Lahore Mass Transit Authority phases out tokens and legacy transit cards for digital payments

WASHINGTON: Pakistan needs to improve transparency in its public finances and give Parliament and citizens earlier access to key budget and debt information, according to a new US State Department assessment. The department’s 2026 Fiscal Transparency Report said Pakistan had made progress in making financial information publicly available but still faced important gaps, particularly in the timely release of its proposed budget and disclosure of government liabilities. The report noted that Pakistan’s approved budget and year-end financial reports were easily accessible to the public, including online. However, it found that the government did not release its executive budget proposal within a reasonable timeframe. According to the assessment, publishing the proposed budget earlier would give lawmakers and the public more time to examine the government’s spending and revenue priorities before the document is formally approved. The report also raised concerns over limited public information about government debt, especially liabilities linked to major state-owned enterprises. Greater disclosure, it said, would help provide a clearer picture of the country’s financial position and allow Parliament to better assess potential fiscal risks. Despite these shortcomings, the US assessment acknowledged that Pakistan’s publicly available budget documents contained substantial information on planned government revenues and expenditures, including income from natural resources. Pakistan’s auditing system also received a largely positive assessment. The report said financial information was generally reliable and subject to review by the country’s supreme audit institution, which it found to have an appropriate level of independence under international standards. Audit findings were also made available to the public within a reasonable period. The report found that Pakistan had established legal procedures for awarding natural resource extraction contracts and licences and appeared to follow those rules in practice. It also noted that information on public procurement contracts was accessible and described the legal framework governing the country’s sovereign wealth fund as sound. The State Department identified three major areas where Pakistan could further strengthen fiscal transparency: releasing the executive budget proposal on time, providing more detailed information about government debt, including state-owned enterprise liabilities, and bringing military and intelligence budgets under adequate parliamentary or civilian oversight. Overall, the report did not portray Pakistan’s financial system as broadly opaque. Instead, it recognised several areas of progress while calling for stronger parliamentary scrutiny and greater disclosure of information that could help lawmakers and the public understand the country’s fiscal risks.

  Three prisoners have approached the Islamabad High Court seeking relief similar to that granted to the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, regarding treatment at a private hospital. The petitions were filed before the Islamabad High Court, with the applicants requesting permission to be transferred from prison to a private medical facility for treatment. The prisoners have specifically asked the court to allow them to receive medical care at either Shifa International Hospital or Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital. The development comes amid continued legal discussions over the medical treatment of prisoners and the circumstances under which an inmate may be allowed to receive treatment outside a prison hospital or government medical facility. During the proceedings, the Islamabad High Court sought a response from the relevant prison authorities by August 27. The court has directed the jail administration to explain its position regarding the requests made by the three prisoners. The court also ordered the superintendent of Adiala Jail to submit the medical reports of the petitioners. These reports are expected to help the court assess the prisoners’ medical conditions and determine whether their requests for treatment at private hospitals have sufficient grounds. Justice Muhammad Asif issued a two-page written order in connection with the petitions. In the order, the court directed the relevant parties to submit para-wise comments before the next hearing. The applicants have argued that they require medical treatment that may not be adequately available within the prison system. Their petitions seek permission to be transferred to either Shifa International Hospital or Quaid-e-Azam Hospital so that they can receive treatment from specialists and access facilities available at private medical institutions. The court has not yet issued a final decision on whether the prisoners will be allowed to move to a private hospital. Instead, it has sought medical documentation and responses from the prison authorities before considering the matter further. The medical reports from Adiala Jail will be particularly important in determining the nature and seriousness of the applicants’ health conditions. The court is expected to examine whether their medical needs justify treatment at a private hospital and whether such a transfer is appropriate under the applicable legal and prison regulations. The petitions also highlight broader questions concerning prisoners’ access to healthcare and the circumstances in which courts can intervene to ensure that inmates receive appropriate medical attention. The applicants’ request for relief similar to that provided to Imran Khan has placed the issue before the Islamabad High Court for judicial consideration. Their lawyers are seeking comparable treatment arrangements based on the medical needs of the petitioners. Under the court’s latest directions, the prison authorities are required to respond by August 27. The superintendent of Adiala Jail must also provide the petitioners’ medical reports, while all concerned parties have been asked to submit their detailed para-wise comments before the next hearing. Following the submission of these documents, the court will have an opportunity to review the medical evidence and the authorities’ position before deciding the applications. For now, the three prisoners remain in custody, and no final order allowing their transfer to a private hospital has been issued. The next hearing is expected to provide greater clarity on whether the applicants will be permitted to receive treatment at Shifa International Hospital or Quaid-e-Azam Hospital. The case could also become significant for future requests by prisoners seeking specialised medical treatment outside jail facilities, particularly where serious health concerns are raised and comparable relief has previously been granted in individual cases.