{
  "id": 11589920,
  "title": "National Party backs protesting doctors in Balochistan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/national-party-backs-protesting-doctors-in-balochistan",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T02:59:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2034353/national-party-backs-protesting-doctors-in-balochistan"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Quetta: The National Party (NP) President, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, has pledged his backing to the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Balochistan and protesting doctors, addressing their concerns over heavy taxes imposed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Balochistan Revenue Authority (BRA), as well as the AI-based attendance system. On Friday, a delegation from the PMA Balochistan and the Quetta Zone met with Dr Baloch to discuss the challenges faced by doctors in the province.\n\nDr Naeem Zarkoon, President of PMA Balochistan, along with other officials including General Secretary Dr Zarak Muhammad Shahi, Joint Secretary Dr Ahmed Abbas, and spokesperson Dr Abdullah Wardag, presented their concerns to Dr Baloch. These included the difficulties arising from the new taxation imposed by the FBR and BRA. The delegation emphasized the gravity of the issue, highlighting how these taxes are causing significant problems for the medical community.\n\nWhile the PMA strongly opposes absenteeism and believes that every doctor should carry out their professional duties, they expressed reservations about the current AI-based attendance system. According to the delegation, this system does not accurately reflect the practical realities of working in Balochistan and is creating additional hurdles, even for doctors who regularly fulfill their duties.",
  "summary": "QUETTA: National Party (NP) President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch assured the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Balochistan and protesting doctors of his support in resolving issues faced by doctors, including imposing of heavy taxes by the FBR and Balochistan Revenue Authority and the AI-based attendance system. A delegation of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Balochistan and Quetta Zone on…",
  "key_points": [
    "National Party President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch backs protesting doctors in Balochistan.",
    "PMA Balochistan delegation discusses heavy taxes and AI-based attendance system with Dr Baloch.",
    "Doctors express concerns over taxation and attendance system accuracy in challenging region."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The National Party's backing of protesting doctors in Balochistan signals a shift in the party's engagement with healthcare issues, aligning with the medical community's concerns over taxes and attendance systems.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Her great-great-grandfather helped create the National Party. Now she wants to ‘bury it’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/her-great-great-grandfather-helped-create-the-national-party-now-she",
        "published": "2026-10-03T03:40:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Her great-great-grandfather helped create the National Party. Now she wants to ‘bury it’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/her-great-great-grandfather-helped-create-the-national-party-now-she-11594939",
        "published": "2026-10-03T03:40:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}