AJK polls disrupted as clash erupts at Bhimber pol…

The head of the Awam Pakistan Party, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has criticized the government over the country’s worsening economic and political situation, saying that even government representatives have now started raising concerns about the state of affairs in Pakistan. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Abbasi said that the interior minister had realized after four to five years that the country was facing serious governance challenges, while ordinary Pakistanis had been expressing similar concerns for years. “The people of Pakistan have been saying the same thing for the past four to five years,” Abbasi stated, adding that government ministers should raise such issues directly during cabinet meetings instead of discussing them publicly. The former prime minister stressed that Pakistan urgently requires meaningful reforms and warned that temporary or superficial measures would not solve the country’s deep-rooted problems. He argued that the country has repeatedly experimented with short-term solutions every year, but what is needed is a fundamental change in the system. “We need to change the system and establish the rule of law,” Abbasi said, emphasizing that strong institutions and equal application of laws are necessary for long-term stability. Abbasi also criticized political divisions and the practice of using accountability cases against opponents. He called for an end to the cycle of imprisoning political rivals, questioning how the country could progress if every politician was accused of corruption. “If all politicians are corrupt, then who will run the country?” he asked. The Awam Pakistan Party leader claimed that two major stakeholders currently play a dominant role in running the country, but instead of working together, both sides continue to blame each other for national problems. Discussing the economic situation, Abbasi said that the income of Pakistani citizens has declined significantly over the past six years. He claimed that household purchasing power has fallen by approximately 14 percent, leaving many families struggling financially. “Every household in Pakistan has become poorer,” he said, adding that unemployment has reached its highest level in 21 years. Abbasi also highlighted the increasing tax burden on citizens, stating that the average Pakistani now pays around Rs60,000 in taxes annually. He said that taxes that were previously around Rs30,000 have doubled in recent years, while poverty continues to rise across the country. The former prime minister argued that Pakistan is struggling to attract investment because of inconsistent policies and uncertainty. He accused the government of relying heavily on taxation rather than creating conditions that encourage economic growth. “There is no certainty about when new taxes will be imposed,” Abbasi said, claiming that unpredictable policies discourage businesses and investors from operating in Pakistan. He also raised concerns about public health and food security, stating that thousands of children in Pakistan are affected by HIV and that the government has started importing wheat despite the country being an agricultural economy. “A country known for agriculture is now purchasing wheat from abroad,” he remarked. Abbasi further criticized rising costs of essential services, including electricity, gas, petrol, and diesel. He said that ordinary citizens are facing increasing financial pressure because of continuous price increases. According to Abbasi, Pakistan’s current situation reflects a broader governance failure, and without major reforms, improvements in economic conditions will remain difficult. He called for political cooperation, institutional reform, and policies focused on economic stability rather than short-term measures.

  Lahore: A newly issued recruitment advertisement by PECTAA and shared by the Punjab education minister on his social media handles, has sparked strong reactions and disappointment among thousands of job applicants across Punjab. Candidates have expressed their concerns over the decision to announce vacancies that, according to them, had already been advertised previously and for which the recruitment process had already begun. Applicants stated that the same positions were announced in July last year, following which thousands of candidates from different districts of Punjab completed the application procedure and appeared in the recruitment test conducted by PECTAA at Punjab University, Lahore. Many candidates invested significant time, effort, and money in preparing for the examination and completing all required formalities. However, despite the successful completion of the written test, the recruitment process was discontinued without any clear explanation. Candidates who had participated in the earlier process have been waiting for further updates and hoped that the authorities would complete the recruitment procedure based on the test results already obtained. Instead, PECTAA has recently issued a new advertisement for the same vacancies, requiring candidates to submit fresh applications and pay a new processing fee of Rs. 3,000 for each post. The decision has caused frustration among job seekers, who argue that they should not be forced to repeat the entire process or pay additional charges when they have already fulfilled the required criteria. Several candidates have criticised the move, describing it as an unnecessary financial burden on unemployed youth who are already facing difficult economic conditions. They claim that demanding another application fee from thousands of applicants creates additional hardship and raises questions about the transparency and fairness of the recruitment procedure. Responding to the concerns, PECTAA spokesperson Noorul Huda told Minute Mirror that the department decided to initiate another round of tests and interviews after failing to find suitable candidates for the advertised positions. When informed that applicants had already appeared in the written test and those who qualified had also been called for interviews, the spokesperson said that both the written test and the interview are necessary to determine a candidate’s suitability for recruitment. He also defended the decision to charge a fresh application fee for the new recruitment process. However, candidates maintained that the recruitment process itself imposes an additional financial burden, as PECTAA conducts both its written tests and interviews in Lahore. Applicants from across Punjab have to travel to the provincial capital for each stage of the recruitment process, resulting in considerable transportation and accommodation expenses. The affected candidates have strongly appealed to PECTAA officials to reconsider the decision and acknowledge the applications submitted during the previous recruitment drive. They have demanded that the authorities complete the pending recruitment process using the test results of candidates who already appeared in the examination. According to the protesting applicants, restarting the entire process not only wastes the efforts of thousands of candidates but also creates uncertainty about the future of those who have already invested months preparing for the opportunity. They believe that conducting another recruitment cycle for the same positions is unfair unless there is a valid reason and proper justification from the concerned department. Candidates have also requested the Punjab Government and senior officials to intervene in the matter and investigate the issue. They urged the authorities to provide relief by accepting the previous applications, avoiding unnecessary fee collection, and ensuring that the recruitment process is conducted in a transparent and merit-based manner. The applicants said that unemployed youth across Punjab are looking toward government institutions for fair opportunities and expect recruitment systems to protect their time, effort, and financial investments. They called for immediate action from relevant authorities so that the recruitment process can move forward without causing further inconvenience to candidates.