فیچرڈ

Lahore: An important consultative meeting of the Core Committee of the Pakistan Association of Alternative Medicine (PAAM) was held, in which the “Policy Draft and Working Paper” was finalized to make the country’s alternative medicine sector namely Homeopathy, Herbal, and Unani economically self-reliant and to transform it into an international industry. During this meeting, PAAM Core Committee members Dr. Tariq Mahmood Chaudhry and former Director of Homeopathy at the Punjab Health Department, Dr. Jamil Akhtar Ghauri, met with PAAM President Kashif Aslam Malik and held deep consultations on the framework of the proposed federal ministry. According to the text of the policy draft, more than 80 percent of the world’s population relies on alternative and natural methods of treatment. China earns an annual export profit of 60 billion dollars from this sector, and India earns over 5 billion dollars in valuable foreign exchange. In contrast, despite having abundant natural resources and hundreds of thousands of qualified doctors, Pakistan accounts for less than 0.5 percent of the global market due to the lack of an independent federal ministry. The working paper prepared by PAAM highlights that establishing an autonomous federal ministry could be the fastest way to pull Pakistan out of its economic crisis and boost exports. The PAAM leadership has presented three-year economic targets to the government and parliament, setting the export target at 200 million dollars for the first year, 500 million dollars for the second year, and aiming to exceed 1.5 billion dollars in the third year through international trade agreements and Business-to-Business (B2B) partnerships. Another key feature of this policy draft is that commercial herb farming will be initiated nationwide under the new ministry, directly benefiting the rural economy and local farmers. Furthermore, this initiative aims to eliminate Pakistan’s reliance on expensive imported raw materials for the allopathic industry, making the country truly economically independent. During the meeting, the PAAM leadership emphasized that the alternative medicine sector is facing a severe crisis due to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (DRAP) hyper-focus on allopathic brands and bureaucratic red tape. They noted that introducing a one-window operation under an autonomous ministry would ensure medicine quality complies with World Health Organization (WHO) and International Herb Pharmacopeia standards, while also reducing public healthcare expenditures at the government level by up to 50 percent through the provision of affordable alternative medicines. Following the completion of the policy draft, PAAM has demanded a joint emergency meeting of the Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on Health and Commerce, the formation of a dedicated task force, and a special export package for alternative medicine manufacturers. The Chairman and Core Committee of PAAM reaffirmed their commitment to presenting this policy paper to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Federal Cabinet very soon to make the country self-sufficient on both economic and medical fronts.

PESHAWAR: The Directorate of Youth Affairs, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has launched the “Ikhtiyar Awam Ka” Complaint Cell across all districts of the province, providing citizens with a dedicated platform to register complaints, submit suggestions and seek information regarding youth-related services through their respective District Youth Offices. The initiative has been introduced to promote transparency, accountability and effective public engagement while ensuring timely redressal of complaints related to youth affairs and government services. Director Youth Affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abbas Khan Afridi said the establishment of the complaint cell reflects the government’s commitment to responsive governance and citizen-centric service delivery. “The Directorate of Youth Affairs is committed to ensuring that every citizen has direct access to our services. The ‘Ikhtiyar Awam Ka’ Complaint Cell will strengthen communication between the public and the Directorate, enabling us to address complaints promptly and improve the quality of services through public feedback,” Mr Afridi said. He said citizens from every district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could contact their respective District Youth Offices through the designated helpline numbers to register complaints, report issues, share recommendations and obtain information about youth development programmes. Mr Afridi added that every complaint received through the complaint cell would be handled with transparency, responsibility and within a defined timeframe to ensure accountability and public confidence. The complaint cell has been established in all district youth offices across Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Swat, Buner, Shangla, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Malakand, Chitral Upper, Chitral Lower, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan, South Waziristan Upper, South Waziristan Lower, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Karak, Kohat, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas Kohistan, where citizens can connect through the officially designated helplines. Officials said the initiative would strengthen public trust, improve institutional accountability and ensure efficient delivery of youth-related services across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) has announced that renowned Brahui writer and poet Abdul Rehman Brahui will receive the 2025 Kamal-e-Fun Award, the country’s highest literary honor. The decision was announced by PAL Chairperson Professor Dr. Najeeba Arif following a meeting of the academy’s award committee in Islamabad. The Kamal-e-Fun Award recognizes a lifetime of outstanding literary contributions and carries a cash prize of Rs1 million. Abdul Rehman Brahui was selected by a distinguished panel of literary scholars, critics, and writers from across Pakistan, who acknowledged his remarkable services to Brahui literature and his lasting impact on the country’s literary landscape. Speaking at the announcement, Dr. Najeeba Arif congratulated Abdul Rehman Brahui and the people of Balochistan, describing the award as a tribute to his lifelong dedication to literature. She reaffirmed the academy’s commitment to promoting all Pakistani languages and ensuring equal recognition for regional literary traditions. The award committee was chaired by noted literary figure Munir Ahmed Badini, who praised Abdul Rehman Brahui’s exceptional contributions to Brahui language and literature. He stated that the recipient’s work has enriched not only Brahui literature but also Pakistan’s diverse literary heritage. Badini also appreciated the Pakistan Academy of Letters for maintaining transparency, merit, and fairness in the selection process. Alongside the Kamal-e-Fun Award, the academy also announced the recipients of the 2025 National Literary Awards in various categories, including Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Saraiki, Brahui, Hindko, English, and translation. Among the notable winners were Akhlaq Ahmed for Urdu fiction, Muhammad Izhar-ul-Haq for Urdu non-fiction, Sajid Siddiq Nizami for literary criticism, and Ghulam Hussain Sajid for Urdu poetry. The Pakistan Academy of Letters confirmed that every author whose book has been selected for a National Literary Award will receive a cash prize of Rs200,000. These awards celebrate excellence in creative writing, poetry, research, criticism, translation, and prose across Pakistan’s national and regional languages. The announcement highlights the academy’s continued efforts to preserve Pakistan’s rich literary heritage while encouraging writers working in both national and regional languages. By recognizing distinguished authors such as Abdul Rehman Brahui, the Pakistan Academy of Letters aims to promote literary excellence, cultural diversity, and the enduring importance of literature in shaping the country’s intellectual and cultural identity.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has announced a 75-paisa per unit increase in electricity prices for consumers across Pakistan, including domestic users of K-Electric. The revised tariff will be reflected in electricity bills issued during August 2026, according to an official notification released by the regulator. The increase has been approved under the monthly fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for June 2026, a mechanism through which electricity tariffs are periodically revised to account for changes in fuel generation costs. The adjustment applies to electricity consumers served by power distribution companies nationwide, including those receiving electricity from K-Electric in Karachi. According to the notification, consumers will pay an additional Rs0.75 per unit in their August electricity bills. The fuel cost adjustment is a routine regulatory measure designed to recover fluctuations in the cost of electricity generation caused by varying fuel prices and the overall energy mix used by power producers. NEPRA stated that the revised charges are part of the monthly adjustment process and are intended to align electricity tariffs with the actual cost of power generation during the relevant period. The authority regularly reviews requests submitted by power distribution companies before approving any changes in consumer tariffs. The latest increase comes as electricity consumers across Pakistan continue to face higher utility costs amid rising inflation and increasing household expenses. The adjustment will affect millions of residential, commercial, and industrial consumers, although the exact financial impact will depend on individual electricity consumption levels. Domestic consumers in Karachi supplied by K-Electric will also be subject to the revised tariff, ensuring that the increase is implemented uniformly across the country. The notification confirms that the additional charges will be included in the current billing cycle for August. Fuel cost adjustments are separate from the base electricity tariff and may result in either increases or reductions in monthly bills depending on changes in fuel prices and electricity generation costs. In recent years, these periodic revisions have become a regular feature of Pakistan’s electricity pricing system as regulators seek to recover actual power generation expenses. Consumers are advised to review their upcoming electricity bills carefully to understand the impact of the latest tariff adjustment and any other applicable charges included in the monthly billing statement.