Current excise duty structure on tobacco products had pushed the consumers to down-trade from legally compliant cigarette brands to illegal tax-evaded brands easily available all across Pakistan, because of which the national exchequer was expected to face a revenue loss of around PKR310b annually with illicit cigarette brands having more than 60% of the total…
charity: water, a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe water to people around the world, has received support from The Coca-Cola Foundation to launch a transformative clean water project in the Balochistan province in Pakistan. The project aims to support 372 new and rehabilitated community water points to ensure access to clean and safe water…
Right to Protein powered by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) hosted its second Pitch2Fork program in Dubai, UAE. With a focus on innovations in the protein industry, this platform provided a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs across Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan to pitch their rising businesses to a panel of investors. Shortlisted companies that leveraged…
A new study published by the journal Public Health has indicated that banning disposable vapes may negatively impact 2.6 million people as well as discourage the use of e-cigarettes from then on in the United Kingdom. This research comes from a recent discussion among UK officials to ban disposable vapes to prevent minors from becoming…
Considering the current economic challenges and to ensure access to healthcare, Getz Pharma and M.E.D Consultants signed an MOU for the project Dream Diabetes: SMILE (Simplifying the Life of People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus). This initiative is designed to simplify the lives of underprivileged individuals living with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) through free…
In a groundbreaking article published in the prestigious Nature Medicine journal, experts from various parts of the world collaborated to address evidence gaps for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in children and adolescents. Notable experts, including Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta and Dr Jai Das from the Institute for Global Health and Development at Aga Khan University (IGHD-AKU) in…
A ceremony, held at Islamabad today, marked the formal handover of the ambulances by Mr. Gyorgy Loncsar, CEO MOL Pakistan, to Deputy Commissioner Kohat, Dr. Azmat Wazir and Additional Deputy Commissioner Hangu, Faheed Khan, both represented the commissioner Kohat. The event was attended by senior officials from both MOL Pakistan and the district administrations of…
In a significant event held today in Islamabad, WaterAid Pakistan unveiled its visionary Country Programme Strategy for the period 2023–2028. This strategy aims to expedite Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) progress in the country, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the resilience of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in the face of climate change. Furthermore,…
In the latest episode of the Happy Chirp podcast series, host Humna Raza engages in a soul-stirring conversation with Rammal Mehmud, a true pioneer in the realm of photography and one of Pakistan’s trailblazing female photographers. The unfolding dialogue takes us on an intimate exploration of Rammal’s life, traversing through the peaks of triumphs, the…
In a heartfelt commemoration of Pinktober, Mr. Rao Salman, CEO of TPL Trakker, along with the executive leadership team, embarked on a thoughtful visit to Baitul Sukoon, a cancer hospital giving free end-to-end treatment to breast cancer patients. Serving as a beacon of hope, the hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including mammography, ultrasound, radiology,…
Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited (PTC) launched its flagship Be Supplier Program, on Thursday in a bid to accelerate its sustainability agenda through supplier-led innovations. The company also launched its first ‘Environment, Social and Governance Report’ which demonstrates its commitment to sustainable business practices. The ‘Be Supplier for A Better Tomorrow Together’ Conference was attended by…
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at the Aga Khan University (AKU) recently hosted a roundtable discussion to address the details of the newly launched faculty and celebrate its inaugural batch of students, who have embarked on an inspiring journey to pursue their academic and career aspirations. Professor Stephen Lyon, Inaugural Dean, Faculty of…
The Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) celebrated World Teachers’ Day with a focus on UNESCO’s theme- ‘The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage.’ The event included a panel discussion featuring experts from the field of education including: Dr Faisal Bari, Dean, School…
The six-year European Union funded Balochistan Rural Development and Community Empowerment (BRACE) Programme successfully concluded with a final dissemination workshop at the office of Balochistan Rural Support Programme. BRACE has been the largest EU investment (Euro 45 Million) for community empowerment in Balochistan, directly working with 300,000 families in 10 districts of Balochistan namely Jhal…
A pioneering initiative, the Generation Unlimited Policy Research Challenge (PRC, aimed at empowering and inspiring young activists throughout Pakistan has been officially launched today. Operating under the GenU framework, this visionary project opens doors for individuals aged 12 to 28 to actively engage in research, champion innovative solutions, and play an instrumental role in shaping…
The ‘Right to Protein’ initiative, powered by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) introduced the ‘Pakistan Protein Perception Study 2023’, an insightful report developed based on a nation-wide survey conducted by YouGov assessing citizen’s knowledge, behaviour, and perceptions about protein foods in Pakistan. The study highlights the practical challenges that pose as a barrier to…
In the face of the persistent threat posed by COVID-19, our collective resilience shines brighter than ever, stated Dr. Saboora Waris, Associate Director, at Maroof International Hospital. Today, we come together to underscore three critical facets that demand our unwavering attention and action: the relentless presence of COVID-19, the pivotal role of clinical trials in…
Covid-19 has not left us and we are seeing many cases, with some still suffering symptoms from the last attack, known as Long-COVID. This was stated by PROF DR. JAVED AKRAM, of the Akram Medical Complex and Caretaker Provincial Minister for Health & Social Welfare; at the media roundtable, while speaking on “COVID-19 still a…
A new paper from the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health highlights positive outcomes in Pakistan following the release of findings from the “Big Tobacco, Tiny Targets” campaign, led by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), which sheds light on the advertising and promotional tactics employed…
If you are facing the issue of plaque build-up or discoloration of teeth, then you should immediately book a visit to your dentist for scaling and polishing treatment. No matter how strictly you maintain your oral health routine or hygiene, there are still chances of plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth due to multiple…
Pakistan’s population experts and leading government officials are set to gather in Islamabad this week on the 24th and 25th of May, for a learning event organized by Palladium Pakistan under DAFPAK-PSSD in collaboration with UNFPA, PSI, MSS, DKT International, and M&C Saatchi and in partnership with MoNHSR&C Islamabad, and provincial Health and Population Welfare…
Nutrition International, in partnership with the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSR&C) and provincial health departments launched a campaign – NourishMaa – to improve maternal nutrition in Pakistan by building capacities of healthcare providers (HCPs) and frontline health workers (FHWs) in six selected districts that report poor maternal nutrition indicators. “Improving the…
ABHI, a financial technology company, has partnered with Hilal Group, a leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company, to provide AbhiSalary, an Earned Wage Access product, to Hilal’s workforce. The move aims to reduce financial stress and improve productivity among Hilal’s employees, who can now access their earned salaries before payday in just 30 seconds. Hilal…
President Dr Arif Alvi has called for using digital technologies to improve the health and well-being of the people of Pakistan and provide them with quality healthcare services. He emphasised that advances in medical technology could help transform the country’s medicine and healthcare system. The President expressed these views while talking to the Chief Executive…
Dubai will host Arab Health, the most important healthcare trade show in the Middle East, at Dubai World Trade Center. Siemens Healthineers will display and demonstrate their latest pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare both onsite and virtually in a hybrid exhibition approach, allowing them to reconnect with visitors at the venue, as well as on their…
ISLAMABAD: In yet another significant development, the health sector is all set to leverage NADRA’s ehealth digital suite ensuring transparency and fairness in organ allocation and transplantation. Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik and CEO Shifa International Dr. Manzoor ul Haq Qazi inked an agreement on the provision of an ID Verification solution which would authenticate and…
According to Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman of the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA), chicken prices in Pakistan could increase to Rs1,000 ($6.50) per kilogram in the coming days due to a shortage of feed. Ashraf stated that around a dozen containers carrying 750,000 tons of soybean and canola, essential ingredients for poultry feed, are currently stuck…
Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), a public sector cardiac health facility located in Punjab, India, is facing a serious shortage of essential medications for its in-house patients. PIC is the largest facility of its kind in the province, and serves thousands of people from across Punjab, including underprivileged patients who receive free medications. According to…
Matrix Pharma took a lead today, in view of ‘World Iron Deficiency Day’, for the advocacy and awareness on ‘Iron Deficiency in Pakistan’ with the aim to educate people about the importance of iron for the body and what can happen if iron levels are not properly managed. In a press conference held at others…
Ordercall, one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing B2B startups, has signed an MoU with medIQ smart healthcare, Pakistan’s first integrated virtual-care platform, to provide healthcare solutions to Pakistan’s retailers. Through this partnership, Ordercall customers will have access to virtual care services, including comprehensive Out-Patient Department (OPD) coverage, as well as Health and Life Insurance cash benefits upon…