Author: Mehrab Shah Afridi

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s repatriation drive against Afghan nationals living in the country without legal status continued, as the Ministry of Interior said more than 680,000 people had so far been sent back across the border in a phased process that authorities described as ongoing and orderly. According to official figures, a large number of those who returned held Afghan Citizen Cards or Proof of Registration documents, while others were categorised as having no valid papers. Officials said the repatriations had taken place from different parts of the country and were being carried out in stages, with priority…

The PSIB aims to ensure tangible results, offering certification, job placement, and a minimum of six months’ employment retention for every trainee By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday launched its first-ever private-capital-funded Pakistan Skills Impact Bond (PSIB), a milestone in the country’s approach to workforce development. Backed by a guarantee from the Ministry of Finance, the bond will operationalize an inaugural Rs1 billion pilot tranche of a three-year program aimed at scaling technical skills training across the country. The PSIB is designed to deliver measurable outcomes, including certification, job placement and at least six months of employment retention…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis seeking employment in Europe have received a significant boost, with Italy allocating a total of 10,500 job opportunities over the next three years. The announcement comes after dedicated efforts by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. According to ministry sources, the quota allows for 3,500 Pakistanis each year to take up seasonal and non-seasonal employment in Italy. Of these, 1,500 positions will be seasonal, while 2,000 will be non-seasonal roles. The jobs span sectors including shipbreaking, hospitality, healthcare, agriculture, and related skilled and semi-skilled trades. Roles available for Pakistani workers include…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi KHYBER: Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, made a brief visit to District Khyber, addressing local elders and residents at a jirga in Bara Tehsil. Speaking to the community, Afridi condemned attempts to misrepresent the provincial government’s stance, saying regime change had ended the democratic government of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and false narratives were being used against him, which he successfully countered. He highlighted the Grand Peace Jirga held recently, which produced a 15-point consensus, noting that all political and religious groups had opposed any military operations. Afridi criticised attempts to sabotage this…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has continued to deepen its energy and industrial cooperation with Russia, as officials confirmed ongoing discussions on multiple strategic projects. The collaboration comes against a backdrop of broader regional tensions and recent scrutiny of India-Pakistan military encounters. According to foreign media reports, Pakistan began importing Russian crude oil in 2023, and Russian Energy Minister Sergei Svelyov disclosed in November that Russian companies are exploring plans to upgrade a refinery in Pakistan. The initiative reflects a growing partnership in oil production and refining, with both nations seeking to capitalize on technical expertise and industrial capacity.…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Eleven years have passed since terrorists stormed the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, yet the pain has shown no sign of fading. For parents who buried their children and for siblings who grew up without brothers or sisters, December remains the coldest and longest month, heavy with memory. On 16 December 2014, militants turned a place of learning into a killing field, murdering 147 people, including 132 students, as well as women teachers and school staff. More than 150 others were wounded in an attack that shook the nation to its core. Among the…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the First Lady and a member of the National Assembly, appealed to parents, caregivers, community leaders and local authorities to fully support the final nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025, calling it a decisive moment in Pakistan’s long fight against the virus. Speaking as the campaign began from 15 to 21 December, Bhutto Zardari said the goal of achieving 100% vaccination coverage was both urgent and achievable, provided families ensured that every child under the age of five received the drops. She described the drive as the culmination of years of sustained…

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,…