Author: Maryam Khichi

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…

The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) emphasized the need for direct flights between Pakistan and Indonesia to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations. During the 79th Independence Day flag hoisting ceremony of Indonesia at its embassy, Zafar Bakhtawari, Secretary General of United Business Group and former President of ICCI, highlighted that direct air connectivity between the two countries is essential to enhance existing relations and unlock tourism potential. Bakhtawari also conveyed greetings to the Charge’d’Affaires on behalf of the business community and reaffirmed a commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth and social prosperity for both nations. He noted…

Pakistan Shaheens are set to take on Bangladesh ‘A’ in the second four-day match at Islamabad Club on Tuesday after the first match ended in a draw. Both teams have made substantial changes to their squads, with Shaheens welcoming eight new players, including Kamran Ghulam, who will lead the side. Abrar Ahmed also returns to the lineup. Bangladesh ‘A’ has introduced six new players following the departure of their Test squad members for national duty. Kamran Ghulam, the new captain of Pakistan Shaheens, expressed his enthusiasm for the leadership role and highlighted the significance of winning the match, which would…

Stargazers in Pakistan are in for a rare celestial event as a Super Blue Moon is set to light up the skies on August 19. This unique astronomical phenomenon, where the moon appears larger and brighter due to its proximity to Earth, will be visible worldwide, including in Pakistan. A Supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit brings it closest to Earth, making it appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual. What makes this particular Supermoon special is that it coincides with a Blue Moon, a term with historical significance. The term “Blue Moon” originated from a 19th-century…

Experts and young participants at a youth training workshop on the dangers of open waste burning (OWB) committed to reducing this harmful practice, which is a leading contributor to air pollution and carbon emissions in major cities across Pakistan. The Institute of Urbanism (IoU), supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE), organized the workshop titled “Let’s Learn Why Not to Burn.” This event gathered a diverse group of experts, stakeholders, students, and members of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme’s (PMYP) Green Youth Movement (GYM) clubs to address OWB and explore sustainable alternatives. OWB is commonly used in regions with…

The Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) has deployed additional sanitary workers to clean and dredge major drains in the city to prevent urban flooding. According to an RWMC spokesman, the company is making every effort to keep the city clear of potential issues by focusing on the cleanliness of nullahs and choked drains during ongoing intermittent rainfall. Additional staff has been assigned to work in three shifts, ensuring round-the-clock cleanliness to prevent sanitation-related problems from disrupting the smooth flow of water. Complaints received through social media are also being promptly addressed. In parallel, RWMC’s communication teams are actively conducting an…

Tractor assembly in Pakistan saw significant growth during the financial year ending on June 30, 2024, with a 45.74 percent increase compared to the previous year. From July 2023 to June 2024, approximately 46,272 tractors were produced locally, up from 31,752 units in the same period of the prior year, according to the provisional Quantum Index Numbers of Large Scale Manufacturing Industries (QIM) for June 2024 released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Overall, the Large Scale Manufacturing Industries (LSMI) sector registered a modest growth of 0.92 percent during the fiscal year 2023-24 compared to the previous year. However, LSMI…

The Ambassador of Egypt to Pakistan, Dr. Ihab Abdel Hamid, emphasized that the easing of bilateral visas between Pakistan and Egypt will significantly enhance economic and trade relations, as well as promote tourism between the two countries. He highlighted that Egypt, renowned for its historical heritage, and Pakistan, known for its stunning natural beauty, are both prime destinations for global tourists. During an exclusive interview with APP, Dr. Ihab expressed his admiration for the natural beauty of Pakistan’s northern regions, particularly the Skardu area, which he described as highly attractive to international tourists. He emphasized the importance of the private…

The government has decided to extend the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) to include more beneficiaries, aiming to increase the number of BISP cardholders to 10 million, according to sources cited by ARY News. Currently, there are around 9.3 million beneficiaries. A dynamic survey is being conducted in specific districts across all four provinces to identify and include more eligible individuals in the program. Offices are being established in remote areas to support this effort, with special focus given to Balochistan. Mobile registration vehicles have been deployed to remote regions of Sindh and Balochistan to facilitate the registration of deserving…