Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has said that the government will ensure an increase of 1,000 beds in major cities during June.

In a tweet, the minister said: "We have decided in the NCOC meeting this morning that the federal government will ensure [an] increase of 1,000 beds with oxygen supply capability in the major cities of the country within the month of June."

In another tweet, Umar added that of these beds, 200 will be provided to Karachi.

Opinion

Stifling the press

Stifling the press

Who determines what counts as false information, and whether jailing someone for sharing it is a proportionate punitive measure?

Editorial

On press freedoms
03 May, 2026

On press freedoms

THE citizenry forgets, to its own peril, how important a free and independent media is in the preservation of their...
Inflation strain
03 May, 2026

Inflation strain

PAKISTAN’S return to double-digit inflation after 21 months signals renewed economic strain where external shocks...
Troubled waters
03 May, 2026

Troubled waters

PAKISTAN’S water crisis is often framed in terms of scarcity. Increasingly, it is also a crisis of contamination....
Iran stalemate
Updated 02 May, 2026

Iran stalemate

THE US and Iran are currently somewhere between war and peace. While a tenuous ceasefire — extended largely due to...
Tax shortfall
02 May, 2026

Tax shortfall

THE Rs684bn shortfall in tax collection during the first 10 months of the fiscal year is a continuation of a...
Teaching inclusion
02 May, 2026

Teaching inclusion

DISCRIMINATORY and exclusionary content in Punjab’s textbooks has been flagged in Inclusive Education for a United...