Author: Faiza Liaquat

Karachi — The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will organize open courts in Karachi on Friday, August 29, 2025, to address public complaints and provide immediate assistance on documentation issues. The initiative follows directives from Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to improve accessibility and transparency in government services. According to NADRA, two sessions have been scheduled at major Mega Centres in the city. The first will take place at the North Nazimabad Mega Centre (Plot D 1-15, Block L, District Central) from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The second session is set for the SITE Industrial Area Mega Centre…

Karachi — foodpanda, Pakistan’s leading food and grocery delivery platform, has entered into a strategic partnership with Brainchild Communications Pakistan, one of the country’s premier media planning and communications agencies, to drive innovation in the retail media sector. The collaboration aims to create data-driven, personalized advertising solutions, enabling brands to reach consumers with greater precision and impact. By integrating foodpanda’s platform scale, consumer data, and full-funnel retail media capabilities with Brainchild’s strategic planning and execution expertise, the partnership promises to unlock fresh opportunities for CPG and non-CPG brands, telcos, and other industries. Muntaqa Peracha, CEO of foodpanda, described the partnership…

The Punjab workers flats scheme has officially begun accepting applications, with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directing special quotas for widows and disabled workers. Under the scheme, 3% of flats have been allocated to widows of deceased workers, while 2% are reserved for disabled employees. In Phase I, applications are invited from industrial workers of Lahore and Kasur districts. The distribution will follow a fair-share policy, with two-thirds of the flats earmarked for Kasur workers and one-third for Lahore workers. At the Workers Welfare Complex, Sundar Industrial Estate, Kasur, 750 apartments will be handed over free of cost to eligible applicants.…

Islamabad, Pakistan – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially launched 10 million digital wallets for beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), a landmark initiative aimed at ensuring financial inclusion, transparency, and progress toward a cashless economy in Pakistan. The premier inaugurated the initiative with a symbolic palm-touch ceremony in Islamabad, joined by federal ministers, BISP leadership, and international development partners including GIZ. He praised BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid and partner institutions, calling the digital wallet project a “historic milestone in Pakistan’s social protection system.” Shehbaz emphasized that the BISP digital wallet system would empower beneficiaries—primarily women—by providing…

Pakistan has entered the global defense-tech arena with the launch of Elite AI, a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence platform built exclusively for national defense and security applications. Developed by Islamabad-based Visor Dynamics, Elite AI is being hailed as a landmark breakthrough — both for its capabilities and for the fact that it was designed entirely by a Pakistani team. A member of the Visor Dynamics team highlighted the achievement, saying: “This is about showing the world what Pakistan can achieve. Elite AI isn’t just a product; it’s proof that our country has the talent and vision to build world-class innovation.” Unlike…

Pakistan and Bangladesh have taken a significant step toward enhancing bilateral relations by signing a visa-free travel agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, alongside a series of new accords in multiple sectors. The agreements were formalized during the visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Bangladesh, where he was joined by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the pacts will help “institutionalize and further strengthen bilateral collaboration” across fields including trade, culture, education, media, diplomatic training, and academic exchanges. This development follows a similar agreement signed between Pakistan and the United…

Preparations are underway for Pakistan’s first-ever national vaccination drive against cervical cancer, scheduled to run from September 15 to 27, ARY News reported on Sunday. The campaign will administer the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, a proven preventive measure against cervical cancer, in selected areas of Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, and Islamabad. Health department officials confirmed that the initiative will primarily focus on girls aged 9–14 years enrolled in public and private schools. Registration of eligible students has already begun. To increase acceptance, awareness messages will be shared with parents, highlighting the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. Vaccinations will be…

Pakistan has written a new chapter in its sporting journey, lifting the LATAM Cup Division III title in Florida and announcing itself on the international ice hockey stage. The men’s side stormed through the tournament unbeaten, sealing the championship with a dominant 6–1 victory over Peru in the final. Their campaign was a complete turnaround from last year, when they managed only a single win in their debut appearance at the competition. Adding to the celebration, Pakistan’s women’s team made a strong impression in their first-ever tournament, clinching bronze in Division II despite competing with a squad of only 10–12…

Pakistan’s athletics community celebrated another milestone as Yasir Sultan claimed a bronze medal at the Asian Throwing Championship in South Korea, reinforcing the country’s growing strength in javelin throwing. Competing as Pakistan’s sole representative, the 27-year-old showcased nerves of steel. His decisive moment came in the sixth and final attempt, when he launched the javelin 77.43 metres, marking his season-best performance and surpassing China’s Zhu Kai Zhu to secure a podium finish. Earlier throws by Sultan measured 75.79m, 72.57m, and 72.88m, while two attempts were declared foul. His resilience and determination paid off against a tough field, led by Sri…

Tired of missing buses due to unreliable schedules, Islamabad-based developer Abdullah Qaisar turned frustration into innovation by building Safar, a free route-planning app for Metro and feeder buses in the twin cities. “Government is spending millions on an app I built and launched for free,” Qaisar shared in a Reddit post that has since gone viral. What started as a side project has become a civic breakthrough. Launched in March, Safar has already reached 15,000+ users and mapped 25,000+ routes, offering features commuters long wished for: The app’s interface was enhanced with support from cartographer Faizan Khattak, whose independently created…