Islamabad, Feb 9: Senator Sherry Rehman, the Parliamentary Leader of the PPP in the Senate and Chair of the Climate and Environment Caucus, has called for a unified approach at both national and provincial levels to tackle the growing challenges posed by climate change. Speaking at the 16th Karachi Literature Festival’s session on “Creating Resilience through Climate Change Education,” Rehman underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive response that combines local and global strategies. Reflecting on the devastating floods that affected 33 million people and submerged a third of Pakistan, Rehman urged the implementation of effective solutions to reduce the…
Author: Iqra Khan
Islamabad, Feb 9: In a bid to combat the growing challenges of climate change, the Sindh government has introduced advanced climate-smart technology to strengthen the agricultural sector. The initiative, spearheaded by Sindh Minister for Agriculture Muhammad Baksh Mahar, aims to enhance productivity, ensure food security, and introduce sustainable farming practices amid increasing environmental threats. As part of this effort, the government has established a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) laboratory to combat Panama disease, facilitate early cotton cultivation, and conduct pesticide residue testing in agricultural products. The move is expected to help farmers adopt safer, more efficient farming techniques while improving…
Islamabad, Feb 9: The Sindh government has taken a decisive step to improve Karachi’s traffic situation by imposing a daytime ban on the entry of dumpers and heavy vehicles into the city. Under the new regulations, these vehicles will only be allowed to operate between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The move is aimed at minimizing road accidents caused by large trucks and ensuring smoother traffic flow in the metropolis. Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, following the directives of Chief Minister Sindh, convened an emergency meeting with key officials, including the Inspector General of Sindh Police, Commissioner Karachi, and heads…
Islamabad, Feb 9: The issue of outstanding power sector receivables linked to agricultural tubewells in Balochistan has reached a critical point, with unpaid dues now standing at Rs530 billion due to non-payment by both farmers and the provincial government. Despite an agreement between the federal and Balochistan governments to solarise agricultural tubewells, many consumers have failed to pay their required Rs10,000 monthly contribution, along with additional charges exceeding Rs75,000.
Islamabad, Feb 8: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister, Jam Kamal Khan, engaged in crucial talks with leading Saudi business figures during the “Made in Pakistan” exhibition in Jeddah, held from February 5-7, 2025. The exhibition focused on fostering business collaborations, investment opportunities, and encouraging Saudi brands to enter the Pakistani market. Khan highlighted a 22% increase in Pakistan’s exports to Saudi Arabia, which reached $700 million in the previous year, and emphasized a business-friendly environment in Pakistan, including tax exemptions, investor protection laws, and access to Pakistan’s large consumer market of 240 million people. Saudi investors showed interest, especially in sectors like…
Islamabad, Feb 8: Fazal Moqeem Khan, President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), expressed serious concern over the unusually hot weather in January, highlighting it as a clear sign of the intensifying effects of climate change. He emphasized the urgent need for collaborative efforts, including large-scale plantation drives, to combat the growing threat of global warming. In a statement released on Saturday, Khan warned that if temperatures continue to rise in the coming years, it would exacerbate the energy crisis in the country, already grappling with insufficient power supply. This, he noted, would further strain businesses, industries,…
Islamabad, Feb 8: Lahore’s Traffic Police have rolled out a comprehensive traffic management plan to ensure smooth vehicle movement during the upcoming tri-nation cricket series. Over 1,000 traffic officers will be deployed across the city to regulate traffic flow and minimize congestion. To address illegal parking, 20 forklifts and four breakdown vehicles will be used to keep the roads clear. Cricket fans will have access to designated parking areas, including spots near Government College, Liberty, CBD near Centre Point, and LDA Plaza. While no roads will be permanently closed during the series, temporary traffic disruptions may occur when teams are…
Islamabad, Feb 8: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has awarded all four sections of the Rs120 billion Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (Carec) Tranche-III corridor project to Chinese firm Ningxia Communication Construction (NXCC) following the opening of financial bids on Thursday. However, the bidding process has stirred controversy, with competing firms planning to challenge the decision in court, citing irregularities and a lack of transparency. According to sources reported by Dawn, several bidders filed formal complaints with the NHA’s Grievance Redressal Cell (GRC) before the bids were opened. They allege that their concerns were not addressed and that the process…
Islamabad, Feb 8: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing electricity tariffs for both domestic and industrial consumers, highlighting the ongoing positive outcomes of the power sector reforms. During a review meeting, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far but emphasized the need for quicker implementation to ensure that electricity remains affordable and environmentally sustainable. The Prime Minister noted that renegotiations with independent power producers (IPPs) are playing a significant role in reducing electricity costs, benefiting both consumers and the national treasury. He also vowed to intensify efforts to combat power theft,…
Islamabad, Feb 8: The Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to establish a fully operational tax office in Gwadar, highlighting the city’s growing economic significance and the need for enhanced tax compliance mechanisms. The call came after a recent tax awareness seminar in Gwadar, during which PTBA provisionally set up the Makran Tax Bar to serve Gwadar, Turbat, and surrounding areas. Currently, Gwadar only has an FBR facilitation center, which PTBA argues is inadequate for addressing the increasing tax compliance and procedural needs of the businesses in the region. Given Gwadar’s pivotal role…
