Minister visits Ethiopian pavilion At Karachi Feast

Sat, 23 Dec 2023, 8:26 PM

ISLAMABAD, Dec 23 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Madad Ali Sindhi graced the Ethiopian Pavilion with his presence at the Karachi Festival on Saturday.

On arrival, the minister was welcomed by Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan, Jemal Beker Abdula.

According to a press release issued by the Embassy, the Pavilion served as a captivating proof of the rich tapestry of Ethiopian tourism, rich culture and heritage.

The minister, on the occasion, witnessed mesmerizing cultural performances at the pavilion and savoured Ethiopian coffee which had become the centre of attraction at the Karachi Feast.

Madad Ali Sindhi commended Ambassador Jemal Beker Abdula for the commendable initiative of introducing Ethiopian tourism and culture to Pakistan.

Recognizing the immense potential for tourism and the diverse cultural offerings of Ethiopia, the education minister expressed his gratitude to the Government of Ethiopia for the commencement of Ethiopian Airlines in Karachi which was instrumental in fostering connections between Pakistan and Africa.

Ambassador Jemal Beker Abdula extended gratitude to the minister for gracing the Ethiopian tourism pavilion with his presence.

The ambassador highlighted the strong attachment of the people of Pakistan with Ethiopia which was a land of Bilal Habeshi and King Nejashi.

He expressed his resolve to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.

Quaid-i-Azam believed in serving people, says governor

Ali Ali

Sat, 23 Dec 2023, 8:25 PM

LAHORE, Dec 23 (APP):Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rahman said on Saturday that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a great thinker and politician, who believed in serving people.

He was a sagacious and visionary leader, and under his able leadership, the workers Pakistan Movement sacrificed their lives for establishment of an independent Islamic state, he added.

The governor was addressing a prize-distribution ceremony, organised for the students, who had won the speech contests, held in connection with the Quaid-i-Azam Day observance here at Aiwan Karkunan Tehreek-e-Pakistan. A large number of students participated in the speech competitions, organized by Idara-e-Nazriya Pakistan and Idara Tehreek-e-Pakistan, in collaboration with Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The governor said that the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam had become the means of creation of Pakistan and “today we are breathing in free atmosphere”. He said, “Quaid-i-Azam was a great human being, from whose life we ??can learn a lot. He was a true human being and his opponents also testified to the fact. He was a fair and courageous man, who always believed in the rule of law.”

Balighur Rahman said that establishment of a separate state for Muslims on the basis of the Two-Nation Theory was a right decision of our elders. Seeing the treatment of Muslims in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir and other parts of India today, we should thank Allah Almighty that we are free and residents of an independent country. Quaid-i-Azam wanted to make Pakistan a cradle of Islam, he said and advised students, “We should stay away from elements which spread hatred and despair. MA Jinnah believed in constructive politics and we should follow in his footsteps.” Idara Nazriya-e-Pakistan and Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications deserve congratulations for organising elocution competitions among students, he added.

Idara Nazriya-e-Pakistan Senior Vice Chairman Mian Farooq Altaf said Pakistan had been blessed by Allah Almighty, and we should be proud to be Pakistanis. Jinnah was a great leader who defeated all conspiracies of the British and Hindus and brought us to Pakistan. “We were the fourth largest economy in Asia. God willing, the period of despair would end soon and we would once again be on the road to growth,” he asserted.

Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Director General Arshad Munir said that holding such events was welcome and an effective means of spreading the vision of Quaid-i-Azam. He advised students to make the saying of Quaid-i-Azam “work, work and work” their motto and adopt the habit of studying. Quaid-i-Azam gave a message to students to pay full attention to the acquisition of knowledge.

Idara Nazriya-e-Pakistan Secretary Naheed Imran Gul said, “Our organisation is educating the new generation about the life and services of Quaid-i-Azam and his colleagues. Quaid-i-Azam used to urge students to value time, pay attention to education and lead a disciplined life.”

Pakistan Movement Secretary Mohammad Saifullah Chaudhry called for keeping with such events throughout the year, from these events such rare gems come out which are in front of you today. During the ceremony, shields were distributed among the successful students and judges, and certificates were also distributed to students participating in the competitions.

President urges role of religious platforms for promoting literacy

NNPS Desk

Sat, 23 Dec 2023, 8:25 PM

KARACHI, Dec 23 (APP): President Dr. Arif Alvi on Saturday, emphasizing on engagement of notables and Imams of Masajid to implement the guidelines of health and education said that religious platforms could be used for promoting literacy and imparting awareness of mental health in the country.

The president was chairing a meeting with the delegation of Darul Uloom Karachi at Sindh Governor House. Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Dr. Aneeq Ahmed was also present in the meeting.

Alvi said that Masajid and Madaris (religious schools) could play an active role in the promotion of education and welfare in the country. He also urged to develop a toolkit for mental health and wellness at the earliest.

He said that there was a need to make every possible effort together with Masajid and Madaris to educate about 36 percent of the country’s out-of-school children.

The meeting discussed the role of Masajid in promoting the guiding principles of health and education in society.

The meeting also considered developing a collaborative approach between the government and religious institutions to promote comprehensive health and education guidelines.

Earlier, a delegation from the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning also called on the President and discussed matters about mental health.

Rs. 560.016m fine imposed on 4,882 power pilferers

Ali Ali

Sat, 23 Dec 2023, 8:06 PM

FAISALABAD, Dec 23 (APP):The Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) caught 4,882 power pilferers during the last 106 days, and imposed Rs. 560.016 million fine on them in various areas of the company during the ongoing special anti-power theft drive.

Spokesman Tahir Sheikh said here on Saturday that over 12.288 million detection units were charged. A sum of over Rs.386.8 million was also recovered from the defaulters.

He said that 4592 cases were registered against power theft in various police stations whereas the police also arrested 3883 pilferers so far.

Giving further details, he said that the FESCO teams detected electricity theft at 1551 points in Faisalabad district and imposed a fine of Rs.173.3 million on them under the head of 3841,000 million detection units.

In Jhang district, the FESCO teams caught 529 electricity thieves and imposed a fine of Rs.69.1 million under 1715,000 detection units.

Similarly, 574 cases of electricity theft were detected in Bhakkar district and the company handed down the power pilferers with a fine of Rs.64.6 million under 1300,000 detection units.

He further said that 478 electricity thieves were caught from Chiniot district and they were imposed a fine of Rs.69.2 million under 1544,000 detection units.

In Khushab district, 153 consumers were found involved in electricity theft and they were handed down with a fine of Rs.19.9 million for 400,000 detection units.

The FESCO teams also caught 642 power pilferers from Mianwali and they were fined with Rs.62.3 million for 1370,000 detection units.

In Sargodha district, 527 cases of electricity theft were detected. Hence, a fine of Rs.54.3 million was imposed on the electricity thieves under 1133,000 detection units.

The FESCO teams also caught 363 electricity thieves from Toba Tek Singh district. Therefore, the company imposed a fine of Rs.40.7 million for 800,000 detection units, spokesman added.

CM approves establishing Levis Force’s Investigation wing

Ali Ali

Sat, 23 Dec 2023, 8:04 PM

QUETTA, Dec 23 (APP):Caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Ali Mardan Domki has approved establishing an investigation wing in the Levis Force, said a handout issued here on Saturday.

On the directives of Additional Chief Secretary Home Zahid Salim and DG Levis Naseebullah Kakar, the summary was moved for approval.

The CM Balochistan, on the recommendation of the Home and Tribal Affairs department and in view of the requirement of the force, granted consent to establish an investigation wing.

CM chairs meeting to discuss issues faced by public sector varsities

Ali Ali

Sat, 23 Dec 2023, 7:59 PM

PESHAWAR, Dec 23 (APP):Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister, Justice Retired Syed Arshad Hussain Shah here on Saturday chaired a meeting to discuss issues being faced by public sector universities of the province.

Concerned caretaker provincial ministers, administrative secretaries of relevant provincial departments, the Chairman Higher Education Commission and other high-ups attended the meeting.

The participants discussed in detail the financial issues and administrative matters of the public sector universities and reviewed the various proposals to steer these universities out of current financial crunches.

Both the provincial government and Higher Education Commission expressed their commitment to work jointly to address the financial and administrative issues being faced by public sector universities.

It was agreed that the government’s grant to the universities would be subject to their improved financial discipline. The meeting also decided to complete the ongoing process for the appointment of vice-chancellors in public sector universities as soon as possible.

The participants concurred with the proposal to merge university campuses having lower enrollments and introduce courses in line with the demand of the modern market and to ensure the implementation of an improved educational process as an essential service in higher educational institutions.

Addressing the meeting, caretaker CM highlighted the need to have a comprehensive and all-time solution to address the financial issues of government universities in the province.

The caretaker CM made it clear that we have to prepare and implement viable financial plans to make public sector universities financially stable and self-reliant.

Underlining the need to align the higher education sector with the requirements of the contemporary world, he said that it is imperative to introduce market-based courses instead of traditional education in universities.

The caretaker provincial government is very sincere and committed to taking all possible steps for this purpose, he remarked.

Guangzhou-Lahore flight resumed on Dec 20

NNPS Desk

Sat, 23 Dec 2023, 7:47 PM

BEIJING, Dec. 23 (APP): China Southern Airlines, one of Asia’s largest carriers, has resumed its Lahore-Guangzhou flights on December 20 after a suspension from February 27, 2019.

Aircraft Boeing flight No CZ6037 flew from Guangzhou and landed at Lahore Airport and flight No CZ 6038 took off from Lahore and reached Guangzhou on December 20.

The fully loaded flights signified passengers’ soaring interest, a China Southern Airlines official told local media.

She said that flight operations will continue for three days a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

Earlier, China Southern Airlines resumed air routes from Lahore to Urumqi, with the first direct flight took off from Allama Iqbal International Airport at 9:50 am on June 13.

The Urumqi-Lahore route was suspended on January 24, 2020, due to Covid-19 curbs on the aviation sector. The activity marked a defining moment for the resumption of flights after more than 3 years.

The flights are scheduled on a weekly basis, specifically on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. The inception of the Air Silk Road has set in motion deep and synergic aviation integration between Pakistan and China.

After the onset of CSA flights from Lahore to Urumqi and Lahore to Guangzhou, air trips between both countries are highly likely to swell as Lahore, the hub of business and trade activities, is the capital of Punjab.

APP/asg