ISLAMABAD: December 18 –
President Asif Ali Zardari delivering the keynote address at the inauguration ceremony of the Tajikistan Cultural Week at PNCA.
ISLAMABAD: December 18 –
PMD signs contract for advanced automatic weather stations under World Bank–funded project
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) signed a contract for the installation of Advanced Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) under the World Bank–funded Hydromet Project in line with the vision of the Prime Minister to strengthen a climate change–responsive early warning system.
Through the Hydromet Project, PMD has initiated the full-scale implementation of enhanced early warning mechanisms across the country, with a special focus on Balochistan. The newly contracted AWS will be installed nationwide to significantly improve weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities.
Director General PMD and Vice President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Association II, Mr Sahibzad Khan, said that the advanced weather stations are equipped with modern, high-tech sensors being installed in Pakistan for the first time. He noted that the technical specifications were developed by an international panel of experts in line with World Meteorological Organization guidelines, keeping the evolving climate change scenario in view.
“These stations will greatly enhance PMD’s capacity to monitor meteorological and agrometeorological parameters, air quality, snowfall, potential evapotranspiration, and other critical indicators,” he said.
Dr Sajjad Haider, Deputy Project Director, briefed that the milestone was achieved after completing an extensive procurement process in accordance with World Bank procedures. He added that, with the continued support of the World Bank, the project team is also working on the addition of new weather surveillance radars and a high-performance computing system, which will be integrated into PMD’s existing infrastructure.
According to PMD officials, these advancements will improve lead time for early warnings and weather forecasts, helping save precious human lives and reduce economic losses. The developments will also strengthen the department’s capacity through modernization and automation in line with international best practices.
The Hydromet Project is progressing steadily and contributing to the government’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, while aligning with the World Bank’s objectives of enhancing resilience to disasters and climate change.
Court adjourns hearing regarding killing of Rangers’ personnel during protest
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday adjourned hearing till January 9, in a case regarding the killing four Rangers’ personnel during the protest of November 26.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sapra heard the case wherein, the lawyers of accused Hashim Abbasi filed an application for exemption from presence, which was accepted by the court. The court was informed that a letter has been received from PIMS Hospital regarding the medical test of the accused. According to the court, the medical board has recommended further medical examination and some tests of the accused, after the completion of which the medical board will submit its report to the court.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case till January 9 for further proceedings.
Process initiated to declare Sohail Afridi as absconder
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):In light of the orders of the Anti-Terrorism Court, Islamabad, a process has been initiated to declare Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other accused as proclaimed offender.
Under the court orders, summons notices have been displayed at various places, while notices have also been pasted at prominent places in the Judicial Complex, Islamabad.
The notices have directed Sohail Afridi, Meena Khan, Amjad Khan, Shafiullah Jan and Amjad Afridi to appear in the court. This action was taken in light of the order issued under Section 87 of the Anti-Terrorism Court.
The court notices have taken the position that the named accused are not complying with the court orders or are absconding, due to which this action has become inevitable. Through the notices, Sohail Afridi, Shafiullah Jan and other accused have been ordered to appear in court immediately. The court has given the accused a final opportunity to appear, while the notices have made it clear that if the accused do not appear in court during the proceedings under Section 87, further legal action will be taken against them.
Five-day Karachi World Book Fair 2025 begins, Education Minster Sardar Shah inaugurated
KARACHI, Dec 18 (APP):The five-day Karachi World Book Fair (KWBF) 2025 was inaugurated Thursday by Sindh Minister for Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah at the Karachi Expo Centre. The five-day event will continue until 22 December and will remain open daily from 10 am to 9 pm. Event features 140 leading Pakistani publishers and booksellers, along with 40 foreign exhibitors from 17 countries.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Syed Sardar Ali Shah said he always feels happy participating in the Karachi World Book Fair and looks forward to it throughout the year. He described reading as a journey of creativity, saying, “If the book dies, dreams will die too. We must not let books die.”
He urged the KWBF organisers to expand book exhibitions to other cities of Sindh and announced that space is being allocated for libraries in government schools.
President of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, while speaking at the ceremony, said that seeing children’s enthusiasm at the book fair gives a renewed sense of life. He reiterated that the Arts Council has always supported positive initiatives in the country, describing books as the key to civilisation.
Chairman of the Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association, Kamran Noorani, said efforts are underway to extend the World Book Fair to other cities of Sindh.
He announced that book fairs are planned next year in Hyderabad, Larkana and Sukkur. He acknowledged the continued support of the National Book Foundation and expressed hope for future cooperation. Kamran Noorani further said that parent should bring their children closer to books.
NA body voices concern over pending issues affecting administrative & academic process
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):The Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training expressed concerns over multiple pending issues in administrative and academic institutions that are hindering their smooth functioning.
The 19th meeting of National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was held on Thursday under the Convenorship of Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro at conference room of National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC).
The Standing Committee expressed serious concerns over the worsening governance situation at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology (FUUAST), Islamabad.
The Committee noted with concern that the university administration has persistently failed to adequately address officially reported grievances, indicating significant shortcomings in accountability, transparency, and effective institutional oversight.
In view of these serious irregularities and the apparent inaction on part of the university management, the Committee took strong notice of the matter and resolved to visit the university and convene a formal meeting on the premises of FUUAST.
The purpose of the visit will be to directly examine the issues, engage with the relevant stakeholders, and initiate appropriate measures for the prompt redressal of the grievances.
The Committee underscored that continued delays, non-compliance with established procedures, or failure to implement corrective measures would be viewed with utmost seriousness.
It was emphasized that the Committee would not hesitate to recommend stringent action to ensure adherence to principles of good governance, transparency, and institutional integrity, and to safeguard the academic and administrative interests of the university.
The Committee took serious notice of the unexplained absence of the Executive Director (ED), NAVTTC, from the Committee meeting.
The Committee expressed strong displeasure that the ED NAVTTC neither attended the meeting nor formally informed the Committee in advance about any prior official engagement, reflecting a clear disregard for parliamentary oversight and established protocols.
In view of the absence of the principal officer, the Committee unanimously decided not to take up or proceed with the agenda related to NAVTTC, emphasizing that effective scrutiny and meaningful deliberations are not possible without the presence of the head of the organization.
While the Committee was subsequently informed that the ED NAVTTC was engaged in a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Members questioned the veracity of this claim and underscored that any misrepresentation or provision of incorrect information to the Committee would be treated as a serious breach.
The Committee categorically said that if the stated reason for absence is found to be inaccurate or misleading, strict action will be initiated for displaying non-seriousness, lack of respect for the Committee, and failure to fulfill statutory obligations.
The Committee reiterated that attendance before parliamentary committees is not optional and that accountability, discipline, and respect for parliamentary processes must be upheld at all times.
The Standing Committee took notice of the recurring increase in fees charged by private schools, terming the situation exploitative and deeply concerning for parents.
The Committee emphasized that the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PIERA) must be fully empowered to effectively regulate private schools, particularly with regard to fee structures, transparency in charges, and compliance with approved curricula.
In this regard, the Committee stressed the urgent need to strengthen PIERA through the provision of adequate and qualified human resources, technical capacity, and enforcement powers, enabling it to ensure meaningful accountability of private educational institutions.
The Committee further expressed serious concern over the mushroom growth of privately run schools operating in residential streets, often consisting of only two to three rooms and lacking basic educational infrastructure. Such institutions, the Committee noted, raise serious questions about the quality of education, safety standards, and overall learning environment being provided to students.
The Committee took notice of the continuing leadership vacuum in key education regulatory and administrative bodies.
During the meeting, the Committee was informed that the Chairperson of the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PIERA) has resigned.
The Convenor of the committee highlighted the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has yet to appoint its Chairman, the post of Director General of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) remains unfilled, and now the resignation of the PIERA Chairperson has added another serious gap in leadership.
The Committee observed that the absence of permanent leadership in these pivotal institutions reflects prolonged administrative inertia and a lack of priority accorded to the education sector.
The Convenor of the committee expressed reservations over the Ministry’s failure to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in its true letter and spirit.
During the proceedings, the Convenor highlighted key articles of the CRC and underscored that, despite Pakistan’s international commitments, the Ministry has not shown satisfactory compliance to these obligations.
The meeting was attended by MNA’s including Mr. Anjum Aqeel Khan, Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Ms. Zeb Jaffar, Ms. Farah Naz Akbar (Parliamentary Secretary), Ms. Musarrat Asif Khwaja, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Ms. Mussarat Rafique Mahesar, Mr. Abdul Aleem Khan, Ms. Sabheen Ghoury and Ms. Zahra Wadood Fatemi. The meeting was also attended by Secretary and officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, officials of Higher Education Commission HEC and other officers concerned.
Dawat-e-Islami’s Zehni Azmaish finale set for Friday
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):The grand finale of Dawat-e-Islami’s 17th season of Zehni Azmaish, the renowned Islamic quiz show, will be held on Friday in the federal capital, Shura member Haji Waqar-ul-Madina announced.
The upcoming session of the popular series of mental test will take place at Rose Cliff Market near Golra Sharif, E-11, where thousands of devotees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi are expected to gather. The program is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM with a Majlis-e-Naat.
Maulana Abdul Habib Attari, Shura member and spokesperson of Dawat-e-Islami, will preside over the gathering and lead the proceedings.
Extending an invitation, Haji Waqar-ul-Madina urged devotees of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) from the twin cities to attend and take part in the spiritual event.
PM felicitates Amir of Qatar on National Day
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):On the auspicious occasion of Qatar’s National Day, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a warm and cordial telephone call Thursday evening with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.
The Prime Minister extended his heartfelt felicitations to the Amir, the Qatari Royal family, the government, as well as the brotherly people of Qatar, on their National Day, wishing them continued peace, progress, and prosperity.
The Prime Minister praised Qatar’s remarkable achievements and its growing stature on the global stage, under the visionary leadership of the Amir.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding commitment to further strengthening of the longstanding and multifaceted bilateral partnership between the two brotherly countries.
During the call, the Prime Minister also lauded Qatar’s valuable role in efforts to bring peace in Gaza. He expressed his deep appreciation for Qatar’s facilitation of talks aimed at easing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
While recalling his official visits to Doha earlier this year, the Prime Minister reiterated his most cordial invitation to the Amir to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date.
The Amir thanked the Prime Minister for his kind and thoughtful greetings on Qatar’s National Day and expressed his strong commitment to further strengthen the historic, deep-rooted, fraternal bonds between both countries in the days ahead.
Gender gap on electoral rolls falls from 11.8% to 7.1%, says ECP secretary
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):The gender gap on Pakistan’s electoral rolls has narrowed from 11.8% in 2018 to 7.1% in 2025, reflecting the Election Commission of Pakistan’s sustained efforts, Secretary Omer Hameed Khan said Thursday.
Speaking at a project board review meeting under the Pakistan Legislative, Electoral, Digital Governance and Empowerment (PLEDGE) initiative, Khan noted that women’s voter registration has outpaced men’s over the past five years, with registered women increasing by 27% compared to a 17% rise among men.
He said progress was achieved through four-phased campaigns for women’s national identity cards and voter registration, while a fifth phase is underway in 62 districts where the gender gap remains above 10%.
UNDP will support this phase by launching activities in 15 districts from January 2026, aiming to facilitate identity cards for 25,000 women.
Citing a recent FAFEN report, Khan said the commission is enrolling an average of 7,599 new voters daily, with women outnumbering men in the trend.
He added that the Election Commission has introduced a Gender and Social Inclusion Framework (GMSIF) after stakeholder consultations, making it one of the first electoral bodies in the region to do so with UNDP support.
A legal and technical expert has been engaged for the initiative, while a modern Election Monitoring and Control Centre has also been established with UNDP’s assistance.
A dedicated gender desk is functional at the centre to support marginalized groups. The commission has also strengthened its social media presence to raise awareness, counter fake news and address misinformation. Information materials have been introduced in Braille, 3D formats and sign-language videos to assist persons with disabilities.
Khan said a major initiative has been launched to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence in the electoral process. He added that thousands of awareness sessions nationwide helped draw young people into the process, contributing to a notable rise in youth turnout during the 2024 general election.
The meeting also reviewed progress on project initiatives undertaken over the past year and discussed the proposed strategy and priorities for 2026.
UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Samuel Rizk, speaking at the event, said the partnership with the Election Commission of Pakistan is highly significant and pledged continued technical support under the PLEDGE initiative from 2025 to 2029. At the conclusion of the meeting, Rizk presented the 2025 PLEDGE report and commended the commission’s efforts.
In closing, Secretary Khan thanked UNDP and other partners, reaffirming the commitment to continued collaboration for building a comprehensive electoral system.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Samuel Rizk, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Mahmood Khan, Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), Asim Khan Goraya, Development Director of the British High Commission, Islamabad, for Governance and Human Capital Development, Sim Waldeck, and other distinguished guests.
Parliamentarians review major development projects during visit to RDA
RAWALPINDI, Dec 18 (APP):Members of the National Assembly and the Provincial Assembly, Punjab, visited the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Thursday and reviewed key ongoing and planned urban development projects in the city.
Director General of RDA Kinza Murtaza gave a detailed briefing on the authority’s planning initiatives, major achievements and future development targets.
The participants reviewed several major projects, including the Rawalpindi Ring Road, dualisation and improvement of Chak Beli Road, construction of an underpass at Stadium Road, rehabilitation of Murree Road from Flashman Hotel to Faizabad, rehabilitation of High Court Road and other important development schemes.
The DG also briefed the legislators on approved, unapproved and illegal housing schemes in Rawalpindi, saying that strict and indiscriminate action was being taken against illegal schemes across the city.
Reaffirming the authority’s commitment to modern urban development, transparency and timely completion of projects, Kinza said the initiatives were aligned with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and would significantly improve infrastructure, traffic management and public facilities.
The visiting lawmakers appreciated the overall performance of the RDA and lauded the efforts of its officers and staff. They expressed satisfaction with the pace of development and stressed the need for sustainable urban planning, environmental protection and improved civic amenities to enhance the quality of life of citizens.
At the conclusion of the meeting, directions were issued for the timely completion of development projects, stronger inter-departmental coordination and ensuring that public interest remains the top priority.
Members of the National Assembly, Engineer Qamar-ul-Islam Raja, Malik Abrar Ahmed and Barrister Muhammad Aqeel, and Members of the Provincial Assembly, Raja Abdul Haneef, Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, Naeem Ejaz, Mohsin Ayub Khan and Imran Ilyas, were present.