If you work at a registered factory or commercial establishment in Punjab, you and your eligible family members may already be covered for free medical treatment through PESSI — but unlike some other government schemes, there isn’t a slick public app where you type in your CNIC and instantly see your coverage. Here’s how PESSI medical benefits actually work, and the real ways to confirm yours. What PESSI Actually Covers The Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) provides social security to workers in registered factories, commercial establishments, and other specified businesses under the Provincial Employees Social Security Ordinance, 1965. Its…
Author: M Awais
As the world heads toward the next UN climate summit in Turkey, the argument that wealthy, industrialized nations owe developing countries like Pakistan a “climate debt” is resurfacing — and it’s worth understanding both what’s being claimed and where the pushback comes from. What the “Climate Debt” Argument Says The core idea, advanced by economists and policy analysts like Shakeel Ahmad Ramay in a recent op-ed, rests on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which calls on parties to “protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind.” Advocates argue this means…
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb says Pakistan’s economy is on track to grow by more than 4% this fiscal year, even as the government pushes ahead with plans to privatise several state-owned entities and raise over $1 billion in the process. Here’s what he told Reuters. The Growth Outlook Speaking to Reuters on Monday on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Aurangzeb said he still expects Pakistan’s economy to grow above 4% this fiscal year, despite elevated oil prices. “So I’m still quite clear that we should clock north of 4%,” he said. He added…
Iran says it’s still reviewing the latest US proposal aimed at ending the two countries’ ongoing conflict, as indirect communication between Washington and Tehran continues through mediators including Pakistan. Here’s where things currently stand. What’s Happening Right Now Iran’s government says it has received the latest US proposal and is reviewing it internally before responding, continuing a pattern that’s defined this roughly eight-month-long conflict: Washington and Tehran aren’t talking to each other directly, but are exchanging proposals and messages through mediators, chiefly Pakistan, alongside Qatar. Iran’s foreign ministry has previously said it would convey its response to the US through…
If you’ve applied to transfer a vehicle’s ownership — whether you’re the buyer or the seller — you can track where your application stands online without having to call or visit the excise office every time. Here’s how it works. How Vehicle Transfers Work Now In Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Islamabad, ownership transfer uses biometric verification through the NADRA Pak-ID app for both buyer and seller, alongside the paperwork handled by the relevant Excise and Taxation Department. Pak-ID mainly completes the identity-verification stage; the rest of the transfer process, including fee payment and final processing, happens through the provincial excise…
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is weighing a legal challenge after the federal government imposed emergency rule and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, removing the party’s provincial government. Here’s what happened and what comes next. What Happened On Sunday, October 11, 2026, the federal cabinet held an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and recommended imposing emergency rule under Article 232 and governor’s rule under Article 234 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. President Asif Ali Zardari approved the summary. Article 233, which deals with suspending fundamental rights, was reportedly not part of what was signed. The cabinet cited the “provincial government’s deliberate…
If you need to claim a deceased relative’s bank account, savings, or other movable assets, you likely need a succession certificate — and NADRA now offers a faster alternative to going through civil court for most straightforward cases. Here’s how to get one. What a Succession Certificate Actually Covers A NADRA succession certificate is generally used to claim movable assets such as bank accounts, savings, mobile wallet balances, salary arrears, government dues, and in some cases insurance proceeds, depending on the insurer’s own requirements. It does not cover immovable property like land or houses — that still requires a succession…
An airstrike on a gold mine near the disputed Sudan-Egypt border has reportedly killed dozens of civilian miners, according to a Sudanese rights group. Here’s what’s known so far. What Happened The strike hit a gold mining site at Jabal al-Uqaydat, a mountainous area on the Sudan-Egypt border, on Saturday. The location sits near the Halayeb triangle, a stretch of land claimed by both Sudan and Egypt. The Emergency Lawyers, a Sudanese rights group, reported that 72 civilian miners were killed, based on preliminary information, and said verification of the toll was still ongoing. The group also reported that 223…
Pakistan wrapped up the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a match to spare, crushing them by 82 runs in Rawalpindi behind a blistering innings from Maaz Sadaqat and a three-wicket burst from Imran Randhawa. Here’s how it unfolded. The Result Pakistan posted 215-3 in their 20 overs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, and bowled Sri Lanka out for just 133-7 in reply, sealing the three-match series 2-0 with one game left to play on Tuesday. Pakistan had already won the series opener by four wickets, with Sahibzada Farhan scoring 89 — this win gave Farhan his first series…
Bill Gates says the danger from artificial intelligence that will hit hardest, and soonest, isn’t some far-off robot uprising — it’s cybercrime. Speaking to ABC News, the Microsoft co-founder said AI-powered cyberattacks are set to escalate sharply over the next year, well before any of the bigger, longer-term AI risks become a real concern. What Gates Actually Said “The front that we’ll probably see most dramatically in the next year is cyberattacks,” Gates told ABC News. He said the risk of AI “getting out of control” on its own is still years away — the more pressing problem right now…