Wednesday, December 24th, 2025
Public holiday in Islamabad on December 26
Saifullah Ansar ISLAMABAD, DEC 24 /DNA/ – The Islamabad district administration has declared a public holiday in the federal capital on December 26 in view of the arrival of a high-level foreign delegation led by the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The decision was taken to facilitate security arrangements and official engagements during the high-profile visit. According to official sources, the UAE president will arrive in Islamabad with a large delegation comprising senior government officials and business leaders. During the visit, several bilateral agreements and memorandums of understandingRead More
Ambassador Jiang Zaidong highlights media’s role in advancing CPEC
Saifullah Ansar ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong on Tuesday underscored the vital role of media in strengthening China-Pakistan relations and promoting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), while addressing the 9th CPEC Media Forum. He said the Forum has emerged as an influential platform for bilateral media exchanges, contributing significantly to mutual understanding and the successful advancement of CPEC. Addressing media professionals and representatives from various sectors, Ambassador Jiang recalled that since its inception in 2015, the CPEC Media Forum has grown alongside the flagship corridor project, helping createRead More
Mystery shrouds death of Libyan Army Chief
DNA TRIPOLI: The sudden death of Libya’s army chief of staff, General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, in a plane crash near Turkey’s capital has sparked shock, grief and growing speculation across the war-torn North African country, with questions multiplying over whether the incident was a tragic accident or something far more sinister. General Haddad, a senior military figure aligned with Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) based in Tripoli, died on Tuesday when the jet he was travelling in crashed shortly after departing Ankara. According to Libyan Prime MinisterRead More
Chairman HEC visits tech university to review rapid progress
ISLAMABAD, DEC 24 /DNA/ – Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Nadeem Mahbub visited the National University of Technology (NUTECH) on the invitation of its Rector Lt. Gen. (R) Moazzam Ejaz. The visit aimed to review the University’s rapid progress in technical education and its contributions to national industrial growth. He was accompanied by Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul Haq. The Chairman was given a comprehensive presentation highlighting the University’s strategic milestones, research initiatives, and recent achievements. Following the presentation, the Chairman and Executive Director visited various academic departments, laboratories,Read More
RCCI welcomes privatisation of PIA as a positive step towards economic revival
RAWALPINDI, DEC 24 /DNA/ – The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has hailed the successful privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), terming it a commendable and much-needed step towards economic revival and fiscal discipline. RCCI President, Usman Shaukat, in a statement said that the privatisation of low-performing state-owned enterprises had long been a burden on the national exchequer, and the government’s decision to offload such entities was both timely and appreciable. “For years, loss-making SOEs have drained public resources. This decision reflects the government’s seriousness in addressing inefficiencies andRead More
PIA finally privatised: a bold economic step or another costly gamble?
After decades of debate, failed reform attempts and mounting financial losses, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has finally been privatised, marking one of the most significant economic decisions taken by the government in recent years. The national flag carrier was sold for a bid of Rs 135 billion, with the Arif Habib Group emerging as the successful bidder. According to Arif Habib, the Fauji Foundation will also join the consortium, a move that, in the view of many observers, adds considerable strength to the deal due to the institutional and military-backedRead More