August 16, 2026
Nomination papers are due on August 20 and the final candidate list on August 23, with the assembly voting on August 24 for five seats reserved for women and three for technocrats.
July 15, 2026
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif addressed the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women in Islamabad on July 13-14, calling on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to translate commitments to women's rights into concrete action and urging member states to ensure every girl in the Muslim world has access to education, opportunity and dignity. She highlighted Punjab's Honhaar scholarship scheme and Dhee Rani programme as models for other OIC states.
The veteran actor of ‘Suno Chanda’ opposes the prejudice surrounding family dramas. Actress Samina Ahmad recently appeared on Bushra Ansari’s daughter Nariman Ansari’s show, BeyGhum Begumswhere he spoke about the realities and benefits of saas-bahu dramas that he has seen unfold in the industry. A veteran who has been a part of the Pakistani film industry since the 60s, Samina Ahmad has played different characters throughout her career. From the role of the oppressed bride Waris in the role of matriarchal mother-in-law in Sangatshe has played various archetypes of female characters portrayed on screen. This, along with her knowledge of
The year 2025 proved to be a landmark period for Pakistan women’s cricket, marked by sustained international activity, a successful ICC Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign, notable individual milestones and a strengthened structure within and outside Pakistan under Pakistan Cricket.At the international level, the highlight of the year was Pakistan Women’s emphatic performance in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, hosted in Lahore in April.Competing against Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand and the West Indies, Pakistan won all five of their matches to qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.On the individual front, Sadia Iqbal enjoyed
PARIS: Barcelona and Lyon earned places in the women’s Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, while Chelsea came from behind to beat Wolfsburg and advance directly to the last eight. Holders Arsenal must go through the play-offs along with Manchester United after losing their place in the top four as Bayern Munich clinched the last automatic place in the quarter-finals. Spanish champions Barcelona finished top of the league stage unbeaten after a 2-0 win away to Paris FC, with Vicky Lopez and Caroline Graham Hansen scoring in the French capital. Three-time Champions League winners Barcelona have reached the final in each
The Pakistan Army Women’s Softball Team poses with the trophy. The women’s softball event at the 35th National Games 2025 concluded with a thrilling final in Karachi, where Pakistan Army defeated WAPDA 9–6 to secure the gold medal after an intense 7-match contest. Both sides showed great skill and competitiveness, but Army’s early dominance and constant pressure proved decisive. Pakistan Army started aggressively, keeping WAPDA under constant pressure with a steady score in each session. Their disciplined line-up ensured that the lead continued to stretch, forcing WAPDA to chase throughout the match. WAPDA fought back strongly, reducing the margin with
Islamabad: After 16 years of neglect and being at the mercy of agents, over 10 million of Pakistan’s poorest women have become account holders for the first time and will soon start receiving monthly cash subsidies under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) without standing in queues. BISP beneficiaries, who were captive customers of commercial banks, did not have bank accounts until recently and received benefits through a limited liability account. Banks have been unwilling to treat poorer women on the same level as other customers, despite charging a 0.5% commission on their transactions and sometimes using their money without
From ‘Jafaa’ to real-life courage, the actress makes sure her projects are on purpose Mawra Hocane says the roles she takes on are guided by a simple principle: the stories must say something important, particularly about women’s lives. Speaking recently about her approach to the job, she explained that women’s rights have long shaped the type of scripts she takes on. “I’m a big supporter of women’s rights and I try to incorporate that in some way in the scripts I choose,” she said. She added that the impact of her work is often made clear through the women who
. The fifth Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) made one thing clear on day three: women weren’t just watching the festival, they were defining it. In panels, masterclasses and informal discussions, female actors, producers and creatives took center stage, shaping conversations about cinema, identity and representation.Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan opened the day with her trademark style. She spoke candidly about balancing motherhood with a demanding career, navigating public scrutiny and taking on the responsibility of representing Indian women on the world stage. Reflecting on her Miss World days, she said, “I saw it as an opportunity to represent
December 7, 2025
Afghan women wearing burqas walk to a safer place after their home was damaged after a deadly magnitude 6 earthquake struck Afghanistan.— Reuters The United Nations on Sunday called on Taliban authorities to lift a ban on Afghan women working in its offices, saying the restriction puts “life-saving services” at risk. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, Afghan women have been barred from most jobs, visiting parks and beauty salons and attending school beyond the age of 12. In September, Taliban authorities began barring female staff from entering UN offices. “We are calling for a reversal of the ban
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