KARACHI: September 27
Sindh Chief Minsiter Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqir speaks at World Tourism Day organized by Culture Department at Mohatta Palace
KARACHI: September 27
Governor House opened to ‘guided tours’ on Tourism Day
LAHORE, Sep 27 (APP):The historic Governor’s House Punjab was opened to ‘Guided Tours’ on the World Tourism Day here on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi and provincial cabinet were given the guided tour on the first day along side the Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman.
Talking on this occasion, Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman said that the Governor House is a historical building and a national heritage. He said that for the first time, the inner part of the Governor House is going to be opened for the general public. He said that people would be able to visit the Governor House by taking guided tours. The Governor Punjab said many historical things are present in Governor House, adding that the Governor House has paintings of the famous artist Ustad Allah Bakhsh, as well as those of Abdul Rehman Chughtai, which have been given the form of an art gallery. He further said that Quaid’s wing and rooms where foreign personalities like Queen Victoria had stayed are present in the Governor House. The Governor further said that he would especially appreciate Director General World City Kamran Lashari, Secretary Tourism Punjab, concerned officers of these departments and officers of Governor Secretariat as they have done a great job to materialise the concept of guided tours.
He said that students of schools, colleges, general public, local and foreign tourists, can benefit from guided tours.
In response to a question, Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman while explaining the guided tour procedure said that the Walled City Authority has created an app through which pre-booking for the guided tours will be done.
He said that the people will be able to access not only the external but also the internal part of the Governor House in a systematic way.
Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi said that the credit of all these efforts fully goes to the Governor Punjab for spearheading this project.
He said these guided tours will be of world class, and people will get a chance to learn a lot and see historical things here.
Jan Achakzai announces 400 scholarships for UoT’s students
QUETTA, Sep 27 (APP):Balochistan’s Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai along with Commissioner Makran, Deputy Commissioner Kech, and other district officers visited the University of Turbat (UoT) here on Wednesday.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Turbat, Professor Dr. Jan Muhammad along with faculty members and university administration gave a warm welcome to the Caretaker Provincial Minister.
While talking to the occasion, the Caretaker Provincial Minister, Jan Achakzai said that he was very happy to see that the University of Turbat was imparting quality education facilities not only in Makran Division but throughout Balochistan.
He hoped that the graduates of the University of Turbat would brighten the name of the country throughout the world.
Appreciating the performance of the University he said that the University of Turbat was playing a very important role in promoting quality education in this region.
He emphasized that we should pay more attention to open employable teaching departments so that the graduates of our universities do not face any difficulty in finding employment after their education.
Appreciating the building of the University, the Caretaker Provincial Minister said that Turbat can be the gateway in this region for creating qualified human resources.
He emphasized that we should keep our youth engaged in such activities that can increase their digital skills and capabilities.
He said that this is the era of IT, e-commerce, e-employment, and artificial intelligence, therefore, the development of information technology in the province is our top priority.
Addressing the university administration on this occasion, he said that in the coming times, there is large-scale investment potential in the mineral sector in Balochistan and the university administration should take advantage of these
opportunities by establishing a Mineralogy Department at the University in order to enable the youth of Balochistan to find jobs in projects related to mineral sector like Reko diq, Sandak and other projects.
He assured to provide equipment for the Mineralogy Departmen and to provide support in the establishment of a Business Incubation Center at the University so that the inclination toward self-employment can be promoted among the youth of Balochistan.
He said that the youth of Balochistan are second to none in terms of talent, but we should guide them in the right way so that they can get respectable job opportunities.
Earlier, apprising the Caretaker Provincial Minister about the achievements and problems of the university, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Jan. Muhammad said that thousands of male and female students have been equipped with digital skills in the university in collaboration with the Virtual University.
He said besides connecting the university with fiber optics, we have also completed the solar system project of 500 kilowatts, which will be increased to one megawatt in the next phase.
He said that more than four thousand students from remote areas of Balochistan are currently studying at the university, of which 45% are girls.
Later, the caretaker provincial information minister also participated in an interactive session with the students. Appreciating the youth of Kech district, the Caretaker Provincial Minister said in today’s era, the information technology sector is creating huge sources of employment for youth and they should focus more on acquiring digital skills so that they can earn from home using the internet.
He said that in the future, there is a lot of scope for employment in the field of information technology and our youth should acquire digital skills and strive to create employment opportunities for themselves.
He said that currently there are seven crore jobs available in the digital sector in the global market and the youth can benefit from this sector by using their digital skills. Meanwhile, he also announced 400 scholarships and 50 laptops for the students of UoT.
He also assured his support in establishing a modern lab of Artificial Intelligence at UoT. The caretaker minister also assured to provide exposure visits and field work facilities to the students of various departments of the university in government institutions so that the students can be exposed to practical work before entering professional life.
Madad Ali Sindhi expresses grief over loss of lives in Kandhkot district of Sindh
ISLAMABAD, Sep 27 (APP):Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Madad Ali Sindhi Wednesday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to the explosion of a rocket launcher in the Kandhkot district of Sindh.
In a statement, the federal minister expressed condolences and heartfelt sympathy with the bereaved family members.
He called for a timely investigation to prevent such incidents in future. “We need to fully investigate how such material reached this area”.
He said that the terrorists involved in this brutality should be arrested immediately.
He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
IAEA launches publication highlighting Pakistan’s role in promoting peaceful Nuclear Technology Cooperation
ISLAMABAD, Sep 27 (APP):Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi has launched a publication ‘Pakistan: Partnering with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for Strengthening South-South Cooperation to highlight the role of Pakistan in strengthening South-South Cooperation through the Promotion of peaceful uses of Nuclear Technology.
At a side event, hosted by Pakistan, to highlight its contributions to South-South cooperation in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The event was organised on the sidelines of the 67th Session of the General Conference, currently ongoing in Vienna, Austria, and covered the ongoing partnerships of Pakistan with the IAEA under its Technical Cooperation Department for the promotion and transfer of nuclear technology for socioeconomic progress in developing countries.
It was attended by senior-level officials including from the Ghana Nuclear Regulatory Authority which is collaborating with the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), according to a news release received here on Wednesday.
During his opening remarks, the Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Raja Ali Raza Anwar, highlighted the great importance Pakistan accorded to the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Programme due to which significant contributions to developmental gains in diverse fields had been achieved in the country.
These included food, agriculture, human health, nuclear power, water resource management, industry and education.
He pointed out that the objective of the side event was to highlight the expertise and facilities which Pakistan has developed in cooperation with the IAEA and remains willing to share with other interested developing countries. He also took note of the ongoing collaboration between Pakistan and Ghana in the area of nuclear regulatory frameworks.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan, Aftab Ahmad Khokher, also addressed the gathering, and shared that Pakistan had a highly developed and multifaceted civil nuclear programme.
He added that the country had made strides in harnessing nuclear science and technology in various fields and appreciated the decades-long productive and mutually beneficial collaborative relationship that existed with the IAEA.
He also highlighted that, in a significant development, Pakistan had been successful in producing coloured cotton and was currently planning its large-scale production.
During the event, remarks were also delivered by senior-level officials from PAEC and PNRA. From the IAEA, the Deputy Director General of the Technical Cooperation Department as well as the Director, of Technical Cooperation Asia Pacific (TCAP) and Director, of Technical Cooperation Africa (TCAF) also addressed the participants.
Canada to assist Pakistan in combating climate change, enhance its resilience
QUETTA, Sep 27 (APP): Canadian High Commissioner, Ms Leslie Scanlon Wednesday said Canada will provide assistance to combat climate change vagaries in Pakistan and enhance the resilience of its regions prone to global warming impacts and aftershocks of environmental degradation.
The effective public engagement is therefore key to success in planning for coping with climate change and the community needs to be aware in order to prevent climate catastrophes, said the Canadian High Commissioner while addressing the closing ceremony of the three-day training workshop organized by a social organization Wang here at Bela, Balochistan.
She said, “Climate change causes a lot of damage to humanity and the planet. To reduce its impact and protect our environment and future generations, adopting more sustainable and nature-friendly practices is essential”.
Leslie Scanlon said reducing carbon emissions, conserving natural resources, and living in harmony with nature to ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for all was the need of the hour to ward off the adverse effects of climate change.
It is a global responsibility to tackle climate change and work towards a more sustainable and resilient co-existence with our natural environment, she added.
Leslie Scanlon said that Canada, including Wang and others, are working to mobilize youth against climate change in Pakistan.
The Canadian High Commissioner said that having an eco-friendly organization in Bela and their efforts to improve the environment was commendable, whereas the Canadian mission will provide great support in the area for climate-related interventions.
Govt to invest in development of eco-friendly tourism destinations across Sindh: CM Baqar
KARACHI, Sep 27 (APP): Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (rtd) Maqbol Baqar Wednesday said that the government would invest in the development of eco-friendly tourism destinations across the province while prioritizing conservation, low-impact infrastructure and community involvement.
The caretaker CM while addressing an event organized by Culture and Tourism Department here at Mohatta Palace to mark World Tourism Day, vowed “Together, we can make Sindh a beacon of eco-friendly tourism, setting an example for the world.”
Our core objectives were to ensure the preservation of the natural beauty for generations to come, he said and urged all stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society, and our citizens, to join hands in the journey toward sustainable tourism.
Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, caretaker Minister for Tourism Arshad Wali Mohammad, Secretary of Culture and Tourism Aleem Lashari and diplomats of different countries and others were present at the occasion.
The CM said that this year’s theme, “Tourism and Green Investment,” resonates deeply with us in Sindh, as we strive to create a sustainable and environmentally conscious tourism industry.
He said that tourism has always been a powerful driver of economic growth, fostering job creation, cultural exchange, and regional development and we should celebrate the immense potential of tourism and the vital role it plays in our global economy.
“Sindh, with its rich cultural heritage, historical sites, and stunning natural landscapes, is poised to be a prime destination for tourists, however, the true potential of tourism lies not only in economic benefits but also in its capacity to promote sustainable practices and protect our environment,” he maintained.
Justice Baqar said that the global tourism industry has faced unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change effects which forced us to reevaluate our approach to tourism and embrace a sustainable, green future.
The CM said that the government of Sindh was committed to leading this transformation, and highlighted some key initiatives and investments aimed at making the tourism sector more environment friendly.
The CM discussing Renewable Energy said that Sindh was blessed with abundant wind and solar energy resources and government was actively promoting green investments in renewable energy to power tourism infrastructure sustainably. It would reduce our carbon footprint and create jobs in the clean energy sector, he added.
Highlighting the significance of waste management for preserving the environment, Justice Baqar said that the government would implement waste reduction and recycling programs in popular tourist areas, ensuring that our landscapes remain pristine.
The CM also touching the Public Transport sector in his speech said that the government was committed to enhancing the public transportation system, including electric and hybrid buses, to reduce emissions from tourist vehicles and promote eco-friendly travel options.
He said that our cultural heritage was a significant draw for tourists. He added his govt would invest in the restoration and preservation of historical sites and landmarks, using eco-friendly materials and methods.
The CM said that the local communities play a pivotal role in sustainable tourism for which the provincial govt was working closely with them to ensure that they benefit from tourism while actively participating in its eco-friendly practices. Sindh would launch campaigns to educate both tourists and locals about the importance of responsible tourism, he added.
“As we move forward, it’s essential to remember that green investments in tourism are not just a responsibility but also an opportunity and they could drive economic growth, create jobs, and, most importantly, safeguard our environment for future generations,” the CM remarked adding that Sindh was committed to being at the forefront of this transformation.
He appreciated initiatives already taken by the Minister of Tourism, Environment, and Climate Change for the development and promotion of tourism in the province and assured him of support for the further improvement of the development of tourism infrastructure.
Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, speaking at the occasion said that Sindh is bestowed with captivating natural beauty and we could achieve economic stability by projecting our rich culture, heritage, historical and archaeological sites and promoting the available tourism opportunities across the globe.
Stressing the need to focus on the promotion of tourism in Sindh and the development of basic infrastructure to facilitate it the Governor urged all the stakeholders to join hands for the great cause.
Sindh Tourism Minster Arshad Wali Muhammad said that Sindh is often referred to as Land of Saints but it has a lot to offer including majestic and elegant architecture, melodic folk music. “Destination like Sindh rich in culture and heritage are not just visited but deeply experienced,” he remarked.
Deputy Consul General of USA Jimmy Morgan, terming it a unique opportunity to promote tourism said that USA was extending support to Pakistan under the Green Alliance Framework for the promotion of not only green tourism but also to combat with impacts of climate change.
The US government was assisting Pakistan in a project of conservation of 4 historical buildings as well as development of Eco-friendly electricity generation and transformation of transport vehicles on renewable energy sources, he added.
Secretary Culture and Tourism Abdul Aleem Lashari and MD Sindh Tourism Development Corporation also spoke at the occasion while a documentary was also screened featuring tourism attractions present in Sindh.
Huawei: Advancing a flourishing AI ecosystem together
ISLAMABAD, Sep 27 (APP):Corporate Senior Vice President and President of ICT Strategy and Marketing of Huawei, discussed the company’s vision for building a flourishing AI ecosystem over the next five years.
Titled “Advancing a Flourishing AI Ecosystem Together,” the speech highlighted the pivotal role of foundational technologies and ecosystems in propelling innovation and productivity.
During the speech at Huawei Connect 2023, he discussed how to build a flourishing AI ecosystem, and outlined Huawei’s goals for ecosystem building over the next five years. Throughout history, breakthroughs in foundational technologies have always given rise to new industries and new ecosystems.
Foundational technologies and their ecosystems reinforce each other and drive a surge in productivity.
AI is already changing the way people work and live by enabling new applications like automatic code generation, dubbing, and video generation, while also facilitating more efficient creative planning and story creation.
According to the Intelligent Word 2030 reports, the total size of the global AI market will exceed US$2.8 trillion by 2030.
Peng said, ” we believe that every country and enterprise deserves access to computing power for further development.
As a computing and cloud service provider, we will work alongside server partners, basic software partners, application software partners, consulting and integration service providers, cloud partners, and all manner of developers, to share the huge opportunity presented by the computing ecosystem and drive a surge in productivity.”
To foster a new AI ecosystem, Huawei has made many AI-related foundational software and hardware technologies open source or available to partners and developers. This has allowed Huawei to work with its partners across the industry value chain to build Kunpeng, Ascend, and Huawei Cloud communities, laying a strong foundation for the AI ecosystem.
In addition, Huawei and its ISV partners have supported AI computing centers in 25 cities across China, and natively incubated and adapted more than 50 foundation models.
Huawei adheres to the strategy of open hardware, open source software, partner empowerment, and talent development. Huawei will continue its open collaboration with all ecosystem partners, and its goals for the next five years include (1) having more than five server partners with an annual revenue of over CNY10 billion; (2) increasing the number of installations of the openEuler commercial OS to over 20 million and drawing more than 4 million developers to the MindSpore community; (3) having more than 20,000 application partners; (4) increasing the number of Kunpeng, Ascend, and Huawei Cloud developers to more than 8 million, 5 million, and 10 million, respectively.
When discussing talent, Peng stated, “Talent is the foundation of the AI ecosystem. We have developed a customized training system targeting university teachers and students, developers, and scientific researchers. We strive to continually drive technological innovation in the AI ecosystem by carrying out a range of activities, such as ICT Academy, Intelligent Base 2.0 program, ICT Competition, Ascend DevFest, and Ascend AI Innovation Competition.”
Talent drives the development of the AI ecosystem; developers create technological innovations for the AI ecosystem; partners enable the monetization of the AI ecosystem. To conclude, Peng called on everyone to “work together to advance a flourishing AI ecosystem and provide another option for the world.”
UNGA meeting Wednesday for update on 2022 resolution urging support for flood-hit Pakistan
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 27 (APP): The U.N. General Assembly is holding an informal meeting Wednesday afternoon to review the implementation of its last year’s resolution calling on the world community to increase aid and keep up the political will to support the country’s recovery long-term.
That resolution also expressed solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan in dealing with the aftermath of the devastation left behind the climate-induced flooding.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who saw some of the damage for himself during a visit to Pakistan in the wake of August floods, will be the keynote speaker at the meeting to be held in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.
The President of the 193-member Assembly, Dennis Francis, will open the meeting, followed by senior representatives from the U.N. System (United Nations Development Programme Administrator, United Nations
Children’s Fund Executive Director, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs Assistant Secretary-General).
They will update Member States on relief, reconstruction, and rehabilitation efforts in support of the Government of Pakistan in response to the effects o floods.
Pakistan UN Ambassador Munir Akram will also speak at the event.
The Assembly’s Oct 7, 2022, resolution also urged the U.N. to step up efforts to “sensitize the international community” to Pakistan’s needs and “mobilize effective, immediate and adequate international support and assistance.”
Record-breaking floods in Pakistan affected over 33 million people and killed 1,700 or more. Nearly 8 million people were displaced, with many still living in tents and makeshift homes.
On his return from Pakistan in August 2022, the UN chief reminded the Assembly of the losses: more than 2 million homes were damaged or destroyed, and crops and livestock were ravaged. He said at that time the disaster could thrust more than 15 million people into poverty.
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Artists performing in a theatre play “SAY NO” during Pakistan Teatre Festival 2023 at Arts Council of Pakistan.
KARACHI: September 27
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KARACHI: September 27 – On the 19th day of the ongoing Pakistan Theatre Festival in Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, a theater workshop organized by renowned director and actor Rehan Sheikh. APP/ABB