ISLAMABAD: The Federal Minister for Health of Pakistan represented the country at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Health Ministers’ Forum, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to advancing health equity, achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and promoting regional cooperation in health innovation, digital transformation, emergency preparedness, and the integration of traditional medicine. Speaking on behalf of the Government…

ISLAMABAD: Al-Shifa Trust (AST) announced on Tuesday that, although Pakistan has made significant strides in expanding cataract treatment services, considerable gaps still remain, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The national cataract surgical rate has improved significantly, reaching 5,307 surgeries per million people, more than double the rate in 2002. Still, Prof. Dr. Sabihuddin Ahmed,…

ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation from the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), led by its chairman, met with Federal Minister for Health, Mustafa Kamal, to discuss strengthening collaboration between the government and the national pharmaceutical industry. According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, the meeting focused on enhancing mutual cooperation and addressing the challenges…

LAHORE: Pearson Education Limited, a global leader in education and assessment, hosted its annual prize distribution ceremony in Lahore to honour the exceptional performance of education consultants from across Pakistan. The event recognized those with the highest number of PTE Academic test bookings, celebrating their contributions to international education and student mobility. The ceremony was…

ISLAMABAD: After the successful launches and implementation of two smart villages in Gokina and Sambrial, The Ministry of  IT and Telecommunication (MOITT), in collaboration with Huawei Technologies and the International  Telecommunication Union (ITU), inaugurated the much-anticipated third Smart Village Swabi. The Smart Village Pakistan initiative is designed to digitally transform rural and remote communities across…

ISLAMABAD: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) has released a statement calling on the government to raise the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cigarettes by Rs. 39 per pack in the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26. This proposed hike is projected to generate an additional Rs. 67.4 billion in revenue,…

ISLAMABAD: In a nation where millions experience preventable blindness, Al-Shifa Trust (AST) has emerged as a beacon of hope. It transforms lives through sight restoration and enables individuals to become productive members of society. Since its modest beginnings in 1991, AST has committed itself to a significant mission: to ensure that quality eye care is…

ISLAMABAD: Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, chaired a high-level meeting with the teams of District Health Officer (DHO) ICT and Capital Development Authority (CDA) to address critical healthcare challenges in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Rawalpindi. The meeting focused on key initiatives to enhance healthcare service…

ISLAMABAD|: Al-Shifa Trust (AST) has said the greatest challenge in dealing with childhood eye cancer in Pakistan is delayed diagnosis. Many parents and even general doctors are unaware of the early symptoms, leading to late detection when cancer has already spread, said Prof. Dr. Tayyab Afghani, Senior Consultant and Head of the Oculoplastics department. Talking…