Author: Maryam Khichi
The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and UNICEF, in collaboration with UNFPA and UN Women, have initiated a nationwide communication campaign named “BOLO” (Speak Up) to eliminate child marriage in Pakistan. The campaign’s goal is to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of child marriage and advocate for legal amendments and their enforcement. NCSW Chairperson Nilofar Bakhtiar stressed the importance of joint efforts from the government, NGOs, civil society, media, and other stakeholders to tackle this issue. She noted the ongoing national campaign aimed at building consensus and gathering current data. The Child Marriage Restraint Act is…
On Monday, Pakistan’s long-term foreign currency issuer default rating (IDR) was upgraded from CCC to CCC+ by the Credit Rating Agency Fitch. This positive development reflects an improvement in the country’s economic outlook. The upgrade is seen as a significant milestone, highlighting the effectiveness of recent economic policies and reforms. The rating boost acknowledges the country’s efforts to stabilize its economy and enhance its financial standing on the global stage. The positive shift in Pakistan’s credit rating is expected to bolster investor confidence and support economic growth. It underscores the impact of ongoing economic reforms and the country’s commitment to…
Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL), an oil and gas exploration company, has announced the discovery of hydrocarbon reserves at its Razgir-1 exploratory well located in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The listed company, a subsidiary of the UK-based Attock Oil Company Limited with Coral Holding Limited as the ultimate parent, disclosed this development in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday. According to information from MOL, the operator of the TAL block, hydrocarbons were discovered in the Razgir-1 well, which was spudded on January 9, 2024, and drilled to a depth of 3,950 meters. POL reported that…
Atif Butt, representing the Falcons, secured victory in the Tekken 8 World Tour at FV Major 2024 by defeating The Jon (Ashes) with a 3-0 score in the final held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Atif’s path to triumph began with a strong 2-0 win against Infested (DRX) in the Winners Semi-Final. He then overcame The Jon in the Winners Final, earning his spot in the Grand Final. Despite The Jon’s impressive performance in the Losers Final against Navi AK, he was unable to best Atif in their championship rematch. Earlier this month, Atif Butt also won the Tekken 8 tournament…
Pakistani mountaineer Anum Uzair from Lahore has successfully summited Broad Peak, the 12th highest mountain in the world at 8,051 meters, located in the Karakoram range of Pakistan. This achievement makes her the second Pakistani female mountaineer to conquer Broad Peak, following Naila Kiani. This marks Anum’s second ascent of an 8,000-meter peak, having previously summited Manaslu Peak in Nepal. American Pakistani climber Ammar Butt also reached the summit of Broad Peak, with both climbers under the guidance of Shahroze Kashif. High Altitude Porters Ali Akbar and Ali Hoshi also accompanied the group, reaching the peak together. According to sources,…
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 27,542 new companies in the fiscal year 2023-24, bringing the total to 222,697. Among the new incorporations, 780 companies are related to corporate agricultural farming, and 560 are in the power generation sector. The SECP’s push towards digitalization has facilitated the online registration of a diverse range of companies. The information technology sector saw the highest registrations with 4,129 new companies, followed by 3,666 in trading, 3,302 in services, 2,992 in real estate development and construction, 1,346 in tourism, 1,177 in education, 1,103 in food and beverages, and 942 in e-commerce.…
Twenty-nine large photos of Pakistan’s exotic wildlife, captured by Wildlife Ambassador and former senator Sardar Muhammad Jamal Khan Leghari, will be displayed at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) starting Monday. The exhibition is organized by the Snow Leopard Foundation and Devcom-Pakistan in collaboration with PNCA. A formal ceremony as part of the Pakistan Wildlife Protection Awards on July 31 will honor this exhibition, recognizing wildlife guards, watchers, and rangers for their dedication to protecting Pakistan’s wildlife. Dr. Muhammad Ali Nawaz, Director and CEO of the Snow Leopard Foundation, expressed excitement about the collaboration, noting that the photos…
Senior Pakistani officials met with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki to discuss the upcoming global conference on girls’ education, set to take place in Islamabad later this year, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pakistan will collaborate with the Muslim World League (MWL) to host the conference in September. The three-day event aims to devise strategies for better resource allocation to promote girls’ education globally. The Malala Fund reports that 12 million girls in Pakistan are out of school, with only 13 percent advancing to grade IX. Social norms like gender stereotypes and a preference for boys’…
On World Hepatitis Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for united efforts to raise awareness and work towards a hepatitis-free future, announcing a nationwide campaign to eradicate the disease. “On this World Hepatitis Day, let us unite to raise awareness, support those affected by viral hepatitis, and strive for a future free from this burden. Together, we can build a healthier and more prosperous nation,” he said. The Prime Minister emphasized that the day is dedicated to raising awareness about hepatitis and its global impact. He highlighted this year’s theme, “It’s time for action,” as a call for urgent measures…
Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Finance and Revenue, announced that the Chinese Government has praised Pakistan’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and promised to assist in securing the Fund’s board approval. Addressing a press conference, he highlighted productive meetings with Chinese authorities, including the Finance Minister of China and the President of the Bank of China, during a recent visit with Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari. Aurangzeb noted that discussions covered various aspects of bilateral trade, economic cooperation, local energy needs, and the launch of Panda bonds in Chinese markets. The talks also addressed the…