February 2026

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government’s announcement to provide free medicines in government hospitals has become virtually impossible to implement in Rawalpindi’s three main government hospitals due to insufficient medical budgets. Outstanding payments to suppliers for medicines already purchased have reached Rs 1.95 billion. According to sources, in the presence of Rs 550 million in unpaid dues

Lal Hussain, 66, “Ramazan drummer”, beats his drum while ringing the doors of Bani, a former residential district of Rawalpindi. PHOTO: AFP RAWALPINDI: A centuries-old tradition in the subcontinent of waking residents for sehri during the holy month of Ramazan expires today in Rawalpindi, as technological advancements and changing social habits make the practice increasingly

Concerns grow over joint actions and whether inspections cover all food sectors fairly ISLAMABAD: Questions are being raised over food safety operations in the federal capital, as concerns emerge over the conduct of joint inspections and the apparent concentration of enforcement activities around a single official. During the holy month of Ramazan, repeated inspections of

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced a time-bound facilitation program for new CNIC applicants. In a statement, the authority said that although Pakistan has achieved about 98.3 percent adult registration in the national identity system, a residual gap of nearly 1.7 percent remains. The gap was more pronounced among women and, for