ISLAMABAD, Apr 1: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the government was providing all possible facilities to investors in the digital and telecom sectors to promote the country’s digital economy.

“The recent successful auction of 5G spectrum in Pakistan reflects that the government is moving in the right direction,” the prime minister said while speaking to VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu, who along with a delegation called on him at the PM House.

He stated that Pakistan was pursuing a comprehensive and effective strategy to increase foreign investment and promote innovation in the information technology sector.

“Effective use of information technology to achieve a cashless economy is among the government’s top priorities,” he said, adding that digitalization of the economic sector would help ensure transparency.

Following the 5G spectrum auction, the prime minister noted that all relevant institutions were working in close coordination to provide high-quality internet services to the public through telecom operators.

He further emphasized that Pakistan’s youth could play a vital role in strengthening the economy and improving service delivery through active participation in information technology and digital platforms.

He added that the growing interest of young people in telecom and IT is attracting international investors to Pakistan.

On the occasion, Kaan Terzioglu, particularly appreciated the government’s initiatives, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, to promote a cashless economy and complete digitalization of the economy.

He also expressed his company’s intention to further increase investment in Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, CEO of Jazz Aamir Ibrahim, and other senior officials.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, CEO of Jazz World Aamir Ibrahim, and other relevant government officials.

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE, APR 1 /DNA/ – Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), Lahore has successfully completed the third cohort of Women Empowerment & Mentoring Programme (WEMP), a flagship initiative of the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan. The programme is aimed at empowering women faculty through structured mentoring, leadership development and professional capacity building.

Attending the WEMP online closing ceremony, Managing Director NAHE Dr. Noor Amna Malik called for scaling a mentoring culture through the nationwide Mentoring Programme for Universities (MPU). She commended LCWU for successfully institutionalising mentoring practices and recognised WEMP as a model initiative contributing to women’s empowerment in Pakistan’s higher education sector. She particularly appreciated the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Uzma Quraishi in effectively implementing the WEMP, noting that the successful completion and continued growth of the third cohort is a testament to LCWU’s strong commitment and the program’s impactful cascading effect.

Dr. Malik also shared her expectations for LCWU to implement the MPU with the same dedication and enthusiasm, highlighting that the MPU represents the expansion of the WEMP from 18 universities to all public and private sector higher education institutions across Pakistan. She emphasised the importance of implementing the MPU as a gender-inclusive initiative, further strengthening the mentoring culture at a national scale.

She reiterated the importance of fostering mentoring cultures, continuous professional development, and capacity-building initiatives aligned with national higher education reforms, while reaffirming NAHE’s commitment to supporting universities in developing sustainable mentoring frameworks and strengthening faculty development programs across Pakistan.

In her welcome address, Vice Chancellor LCWU Prof. Dr. Uzma Quraishi highlighted the university’s commitment to fostering women’s leadership and professional excellence in higher education. She appreciated the contributions of mentors, mentees, and program organizers in cultivating a strong mentoring culture within the institution.

A comprehensive report of the third cohort was also presented by Dr. Tahira Kalsoom, Secretary WEMP, outlining the key achievements of the programme. The report emphasised structured mentoring engagements, professional development workshops, leadership training, and reflective learning practices that significantly enhanced participants’ academic confidence, communication skills, and leadership competency. It also underscores the program’s role in strengthening mentor–mentee relationships and promoting collaborative learning among faculty.

The Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program (WEMP) has emerged as a significant platform for developing female academic leaders, strengthening the faculty mentoring culture, and enhancing professional confidence and leadership skills. The successful completion of its third cohort reflects LCWU’s vision of empowering women educators and preparing future academic leaders to contribute meaningfully to both national and global higher education landscapes. The closing ceremony reaffirmed the shared commitment of the HEC and LCWU to fostering inclusive leadership, professional growth, and sustainable mentoring practices across the sector. 

ISLAMABAD, MAR 31 /DNA/ – The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) Lahore organised a roundtable discussion titled “Pakistan’s Energy Security in 2026: Assessing Solar Power Viability and Transition” on 31 March 2026. As an independent think tank, CASS Lahore organises academic events for scholars and practitioners interested in national security in its wider context. The event was attended by academics, intellectuals, and domain experts. Maheera Munir, a Research Assistant at CASS Lahore, delivered the opening address.  

The speaker, Dr Naveed Arshad, Director Energy Institute LUMS, highlighted that Pakistan is undergoing a silent energy disruption, which has placed Pakistan in a rare club comprising countries producing 25 per cent of their total electricity from solar sources. While all of the countries in this club are small or rich with either the private sector or the government taking the initiative for the installation of solar farms, Pakistan’s solar boom occurred downside of the meter, at the individual level. Dr Arshad stated that Pakistan’s solar revolution is driven by multiple factors including the public’s familiarity with alternate sources of electricity, flat rooftops, Pakistan’s high solar irradiance, and an attractive net metering policy. He emphasised that Pakistan can achieve energy security by adopting electrification of energy; however, it requires “out of the box” solutions. In that regard, he underscored the need for every house to become a powerhouse with electrification of all household loads. Additionally, it is important for Pakistan to consider battery value chain, new battery chemistries, battery deployment, and explore the possibility of mobile mines. Dr Arshad expressed optimism that implemented together, these options can allow Pakistan to become a truly first electrostate of the Global South.

In his concluding remarks, Air Marshal Asim Suleiman (Retd), President, CASS, Lahore, observed that solar energy is gaining traction in Pakistan due to falling costs and rising interest from households and businesses. He emphasised that solar energy’s integration into the wider energy system requires investment in storage, smart grids, and forecasting tools. He further remarked that governance and financing mechanisms will be decisive in sustaining expansion. Today’s choices, he argued, will shape Pakistan’s energy security and resilience for decades to come.

The event concluded with a lively interactive session. It highlighted the energy-AI nexus, disposal of solar panels, and economics of energy. The participants appreciated CASS Lahore’s initiative in hosting an engaging and thought-provoking discussion.