Islamabad, Jan 4: Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz has welcomed a significant $700 million investment from China in Punjab, aimed at fostering technological advancements and economic growth in the region. The CM met with a high-level Chinese delegation, including Chengdu General Coordinator for ICT Hub Scarlett and Deputy CEO of Huawei, Yu Ray, on Friday to discuss the details of the investment. The investment includes the launch of an e-taxi service in collaboration with Chengdu, alongside the establishment of a state-of-the-art “Computing Centre” in Lahore’s Nawaz Sharif IT City. A key agreement made during the meeting was the creation of…
Author: Iqra Khan
Islamabad, Jan 4: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has deployed electric buses for the Diplomatic Enclave shuttle service, following the conclusion of a three-year contract with a private firm on Friday. The Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) has taken over the service, with eight CDA electric buses set to begin operations on Monday. These buses will continue to operate until a new contract is awarded for the service. Despite the temporary arrangement, some officials have suggested that the CDA should manage the service permanently, avoiding reliance on private contractors who have been accused of overcharging citizens. Previously, the private contractor…
Islamabad, Jan 4: The Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, highlighted the growing bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan and expressed his goal of increasing mutual trade to US$1 billion in the coming years. Speaking at a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Tukhtaev noted that bilateral trade had grown significantly, from US$122 million in 2019 to US$387 million in 2023, thanks to the leadership-level agreement between the two countries. Tukhtaev emphasized the recent advancement of direct flight routes between Tashkent and Lahore, and hinted at the potential launch of direct flights from Karachi…
Islamabad, Jan 4: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the government’s commitment to fostering an inclusive society by empowering individuals through accessible education and resources. In his message on World Braille Day, January 4, 2024, he highlighted key initiatives, such as equipping schools with Braille books, improving teacher training, and establishing specialized centers for visually impaired students. These efforts aim to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities to succeed. The Prime Minister recognized Braille as more than just a system for reading and writing, but as a powerful tool for inclusivity, enabling visually impaired individuals to…
Islamabad, Jan 4: Usman Wazir, the renowned Pakistani boxer and World Youth Champion, has praised the upcoming World Boxing Championship, scheduled to take place in Pakistan on January 25. This landmark event is set to elevate the profile of boxing in the country and serve as an inspiration for the next generation of athletes. Wazir emphasized the importance of such initiatives for the growth of boxing and other sports beyond cricket in Pakistan. The championship will feature boxers from five countries, including Indonesia, Iran, Thailand, and France, who will compete in ten bouts for the prestigious title. The event will…
Islamabad, Jan 4: Pakistan’s left-handed opening batsman, Saim Ayub, has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa due to a right ankle injury sustained on the opening day at Newlands, Cape Town. The 22-year-old injured his ankle while attempting to relay a ball during the first session of play. Ayub was immediately forced to leave the field and was later taken to a nearby hospital for X-rays and MRI scans. The reports have been sent to specialists in London to determine the best course of treatment and to assess his recovery timeline. This injury comes as a…
Islamabad, Jan 4: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) jointly organized a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on December 17-18, 2024, aimed at promoting gender diversity in Non-Banking Microfinance Companies (NBMFCs). Representatives from all SECP-regulated NBMFCs participated in this initiative, which focused on fostering inclusivity within organizational frameworks and tailoring financial services to better serve women, who represent over 70% of the sector’s clientele. The workshop emphasized identifying and addressing gender biases, adopting inclusive workplace policies, and designing financial products that cater to the unique needs of women. Khalida Habib, SECP’s…
Islamabad, Jan 4: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported a 3.97% year-on-year increase in inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) for the week ending January 2, 2024. This surge highlights significant price hikes in key commodities and services over the past year. Notable year-on-year increases were observed in items such as tomatoes (up by 77.84%), ladies’ sandals (75.09%), and potatoes (66.63%). Other significant contributors included pulse gram (47.53%), pulse moong (30.73%), powdered milk (25.62%), and beef (23.94%). Additionally, utility costs like gas charges for Q1 (15.52%) and essential household goods like cooked daal (15.10%) and firewood (13.18%)…
Islamabad, Jan 4: Pakistan Single Window (PSW) has achieved a significant milestone by integrating seven major government organizations, including provincial revenue authorities and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), to facilitate seamless data exchange for import and export clearances. This integration is part of a broader effort to streamline trade processes and enhance transparency. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued SRO.2076(I)/2024, applying the PSW notification retroactively from July 1, 2024. The integration also includes several key departments, such as the Department of Plant Protection, Animal Quarantine Department, Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, Pakistan Standard and Quality Control…
Islamabad, Jan 4: The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has announced the schedule for the Combined Competitive Examination-2023, commonly known as the Punjab Management Service (PMS) exam. Spanning from January 18 to February 3, 2025, the examination will cover a broad range of compulsory and optional subjects. The compulsory papers, which include English, Urdu, Pakistan Studies, and Islamic Studies, are scheduled for January 18–20, 2025. These exams will test candidates on core subjects vital for public service roles. Following these, the optional papers will be conducted from January 25 to February 3. The optional exams are arranged into various groups,…