RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has decided to transfer all existing water filtration plants in the Rawalpindi division to the Punjab Saaf Pani Company to ensure the provision of clean drinking water according to health standards. New filtration plants will also be installed in areas currently without such facilities. Consultation between the Rawalpindi administration and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has been finalised. WASA will present a comprehensive report on existing and proposed filtration plants to the commissioner. At present, WASA Rawalpindi manages 127 water filtration plants within the city.…
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OGRA moves to scrap fixed returns in gas pricing
ISLAMABAD: Following the government’s plan to restructure gas utilities, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has decided to review the existing gas pricing formula based on return on fixed assets, keeping in view current gas sector dynamics and market liberalisation. The government had tasked the OGRA with restructuring the two public gas utilities by doing away with the fixed asset-based return. According to officials, the regulator hired consultancy firm KPMG to review the formula, and it has submitted its report. The regulator has started consultations with stakeholders to change…
Read MoreSME financing gaps highlighted at Lahore expo
LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday organised the SME Finance and Banking Expo to provide small and medium enterprises direct access to banking facilities, financing schemes and financial products. According to a statement, the day-long event saw participation from almost all major commercial banks, Islamic banks and financial institutions operating in the country. Banks set up dedicated stalls where a large number of LCCI members visited to obtain information on SME-focused financing products, refinance schemes, credit facilities, Islamic finance models and digital banking solutions. The expo…
Read MoreVisa discusses digitising govt payments
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday held a meeting with a Visa delegation led by Tareq Muhmood, Regional President for Central Europe, Middle East and Africa, to discuss advancing digital payments, financial inclusion and ongoing economic reforms in Pakistan. Aurangzeb appreciated Visa’s continued engagement with Pakistan’s financial sector. The discussion focused on improving macroeconomic indicators, ongoing economic stabilisation efforts and the government’s priorities for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth, according to a news release. Aurangzeb briefed the delegation on progress under the International Monetary Fund…
Read MoreCalligraphic works embody ‘Call of the Divine’
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and the National Heritage & Culture Division have organised a calligraphic exhibition and artist talk called “The Call of the Divine,” which features the works of Razwan Baig, Shazian Baig and Shanzay Baig, at the National Art Gallery, Islamabad. The exhibition showcases a blend of traditional and modern calligraphy, highlighting Quranic verses and Pakistani culture. The artists, part of the renowned Baig family, have exhibited their work internationally and are recognised for their contributions to Pakistani art. The chief guest at…
Read MoreJudges evaluation: JCP makes headways
ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has moved closer to formalising a framework for the annual performance evaluation of high court judges, with a key committee reaching broad agreement on proposed rules aimed at setting measurable standards under Article 175-A (20) of the Constitution. A meeting of the JCP committee, led by Justice Aamir Farooq, was held on Tuesday to deliberate on the draft rules. Other members of the committee include Mansoor Awan, Ali Zafar and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) representative Ahsan Bhoon. The meeting continued for more than…
Read MoreBiopsy blunder at PIMS claims patient’s life
ISLAMABAD: A grave case of alleged negligence occurred at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital, where a woman admitted for lung treatment lost her life due to a wrong medical procedure. Instead of performing a biopsy on the lungs of a woman suffering from a pulmonary disease, doctors mistakenly carried out a biopsy on her liver. The matter was exposed after the samples sent to a private laboratory revealed the shocking truth. The relatives of the deceased patient have filed a formal application with the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory…
Read More‘Conducive environment’ behind K-P terror surge, says DG ISPR
ISLAMABAD: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Tuesday that terrorists had found a “conducive environment” in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which he linked to the province recording the highest number of attacks over the past year. Addressing a wide-ranging media briefing at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the chief military spokesperson said the state’s stance on eliminating terrorism was unequivocal and asserted that the menace would be crushed decisively through the use of force and without compromise. He rejected narratives portraying Pakistan as a “powerless state”,…
Read MoreEx-PTI leaders push plan for political dialogue
ISLAMABAD: A group of former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, along with politicians from other parties, on Wednesday proposed a series of confidence-building measures, including the formation of high-powered negotiation teams comprising government and opposition representatives, to help lower the country’s political temperature. The proposals were outlined in a joint declaration issued by the National Dialogue Committee (NDC), an initiative launched by former PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail and Mahmood Moulvi. The NDC convened a national conference to initiate a dialogue process aimed at bringing the government and opposition to…
Read MoreTen Bar members elected unopposed
RAWALPINDI: Ten more members of the executive body have been elected unopposed in the annual elections of the District Bar Association Rawalpindi. Earlier, Library Secretary Kashif Hussain and Auditor Muhammad Nazakat were also elected unopposed. The newly elected unopposed executive body members include Huriya Saeed, Aleema Khalid, Nahid Nazir, Hasan Nawaz, Hanan Irfan, Syed Zainul Abideen, Faheem Zafar, Muhammad Rizwan, Mudassar Mahmood, and Wajahat Zohur. Election Board Chairman Sajid Ilyas Bhatti said a projection meeting will be held today, Thursday, January 8, during which candidates for president, secretary, vice president,…
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