Islamabad, Apr 24, 2025: India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and sealed the Attari border, sending a harsh and undue message to Pakistan. This decision comes in the wake of rising diplomatic tensions and alleged cross-border incidents. The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and considered a cornerstone of India-Pakistan water diplomacy, has survived wars and military standoffs. However, India’s recent action marks a dramatic escalation in bilateral relations. India adopted a stance without any norms, without intimating or providing any proofs and started a media campaign in haste. Officials from India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that the…
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Apr 23, 2025: The Ministry of Finance has issued a new office memorandum, bringing tough news for government pensioners who seek re-employment after retirement. Under the latest directive—based on the recommendations of the Pay and Pension Commission 2020—rehired individuals will only be eligible to receive either their pension or salary, not both. This order applies to all regular or contract-based re-employment or appointments. The directive states that any pensioner who gets rehired will be given a choice to select either the pension or the salary, whichever they prefer. This is aimed at streamlining government expenditures and ensuring fairness in…
Islamabad, Apr 23, 2025: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has officially partnered with the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) to initiate the long-anticipated Peshawar Safe City initiative, with a total investment of Rs2.2 billion. This groundbreaking security and surveillance project is expected to be fully operational within six months. The agreement signing ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s House, with KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur gracing the event as the chief guest. This landmark deal marks a significant step toward modernizing Peshawar’s urban security framework and boosting law enforcement effectiveness across the city. As revealed by…
Islamabad, Apr 23, 2025: K-Electric has officially closed entries for its Energy Progress & Innovation Challenge (EPIC) 2025 following an enthusiastic nationwide response from academia, entrepreneurs, researchers, and startups. As of the final deadline, over 250 entries were received from across Pakistan, reflecting the growing spirit of innovation and localisation in Pakistan’s energy landscape. EPIC 2025, launched in March, built upon the success of KE’s earlier 7/11+ Innovation Challenge and invited participants to address key issues in the power sector through ideations suggesting cutting-edge solutions. The challenge offered both predefined themes and the opportunity for open innovation. Submissions focus on…
Islamabad, Apr 23. 2025: On Tuesday, excise officials in Haripur took decisive action by closing over 30 businesses for their failure to settle property tax dues. This move came after Syed Fayyaz Ali Shah, Secretary of the Excise Department, instructed his team to ensure the complete recovery of overdue taxes. The operation was spearheaded by Excise and Taxation Officer Pervez Akhtar, who oversaw the sealing of a variety of establishments, including a car wash, a fuel station, a regional branch of a private firm, and several shops across the city. Read More: Pakistan Slashes Hajj Assistants by 50% Due to…
Islamabad, Apr 23: In recent years, international students in the United States have faced increasing uncertainty, especially under the Trump administration’s stringent immigration stance. What was once considered a promising pathway to quality education has now turned into a legal maze, as student and scholar visas are being abruptly canceled—often without advance notice—resulting in detentions, interrogations, and in some cases, deportation. Most foreign students arrive in the U.S. on F-1, M-1, or J-1 visas, each linked to specific educational or cultural exchange purposes. These programs require their host institutions to be approved under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP),…
Islamabad, Apr 23, 2025: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is on the verge of implementing a fresh set of mobile tariff regulations aimed at eliminating concealed charges and ensuring openness in billing across all telecom services in the country. These revised rules have been carefully shaped after extensive discussions with both internal experts and external stakeholders. The draft is now in its final phase and is expected to be formally issued soon. The goal behind this regulatory overhaul is to shield mobile users from surprise deductions and unclear pricing while reinforcing their control over mobile expenses. One of the major…
Islamabad, Apr 23, 2025: In a strategic move, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced a 50% cut in the number of Hajj assistants for the 2025 pilgrimage. This decision comes in response to a sharp decline in the number of Pakistani citizens participating in the sacred journey this year. Initially, the government had planned to send 840 support personnel to assist over 179,000 Pakistani pilgrims. These individuals were selected through a rigorous process conducted by the National Testing Service (NTS). However, a recent reduction in the pilgrim count—dropping by nearly 67,000—has prompted the ministry to reevaluate its staffing needs.…
Islamabad, Apr 23, 2025: A handover ceremony for the Grant Aid project “The Project for the Improvement of Water Treatment Plant and Water Distribution System in Faisalabad” (grant amount: 4.094 billion yen) was held in Faisalabad. H.E. Mr. AKAMATSU Shuichi, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Mr. Naoaki Miyata, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Pakistan Office, and Mr. Aamer Aziz, Managing Director of Water and Sanitation Agency, Faisalabad attended the ceremony. Faisalabad is the third most populous city in Pakistan. With rapid population growth, water demand exceeds the existing capacity of the water supply, and citizens in…
Karachi – April 23, 2025: FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited (FCEPL) has announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, showcasing resilience amid a challenging economic landscape. The company posted a profit after tax of Rs. 1.08 billion, a 63% increase compared to Rs. 665 million in the same period last year, primarily driven by reduced finance costs and enhanced operational efficiency. Despite a 5.3% decline in net sales to Rs. 26 billion from Rs. 27.46 billion in Q1 2024, FCEPL recorded an operating profit of Rs. 2.22 billion, marking a 12.8% year-on-year growth. The improvement came…
