COMSATS
& ITS hold
Conference in Indonesia on Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development
ISLAMABAD|
S TA F F R E P O R T
The COMSATS–ITS Conference on Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development" has been successfully held in Surabaya Indonesia The Conference was organized by the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and its esteemed Centre of Excellence, the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Indonesia, in collaboration with the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) The event was held in conjunction with the 26th Meeting of COMSATS Coordinating Council The S&T Conference aimed to highlight the role of Emerging Technologies in advancing sustainable development; share best practices, research findings, and policy experiences related to technology-driven sustainability solutions; and identify opportunities for collaboration Sharing his thoughts as Chief Guest at the opening ceremony Dr Mohammad Fauzan Adziman Director General of R&D Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology Indonesia, shared insights in Indonesia s growing international engagement for scientific research and development He highlighted the facilitative frameworks to support research collaborations of Indonesian scientists Stressing that international collaboration is key to development he praised COMSATS initiatives and activities including indigenous EV Technology program, NanoTech Lab, Joint Center on Industrial Biotechnology, TeleHealth Clinics and other innovative initiatives He encouraged Indonesian R&D organizations to actively engage COMSATS to benefit from its Centres of Excellence
President for wards PANAH's petition on ultra-processed food taxes to Ministr y of Finance and FBR
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) expresses its deep gratitude to the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, for taking prompt and decisive action on PANAH's petition calling for the imposition of higher taxes on solid and liquid ultra-processed products (UPPs) in the Federal Budget 2026-27 The President s Secretariat (Public) Aiwan-e-Sadr Islamabad has formally forwarded the petition submitted by Maj Gen (Retd) Dr Masood Ur Rehman Kiani, President of PANAH, to the Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and the Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for necessary action under the law and rules Commenting on this significant development Maj Gen (Retd) Dr Masood Ur Rehman Kiani stated: We are deeply encouraged by President Zardari s responsiveness to our public health advocacy The forwarding of this petition to the Ministry of Finance and FBR is a meaningful step towards protecting millions of Pakistanis from the devastating health consequences of ultra-processed foods and beverages
Sindh Governor meets media delegation at Governor House
S
Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nihal Hashmi met with directors of various media organizations at the Governor House where mat ters related to journalism, responsible reporting, and national affairs were discussed in detail The meeting was attended by Syed Turab Shah, Director of ABN News and Asoaf Group Mudassar Alam Director of Pakistan Today Zahid Karani of Daily The AZB and Sakina Zafar of Ashish News During the meeting Syed Turab Shah presented a bouquet and conveyed congratulatory messages from MD Mohsin Bilal Khan and Chairman Raja Mehtab Khan Abbasi on the Governor ’s performance of Hajj The delegation also extended congratulations to the Sindh Governor on completing the pilgrimage Speaking on the occasion Governor Sindh said that free, responsible, and positive journalism is essential for the development and stability of society He stated that journalists play a key role in promoting public awareness, national consciousness and unity
Lahore Police, Ulema chart Muharram security plan, vow foolproof arrangements
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana on Wednesday said that comprehensive and foolproof security arrangements would be put in place to ensure the safety of participants attending Muharramul Haram majalis and mourning processions across the provincial capital He was chairing a meeting of the District Peace Committee (DPC) held at Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh, which was attended by prominent religious scholars and members of the Central Peace Committee including Agha Hussain Qazalbash Maulana Muhammad Ali Naqshbandi, Khawaja Meesam Abbas, Mufti Imran Sajjad Hanafi, Maulana Rai Zafar Ali and Maulana Shakeelur Rehman The meeting reviewed arrangements for maintaining peace and reviewed overall security planning for Muharramul
Haram Participants exchanged views on ensuring interfaith harmony coordinated security measures and effective implementation of agreed protocols during religious gatherings Addressing the meeting, CCPO Kamyana said that maintaining law and order and promoting religious harmony were collective responsibilities of all stakeholders He expressed confidence that Muharram would remain peaceful through close coordination among all schools of thought, the district administration and relevant line departments The CCPO
Al Khidmat Foundation par tners foodpanda for a Grand Beach Clean Drive on World Environment Day
KARACHI
S TA F F R E P O R T
In celebration of World Environment Day the Al Khidmat Foundation successfully partnered with foodpanda to host a "Grand Beach Clean Drive" at Sea View, Karachi This collaborative community initiative brought together volunteers and team members to focus on environmental restoration and awareness along one of Karachi s most iconic shorelines As part of this environmental effort foodpanda s delivery partners joined forces with volunteers to remove waste and debris from the beach By participating in this drive, foodpanda aimed to contribute directly to the preservation of Pakistan’s natural landscapes and advocate for sustainable living reinforcing its ongoing commitment to the communities it serves At foodpanda we believe that being a responsible corporate citizen goes beyond our daily operations, and it is about actively contributing to the well-being of the environments where we operate," said Ahsan Malik, Director Logistics foodpanda Pakistan "We are honored to once again stand alongside the Al Khidmat Foundation for yet another important initiative
NHA generates over Rs1b
plus of over Rs1 billion for the financial year 2026-27 According to a press release issued on Wednesday the auction process was conducted in a fair transparent and orderly manner in line with approved procedures and terms GM (Revenue/ITS) NHA Headquarters Sadaqat Ullah Akhunzada acted as auctioneer during the bidding process Highlighting a massive surge in public-private partnerships, the auction yielded an extraordinary annual revenue surplus of Rs1 5 billion over the set targets with winning bids averaging an impressive 30% above their designated reserve prices Prominent national logistics giants and private entities, including the National Logistics Cell (NLC), Ali Enterprises, Muhammad Ramzan & Company, and Gohar Hayat aggressively secured operational rights across key highway networks The highest monthly yields during this phase were recorded at the strategic Jamshoro plaza (Rs156 670 000) and the Sangjani plaza (Rs134,845,000) along the N-5 highway
Bank Alfalah
backs Squash Development Project to help restore Pakistan’s spor ting legacy
KARACHI
S TA F F R E P O R T
Bank Alfalah, one of the leading commercial banks in Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BARD Foundation to support the development of the BARD Squash Complex a landmark initiative aimed at contributing to the revival and advancement of squash in Pakistan, to encourage youth development, and create a world-class facility capable of nurturing future national and international champions Under the partnership Bank Alfalah will provide sponsorship support of PKR 50 million plus applicable taxes towards the development of the squash complex The facility is envisioned as a modern sporting hub that will host tournaments, deliver structured training programmes, and support community engagement initiatives designed to expand access to the sport and strengthen Pakistan’s squash ecosystem The collaboration reflects a shared commitment by both organisations to promote sports development, empower young athletes, and create pathways for sporting excellence
QAU, UNHCR sign agreement on refugee Law Education & Research
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The School of Law, Quaid-i-Azam University, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) commemorated World Refugee Day and hosted the signing ceremony of a Cooperation Framework Agreement aimed at strengthening academic collaboration in the fields of refugee law migration statelessness and forced displacement The event was attended by Mr Asmat Ullah Shah, Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Government of Pakistan; His Excellency Mr Georg Steiner, Ambassador of Switzerland to Pakistan; Mr Oscar Manuel Deputy Representative and Officer-in-Charge UNHCR Pakistan; Professor Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal Vice Chancellor Quaid-iAzam University; Professor Dr Hafiz Aziz-urRehman, Director, School of Law; and Dr Salma Malik Director External Linkages Quaid-i-Azam University along with faculty members researchers students and representatives of partner institutions