Ufone service disruption, Senate questions PTA over telecom merger

Pakistani pensioners can now obtain their Proof of Life certificate free of charge without having to visit a bank or pension office, thanks to a new digital and nationwide service introduced by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). The facility is available through the Pak ID mobile app, NADRA Registration Centres, Union Councils, e-Sahulat franchises and NADRA’s mobile services across Pakistan. The initiative has been introduced on the special directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control Ministry of Defence Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and Military Accountant General (MAG). The service is particularly aimed at helping elderly bedridden and differently abled pensioners who may find it difficult to travel repeatedly to banks or pension offices to fulfil the Proof of Life requirement. How to Get Proof of Life from Home The easiest option for eligible pensioners is the Pak ID mobile app. Pensioners can complete the required identity verification process through the app and obtain their Proof of Life certificate from home. Pensioners who cannot use the Pak ID app themselves can also receive assistance from a family member. A family member may use their own Pak ID account to complete the prescribed identity verification process for the pensioner. For those who require in-person assistance, the service is available free of charge at more than 5,000 e-Sahulat franchises across the country. Pensioners can also visit more than 988 NADRA Registration Centres and around 500 Union Councils, where priority services are being provided without requiring them to wait in the regular queue. Pensioners who cannot easily travel to a service point can use NADRA’s mobile registration vans, biker services and main pack services. National Pensioners Register The Proof of Life facility is part of a wider reform initiative under which NADRA has established a National Pensioners Register. In its first phase pensioners administered by CGA and MAG have been included in the database. The digital register provides pension authorities with a reliable source for verifying a pensioner’s identity and life status. It can also reduce the need for families to repeatedly report the same information to different government departments. If a pensioner’s death is reported through NADRA’s death notification system or recorded in the Civil Registration Management System, the relevant pension controller can receive a digital notification. NADRA has also introduced a verification service for authorized banks, allowing them to directly check a pensioner’s Proof of Life status through the National Pensioners Register. The new system is expected to make pension verification easier while reducing paperwork, repeated physical visits and inconvenience for elderly pensioners.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Secretary for Information Nadeem Afzal Chan has strongly responded to a speech delivered by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during a public gathering in Muzaffarabad. In his statement, Chan accused the Punjab chief minister of making false allegations against the Pakistan Peoples Party and rejected the claims made during her address. Responding to Maryam Nawaz’s remarks, Nadeem Afzal Chan said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) should focus on addressing its own governance challenges instead of criticizing political opponents. He alleged that the party’s poor governance and corruption had negatively affected Punjab and claimed that the current condition of the province reflected years of administrative failure. Chan argued that the slogan of “Clean Punjab” had remained only a political promise and had not translated into meaningful improvements on the ground. According to him, the situation across the province demonstrates that many of the commitments made by the Punjab government have not been fulfilled.   Referring to the recent heavy rainfall in different parts of Punjab, the PPP leader claimed that a single spell of rain exposed weaknesses in the province’s infrastructure and urban management. He said that roads in several cities were submerged under water, creating serious difficulties for residents and disrupting normal daily life. Many people, he alleged, were forced to remain inside their homes because flooded streets made travel difficult and unsafe.   Nadeem Afzal Chan specifically mentioned the cities of Gujranwala and Layyah, describing their condition after the rainfall as particularly concerning. According to him, streets, markets, and residential areas in these cities resembled rivers and streams due to inadequate drainage systems. He argued that the flooding highlighted shortcomings in planning and municipal services despite repeated claims of development by the provincial government.   The PPP leader further criticized what he described as excessive government spending on publicity campaigns. He said billions of rupees had allegedly been spent on advertisements promoting the Punjab government’s performance, but the actual situation experienced by citizens painted a very different picture. In his view, the condition of roads and public infrastructure after the rainfall contradicted the government’s claims of effective governance and development.   Chan also accused the Punjab government of setting new records for corruption, alleging that financial irregularities had become a growing concern under the current administration. He claimed that additional controversies could emerge in the near future, including what he described as a potential wheat-related scandal. According to him, the details of the matter would soon become public, though he did not provide specific evidence to support the allegation. The remarks by Nadeem Afzal Chan reflect the continuing political rivalry between the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, with both parties frequently criticizing each other’s governance and policy decisions. Political exchanges between government and opposition leaders have intensified in recent months, particularly over issues related to public services, infrastructure, and economic management. The Punjab government has not immediately responded to Chan’s latest allegations. As political debate continues, issues such as urban infrastructure, flood management, public spending, and governance remain central topics in Pakistan’s political discourse, with both government and opposition parties presenting differing views on the province’s performance and future priorities.