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General Syed Aamer Raza, HI (M), S Bt, formally assumed command of the National Strategic Command on Monday, marking the beginning of his tenure in the key military position. A Guard of Honour was presented to General Aamer Raza following his appointment as Commander National Strategic Command. The ceremony was held as part of the formal proceedings marking his assumption of command. After the Guard of Honour, General Aamer Raza visited Yadgar-e-Shuhada. He laid a floral wreath at the memorial to pay tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. The general also offered Fateha at the memorial. The ceremony reflected the military tradition of honouring personnel who lost their lives in the service of Pakistan. Following the proceedings, General Aamer Raza visited General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. He called on Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces. During the meeting, Field Marshal Asim Munir congratulated General Aamer Raza on assuming command of the National Strategic Command. The meeting was part of the formal transition following General Aamer Raza’s appointment. The National Strategic Command holds an important position within Pakistan’s strategic security structure. The appointment comes at a time when Pakistan continues to focus on maintaining national security and strengthening its strategic preparedness. General Aamer Raza’s assumption of command formally completes the transition to his new responsibility. His meeting with the military leadership also provided an opportunity to mark the start of his tenure at the command. The ceremony and subsequent meeting were conducted in accordance with established military traditions.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with Colombia after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake devastated parts of the country, killing more than 111 people and leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, with the epicentre near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region. The powerful tremor damaged hundreds of buildings and triggered desperate rescue operations as emergency workers searched through collapsed structures for survivors. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound grief over the loss of precious lives and the destruction caused by the disaster. He extended heartfelt condolences to Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, the people of Colombia and families who lost loved ones in the tragedy. “Pakistan stands with the people of Colombia in this difficult hour,” the prime minister said in his message, conveying solidarity with those facing the devastating consequences of the earthquake. Sharif also expressed sympathy for those injured and affected by the disaster, saying Pakistan’s thoughts and prayers were with the victims, survivors and rescue teams working in difficult conditions. The earthquake caused severe damage across several western cities, including Pereira, Cali, Quibdó and Manizales. Hospitals were placed under pressure as injured people were brought in, while rescue workers and volunteers continued clearing rubble in search of those feared trapped. Authorities also reported damage to infrastructure and airports, while aftershocks added to fears among residents. Colombia’s government declared an emergency to speed up rescue and relief operations. The disaster has prompted an international response, with countries offering assistance as Colombia confronts one of its most serious seismic emergencies in years. For Pakistan, the tragedy has once again highlighted the importance of international solidarity during natural disasters. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Pakistani government and people shared the grief of Colombian families and prayed for strength, patience and an early recovery for everyone affected. As rescue efforts continue, the focus remains on saving lives, supporting survivors and helping devastated communities rebuild.

Islamabad / Karachi: The Sindh Healthcare Commission came under intense scrutiny in the Senate after lawmakers questioned its ability to control illegal medical practices and respond effectively to the growing HIV situation in Sindh. Senators raised concerns over delayed action, staff shortages, and legal weaknesses that they said were limiting the Commission’s performance. The issue was discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti. The meeting was attended by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt, Senator Anusha Rehman Ahmad Khan through Zoom, Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani along with senior federal and provincial health officials. Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt questioned why FIRs had still not been registered against those responsible in connection with the HIV situation, while Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan expressed dissatisfaction over delays in action and questioned the role of the Sindh Healthcare Commission in preventing the spread of the disease. Responding to the Committee, the Chief Executive Officer of the Sindh Healthcare Commission said the Commission had already registered several FIRs against medical quacks. However, he stated that weaknesses in the existing legal framework allowed many accused to obtain bail shortly after arrest. He informed the Committee that amendments to the law were being prepared to strengthen action against quackery. The CEO also disclosed that the Commission has only around 170 officials serving across the entire province, highlighting a serious shortage of human resources. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri questioned why the Commission remained understaffed and asked whether the issue had been formally raised with the Sindh Government. Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal requested the Committee Chairman to issue directions so the matter could move forward. Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan stressed that the Government should acknowledge administrative shortcomings wherever they exist. He also asked how many times the Sindh Healthcare Commission had formally requested additional staff from the Provincial Government. The discussion also focused on the governance structure of the Commission. Members were informed that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the Sindh Health Department no longer exercises administrative control over the Sindh Healthcare Commission. Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal suggested that legislative measures should be considered to address governance-related issues affecting provincial institutions. The Committee also examined the appointment process for members of the Sindh Healthcare Commission Board. The Secretary Health informed members that the Department did not have the authority to appoint or remove Board members. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri observed that such limitations weaken accountability, while Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt expressed concern that the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission was not administratively answerable to the Secretary Health. Earlier in the meeting, Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani informed the Committee that two inquiries had been conducted into the Valika Hospital incident, during which 37 officials were identified for disciplinary action. He said the inquiry findings had not been made public due to security considerations but assured the Committee that strict action would be taken against those found responsible. He also informed members that the Sindh Government had established a social security fund to support families affected by HIV.

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has raised questions about the performance and accessibility of the Daanish School System. He said education at Daanish schools was expensive. As a result, the system had enrolled only around 40,000 students in 15 years. The minister questioned the effectiveness of earlier education initiatives in the province. He specifically referred to comprehensive and pilot schools established in Punjab. He asked where those schools had gone and why they had failed to deliver the expected results. Rana Sikandar Hayat said the Punjab government was working to reduce the gap between public and private education. For this purpose, the government had moved towards a public-private partnership model. He said the approach could help improve the quality of education and increase access for children. The provincial minister also highlighted the enrolment performance of the Nawaz Sharif School of Eminence programme. He said these schools had recorded an average enrolment of around 112 per cent so far. Rana Sikandar Hayat also spoke about the issue of inaccurate student records in government schools. He claimed that authorities had removed around 1.5 million ghost students from government school records across Punjab. The minister said the province still faced a major education challenge. Around 25 per cent of children in Punjab remain out of school, according to him. He said the dropout problem becomes particularly serious when students reach the high-school level. A significant number of children leave education after reaching secondary-level schools, he said. This affects the overall literacy and education indicators of the province. The minister said the government was now focusing on bringing children who are outside the education system back into schools. He said schools operating under outsourcing arrangements had been given a specific target. They would be required to enrol 5 per cent of children currently deprived of education. The initiative is aimed at increasing school enrolment and reducing the number of children who remain outside the formal education system. Rana Sikandar Hayat said improving access to education required both enrolment and retention. Bringing children into schools would not be enough if they later dropped out. He stressed the need to strengthen the education system and ensure that children continue their studies through higher grades. The minister’s remarks highlight the challenges facing Punjab’s education sector. Despite having a large network of schools, the province continues to deal with out-of-school children, inaccurate enrolment records and high dropout rates. The government is now looking towards partnerships with the private sector and reforms in public schools to address these problems. The minister said the ultimate objective was to provide more children with access to quality education and reduce the divide between public and private schooling.