The provincial government of Pangasinan, Philippines, is developing a plan to implement a province-wide mass transport system utilizing electric and solar-powered buses.

The Laguna provincial government launched its first free chemotherapy center at the Laguna Medical Center in Santa Cruz town, aiming to improve access to cancer treatment across the province.

The Hagen Specialist Hospital in Papua New Guinea has received a donation of new vehicles from the Western Highlands Provincial Government. This contribution aims to enhance the hospital's operational capabilities and patient transport services.

The provincial government of Pangasinan, Philippines, has decided to hold a simpler Pista’y Dayat (Festival of the Sea) celebration this year, canceling most of its usual activities.

The Ontario provincial government has expressed support for a House of Commons petition advocating for the establishment of an independent review board for military honours, such as the Victoria Cross, for late veterans.

First Nations in British Columbia have strongly criticized the provincial government's decision to suspend the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), calling it an 'absolute betrayal'.

The provincial government of Pangasinan has decided to scale down its annual Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival) celebrations this year, opting to reallocate the budget towards projects benefiting local residents.

One of eight repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from the Middle East has found employment through a job fair organized by the Bulacan provincial government in the Philippines.

The provincial government of Punjab, Pakistan, has announced that school classes will resume on April 1, while also refuting a false notification about a 'four-day working week'.

Pakistan's federal and provincial governments are collaborating to implement a new targeted fuel subsidy framework, leveraging technology for efficient distribution.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has reduced airport terminal fees and approved a fuel surcharge increase, while the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported 415 gas station closures nationwide due to the ongoing oil supply crisis. Additionally, the Iloilo provincial government has rolled out enhanced energy and fuel conservation measures across multiple sectors.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Pangasinan provincial government has decided not to adopt a four-day workweek, citing concerns that it could disrupt the delivery of essential public services, particularly in healthcare. Vice Governor Mark Lambino said the decision came after officials studied the feasibility of the extended Monday-to-Thursday work scheme authorized by Malacañang for executive branch

TAGBILARAN CITY. Bohol— The Cebu provincial government has turned over the implementation of the long-running tourism caravan “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo” (Wander Around Cebu) to the private sector to strengthen partnerships with tourism stakeholders. Gov. Pamela Baricuatro announced the move during the opening ceremony of the 11th International Travel Festival 2026 on Friday, March 13, at the

The provincial government of Bohol, Philippines, has offered a P50,000 reward for information leading to the resolution of an alleged kidnapping incident captured on video.

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The provincial government of Oriental Mindoro has announced new operating hours for key tourism offices and facilities starting Monday in line with energy…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed his finance and petroleum ministers to coordinate with provincial governments to devise a strategy for conserving petroleum products and ensuring an uninterrupted supply across Pakistan.

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman on Wednesday strongly condemned the violence perpetrated in Lamitan City on Tuesday night when a grenade was blasted near a construction site in Barangay Malakas. Hataman described the act a “stumbling block” to the city’s economic progress. In a statement, he said the provincial government

The provincial government in Punjab, Pakistan, has banned public gatherings of more than four people without prior permission, following violent protests sparked by the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei.

Maja Gojković, President of the Provincial Government of Vojvodina, asserted that no one can prevent President Aleksandar Vučić from visiting Novi Sad, emphasizing that elections reflect public support.

LAHORE: A stormy sitting of the Punjab Assembly saw exchange of heated arguments over the Punjab government’s purchase of a new “luxury” aircraft, arrests of opposition lawmakers and a flurry of legislative reforms tabled in the House. The controversy over the provincial government’s newly acquired aircraft took centre stage as Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Shazia Abid questioned whether the Rs11 billion plane would be available for official visits to south Punjab. Punjab Information Mini...

Peter Kaiser will resign as Governor of Carinthia at the end of March, with Daniel Fellner expected to be elected as his successor on April 2nd. The SPÖ parliamentary group will also see new leadership, and a position in the provincial government has become vacant.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari declared that the Basant festival, recently revived by the provincial government, will not be celebrated again before February 2027.

Mbali Shinga, a KwaZulu-Natal MEC, has vowed to remain in her position despite facing disciplinary proceedings from the National Freedom Party, an action that could significantly impact the balance of power within the provincial government.

The Sorsogon provincial government in the Philippines has launched its “Byaheng Damayan” program, offering free bus rides and establishing a community pantry for residents.

Inmates at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Jail are earning income by making compost bins for distribution to local households, as part of a provincial government initiative.

The Provincial Government in Novi Sad has announced the opening of a Museum of Fashion and Costumes, a decision that comes as many other cultural institutions reportedly receive no funding.

The Sindh provincial government has announced a two-day public holiday for the Christian community in observance of Easter.

Following a petrol price shock, provincial governments in Pakistan are now taking the lead in administering subsidized fuel quotas to motorcyclists, farmers, and transporters, with a significant monthly fiscal impact.

The provincial government of Alberta is planning to introduce new rules to legally define what constitutes an 'Alberta whisky', similar to how Kentucky or Tennessee bourbon is defined.

A new bill in Alberta, Canada, proposes to remove deadlines for the provincial government to act on citizen petitions, which would be the third amendment to the Citizen Initiative Act.

The Pakistani government has allocated Rs125 billion to shield the public from rising oil prices, with the Prime Minister instructing provincial governments to facilitate motorcycle and rickshaw owners in registering vehicles.

The Cebu provincial government has temporarily cut terminal fees for public utility vehicles (PUVs) at Capitol-operated bus terminals to alleviate the impact of rising fuel prices on transport operators and commuters.

Officials in Punjab, Pakistan, have fact-checked and denied rumors circulating about the provincial government announcing a Rs5,000 Eidi scheme.

TACLOBAN CITY — The provincial government of Eastern Samar will begin implementing a compressed four-day on-site workweek in provincial offices starting Monday, following an executive order issued by Gov. Ralph Vincent Evardone. The directive, contained in Executive Order No. RVE-2026-03-014, adopts energy conservation measures and introduces a revised work schedule for provincial government employees while

The Leyte provincial government has implemented a flexible work arrangement and energy conservation measures for its offices, following a national directive to reduce fuel and electricity consumption.

ILOILO CITY—Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has admitted that the provincial government cannot implement fuel subsidies despite the rise in oil prices due to tensions in the Middle East. Defensor acknowledged the immediate relief and practicality that fuel subsidies could provide but said that implementing them would require significant financial resources that the province currently

IRIGA CITY — The provincial government of Camarines Sur has launched an anti-flood and Green Embankment Project aimed at protecting flood-prone and coastal communities. Gov. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. led the rollout of the initiative on Friday, March 6, dubbed “Aksyon Kontra Baha,” in the towns of Garchitorena and Milaor. Provincial workers and residents

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday presided over a high-level meeting on petroleum products, directing provincial governments to take strict legal action against those hoarding the commodities. According to a handout by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Ministry of Petroleum gave a detailed briefing about stocks of petroleum products in the country, in the context of the changing situation in the region. According to the briefing, sufficient reserves of pe...

LUCENA CITY, Quezon – Quezon Gov. Angelina Tan has directed all provincial government offices to implement fuel conservation measures as a preemptive response to possible global supply disruptions…

The provincial government of Bohol has raised the reward to P150,000 for information leading to the arrest of a thief who victimized a Taiwanese couple at Alona Beach.

As workers filed out of Diageo's Amherstburg, Ont., Crown Royal bottling facility for the last time on Wednesday, some expressed anger — not just at the company that put them out of work, but at the provincial government for not following through on a promise to pull Crown Royal off shelves if the plant closed.

Federal and provincial governments in Pakistan have reached an agreement on a joint strategy to establish peace and stability across the country, following a key meeting on law and order.

The Sindh government reinstated Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Pir Muhammad Shah as the chief of the Karachi Traffic Police, it emerged on Saturday. According to a notification issued by the provincial government on Friday, Shah’s posting relieves Sindh’s Central Police Office Headquarters DIG Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh of his additional charge “with immediate effect”. “Syed Pir Muhammad Shah … is posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Karachi, relieving Mr. Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh,...

Officials in Punjab are reportedly tight-lipped regarding claims that the provincial government has acquired a Gulfstream aircraft for VIP transport.

A 103-year-old World War II veteran was honored by the provincial government of Bataan during a ceremony for veterans.

Justice Agha Faisal of the Sindh High Court, who led the Gul Plaza Judicial Commission, has handed over the sealed inquiry report into the January 17 fire to the provincial government. The fire claimed the lives of over 70 people in Karachi.

Traders in Punjab, Pakistan, are appealing to federal and provincial governments to enforce an 8 PM business closure time across all commercial and residential areas without discrimination.

The Rural Municipalities of Alberta organization is urging the provincial government to legalize grizzly bear hunting. This call comes amid increased reports of negative human-bear interactions, particularly in areas like Cardston County.

A Museum of Fashion and Costume has been established in Novi Sad, Serbia, marking the country's first such institution. The initiative for its founding came from the President of the Provincial Government, Maja Gojković.

The Gul Plaza Judicial Commission in Karachi has concluded its proceedings regarding the early February fire and announced that its inquiry report will be submitted to the provincial government on April 7.

Maja Gojković, President of the Provincial Government, stated that Croatia aims to deepen conflicts with Serbia, while Belgrade seeks an 'oasis of peace' in the region.

The Sindh provincial government in Pakistan has announced a public holiday for April 4.

Federal and provincial governments in Pakistan have reached an agreement on a new technology-based framework for fuel subsidies, with the IT ministry proposing solutions for a targeted subsidy mechanism for petroleum products.

The provincial government of Mountain Province in the Philippines announced the cancellation of its annual Lang-ay Festival activities in support of a national energy emergency.

The provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur is exploring options to extend the national government's fuel subsidy program to include delivery riders, recognizing their crucial role in local transport services.

The Punjab provincial government has announced it will pursue legal action against individuals involved in a 'malicious campaign' criticizing its purchase of a luxury jet.

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has demanded that Pakistan Customs in Karachi release a provincial government vehicle that was wrongly confiscated and issue an apology for the incident.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that the provincial government will assume control of Toronto's Billy Bishop airport, located on Toronto Island.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur Afridi announced that the provincial government will absorb the recent fuel price hike for motorcycles and keep Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) fares unchanged. He also revealed plans to introduce 10 pink buses for women and provide solar systems to 130,000 households.

Parents and advocates are sounding the alarm over the harm the provincial government’s proposed budget cuts will cause some of Nova Scotia’s most vulnerable.

Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial government has reached an agreement with Equinor and BP, paving the way for the construction and production of the Bay du Nord offshore oil project.

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Officials of Agusan del Sur province welcomed the proposed takeover by the Department of Health (DOH) of the provincial government-run D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital (DOPMH). The House committee on health approved on Wednesday the measure seeking to transfer the management of the hospital back to the DOH, as contained

ILOILO CITY — Jose Nereo Cajilig Lujan, head of the Public Information and Community Affairs Office (PICAO) of the Iloilo Provincial Government, voluntarily surrendered to authorities on Wednesday after confirming that a warrant of arrest had been issued against him for two counts of cyber libel. Lujan said he posted P48,000 bail for each count

The provincial government of Southern Leyte, Philippines, has launched a P3-million program to rehabilitate abaca farms damaged by disease over the past decade. The project aims to cover the rehabilitation and replanting of damaged abaca.

WITH a spate of terrorist attacks occurring in the country, a national-level response is required to address the issue. The latest atrocity has occurred in Bajaur, where a suicide bomber reportedly belonging to the banned TTP attacked a checkpost in Bajaur on Monday. At least 12 people were martyred in the incident — 11 security personnel and one minor girl. Meanwhile, on the same day, a motorcycle rigged with explosives was blown up outside a police station in Bannu, causing two fatalities. Furthermore, law enforcers said on Wednesday that terrorists attacked a police station and a customs office in Dera Ismail Khan, martyring a policeman and a customs officer. They added that the terrorists also fired at passenger buses in the area. Several acts of deadly violence have occurred in this area over the past few weeks. Following the Bajaur attack, the prime minister commented that “under the vision of Azm-i-Istehkam, security forces are gaining major success in the fight against terrorism”. While that may be so, Pakistan continues to pay a high price as it loses security personnel and civilians in frequent terrorist attacks. For example, apart from the latest violence in KP, an imambargah in Islamabad was attacked earlier this month causing major casualties, while only days before the atrocity in the capital terrorists had launched coordinated attacks in Balochistan. Unless the state takes a fresh approach towards terrorism, we may see the same high levels of violence in the current year as we did in 2025. Last year was said to be the bloodiest in over a decade. The threats may be varied — separatist terrorists in Balochistan, religiously inspired elements in KP — but the response must ensure that all violent elements are neutralised, and the state is able to establish peace in the disturbed areas. There has been some welcome recent cooperation between the KP government — which remains the hardest hit province — and the centre in the field of counterterrorism; such efforts must be intensified. A whole-of-nation approach is needed, applying kinetic measures where required, conducting intel-based operations as well as sociopolitical interventions as needed, to defeat terrorism. The federal and provincial governments, lawmakers and the security apparatus, along with CT experts, must put their heads together to arrive at a solution that can bring lasting peace to Pakistan. Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2026

IT has been a worrying week for the PTI as the news about Imran Khan’s health became public and dominated news headlines and private conversations. From the sketchy information that came out initially, it appeared that he had some problem with his eye and has lost up to 85 per cent of his vision in that eye. This was reported by lawyer Salman Safdar, after his court-appointed visit to Khan at Adiala jail, though there had been news reports about the matter earlier. According to Safdar, the percentage was communicated to Khan by the doctors who examined him. The government’s earlier reaction appeared a bit inexplicable. It took the government days to confirm the problem, after it had been reported in the media. And then it did nothing while the Supreme Court woke up to take notice, sending Safdar to the jail. Over the weekend, there were reports that a team of doctors had been sent to the jail to examine him, while his family and personal doctors continued to wait for access. As the family and party refused to accept the government’s decision of giving access to only certain individuals (rather than the family being allowed to choose the person) the examination was carried out at the jail by doctors without any relative present. The party is trying to build up pressure through protests and sit-ins, which seems to cause no sleepless nights to the government. This is so despite reports that KP is cut off from the rest of the country. The PTI is getting criticised for this though it is hard to understand why the federal government is ignoring it. To return to Adiala, this is a good time for a reminder that health issues, especially of imprisoned political prisoners, should not be downplayed or treated lightly. For this reason, the government should provide all help possible to Khan; this includes allowing his family and personal doctors access to him, so they can take decisions on his health, instead of the government making the call on which experts should conduct the examination and which family members can be present. This reeks of callousness. The reports of Khan’s ill health have added fuel to the talk of a probable deal. However, there is a political angle to this entire crisis. The reports of Khan’s ill health have added fuel to the talk of a probable deal or ‘dheel’, as it seems to share some parallels with the platelets issue which allowed Nawaz Sharif to be freed and flown to London. In fact, the question being asked again and again in Islamabad is if this is Platelets 2, implying that some backroom deal is being worked out. It is important to point out that the rumours did not just emerge as a result of health worries but also because of the events of the past couple of weeks where the cooperation between the federal and provincial governments improved. Once this happened, the allegations of drugs and other criminal activities directed at Chief Minister Sohail Afridi gave way to praise for his cooperation with Islamabad. So once the reports of the illness emerged, it simply lent credence to rumours that something was cooking. At the moment, it is hard for those of us who live away from Constitution Avenue to comment on these rumours with any authority. And beca­u­­se I would like to feel better about my ignorance, perhaps some of those living on Constitution Avenue may also be as ill-informed as the rest of us mortals. Despite this, there is much support for the idea of a deal. For many within the PTI think it would provide respite to Khan and others and allow them to bide their time for a return to power (as in the case of other politicians in the past). On the government side, it is seen as a way to bring some stability to the situation, allowing the focus to remain on the economy. But all of this ignores a larger issue, beyond the comfort of those in power and in the opposition. In other words, beyond the level of high politics, where the players tend to be the establishment, the parties and individuals, what will this deal bring to dissatisfied people who have been feeding into the popularity and stature of Khan? Indeed, it is this anger which has resurrected Khan and the PTI each time a fatal blow has been struck in the direction of the party in what is ‘high politics’. Be it the forcible exits from the PTI of the more well-known faces or the decision to deprive the party of its symbol — popular support for it has ensured that none of these steps proved sufficient. So it is perhaps worth asking what the impact of such a ‘deal’ would be. Suppose the deal does disillusion the supporters of Khan and undermines his popularity in a way similar to Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N. (The economy and its poor performance landed the second blow on N’s popularity.) And then what options will be left for the people to still stay engaged in electoral politics. Will they opt for other, smaller political parties? Or will they look around for more radical options? The point here is that the establishment needs to realise that it not going to be enough to win over politicians to its side; this is not what will make the system more stable. For the system to be more stable, it is not enough to quieten politicians such as Sharif or Khan and then revel in the decline of their popularity. For real stability, the anger of the people will have to be understood and then addressed through a more equitable economic system and by giving them a voice. Instead of focusing on high politics, it might help if for once attention were paid to the level at which people operate and exist. After all, electoral politics in Balochistan was tamed some time ago, but stability continues to be elusive. The writer is a journalist. Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026