ISLAMABAD: The prices of 89 essential medicines have finally been reduced by 15pc, six months after a notification in this regard was issued by the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS). On Tuesday, the ministry announced that the reduced prices had come to force with immediate effect. On Dec 24, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza …

KARACHI: Amid challenges of several public service issues, another crisis is looming large as major hospitals across Sindh are running their operations without medicines. The authorities concerned first delayed the procurement plan and then they remained unable to supply the required medicines to the health facilities at the right time where hundreds of thousands of patients are now compelled to …

LAHORE: After the World Bank ranked Pakistan behind India in dealing with official construction permits in its recent report, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has decided to outsource inspection of structures — a key job for swift issuance of certificates after completion of residential, commercial and industrial buildings. The government also plans to improve other functions – provision of electricity …

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on the Problems of Less Developed Areas on Tuesday suggested that Afghan refugees should not be forced to return to Afghanistan following a presentation by Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Saleem Khan in which he shared figures about the number of Afghans living in Pakistan. As many as 2.8 million Afghans are living in Pakistan, …

ISLAMABAD: After raising concerns over recent National Testing Service (NTS) paper leaks, a parliamentary committee on Tuesday directed the Establishment Division to work out a proposal for setting up an authority to regulate private testing bodies. MNA Sahibzada Sibghatullah from Upper Dir during a session of the National Assembly had pointed out alleged malpractices and leakage of papers during tests …

LAHORE: The lawyers and doctors on Tuesday agreed on one point that the medics would remove the ‘controversial plaque’ installed by them at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology to commemorate tragic deaths of three patients during lawyers attack on Dec 11. Held at the office of the capital city police officer (CCPO), the meeting was attended by a committee constituted on the …

MULTAN: The Bahauddin Zakariya University has dismissed a professor from service for harassing a female student through inappropriate behaviour and making her objectionable videos to blackmail her. The university syndicate in its meeting on Jan 19, 2019, on the recommendations of the harassment committee constituted an inquiry committee, consisting of Prof Dr Muhammad Shafqat (convener), Prof Dr Masood Akhtar and …

  ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan lan­ded in an awkward position on Tuesday when some legislators belonging to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) vehemently complained about non-provision of development funds and low-grade government jobs in their respective constituencies. The legislators during a meeting of the party’s parliamentary committee held at the Parliament House urged the prime minister to frequently convene …

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Tuesday Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved a Rs7 billion package for providing relief to the poor through the Utility Stores Corporation (USC). Speaking at a press conference here along with USC Chairman Zulqarnain Ali Khan and Managing Director Umar Lodhi, the special assistant said …

  The Senate on Wednesday bulldozed the three bills concerning the tenure of the three services chiefs — chief of army staff, chief of air staff and chief of naval staff — and the chairman of the joint chief of staff committee, a day after the National Assembly passed these bills. With the two major opposition parties — PML-N and …