Author: Faiza Liaquat
Former Balochistan finance minister Mir Khalid Lango on Friday honoured emerging taekwondo athlete Syed Abu Huraira Shah with a cash award of Rs. 100,000, acknowledging his achievements at the national and international level. The award was presented during a meeting at Mir Khalid Lango’s residence in Khalidabad, where he congratulated the young athlete for representing Pakistan on international platforms and earning recognition through his dedication and performance. Mir Khalid Lango lauded Syed Abu Huraira Shah for bringing pride to the country and encouraged him to continue striving for excellence in the sport. He emphasized the importance of supporting young talent…
Pakistan has officially launched its first Pakistan Skills Impact Bond, backed by a Rs. 1 billion government guarantee, marking a significant shift in how the country finances skills development and youth employment. The three-year pilot programme is designed to fund a scalable technical skills initiative with clearly defined outcomes, including internationally recognized certification, job placement, and a minimum of six months of sustained employment for trained participants. The model replaces traditional input-based public spending with a results-driven framework supported by private investment. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb described the initiative as…
The federal cabinet has approved Pakistan’s long-awaited 5G spectrum auction, marking a major step toward the nationwide rollout of next-generation mobile services. Formal policy directives are expected soon, which will provide a clear framework for telecom operators and investors. According to officials, the forthcoming guidelines will define the objectives, scope, and rules of the auction, while the government will set the base price for each spectrum band. Sources familiar with the matter told Techjuice that the decision to keep base prices relatively low aligns with recommendations from the government’s consultant, aimed at accelerating 5G adoption across Pakistan. The policy will…
The Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar, has inaugurated a road construction project in Bahawalpur with an approved cost of Rs. 741.32 million. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar said the project is part of the “Restore Roads, Prosper Punjab” programme, launched in line with the development vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He stated that the initiative is focused on strengthening road infrastructure in both urban and rural areas of the province to improve mobility and economic activity. The deputy speaker said the road is being constructed under the SAP-VII programme,…
Pakistan’s Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem has been honoured with the prestigious Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award in the Global Breakthrough Athlete category at the World Sports Summit in Dubai. The award recognises Nadeem’s historic performance at the Paris Olympics, where he delivered a monumental 92.97-metre throw to clinch the gold medal. The achievement not only set a new Olympic and world record but also ended a 16-year reign of the previous record held by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen. This landmark victory marked Pakistan’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the javelin throw, placing the country firmly on the…
The Punjab government has announced special arrangements for Basant celebrations in Lahore, including three days of free public transport across the city to facilitate residents during the festivities. The decision was taken during an important meeting held in Lahore, where officials reviewed safety measures and administrative preparations related to the event. Under the plan, buses and rickshaws will operate free of cost throughout Lahore on February 6, 7, and 8. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari confirmed that the free transport initiative aims to ensure smooth mobility for citizens and encourage safe participation in Basant celebrations across the city. She further…
A new one-window public service facility, Assan Khidmat Markaz, is nearing completion in Islamabad and is expected to be inaugurated soon, aiming to streamline access to essential government services for residents of the capital. The facility has been established in the former Public Welfare Department (PWD) building located in the Mauve Area of Sector G-9. Under the initiative, the centre will provide hundreds of public services under one roof, including the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) one-window operations, services of the Islamabad administration, and likely passport-related services. The PWD building has undergone complete renovation, including a redesigned exterior tailored to support…
PESHAWAR — Around 300,000 residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have availed free medical treatment outside the province under the Sehat Card Plus health insurance program, according to official records. Since its launch in 2016, over five million beneficiaries have received treatment worth approximately Rs. 150 billion through the scheme. The program allows cashless treatment and diagnostic services at more than 700 empaneled hospitals across Pakistan using Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-issued national identity cards. Official data shows that 294,287 patients sought treatment outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A majority traveled to Punjab, followed by Islamabad, Karachi, and Balochistan, while smaller numbers received medical care in Gilgit-Baltistan…
ISLAMABAD, December 24, 2025 — Pakistan and China reaffirmed their strategic partnership and announced a united media front against disinformation during the 9th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Media Forum held in Islamabad on Tuesday. The forum marked a decade of media collaboration between the two countries and set the tone for celebrations ahead of their 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. Hosted by the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI), the forum brought together senior government officials, diplomats, and leading journalists from both sides. Participants resolved to establish a joint Rapid Response Network aimed at countering fake news and misleading narratives, particularly…
In a historic move, the Arif Habib consortium has emerged as the highest bidder to acquire a 75% stake in Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Ltd (PIAC), placing a final offer of Rs. 135 billion. The auction, Pakistan’s first significant privatization in nearly twenty years, opened on Tuesday with pre-qualified participants including Lucky Cement, Airblue, and Arif Habib. Airblue exited the bidding early after offering Rs. 26.5 billion, which fell below the reference price. Lucky Cement initially bid Rs. 101.5 billion, while Arif Habib led with Rs. 115 billion. After a brief 30-minute pause requested by Lucky Cement, the auction resumed…