Fallout of political crisis: Sehat programme faces risk of closure in Punjab over non-payment of Rs83bn dues

The State Life Insurance Company (SLIC) has warned that it may have to close the Sehat Sahulat Programme in the Punjab region of Pakistan, due to the non-payment of Rs83bn ($536m) in pending liabilities. This warning undermines the former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s flagship scheme, which provides free treatment to 25 million families in 724 […]

Delay in polls: ECP decision obstructing court orders, observes Justice Akhtar

Pakistan’s top court has accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of obstructing orders from the Supreme Court. The comments came during a hearing into a petition lodged by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which was challenging the ECP’s decision to delay the Punjab Assembly elections until 8 October due to fears over national security. Barrister […]

Pricing dispute causes shortage of critical medicine

Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry is grappling with rising production costs and the Health Ministry’s rejection of its demand for a 38% increase, leading to critical drug shortages and patients relying on smuggled and potentially counterfeit drugs at increased costs. Local currency devaluation and soaring inflation, compounded by the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have increased […]

PTI’s Minar-e-Pakistan rally to break all records: Imran Khan

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has invited supporters to a political rally in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) sixth jalsa. Khan claimed that the event at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan monument will “break all records” and warned the government may attempt to prevent supporters from reaching it. The rally will begin at 9pm after Taraveeh prayers. In a televised […]

Defiant Imran says will not back off ‘under any circumstance’ ahead of Minar-i-Pakistan rally

As Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) sought interim bail in three terrorism cases, he called for supporters’ presence at the party’s Minar-i-Pakistan rally and urged them not to back down “under any circumstance”. Speaking to the media Imran claimed there would be a public “reaction to whatever method” the government would use. Comparing the […]