legal proceedings.



This move is especially crucial given the alarming rise in child abuse cases in Pakistan, with over 5,398 cases reported in the last five years alone, she highlighted.



She emphasized the importance of rural parents taking their children’ s experiences seriously and reporting cases of trauma, as this is crucial for their recovery.



By doing so, parents can help their children overcome the trauma and heal faster. It is essential for parents to be supportive and create a safe environment where their children feel comfortable opening up about their experiences.



Nosheen Iftikhar emphasized the crucial role media can play in raising awareness about the importance of distinguishing between “bad touch” and “good touch”.



She urged media outlets to disseminate detailed information and educational content to help children, parents and caregivers understand the differences and recognize the warning signs of abuse.



By doing so, media can contribute significantly to preventing child abuse and promoting a safer environment for children, she added.



Posted on

Pak Embassy Brussels, Commerce Ministry organize TRACES training session

Islamabad: Pakistan Embassy in Brussels, in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, has organized a training session on digital portal Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) of the European Union.

Relevant officials from the government regulators and support organizations including Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Animal Quarantine Department (AQD), Marine Fisheries Department and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan participated in the training, a press release said.

EU experts from the Directorate General of Health and Food Safety (SANTE) of the European Commission sensitized the participants on portal functionalities, emphasizing its role in facilitating transparent and paperless compliance with international food safety standards.

Omar Hameed, Economic Minister at the Pakistan Embassy in Brussels, thanked the officials of DG SANTE and emphasized on the importance of collaboration between Pakistan authorities and European Commission on TRACES to further facilitate the traders and to ensure compliance with EU regulations.

TRACES is an official online platform for animal and plant health certification required for importation of animals, animal products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants into the European Union.

It is an indispensable tool used by about 90 countries with more than 113,000 users worldwide for the issuance of sanitary and phyto sanitary certificates and official documents required for import.

The main objective of the TRACES system is to streamline the certification process and related entry procedure and to

offer a fully digitized and paperless workflow.