Oil-Like Material Washes Ashore on Koh Larn Beaches, Coating Some Swimmers

ISLAMABAD: A proposal to reduce the passing threshold for medical college admissions to 50 percent has emerged amid concerns over vacant seats despite efforts to lower merit requirements. The matter was discussed during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by MNA Mahesh Kumar. The committee also examined complaints alleging that some medical colleges were charging fees above the permitted limit. Committee Chairman Mahesh Kumar said medical colleges are allowed to charge annual fees of up to Rs1.8 million. He directed officials to provide details of institutions allegedly collecting higher fees from students. The chairman also questioned why seats were still remaining vacant after merit requirements had already been relaxed. He suggested that the passing marks could be set at 50 percent and that the proportion of difficult questions in the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s entrance examination could also be reviewed. Federal Health Minister said 61 medical colleges had applied for permission to increase their fees. However, he clarified that colleges cannot raise fees independently and that only 35 of the 61 institutions had fulfilled the required conditions for a fee increase. Colleges failing to meet the prescribed criteria would not be permitted to charge higher fees. The President of the PMDC informed the committee that notices had been issued to medical colleges against which complaints of excessive fee collection had been received. Committee member Mustafa Kamal said vacant seats were also a concern for the authorities, but argued that high fees alone could not explain the situation. He pointed out that colleges charging around Rs3.5 million had not faced vacant seats, suggesting that other factors may also be contributing to the problem. The PMDC president further informed the committee that 468 additional seats had been approved for government medical colleges in Punjab, while 315 seats had been added for students from the former FATA region. When the committee chairman asked about an increase in medical seats in Sindh, the PMDC president said no additional seats had been allocated because the province had not submitted an application for an increase.

KHYBER: Representatives of families affected by the situation in Tirah Valley will convene a grand jirga on August 20 at Bara Press Club to discuss their return, financial assistance and a future strategy for pursuing their demands. The gathering is being organised by Tehreek Mutasireen Tirah following a consultative meeting held on Sunday. A 24-member committee, along with elected representatives and a special representative of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, has been invited to attend the jirga. Participants will review the difficulties faced by Tirah affectees and discuss arrangements for a safe and dignified return to their areas. The provision of financial assistance and other longstanding demands will also be taken up during the meeting. The jirga is expected to determine the group’s next course of action and decide how to press the government to address the concerns of affected families. During the earlier consultation, community leaders, political representatives, traders, doctors and tribal elders called on the government to ensure a secure and dignified return for the affected population and provide immediate financial support. Tehreek Mutasireen Tirah spokesman Sohbat Afridi said the group would pursue its demands through peaceful means, stressing that any future protest strategy would reflect the wishes of the affected residents and the wider community.

SWAT: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed has confirmed that authorities have identified the suicide bomber responsible for the deadly attack near Kabal Police Station in Swat, as investigators continue efforts to uncover the network behind the assault. Speaking to the media in Swat, the provincial police chief announced that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) would be formed to conduct a comprehensive probe into the bombing. He also confirmed that the families of the police personnel martyred in the attack would receive the government’s martyrs’ compensation package. According to the IGP, intelligence agencies had already been alert to potential security threats, prompting heightened security measures around the police station. He said vigilant police officers intercepted the suicide attacker before he could reach his intended target, triggering the explosion. Zulfiqar Hameed praised the courage of the police personnel and reiterated the force’s commitment to strengthening its operational capabilities. He noted that while terrorist groups continue to reorganize, security forces are actively pursuing militants and will not allow them to regain a foothold in the province. The police chief confirmed that the identity of the suicide bomber has been established, while investigations are ongoing to identify his accomplices and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack. The blast near Kabal Police Station claimed the lives of several people, including police personnel, and left many others injured.

  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the need to improve the efficiency and performance of government institutions by adopting modern technology and enhancing the professional training of public sector employees. He made these remarks while chairing a high-level meeting on the federal government’s rightsizing initiative and measures aimed at improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of state institutions. The meeting reviewed the progress made under the government’s administrative reform agenda, which seeks to reduce the size of the public sector, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and ensure more efficient delivery of public services. Addressing the participants, the Prime Minister said that technological innovation and skill development are essential for transforming the public sector into a more responsive, transparent, and efficient system. He stressed that government institutions must embrace modern digital solutions while ensuring that employees receive the training required to adapt to new technologies and administrative practices. Shehbaz Sharif said the government’s rightsizing policy is already producing positive results by reducing unnecessary spending and improving the utilization of public resources. He noted that several major reforms have been implemented under the initiative, including the closure of the Utility Stores Corporation, Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD), and the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO). According to the Prime Minister, these decisions were taken after careful consideration to streamline government operations, eliminate overlapping functions, and reduce the financial burden on the national exchequer. He said the objective of the reforms is to build a leaner and more efficient public sector capable of delivering better services to citizens while ensuring fiscal discipline. The Prime Minister stated that the savings generated through the rightsizing initiative would help strengthen the country’s financial position and allow the government to allocate more resources toward priority sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. To ensure transparency and accountability, Shehbaz Sharif directed that all positions and institutions abolished under the rightsizing programme should undergo an independent third-party audit. He said the audit would assess whether the reforms had been implemented effectively and whether the expected financial and administrative benefits had been achieved. The Prime Minister also instructed the relevant authorities to accelerate the implementation of all remaining rightsizing measures. He emphasized that administrative reforms should be carried out efficiently while maintaining transparency and ensuring that public services are not disrupted during the restructuring process. During the meeting, officials briefed the participants on the progress achieved so far. They informed the Prime Minister that vacant positions across various federal ministries and government departments have been abolished as part of the government’s effort to reduce unnecessary staffing and improve administrative efficiency. The meeting was further informed that work is also underway on the privatization of several state-owned enterprises. Officials said the government is taking practical steps to transfer selected public sector entities to the private sector in accordance with its broader economic reform programme. The privatization process aims to reduce the financial burden of loss-making enterprises on the national budget while encouraging greater investment, improved management, and enhanced productivity. Participants also reviewed the overall progress of the government’s institutional reform agenda and discussed future steps to further improve governance and public sector performance. The Prime Minister reiterated that administrative reforms are essential for ensuring sustainable economic growth, strengthening public finances, and delivering better services to the people. Concluding the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing structural reforms aimed at creating a modern, efficient, and accountable public sector. He said that through the adoption of technology, improved training, transparent governance, and responsible financial management, Pakistan’s government institutions can become more effective in meeting the needs of citizens and supporting the country’s long-term development goals.