pakistan names first
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Pakistan names first lunar rover “Jinnah-1”

ByJustpaste.in

Islamabad: The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has officially announced the name of Pakistan’s first lunar rover.

According to SUPARCO, Pakistan’s first lunar rover has been named “Jinnah-1.” The name was selected from suggestions submitted through a nationwide competition. More than 4,000 proposals were received from across the country.

SUPARCO stated that seven participants had suggested the name “Jinnah-1.” The winner was selected through a lucky draw and 17-year-old Tayyab Karim from Bahawalnagar was declared the winner for proposing the name.

Tribute to Quaid-e-Azam

The Chairman of SUPARCO said that “Jinnah-1” is a tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He added that the name represents Pakistan’s determination, progress and pursuit of new frontiers in space exploration.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan’s first lunar rover is scheduled to be sent to the Moon in 2029 as part of China’s Chang’e-8 mission. The Jinnah-1 rover will conduct scientific research on the Moon’s south pole.

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    ISLAMABAD: The federal health ministry has sought an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to obtain approval for the pricing of 52 newly registered life-saving medicines. Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb are expected to attend the meeting along with Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Chief Executive Officer Dr Obaidullah. Officials said the health ministry has contacted the prime minister’s adviser, Tauqeer Shah, requesting an early appointment for the delegation. The Cabinet Committee on Drug Pricing had already approved prices for the 52 medicines during its meeting on July 24. However, the medicines cannot be legally marketed in Pakistan until the federal cabinet gives its final approval. After cabinet approval, DRAP will be able to issue notifications fixing the maximum retail prices of the medicines, allowing pharmaceutical companies to formally launch the products in the regulated market. Health ministry officials said the proposed meeting with the prime minister is aimed at obtaining his support for placing the pricing decision before the federal cabinet at the earliest. The delegation is also expected to raise the issue of hardship cases involving several essential medicines. Manufacturers and importers of these medicines have requested price adjustments, arguing that continued production or imports at the existing prices have become increasingly difficult. A senior health ministry official said the government was concerned because several registered medicines remained unavailable in the regulated market despite their prices having been approved by the drug pricing committee. The official said the delegation would brief the prime minister on the situation and seek immediate action to prevent further shortages. Among the medicines facing supply pressure are essential products such as influenza vaccines and morphine used in cancer treatment, along with other drugs whose manufacturers have reported difficulties in maintaining supplies at existing prices. The Cabinet Committee on Drug Pricing, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved the 52 pricing cases after reviewing recommendations submitted by DRAP’s Drug Pricing Committee and Policy Board. All 52 cases forwarded by the Drug Pricing Committee and endorsed by the DRAP Policy Board were approved by the cabinet committee. However, the committee’s decision is not the final step in the process. The federal cabinet must endorse the recommendations before DRAP can officially notify the maximum retail prices. The medicines covered by the proposed pricing decision are used to treat a range of serious and chronic conditions. They include medicines for cancer, diabetes, haemophilia, Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune disorders, blood-clotting conditions and severe infections. Some are also used in intensive-care units and emergency treatment. Officials believe timely approval could help bring the newly registered medicines into the regulated market and improve availability for patients requiring specialised treatment.

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    Sher Afzal Marwat urges government to rethink deci…

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  • NA committee demands action against drug suppliers in universities

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    ISLAMABAD: A serious debate erupted in the National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training after lawmakers questioned whether educational institutions were doing enough to stop the spread of drugs among students, warning that awareness campaigns alone cannot defeat organised supply networks operating around campuses. The committee, chaired by Ms. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, examined the growing problem of narcotics in educational institutions and demanded practical results instead of only reports, seminars and awareness programmes. The committee stressed that the issue was not limited to students using drugs but also involved people supplying these substances to young people. During the meeting, officials of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) informed the committee that no drug use incident had been officially reported inside its public sector institutions. They said multiple measures were being taken, including drug awareness education, life skills programmes, tobacco free zones, monitoring committees and coordination with law enforcement agencies. However, Member of the Committee Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro expressed dissatisfaction with the briefing and questioned whether awareness campaigns were producing real results. She said simply giving presentations about awareness was not enough and asked authorities how many suppliers had been caught, how many institutions had reported cases and what action had been taken against those involved in supplying drugs. “This is not a joke,” Chairperson Ms. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi said while stressing that the problem required serious action. She questioned why authorities were focusing mainly on awareness while failing to show clear results against those involved in supplying drugs. The committee also raised concerns that drug suppliers were using new methods to reach students. 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    Govt raises fuel prices as petrol pump strike thre…

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    The federal government has increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel, while petrol pump owners have announced a nationwide strike after failing to reach an agreement with the government over the newly introduced daily fuel pricing system. Under the latest notification, the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) has increased by Rs7.15 per litre, rising from Rs360.06 to Rs367.21. The price of petrol has also been increased by Rs4.93 per litre, taking it from Rs315.80 to Rs320.73. The revised prices came into effect on July 22. The increase follows the government’s decision to replace the previous fortnightly fuel price adjustment system with a daily pricing mechanism. Under the new policy, petroleum prices can now change every day depending on international oil prices and fluctuations in the exchange rate. The new pricing mechanism has been strongly opposed by petrol pump owners and fuel dealers. They argue that daily price revisions are difficult to implement and create financial uncertainty for retailers across the country. After negotiations with government officials failed, the All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Owners Association (APPPOA) announced an indefinite nationwide strike beginning at midnight on Wednesday. The association said petrol pumps across Pakistan would remain closed until the government accepts its demands. Association leaders said discussions with the Petroleum Ministry failed to resolve major issues, including dealer profit margins and the implementation of daily fuel pricing. They insisted that the current system is not practical for petrol station operators and would create serious operational challenges. The Petroleum Retailers Association has also expressed support for the strike, raising concerns about possible disruptions in fuel supplies if the dispute continues. Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) is expected to decide whether it will formally join the protest. The association has called a meeting of its executive committee to discuss the situation and determine its future course of action. PPDA officials said they had already shared their concerns with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). According to the association, the regulator requested additional time to present the dealers’ concerns to the government before any final decision is made. Fuel dealers believe daily price changes make it difficult to manage inventories, update fuel prices, and maintain smooth business operations. They argue that the previous fortnightly pricing system provided greater stability and reduced uncertainty for both retailers and consumers. The government, however, maintains that the daily pricing mechanism will ensure that domestic fuel prices more closely reflect changes in global oil markets. Officials believe the new system will improve transparency and allow quicker adjustments to international price movements.

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