ADDIS ABABA
ADDIS ABABA
Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman addresses candidates during the entry test of the Bano Qabil program organized by Jamaat-e-Islami at Sargodha Stadium
SARGODHA
SARGODHA
SARGODHA
Digital Youth Hub Hits 7 lakh Registrations
ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (APP): The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) has achieved a remarkable milestone as the number of registered users on its flagship Digital Youth Hub platform has now crossed 700,000 young people across Pakistan. This achievement marks a major step forward in the government’s mission to digitally empower and connect the country’s youth with opportunities for growth and development.
Launched a few months ago under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Digital Youth Hub was created as a one-stop digital gateway to consolidate all youth-related facilities in one accessible platform. The initiative aims to make information and opportunities more transparent, efficient, and easily available to young Pakistanis across every province and region.
Through the Hub, youth can now explore a wide range of opportunities including scholarships, skills development courses, job openings, internships, youth loans, and the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme , all available with just a single click. The platform eliminates the need to visit multiple government departments or websites, saving time and ensuring equal access for every young person regardless of their background or location.
Chairman PMYP Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan expressed his satisfaction over the growing number of registrations, calling it “a reflection of the youth’s trust in the government’s commitment to digital facilitation.” He said the response from young people across the country has been “overwhelming and inspiring,” showing that the nation’s youth are ready to embrace technology as a means to progress.
According to Rana Mashhood, this success is not just about numbers , it represents a shift in mindset. “The Digital Youth Hub has given young Pakistanis a sense of empowerment. It has made opportunities visible and reachable,” he said. “This platform connects ambition with action and hope with possibility.”
The Chairman explained that before this initiative, youth programs were scattered across different ministries and websites, creating confusion and inefficiency. “Now, everything is integrated. Whether you’re a student looking for a scholarship, a graduate searching for a job, or an entrepreneur seeking a loan, the Digital Youth Hub is your complete guide,” he added.
Rana Mashhood emphasized that the Hub is part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of a ‘Digital Pakistan’, where technology drives inclusion and governance becomes smarter. “We are working not only to provide digital tools but to prepare digital citizens capable, confident, and globally competitive,” he said.
He also highlighted that the Digital Youth Hub functions as a data-driven ecosystem, allowing the government to better understand youth needs and design programs accordingly. The data collected helps policymakers identify trends such as which regions require more job support or where training programs are most in demand , ensuring that resources are directed effectively.
Rana Mashhood further revealed that several new features are being developed for the platform’s next phase. These include mentorship programs, virtual job fairs, and partnerships with universities and industries to strengthen the link between education and employment. “Our goal is to make the Digital Youth Hub the most comprehensive youth facilitation system in Pakistan’s history,” he stated.
He praised the efforts of the PMYP team and the Ministry of Information Technology for ensuring the platform’s accessibility and user-friendly design. “The increasing number of young people joining every day is a sign that Pakistan’s youth is ready to lead the nation’s digital transformation,” he remarked.
As registrations continue to climb, the Digital Youth Hub stands as one of the most successful examples of e-governance and youth engagement in Pakistan by bridging the gap between opportunity and ambition, and turning the dream of youth empowerment into a digital reality.
IHC directs DC ICT to address issue of ‘roti’ price by Monday
ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the Deputy Commissioner to meet the Nanbai Association by Monday in a case related to prices of ‘roti’ and naan in the federal capital.
It directed to resolve the issue of the ‘roti’ price by Monday.
The court extended the order to stop the district administration from any action the naanbais and also ordered the immediate release of two naanbais.
During the hearing, President Nanbai Association Sajjad Abbasi and others appeared in the court along with Barrister Umar Ijaz Gilani.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir said, “Let’s see if they have been charged with murder.” To this, the lawyer of the petitioner said, “No, they have not been charged with murder. The court should order their release.”
We did not meet the Deputy Commissioner, but the Deputy Director Food.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir said, “You should meet the DC” .Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir said, “The DC should meet the association somewhere by Monday and resolve the matter.”
Stranded in cold: Flood survivors in northern KP await CM Sohail Afridi’s relief as winter sets in
BUNER, Oct 17 (APP):As autumn fades into a harsh northern winter, a quiet desperation lingers across the flood-hit valleys of Buner and Swat, increasing problems of flood victims.
Beneath flapping plastic sheets and makeshift shelters at Buner and Swat districts, thousands of families still await KP government assistance that remains elusive nearly two months after catastrophic flash floods upended their lives.
The devastating floods of August 15 swept through northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), submerging homes, destroying crops, and leaving behind a landscape of loss and despair with many questions needs urgent answered.
In the town of Pir Baba, 62-year-old Riaz Shah stands barefoot on the muddy remnants of what used to be his three-marla home. The daily wage labourer now sleeps under a donated tarp with five young grandchildren, bracing against the biting cold that creeps in with every sunset.
“I used to have a home in Pir Baba,” he says, pointing to a cracked cement slab. “Now, I have a plastic sheet and children remained upset through the night because of the cold.”
The floods reduced his modest home built with decades of labor to rubble in minutes on August 15, forcing him to run to safer place.
Everything his family owns now fits beneath a sagging sheet. With snowy winter closing in fast, Riaz estimates he needs Rs2 million to rebuild it. But like many others, he’s seen no sign of the KP government aid that was promised.
Buner is far from alone in its suffering. Across northern KP, flood waters left devastation in their wake as flattened homes, submerged fields, collapsed roads, and lost livelihoods saddened many.
In towns like Daggar Buner and remote hamlets across Swat, entire communities remain trapped in a cycle of despair and delay.
“Our crops are gone, our cattle are gone, and we’re still waiting,” says Khalid Buneri, standing by the ruins of his grain store. “The KP ministers and advisers came, posed for photos, gave us tents that barely stand in the wind and then left.”
As the cold intensifies, residents now pin their hopes on newly appointed Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, urging his government to act decisively before snow seals off these mountain communities entirely.
Many survivors describe a bureaucracy bogged down in red tape. Names were added to compensation lists, documents were verified, and signatures collected but funds have yet to arrive.
“There are apps for compensation besides tall promises,” says Riaz. “But most of us can’t read or use a smartphone.”
Under former CM Ali Amin Gandapur, the provincial government announced Rs5 billion in emergency relief, including Rs100,000 per affected household and additional aid for shopkeepers, families of the deceased, and even undocumented children. But survivors say these pledges remain largely on paper.
“The compensation is like salt in flour,” says Khalid. “Too little, too scattered and too slow to save us from what’s coming.”
As temperatures fall below 20°C in upper KP, the urgency among displaced families is growing. Nights are longer and colder. Families cook over open fires, wrap children in layers of clothing, and pray their temporary shelters survive the coming storms.
“We are not asking for luxuries,” says Khalid. “Just a roof. Some blankets. Food. Clean water.”
But the wounds go beyond material loss. Beneath the physical hardship lies a growing sense of abandonment.
“This is not just about compensation,” he adds. “It’s about dignity. We are citizens, not beggars. We lost everything and needs urgent support of CM Sohail Afridi”
Across the hills of Pir Baba, the sound of hammering is rare. Construction has yet to begin. Relief efforts have slowed I’m flood hit areas of Buner and Swat on ground.
For many, the wait is no longer just for shelter but for recognition. For justice and equity. For the promises made under the media spotlight to finally translate into action.
As winter bears down on the pine-covered slopes of northern KP, the flood victims of Buner and Swat aren’t pleading for sympathy. They are demanding accountability. They do not want speeches and cutting ribbons they need shelter ahead of harsh winter. They do not want promises they need protection.
And until that help comes on fast track basis, the wind-blown tarps and crumbling walls will stand as quiet witnesses to a flood tragedy still unfolding one of nature, yes, but also of neglect and inequity in assistance of flood compensation.
PTI, TLP protest calls end up in no-show: Atta Tarar
ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (APP): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Friday said that the protest calls from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) for today were inconclusive and had ended up in a no-show.
Talking to the media, the minister said cities and markets were bustling, as people from all walks of life, including traders, had completely rejected their calls for protest.
Tarar said the public is celebrating Pakistan’s crucial role in the Gaza peace process and its foreign policy successes.
He specifically highlighted the honor Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received from President of the United States Donald Trump who invited the prime minister to address on the occasion of Gaza peace process in Sharmal Sheikh.
The minister reiterated that Pakistan has been strongly advocating for an independent Palestine with Al Quds Sharif as its capital, and has condemned Israeli oppression at every platform.
Pakistan is being taken seriously on the global stage following its successes from the “Mark-e-Haq,” leading to greater respect for its people worldwide, he said, adding “this is the respect for Pakistan and it is the Almighty’s blessing that the foreign policy is progressing in the right direction, elevating the status of green passport.”
The minister also condemned the “political stunt” of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi, who did not attend a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the repatriation of Afghan refugees.
Tarar noted that the meeting, which lauded the sacrifices of Pakistani soldiers, involved important decision-making and follow-up on previous decisions.
He stressed that all provincial governments and institutional representatives were present, except for the CM KPK.
While CM Advisor Muzamil Hassan attended and briefed the federal government on various initiatives, including a support program for police martyrs, the minister stressed that the CM’s presence was highly crucial given the importance of law and order matters in his province.
Tarar noted that abstaining from the meeting might be a “political stunt” to garner praise on social media, but it would have a serious impact on the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He argued that the CM would waste time understanding the background when he held his own briefing later.
The minister called the political point-scoring over an important law and order meeting “regrettable”. “The KPK CM’s absence showed that he did not believe in discussions,” he added.
Meeting discuss strengthening of KP Health System Program
PESHAWAR, Oct 17 (APP):Additional Chief Secretary, Planning and Development Department Ikram Ullah Khan on Friday chaired a meeting to strengthen Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health System Strengthening Program.
The meeting also discussed revamping with a focus on enhancing collaboration among departments and stakeholders to ensure the due pace of progress.
The Additional Chief Secretary also directed representatives of C&W and finance department to provide necessary facilitation for these projects to achieve targets within specified timelines.
IHC stops DRAP action against medical devices dealers
ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday stopped Drugs Regulatory Authority Pakistan (DRAP) from action against medical devices dealers association and sought answers from respondents within two weeks.
The court also issued a notice to the Attorney General for assistance in the case.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued a written order for hearing on the application of the Pakistan Medical Devices Dealers Association, which stated that according to the petitioner, IVD devices are not a cure, but only help in diagnosis.
DRAP has also included those medical devices under its jurisdiction that it is only allowed to monitor. According to the petitioner’s lawyer, DRAP has also made diagnostic equipment or IVD medical devices subject to registration. DRAP’s SRO is against the law.
Due to DRAP’s SRO, importers and the health industry are facing difficulties. According to the petitioner’s lawyer, there is a shortage of medical devices across the country due to the SRO.
In the order, the court said that DRAP and other institutions should not take any action against the petitioners until the next hearing.