RAWALPINDI: Students from Murree, Talagang and Chakwal clinched first three positions in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) annual examination 2025 under Rawalpindi Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE).
According to BISE Rawalpindi spokesman Arslan Cheema, the top positions had been announced. The result will be formally announced on Thursday at 10:00 am in a function held at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) Rawalpindi, and it will be uploaded on the website.
Muhammad Usman from Lawrence College, Ghora Gali, Murree, clinched overall first position with 1,188 marks, while Bisma Ali from Punjab Secondary School for Girls, Talagang, secured the second position with 1,177 marks, and Maryam Shahzadi from Bahria Foundation Secondary School for Girls, Chakwal, got the third position with 1175 marks.
For Science group (boys), Muhammad Usman from Lawrence College Ghora Gali Murree clinched overall first position with 1188 marks, while Saad Khan from Cadet College Hasanabdal got second position with 1172 marks, and Ayan Ali from Cadet College Hasanabdal got third position with 1169 marks.
For Science group (girls), Bisma Ali from Punjab Secondary School for Girls, Talagang, secured first position with 1,177 marks and Maryam Shahzadi from Bahria Foundation Secondary School for Girls, Chakwal, got second position with 1175 marks and Adeela Ansar Raja from Darul Arqum, Chakwal, got third position with 1,173 marks.
For general group (boys), Muhammad Hanan Saeedi Al Kausar Islamic Centre, Fateh Jang Attock secured first position with 1031 marks, Muhammad Usman from Hudabia Educational Complex Government Boys Higher Secondary School New Chakra Rawalpindi with 983 marks and Muhammad Ahmed from Jamia Al-Madina Dhoke Gangal Rawalpindi with 982 marks.
For General Group (Girls), Asima Eman from Government Girls High School Chur Chowk Peshawar Road Rawalpindi secured first position with 1125 marks, Laiba Saeed from Sheen Girls Secondary School Talagang got second position with 1089 marks and Muneeza Bibi from Mehria Mohina Riazul Uloom Binaat Maki Dhoke Fateh Jang Attock with 1084 marks.
ISLAMABAD – The World Health Organization (WHO), with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has distributed over 800 motorbikes to the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to improve healthcare access in remote regions of Pakistan.
The initiative is aimed at enhancing the mobility of vaccinators and reaching vulnerable populations across 65 high-priority districts, home to an estimated 32.5 million people. Under the allocation plan, 300 motorbikes have been delivered to 21 districts in Sindh, 200 to 10 districts in Punjab, and 108 to 24 districts in Balochistan.
Additionally, 80 bikes have been distributed to four districts in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, another 80 to two districts in Islamabad, and 60 to four districts in Gilgit Baltistan.
The phased handover began in March 2025, enabling vaccinators to better serve children in zero-dose communities, those who have never received a single vaccine dose, as well as under-immunized populations. The deployment of motorbikes is guided by micro-plans developed at the union council level with technical support from WHO, designed to monitor and address inequities in vaccine coverage.
“These motorbikes aim to support the vaccinators who work tirelessly to reach the most vulnerable, wherever they are,” said Dr. Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Pakistan. “Every 10 seconds, vaccination saves a life.”
The Prime Minister’s Office said on Wednesday that the retail sector paid an additional income tax of Rs455 billion in the last fiscal year, a startling claim made on the basis of a briefing given by tax authorities.
In an official statement released by the PM Office, it was stated “in the retail sector, tax collection increased by Rs455 billion compared to the previous year, driven by the integration of point-of-sale systems and stricter enforcement”.
Officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) claimed that total income tax payments made by the retail sector in fiscal year 2024-25 were in fact Rs617 billion and the additional income tax was Rs455 billion. They said that the collection of Rs617 billion included Rs316 billion in quarterly advances given by three categories, wholesalers, retailers, traders and some companies.
The surprising Rs316 billion in quarterly advance could be looked into with critical lenses due to the highly informal nature of the sector. Sources in the FBR told The Express Tribune that a loose definition of the retail sector was used, which included some corporate sector firms.
The official statement added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a review meeting on the ongoing reforms in the FBR, lauding the progress made so far while stressing the need for sustained and time-bound efforts to overhaul the tax system in line with modern requirements.
Sources said that during the meeting discussions took place on the share of retail and manufacturing sectors and the record tax contribution of Rs555 billion made by the salaried class. Some of the participants were of the view that the manufacturing sector and salaried individuals were highly overburdened compared to their contribution to the economy.
According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ (PBS) data, the share of the manufacturing sector in the economy was hardly 12% while the share of wholesale and retail sectors was 18% in FY25.
FBR spokesman Dr Najeeb Memon did not respond to a question about the breakdown of additional income tax of Rs455 billion collected from the retail sector.
However, an FBR official said that it was a definitional issue as various categories were included in the retail sector and as a result total income tax contribution reached Rs617 billion.
With the additional Rs455 billion, the total income tax collection from the retail sector should have been Rs940 billion. In fiscal year 2023-24, the collection was Rs484 billion on the basis of the new loose definition, said the sources.
Retailers and traders are functioning under a highly informal mechanism. According to the input the FBR has used for claiming the collection of Rs617 billion and an additional Rs455 billion, the wholesalers, traders and retailers are treated as part of the retail sector. These three categories paid income tax in the shape of advance income tax on a quarterly basis, admitted income tax with annual returns, withholding taxes on sales, purchases, imports and electricity bills, and other taxes.
FBR officials claimed that the collection of Rs617 billion included Rs316 billion in advance income tax. In the advance tax, Rs30 billion was paid by wholesalers, Rs49 billion by traders and Rs316 billion by retailers.
Likewise, the admitted income tax stood at Rs28 billion, including Rs14 billion from traders, Rs5.3 billion from retailers and Rs8.5 billion from wholesalers, the sources said, adding that these three categories also paid Rs216 billion in withholding taxes. Of this, the wholesalers paid Rs28 billion, traders Rs119 billion and retailers Rs69 billion. In the category of others, Rs57 billion in income tax was paid by these three categories.
However, if one goes by the definition of the retail sector and its contribution, the sources said, in FY24, payments by the retail sector were Rs484 billion and in this case the net increase was Rs133 billion.
The PM Office statement said that Shehbaz Sharif told the meeting that recent improvements in the tax machinery were “encouraging,” but reforms must lead to the creation of a sustainable, digitised and facilitative tax system.
The PM directed the FBR to accelerate digital transformation, restructure its digital wing with a clear roadmap and enhance enforcement to curb the informal economy. He also stressed the importance of stakeholder consultation in the reform process, particularly with businesses, traders and taxpayers.
He reiterated that improvement in the tax system should contribute to boosting national revenue while reducing the tax burden on the common citizen.
The meeting was briefed that as a result of reforms and enforcement measures, the tax-to-GDP ratio registered a historic rise of 1.5% in FY25 compared to FY24. However, the FBR missed the IMF condition to increase the ratio to 10.6% despite imposing record taxes.
The PM Office said that the number of income tax return filers surged from 4.5 million in 2024 to over 7.2 million by June 30, 2025.
FBR officials also reported significant progress under the faceless customs clearance system, which increased revenue and was expected to reduce clearance time from 52 hours to just 12 hours in the next three months.
Pakistan’s power sector stands at a critical juncture, as a growing mismatch between policy direction and implementation threatens to derail the country’s clean energy transition.
While the government once championed rooftop solar installations as a long-term solution to rising electricity costs and energy insecurity, it is now reversing course – particularly in the net metering regime – leaving citizens and the business community questioning the state’s commitment to renewable energy.
Electricity demand in the country hovers around 29,000 megawatts (MW) in peak summer, while the installed generation capacity exceeds 46,000 MW. However, generation remains inefficient due to underutilisation of capacity, poor grid infrastructure, and increasing reliance on imported fuels. Solar energy, once considered a promising alternative, now faces policy obstacles despite contributing around 5% of Pakistan’s total electricity generation in 2025.
Solar installations, particularly rooftop systems, surged between 2022 and 2024 as households and businesses invested in net metering, lured by generous buyback rates and government incentives. According to official data, net-metered capacity jumped from just over 300 MW in 2021 to 2,813 MW by the end of FY25, with over 280,000 households registered under the scheme. But the government’s recent move to slash the buyback rate from Rs27 to Rs10 per unit has sent shockwaves across the solar community.
“The solar transition, once seen as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s energy future, is now treated like an inconvenience,” said Mian Sohail Nisar, Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front. “The government encouraged this shift but now refuses to integrate it into the formal power system with a long-term view. This kind of policy inconsistency undermines both investor confidence and public trust.”
Energy experts argue that the revised net metering policy stems from mounting financial pressure on the national grid. With solar users reducing their dependence on grid electricity and selling surplus power back at high rates, utility companies claim they are struggling to cover fixed infrastructure costs. In 2024 alone, the cost burden shifted onto grid-dependent consumers was estimated at Rs159 billion. Projections suggest this imbalance could rise to over Rs4,000 billion in the next decade if left unchecked.
A former power sector official said the problem is not solar energy, it’s poor planning. “The government failed to upgrade the distribution network to handle reverse power flows. Now they are blaming solar users for losses that are actually rooted in technical mismanagement and outdated infrastructure.”
He believes the new gross metering model, which bills users separately for imported and exported electricity, may have merit in principle but has been introduced too abruptly. “Policies like these should be phased in with stakeholder consultation. Instead, we are seeing a knee-jerk reaction to financial strain, which could discourage future investments in clean energy.”
Consumers who installed solar panels under previous government encouragement feel betrayed. Many invested heavily in hybrid inverters and battery storage, hoping to reduce their dependence on grid electricity and benefit from favourable net metering tariffs. Now, they fear shrinking returns, uncertain billing structures, and even covert replacement of smart meters by distribution companies.
The inconsistency in energy policy is not new. Over the past two decades, successive governments have announced ambitious plans, whether for hydropower, LNG terminals, or renewable energy, only to abandon or reverse them due to changing political climates, pressure from utility companies, or International Monetary Fund (IMF)-mandated reforms.
Energy analyst Syed Farid Hussain said that the biggest failure is the lack of a unified transition roadmap. “You cannot expect a successful shift to clean energy without aligning grid upgrades, pricing mechanisms, and consumer protection. Piecemeal reforms are not a strategy.”
He added that with Pakistan’s circular debt in the power sector crossing Rs2.6 trillion, pressure is mounting on the state to either raise tariffs or cut losses. Unfortunately, instead of reforming inefficiencies in distribution companies or tackling power theft, the government appears to be placing the burden on solar adopters, those who heeded its own advice, he said.
A structural approach is the need of the hour, an approach which cannot be reversed in a couple of years for any reason. “Pakistan does not need policy U-turns; it needs energy clarity. Without that, we risk pushing away the very solutions that could power our future,” added Sohail Nisar.
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday said the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio rose by 1.5 percentage points in FY2025, reaching 10.6 percent compared to FY2024 – a notable advance towards the government’s goal of 13 percent under its three-year reform agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In a briefing to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who chaired a high-level meeting to review the FBR’s reform agenda, officials said that the number of tax filers had increased from 4.5 million in 2024 to more than 7.2 million by the end of June 2025.
Sharif welcomed the gains, calling the rise in tax compliance encouraging, but cautioned that continued progress would depend on deep and sustained reforms at the FBR, the country’s primary tax authority.
FBR seeks 18pc tax-to-GDP ratio by 2027-28
He praised the improvements in revenue collection – particularly what he described as a “historic” increase in the tax-to-GDP ratio – but stressed that further modernisation was needed to align the tax system with international norms.
“Meeting targets is commendable, but our real challenge is building a sustainable and contemporary tax system,” Sharif said, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. “Reforms must be implemented within a fixed timeline, with the input of all relevant stakeholders.”
Officials said that recent efforts to formalise the retail sector – including integration through the FBR’s Point of Sale (POS) system and enhanced enforcement – had yielded an additional Rs45.5 billion in tax revenue compared with the previous financial year.
They also highlighted early successes of the FBR’s new “faceless” customs clearance platform, a digitisation initiative designed to curb corruption and improve efficiency.
The system has already bolstered revenue, officials said, and is expected to cut average clearance times from 52 hours to just 12 hours within three months.
To further streamline operations, the agency has launched remote case hearings via video link – a move aimed at expediting decisions and minimising in-person interactions.
Additional measures, officials added, have reduced the weighted average tariff on imports by 2.16 percent – a change expected to lower input costs for manufacturers and support industrial growth.
Tax collection in the retail sector rose by Rs455 billion on the previous year, driven by the integration of point-of-sale systems and tighter enforcement.
Officials also told the meeting that recent reforms had reduced the weighted average tariff on imports by 2.16 per cent, lowering raw material costs and supporting domestic industry.
Sharif directed the FBR officials to deliver a comprehensive implementation plan for the next phase of reforms within a week. That plan, he added, should include restructuring the agency’s digital wing and actionable timelines for execution.
He also emphasised the importance of expanding the tax base – especially into the informal sector – while easing the burden on compliant taxpayers.
“The convenience of businesspeople, traders, and taxpayers must be ensured as we move forward,” he said, underscoring that the reform process should remain people-centric.
Officials also noted that better use of economic data would help track production across industrial sectors and improve coordination with relevant government agencies. Recommendations from international consultants – particularly in digital taxation and compliance – will be incorporated as part of the FBR’s ongoing modernisation drive.
The prime minister concluded the meeting by commending FBR personnel for their efforts but warned that real reform would require discipline, transparency, and sustained commitment.
The meeting was attended by senior government officials, including Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, the FBR chairman Rashid Langrial, and other senior officials.
ISLAMABAD: Three electricity distribution companies – Iesco, Fesco and Gepco – will be ready for privatisation by the end of December this year.
This was stated by an official of the Power Division in the National Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Affairs’ meeting held under the chairmanship of Muhammad Atif Khan.
Additional Secretary Power Division Mehfooz Bhatti, in his presentation, told the committee that along with Privatisation Commission, the Power Division is working on the privatisation of all 10 Discos.
He said that the privatisation process of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) is already in advance stage.
“The due diligence process of these three Discos is in final stage and Financial Advisor has also been hired,” he said.
The official said as per his information, the Privatisation Commission is working on the financial structure and by December this year, Expressions of Interest (EOIs) would be invited and terms and conditions of sale purchase agreement will also be finalised.
Chairman Committee Atif Khan said that no one is stopping the government from privatising the Discos but it does not mean hiring in these Discos should be stopped.
He said in his constituency for hundreds of kilometers there is only one lineman and because of this people were facing a lot of hardship in getting their complaints addressed.
The Power Division official clarified that their ministry did not stop any Disco from hiring necessary staff.
MNA Sher Ali Arbab said that as per his knowledge there are 80,000 vacancies in all 10 Discos but Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given approval to hire only 20,000-25,000 personnel to keep things afloat.
Members, unanimously, expressed concern over the methodology that exclusively targets Discos with minimal transmission and distribution losses for privatisation.
The committee emphasised that by limiting privatisation to only the most efficient utilities, the government would be compelled to retain chronically underperforming Discos, thereby, exacerbating existing operational challenges and making their eventual privatisation virtually unattainable.
The Power Division official informed the committee that their current installed capacity is 39,952 MW that includes 46 percent from clean energy and 54 percent from fossil.
The power sector informed that there is overreliance on fossil than clean energy.
The Power Division presented a comprehensive overview of Pakistan’s current power generation capacity to the Standing Committee, reporting a total installed capacity of 39,952 MW.
The energy mix analysis revealed a concerning imbalance, with fossil fuel-based generation accounting for 54 percent compared to just 46 percent from clean energy sources.
The committee was informed that Pakistan’s power sector currently faces a significant surplus of approximately 7,000 to 8,000 MW in electricity generation capacity.
Members expressed serious concern over the substantial financial burden imposed by capacity payments for this unused electricity, which continues to strain the national exchequer despite serving no practical purpose.
The committee members raised serious concerns regarding the inequitable distribution of development projects and budget allocations for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the proposed federal budget for 2025-26.
The committee noted with concern that while KP has a substantially larger population than Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), both regions have been allotted only two new projects each, reflecting an unjust disparity.
Furthermore, the budgetary allocations for development projects across provinces revealed that Balochistan receiving Rs209.6 billion, Punjab Rs76.6 billion, Sindh Rs145.9 billion, and KP Rs30.843 billion.
The Economic Affairs Division (EAD) informed the committee that it has filed appeals and interim relief applications, with hearings ongoing and the next scheduled for September 2025.
Meanwhile, the EAD has sought the federal cabinet’s in-principle approval for a new legislative framework, the “Foreign Contributions (NGOs and NPOs) Regulation Act, 2025,” to address the legal gaps.
DPM/FM Senator Ishaq Dar on Wednesday met with Thailand’s Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa on the sidelines of high-level events during Pakistan’s Presidency of the UN Security Council.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in bilateral ties, particularly in cultural and parliamentary exchanges, people-to-people contacts, trade, and tourism, a DPM’s Office news release said.
They agreed to broaden cooperation in a number of areas including food security, fisheries, defense, and regional connectivity.
FM Maris congratulated Pakistan on its UNSC Presidency, and appreciated its contributions to the Council’s work.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announce that two flood drains will be constructed in Nankana Sahib to protect local people from devastating torrents.
During a two-and-a-half-hour tour of the city and local villages to review the post-flood situation, she also ordered early completion of roads and other development projects in the district.
She sought a beautification plan for Nankana Sahib within two weeks and ordered the issuance of funds in this regard at the earliest.
The chief minister announced an increase in the number of electric buses for the district, reiterating her commitment to making Nankana Sahib a model city.
She directed local authorities to ensure making of zebra crossings and installation of signboards in front of a school and to control the bread prices.
She ordered deployment of more clinics-on-wheels for Nankana Sahib and improvement of the city’s entrance routes. She also ordered constriction of better service lanes along the city’s main road. She ordered inclusion of Dafar Khokhran and other villages in the Model Village Scheme.
The chief minister visited the flood-affected areas in Jaslani Mor and inspected houses and agricultural land.
Rawalpindi BISE has announced the results of the Matriculation first annual exam 2025 position holders.
The ceremony to announce the overall results will be held on July 24 at Fatima Jinnah Women University. The position holders will be awarded gold medals, silver medals and certificates. Board Chairman Adnan Khan and Controller of Examinations Tanveer Asghra Awan announced the results.
According to the results, Muhammad Usman, a student of Lawrence College Ghora Gali Murree, secured the first position in the board by scoring 1,188 marks out of 1,200. The second position was secured by Bisma Ali, a student of Punjab Secondary Girls School Tillagang, who scored 1,177 marks out of 1200. The third position was secured by Mariyam Shahzadi, a student of Bahria Foundation School Chakwal, who secured 1,175 marks out of 1,200. The three students stood first, second and third in the entire board and were awarded gold medals.
In the Science Group Boys category, Muhammad Usman stood first overall, while Saad Khan of Cadet College Hassan Abdal stood second with 1,172 marks and Ayan Khan of the same college stood third with 1,169 marks. In the Science Group Girls category, Bisma Ali of Punjab Girls Secondary School Talagang stood first with 1,177 marks, Mariyam Shahzadi stood second with 1,175 marks and Adila Ansar of Raja Darul Arqam High School Chakwal stood third with 1,173 marks.
In the General Group Boys category, M Hannan Saeedi of Al-Kausar Islamic Center Fateh Jang stood first with 1,031 marks, M Usman of Hadaibia Educational Complex Chakr Rawalpindi stood second with 983 marks and Muhammad Ahmad of Jamiaul Madina Dhok Kangal stood third with 982 marks.
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s call for “meaningful dialogue” with India is met with scepticism in New Delhi, given a long history of peace talk offers followed by betrayal. India remains firm: no talks without concrete action against terrorism.
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Pakistan Prime MinisterShehbazSharif on Wednesday said his country was ready for a “meaningful dialogue” with India to resolve all outstanding issues. However, the statement follows a familiar and recurring pattern that has left India deeply sceptical. New Delhi views such peace overtures from Islamabad as part of a well-worn script,historically been followed by betrayal and hostile actions.
Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott in Islamabad, where the two discussed regional affairs and bilateral ties. According to an official statement, Sharif “expressed his appreciation for the UK’s role in de-escalation of tensions during the Pakistan-India standoff” and reiterated that “Pakistan was ready for a meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues.”
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The comments come in the wake of OperationSindoor, launched by India on May 7 to target terror and military infrastructure in Pakistan’s territories following the deadlyPahalgamterror attack.
However, India’s position remains firm: any dialogue must centre around Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and an end to cross-border terrorism. Indian officials have consistently warned against falling into the trap of rhetoric-driven diplomacy from Pakistan that lacks sincerity and follow-through.
A pattern of peace talk offers followed by betrayal
Pakistan’s leadershiphas a long history of extending olive branches publicly while permitting or orchestrating actions that sabotage the very idea of peace.
1999 Kargil War: Just months after then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Lahore in aground-breakingpeace initiative with Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani troops and militants, under the guidance of General Pervez Musharraf infiltrated Indian territory in Kargil, triggering a bloody conflict that cost hundreds of lives.
2001 Agra Summit: After the Kargil betrayal, India cautiously resumed dialogue. But the summit collapsed and in December that year, terrorists from Pakistan attacked the Indian Parliament, a strike that nearly brought the two nations to the brink of war.
2008 Mumbai Attacks: Another major setback came after years of back-channel diplomacy and confidence-building measures. The 26/11 attacks, carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, left 166 people dead and shattered any remaining trust.
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Post-Uri and Pulwama attacks: In more recent years, terror attacks in Uri (2016) and Pulwama (2019), again linked to Pakistan-based groups, were met with Indian military responses, surgical strikes and airstrikes inBalakot, respectively that further cementing India’s view that engagement with Pakistan has repeatedly been undermined by acts of terror.
India’s cautious stance
The Indian government has been saying unequivocally that talks cannot proceed under the shadow of terrorism. Without visible, verifiable action from Pakistan to dismantle terrorist networks operating from its soil, India remains unwilling to resume any substantive dialogue.
In this context, Sharif’s latest outreach is being viewed in New Delhi not as a genuine diplomatic move but as part of a familiar playbook, one where calls for peace serve as a smokescreen for strategic inaction or deception.
