Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The implementation of the National SME and Worker Formalization Roadmap will pave the way for competitive economic growth by promoting stronger institutions, higher productivity and improved working conditions in the SME sector. This was jointly stated by Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production (MoIP), Malik Aman, Joint Secretary MoIP, Nadia Jehangir Seth, CEO SMEDA, and Geir T Tonstol, Country Director of the ILO in Pakistan, while commenting on Pakistan’s first National SME and Worker Formalization Roadmap. Haroon Akhtar Khan described the roadmap as a central pillar of Pakistan’s economic…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: As digital payments continued to reshape financial systems across emerging markets, Pakistan was undergoing one of the most significant transitions in its financial landscape. JazzCash International chairman and Veon Group executive committee member Aamir Ibrahim said fintech solutions had become essential in countries where traditional banking had long struggled to reach underserved populations. “In most frontier markets, mobile phones reached people long before banks did,” Ibrahim said. “That gap created an opportunity for fintechs to solve very basic, everyday problems – from making payments to opening a simple mobile wallet.” He said that opportunity had now…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, said on Monday that her brother would not compromise on three core issues: the supremacy of the Constitution, the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, and transparent elections. Speaking to the media after appearing before an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, Aleema said any judge unable to deliver justice in accordance with the Constitution and the law should step aside rather than occupy the bench. She maintained that the former prime minister had stood his ground despite spending more than two years in prison. She alleged that Imran…

By our correspondent ISLAMAABD: State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said on Monday that Pakistan had uncovered extensive evidence of coordinated, paid social media campaigns run through fake accounts, largely operated from abroad, warning that those involved could face legal action if they continued activities undermining the country. Addressing a detailed briefing, the minister said the government had recently provided foreign media with background information on how terrorists and organized networks were exploiting social media platforms to manipulate public opinion in Pakistan. He welcomed international coverage of Pakistan’s stance, noting that leading global newspapers and news channels had highlighted the…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Secretary General of Mohajir Qaumi Movement–Haqiqi (MQM-H) Shahid Faraz has voiced serious concern over the surge in street crimes across Karachi, describing the situation as increasingly alarming and threatening for ordinary citizens. Speaking to a delegation of journalists from Karachi Press Club at the residence of party chairman Afaq Ahmed, Faraz highlighted that reports from media, police records, and emergency services such as Chhipa, Edhi, and other ambulance providers confirm daily incidents of robbery, looting, and violent resistance that have led to loss of life. He noted that crimes such as mobile phone and motorcycle snatching…

Shehryar Memon called on journalists and media partners to amplify the polio eradication campaign, emphasizing that accurate reporting is vital to addressing persistent technical and social hurdles By our correspondent KARACHI: Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Sindh Coordinator Sheryar Gul Memon said both the province and the country were on the “last mile” towards eliminating the disease. Speaking at a media meet-up, he stressed the urgency of addressing the transmission of the poliovirus, which he described as both “crucial and deadly.” Memon appealed directly to journalists and media partners to lend their voice to the campaign, highlighting the role of accurate…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Aleema Khan, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, said on Thursday that she and her family would not be intimidated by authorities, asserting they could not leave her brother unprotected amid ongoing legal proceedings. Speaking to reporters outside the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi, Khan described the arrest and detention measures as “illegal” and criticised the court for marking her absent after she and her legal team arrived late. She said that over the past two months, her mother, Bushra Bibi, had been allowed only 40 minutes of visitation, and the PTI founder himself had received…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has claimed that the quality of Pakistani olive oil now surpasses that produced in Spain, arguing that the country is well placed to build strong export markets if it invests in processing and branding. Speaking at an event in Islamabad on a new commercialization strategy for tea production, Iqbal said more than 600,000 hectares of land across Pakistan were suitable for tea cultivation. He stressed that boosting domestic tea production would play a critical role in reducing the country’s import bill and expanding exports. Pakistan spends around $650 million a year on…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Oil and gas reserves have been discovered in the Nizha block of Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) announced on Thursday, marking a significant boost to Pakistan’s domestic energy resources. According to an OGDCL spokesperson, the Baragzai-1X well is expected to produce around 2,280 barrels of oil per day and 5.6 million cubic feet of gas daily. The discovery, the company said, represents the first hydrocarbon find from the Kingriali formation in the Nizha block. Drilling at the well reached a depth of 5,170 meters. OGDCL holds a 65 percent stake…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected an appeal by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti to postpone the long-delayed local government elections in Quetta, confirming that the polls would be held as scheduled on December 28. These elections, originally due in 2022, have faced repeated delays over the past three years. In a written decision, the ECP noted that Bugti’s request to defer the elections had been formally submitted and subsequently dismissed. The commission instructed the provincial government to ensure foolproof security and adequate logistical arrangements for voters, underscoring its constitutional mandate under Article 220,…