Author: Iqra Khan

Islamabad, Jan 6: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has conducted an Independent Quality of Service (QoS) survey across 18 cities to evaluate the performance of Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs). This assessment aimed to measure key performance indicators (KPIs) related to voice, mobile broadband, and short messaging services (SMS), as specified in operator licenses and regulations. According to the survey results, Zong secured the top position overall, excelling in nearly all evaluated attributes. Jazz followed as the second-best performer, with Ufone and Telenor ranking third and fourth, respectively. While the survey highlighted encouraging compliance levels with KPIs for voice and latency,…

Read More

Islamabad, Jan 6: In the last 24 hours, 63 Pakistani nationals have been deported from four countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Malaysia, and Iraq. Upon their arrival at Karachi airport, they were processed in accordance with legal protocols before being allowed to return to their respective homes. According to airport sources, Saudi Arabia deported 29 individuals, citing various reasons. Among them, four individuals were blacklisted, 15 were involved in absconding (haroob) cases, and 10 were deported for overstaying their visas. The deportations highlight the consequences of non-compliance with residency and labor laws in the Kingdom. Malaysia deported 16 Pakistanis…

Read More

Islamabad, Jan 6: Admissions to public sector medical colleges in Punjab are set to begin on Monday, January 6, 2025, as announced by the University of Health Sciences (UHS). The process will follow guidelines issued by the Punjab Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), ensuring a transparent and merit-based selection system. For MBBS programs, government medical colleges across Punjab will accept online applications from January 6 to January 15. The first merit list for these programs will be displayed on January 23. Similarly, the admissions for BDS programs in government dental colleges will commence on February 3 and conclude on February…

Read More

Islamabad, Jan 6: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is gearing up to be a major cricketing event, with initial 15-member squads due by January 12, as confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Hosted by Pakistan, the tournament will feature the world’s top cricketing nations competing for supremacy. Key Squad Submission Deadlines Initial Submission: January 12, 2025. Final Adjustments: Teams can modify their lineups, with the final 15-player squads to be submitted by February 12, 2025. England is currently the only team to have announced its squad. Other teams are expected to reveal their lineups in the coming days. Tournament…

Read More

Islamabad, Jan 6: Mobile phone and internet services in Quetta have been suspended for two days starting Sunday night, with services expected to resume on Tuesday, January 7, at midnight. The suspension, attributed to security concerns, comes as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) calls for a province-wide shutter-down strike to press for their demands. Internet disruptions in Pakistan have resulted in massive economic losses. A report by Top10VPN.com highlighted that Pakistan incurred $1.62 billion in financial losses in 2024 due to internet shutdowns, making it the hardest-hit country globally, surpassing nations like Sudan and Myanmar. The report documented 18 deliberate shutdowns in…

Read More

Islamabad, Jan 5: Petroleum Exploration (Pvt) Ltd (PEL) has successfully acquired significant energy assets from the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC), including oil and gas concessions in the regions of Dadu, Kirthar, Tajjal, and Qadirpur. The acquisition involves leases for Bhit and Qadirpur, which are among the country’s most energy-rich regions, further expanding PEL’s exploration portfolio and reinforcing its presence in Pakistan’s energy sector. PEL’s CEO, Shahzad Zaheer, emphasized that this strategic move aligns with the company’s long-term objectives of exploring new energy sources, unlocking Pakistan’s untapped resources, and contributing to the nation’s energy security. The acquisition, Zaheer stated,…

Read More

Islamabad, Jan 5: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has committed to providing $210.12 million in financing to Pakistan for the reconstruction of the National Highway N-5 under the Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework. This marks the AIIB’s first standalone project in Pakistan’s transport sector. The aim of the project is to enhance climate resilience, improve operational efficiency, and boost road safety by upgrading critical four-lane segments into a six-lane dual carriageway that is more resilient to climate change. AIIB is currently evaluating the project, with the loan expected to be approved by May 2025. The first phase of…

Read More

Islamabad, Jan 5: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has embarked on an important research study aimed at developing a “Roadmap for Honeybee Cluster Development” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This initiative is part of Pakistan’s Ten-Year Plan for the Honey Sector and seeks to evaluate the sector’s performance in terms of market trends, trade volume, and competitiveness. According to Rashid Aman, Chief of SMEDA KP, the research study will be completed within six months, with the aim of providing actionable policy recommendations to improve the sector’s growth. The study will also suggest necessary interventions by the government and…

Read More

Islamabad, Jan 5: Pakistan’s leading fruit and vegetable exporter, Shahid Suntan, has ventured into the mushroom industry, making significant strides with a $6 million investment aimed at promoting mushroom production in the country. Through his initiative, Suntan has pioneered industrial mushroom production, with his SunGold Mushrooms farm now standing as the largest such farm in Pakistan, complete with its own spawn production lab and state-of-the-art facilities. Suntan explained that his goal is to promote “Made in Pakistan” globally and contribute to the growth of the mushroom market. He highlighted that while many modern farms produce mushrooms, SunGold’s capacity stands out,…

Read More

Islamabad, Jan 5: The 4th International Hydropower Conference 2025, organized by Energy Update in collaboration with the Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and the International Hydropower Association, will take place on January 9. The conference aims to bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and global experts to explore the transformative role of hydropower in shaping a sustainable energy future for Pakistan. The event will kick off with an inaugural session featuring key addresses from notable figures such as M. Naeem Qureshi, Managing Editor of Energy Update; Shah Jahan Mirza, Managing Director of PPIB; Eddie Rich, CEO of the International Hydropower Association…

Read More