Author: Faiza Liaquat
Pakistan on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the people of Bangladesh, hoping for a peaceful and swift return to normalcy. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch conveyed the sentiments of the Pakistani government and its people, emphasizing their support for Bangladesh during these challenging times. “The government and people of Pakistan stand in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh, sincerely hoping for a peaceful and swift return to normalcy,” Baloch stated. She also expressed confidence in the resilient spirit and unity of the Bangladeshi people, believing that these qualities would guide them towards a harmonious future.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Iraqi Ambassador Hamid Abbas Lafta have announced several measures to ease travel restrictions and enhance convenience for Pakistani pilgrims traveling to Iraq for Arbaeen. These landmark decisions were made during a high-level meeting on Wednesday, aimed at making the pilgrimage smoother and more accessible for thousands of devotees. Both sides agreed that Pakistani pilgrims traveling to Iraq for Arbaeen would no longer need to surrender their passports upon arrival. Instead, visas will be issued directly by the Iraqi Embassy, eliminating the need for travel agents, and the quota for Pakistani pilgrims will be increased. Special…
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s men’s national selection committee has unveiled a 17-member squad for the ICC World Test Championship matches against Bangladesh. The first Test is set to take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from August 21-25, followed by the second Test in Karachi from August 30 to September 3. The Pakistan Test squad will begin their training camp at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on August 11, under the guidance of red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood. The Bangladesh team will arrive in Islamabad early on August 17 and is expected to start training later that day.…
The Water & Sanitation Agency (WASA) has announced plans to construct three major underground water storage tanks in Faisalabad to manage rainwater more effectively. During a meeting on Monday, Deputy Managing Director Engineering WASA, Saqib Raza, outlined the agency’s comprehensive strategy for the swift removal of rainwater from city areas. The three underground tanks will be built near Dijkot Road, Tata Bazaar Factory Area, and Iqbal Stadium. The construction project is already underway, with paperwork completed and construction expected to finish by May of next year. These tanks are designed to capture and store rainwater, which will later be used…
In the financial year ending June 30, 2024, Pakistan exported over 1.126 million metric tons of vegetables valued at $430.055 million, compared to 1.336 million metric tons worth $300 million in the previous year. This represents a 43.20% increase in vegetable exports compared to the same period last year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Fruit exports also saw significant growth, with over 935,631 metric tons of fresh fruits worth $343.532 million exported during the last financial year. This is up from 627,133 metric tons valued at $283.188 million in the previous year, reflecting a 21.31% increase. Overall, food…
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with APNIC, conducted a series of impactful workshops on “Incident Response and CERT” over three days in Lahore and Islamabad. The Lahore workshop was held in partnership with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), according to a news release. Adli Wahid, a Senior Internet Security Specialist from APNIC Australia with extensive cybersecurity experience across the Asia-Pacific region, led the sessions. The workshops brought together cybersecurity experts from PTA, the National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT), and various telecom operators, facilitating a rich exchange of knowledge and expertise. Participants explored both theoretical and practical…
On Monday, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) held two important meetings to address critical environmental issues in the federal capital. The meetings, led by DG Pak-EPA Farzana Altaf Shah and CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa, focused on key concerns including the pollution of Rawal Dam and the enforcement of environmental regulations. The discussions highlighted the urgent need to address pollution in Rawal Dam caused by solid waste and industrial effluents. Strategies were explored to restore the dam’s water quality and mitigate pollution sources. Another significant topic was the implementation of the single-use plastic…
A team of social scientists from COMSATS University Islamabad has been selected as one of nine new teams to receive a competitive research grant from The Degrees Initiative. This grant supports social scientists in developing countries and emerging economies in examining the socio-political implications of solar radiation management (SRM). SRM, also known as solar geoengineering or climate intervention, is a controversial approach proposed to mitigate some risks of global warming. It may involve techniques such as injecting tiny particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect sunlight back into space, potentially reducing climate change impacts. Given the rise in global temperatures,…
Google for Startups has announced the launch of AI Academy, a new initiative aimed at supporting and accelerating the growth of AI startups in Pakistan and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The program will unite over 20 startups focused on developing AI technologies, creating a dynamic AI community within APAC and sparking cross-border innovation and partnerships. According to the news release, the AI Academy will foster a collaborative environment for idea exchange, expertise sharing, and resource access, accelerating the development of advanced AI solutions and positioning APAC as a global leader in AI advancements. Selected startups will benefit from: The AI…
The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has addressed the shortage of drivers and conductors in schools and colleges by engaging 195 drivers and 200 conductors through third-party outsourcing. According to the Education Ministry, these personnel will be available for deployment starting from August 7. Since 2017, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) had not provided additional positions for drivers and conductors. The ministry stated, “This time we have outsourced this function to a third party through an open and competitive process, removing the Ministry and FDE from individual hiring and contracting. As a result, every vehicle for ICT…
