Author: Faiza Liaquat
The upcoming visit of Turkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar to Islamabad is expected to advance existing projects and unlock new areas of collaboration in the energy and mining sectors. Preparations for the visit were reviewed during a meeting between Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu in Islamabad. Senior Pakistani officials, including Secretary Petroleum Momin Agha and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) Managing Director Ahmed Hayat Lak, also attended the meeting. Officials noted that energy-sector engagement between Pakistan and Turkiye has been steadily strengthening. Turkish Petroleum is already participating in…
Pakistan has set an ambitious target to install 3,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country between 2025 and 2030, in a move aimed at accelerating the transition toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation. According to an official document shared with the state news agency APP, the government has allocated 240 EV charging stations for the current fiscal year, forming the first phase of a broader nationwide rollout. Under the plan, the charging stations will be established by private sector companies, while the overall framework, standards, and monitoring will be jointly overseen by multiple public bodies. These include the…
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has formally launched the second phase of the Lahore Development Plan, announcing a major push to upgrade thousands of streets across the provincial capital. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, Phase II of the plan will focus on the rehabilitation and upgradation of 6,284 streets in Lahore. The work has been divided between key urban service agencies to streamline implementation and monitoring. Under the plan, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) will upgrade 486 streets, mainly in areas where drainage, sewerage, and water-related issues are more pressing. The Lahore Municipal Corporation (LMC) has been tasked…
The Punjab government has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform 443 villages into “Model Villages” as part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s rural development vision. Provincial Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique shared details of the initiative while reviewing progress on the project, which is aimed at upgrading infrastructure, municipal services, and basic facilities in rural communities across the province. In the first phase, development work will begin in 224 villages by mid-December, with the following regional distribution: These areas will receive improved municipal services and upgraded infrastructure, aimed at raising living standards and reducing the development gap between…
The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has confirmed that eight national athletes, led by Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem, have been awarded IOC Olympic Solidarity Scholarships to support their preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28). Each athlete will receive USD 13,500 per year from September 2025 to August 2028, providing vital backing for training camps and international competition. Arshad Nadeem is the only awardee from athletics and a recurring beneficiary of the programme. The National Rifle Association of Pakistan has the highest representation, with five shooters selected: Kishmala Talat (Paris 2024 Olympian and the first Pakistani woman to…
Islamabad, Pakistan — Google Developer Groups (GDG) Islamabad is gearing up for one of its most impactful DevFest seasons yet, with plans to upskill more than 700 developers across Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The 2025 edition focuses strongly on practical learning in AI, cloud technologies, and modern app development, combining a series of hands-on workshops with an upcoming flagship DevFest conference. Two-Phase DevFest Structure for Maximum Impact DevFest 2025 in Islamabad is structured into two key phases designed to maximize community reach and learning depth: This staged approach allows participants to first gain technical depth in focused workshop environments before engaging…
The Sindh government has initiated a new phase of recruitment to provide jobs to the children of provincial employees who passed away while still in service, following recent directives from the superior judiciary. The move comes after the Supreme Court ordered the reinstatement of the death quota policy, which had earlier been discontinued by the provincial government. The policy reserves certain government posts for the dependents of public servants who die during service, with the aim of supporting families that suddenly lose their main source of income. In compliance with the court’s instructions, the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department…
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated a dedicated Free Meal Program for Special Students, signaling a major step toward inclusive education and social protection in the province. Calling special children “our heroes,” the chief minister highlighted their unique abilities and reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to meeting their educational and developmental needs. She announced that Centres of Excellence for special children have been completed in 28 districts, with a plan to rebuild all 303 existing special education institutions across Punjab. Maryam Nawaz also revealed that CCTV-monitored buses will be provided to all special education schools, with the first batch of 60…
The Punjab government has formally launched its Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar housing scheme, marking a major milestone in efforts to provide free residential plots to homeless and low-income families across the province. The initiative officially began on Wednesday with the completion of the project’s first digital ballot, which generated the initial list of successful beneficiaries. Following the ballot, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif personally called several winners to congratulate them. She spoke with Rukhsana Bibi from Attock, informing her that she had secured a residential plot under the scheme. The Chief Minister also contacted Mero Mai from Mandi Yazman and…
Inspector General Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan South has announced the establishment of a special scholarship fund for outstanding students during his visit to Turbat Law College, marking a significant step toward supporting legal education and youth development in the region. During the visit, the IG held an exclusive interactive session with faculty members and students. The conversation focused on the role of young people in Balochistan’s future, with students confidently stating that they are “not a lost generation, but the generation the province has long awaited.” Students also demonstrated their professional potential by staging a mock court proceeding, showcasing their…
