Author: Our Correspondent

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 KARACHI: Experts emphasized that the use of modern technology enables timely and informed decision-making in the public interest, provided real-time data is available. These views were expressed at the final workshop for Phase-I of the Hydro-Agro Informatics (HAI) Program, held under the Sindh Water & Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) project — a World Bank-funded initiative implemented by the Irrigation Department, Government of Sindh, in collaboration with the US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W), Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (MUET), Jamshoro. Secretary Irrigation Zarif Iqbal Khero stated that the Government of Sindh supports technology-driven projects that…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Pakistan celebrated a remarkable achievement at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2025 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where a delegation led by the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) returned home with seven awards. The team represented 27 technology companies, startups, and student teams, making it the largest-ever Pakistani delegation at the event, comprising 55 participants in total. All delegates had earned their place through the highly competitive HBL P@SHA ICT Awards 2025, which had recognized 104 outstanding projects, including 37 winners, 58 runners-up, and nine special appreciation recipients. The week-long event, inaugurated by Hou Yi-Hsiu, Deputy…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), one of Sindh’s most influential media bodies, hosted a training program for its members on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen journalists’ voices and enhance their digital media skills. The event, held at the Karachi Press Club, was organized under the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia–Pacific–NED Program, reflecting a growing recognition of the need to adapt traditional journalistic practices to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The session was led by Madiha Javed Qureshi, Corporate Trainer and Head of Corporate Communication at Bank Alfalah, who conducted a detailed training on digital media.…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) announced a mixed adjustment in electricity tariffs this week, offering modest relief to consumers while simultaneously raising costs through a quarterly revision. Under the October fuel price adjustment, NEPRA approved a reduction of 88 paisa per unit, which is expected to ease the burden on households and businesses in their December electricity bills. However, the relief will not extend to K-Electric customers, who remain subject to separate tariff structures. At the same time, NEPRA sanctioned a quarterly tariff adjustment that will see electricity prices rise by 33 paisa per…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Police officials engaged in tense negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Aleem Khan, who had staged a sit-in near Adiala Jail along with her sisters and a contingent of party workers after being denied a meeting with the party’s founder. The protest, which unfolded in the late hours of the previous day, drew attention to the growing political friction surrounding the treatment of opposition leaders in the capital. The discussions primarily centered on the fate of vehicles that had been seized by the authorities in the days leading up to the demonstration. According to sources close…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), one of Sindh’s most influential media bodies, hosted a training program for its members on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen journalists’ voices and enhance their digital media skills. The event, held at the Karachi Press Club, was organized under the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia–Pacific–NED Program, reflecting a growing recognition of the need to adapt traditional journalistic practices to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The session was led by Madiha Javed Qureshi, Corporate Trainer and Head of Corporate Communication at Bank Alfalah, who conducted a detailed training on digital media.…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved an increase in profits for oil marketing companies (OMCs) and dealers, a move that will add to the financial burden on consumers. Under the decision, profits and dealer commissions on petrol and diesel will rise by PKR 2.56 per liter. Once the federal cabinet gives final approval, half of the increase—PKR 1.28 per liter—will be immediately added to the prices of petrol and diesel, while the remaining half will be linked to the digitalization of the petroleum sector, with a deadline set for June 2026. Currently,…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: A lighthearted moment broke the usual formality of a National Assembly session when a sum of money accidentally fell to the floor inside the chamber, drawing smiles and laughter from lawmakers. As the bills scattered, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq held up the cash and called on members to claim it, prompting an unexpected scene as no fewer than twelve MPs raised their hands simultaneously. The brief episode brought a rare, jovial atmosphere to the proceedings, providing a momentary distraction from the often tense and serious debates that dominate parliamentary business. The laughter gradually subsided as the session…

By our correspondent QUETTA: The Chief Minister of Balochistan submitted a formal request to the Election Commission seeking the postponement of local government elections in Quetta, citing a range of challenges that, he argued, made holding the polls difficult at this time. In his petition, the CM highlighted fragile law and order conditions in the provincial capital, noting that ongoing security concerns had prompted authorities to suspend internet services across the city. He also drew attention to severe weather, which had forced some residents to leave Quetta, further complicating arrangements for a smooth and fair electoral process. The application emphasized…