Author: Mehrab Shah Afridi

By Mehrab Shah ISLAMABAD: Federal IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja met a senior delegation from Meta in Islamabad to discuss digital policy, governance and the company’s expanding role in the country’s online ecosystem. During the meeting, officials from Meta and Pakistan’s policy committee held wide-ranging talks on technology regulation, platform governance and the security of social media networks. The minister said the government was prioritizing safer and more transparent digital spaces as Pakistan’s online user base continued to grow rapidly. Both sides discussed online safety for women and children, an issue that has become increasingly significant amid rising…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal urged parents to take a more active role in Pakistan’s ongoing battle against polio, unveiling a series of measures intended to galvanize public support for the nationwide vaccination campaign scheduled for later this month. Speaking at a ceremony marking the launch of the National Anti-Polio Campaign, Kamal outlined plans for the next vaccination round, which is set to take place from 15 to 21 December across the country. The minister appealed directly to parents to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that every child under the age of five received…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Jhpiego-Pakistan formally handed over the findings of a major nationwide study on cervical cancer prevention to the federal government this week, offering the first comprehensive insight into how families view the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine ahead of its introduction in Pakistan. The report, titled “HPV Vaccines Among Young Girls in Pakistan: A Mixed-Methods Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors, and Barriers,” was presented to the federal health minister, Syed Mustafa Kamal, during a meeting at the Ministry of National Health Services in Islamabad. The study, completed shortly before Pakistan prepared to roll out the HPV vaccine,…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Jhpiego-Pakistan formally handed over the findings of a major nationwide study on cervical cancer prevention to the federal government this week, offering the first comprehensive insight into how families view the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine ahead of its introduction in Pakistan. The report, titled “HPV Vaccines Among Young Girls in Pakistan: A Mixed-Methods Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors, and Barriers,” was presented to the federal health minister, Syed Mustafa Kamal, during a meeting at the Ministry of National Health Services in Islamabad. The study, completed shortly before Pakistan prepared to roll out the HPV vaccine,…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal urged parents to take a more active role in Pakistan’s ongoing battle against polio, unveiling a series of measures intended to galvanize public support for the nationwide vaccination campaign scheduled for later this month. Speaking at a ceremony marking the launch of the National Anti-Polio Campaign, Kamal outlined plans for the next vaccination round, which is set to take place from 15 to 21 December across the country. The minister appealed directly to parents to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that every child under the age of five received…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: The federal government announced on Wednesday that it had achieved a significant milestone in its long-running effort to reduce the power sector’s circular debt, completing payments totaling Rs659.6 billion under a planned settlement program. The move was described by Energy Minister Owais Leghari as a “historic transaction” and a key component of the broader Rs1.225 trillion strategy to tackle the sector’s longstanding financial burden, which has weighed heavily on Pakistan’s economy for years. Leghari explained that the authorities successfully redeemed Rs399.6 billion worth of Pakistan Energy Sukuk I and II, marking what he called the…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, has announced that domestic consumers are receiving 26 percent more gas this year compared with the previous year. Speaking in the National Assembly during a call attention notice, Malik said the Prime Minister had instructed that households be provided uninterrupted gas supply from 5am to 10pm. He added that the Prime Minister chaired a high-level review meeting on the issue and issued directives to ensure smooth distribution. Malik said he himself had held two to three meetings on the matter, issuing instructions for all necessary measures, particularly as…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: US Embassy Islamabad’s Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker joined the minister of state for education, Wajiha Qamar, to inaugurate a new purpose-built building of the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) in Islamabad, marking a significant milestone in the longstanding US-Pakistan educational partnership. Baker said that as the United States approached its 250th anniversary in 2026, the new USEFP building would showcase America’s founding ideals and global impact, using the moment to strengthen relations between the two countries. This year also marked the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright program in Pakistan. Designed as a…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has arrived in Islamabad for an official two-day visit to Pakistan, receiving a warm welcome upon arrival. At the airport, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif greeted the visiting dignitary, who was accorded a 21-gun salute. The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Indonesia, and was undertaken at the invitation of Prime Minister Sharif. According to the Foreign Office, President Subianto will hold delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister and also meet President Zardari and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim…