Thailand Sets General Election for February 8, 2026

Islamabad: “Serious questions have been raised about the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) after Senator Aimal Wali Khan questioned why the Chairman NEPRA continues receiving a monthly salary of Rs3.2 million despite concerns regarding his office attendance and official responsibilities.” The issue was raised during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan at the Establishment Division. Senator Aimal Wali Khan questioned the performance and accountability of senior government officials, saying that important positions should not continue without effective participation and responsibility. While discussing NEPRA, Senator Aimal Wali Khan stated that the Chairman NEPRA had remained ill only a few weeks after his appointment and was not attending office regularly, yet continued receiving his full salary. He questioned whether public funds should continue to be spent on positions where official duties are not being performed and demanded accountability regarding the matter. The committee took note of the concerns raised by Senator Aimal Wali Khan and discussed the importance of transparency and responsibility in government institutions. During the wider discussion on public sector appointments and governance issues, Senator Aimal Wali Khan criticised the practice of keeping individuals in important positions despite their inability to perform official duties. He remarked that some people continue holding positions even when they are unable to actively carry out responsibilities, raising questions about institutional efficiency and accountability. The committee stressed that senior positions in government bodies must be linked with performance, transparency and public responsibility. The issue comes at a time when regulatory institutions such as NEPRA play a major role in Pakistan’s electricity sector, including matters related to power regulation, tariffs and consumer interests. The committee directed relevant authorities to provide required information so that matters related to public appointments, governance and institutional reforms could be examined in detail.

Ameer-ul-Azeem, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, has passed away after a prolonged illness. His funeral prayers will be offered at 5:00 pm today at Mansoora, Lahore. A Jamaat-e-Islami spokesperson confirmed his death, saying he had been battling cancer for a long time. Before becoming the party’s Secretary General, he served for many years as the central Secretary for Information. Born in Lahore in 1958, Ameer-ul-Azeem completed his matriculation from Islamia School Sant Nagar and his intermediate studies at Islamia College Railway Road. He later earned a BSc in Physics and Double Mathematics from Islamia College Civil Lines and an MBA from the University of the Punjab. He became associated with Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) during his school years and later served as the elected president of the Punjab University Students’ Union. He also held the position of Nazim-e-Aala (Chief Organizer) of IJT. During General Zia-ul-Haq’s rule, Ameer-ul-Azeem led a long march demanding the restoration of student unions and was imprisoned for his role in the movement. While in jail, he was elected as the head of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba. He later served as Jamaat-e-Islami’s central Secretary for Information, Secretary General of the party’s Lahore chapter, and Ameer of Lahore. In 2019, he was appointed Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan by then party chief Siraj-ul-Haq following consultation with the party’s Central Shura.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched a major initiative to bring millions of out-of-school children into the education system. The provincial government has started work on a comprehensive plan. The initiative will identify children who are not attending school and provide them with suitable educational opportunities. Officials from the education, local government, health and social welfare departments have signed a memorandum of understanding for the programme. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi was also present at the signing ceremony. Officials gave a detailed briefing on the initiative. They said a province-wide survey would be conducted to identify out-of-school children. The government will also develop a “One Map” system. The system will identify the number of children who are out of school. It will also show their locations. This data will help the authorities plan enrolment drives in areas where the need is greatest. According to figures presented during the briefing, around 4.9 million children in KP were out of school according to the 2023 census. The provincial education department has estimated the number at around 2.6 million. The government has set an initial target of bringing 60% of out-of-school children into the education system during the first phase. Officials said children under the age of five would also be included in the data collection process. Their information will help the government prepare future education plans and estimate upcoming enrolment needs. The programme will use different forms of education. Government schools will be used where possible. Community schools will also play a role. Double-shift schools will be introduced or expanded in areas facing limited capacity. Digital platforms will also be used to reach children who cannot easily access conventional schools. Poverty has been identified as one of the major reasons children leave school. The government plans to provide financial support to vulnerable families. Scholarships, Zakat funds and other assistance will be used to encourage children to remain in education. Scholarship payments will be linked to attendance. Officials said students would need to maintain at least 75% attendance to qualify for the scholarship payments. The programme will also focus on skills development. Children will receive technical and vocational training under the United Nations’ Generation Unlimited programme. The initiative is aimed not only at increasing school enrolment but also at improving the future employment prospects of young people. The government has also planned independent verification of the survey data. An independent organisation will verify 5% of the collected data to improve transparency and ensure that the figures accurately reflect the situation on the ground. Authorities said the survey would provide a clearer picture of the out-of-school population in the province. The data will then be used to design targeted education programmes.