Author: Faiza Liaquat

The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has introduced the Pink Bus Service in Islamabad, specifically designed to facilitate female students and teachers. The program will deploy 20 pink buses, providing free transportation services across designated routes within the capital. The routes for the Pink Bus Service include: These buses, characterized by their distinctive pink design, will operate in both rural and urban areas of Islamabad. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education and the district administration to address the transportation challenges faced by female students and teachers. The service aims to enhance access to…

Zindigi, powered by JS Bank, has introduced Zindigi Pay, Pakistan’s most accessible contactless payment solution. Unlike other payment systems in the country, Zindigi Pay is designed to be inclusive, allowing all digital wallets, not just Zindigi’s, to participate. This makes it the preferred payment solution for both individuals and businesses. With Zindigi Pay, customers can make payments not only at retail outlets but also transfer money to others using the same touchless method. The service leverages the State Bank’s Raast QR system, eliminating the need for additional hardware like special cases or NFC-enabled devices. Essentially, your phone becomes a POS…

Google hosted Think Apps 2024 in Lahore, bringing together nearly 350 of Pakistan’s top developers along with global and regional industry leaders. Building on the success of last year’s event, this year’s gathering, the largest of its kind, focused on empowering developers to leverage AI for innovation, growth, and sustainability in Pakistan’s burgeoning app industry. According to Access Partnership’s Economic Impact Report, Pakistan could see a $6.6 billion annual revenue increase by 2030 through digital exports, with the gaming and app industry highlighted as a key growth sector. Pakistan’s gaming and app industry has shown remarkable growth, with a 32%…

The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training is spearheading innovation in governance by leveraging public-private partnerships to realize its vision of providing quality education for all. In a transparent and competitive process, Teach For Pakistan, a national nonprofit, was selected as a key partner to introduce global best practices in teacher recruitment, training, monitoring, and evaluation. This collaboration is set to revolutionize public education by deploying 120 highly qualified fellows from top universities to 23 rural schools. The ministry emphasized that this partnership proves exceptional results can be achieved within the current public education framework when priorities are aligned…

Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has announced the discovery of gas condensate reserves at the Baloch-2 well, located in Sindh’s Sanghar district. The discovery was made by the Sinjhoro block joint venture, comprising OGDCL as the operator with a 76% working interest, along with Orient Petroleum (19%) and Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL) (5%). The Baloch-2 well, spudded on February 24, 2024, reached a depth of 3,920 meters in the Sembar Formation, yielding 6.8 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and 388 barrels of condensate per day. This discovery highlights the untapped potential of the Sembar…

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has vowed to provide affordable electricity to vulnerable segments of society. Acknowledging the widespread struggle with high power bills, CM Murad announced plans to reduce electricity costs and distribute 200,000 solar panels across Sindh. Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari responded to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s recent remarks, emphasizing that Punjab has two key projects underway. She assured that relief from electricity bills will precede the solar program’s implementation, calling for informed discourse among leaders.

The federal capital is on the path to being transformed into a “Model Digital City,” bringing residents a host of technological advancements aimed at improving daily life. As part of this initiative, 150 app-based services will be introduced to enhance convenience and accessibility for residents. Key features of this digital transformation include the implementation of e-parking systems, which will streamline parking management and reduce congestion in the city. Additionally, the city will see an increase in AI-integrated smart cameras, designed to monitor street crime, enhance security, and improve traffic management. The success and experience gained from this project in the…

In accordance with special directives from the President of Pakistan, the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, Pakistan Television Corporation, and the Punjab Auqaf Department are collaborating to organize the annual provincial Naat competition. According to a handout, the event will be held on August 31st at 9 a.m. at the Gol Chowk mosque in Sargodha. The competition is open to students aged 15 to 25 from schools and colleges. Participants are required to bring a certificate from their educational institution, a birth certificate, and two recent passport-sized photographs for registration.

Arshad Nadeem was awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz, the second-highest civil award in Pakistan, by President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday, in recognition of his exceptional performance at the Paris Olympics 2024. During a special ceremony, the President celebrated Arshad’s historic achievement, where he became Pakistan’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medalist by setting a new record in the javelin throw with a distance of 92.97 meters, surpassing the previous record held by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. On August 10, President Zardari approved the civil award for the javelin champion under Article 259 (2) of the Constitution, which allows the…

The 25th Asia ITCN Expo, Pakistan’s premier IT and telecom event, has entered its second day at the Expo Center in Karachi, running until August 29. The event is a major showcase of cutting-edge technology and is drawing significant global investment interest in Pakistan’s burgeoning tech sector. Organizers anticipate that the expo will generate over $500 million in investments and business deals, providing a substantial boost to the national economy. The event has attracted participation from 750 companies, including international tech leaders such as Google, TikTok, Microsoft, and Huawei, alongside prominent local brands like PTCL and EasyPaisa. This year’s expo…