تازہ ترین

The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Peshawar has released the results of the 2026 annual examinations for Grades 9 and 10. The results show that Islamiat was the subject in which the highest number of students failed in both classes. According to the official statistics, a total of 97,950 students appeared in the Grade 9 annual examinations. Out of these, 57,847 students successfully passed and were promoted to Grade 10. The remaining students could not qualify for promotion after failing to meet the required passing criteria. The examination data also highlighted students’ performance across different subjects. Among all the subjects, Islamiat recorded the highest failure rate, making it the most challenging subject for students in both Grade 9 and Grade 10 this year. The results have drawn attention to the need for improved teaching methods and better academic support in the subject. Education experts believe schools, teachers, and parents should work together to identify the reasons behind the poor performance and help students strengthen their understanding of Islamiat before future examinations. The BISE Peshawar annual examination results provide an overview of students’ academic performance across the province and are expected to help education authorities assess areas where additional support and reforms may be required to improve overall learning outcomes.

SKARDU: Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of celebrated British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja and three members of his expedition from Broad Peak after a difficult recovery mission, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed. The recovery operation was carried out in extremely challenging weather and terrain. The bodies of Purja, Chinese climber Zhong Wang, and Nepali climbers Nima Sherpa and Kilu Sherpa were successfully brought to Broad Peak Base Camp. The tragic incident occurred on July 30, when an avalanche struck the 10-member international expedition while climbing Broad Peak, one of the world’s highest mountains. Contact with the team was lost immediately after the avalanche. Purja’s company later confirmed that there were no survivors from the expedition. Despite the successful recovery of four bodies, three climbers remain missing. The Alpine Club of Pakistan said search efforts would continue whenever weather and mountain conditions permit. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to locating the remaining climbers so their families can receive closure. Earlier, the bodies of three other expedition members—an American woman, an Omani woman and a Nepali climber—were airlifted from the mountain to Skardu. However, the bodies of two Nepali nationals and one Pakistani climber have yet to be recovered. The deaths have deeply affected the global mountaineering community. Fellow climbers and mountaineering organizations have paid tribute to the victims, describing the loss as a major blow to high-altitude climbing. The Alpine Club of Pakistan said arrangements are being made to return the recovered bodies to their families. The organization expressed hope that the recovery would provide some comfort to the bereaved families and allow the climbers to be laid to rest with dignity.

The federal government has decided to keep the 2023 and 2024 ad hoc relief allowances unchanged for its employees, maintaining the existing rates while also outlining the allowance structure for newly appointed staff. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Ad Hoc Relief Allowance-2023 will remain frozen at the level applicable on June 30, 2023, and will not be revised until further instructions are issued. Under the current arrangement, employees in Grades 1 to 16 will continue to receive an allowance equal to 35% of their basic pay, while officers in Grades 17 to 22 will receive 30% of their basic pay under the 2023 relief allowance. The ministry has also announced that the Ad Hoc Relief Allowance-2024 will remain frozen at the rates applicable on June 30, 2026. Employees in Grades 1 to 16 will continue to receive 25% of their basic pay, whereas those in Grades 17 to 22 will receive 20% of their basic pay. The decision means there will be no increase in these allowances until further notice, although eligible employees will continue receiving them at the existing rates. The notification also provides guidance on the applicable allowance rates for newly recruited federal government employees, ensuring uniform implementation across government departments. The Finance Ministry said the revised pay and allowance framework will remain effective unless amended through a future government notification.

Police have arrested a close relative after a one-and-a-half-year-old girl died during treatment following an alleged sexual assault in Karachi’s Qayyumabad area. According to police officials, the incident came to light after an emergency call was received, prompting officers to reach the scene and begin an investigation. Family members told investigators that the suspect, who is a close relative of the child, had taken the toddler outside for a walk. When she was brought home, she was reportedly in critical condition. The child was immediately shifted to a hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries despite medical efforts to save her. A doctor involved in the case said the initial medical assessment indicated signs consistent with sexual assault. However, authorities said the final cause and nature of the injuries will be determined after the completion of the medico-legal examination and forensic reports. Following the preliminary investigation, police arrested the suspect from his residence in Karachi. The accused remains in custody, and investigators are questioning him as part of the ongoing probe. Law enforcement officials said evidence is being collected and statements from family members and other witnesses are being recorded. Further legal action will depend on the findings of the medical and forensic examinations. The child’s funeral prayers were offered before she was laid to rest at a local cemetery in Karachi. Police said the investigation is continuing and assured that the case will be pursued in accordance with the law. The incident has drawn widespread concern, with calls for a thorough investigation and strict action against anyone found responsible.

The Sindh government has revised the weekly schedule for schools, restoring Saturday and Sunday as official weekly holidays for all public and private educational institutions across the province. According to the School Education and Literacy Department, the updated schedule has been approved by the chief secretary and will be implemented in all government and privately managed schools. Under the new arrangement, schools will operate five days a week, from Monday to Friday. To compensate for the reduced number of working days and ensure timely completion of the academic syllabus, daily teaching hours will be extended by one additional hour. Officials said the revised timetable aims to maintain the pace of academic activities while providing students and teachers with a two-day weekend. The latest decision replaces an earlier directive issued last month, under which all public and private schools in Sindh had been instructed to observe a six-day working week from August 1, with classes scheduled from Monday to Saturday. The change comes shortly after educational institutions resumed classes following the two-month summer vacation, which lasted from June 1 to July 31. Education authorities said the revised schedule will apply uniformly across the province and schools have been directed to implement the updated working days and teaching hours accordingly.