A vendor preparing traditional food item pakora at his roadside setup during rain in thecity
A view of clouds hovering over the Margalla Hills during rain in Federal Capital
HEC invites applications from Afghan students for short documentary contest
ISLAMABAD, Feb 9 (APP): The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has called for applications for Afghan Short Documentary Contest and invited all enthusiastic Afghan students studying in Pakistan under Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships for Afghan Students to submit a short documentary video sharing their higher education experiences in Pakistan using high-resolution cameras or smart phones.
According to official sources from HEC, the theme of the short documentary contest is “Education Experiences of Afghan Youth studying in Pakistan”
As per details of the application process, initially in step one, submit an original idea based documentary no longer than 40 – 60 seconds in duration on the given theme using smart phone or high resolution cameras.
While in step 2, the jury members will shortlist top 10 Afghan students’ entries to showcase and will inform students and their universities’ nominated Public Relations Officers (PROs)/Mass Communication Department Faculty Members to participate as their Mentors to submit short documentary of 4 – 6 minutes using only high resolution cameras (please refer to technical requirements) on the given theme in English language with subtitles translated into 2 languages (Urdu & Dari).
The deadline to submit initial applications is 21-02-2023, while announcement of top 10 shortlisted finalists will be announced on 24-02-2023 and final documentary will be submitted on 10-03-2023. Meanwhile the event will be held (Tentatively) on 15/17-03-2023.
However, final top 10 shortlisted submissions must be in the horizontal format of at least standard HD (1280 x 720 pixels) encoded in H264 (.mp4, .mov). However, for better viewing quality, a full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) format is recommended. Every video submitted must be a final edited product without any rough-cuts. All submissions must include closing credits with the following information: name(s) of the filmmaker(s), script writer, all participants, stakeholder(s) etc.
A short documentary covering Afghan students’ access to higher education in Pakistan, day-to-day campus life, advanced teaching faculty, research and lab facilities, hostels, financial, socio-cultural, communication, psychological, and education adjustments, individual experiences, sports and other extra-curricular activities on campus, interviews with university rector/VC etc.
The students are asked to submit your entry by any of the following means, i.e email your submission to Ms. Amina Munir, Project Manager, Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships for Afghan students via Google Form at https://shorturl.at/FHI68? OR ?Mail your documentary video on a USB to the Jehanzeb Khan, Project Director, Human Resource Development Division, Higher Education Commission, H-8, Islamabad. Ph: 051-9040 8036.
As per terms & conditions, all entries must reflect the original work of the student, while female Afghan students are highly encouraged to participate. By submitting your application to Higher Education Commission (HEC), you agre?e to give a license to the HEC for its public screening, including distribution via various social media, digital, and web platforms etc.
Top 10 shortlisted Afghan students’ entries will be called on the day of event and winners will be decided by jury members on the day of event. Entering this competition does not guarantee that you will win a prize or derive any other benefit, however, final prizes will be awarded in a grand ceremony held at HEC, Islamabad. The first prize winner will be awarded Rs 70,000 , while second prize winner Rs 50,000 and third winner will get Rs 35,000.
Govt allocates Rs 118.4b for road safety in PSDP -2022-23: Dar
ISLAMABAD, Feb 9 (APP): Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar on Thursday said the government has total allocation of Rs 118.4 billion for road safety to enhance the country’s road infrastructure in Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for FY2023.
The Finance Minister said the government is also acquainted with this fact and included 50 projects in the National Highway Authority (NHA) portfolio in PSDP for CFY2023 with a total allocation of Rs 118.4 billion to provide a safe, modern and efficient transportation system in the country.
He said this while addressing the closing ceremony of ‘International Road Safety Conference for Parliamentarians’ here in a local hotel.
Ishaq Dar said that till FY2022, the total vehicles on roads were estimated at 34.2 million which are increasing rapidly as the middle class is growing in the country.
He informed that Pakistan’s current road infrastructure comprised a total 500,750 kms comprising of Expressway 428 kms, Highways 32097, Local Roads 373525, Metro Roads 146, Motorways 2816 and Primary and Secondary Road 92153 Kms respectively.
He said the PML (N) Government in its previous tenures, focused on the key infrastructure development projects and M2 Lahore-Islamabad Motorway was initiated in early 1990’s by the PML(N) Government, which in its subsequent tenures expanded phenomenally throughout this country and later included under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
This infrastructure development now forms the lifeline of Pakistan’s road infrastructure. It has enhanced the quality and length of roads considering the future needs of the country and provided much needed road travel comfort leading to significant road safety, he said.
He said that now, the present PDM coalition government, including PML-N is again working on a fast track to enhance the length and quality of the roads in the country to facilitate the economic development of the country.
It is also actively pursuing effective enforcement of road safety laws to ensure the accident free traffic flow, he added.
The minister said that as parliamentarians, it was our duty to find necessary solutions to improve road safety. We must act now and fast, at the local and global level, he said.
The minister said that we must introduce road safety measures with a goal to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries by 50 percent by the year 2030, being the targets established by the United Nation Global Action Plan on Road Safety.
The minister said this target can become a stepping-stone for all of us before reaching the ambitious goal of no deaths and serious injuries in the future. Let us pledge today to join this ambition.
The conference has been a great opportunity for parliamentarians to share their experiences, knowledge and best practices, and I am sure that the valuable insights and discussions would be helpful in shaping the future of road safety initiatives in our countries, he expressed.
Meanwhile, he stressed upon the importance of continuing the efforts to improve road safety and said that now the world needs to focus more on legislating comprehensive traffic laws and rules and strictly ensure their implementation.
The loss of precious lives and the financial burden caused by road traffic accidents are a tragedy that affects families and communities across the nations, he said. Ishaq Dar said that as parliamentarians, we have a responsibility to work together to make our roads safer for all citizens of our countries.
“I would like to pay my gratitude to the International Parliamentarians’ Congress to have taken this very important initiative on organizing the first such Conference for Parliamentarians on Road Safety in Pakistan.”
He also appreciated the efforts of the Presidents of International Parliamentarians Congress (IPC) on Road Safety and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Deputy Secretary Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA) and all the members of the organizing committee for putting together such a successful event.
Ishaq Dar said these bodies’ tireless efforts have created a platform for Parliamentarians from around the world to come together and discuss this critical issue of road safety.
“I also want to extend my gratitude to the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan for their contribution in the two-day Conference.”
Having seen the two-days program of the conference and the list of distinguished panellists, I am sure this two-day conference has further added to the knowledge and information pool of the Parliamentarians to legislate in their respective countries laws and rules to protect all forms of road users to further ensure road safety, he expressed.
He hoped that as a participant to the conference, your contribution has added a new perspective to the discussions, and I am confident that your participation will help in building strong joint action plans on Road Safety.
The minister said that road traffic accidents are one of the major causes of loss of precious lives and it also results in serious injuries and the fact that these are the biggest killer of young people worldwide.
“We can no longer accept this global menace in the larger public interest”, he said.
He said that the pressure on road infrastructure is increasing because other means of transport are relatively inefficient for ensuring effective road safety measures are essential for socio-economic development.
Meanwhile, talking to the media, Ishaq Dar said that the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (MF) have entered the final stage. Today is the final round of IMF negotiations and good progress is being made on both sides, he added. He expressed his hope that talks with the IMF are on track.
Visitors keenly viewing painting during exhibition on “National Women’s Day” at PNCA
A motorcyclist on the way under cover of a plastic sheet in the Federal Capital during rain that experienced in twin cities
A man busy in tying a bundle of branches of tree in the Federal Capital during rain that experienced in twin cities
A family on the way under cover of an umbrella in the Federal Capital during rain that experienced in twin cities
PMD refutes misleading information about earthquake occurrence in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Feb 9 (APP): The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday refuted the misinformation created through social media predicting the occurrence of any major earthquake in Pakistan in the coming days, saying “there is no relation between Turkish earthquake and Pakistan scientifically”.
The devastating earthquake with magnitude 7.8 which occurred in southern Turkey created panic in Pakistan by some social media stating that “the earthquake with the same magnitude may occur in Pakistan in few days”.
However, the PMD clarified that there is no connection between the Turkish earthquake and Pakistan scientifically.
There is no direct fault link between Turkey and Pakistan that could trigger faults in Pakistan/Iran or Afghanistan.
PMD is running its seismic monitoring network comprising thirty remote monitoring stations and is recording earthquakes occurring within and surrounding areas every day which are of small to medium range magnitudes.
It is worth mentioning that earthquake is purely a natural phenomenon. Pakistan and neighbouring countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan have experienced many major damaging earthquakes in past. These countries are earthquake-prone countries and PMD seismic monitoring network is recording more than 100 quakes every day.
The possibility of occurrence of major earthquakes in Pakistan and surrounding countries is always there but when and where or the timeline of happening is beyond the reach of existing technology.
The prevailing method is to find the seismic hazard of the areas by using previous seismic data which explores the potential of earthquake fault.
Seismic hazard assessment is an effort by earth scientists to quantify seismic hazard and its associated uncertainty in time and space and to provide seismic hazard estimates for seismic risk assessment and other applications but nothing concerned with the prediction of earthquakes.
Imran helping terrorists with baseless statements against national institutions: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Feb 09 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Thursday that Imran Khan was helping terrorists with his baseless statements against national institutions.
In a tweet, sharing a video clip of Imran, she said that with every new plaster on his leg, PTI Chairman has been telling the nation a new lie, a new accusation against the opponents.
Marriyum said Imran Khan was not ready to sit with the national leadership to evolve a joint strategy on terrorism, the Kashmir issue, and national security.
قوم میں نفرت،بدتہذیبی، تقسیم کا زہر گھولنے والا اداروں کے خلاف زہر اگل رہا ہے .ہارے ہوئے نالائق نااہل گھڑی چور،کرپٹ بہروپیے کی کسی کو فکر نہیں .بکتر بند زمان پارک خواتین اور بچوں کے حسار سے نکلیں. عمران خان اداروں کے خلاف اپنے جھوٹے بیانات سے دہشت گردوں کی مدد کر رہا ہے
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) February 9, 2023
The minister said how could Imran unite the nation when he during his government had run a dirty campaign against the martyrs and stated he would not be blackmailed by the funerals of the martyrs of the Hazara community.
The person who introduced hate-mongering, misbehavior, and division in the nation was spewing poison against the institutions, she maintained.
Taking a jibe at Imran she said he should come out of Zaman Park where he had taken the shield of women and children.