Author: Faiza Liaquat

As the cherished occasion of Eidul Fitr draws near, Pakistanis are gearing up for what could potentially be an extended holiday period, with six days earmarked for festivities and celebrations. Scheduled to coincide around April 10, preparations for the festival are already underway across the country, with individuals and communities eagerly anticipating the joyous occasion. In a bid to address concerns related to moon sightings and ensure uniformity in Eid celebrations, the Ministry of Information Technology introduced the lunar calendar in 2019. Endorsed by the Meteorological Department, this calendar has since played a pivotal role in determining the dates of…

In a bid to safeguard the health and well-being of Islamabad’s residents, Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah has underscored the crucial role of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in ensuring access to clean drinking water for all citizens. His remarks come in the wake of alarming findings from the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), which revealed contamination in water samples obtained from Parliament Lodges and Parliament House. Expressing deep concern over the lapses in water management highlighted by the PCRWR report, Deputy Speaker Shah convened a high-level meeting with senior CDA officials to address the pressing…

In a concerted effort to combat the burgeoning waste crisis in Punjab, the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) spearheaded a month-long cleanliness campaign under the directive of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The initiative, which saw the active participation of over 3,000 dedicated workers, aimed to transform all union councils in Rawalpindi into zero-waste zones. Throughout the duration of the campaign, each union council received meticulous attention, with two full days dedicated to manual cleaning and drain desilting activities. The tireless efforts of the workforce culminated in the clearance of a staggering 25,000 tonnes of garbage, marking a significant stride…

Saif Energy Ltd., in collaboration with Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd. (OGDCL) and Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), has reported the finding of fresh hydrocarbon reserves in the Kohat Block, which is a significant development for Pakistan’s energy sector.The CEO of Saif Energy Ltd., Mr. Jehangir Saifullah Khan, praised the discovery as a huge accomplishment and underlined the need for collaboration between national and private businesses for Pakistan’s development and prosperity.The Togh-2 (Slant) exploration well was first spudded on August 28, 2023, and by November 18, 2023, it had reached its target depth of 2414 meters in the Chichali-l…

A strategic partnership between the Bank of Punjab (BOP) and Karandaaz Pakistan aims to transform Pakistan’s agriculture sector through Karandaaz’s first-ever Digital Financing for Agriculture (DFA) Challenge 2023. The historic Agreement, which was signed on April 1, 2024, marks the start of a trailblazing program designed to improve loans for digital agriculture and promote financial inclusion across the country. Mr. Waqas ul Hassan, CEO of Karandaaz Pakistan, and Mr. Zafar Masud, President & CEO of The Bank of Punjab, signed the agreement at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. Along with other senior executives from BOP, Karandaaz, Agri, and the Fintech…

Pakistan commemorates a great accomplishment during the holy month of Ramadan: Hafiz Muhammad Abu Bakar wins the top place in the renowned International Quran recitation competition, which was held in Iraq. This joyous occasion emphasizes Hafiz Muhammad Abu Bakar’s extraordinary talent and devotion to the Holy Quran and demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to promoting excellence in Quranic recitation.

The highly skilled and elegant horse “AJ Sajwa,” owned by Pakistan, won the silver medal in the very competitive Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center. This gorgeous mare, owned by Muhammad Mujahid, wowed judges and onlookers with her outstanding performance, earning an incredible 92.75 points in the Class 5 category.Amidst a fiercely competitive field of mature mares between seven and nine years old, AJ Sajwa demonstrated unparalleled poise and poise, just narrowly missing first place. AJ Barakah finished second in the tournament with 92.67 points, while Da Little Princess placed third with 92.58…

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, undertook a visit to Rawalpindi to oversee the progress of the Safe City Project and inspect the ongoing construction of a service center located at Liaquat Bagh. During his visit, Dr. Usman Anwar reiterated the importance of completing the Safe City Project within the stipulated timeline to ensure enhanced citizen service delivery and bolster security measures in the region. The ambitious project, with an estimated cost of Rs3.5 billion, aims to install a total of 1,886 CCTV cameras across 306 strategic locations, primarily concentrated in the Red Zone of Rawalpindi. These…

The Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project started up again earlier this month, and as of yesterday, it has reached its maximum generation capacity of 969 MW. The facility had been temporarily closed so that its tail race tunnel (TRT) could be inspected.On January 10, Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project operations were suspended during low-flow season to allow for the rehabilitation of the tail race tunnel’s inspection. The project resumed generation early this month under the watchful eye of the International Panel of Experts after a satisfactory comprehensive inspection. 90% of the Neelum Jhelum project’s infrastructure is subterranean beneath towering mountains, making it…

A major milestone for the SIFC-established Green Pakistan Livestock Initiative (GPLI) has been reached as Pakistan has received its first consignment of high-breed cattle imported from Brazil under the SIFC.These cattle, which are prized for their outstanding genetic qualities, will be given to nearby farmers to help them satisfy their needs for milk and meat, so boosting Pakistan’s livestock industry.Nine breeds total, including Brazilian and indigenous Pakistani types, are part of the consignment that was shipped from Sialkot to Okara for a two-week quarantine. The Green Pakistan Initiative-founded business FONGROW was instrumental in making this arrangement possible. As Brazilian Ambassador…