KP is gearing up to evaluate additional hospitals to expand the reach of free treatment under the Sehat Card Plus scheme. This comes in light of an anticipated surge in patient numbers following Eidul Fitr. Presently, a total of 753 hospitals nationwide cater to the healthcare needs of KP residents. 118 are present within the province and 635 spread across Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. This initiative, reinstated under the PTI government, has yet to witness a significant uptick in patient traffic. However, with Eidul Fitr approaching, authorities foresee a notable increase in patient footfall. To prepare for the anticipated rise…
Author: Web Desk2
The Pakhtun Students Federation (PSF) has voiced its dissatisfaction with the discontinuation of the distribution of complimentary textbooks to schoolchildren in KPK attending government schools in the area and urged authorities to swiftly reverse this decision. PSF president Abdul Wahab Afridi highlighted the impact of militant activities on the education sector in the tribal district. He cited the destruction of more than 100 schools and the subsequent plight of thousands of students. Afridi emphasized the urgent need for school reconstruction efforts. The president also emphasized the critical importance of continuing to provide free textbooks to students. Afridi underscored that a…
Pakistan issued a stern condemnation of a devastating suicide bombing that shook Kandahar, Afghanistan, claiming the lives of at least 20 innocent individuals. This tragic incident struck a chord with Pakistan. The state emphasized the severity of such violent acts. It viewed them as a shared concern demanding mutual attention and cooperation between the two neighboring nations. The targeted suicide attack specifically aimed at civilians heading to a bank in Kandahar, predominantly government employees collecting their salaries. However, conflicting reports emerged regarding the casualty toll, with hospital authorities initially reporting the figure to the media. Nonetheless, Taliban officials contested this…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended a meeting with a delegation from Barrick Gold Company led by CEO Mark Bristow. He emphasized the transformative potential of the Reko Diq project, stating that it would spur development in Balochistan. He reiterated his conviction that the project would mark a significant milestone in the province’s progress. It will usher in an era of prosperity for its residents. During discussions, the prime minister stressed the importance of comprehensive planning, particularly in developing communication infrastructure such as railway lines. He said it is to fully capitalize on the mineral wealth of Balochistan. He underscored the…
The Balochistan government has decided to intensify its efforts to preserve forests and maintain tree cover across the province. Members of civil society emphasized the critical need for swift and practical actions by the provincial authorities to safeguard rare species and uphold environmental sustainability. Aziz Ullah, an environmentalist, highlighted the detrimental impact of illegal logging of ancient trees on Balochistan’s ecosystem. He called for urgent measures to halt this destructive practice. During the harsh winter months in Balochistan, locals resort to cutting down ancient trees such as Juniper, Palos, and Olive. They cut them down for firewood. This led to…
Two soldiers died while the Pakistan Army eliminated eight attackers in Gawadar who tried to breach the Gwadar Port Authority Colony, as per the military’s public relations department. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that a group of eight terrorists tried to infiltrate the Port Authority Colony. However, security, personnel successfully repelled them. In swift response, security forces engaged the terrorists, resulting in the elimination of all eight assailants. They seized a substantial cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives during the operation, the ISPR noted. Sepoy Bahar Khan, aged 35 and hailing from Dera Ghazi Khan, along with Sepoy…
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif disclosed the dismissal of Afghan nationals. He said two officers were expelled from the Pakistani Army as part of the country’s crackdown on illegal immigrants. Asif highlighted that the majority of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists reside in Afghanistan. He further said some were resettled in Pakistan during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. He mentioned briefing the National Assembly on this matter. Asif clarified that while there has been no recent influx of Afghan nationals at the state level, infiltration attempts by militants persist. The minister underscored the porous Pak-Afghan border, explaining how individuals can easily cross…
Pakistan’s military launched airstrikes within Afghan territory, prompting a stern warning from the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan about potential repercussions. These airstrikes followed a deadly attack in northwest Pakistan. It claimed the lives of seven soldiers, sparking a blame game between the neighboring countries over responsibility for the attacks. The Taliban accused Pakistan of targeting civilian homes in provinces near the border. This resulted in casualties, a claim initially met with silence from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs until later confirmation. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the airstrikes and cautioned about the potential adverse consequences beyond Pakistan’s control. He urged…
The World Bank has revised its assessment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Human Capital Investment Project (KPHCIP), valued at $200 million, due to delays in its implementation. Official records indicate that the current progress towards achieving the Project Development Objective (PDO) and the implementation status are both moderately unsatisfactory. As of January 12, 2024, $31.76 million disbursed for the KPHCIP, which represents approximately 16 percent of the total project funds. Initial delays and recent downgrades in performance are attributed to prolonged approvals of the revised Planning Commission Proforma—Project Initiation Document (PC-1), along with a downgrade in the Environmental Safeguards rating. Approved…
On Monday, Pakistan struck terrorists in Afghanistan via “intelligence-based” aerial strikes. The strikes were aimed at punishing the “terrorists” responsible for the deaths of civilians and security forces in cross-border raids. The operation specifically targeted fugitive commanders associated with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a globally designated terrorist organization based in Afghan sanctuaries. Afghanistan’s Taliban government denounced the strikes, claiming that eight civilians, mostly women and children, were killed. However, the identities of the deceased could not be independently verified. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that it had repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to take action against terrorism and the use of Afghan…