PMDC eases MBBS, BDS admission criteria

The PMDC has relaxed the merit criteria by 5 per cent for students seeking admission to MBBS and BDS programs across the country. The one-time relief aims to fill vacant seats, following a request from Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh. The university urged the PMDC to ease the admission criteria due to a significant number of unfilled seats. After thorough deliberation, the PMDC approved the relaxation in the public interest. However, this concession will apply only for the 2024-25 academic session. The MDCAT will not use it as a precedent in any other admission process. According to PMDC, the initiative has been taken to fill vacant seats across the country. It has directed medical institutions to complete the admission process within the given timeframe. The sources said medical colleges are now permitted to admit students with a minimum of 50 per cent marks for MBBS and 45 per cent for BDS under the revised criteria. As many as 116 MBBS and 338 BDS seats are vacant at private medical colleges in Sindh, while in Punjab, 26 MBBS and 100 BDS seats are unfilled.

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Imran Khan ready for talks: K-P CM Gandapur

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said on Wednesday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has agreed to engage in political dialogue, Express News reported. “Those turning this into an issue of ego are damaging Pakistan. We must rise above personal interests and think in the national interest,” Gandapur said while speaking to reporters in Peshawar. “Imran Khan has agreed to negotiations and has clearly said he is ready to talk for the betterment of Pakistan,” he added. The CM also addressed ongoing legal efforts for Khan’s release. “Petitions are underway for Imran Khan’s release,” he noted, adding, “As the chief executive of a province, I have a court order allowing me to meet him weekly. These meetings are crucial for consultation, especially with the provincial budget approaching.” https://ift.tt/pvZgEJh Stressing the importance of Khan’s input in provincial governance, Gandapur said: “Imran Khan is the head of the party that governs the province. His vision must be reflected in our policies. If I am not allowed to meet him, how can I implement that vision?” He also criticised the current federal leadership, blaming it for the country’s instability. “Pakistan is going through a phase of serious instability, and the root cause lies with those currently in power,” he said. Negotiations between the government and the opposition began in December, 2024, with the aim of finding a mutually acceptable solution to the country’s political and economic crises, and to resolve long-standing contentious issues. However, the process hit a snag after just three rounds of talks. Read more: Talks with govt put on hold: PTI chairman During the third round, PTI presented a charter of demands, calling the proposals a “prerequisite to wider negotiations” on other matters. Seven days later, Khan abruptly ended the dialogue, stating that the government had failed to meet the party’s demand to form a judicial commission within a week. A day after Khan’s announcement, PTI leader Barrister Gohar contradicted the statement slightly, suggesting that the talks had merely been placed on hold. Subsequently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited PTI to resume dialogue through a parliamentary committee. However, the jailed PTI founder declined, eventually dissolving the party’s negotiation committee and directing its members to serve instead as a coordination committee tasked with building a grand opposition alliance.

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1.3 million Afghans repatriated since November, NA told

The government has repatriated approximately 1.3 million Afghan refugees in a deportation drive launched since November 2023, Parliamentary Secretary Mukhtar Ahmad Malik said on Wednesday, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported. The government initially said it was first focusing on expelling foreigners with no legal documentation and other categories, such as Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) — a document launched in 2017 to grant temporary legal status to Afghan refugees — would be included later. Responding to a question raised by lawmaker Anjum Aqeel Khan during a parliamentary session, Malik said around 3 million Afghan refugees were residing in Pakistan. “Of these, 813,000 hold Afghan Citizen Cards (ECC) while 1.3 million possess Proof of Registration (PoR) cards,” he was quoted as saying. He highlighted that Afghan nationals who wish to enter Pakistan for medical treatment, education, or business purposes are welcome to do so provided they obtain a Pakistani visa and carry valid documentation with them. Earlier this year, the country’s interior ministry asked all “illegal foreigners” and ACC holders to leave the country before March 31, warning that they would otherwise be deported from April 1. Authorities subsequently started deporting thousands of Afghan nationals from all parts of the country. In total, Pakistan has hosted over 2.8 million Afghan refugees who crossed the border during 40 years of conflict in their homeland.

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All CAA aviation security officers gain international certification

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced on Tuesday that all officers in its Directorate of Aviation Security have been internationally certified as Aviation Security Inspectors, following a UK-sponsored training program delivered by instructors accredited by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The certification, facilitated by the UK Department for Transport (DfT), marks a significant milestone in aligning Pakistan’s aviation security protocols with global standards. The move is expected to enhance regulatory oversight, strengthen compliance, and boost Pakistan’s rating under ICAO’s global audit framework. “This training will play a pivotal role in enhancing the capabilities of our national aviation security inspectors and help increase compliance with international standards,” the CAA said in an official statement. Conducted in Pakistan, the training program was led by ICAO-qualified UK instructors and formally designates all CAA officers in the security directorate as certified inspectors. This accreditation empowers them to carry out safety and compliance assessments according to ICAO’s Universal Security Audit Program (USAP), which evaluates how effectively member states implement international aviation security oversight systems. Pakistan has previously achieved a high ranking in South Asia under ICAO’s Effective Implementation Rating, a global benchmark measuring adherence to international aviation safety and security standards. Additionally, the CAA said it is expanding its inspector training programs through international academic placements. Two officers have been selected for fully funded postgraduate studies in France and South Korea, through coordination with the respective civil aviation authorities of both countries.

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PTI’s Junaid Akbar resigns as PAC chairman

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Junaid Akbar has stepped down as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), just four months after assuming the role. In a video statement, Akbar confirmed that he submitted his resignation to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. He said he fully accepted the party's decision, expressing unwavering loyalty to PTI founder Imran Khan. "Whatever decision is made by the party or Imran Khan, I will not hesitate for even a minute and will accept it wholeheartedly," he said. "Titles don’t matter to me. If Khan even asks me to step down as party president or resign from parliament, I would do so without question," he added. Akbar said that although he has not yet received any direct message from Imran Khan through official channels, he had already submitted his resignation.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Junaid Akbar Khan (@junaidakbarmna) Looking ahead, he said he has convened a meeting of all PTI office-bearers from across the country on May 15. “The matters regarding our movement will be finalised on that day,” he stated. Akbar was elected unopposed as PAC chairman in January. In the same month, he was appointed by the PTI founder as president of the party’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chapter, replacing Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. While the PAC chairmanship is traditionally held by the leader of the opposition or their nominee, there is no legal requirement enforcing this convention. The position had remained vacant since the February 2024 general elections. Initially, Sher Afzal Marwat was nominated, followed by Sheikh Waqas Akram and Omar Ayub Khan. Akbar's name was eventually finalised for the role.

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Policing in question as new unit emerges

All over the world, the primary purpose of the police is to curtail deviance in society and maintain law and order. Therefore, when the government has to form a separate wing for crime control, it is a clear reflection of the fact that the motivation of law enforcement has shifted away from guarding public safety. The Punjab government has established a Crime Control Department (CCD) within the police force to control the rising incidence of crime in the province and investigate its underlying causes. This department will operate under the supervision of the Inspector General (IG) and with its creation, the total number of sub-wings in the police department will reach thirteen. According to documents obtained by The Express Tribune, the following 12 wings are currently operating within the Punjab Police: Counter Terrorism Department, Investigation, Special Branch, Punjab Highway Patrol, Special Protection Unit, Operations, Traffic, Vigilance & Inspection, CIA, Accountability, Finance, and Telecommunications & Transport. The Crime Control Department (CCD) is the thirteenth addition. Records show that the CCD will be staffed with one Additional IG, three DIGs, ten SSPs, thirteen SPs, and forty-five DSPs, with a total recruitment of 5,000 officers and staff. An initial budget of more than Rs6 billion has been allocated for the new department, which includes funds for the purchase of luxury vehicles for officers. According to available information, one SP has been appointed per division and one DSP and one crime control police station per district. A police spokesperson stated that the CCD will work to prevent eighteen categories of serious crimes, with a total of 38 crime control police stations including three in the provincial capital, Lahore, and one in each of the remaining districts. Although the rising crime rate has been cited as the primary reason behind the creation of the Crime Control Department, critics are skeptical about the feasibility of the government's decision. "Instead of forming a new department, there was a greater need to reform the existing police station culture in order to reduce the rate of crime. The government should have improved the condition of police stations rather than wasting billions on a new crime control department. Crime prevention is the core duty of the police, and it requires effective policing rather than the creation of a new department just to giving high-ranking positions," criticized former IG of Balochistan and the Railway Police, Asif Nawaz Warraich. Over the past five years, the Punjab government has spent over three billion rupees on 760 police stations under the Special Initiative Police Stations (SIPS) program. However, despite these investments, the overall crime rate has increased by 37 per cent from 2016 to 2025 while the crime rate for murder, robbery, street crime, motorcycle and car snatching, kidnapping for ransom, gang rape, and sexual assault has surged by up to 63 percent. In 2023, close to one million FIRs were registered, while in 2024, over 570,000 incidents were reported, which is 17 per cent more than the previous year. So far, in 2025, more than 237,000 criminal cases have already been reported, showing a 16 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, claimed that the government's focus was solely on suppressing political opponents hence billions had to be allocated to form the Crime Control Department within the police. "Previously, a Grade 19 officer was made DG Anti-Corruption to harass political opponents. Now, the same officer has been promoted to Grade 20 and posted as Additional IG of the Crime Control Department, at a Grade 21 post. The police already have vast powers, which allow them to enter homes without warrants. The condition of police stations is miserable, and the common man receives no relief. Police stations still operate with the help of informers and middlemen. This department has been created only to favor selected officers, who will be given luxury vehicles. The purpose of the decision is not to control crime but to curtail political opponents," said Bhachar, who further revealed that since its formation, the Crime Control Department has had over 50 police encounters, with the majority targeting political rivals.

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Pakistan, India agree to uphold ceasefire

Senior military officials from Pakistan and India on Monday held their first round of talks through a hotline and agreed to maintain the ceasefire agreed on Saturday after the five-days of war. As part of the ceasefire deal, brokered by the United States, Director General Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan Major General Kashif Abdullah and his Indian counterpart Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai spoke to each other. "Issues related to continuing the commitment that both sides must not fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive and inimical action against each other were discussed," the Indian army said. "It was also agreed that both sides consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas," it added. Far from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rhetoric in his first speech after the conflict, the Indian military official pushed for maintaining the ceasefire. Pakistan, on the other hand, confirmed the contact but provided no details. Officials said both sides would have a second round in the next 48 hours. The US-brokered ceasefire between the two nuclear powers remained intact overnight. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio while announcing the details of the ceasefire had said that both sides would start talks on a range of broader issues at a neutral venue. Modi on Monday hinted at talks but insisted that they would focus on "terrorism" and "part of Kashmir that was under Pakistan's control" – a reference to Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). The statement meant that India had agreed to the talks, while Modi's focus on terrorism and AJK was an attempt to appease his domestic audience. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the issue of Kashmir and Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) would be on the priority list of Pakistan, whenever the talks with India take place. Hours before Modi's speech, where he said "operation Sindoor" was only suspended, the Pakistani military's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), issued a statement, warning India that any future attempt to threaten territorial integrity of Pakistan would invoke a befitting response. The latest escalation between India and Pakistan started on April 22 when 26 people were killed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) tourist resort of Pahalgam. Without providing any evidence India immediately blamed Pakistan for the attack. India also took hostile measures on April 23, holding the 65-year-old IWT in abeyance, cancelling visas of Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, shutting the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and drastically cutting the diplomatic strength at each other's missions. Pakistan denied the Indian accusation without proof. However, the National Security Committee (NSC) also took counter measures, including halting any trade with India, closing Pakistani airspace for Indian planes and others. The situation escalated further in the wee hours of May 7, when missiles struck six cities in Punjab and AJK, destroying several mosques. Dozens of innocent civilians, including women and children and elderly, were martyred in the night-time attack. The Pakistani forces presented a prompted yet very forceful response to the enemy, shooting down their five warplanes, including three Rafales – the pride of the Indian Air Force. For the next two days India sent swarms of Israeli-made drones which were also downed by the Pakistani military. In yet further escalating in the wee hours of Saturday, India fired missiles fired at some Pakistani airbases. Hours later, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, destroying and damaging 26 Indian military installations – missiles storages, airbases, and other targets. In the evening, US President Donald Trump announced that after all-night diplomacy, both Pakistan and India had agreed to ceasefire. Minutes later Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the development and then the Indian foreign secretary. Trump said on Monday that the United States intervention prevented a "bad nuclear war" between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, adding that the US was ready to help both the counties in the wake of the ceasefire agreement that his administration helped broker. "We stopped a nuclear conflict. I think it could have been a bad nuclear war, millions of people could have been killed. So I'm very proud of that," Trump told reporters at the White House. "Trade is a big reason why they stopped fighting," Trump added. (WITH INPUT FROM AGENCIES)

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