Author: Faiza Liaquat

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration is preparing to roll out a new digital payment system that will simplify how residents pay fees and fines through mobile apps. This initiative, developed in collaboration with a private bank, represents a significant advancement in streamlining public transactions, according to the ICT administration’s spokesperson. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon, led a meeting to discuss the digitization of public payments in the capital. The meeting included officials from the Food Authority, the Excise Department, and representatives from the private sector bank. The new system will allow residents to handle all payments related…

Two thrilling football finals took place in Balochistan, attracting large crowds. The Shaheed Irfan Khan Kasi Stadium in Zhob hosted a competitive match between Khyber Afghan Club Zhob and Afghan Club Zhob. At the same time, Degree College Loralai saw Prince Football Club Loralai clash with Muslim Club Chaman. Both finals showcased intense gameplay, with players displaying impressive skills and determination. Former Provincial Minister Haji Mitha Khan Kakar was the chief guest at the Zhob match, while Muhammad Afzal Khan served as the chief guest at the Loralai event. The stadiums were packed with enthusiastic fans, reflecting the local community’s…

In the face of critical economic challenges and growing employment concerns, innovative solutions are more urgent than ever. The Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) is responding to this need with the launch of “SEE Pakistan,” a groundbreaking platform dedicated to fostering a new era of entrepreneurship. This initiative aims to empower the nation’s youth by creating job creators and strengthening the economy. This year’s event, aligned with the spirit of Independence Day celebrations in August, transcends a mere exhibition—it’s a symbol of hope and a catalyst for economic transformation. Spearheaded by the Chaudhry Muhammad Akram Center for…

Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Mari Petroleum Company Limited have achieved significant milestones in addressing Pakistan’s energy challenges through recent gas discoveries. On June 29, OGDCL, in partnership with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), uncovered gas reserves in Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, at a depth of around 2,000 meters. This discovery is a key development in bolstering the nation’s domestic energy output. Mari Petroleum Company Limited, renowned for its 70% success rate in exploration, has reported two consecutive discoveries in its East Block, alongside a significant gas find in the Chagai district. These advancements are expected…

Pakistan’s military successfully executed a training launch of the Shaheen-II surface-to-surface ballistic missile, as confirmed by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The launch was part of efforts to train troops, validate technical parameters, and assess the performance of the missile’s sub-systems, aiming to improve accuracy and survivability. Senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, along with scientists and engineers, witnessed the event. The Director General of the Strategic Plans Division commended the scientists’ dedication and technical expertise. Congratulations were extended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and military leadership. This follows Pakistan’s recent…

In Pakistan’s challenging economic climate, where businesses often rely on subsidies and government guarantees for stability, Fast Cables stands out as an exception. As Pakistan’s largest power-cable manufacturer, the company attributes its success to a consistent strategy: staying ahead of market demand and avoiding capacity constraints that could hinder growth. Currently, Fast Cables is expanding its production capacity, utilizing Rs3 billion raised from a significant share listing on the Pakistan Stock Exchange in May, marking one of the country’s top 10 largest initial public offerings. The company aims to triple its revenue to Rs100 billion by 2030. While initially focused…

WhatsApp has officially launched the much-anticipated favourite chats and groups feature for iOS users with its latest update, WhatsApp for iOS 24.16.79, now available on the App Store. The new feature allows users to mark specific contacts and groups as favourites, making them easily accessible at the top of the calls tab and as a filter in the chats list. Users can manage their favourites by navigating to the app settings and opening the favourites section, where they can add, manage, and rearrange their preferred contacts and groups. Additionally, the update brings an enhanced calling user interface with more intuitive…

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced 1,000 Google scholarships for students from 10 public universities, emphasizing the importance of IT skills for securing employment in today’s digital economy. During a meeting at CM House, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Tech Valley and the universities, CM Murad highlighted the diverse range of IT skills—such as e-marketing, AI, animation, and web design—that empower youth to be self-sufficient and globally competitive. The meeting also covered the deployment of Google Chromebooks across Sindh’s educational institutions in collaboration with the Education Department and Tech Valley. These Chromebooks, known for…

The government has announced the establishment of over 250 E-Rozgar centers across the country in collaboration with provincial governments and private institutions. These centers aim to provide essential facilities to hardworking and skilled youth in smaller cities, helping them access digital opportunities. According to an official from the Ministry of IT, the centers will be set up in every district, with distribution based on the population of each province and data from 1.2 million freelancers registered with Ignite. Punjab leads the initiative with 149 centers, followed by Sindh with 51, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 28, Islamabad with 11, Balochistan with 6,…

JazzCash, Pakistan’s leading fintech platform, has introduced its latest feature, ‘Tap-Pay for Businesses,’ empowering over 350,000 businesses nationwide to accept payments via their Android smartphones. This innovative feature allows businesses to receive payments effortlessly from any contactless debit or credit card or another smartphone by simply tapping on an NFC-enabled device. This launch follows JazzCash’s recent rollout of the ‘Tap-Pay’ feature for customers, enabling them to make payments directly from their phones. Together, these features are set to establish a comprehensive contactless payment ecosystem in Pakistan. Murtaza Ali, President of JazzCash, emphasized that the goal is to empower both customers…