Author: Faiza Liaquat
Advisor to the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Eman Shah, announced that the regional government has established a Rs 5 billion endowment fund to bridge the healthcare gap in the region. This fund will cover treatment costs for deserving patients, alleviating their financial burdens and ensuring access to timely medical care. The government plans to increase the fund annually, reflecting its commitment to prioritizing the health and well-being of its citizens. This initiative aligns with the Chief Minister’s vision of a healthier Gilgit-Baltistan. The fund aims to reduce the financial strain of medical expenses on low-income families, providing hope and improved…
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), under the direction of Director General Kinza Murtaza, held an intensive training session for its officials on the E-Filing and Office Automation System (EFOAS). The session, organized by RDA’s IT Wing, is a major step forward in the Authority’s efforts to boost efficiency, transparency, and accessibility. The training focused on equipping officials with the skills needed to effectively use EFOAS, a crucial part of RDA’s digital transformation. This system aims to streamline the filing process, reduce paperwork, and improve workflow management. The RDA plans to continue offering similar training sessions to ensure all departments are…
The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has inaugurated a new IT lab at the F-11 Government Girls College, marking a significant step towards enhancing digital literacy in Islamabad. The lab was set up in just three days, according to the ministry. By mid-September, 70 state-of-the-art IT labs will be established in government schools and colleges across Islamabad, with 50 of these labs located in rural areas. Currently, 33 labs are fully operational, setting the stage for a digital transformation in the city’s education sector.
Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, announced on Friday that the government will establish a state-of-the-art Teachers Training Center within two years to enhance education quality and prepare a workforce aligned with contemporary demands. Speaking at the launch of the District Education Performance Index-2023, he highlighted that this initiative was initially started during the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government’s previous tenure but was halted due to political instability. The center, developed in collaboration with provincial education departments, will be the best in South Asia, focusing on critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. Iqbal emphasized that…
Pakistan Railways is set to procure 230 passenger coaches and 820 high-capacity wagons under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) to improve train speed and ensure timely arrivals. Of the 230 passenger coaches, 46 Completely-Built-Up (CBU) coaches have already been acquired, while the remaining 184 will be manufactured locally. These coaches will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h. Pakistan Railways is also working on rehabilitating and upgrading the railway infrastructure, including the Main Line-I (ML-I) from Karachi to Peshawar and the doubling of the track from Lahore to Peshawar. The track’s length is 1,726 kilometers, and…
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that spectators can enjoy free entry for the remaining fourth and fifth days of the first Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. This decision, aimed at maximizing weekend attendance, encourages families and students to come out in large numbers to support their cricketing heroes in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 series. Spectators need to bring their original CNIC or B-form for entry and can access the action from any of the VIP (Imran Khan and Javed Miandad) or premium (Miran Baksh, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, and…
The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) has announced the 2024 Intermediate Annual Examination results, highlighting exceptional performances by female students across various academic streams. In the pre-medical group, Arooba Asif secured first place with 1065 marks, followed by Tehreem Imran with 1054 marks and Aafia Wajid with 1053 marks. In the engineering group, Huda Ali topped with 1045 marks, while Abdullah Jawad claimed the second position with 1043 marks. For the science group, Hooriya Mubasher achieved first place with 1036 marks, with Isha Siddique and Aman Ajmal from Islamabad securing second and third positions, respectively. In the…
The Punjab government has declared a public holiday in Lahore on Monday, August 26, 2024, in celebration of the 981st Annual Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA). This holiday will be observed in all government offices within Lahore, except for the Punjab Civil Secretariat, its Attached Departments, and Regional Offices. The three-day Urs festival, which honors the revered saint Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hajveri (RA), will take place from August 24 to 26, 2024. The Auqaf Department has allocated Rs 13.5 million for langar and other activities for visitors. The event will be inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister…
Since August 1977, the “Wow!” signal, detected by Ohio State University’s Big Ear radio telescope, has intrigued scientists, sparking theories of potential alien contact. The powerful, long-duration signal, originating from the constellation Sagittarius, led many to speculate it might be a deliberate broadcast by extraterrestrial beings using advanced technology. However, the signal’s exact source remained elusive, and it was never detected again. Now, researchers from the University of Puerto Rico suggest a new explanation. According to their study, the “Wow!” signal was likely the first recorded instance of maser-like emission of the hydrogen line, a unique astrophysical event rather than…
Zong, Pakistan’s leading telecom operator, has launched an extensive network expansion in Gilgit Baltistan (GB), introducing high-speed 4G services across more than 15 cities. This marks the largest-ever network expansion in the region, with seamless coverage now live in key cities like Gilgit, Hunza, and Skardu, and further rollouts planned. This initiative reflects Zong’s commitment to delivering affordable, high-quality 4G connectivity across Pakistan. The expansion is set to boost digitalization, enhance livelihoods, and accelerate data connectivity throughout the broader Gilgit Baltistan region. As part of this effort, 59 new 4G sites are being rolled out, ensuring residents in cities like…
