ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked officials to improve licensing regulations regarding the manufacturing of electric vehicles in the country, Pakistani state media reported on Saturday.
Pakistan approved an ambitious National Electric Vehicles Policy (NEVP) in 2019 with the goal of electric vehicles comprising 30 percent of all passenger vehicles and heavy-duty truck sales by 2030, and an even more ambitious target of 90 percent by 2040.
Presiding over a meeting with regard to country’s shift to electric vehicles, Sharif directed officials to finalize a policy after consultations with all the federating units and stakeholders, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“The government is taking priority steps to promote electric vehicles in the country,” he was quoted as saying by the broadcaster. “These vehicles will not only save valuable foreign exchange in terms of import of petrol and diesel but will also be environment friendly.”
Pakistan, which has been struggling with an economic crisis, imports most of its energy needs. The country’s urban areas exhibit some of the world’s highest levels of air pollution, primarily due to sub-2.5 μm particulate emissions. This issue significantly impairs both the country’s economy and the quality of life of its residents.
Road transport is a significant contributor to air pollution as around 23 percent of Pakistan’s greenhouse gas emissions originate from vehicles.
Official informed participants of the meeting that since 2022, 49 licenses had been issued for the production of two and three-wheeled electric vehicles at the local level, of which 25 plants had started manufacturing, according to the Radio Pakistan report.
The first license for domestic production of four-wheeled electric vehicles was issued in September this year and the first indigenously manufactured electric car will come into the market by December. The meeting was informed that recharging stations for electric vehicles would also set up on priority basis.
The prime minister announced providing electric motorbikes to outstanding students of government-run schools on the pattern of the government’s laptop distribution scheme. He also asked the Capital Development Authority to prepare a comprehensive plan for electric-powered public transport in Islamabad.
PM calls for improving licensing regulations for electric vehicles manufacturing in Pakistan
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PM calls for improving licensing regulations for electric vehicles manufacturing in Pakistan
- Pakistan approved National Electric Vehicles Policy in 2019 with the goal of electric vehicles comprising 30 percent of all passenger vehicles
- Road transport is a significant contributor to air pollution as around 23 percent of Pakistan’s greenhouse gas emissions originate from vehicles
Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam University breaks into top 500 global institutions
- Located in Islamabad, the university is placed in the 401-500 band by Times Higher Education Rankings
- Other Pakistani educational institutions on the list include LUMS, NUST, COMSATS and Air University
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam University has secured a spot among the top 500 universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, with the institution placed in the 401-500 band.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are released annually and consider several benchmarks that include teaching, research, employability, and sustainability. Securing a position in these rankings not only enhances a university’s reputation but also reflects its academic excellence and global impact.
Quaid-e-Azam University is the only educational institution in Pakistan to fall in the 401-500 ranking band followed by seven other local universities falling within the 601-800 band.
“This year’s ranking analyzed more than 134 million citations across 16.5 million research publications and included survey responses from 68,402 scholars globally,” the Times Higher Education website said. “Overall, we collected 411,789 data points from more than 2,673 institutions that submitted data.”
“Trusted worldwide by students, teachers, governments and industry experts, the 2024 league table reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting,” it added.
The Pakistani universities in the 601-800 band include Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Air University, Capital University of Science and Technology, COMSATS University Islamabad, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Government College University Faisalabad and National University of Sciences and Technology.
Eleven Pakistani universities attained a spot in the 801-1000 ranking band including Bahria University, Hazara University Mansehra, International Islamic University Islamabad, Islamia College Peshawar, University of Lahore, Lahore University of Management Sciences, University of Malakand, University of Management and Technology, University of the Punjab, Institute of Space Technology and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore.
The 1001-1200 ranking band included 13 Pakistani universities while the 1201-1500 ranking band included four local universities and the rest fall in the 1500+ category.
Quaid-e-Azam University is located in Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad. Its inclusion in top 500 global institutions underscores its emerging prominence on the world stage, highlighting its commitment to delivering quality education and research.
Pakistan’s Punjab forms committee to probe alleged rape of Lahore student
- Hundreds of students protested this week over alleged rape of Lahore college student by security guard
- Seven-member committee headed by Punjab chief secretary to probe incident college says is “false”
ISLAMABAD: The chief minister of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province on Tuesday formed a committee to investigate the alleged rape of a college student in the eastern city of Lahore, following clashes between police and students over the reported incident.
Hundreds of students on Monday staged protests over the reported rape of a student of a private college in Lahore, forcing the closure of one of the campuses while police and provincial government officials denied the incident took place.
The incident was first reported on social media over the weekend, with varying accounts stating the rape took place on Thursday or Friday evening in the basement of the Punjab College for Women campus in Lahore. Police on Monday said no victim had come forward to file a complaint and the college dismissed the allegations as “false.”
“Apropos the subject, the chief minister has constituted a high-powered committee to investigate the reported incident of rape crime at the Punjab College for Women,” a government notification shared by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the ruling party in Punjab province, said.
The seven-member committee is headed by the chief secretary with the advocate general of Punjab, home secretary, higher education secretary, special education department secretary and specialized health care and medical education department secretary as members. The seventh member would be any other member co-opted by the committee, the notification said.
Police on Monday took into custody a security guard who was identified as the culprit by students online. The notification said that one of the terms of reference of the committee would be to gather facts, collect evidence and record any statements related to the alleged incident.
It would also ascertain the appropriateness of the responses to the incident by the college and the Punjab Police when the incident came to light.
“The committee shall submit the report along with the findings to the chief minister within 48 hours,” the notification said.
In a video statement shared on social media, the father of the alleged rape victim regretted that his daughter’s name was being associated with the incident. Standing beside Additional Superintendent of Police Shehrbano Naqvi, the father said his daughter was admitted to a hospital after she slipped and suffered an injury to her backbone.
“We have handed her medical reports and everything to the police,” he said. “Those who have daughters, only then can understand the pain we are going through [because of the rumors.]“
Pakistan win toss, bat in second England Test
- England lead the three-match series 1-0 after an innings and 47-run victory in the first Test
- Defeat prompted Pakistan to drop Babar Azam and pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah
MULTAN: Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and decided to bat Tuesday in the second Test against England in Multan.
England lead the three-match series 1-0 after an innings and 47-run victory in the first Test, played at the same venue.
The defeat – Pakistan’s sixth in as many Tests – prompted their selectors to drop ace batsman Babar Azam.
Also left out were pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, plus spinner Abrar Ahmed, who had been hospitalized with fever during the first Test.
Batsman Kamran Ghulam will make his debut in place of Azam.
Pakistan opted for three spinners in their attack in the shape of Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood and Noman Ali with only one pace bowler, Aamer Jamal.
England captain Ben Stokes returns from a hamstring injury and fast bowler Matthew Potts comes into the side, with Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes left out from the first Test.
The third and final Test begins on October 24 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood
England: Ben Stokes (captain), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
TV umpire: Sharfuddoula Saikat (BAN)
Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)
Pakistan reports fresh polio case, taking 2024 tally to 33
- Pakistan reports latest polio case from southwestern Quetta district in Balochistan province
- Pakistan faces challenges in fight against polio, most prominent among them militancy
KARACHI: Pakistan’s polio program said this week another case of the poliovirus has been reported from the country’s southwestern Quetta district, taking the total number of cases this year to 33.
Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains the last polio-endemic country in the world. Starting from late 2018, Pakistan saw a resurgence of cases and increased spread of polio, highlighting the fragility of gains achieved in the preceding three years.
“Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health Islamabad has confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type-1 case from Quetta District of Balochistan,” the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme said on Monday.
The total number of poliovirus cases this year from Balochistan has increased to 17 while the number of cases reported from Sindh are 10. The northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has reported four while one case each has been reported from Punjab and Islamabad.
The polio program said that environmental samples from Quetta district and Quetta city have been consistently positive for poliovirus this year, indicating continued circulation of the virus and risk to children. It added that this year, 37 positive environmental samples and three cases have been reported from Quetta, while Quetta district has reported 65 positive environmental samples and 11 cases.
The program said implementing polio campaigns across Pakistan was a “challenge” last year.
“Campaigns were staggered or postponed due to localized protests, boycotts and insecurity, leading to a cohort of missed children who can sustain poliovirus transmission,” the statement said. “This outbreak is indicative of the harm children suffer due to missed vaccination opportunities.”
Pakistan’s polio eradication program began in 1994 and the number of cases has declined dramatically since then but the country continues to face challenges in its fight against polio, including militancy, with polio workers targeted by attacks, particularly in the KP province.
The polio program has adapted to respond to climate disasters such as floods but continues to face disruptions. There are also gaps in supplementary immunization activities, especially in areas where the virus is still present.
Second batch of 64 Palestinian students arrive in Pakistan's capital to continue medical studies
- Islamabad says a total of 192 Palestinian students from Gaza will continue fully funded studies in Pakistani institutions
- Second batch of Palestinian students are from the fourth and fifth year of medical and dental curriculum, says NGO
ISLAMABAD: A second batch of 64 Palestinian medical and dental students from Gaza arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday morning to continue their education in Pakistani educational institutions, a leading non-governmental organization involved in the initiative confirmed.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced in July that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) will provide scholarships to over 100 Palestinian students so that they can continue their studies in Pakistan as Israel’s war wreaks havoc in the Middle East. The initiative is a collaboration between Doctors of Rehman, Global Relief Trust and the leading Pakistani non-governmental organization, Al-Khidmat Foundation.
The second batch of a total of 192 Palestinian students departed Cairo for Islamabad on Monday. The development took place hours after the first batch of 27 Palestinian students from Gaza arrived in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore.
“Praise be to god, the second batch of 64 Palestinian students arrived at Islamabad airport this morning,” Al-Khidmat Foundation said in a statement. “The students are from fourth and fifth year of medical and dental curriculum.”
The foundation said that its delegation received the “excited” students at the airport. In pictures shared with the statement, Al-Khidmat Foundation members can be seen posing with Palestinian students and handing out roses to them.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has killed over 42,000 people in Gaza through relentless bombardment despite ceasefire calls and angry protests in several countries around the world. The Jewish state has bombed thousands of buildings, included medical institutions in the territory, as it carries out airstrikes and ground offensives in Gaza.
There have also been widespread reports of substantial damage to educational institutions along with reports of deliberate targeting of Palestinian academics.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other sources have documented severe damage to Gaza’s health care facilities, including the largest hospital Al-Shifa, which has been rendered non-functional due to extensive damage in the ongoing conflict.
The WHO has also warned of the outbreak of diseases in Gaza, reporting that cases of meningitis, jaundice, impetigo, chickenpox and other upper respiratory tract infections have been recorded in the area.
