In the middle of navigating economic disturbance, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to Islamabad was more than a routine diplomatic engagement for Pakistan, as it presented an opportunity to secure stronger Chinese financial and strategic support. Yet, even as the country seeks external backing, recent events at home — unprecedented rains and flash floods — have exposed deep-seate
The World Bank on Monday approved a $47.9 million grant to improve primary education in Punjab, saying the project will expand early childhood schooling, re-enrol out-of-school children and strengthen teacher support. In June, the World Bank has approved $100m for the “Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services in Balochistan” (GRADES-Balochistan) project, which aimed
For a change, the federal government led by the PML-N and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government headed by the PTI seem to be in agreement on changes to the oversized population factor in determining the share of the federation and its federating units under the new National Finance Commission (NFC), set to hold its introductory meeting later this week. “We will demand that population and backwardne
In an effort to settle disputes over crop data, especially in Punjab, a new programme aims to use satellite technology to obtain accurate crop cultivation figures. Unreliable figures on total acreage and production of a specific crop have remained a persistent issue for the country. The lack of accurate information makes it difficult for stakeholders, including government departments, to fra
The government has removed a senior petroleum division official on orders from the PM Office, following a controversy involving the award of a majority government-owned gas field to third party, sources told Dawn. Director General Petroleum Concessions Kashif Ali, a grade 20 officer, has been transferred to the administration/policy wing of the petroleum division. In his stead, Imran Ahmad,