Mohammad Ali Ayaz Sadiq is a prominent ophthalmologist, a College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) fellow and supervisor, and the Head of the Institute at Sardar Trust Eye Hospital.

President Asif Ali Zardari earlier approved civil awards for 355 individuals in recognition of contributions spanning science, engineering, education, medicine, arts, literature, sports, journalism, social welfare, philanthropy and public service.

The president also approved military awards for 1,172 personnel of the armed forces and civil armed forces for their services.

Among the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz recipients are One Health and AMR focal person Dr Sajjad Hussain, PIEAS Deputy Chief Scientist Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Jaffery, GIS specialist Dr Urooj Saeed, UET Peshawar Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Sadiq and PIEAS Principal Engineer Prof Dr Naeem-ul-Haq Tariq.

The education sector also features prominently in the honours list. Recipients include AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood, LUMS Dean Prof Dr Faisal Bari and Women University Mardan and Swabi Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ghazala Yasmeen.

The Tamgha-i-Imtiaz is among Pakistan’s prominent civil honours and is awarded for distinguished contributions in various fields.

The Presidency also approved a special remission of sentences for eligible prisoners as part of the Independence Day-related decisions.

The post National Assembly Speaker’s Son Earns Tamgha-i-Imtiaz appeared first on ProPakistani.

Heart Aerospace also shared footage of the milestone on X. The company says the X1 is the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown. It has a wingspan of 106 feet (32 metres), measures 76 feet (23 metres) from nose to tail, and weighed more than 25,000 pounds (11,300 kg) at takeoff.

First Flight pic.twitter.com/1HvuAxXPzT

— Heart Aerospace (@heartaerospace) August 13, 2026

Electric Plane Flies for 27 Minutes

The piloted test flight lasted 27 minutes. During the flight, the X1 climbed to 1,100 feet above ground level. Its fully electric propulsion system also delivered more than one megawatt of power.

The test included taxiing, takeoff, climbing, manoeuvring, and landing. Heart conducted the flight under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category. The company designed the test to demonstrate battery-powered flight at a scale closer to commercial airliners.

Interestingly, Heart Aerospace says the aircraft consumed around $5 worth of electricity during the entire flight. However, that figure only represents the electricity used during the test and should not be confused with the total operating cost of a commercial flight, which would also include crew, maintenance, airport charges, and other expenses.

X1 Paves the Way for the ES-30

The X1 is not intended to become a commercial passenger aircraft. Instead, it is a full-scale demonstrator helping Heart Aerospace develop the ES-30, its planned 30-seat regional aircraft.

Unlike the fully electric X1, the ES-30 will use a hybrid-electric propulsion system. Heart currently targets an all-electric range of 200 km and a hybrid range of up to 800 km. The company also lists a charging time of around 30 minutes.

Heart expects flight testing of its first pre-production ES-30 to begin in 2028. Meanwhile, the company is targeting certification and entry into commercial service in 2031. United Airlines, Air Canada, and JSX are among the airlines that have made commitments to the program.

The post World’s Largest Electric Aircraft Completes First Flight appeared first on ProPakistani.

The change appears in the History, Grade 11 (Pathways System) textbook on page 167. The same passage in the 2024-25 and 2023-24 editions used the term “Zionist Enemy.”

The section also discusses the humanitarian activities of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and highlights his support for Muslims and humanitarian causes around the world.

It also details his involvement in fundraising campaigns and committees supporting different countries and communities.

Among them, the textbook mentions support for Algeria in 1956, victims of flooding in Jordan in 1967, Palestinians in 1967, Pakistan after floods in 1973, and Egypt following the 1973 war.

However, the wording related to the 1973 conflict has now changed.

In the 2024-25 version, the textbook referred to the conflict as involving the “Zionist Enemy.” In the 2025-26 edition, Saudi education authorities replaced that wording with “Israeli Occupation.”

The rest of the highlighted passage remains focused on King Salman’s charitable and humanitarian activities.

The same page also contains an image showing Palestinian President Yasser Arafat granting King Salman bin Abdulaziz the Medal of Palestine.

The post Textbooks in Saudi Arabia No Longer Refer to Israel as ‘Zionist Enemy’ appeared first on ProPakistani.

The milestone comes just ahead of OMODA’s second anniversary in the UK on August 31, with JAECOO having entered the market in January 2025. In that short period, the brand has expanded their UK dealer network to more than 144 locations nationwide, achieving a combined market share of almost 5.7% in a market such as the United Kingdom.

The JAECOO 7 has been the strongest-selling model, with more than 53,000 registrations since its UK launch in February 2025. The model has also become a regular presence among the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars, with retail customers accounting for 66% of registrations. Notably, 75% of customers have opted for the flagship SHS-P plug-in hybrid variant.

Meanwhile, the OMODA 5, which launched in the UK in August 2024, has recorded more than 36,500 sales, with retail customers accounting for 71% of registrations. The model’s UK range has since expanded to include hybrid and fully electric powertrains.

The success of the two brands has been supported by a rapidly expanding product portfolio, which now includes the OMODA 5, OMODA 7, OMODA 9, JAECOO 5, JAECOO 7 and JAECOO 8, offering customers petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains across multiple segments.

A Global Story with Growing Momentum in Pakistan

The UK milestone is particularly significant for OMODA & JAECOO Pakistan, where the brand has also established a strong presence in a relatively short period.

Following their launch in Pakistan in 2025, OMODA & JAECOO have rapidly expanded their locally assembled portfolio, strengthened their nationwide dealership network and crossed the 10,000 locally assembled vehicle milestone at the Nishat Group’s Faisalabad plant.

The success of models such as the JAECOO J7 SHS-P and JAECOO J5 SHS-H reflects the growing demand in Pakistan for vehicles that combine advanced technology, distinctive design and electrified powertrains.

With the OMODA 7 SHS-P now joining the locally assembled portfolio, the brand is continuing to expand its offering for Pakistani consumers while bringing the same global product strategy that is driving growth in international markets.

Gary Lan, Chief Executive of OMODA & JAECOO UK, said the brands’ rapid growth was driven by investment in people, retailer networks and the overall ownership experience.

“Surpassing 100,000 vehicle sales in under two years is a significant milestone for everyone involved,” Lan said. “It demonstrates the strength of that proposition, the dedication of our teams and partners across the country and the trust customers have placed in our products and long-term vision.”

The UK achievement adds to a growing list of international milestones for OMODA & JAECOO and reinforces the brands’ ambition to establish themselves as significant global automotive players.

For Pakistan, where OMODA & JAECOO are rapidly building their local manufacturing, retail and customer footprint, the UK performance provides another indication of the global momentum behind the brands and the growing international acceptance of their products.

With further products, customer initiatives and market expansion planned, is positioning itself for another phase of growth in Pakistan and around the world.

The post OMODA & JAECOO UK Crosses 100,000 Sales in Less Than Two Years appeared first on ProPakistani.

The changes are detailed in the Review of Saudi Textbooks 2024–2026, which examined 136 textbooks used during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years.

 Zionism and Maps

Saudi authorities have continued revising content related to Israel and Zionism, including the removal of the word “Palestine” from maps in a number of Social Studies textbooks that previously labeled internationally recognized Israeli territory as “Palestine.” The revised maps instead leave the territory unnamed.

Jerusalem, Zionist Enemy, Israeli Occupation

According to the review, the curriculum has also removed the sentence, “The Muslims will never give up Jerusalem,” from a Grade 11 Arabic Language textbook and replaced the phrase “the Zionist enemy” with “the Israeli occupation” in a Grade 11 History textbook. The report describes these revisions as part of a gradual moderation of politically charged language in Saudi textbooks over recent years.

However, the report says the changes stop short of recognizing Israel on classroom maps. It notes that Israel remains absent from many maps. It also states that textbooks are removing phrases regarding Israel as an “occupying state,” including in relation to periods before 1967.

Additional maps have been revised to remove the label “Palestine”. It also highlights the replacement of the term “the Zionist enemy” with “the Israeli occupation” and the removal of the statement, “The Muslims will never give up Jerusalem”.

The report also says the curriculum has undergone significant reforms since 2020, with the removal or revision of a wide range of content across multiple subjects as Saudi Arabia continues to modernize its education system under Vision 2030.

The post Saudi Arabia Removes ‘Palestine’ From School Textbooks and Maps appeared first on ProPakistani.

Speaking to Geo News, Rana Sanaullah said the establishment had not raised the issue of new provinces with the government. He added that the matter had also not come under discussion in the federal cabinet.

He further said that the proposal to create new provinces has so far failed to receive public acceptance.

His remarks come amid renewed political debate and speculation over administrative reforms and the possible creation of additional provinces in Pakistan.

The issue of new provinces has surfaced periodically over the years, particularly proposals for a South Punjab province and, at different times, separate administrative units in Hazara and Karachi.

No constitutional amendment has been passed, as such a move requires broad political consensus and a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

The government has not formally taken up the matter at the cabinet level and no discussions have been held with the establishment on the issue.

The post Rana Sanaullah Clarifies Govt Position on New Provinces appeared first on ProPakistani.

Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations this year produced one such moment.

As a ceremonial horse-drawn carriage rolled into Islamabad carrying CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa’s successor, Lieutenant (Retired) Sohail Ashraf, and Islamabad Inspector General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, social media erupted.

Within hours, clips of the entrance had spread across platforms. Thousands were angry why unelected civil servants received ceremonial prominence usually donned by the country’s highest constitutional offices.

Whether that perception was fair is almost beside the point. Because in politics and governance, optics often become reality.

A Symbol, Not Just a Carriage

The criticism was never really about a horse carriage. It was about symbolism.

Pakistanis are accustomed to seeing ceremonial processions reserved for figures who constitutionally embody the state: presidents, prime ministers, military leadership on specific state occasions, or historic personalities whose stature commands national reverence.

Seeing two bureaucrats enter in similar fashion inevitably invited some disturbing comparisons. Kudos to the two for managing such a massive Independence Day event, but again: Optics matter.

Social media did what it always does. It filled the information vacuum before any official explanation arrived.

Memes followed. Criticism followed. Questions followed.

Many compared the ceremony with Pakistan’s economic struggles because displays of grandeur felt disconnected from the public mood. Others compared the scene with the widely shared image of Norway’s foreign minister using commercial transport during a visit to Islamabad.

Some reactions were humorous. Others were harsh. One viral post joked that a civil servant had staged his own “mini 23rd March parade”. Another argued that giving bureaucrats excessive ceremonial importance reflected an unhealthy culture around public office.

A different user questioned what such imagery implied about constitutional offices, particularly when the President is recognized as Pakistan’s Head of State. The common thread across these reactions was less about protocol and more about perception.

Interior Minister’s Explanation

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi later addressed the controversy publicly. He acknowledged that what happened “was not appropriate” while explaining that neither the Inspector General nor the CDA chief was responsible.

Mohsin said both he and the chief guest were delayed because of a meeting between the President and the Prime Minister. Organizers were to proceed instead of making families continue waiting.

He added that the ceremonial carriage had originally been arranged for the chief guest and that both officers had initially resisted beginning the program without senior leadership present.

In other words, he tried to explain that the decision was driven by logistics rather than personal ambition. The explanation answered many factual questions. It did not entirely undo the visual impression already created.

Optics Have Become Part of Governance

Modern governance is increasingly judged in seconds. A photograph.

A ten-second video. A single frame. Those moments often travel farther than clarifications issued hours later.

Governments around the world now devote significant attention to symbolism because they understand that public confidence depends not just on policy. A ceremony intended to keep an event on schedule can, through one unfortunate visual, become the only thing people remember. And Pakistan is hardly unique in this regard.

Public officials everywhere have faced backlash over photographs that conveyed extravagance or misplaced priorities, even when there were practical explanations behind them.

The lesson is not that ceremonies are wrong. It is that symbolism must match constitutional hierarchy and public expectations.

Public Mood Matters

The unusually strong reaction also reflects something larger. Pakistanis today judge public office more closely than perhaps ever before. Besides all the drama of youth rioting and enjoying the scene, they also questioned protocol. They questioned spending.

And increasingly, they distinguish between elected leadership, constitutional office holders and career administrators.

That scrutiny is not necessarily a sign of cynicism. It is also evidence of a public that pays attention.

Political leaders may disagree with the conclusions people draw online, but dismissing those reactions altogether would miss the true message.

People expect state ceremonies to communicate humility, constitutional order and institutional respect. Whenever visuals appear to blur those lines, explanations become much harder than prevention.

The Lesson

It is entirely possible that no one intended to create controversy. Mohsin’s tweet shows it wasn’t intentional. It is also possible that the decision made operational sense under the circumstances.

Yet both facts can exist alongside another undeniable reality: the images projected something many Pakistanis found difficult to accept.

In public service, intentions matter. But optics often matter even more. Sometimes, a single miscalculation can overshadow an entire Independence Day celebration.

And that is precisely why symbolism remains one of the most powerful forms of communication in public office.

The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect ProPakistani and its owners.

The post Optics: The Independence Day Image Pakistan Couldn’t Ignore appeared first on ProPakistani.

The NDMA chairman briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the ongoing relief activities in flood-hit areas and the measures being taken for the rehabilitation of affected communities.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz directed that all available resources be utilized to provide every possible assistance and relief to flood victims across the country.

He also instructed NDMA to maintain effective coordination with the relevant provincial departments and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) to ensure timely and efficient relief efforts.

The prime minister also appreciated the use of artificial intelligence and modern technology at the National Emergencies Operation Centre.

The post Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik Assures Support to Govt in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit and KP appeared first on ProPakistani.

The department said the notification being shared online is fake and urged students, parents and educational institutions not to rely on it for information about the summer vacation schedule.

The fake document claims that the government has extended summer vacations in public and private educational institutions located in the summer zone of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until Aug. 31, 2026. It further states that schools would reopen on Sept. 1.

The department advised the public to obtain updates only through the official social media accounts and communication channels of the Elementary and Secondary Education Department.

The warning comes as the fake notification carries the department’s name, official-looking formatting and other details that could make it appear authentic. The department urged students, parents and other stakeholders to verify any notification before sharing or acting on information circulating on social media.

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The announcement forms part of the Pakistan Civil Awards 2026, issued by the Cabinet Division on 14 August 2026 on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day. The awards are scheduled to be conferred at an investiture ceremony on Pakistan Day, 23 March 2027.

A career dedicated to Pakistan’s scientific and technological advancement

The recommendation celebrates a career that has consistently placed Dr. Mahmud at the forefront of Pakistan’s scientific and technological advancement. As the Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Interactive Group of Companies, he has brought more than four decades of experience to the development of telecommunications, information technology and wireless media infrastructure in Pakistan.

Under his leadership, Interactive Group has grown into a significant force in the country’s science and ICT landscape, driving systems integration and enhanced connectivity to support critical sectors. The supporting nomination material credits Dr. Mahmud with helping establish major telecommunications, satellite, software and public-infrastructure initiatives in Pakistan.

He holds a PhD in Computer Sciences from Coventry University, United Kingdom, completed in 2016, as well as a master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University, Pakistan, and a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from NED University, Pakistan.

He also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Global Think Tank Network and as Co-Chair for ICT on the Corporate Advisory Council of the National University of Sciences and Technology, while remaining engaged in futures research with universities.

From PhD in AI to leading Pakistan’s AI strategy for 57 nations

A defining feature of Dr. Mahmud’s contribution is the direct link between his academic research and his current strategic leadership role. His PhD in Computer Sciences focused on Artificial Intelligence, big-data analytics and predictive modelling. The supporting material states that this research was published in top-tier Q1 journals, including Future Generation Computer Systems by Elsevier, and has received more than 329 international citations.

This is not an academic credential in isolation. It is the intellectual foundation on which he now serves as Senior Honorary Advisor and Chairman of the AI Committee at OIC-COMSTECH, shaping Artificial Intelligence strategy and policy for 57 member states. In January 2026, he addressed the international conference titled “AI & Future of Work: Digital Nations in the Next Decade,” highlighting the long-term strategic implications of AI for digital nations across the Islamic world.

The trajectory is instructive and uniquely Pakistani: from founding the mobile industry in 1988, to building satellite and software infrastructure through the 1990s and 2000s, to earning a PhD in AI while leading a national enterprise, and now helping shape AI strategy for 57 OIC nations. It represents the full arc of a digital nation-builder, a journey that can inspire Pakistan’s young people to pursue science, technology and innovation as national callings.

Inspiring the next generation: The multiplier effect

Pakistan’s greatest strategic asset is its demographics, with more than 60 percent of the population under the age of 30. The Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025 places youth empowerment at the centre of the country’s digital transformation agenda. Yet policy alone does not inspire; role models do.

The recognition’s inspirational impact extends across seven distinct institutional communities, each representing a pipeline of future national leaders. Dr. Mahmud is an alumnus of Cadet College Petaro and NED University, the founder of the Buraq Planetary Society, a former Eisenhower Fellowships trustee, an alumnus and faculty member of the National Defence University, a visiting faculty member at the National School of Public Policy, and a senior advisor and AI Committee chairman at OIC-COMSTECH.

Together, these networks create a multiplier effect. The recommendation tells students, engineers, researchers, civil servants and scientists that building national capabilities, pursuing academic excellence alongside entrepreneurship, and investing in the next generation can earn recognition at the highest level.

Contributions spanning telecommunications, space and software

The supporting nomination material identifies several milestones associated with Dr. Mahmud’s career, including the establishment of Paktel in 1988, the development of satellite connectivity initiatives, leadership in software engineering, and contributions to Pakistan’s IT policy architecture.

It also highlights his role in promoting science education through the Buraq Planetary Society, which he founded in 1993. Through space camps and related programmes, the Society has introduced young Pakistanis to astronomy, space science and technology for more than three decades.

The nomination material further links his work to international technology and leadership platforms, including the Eisenhower Fellowships network, China’s digital-economy discourse and OIC-COMSTECH’s AI initiatives. These claims are part of the supporting nomination material and are presented separately from the Cabinet Division’s award announcement.

Awards to be conferred on Pakistan Day

The Pakistan Civil Awards recognize citizens and foreign nationals for exceptional achievements, excellence and courage in their respective fields. The investiture ceremony on 23 March 2027 will formally present the announced awards to the selected recipients.

For Dr. Mahmud, the recommendation represents recognition not only of past achievements but also of an ongoing contribution to Pakistan’s digital and AI-driven future. From telecommunications and satellite infrastructure to artificial intelligence strategy and youth development, his career reflects the evolution of Pakistan’s technology ambitions across four decades.

The post Dr. Shahid Mahmud Recommended for Hilal-i-Imtiaz for Contributions to Pakistan’s Digital Future appeared first on ProPakistani.