Students singing a cultural song during Cultural Programme in connection with upcoming Sindhi Ajrak Topi Culture Day at Sindh University Campus
Superintendent Zaheer Vark and other staff members are participating in the awareness walk on World AIDS Day in District Jail
Govt making efforts to empower tribal youth through higher education
PESHAWAR, Dec 01 (APP): Embarking upon a mission to empower tribal youth with an ornament of quality higher education, the Federal and Provincial governments have accelerated efforts to strengthen education infrastructure, establish new colleges, universities and libraries besides increasing stipends for male and female students of merged districts to bring them at par with the students of settled districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Following the decades-long neglect in terms of educational facilities, the tribal districts have now been witnessing substantial growth in education sector where presently about Rs 20 billion development projects were in progress under the accelerated implementation program (AIP 2019-23), which upon completion would change the destiny of tribesmen.
The gigantic projects include establishing 12 new colleges, rehabilitation, provision of missing facilities to existing colleges, commencement of BS programme, scholarships to students, solarization of colleges and educational institutes, recruitment of teaching faculty and provision of transport facility to facilitate students especially girls in erstwhile Fata.
Muhammad Islam Khan, Senior Planning Officer, Higher Education Department told APP that under three years’ AIP, a joint venture of the Federal and KP Governments started after KP-Fata merger, work on different mega projects amounting to Rs20 billion were underway in all seven merged tribal districts.
Besides construction of 12 new colleges, he said five government degree colleges for girls were being established in merged areas, adding classes in newly established government degree colleges for boys at Bara and Landi Kotal in Khyber tribal district and government boys degree college at Penk in former Frontier Region of Tank has also been started.
Out of these 12 new colleges, he said that four colleges were being established in Bajaur, two in Khyber, one each in Kurram and Bakakhel (former FR Bannu), three each in North Waziristan and South Waziristan.
“Today is the age of information technology, science and quality higher education vital for sustainable economic progress and development to achieve educational goals,” he said adding the universities and teaching faculty, including lecturers, assistant professors and others, play an important role in imparting knowledge to tribal youth.
For a knowledgeable based society and promoting research works in colleges and universities, he said one each library was being established in Khyber, Mohmand, Bajaur, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan and South Waziristan.
Besides strengthening of Fata University near Dara Adamkhel, he said the government has decided to establish Bajaur University at Khar with an estimated cost of Rs one billion under AIP. He said Bajaur University would help save time and money of tribal students who mostly come to Peshawar for higher education.
Islam Khan said that 10 new colleges were completed in merged areas raising its total number to 55, adding 300 new lecturers and subject specialists were recruited for 45 colleges in tribal districts.
To address challenges of energy shortfall and improve literacy rate, he said work on solarization of colleges costing Rs1.6 billion has been started in erstwhile Fata. New vehicles were recently provided to the principals of 45 colleges including 24 boys, 15 girls and six commerce colleges of merged areas to provide pick and drop to all students.
The government would spend Rs1.18 on the transport project that would benefit around 25,000 tribal students. Similarly, 10 more transport vehicles and buses would be provided to the newly established colleges.
Medical colleges and Engineering universities are planned in all merged districts while work on an Education City in South Waziristan is underway. The government has also planned to establish campus of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU) in tribal areas to provide quality education to girls students at their doorsteps.
To encourage talented tribal students to continue their studies without facing financial constraints, Rs. 1.399 billion were earmarked to provide 5,500 internships to the tribal students.
Former Provincial Minister, Wajid Ali Khan said that PTI government was needing to focus on sustainability and economic empowerment of existing universities and avoid opening of new universities for political point scoring.
He suggested establishing campuses of different universities instead of separate universities of medical, engineering, agriculture, law etc to save the financial resources of KP that was already facing financial problems.
Wajid said internationally, many renowned universities have established their schools of medicine, engineering, business, and other disciples under one roof for better economic management and good governance.
The absence of quality research, outdated and conventional teaching methods and the divide between teachers’ tenure track and basic pay scale were adversely affecting quality of higher education in KP, he maintained.
He expressed the hope that financial issues of public sector universities in KP would be addressed on priority basis and focus should be made on research works.
APP/fam/
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong to offer condolence for former Chinese President Jiyang Zemin (late).
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong to offer condolence for former Chinese President Jiyang Zemin (late)
A view of large number running wind power plants near NTDC Grid Station Jhimpir II which dispatch renewable energy to national grid.
Muqam hints at re-elections in case of KP, Punjab assemblies dissolution, imposition of governor rule
BUNER, Dec 1 (APP):Adviser to the Prime Minister for Political and Public Affairs and National Heritage, Engr Amir Muqam here on Thursday asserted that re-elections would be held in case of dissolution of Punjab and Khyber Pakthunkhwa assemblies with the possibility of imposition of governor rule.
Addressing a mammoth public gathering here, Amir Muqam said that general elections would not be held on the unjustified demand or wishes of PTI Chief Imran Khan.
He reiterated that general elections would be held on time in accordance with constitution and laws, adding the governments in centre and other provinces would continue to perform functions in case of dissolution of KP and Punjab assemblies.
He said the option of governor rule could be exercised in KP and Punjab if these provinces did not function in accordance to the constitution or dissolve prematurely. He accused Imran Khan for destroying the country’s economy, social and political values besides promoting intolerance in national politics. “It is time to throw this rotten fish out of the political arena,” he remarked.
Amir Muqam said the people of Pakistan knew who used the huge financial resources of KP and Punjab provinces for flopped PTI’s long march that ended in sheer disappointment.
“Imran Khan had neither fulfilled the promise of constructing five million houses for poor nor provided one million jobs to youth during his nearly four years rule,” he said, adding PTI Chairman also failed to honour his pledge to convert PM and Governor Houses into universities.
He said that Imran Khan’s “corrupt practices” were exposed before the masses in the Toshakhana case and was proven as a certified” liar” after PTI’s Foreign Fund Case.
He said people knew who tried to drag state institutions into politics and defamed the establishment to please their foreign masters after a successful no confidence motion against Imran. The recent appointment in Army was made by the Prime Minister strictly on merit and in line of the constitution, he remarked.
Amir Muqam said people of Pakistan would decide about future’s political government on the basis of free and fair election in 2023 rather Imran Khan. The PM’s aide said KP Government was paying huge salaries to social media influencers but had no money for others employees who were protesting for their genuine rights including non-payment of salaries and allowances.
Muqam claimed that debt burden on KP had been increased to record Rs1,000 billion from Rs 300 billion in last nine years, adding Imran’s bullets injuries’ drama was also exposed before the nation.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was working day and night to take the country out from the existing challenges and put the economy back on track. “Pakistan has come out of the FATF’s gray list due to hectic efforts by tPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his diplomatic team.”
The PM’s aide said the people of KP were fed up with poor performance of PTI and would break PTI’s back in upcoming election as the party that came on slogan change was completely failed to deliver on all fronts.
FWO workers busy in clearing Malopa Road JSR after earth quake damage.
Norway can play important role to help resolve Kashmir dispute: Barrister Sultan
MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 01 (APP): Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry has said that Norway should use its political and diplomatic clout to help resolve the long-standing Kashmir dispute in line with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
He expressed these views during his meeting with Norwegian Ambassador to Pakistan, Per Albert Ilsaas, who called on him at his office on Thursday, said a press release issued here.
“Having an excellent track record on human rights, Norway can play a positive role to bring an end to human rights violations in the Occupied Kashmir”, the President said adding that Norway could also play a mediating role between India and Pakistan because Norway was enjoying equal and excellent friendly relations with both the countries.
Referring to the volatile situation in the region, the AJK President said that any untoward incident in the region could be a prelude to a big war that could affect the peace of the whole world.
“It is therefore imperative that friendly countries like Norway should come forward and use its diplomatic clout to help resolve the dispute peacefully”, he said.
On this occasion, the President also briefed the Norwegian Ambassador, about the latest situation in Occupied Kashmir and the violations of human rights there.
Barrister Chaudhry said that it was high time for the global community to realize their moral obligations towards suffering humanity in Kashmir and play their role to address the lingering dispute peacefully.