SARGODHA, Dec 26 (APP):The Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) caught seven power pilferers during an ongoing crackdown here on Tuesday.
According to official sources, a task force team raided various areas of the district
and caught seven accused involved in electricity theft from main lines.
The accused were identified as Imran Haider, Bilal, Liaquat, Safdar and others.
Police registered cases against the pilferers.
Seven power pilferers booked
Self-sustenance inevitable for success in the world: President
KARACHI, Dec 26 (APP): President Dr. Arif Alvi on Tuesday said that self-sustenance is inevitable for the success in the world and expressed the confidence that Pakistan would progress and develop.
Addressing as chief guest on the occasion of the 35th Convocation ceremony of Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC) at Baharia Auditorium here, he said that the world needed intellect at the moment and there was no dearth of it in Pakistan.
Rector National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Lt General (R) Mehmood and Commander Karachi Rear Admiral Muhammad Saleem were also present.
During the convocation, a total of 368 graduates were awarded Bachelors’ and Postgraduate degrees including the foreign students.
The President also awarded 39 medals to the students on their outstanding performance.
Addressing the convocation, President Dr. Arif Alvi appreciated the efforts put in by the PNEC for maintaining high standards of education by providing quality engineers to the evolving industry of Pakistan.
He emphasized that responsibility of PNEC has further increased in present realm of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
He also acknowledged that foreign students were a testimony to the College’s credentials in the engineering sector.
He highlighted that NUST PNEC will continue with its legacy of being the premier engineering and technology institution, fulfilling present day engineering needs of the country.
The President felicitated the graduating students and their parents and advised the graduates to be active members of society in building a stronger and prosperous Pakistan and keep themselves abreast and with fast changing advancements in technology.
President Dr. Arif Alvi termed the completion of degrees by students as an opening of the doors to the knowledge for the students and said, they must learn more and more.
Earlier, Commandant PNEC Commodore Tauqeer Ahmad Khawaja apprised that PNEC was making all out efforts to provide the best engineering education to its students in multiple disciplines.
Further, he highlighted the achievements of students in various events held at national and international levels.
He highlighted the opportunities provided to the students at different forums in order to groom and nurture the young engineers.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of military and civil dignitaries and parents of graduating students.
POL import bill shrinks by 16.19% in five months
ISLAMABAD, Dec 26 (APP): The imports of the overall petroleum group contracted by 16.19 per cent during the first five months of the current fiscal year (2023-24) compared to the corresponding period of the last year, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.
The total imports of the petroleum group during July-November (2023-24) stood at $ 6,453.914 million against the imports of $7,700.269 million during the same period of last year
Among petroleum commodities, the import of petroleum products declined by 25.08 per cent, from $ 3,552.323 million last year to $2,661.234 million during the period under review.
Likewise, the imports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) declined by 7.47 per cent from $ 1,584.800 million last year to $ 1,466.418 million this year whereas petroleum crude dipped by 9.71 per cent from $ 2,273.328 million to $ 2,052.542 million.
The import of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) went down by 5.53 per cent in the first five months of the current fiscal year and stood at $273.641 million compared to $289.671 in the corresponding period in 2022.
Meanwhile, on a year-on-year basis, the petroleum group imports witnessed a decrease of -13.44 per cent during November 2023 as compared to the same month of last year, from $ 1,646.183 million to $1,424.903 million.
On a month-on-month basis, the petroleum imports into the country also came down by 6.70 per cent during November 2023, compared to the imports of $1,527.147 million in October 2023, according to the PBS data.
Attique lauds insightful Kashmir, Palestine projection by COAS during visit to US
MIRPUR ( AJK): , Dec 26 (APP) :: Former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu Kashmir and President of All Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conference Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has lauded the insightful projection of the Kashmir dispute and Palestine cause by the Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir during his recent important visit to the United States. The people of Jammu and Kashmir express gratitude to the Army Chief for his bold reiteration of Kashmir and Palestine causes at this critical phase of complex international history, he said in his congratulatory message to the Army Chief released to the media here late Monday.
At this phase, the reiteration of principled stance on the Kashmir dispute and highlighting Palestine cause by the Army Chief of a nuclear Pakistan is much weightier than several diplomatic overtures on the issues.
“Kashmiris have gained fresh courage and confidence by this multi-institutional projection of seriousness of Kashmir and Palestine struggles”, Sardar Attique said in his message.
Be it recalled that both the Kashmir and the Palestine dispute listed by the United Nations Organization in 1948 relate to the restitution of right of self-determination by the Kashmiris and the Palestinians.
Commissioners, DCs offices’ to become paperless
LAHORE, Dec 26 (APP):After the successful implementation of e-Filing and Office Automation System (e-FOAS) in the departments, Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman has issued instructions to make paperless the offices of divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province.
He issued these instructions during a meeting held at Civil Secretariat on Tuesday.
The Senior Member Board of Revenue, Additional Chief Secretary and administrative secretaries of all departments attended the meeting,while all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated through video link.
The Chief Secretary directed the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) to complete the scanning of archive files as soon as possible.He said that the departments of the Civil Secretariat have been asked to ensure all departmental correspondence online,while integrating them through e-FOAS. He said that ending the conventional file system would save billions of rupees annually.
The Chief Secretary also issued instructions regarding early disposal of departmental inquiries and pension cases. He said that due to pending inquiries, employees were deprived of their right to departmental promotion. He also distributed shields among the Chairman PITB and his team for successful implementation of e-FOAS in departments.
2 killed, two injured in accident
ISLAMABAD, Dec 26 (APP):At least two persons were killed while another two got injured when a jeep plunged into a ravine in Mansehra’s area of Ghanool near Balakot on Tuesday morning.
According to details, Police sources said the ill-fated vehicle met with the accident near Balakot after the driver lost control of the jeep while negotiating a curve, in a result a councilor and his driver lost their lives on the spot, a private news channel reported.
Rescue sources added that they were travelling back home after attending an engagement ceremony.
The locals and rescue teams rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies and injured to a nearby hospital.
Senate session adjourned due to lack of quorum
ISLAMABAD, Dec 26 (APP): The Senate session on Friday was adjourned due to a lack of quorum and ruckus that forced the chair to wind up the meeting of the House without taking any substantial agenda item.
After Senator Saadia Abbasi succeeded in presenting her motion to establish the first Parliamentary Caucus on Water Resources, the Senator requested the chair to talk about it which was turned down by the chair.
Chairman Senate, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani directed the Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi to table his bill for amendment titled “The Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979 [The Motion Pictures (Amendment) Bill, 2023].”
As the Minister for Information initiated to present his bill, and started reading the text of the Bill, the Senators from different political parties started commotion, hence hampering his speech. However, Minister Murtaza Solangi continued and noted that the amendment was pertaining to censorship and regulation of the exhibition of films by means of cinematographs.
Amid the rising ruckus, the Minister responded to the dissenting Senators saying, “The issuance of any ordinance is the prerogative of the government under Article 89 of the Constitution, and it is important for us to lay these ordinances in the form of bills and it’s the House’s job to make any decision on it.”
After an interjection from the members of the House, the Senate Chairman directed to point out the quorum and start of the headcount. However, after falling short of quorum the House was adjourned till December 29, 2023, to meet again at 1030 hours.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JIP) said as per the article 230 of the Election Act (Chapter XIV “Caretaker Government”), the caretaker government was only authorized for handling day to day matters and by presenting ordinances, it was violating the Election Act.
He said that the interim government was intervening in strategic legislation, adding, “The tabling of the ordinance by the caretaker government at this moment is bypassing the constitution, parliament, law, masses and the demos.”
He further added that the interim government was not allowed to make legislation under the pressure of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) without the knowledge of the masses and the Parliament.
The Senate Chairman noted that it was a legislative document only and should be allowed to be sent to the Committee for further deliberations.
Leader of the Opposition, Senator Dr Shahzad Waseem (PTI) said the caretaker government could not enact legislation and termed the ordinance as “unacceptable”.
Senator Humayun Mohmand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said, “If we will give an inch to them, they will take the yard. These bills are not of crucial importance and can be lingered on for 40 days, after the new regime will come to power then it can be presented before the House.”
35th Convocation ceremony of Pakistan Navy Engineering College held
KARACHI, Dec 26 (APP):The 35th Convocation ceremony of Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC) was held at the Baharia Auditorium here on Tuesday.
President Dr Arif Alvi graced the occasion as chief guest. Rector NUST Lt General (R) Mehmood and Commander Karachi Rear Admiral Muhammad Saleem were also present.
During the convocation, a total of 368 graduates were awarded Bachelors’ and Postgraduate degrees. The president also awarded 39 medals to outstanding students.
Addressing the convocation, President Dr. Arif Alvi appreciated efforts put in by PNEC to maintain high standards of education by providing quality engineers to the evolving industry of Pakistan.
He emphasized that the responsibility of PNEC has further increased in the present realm of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
He also acknowledged that foreign students are a testimony to the College’s credentials in the engineering sector.
He highlighted that NUST PNEC will continue with its legacy of being the premier engineering and technology institution, fulfilling the present-day engineering needs of the country.
The President felicitated the graduating students, their parents and advised the graduates to be active members of society in building a stronger and prosperous Pakistan and keep themselves abreast and with fast-changing advancements in technology.
Earlier, Commandant PNEC Commodore Tauqeer Ahmad Khawaja apprised that PNEC is making all-out efforts to provide the best engineering education to its students in multiple disciplines.
Further, he highlighted the achievements of students in various events held at national and international levels.
He highlighted the opportunities provided to the students at different forums to groom and nurture the young engineers.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of military and civil dignitaries and parents of graduating students.
Bootleggers held
SIALKOT, Dec 26 (APP):District police claimed to have arrested two bootleggers and recovered large quantity of liquor from their possessions,here on Tuesday.
According to a police spokesperson, Rangpura poilce, on a tip off, raided in the jurisdiction and arrested Amjad Maseeh and Babar and recovered 137 bottles of liquor from them.
Police have registered separate cases against them.
ANF recovers 1903 kg drugs in eight operations; arrests seven accused
RAWALPINDI, Dec 26 (APP): Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) while conducting eight operations across the country managed to recover 1903 kg drugs and arrested seven accused, said an ANF Headquarters here on Tuesday.
He informed that over 3 kg Ice was recovered from a passenger traveling to Jeddah by Flight No. PA-470 at Allama Iqbal Airport.
1 kg heroin recovered from two passengers traveling to Bangkok by Flight No. TG-342 at Jinnah Airport.
In third operation, 52 Ice drug filled capsules were recovered from the stomach of a passenger at Allama Iqbal Airport Lahore. The accused was leaving for Doha by flight number QR-629.
24 Ice-filled capsules were recovered from the passenger’s stomach at Bacha Khan International Airport. The accused was leaving for Sharjah by flight number ER-751.
1500 kg hashish and 200 kg heroin were recovered from a house in Pishin while 120 kg hashish and 9.6 kg opium were recovered from an abandoned vehicle near Fairozwala stop Lahore.
33.6 kg hashish and 26 kg opium were recovered from a vehicle near Ravi Motorway Toll Plaza Lahore while two accused were arrested.
In the eighth operation, 10 kg hashish was recovered from Zakhakhel area of Khyber.
Cases under the Anti-Narcotics Act have been registered against the arrested accused and further investigations are under process.