Government Orders Data Centre Framework Revamp As Power Demand Surges To 20gw

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has decided to introduce a new digital system for the private Hajj operation in 2027 in line with Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk Masar system. Under the new arrangement, bookings for private Hajj will be processed through the Ministry of Religious Affairs instead of being handled directly by private Hajj operators. For the first time, both the government and private Hajj operations will come under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, according to sources. Sources said the private Hajj scheme will be operated through the ministry’s official Pak Hajj app, which will serve as the digital platform for managing bookings and related arrangements. The move is aimed at bringing greater transparency, centralised oversight and digital management to the private Hajj scheme. It will also align Pakistan’s private Hajj operations with the digital procedures being implemented by Saudi authorities. Under the proposed system, pilgrims seeking to perform Hajj through the private scheme will be able to access the relevant services through the official digital platform, while the ministry will maintain direct oversight of the process. The decision marks a significant change from the existing arrangement, under which private Hajj operators play a central role in booking and managing pilgrims. The ministry is expected to announce further details regarding registration, booking procedures, packages, payments and the role of private operators as preparations for Hajj 2027 progress.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that the widow of a deceased retired employee is the lawful recipient of the employee’s pension and post-retirement benefits, clarifying that siblings cannot claim such benefits solely on the basis of being legal heirs. The ruling was issued in a detailed four-page written judgment authored by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. The decision provides important legal clarification on the distribution of pension and retirement benefits after the death of a retired government employee. According to the judgment, pension is not treated as inherited property that can automatically be divided among all legal heirs. Instead, the court held that pension payments are governed by the relevant laws, service rules and institutional regulations. The Supreme Court stated that the widow of a deceased retired employee has the primary legal right to receive the pension and related benefits. It further observed that if a person has been legally nominated under the applicable rules, that nominee would also be entitled to receive the benefits. The court made it clear that brothers and sisters cannot claim a deceased employee’s pension merely because they are legal heirs under inheritance laws. It explained that pension rights arise from specific statutory provisions and are separate from the general rules governing inheritance. The judgment emphasised that all pension payments must be made strictly in accordance with the applicable laws and the regulations of the concerned institution. Authorities responsible for disbursing pensions must follow these legal provisions while determining the rightful beneficiary. The case reached the Supreme Court after the siblings of a deceased employee of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) challenged an earlier court ruling and sought a succession certificate to claim pension-related benefits. After reviewing the case, the apex court dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the Peshawar High Court, which had ruled that the siblings were not entitled to receive the deceased employee’s pension. The Supreme Court observed that pension is a statutory benefit and cannot be distributed under ordinary inheritance principles unless specifically permitted by the relevant legal framework.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said he will recommend that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif order an independent performance review of all federal cabinet ministers to evaluate the effectiveness of their ministries. Speaking on the country’s governance and accountability, Naqvi said every ministry should undergo a third-party assessment so that its performance can be measured through an impartial process. He added that the findings of the evaluation should be made public to ensure transparency and strengthen public confidence in government institutions. The interior minister expressed confidence in the stability of the current political setup, saying the government would complete its full five-year constitutional term. He dismissed speculation about any change in the existing system and said the democratic process would continue without interruption. Naqvi stressed that regular performance evaluations would help improve governance, identify weaknesses and encourage ministries to deliver better public services. He said objective assessments by independent experts would contribute to greater efficiency and accountability across the federal government. Responding to criticism directed at him, the interior minister thanked those who had remarked that he achieved in three years what normally takes three decades. He described such comments as recognition of his work and said he appreciated both criticism and acknowledgment of his performance.