MULTAN: February 22
ECP issues list of reserved seats for women, minorities in PA
ISLAMABAD, Feb 22 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued the list of reserved seats for women and minorities in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday.
According to ECP spokesperson, the PML-N has secured 36 seats for women, PPP obtained three, while PML-Q secured two seats, and one seat has been allocated to a woman affiliated with IPP.
Out of the 66 seats reserved for women in the Punjab Assembly, the Election Commission did not allocate 24 seats. Additionally, PML-N has won five minority seats in the assembly.
The PML-N candidates comprise Zakia Khan, Shahnawaz Khan, Ishrat Ashram, Mariam Aurangzeb, Azma Zahid Bokhari, Hina Parvez Butt, Salma Saadia Temur, Rahila Naeem, Bushra Anjum Butt, Sania Ashiq Jabeen, Salma Butt, and Kanwal Pervez Chaudhry; Mehwish Sultana, Nausheen Adnan, Asma Ehtisham ul Haq, Kausar Javed, Uzma Jabeen, Ambreen Ismail, Mumtaz Begum, Sunbal Malik Hussain, Rukhsana Kausar, and Shazia Rizwan are among the nominees.
Motiya Begum, Rabia Naseem Farooqi, Sonia Ashir, Uzma Kar Dar, Safia Saeed, Tahia Noon, Amina Hassan, Asma Naz, Tahira Mushtaq, Zaib Un Nisa Awan, Fatima Begum, Qudsia Batool, Riffat Abbasi, Atiya Iftikhar, and Rushda Lodhi are also among the nominees.
The PPP nominees are Shazia Abid, Neelam Jabbar Chaudhary, and Nargis Faiz Malik. PML secured two reserve seats with Tashfeen Safdar and Salma Saeed. Sarah Ahmad represents Istehkam e Pakistan Party (IPP).
Non-Muslim winners from PML-N comprise Falbous Christopher, Emmanuel Ather, Ramesh Singh Arora, Khalil Tahir, and Shakeela Javed.
National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol Pakistan issues Performance Report
ISLAMABAD, Feb 22 (APP): National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol Pakistan achieved significant success in apprehending various wanted criminals involved in serious criminal activities in 2023.
Interpol Pakistan reported the arrest of 120 accused from various countries wanted for serious offences, with an additional 36 accused apprehended upon arrival or departure from abroad, said the press note. These arrests included accused wanted by the Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad Police.
Among the arrested accused, 45 were apprehended in the UAE, 12 in Saudi Arabia, and 13 in Oman.
Furthermore, NCB Interpol Pakistan successfully coordinated with international partners, resulting in the arrest and extradition of 14 accused from countries such as Canada, Kuwait, Cambodia, Italy, Spain, Australia, Ireland, France, Turkey, Japan and Swaziland.
The arrested individuals were promptly handed over to the relevant authorities at the airports.
During the year 2023, NCB Interpol Pakistan issued a total of 303 notices, including 289 red notices for the arrest of wanted accused. The majority of these red notices (275) were issued at the request of the Punjab Police, while 5 were issued at the request of the FIA and 4 at the request of the KP Police.
Additionally, 5 accused were issued notices based on requests from Sindh Police, Islamabad, and NAB.
As part of its commitment to combating criminal elements, in year 2023, NCB Interpol Pakistan signed several Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with various organizations to enhance information sharing on criminals.
NCB Interpol Pakistan, in collaboration with other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), remains dedicated to achieve its targets and ensuring the safety and security of the nation.
Governor Punjab hosts hi-tea to visiting Dutch hockey club players
LAHORE, Feb 22 (APP):Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman on Thursday hosted a hi-tea to the visiting players and officials of the Oldenzaal Hockey Club (OHC) ‘Bully’ and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Youth Pakistan teams at the Governor’s House here.
The OHC Bully has been invited by the hockey Olympian Khawaja Muhammad Junaid to play three matches against the HEC Youth hockey team in Lahore and Islamabad. The hockey series has been dedicated to the Police Shuhada (martyrs).
Speaking on this occasion, Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman said hockey is our national game and hockey players have had brought laurels to the country, expressing the hope that hockey will regain its lost position with dedicated efforts.
He said that hockey legends like Khawaja Junaid are the heroes of the nation who brought glory to the country through their outstanding performance in their respective sports.
He further said sports equipment of best quality is manufactured in Pakistan and the city of Sialkot is famous for manufacturing sports equipment. The Governor Punjab said that it is a matter of great pride for us that the high quality footballs produced in Sialkot were used in last year’s FIFA World Cup.
The Governor Punjab said sports also help strengthen people to people and diplomatic ties between countries.
The visiting Dutch hockey players appreciated hospitality of the Pakistani people, adding that Pakistan is a beautiful country. The Dutch contingent was also shown round of the historic Governor’s House.
Chairman Khawaja Junaid Hockey Academy Khawaja Muhammad Junaid, Manager OHC Bully Ton Langenhuisjen and Chef D Mission Tahir Qarar Shah thanked the Governor Punjab for his hospitality.
Good News for Honey Bees: Plantation of millions of Bair, Palosa saplings begins
PESHAWAR, Feb 22 (APP): The Forest Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would plant about 5.240 million Bair plants during the next two years in KP.
These plants would be planted in southern districts including Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, DI Khan and Koh e Suleman areas during next two years under the National Honey Program.
The KP Forest Department spokesman told APP that about 3,000 beginner beekeepers would be trained in the country through NAVTTC and 15,000 existing beekeepers to be provided soft loans from different banks.
Beesflora enhancement and development of honey forests through 40 established nurseries each having 25,000 plants for producing one million honey plants would be achieved under the program.
He said plantation site at Karak and Kohat districts have been selected for sowing of Bees flora plants on 100 acres of land.
A new type of honey “Margalla” was introduced by Pakistan Council of Agriculture and Research (PCAR) mostly useful for asthma and allergy patients.
“Bair and Kalongi” honey was also brought in markets for the first time in Pakistan.
He said the KP government intends to establish Accreditation Bees Product Standardization Laboratory-cum- Processing Unit at Tarnab Peshawar.
AIOU’s second phase admissions for Spring 2024 Semester to start from March 01
ISLAMABAD, Feb 22 (APP):The admissions for the second phase of the Spring 2024 semester at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will commence simultaneously in all four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan from March 01.
This phase includes Associate Degree programs (BA/B.Com, BBA), BS (ODL), B.Ed, and Postgraduate Diploma programs.
Entrance forms and prospectuses for all offered academic programs will be available on the university’s website from March 01.
The late fee charges for admissions to Matric and FA programs from the first phase will continue until March 05, said a news release.
Additionally, the final examinations for Open Courses, Certificate Courses, Matric, and FA programs for the Autumn 2023 semester will begin on March 05.
The date sheet is available on the university’s website, while the students’ roll number slips have been uploaded to their CMS portals.
Pak-China Electric Vehicle Launched in Pakistan
BEIJING, Feb 22 (APP): Sazgar Engineering, one of Pakistan’s leading car manufacturers, has partnered with Chinese car manufacturer Great Wall Motors (GWM) to introduce their latest innovation in the automotive industry, the electric vehicle ORA 3.
This collaboration aims to revolutionize the Pakistani market by offering sustainable and eco-friendly transportation solutions.
With cars being the primary mode of transportation in Pakistan and gasoline prices continuously rising due to global oil price hikes, there’s a clear and urgent need for alternative energy solutions, CEN reported.
New energy vehicles (NEVs) seem to be the perfect fit. Sazgar Engineering has set the price of the ORA 3 at Rs 8.99 million, making it an attractive option for consumers looking to embrace NEVs. The company has announced that bookings for this groundbreaking vehicle will open in the coming days, with an initial booking price of Rs 5 million.
Pakistan is catching a ride on the global NEVs boom. Last year, global sales of NEVs reached approximately 14.61 million units, representing a 38% year-on-year growth. Among them, China accounted for 9.495 million units of NEV sales, capturing a 65% market share in the global market.
A number of Chinese companies such as BAIC, Changan, JAC Motors, Great Wall Motors, MG, FAW, and Chery Automobile have established their presence and even formed joint ventures in Pakistan, driving the new energy vehicles industry in the country towards intelligence and electrification.
“As Sazgar takes the lead in embracing electric mobility in Pakistan, we are proud to set new standards and contribute to the collective effort in combating climate change,” said the representative from Sazgar.
This partnership opens doors for technological advancements and knowledge sharing, enabling the local auto industry to embrace sustainability and cater to the growing demand for eco-friendly transportation.
APP/asg
Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan in a meeting with Minister Social Welfare GB Dilshad Bano at CM Secretariat
GILGIT: February 22 –