President Zardari approves key laws, appointments and Eid relief for prisoners

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, Asif Ali Zardari has approved a series of important legislative measures, key appointments, civil awards, and special relief for prisoners, according to the Presidency’s media wing.

Among the approved legislation are several amendment bills aimed at institutional reforms and governance improvements. These include the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026, Newspaper Employees Service Conditions (Amendment) Bill 2026, Zakat and Ushr (Amendment) Bill 2026, National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2026, Pakistan Names and Emblems (Amendment) Bill 2026, Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2026, Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026, PEMRA (Amendment) Bill 2026, and the Danish University Islamabad Bill 2026.

The President also approved the appointment of Aizaz Aslam Dar as a member of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) under the Balochistan quota, strengthening representation in the country’s top recruitment body.

In recognition of outstanding national services, the President granted the prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz to Professor Sarwar Muhammad Khawaja, Rashid Malik, and Zainul Abideen Ahsan.

Furthermore, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and Pakistan Day 2026, President Zardari approved a special remission in sentences for prisoners, offering relief to inmates across the country as part of traditional clemency measures.

The wide-ranging approvals reflect the government’s focus on legal reforms, institutional strengthening, and humanitarian considerations during significant national and religious occasions.