ISTANBUL, JUN 27 /DNA/ – The Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) issued a powerful call to action today on Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day, recognizing the sector as the “backbone of sustainable growth” and unveiling a new Secretariat initiative to pivot the bloc toward high-value, sustainable services.

In a statement commemorating #MSMEDay, the Secretary-General highlighted the staggering global footprint of MSMEs, which account for nearly 90% of businesses and 70% of global employment. Within the D-8’s vast demographic landscape—home to 1.28 billion people—these enterprises are positioned as critical drivers of regional value chains and inclusive development.

“Entrepreneurs are the true architects of our economies,” the Secretary-General stated. “Across the D-8 geography, from Nigeria to Indonesia, MSMEs are not just surviving; they are transforming local communities. They are the conduits through which we will achieve inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economic integration.”

Strategic Framework and Institutional Commitment
The Secretariat reiterated its commitment to the 2015 D-8 SME cooperation framework, emphasizing the operational role of the D-8 SME Centre located in Abuja, Nigeria. The Centre remains a focal point for facilitating South-South partnerships and enhancing technical collaboration with relevant United Nations bodies to provide entrepreneurs with the tools needed to scale and compete globally.

Green and Health: The Future of MSMEs
In a significant move to modernize the bloc’s economic agenda, the D-8 Secretariat is marking this year’s observance by convening a special dual-themed webinar. The virtual event features senior experts from Malaysia and is split into two critical tracks:

1. Green MSMEs: Focused on sustainability, exploring how small enterprises can adopt circular economy principles, access green financing, and reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining profitability.
2. Medical Tourism: A new frontier for the bloc, aiming to unlock the potential of high-value health services. The session will explore how MSMEs can integrate into the global healthcare value chain, positioning D-8 nations as competitive destinations for medical travel.

The Path Forward
The Secretary-General urged member states and private sector stakeholders to leverage these initiatives to build MSMEs that are “greener, smarter, more resilient, and globally competitive.” The webinar aims to produce actionable insights that will feed into the D-8’s broader strategic roadmap, ensuring that the sector remains at the forefront of economic recovery and long-term development.

The event is expected to draw participants from across the D-8 membership, which includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.

KARACHI, JUN 27 /DNA/ – The Commissioning Parade of 125ᵗʰ Midshipmen and 33rd Short Service Commission (SSC) Course was held at Pakistan Naval Academy, Karachi, marking the passing out of 123 Midshipmen and 30 SSC Cadets including Midshipmen from Bahrain, Iraq and Djibouti. Prime Minister Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Upon arrival, the Chief Guest was received by Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

Addressing the parade, Chief Guest felicitated commissioning officers and their families. He also appreciated Pakistan Naval Academy for imparting quality training to Pakistani as well as friendly countries trainees. Prime Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan Navy as a potent and effective force capable of safeguarding national defence and contributing to regional maritime stability. He also commended Pakistan Navy’s professionalism in safeguarding national maritime interests during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos for successfully deterring a numerically superior adversary, keeping it at bay and Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr for ensuring uninterrupted flow of critical energy supplies amid a challenging regional security environment.

Chief Guest also gave away prizes to the winners. Midshipman Umar Mukhtar was declared winner of the coveted Sword of Honour for overall best performance whereas Midshipman Hadi Abbas Khan won the Academy’s Dirk. Officer Cadet Hafiz Muhammad Ahmed Munawar won Chief of Defence Forces Gold Medal and Officer Cadet Ulveera Hamza from SSC Course clinched the Commandant Gold Medal. Proficiency Banner was claimed by Maintop Squadron.

The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, military officers, dignitaries and parents of commissioning officers.

ISLAMABAD, JUN 27: The online registration process for Hajj 2027–2030, being conducted on a first-come, first-served basis, has entered its sixth consecutive day.

During the first five days, a total of 107,587 applicants successfully completed their Hajj registration from the comfort of their homes, said a statement issued here.

Of the total registrations, 85,000 applicants opted for the government Hajj scheme, while 22,000 selected the private Hajj scheme. The online registration process will continue uninterrupted for the next several days.

Provincial registration figures show that 51,000 applicants have registered from Punjab, 33,000 from Sindh, 15,000 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 5,500 from Islamabad.

Additionally, 2,000 applicants registered from Balochistan, 600 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and two from Gilgit-Baltistan.

The registered applicants include 63,000 men and 44,000 women. Regarding package preferences, 56,000 applicants opted for the long Hajj package, while 51,000 chose the short Hajj package.

ISLAMABAD, JUN 27 /DNA/ – Professor Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti (T.I,S.I) has assumed charge as the Rector of the Virtual University of Pakistan (VUP) following his appointment by the President of Pakistan for a four-year term.

According to the spokesperson of VUP, Faisal Zia, the appointment has been made on the recommendations of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.

Prof. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti is an internationally renowned academic and educationist, holding a PhD from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. He brings with him more than two decades of distinguished experience in higher education, research, curriculum development, and educational reforms.

Throughout his professional career, Dr. Bhatti has played a significant role in teaching, academic leadership, research initiatives, and the promotion of academic governance at both national and international institutions. He has also led several national and international initiatives aimed at advancing digital and online education in Pakistan.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the education sector, the Government of Pakistan has conferred upon him the prestigious civil awards of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and Sitara-e-Imtiaz.

The spokesperson VUP expressed confidence that under the leadership of Prof Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti, the Virtual University of Pakistan will further strengthen its academic excellence, research culture, innovation, and digital learning initiatives, thereby contributing significantly to the country’s higher education landscape.=DNA

ISLAMABAD: A day after the government kept petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices unchanged in its weekly review, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik on Saturday said “good news” was likely for consumers in the coming days.

Malik said a high-level committee constituted on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives would oversee petroleum price determination to ensure transparency and protect consumer interests.

Under a Petroleum Division notification issued on Friday, petrol remained at Rs299.50 per litre and HSD at Rs311.47 per litre “until further orders”. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, however, reduced the price of kerosene by Rs6.85 per litre to Rs227.05 from Rs233.90.

Speaking to a local media outlet, Malik said the government was closely monitoring international oil-market trends and would pass on any available benefit to consumers while staying within the scope of international obligations.

He said the government would neither favour any sector nor impose an undue burden on another. Consumer protection was the prime minister’s top priority, he added.

In a post on X, Malik asked the public to review international Platts prices for petrol and HSD during the week. Figures shared by the minister showed petrol falling from $98.35 per barrel on June 22 to $95.23 on June 23, $92.23 on June 24 and $90.36 on June 25, before rising to $91.68 on June 26.

The HSD benchmark stood at $109.09 per barrel on June 22, fell to $105.02 the following day, rose to $105.76 on June 24, then eased to $105.06 on June 25 and $100.92 on June 26.

Malik said the government had so far reduced petrol prices by Rs155 per litre and diesel prices by Rs200 per litre, describing the cuts as part of efforts to provide relief to the public.

He said fuel supplies had remained stable despite global market volatility and war-related uncertainty, with no shortages reported.

Petroleum Division sources said the petroleum levy on HSD was raised by Rs6.57 per litre to Rs79.54, from Rs72.97. The levy on petrol increased by 39 paisas to Rs66.64 per litre from Rs66.25, while the levy on kerosene remained unchanged at Rs20.36 per litre.

In the preceding weekly review, the government cut petrol prices by Rs74 per litre, HSD by Rs67 per litre and kerosene by Rs48.29 per litre, bringing the latter down from Rs282.19 to Rs233.90.

The reductions followed the US-Iran peace agreement, facilitated through Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which eased concerns over oil supplies and contributed to a decline in international crude prices.

Petrol is mainly used by commuters in small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers. HSD is widely used in heavy goods transport, buses, trains and agricultural machinery, making its price inflationary.

Malik said the government would continue to pursue fair, transparent and responsible fuel pricing in line with international market conditions and the prime minister’s directives.

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan is recognised around the world as a ” flag-bearer of peace”, reaffirming the country’s commitment to regional stability while stressing that its armed forces remained resolute in eliminating terrorism.

Addressing a commissioning parade of the 125th Midshipmen and 33rd Short Service Commission Course at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi on Saturday, the premier said the recent agreement between Iran and the United States is a matter of pride for Pakistan.

Washington and Tehran signed the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” in Switzerland’s Burgenstock on June 17, largely mediated by Pakistan.

The prime minister also praised Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his tireless efforts in promoting peace.

He also appreciated the valuable support of friendly countries in facilitating the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.

Speaking on foreign-backed terrorism, PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan continues to face terrorism sponsored from abroad, adding that the armed forces are fully determined to defeat the menace.

He lauded the Pakistan Navy for its outstanding role in Marka-e-Haq, adding that the government is taking steps to further strengthen the naval force.

Congratulating the graduating cadets and officers, PM Shehbaz said it is encouraging to see cadets from friendly countries participating in the training programme alongside their Pakistani counterparts.

During the ceremony, he distributed awards among outstanding cadets.

Midshipman Umar Mukhtar received the Sword of Honour for overall best performance, Midshipman Hadi Abbas Khan was awarded the Academy Dirk, Officer Cadet Hafiz Muhammad Ahmad Munawwar received the Chief of Defence Forces Gold Medal, while Officer Cadet Alveera Hamza of the Short Service Commission Course was presented with the Commandant’s Gold Medal.

The prime minister also inspected the parade and was presented with a Guard of Honour. The ceremony was attended by senior military officials, dignitaries, including Federal Ministers Khawaja Asif and Attaullah Tarar; Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi, and the families of the newly commissioned officers.

ISLAMABAD, JUN 27 /DNA/ – President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Sardar Tahir Mehmood, has said that empowering teachers with modern teaching methodologies is an investment in Pakistan’s future, as educators are the architects of future generations.

Addressing the concluding session of the Teachers’ Training Workshop on “21st Century Teaching Skills,” organized by ICCI in collaboration with SOS Foundation and EduTransform, he said that the era of Artificial Intelligence, digital transformation and global connectivity demands a modern education system aligned with emerging global trends. He emphasized that economic progress and educational excellence go hand in hand, adding that ICCI has broadened its role beyond business advocacy by promoting education, youth development, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology and academia-industry collaboration. He said the Chamber’s growing partnerships with China, Africa and the Middle East, along with its focus on skills development and the digital economy, reflect its commitment to building a knowledge-driven and prosperous Pakistan.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, H.E. Naeem Khan, said quality education must be driven by originality, innovation and effective communication. He urged teachers to inspire students to think creatively, conduct original research and adopt practical learning approaches instead of relying on rote methods.

Sharing his international academic experience, he highlighted the effectiveness of direct teaching methods and invited Pakistani universities to strengthen academic collaboration with Rwanda through student and faculty exchange programmes. He also proposed a Public-Private Academic Partnership (PPAP) model to connect academia, government and industry for innovation, entrepreneurship and research commercialization.

Earlier, Dr. Abdus Salam, Convener, ICCI Standing Committee on Education and CEO SOS Foundation, said the workshop aimed to equip educators with modern pedagogical skills to meet the demands of 21st century classrooms. He added that in collaboration with the Chamber they would continue to convene such significant workshops for the benefits of the teachers in future also. Dr. Aneela Malik, CEO EduTransform and Vice Chairperson of the ICCI Standing Committee on Education, shared practical insights on innovative teaching strategies and educational leadership in the most effective and impressive manners.

The Participants from public and private sectors appreciated ICCI, SOS Foundation and EduTransform for organizing the workshop and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting excellence in education through stronger collaboration between academia and industry.The ICCI Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, Executive members Waseem Chaudhry, Zulqurnain Abbasi, Imran Minhas and ICCI members in large number also attended the session.