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Shandong Energy, Huawei jointly launch world’s first commercial large AI model for mining sector

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BEIJING, July 18 (APP): Shandong Energy Group (Shandong Energy), Huawei, and Yunding Technology on Tuesday jointly launched the Pangu Mine Model, the world’s first commercial large AI model for the energy sector.

The aim of the model is to enhance the application of AI in the mining industry and transform workshop-scale AI model development to factory-scale development.

Li Wei, Chairman of Shandong Energy while addressing the launching ceremony in Jinan, Shandong Province of China said,”Fellow travelers think alike. As a world-leading ICT infrastructure and smart device provider, Huawei shares Shandong Energy’s goal of digital transformation.

The two companies are complementary to each other and are mutually reinforcing.

“We aim to improve the intelligence level of the mining industry by expanding the depth and breadth of AI application in different scenarios, and continually using AI to deliver more automation, achieve greater efficiency,reduce labor intensity, and improve safety in the mining industry.”

As the pioneers of the world’s first commercial use of large AI models in the energy sector, Shandong Energy, YundingTechnology, and Huawei have begun implementing the first set of AI applications for mining.

These were developed based on the pilot verification of large AI models in industrial production.

There are altogether 21 application scenarios related to operating activities, namely, coal mining, tunneling, primary transportation, auxiliary transportation, lifting, safety monitoring, rock burst prevention, coal preparation, and coking.

Rock bursts are a particularly challenging issue in mining.

The primary means of preventing rock bursts is drilling destress holes, whose quality matters.

Shandong Energy has managed to address this challenge in its Lilou and Xinjulong coalmines by deploying the large AI model.

With its visual recognition capabilities, the model can intelligently analyze the quality of stress relief drilling, and assist rock burst prevention personnel in quality verification, reducing their review workload by 82%.

It used to take three days to complete such checks; now the time has been shortened to 10 minutes, with a 100% acceptance rate.

Shandong Energy, Yunding Technology, and Huawei established a joint innovation center at the beginning of 2022.

To make mines smarter, they introduced the Pangu Model,which features decoupled operation management and intelligent production, in-campus data processing, large-scale replicability, and learning and analysis fromsmall samples.

The joint innovation center’s AI operation system makes use of central training, edge inference, cloud-edge coordination, learning by using, and non-stop optimization.

The center’s AI management system consists of group management and coal mine execution.

The management of coal production was transformed from being reactive and manual-intensive to being proactive and intelligent.

Zou Zhilei, Chairman of Huawei Mine BU, said: “AI will continue to power the upgrading of the mining industry, and play an important role in making coal production safer, greener, and semi- or fully-automated.Huawei will continue to dive deep into industry transformation, and make the powerful capabilities of the Pangu Model available to a wider range of industries.


We will enable partners and work with them to solve industry problems in specific scenarios, creating greater value. The launch of the first commercial Pangu Mine Model has injected new impetus into the high-quality development of the mining industry and the energy sector at large.”

Islamabad Police to implement comprehensive security measures for Muharram-ul-Haram

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP): Islamabad police have decided to ensure foolproof security and comprehensive measures for the upcoming Muharram processions in the capital and to protect gatherings through the use of modern surveillance technology.

In a bid to prioritize the safety of citizens during the solemn occasion of Muharram ul Haram, a high-level meeting was convened by the Islamabad Capital Police (ICP).

The meeting aimed to review and bolster security arrangements for the upcoming Muharram processions in the capital. Chaired by CPO/DIG Operations Islamabad, Syed Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari, the gathering involved key officials and representatives, including SSP (Operations), AIG Special Branch, Zonal DPOs, DSP Security, Chairman, members of the peace committee, and organizers.

With a focus on fostering communal harmony and providing fool-proof security for the Majalis and processions, the officials discussed various measures, including the use of modern surveillance technology, strict adherence to designated routes and timings, and stringent participant screening.

CPO/DIG Bukhari emphasized the importance of cooperation between organizers and law enforcement to ensure a peaceful and secure Muharram observance.

By integrating the comprehensive security measures, he said the Islamabad police seek to foster an atmosphere of tranquility and reverence during this significant religious occasion.

Widespread monsoon rains predicted in KP

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PESHAWAR, Jul 18 (APP): The Met Office on Tuesday forecast widespread rains with thunderstorms and strong winds in most parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa till July 23 with occasional gaps.

It said that heavy rains might cause urban flooding in low lying areas of Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Charsadda, and trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Swat, Chitral, Dir, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Torghar, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Kurram and Khyber districts.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has instructed all the district administrations to assess and plan deployment of additional resources and exercise control over traffic leading to and in vicinity of the vulnerable, choke points, tourist spots, attractions and securing from loose structure such as buildings under construction to prevent losses and damages and save precious lives.

It further directed the district administration to adopt all precautionary measures to prevent urban flooding and regulate traffic in coordination with law enforcing agencies to protect precious lives.

It also called for availability of emergency services personnel and equipment, Rescue 1122, fire brigade, ambulance, civil defence in areas at high risk of urban flooding, flash flooding, hill torrents and landslides.

It said that the PDMA helpline 1700 would be operational round the clock and any emergency could be reported on this number.

Pakistan exports $16.5 bln textile products in FY23

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP): Pakistan earned over $16.50 billion from the exports of various textile products during the fiscal year 2022-23, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.
The textile goods’ exports during the same period of last year were recorded at $19.329 billion, showing a decline of 14.63 percent during the fiscal year 2022-23, according to PBS data released here on Tuesday.

The textile products that contributed positively in trade included raw cotton, the exports of which grew by 104.78 percent by growing from $6.577 million during FY 2021-22 to $13.468 million during FY2022-23. tents, canvas and tarpaulin by 24.93 percent, from $110.413 million to $137.944 million, ready-made garments by

The textile goods that witnessed negative growth in trade included cotton yarn, the exports of which declined by 30.04 percent, from $1,206.789 million to $ 844.283 million.

Likewise, cotton cloth decreased by 17.06 percent, from $2,437.875 million to $2,021.999 million, the exports of cotton (carded or combed) declined by 31.72 percent, from $1.631 million to $1.114 million, yarn (other than cotton yarn) by 31.85 percent, from $66.188 million to $45.106 million, knit wear by 13.36 percent, from $5,121.040 million to $4,436.779 million and bed-wear by 18.26 percent from $3,292.882 million to $2,691.648 million.

In addition, the exports of towels also declined by 10.05 percent by going down from $1,111.337 million to $999.594 million, readymade garments by 10.57 percent, from $3,904.654 million to $3,491.948 million, art, silk and synthetic textile by 10.38 percent, from $460.058 million to $412.289 million, madeup article excluding towels by 18.44 percent, from $849.121 million to $692.548 million while the exports of all other textile materials went down by 6.34 percent, from $761.377 million to $713.096 million.

Meanwhile, on year-on-year (YoY) basis, the textile goods’ exports decreased by 13.73 percent in June 2023 to $ 1,471.976 million against exports of $ 1,706.245 million in June 2022.

On month-on-month (MoM) basis the textile goods’ exports however increased by 11.47 percent in June 2023 when compared to the exports of $ 1,320.558 million in May 2023, according to the PBS data.

It is pertinent to mention here that the overall trade deficit witnessed a decline of 43.03 percent during the fiscal year 2022-23 as compared to the previous year (2021-22).

The trade deficit during July-June (2022-23) was recorded at $27.547 billion against the deficit of $48.354 billion in July-June (2021-22), a decline of 43.03 percent.

The exports during the period were recorded at $27.744 billion against $31.782 billion last year, showing a decline of 12.71 percent. On the other hand, the imports witnessed a sharp decline of 31 percent by falling from $80.136 billion last year to $55.291 billion during the fiscal year 2022-23.

Pakistan confirm additional men’s T20I series with New Zealand

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By Sohail Ali

LAHORE, Jul 18 (APP):The Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday announced its men’s side will play 10 additional T20Is against New Zealand in the 2023-24 season as part of its strategic decision to provide best
preparation opportunities for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.


Following three ICC World Test Championship matches in Australia from 14 December to 7 January,
Pakistan will travel to New Zealand for five T20Is, which will kick-start their T20 World Cup preparations.
These matches will be held from 12-21 January.

The schedule is:

12 Jan – 1st T20I, Auckland
14 Jan – 2nd T20I, Hamilton
17 Jan – 3rd T20I, Dunedin
19 Jan – 4th T20I, Christchurch
21 Jan – 5th T20I, Christchurch

In turn, New Zealand will make a return visit to Pakistan in April 2024 for five T20Is to fill the vacant window. Details of the series will be released closer to time.

The additional series will mean in the lead up to the T20 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA in June 2024, Pakistan will play 19 T20Is (10 vs New Zealand, three vs the Netherlands, two vs Ireland and four vs England). In addition to the 19 international matches, the PCB will also host its own cut-throat HBL Pakistan Super League 2024 in February/March 2024.

To schedule the additional T20Is, the Pakistan Cricket Board, in consultation with Cricket West Indies and New Zealand Cricket, has made slight changes to its Future Tours Programme 2023-2025.

The two ICC World Test Championship fixtures against the West Indies, originally planned in Pakistan in February 2024, will now be held in January 2025. Likewise, Pakistan’s tour to New Zealand for three ODIs and five T20Is, originally scheduled in January 2025, will now take place in April 2025.

Pakistan and New Zealand recently played a highly-competitive and entertaining five-match T20I series in April/May in Lahore and Rawalpindi, which ended in a two-all draw. Prior to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, Pakistan had featured and won the T20I series in Christchurch with Bangladesh as the third side.

New Zealand and Pakistan are ranked third and fourth, respectively in the ICC T20I Team Rankings with just two points separating them.

ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25

Meanwhile, Pakistan women’s cricket team’s schedule of matches in New Zealand have also been confirmed.

The side will play three T20Is in Dunedin and Queenstown from 3-9 December, before taking on New Zealand in three ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 ODIs from 12-18 December in Queenstown and Christchurch.

The schedule is:

3 Dec – 1st T20I, Dunedin
5 Dec – 2nd T20I, Dunedin
9 Dec – 3rd T20I, Queenstown
12 Dec – 1st ODI, Queenstown (ICC Women’s Championship)
15 Dec – 2nd ODI, Christchurch (ICC Women’s Championship)
18 Dec – 3rd ODI, Christchurch (ICC Women’s Championship)

The ICC Women’s Championship series against New Zealand will be Pakistan’s third of the year following their home series against South Africa in Karachi from 1-14 September and October’s away series against Bangladesh. Their last two series in the ICC Women’s Championship will be against the West Indies (home,
April 2024) and England (away, May 2024).

Pakistan has to date played three series, defeating Sri Lanka (2-1) and Ireland (3-0), and losing (3-0) to Australia. Both Pakistan and New Zealand have played three series of nine ODIs each and have 10 points apiece.

Pakistan men’s revised Future Tours Programme 2023-2025 (all Tests count towards the ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025)

2023-24

July – Pakistan to Sri Lanka (two Tests) (ongoing)
August – Pakistan to Afghanistan (three ODIs)
September – ACC 50-over Asia Cup in Pakistan and Sri Lanka
October/November – ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup India 2023
December/January – Pakistan to Australia (three Tests)
January – Pakistan to New Zealand (5T20Is)
April – New Zealand to Pakistan (5 T20Is)
May – Pakistan to the Netherlands (three T20Is), Ireland (two T20Is) and England (four T20Is)
June – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup USA/West Indies 2024

2024-25

August – Bangladesh in Pakistan (two Tests)
October – England in Pakistan (three Tests)
November – Pakistan to Australia (three ODIs and three T20Is)
November/December – Pakistan to Zimbabwe (three ODIs and three T20Is)
December/January – Pakistan to South Africa (two Tests, three ODIs, three T20Is)
January – West Indies in Pakistan (two Tests)
February – New Zealand and South Africa in Pakistan (ODI tri-series)
February/March – ICC Champions Trophy Pakistan 2025
April – Pakistan to New Zealand (three ODIs and five T20Is)
May – Bangladesh in Pakistan (three ODIs and three T20Is).

Alvi administers oath of Banking Ombudsman to Sirajuddin Aziz

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday administered the oath of office of Banking Ombudsman to Sirajuddin Aziz.

The swearing-in ceremony was held here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The president administered the oath in line with clause (2) of the Article 203C of the Constitution.

PM grieved over sudden death of Tariq Fazal Chaudhry’s son

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed deep sorrow over sudden death of PML-N leader Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry’s son who died in a road accident here on Monday night.

The prime minister, in a statement issued by the PM office, offered his heartfelt condolence and sympathies to the bereaved family of late Anza Tariq.

He prayed to Allah Almighty to grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude.

He also prayed for grant of eternal peace to the departed soul.

Meanwhile, in his tweet, the prime minister said that for parents, nothing was more heart shattering than losing a child.

“My heart goes out to Tariq and his bereaved family in this hour of indescribable grief. The whole PML-N family shares his sorrow. May Allah rest the departed soul in peace! My heartfelt condolences,” he added.

Ahsan Iqbal saddens over demise of Dr Tariq’s son in road accident

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP):Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of the son of PML-N Islamabad-chapter President Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry in a road accident.

In a condolence message on his Twitter handle, the minister said he felt extreme shock to hear about the death of Dr Tariq’s son.

“Inna Lillah e Wa Inna Elah-e-Rajaioon,” he said while sympathizing with Dr Tariq Fazal.

He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace, raise his ranks and grant patience and courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with equanimity.