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Cadet College Hassanabdal is a safe institution of high traditions: Governor

By
Raiq Qureshi
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0

HASSANABDAL, Aug 13 (APP):Governor Punjab Engineer Mohammad Balighur Rahman on Sunday said that Cadet College Hassanabdal is a safe institution of high traditions.

He expressed these views while presiding over the 101st Board of Governors meeting of Cadet College Hassanabdal.

The members of the Board of Governors in the meeting included Chairman POF Lt. General Ali Amir Rawan, Principal Cadet College Hassanabdal Brigadier Nasir Saeed Khattak, Mohammad Saeed Mahdi, Mahfoozur Rahman, Brigadier Dr. Mohammad Khaleeq Al Rashid Kayani, Mossadeq Zul Qarnain, Lt. Gen. Najibullah Khan, Prof. Dr. Zafar Ali Chaudhry, Syed Deem Hussain Rizvi, Lt. Gen. Nouman Zakaria, Amdadullah Bosal, Dr. Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Women University Dr. Saima Hamid, Education Specialist Asia Khurram. Agha, Dean Dr. Saima Siddiqui, Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali Chhata, Secretary Finance Government of Punjab and Secretary School Education Punjab were present.

The annual budget was approved in the meeting and important issues related to the college were taken into consideration.

Dawat-e-Islami commits to ‘Green Revolution’ by planting 1.5 mln saplings on Independence Day

By
NNPS Desk
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0

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13 (APP): In a fervent effort to combat climate change and contribute to a greener future, the religious organization Dawat-e-Islami has pledged to plant a staggering 1.5 million saplings on this year’s Independence Day.

Spokesperson Maulana Abdul Habib Attari, sharing exclusive insights with APP about Dawat-e-Islami’s ambitious mission, highlighted the success of their previous endeavors, revealing that it achieved the remarkable feat of planting 2.6 million saplings across the nation in the preceding year.

He said Pakistan was one of the countries severely affected by the climate change causing heavy rainfalls and flash floods and making the domestic life of people miserable in various areas of the country from time to time.

To confront the challenges posed by climate change, he said Dawat-e-Islami initiated an extensive plantation drive on August 1 and would continue till the accomplishment of their set target for this season.

Abdul Habib said their organization in collaboration with civil administrations of various cities including the Capital Development Authority was planting saplings at their designated places for their proper growth and nurturing as their slogan is ‘Poda Lagana Hey, Darkht Banana Hey’ (to plant a sapling, to make a tree).

He further informed that the founder of Dawat-e-Islami Allama Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri had written a booklet titled ‘Darkht Lagayie, Sawab Kamayie’ (plant trees, earn rewards) on the benefits of tree plantation and its positive impacts on the society in the light of Quran and Sunnah in a bid to persuade people to take part in this nation-building programme.

He said, “This publication had garnered global recognition, leaving an indelible mark on the World Wide Fund for Nature as it covers all the areas guiding the general public that what kind of saplings to be planted so that the upcoming generations could yield its fruits.”

In a heartfelt plea to the public, Abdul Habib urged individuals to contribute to the cause by planting trees and saving their beloved homeland from the drastic impacts of climate change.

Kashmiri diaspora to observe Aug 15 as ‘Black Day’

By
Raiq Qureshi
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0

LAHORE, Aug 13 (APP):Kashmiri people on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and worldwide would observe the Independence Day of India on August 15 as ‘Black Day’.


According to Kashmir Media Service, the National Events Organizing Committee
working in Mirpur district, the grand forum of all public representative organisations
representing all segments of civil society, has announced that a significant protest
rally to observe Indian Independence Day as Black Day would be held from the city’s
District Courts grounds on Tuesday, August 15. Deputy Commissioner Mirpur Amjad
Iqbal, made this announcement.


In response to Delhi’s forced sinister action of removing the special status of the
internationally recognized Jammu and Kashmir state on August 5, 2019, a recent
report of Kashmir Media Service (KMS) revealed that Kashmiris would observe
August 15, (Indian Independence Day), as a black day.


Mushaal Hussein Mullick, Chairperson Peace and. Culture organization and wife
of noted Hurriyat Conference leader Yasin Malik while talking to APP said that
Kashmiris would mark the Indian Independence Day, as a black day to protest
India’s ongoing denial of Kashmiris’ birthright to self-determination and to inform
the outside world of worst Indian state terrorism actions and policies, which have
left the residents of the Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in a
besieged state and held at gunpoint by Indian Army and Paramilitary troops.


Every year Kashmiris globally mark this day as black day to protest Indian imperialism,
that has been forcibly occupying most of the state illegally and brutally for the last 76 years,
she said.


The day will be marked with anti-India marches and protest demonstrations
in all towns and cities, big and small, on both sides of the LOC, Mullick added.


“Protesters will wear black bands in their arms as a symbol of hostility towards
India, the special black day programs’ organisers told APP here on Sunday.


People from all walks of life will hold anti-India protests and parades in Azad Jammu
and Kashmir, including the capital city of Muzafferabad and all other nine district
headquarters included Mirpur, Palandri, Rawalakot, Haveli, Kotli, Bagh, Bhimbher,
Neelam and Jhelum Valley, to reaffirm their intense hatred towards Indian imperialism,
the organizer added.

Trans Peshawar daily ridership reaches 316,000: spokesperson

By
NNPS Desk
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0

PESHAWAR, Aug 13 (APP): Trans-Peshawar spokesperson on Sunday claimed that the daily ridership of Zu-Peshawar (the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system of Peshawar) has reached to 316,000 during ongoing year.

“Out of the total 316,000, about 80,000 are women,” she said in a news release on Sunday.

“Zu Peshawar has hit a record total ridership of 216.2 million since its inception in August 2020 with 77.7 million passengers last year,” she maintained, adding 314,000 Zu cards were issued during last year.

In three years of operations, she said Zu Peshawar has provided employment opportunities to more than 3000 people. Over 25,000 complaints were resolved through Zu Helpline.

She said during first three years of operations, the public transport service has been honored with four international awards including Gold Standard BRT Award, Sustainable Transport Award, Prize for Cities Award and Best Smart Ticketing Program Award.

Last year 86 new buses were added to the existing fleet reaching total number from 158 to 244, she said.

Similarly, she noted that three new routes were activated in 2023 including DR – 11, ER-12 and XER 15. At present the system is active on a total of 13 routes.

There were about 1800 registrations on Zu Bicycle Sharing System and in the last year, the integration process of Zu System with Google Maps was also completed.

The Trans Peshawar spokesperson stated that Zu Card charging facility through Zu App is also provided with decoration work that was done on Tahkal Payan and Tatara Bridge.

Public interest messages were run on buses and stations in association with various government agencies, she further said.

Independence day marathon race on August 14

By
Raiq Qureshi
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0

PESHAWAR, Aug 13 (APP):The Independence Day Marathon Race will be organized on Monday (August 14) wherein athletes from all across Hazara Region would participate, Regional Sports Officer Ahmad Zaman told media men on Sunday.

He disclosed that all arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Independence Day Marathon Race would be made well in time so that Independence Day would be celebrated like in other parts of the country.

There will also be Azadi Cup Squash, Badminton, Judo, Karate, and Table Tennis alongside the Marathon Race, which will start from Board Office Abbottabad and end at Hockey Stadium Abbottabad.

The closing ceremony will be held at Hockey Stadium and exhibition hockey matches regarding Janshan-e-Azadi would also be organized. Regional Sports Officer Hazara Ahmad Zaman Khan said that these events will be ideal for the promotion of sports.

Nation to celebrate Independence Day with national spirit

By
Asim Usman
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0

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13 (APP):The nation will celebrate the 76th Independence Day on August 14 (Monday) with traditional zeal and enthusiasm through a number of activities to highlight the struggle of forefathers and national heroes for acquiring a separate homeland.

Different public and private departments will hold special functions and activities, including seminars, discussion programmes, photographic exhibitions, painting, poetry, national songs and debate competitions with the focus on acknowledging the contribution of leaders of the Pakistan Movement and sacrifices of national heroes.

Similarly, private and public educational institutions will also hold different activities, including quiz and speech competitions, functions and sessions to educate the students about the historical struggle for the creation of Pakistan.

Overseas Pakistanis living around the world will also celebrate the Independence Day with equal fervour and passion. They will also organize cultural events, flag hoisting ceremonies, and rallies to show their love and loyalty for the homeland.

The significance of Independence Day goes beyond the celebration of national pride and patriotism. It is a day to remember the struggles and sacrifices of forefathers who fought for our independence.

It is also a reminder of the responsibility we as a nation have to preserve and protect our independence by working towards the progress and prosperity of our nation.

The Independence Day of Pakistan is a day of great historical significance and national pride. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by forefathers for the independence of beloved homeland.

The federal capital and all major and small cities have already turned into green and white colours with a large number of Jashan-e-Azadi stalls carrying dresses, flags, bunting, pin badges, toys and other decorative accessories to attract youngsters and children.

Since the Independence Day celebrations have become a sort of a festival in the country, different brands, online retailers, eateries, cab-hailing services and even electronics companies are offering exciting discount offers, adding more charm to the festivity.

Special prayers will be offered in mosques at dawn for peace, solidarity and prosperity of the country. The day will dawn with special prayers and a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salutes in all provincial capitals.

There will be a dramatic pause throughout the country with sounding of sirens to herald the flag hoisting ceremony at 9 a.m.

All the major roads and avenues of the federal capital, like other cities, have been decorated with flags, banners and buntings to present a festive look. The major public and private buildings in the city will also be illuminated to mark this important occasion.

The print and electronic media will highlight the services of Pakistan Movement heroes on the day and pay tributes to their extraordinary contributions to making Pakistan a reality. Literary and cultural organizations have chalked out a number of programmes to mark the day.

Pakistan Independence Day is a day of great significance for the people of Pakistan. It is a day to celebrate the country’s freedom and honour the sacrifices made by its founding fathers.

The day is marked with patriotic fervour, showcasing the country’s rich culture, traditions, and achievements. It is a day to renew commitment to the country’s ideals and work towards making Pakistan a prosperous and peaceful nation.

33 CDWP, 12 ECNEC meetings held in 16 months

By
NNPS Desk
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0

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13 (APP): Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives has launched a 16-month performance report while highlighting its key achievements made from April 2022 to August 2023.

The 29-page report contained details of achievements made by the ministry from April 19, 2022 to August 9, 2023, a news release said on Sunday.

During the period under review, the Planning Commission managed to hold 33 meetings of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and 12 meetings of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

A large number of development projects and schemes of strategic significance were considered and approved during this period, said the report.

The report emphasized that special attention was given to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) as the Planning Ministry increased the PSDP from Rs500 billion to Rs1150 billion for 2023-2024, overcoming financial limitations while ensuring transparency through the PSDP Portal, which provides digital access to 1.1 trillion worth of PSDP data.

While highlighting the performance of the CDWP, the reports said that CDWP-approved projects showed the sensitization of priorities to carry out national development schemes.

After the infrastructural projects, the major emphasis had been laid on the projects of human resources development.

It further said since April 2022, the Planning Ministry has placed special emphasis on youth empowerment and inclusive development.
This section includes several strategic initiatives undertaken by the Ministry as part of the PM’s Youth Development Programme.

Under this programme, six initiatives are on education, four center around engagement and opportunities, and two each for employment and entrepreneurship.

Similarly, the report said, National Top Talent Scholarship Programme would provide the Pakistani students with Masters and Ph.D. degrees in the top 25 universities of the world, for which Rs 4.7b had been allocated.

The establishment of Centres of Excellence on Emerging Technologies, the National Centre for Nano-Technology, the National Centre for Quantum Computing and the National Institute of New Manufacturing was a great success of the Planning Ministry.

Furthermore, the establishment of the National Growth Centre would help in increasing the country’s growth, the report added.

Despite an already ailing economy, the Ministry conducted the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and devised a resilient relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction (4RF) framework.

It resulted in pledges of $10 billion from international donors during an international conference on Climate Resistant Pakistan in Geneva on January 9, said the report.

The report highlighted that on November 12, 2022, a pioneering initiative worth Rs 40 billion was launched, targeting 20 underdeveloped districts. This marked the Federal Government’s first-time intervention to uplift impoverished districts, addressing economic disparities.

Simultaneously, the Planning Ministry reconstituted the Advisory Committee to enhance policy formulation and implementation.

The crowning achievement was the launch of the ‘5Es Framework to Turnaround Pakistan’, prioritizing Exports, Energy, Environment, E-Pakistan, and Equity & Empowerment. This framework would prove to be the bedrock for transforming Pakistan into a $1 trillion economy by 2035.

“Approved by the National Economic Council in June 2023, the framework offers a tangible pathway for economic revival in five priority areas, including Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment and Climate Change, Energy and Infrastructure, and Equity and Empowerment,” explained the report.

Pakistan Outlook 2035 and the revival of CPEC were another milestone achievements of the ministry during the period, said the report.

The digital censuses were the landmark achievement of the ministry. This was the first time in the country’s history that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) approved the results of the digital census.

Recognizing the significance of Higher Education, the Planning Ministry allocated a historic budget for the Higher Education Commission (HEC), raising it from Rs 45 billion to Rs 70 billion. This step was further augmented by the establishment of three centers of excellence.

In November 2022, the Young Development Fellows (YDF) programme was revived while giving an opportunity to the 40 YDFs to learn policy matters in the ministry.

Death anniversary of Nazia Hassan observed

By
Asim Usman
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0

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13 (APP):The 23rd death anniversary of Pakistani pop singer Nazia Hassan was observed, here Sunday.

Nazia Hassan who was born on April 3, 1965, in Karachi, rose to prominence through the popular Pakistan Television program Sung Sung.

Nazia Hassan started her music career as a teenager with song “Aap Jaisa Koi” which earned her international fame.

Her debut album, Disco Deewane, released in 1981, charted in 14 countries worldwide and became the best-selling Asian pop record at the time.

She enjoyed widespread popularity across South and Southeast Asia. Along with her brother Zoheb Hassan, Hassan went on to sell over 65 million records worldwide.

Her English language single Dreamer Deewane made her the first Pakistani singer to make it to the British musical charts.

She was also a lawyer and a social activist. A graduate of Richmond, The American International University, and the University of London, she received numerous national and international awards including Pakistan’s highest civilian award, Pride of Performance.

She died of lung cancer at the age of 35 on August 13, 2000.

“Equity in Internship: A Call for Change”

By
Asim Usman
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0

By Shanzay Saeed/ HR Gardezi

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13 (APP): The pursuit of internships remains a priority for thousands of students annually, a crucial step towards career success. However, a darker reality often lurks beneath the surface- many resort to unpaid positions, meeting university criteria but gaining little or no valuable learning, particularly those from far-flung areas.

Maheen Mirza, a BBA student from Narowal University, currently undergoing her internship at a National Financial Institute here, candidly shared her challenges with this scribe. She expressed, “The financial burden I impose on my parents is substantial. They already shoulder the costs of my fees, accommodation, meals, and other necessities.”
This unpaid internship, as Maheen Mirza describes it, feels like an extra burden. “I recall a day when I had to choose between dinner for the night and the funds to commute the next day,” she shared with a heavy heart.
“In 2021, my inaugural tryst with internship was an absolute delight,” quipped Sherry Tipu, an intern at KNAQ Enterprises, and studying Information Technology at Quaid e Azam University. With a touch of sarcasm, she added, “I even mastered the art of being a top-notch coffee maker by the end of it.” Sherry found herself subjected to a series of unrelated odd jobs at the workplace, underscoring the less-than-ideal nature of her experience.
Shiza Haider, from NUML’s International Relations department, shared her transformative experience of an unpaid internship at an Islamabad think tank. Starting with op-ed writing, she now boasts multiple publications in international journals. She emphasized that two months at Islamabad Policy Research Institute outweighed her16 years of theoretical education, highlighting the importance of internships in shaping one’s career.
Shiza advocated for engaging, scheduled, interactive, stipend-based programmes to empower Pakistan’s youth and to lessen their parents’ burden.
Faisal Bari, LUMS Economics Professor, highlights the catch-22 of entry-level jobs: they demand experience fresh graduates lack. This fuels unpaid internships, burdening remote students with reverse economic debt. With 43% of internships unpaid, this culture reflects a collapsing economy.
Peer pressure and university mandates push students into roles where they’re reduced to menial tasks. Limited opportunities, especially for remote students, sustain this exploitation.
This dilemma exposes a flawed capitalist system favoring the privileged. Unpaid internships perpetuate this. Interns by certain organizations are treated as replacements for regular employees, overlooking wage and experience disparities. This complex issue reveals the flawed and unjust dynamics within the modern workplace, Bari concluded his expert opinion on the issue.
“I recall my first internship offer from a prestigious institute. I had triumphed over countless candidates, yet I had to decline. The meager compensation wouldn’t even cover my fuel expenses. I couldn’t burden my father,” shared Hassan Fahad, a resident of Attock.
According to Syed Raza Abbas, Director of Operations at Abbas Consultancy Services SMC Pvt Ltd, retaining interns as full-time staff post-internship is a challenge due to the existing workforce density. Furthermore, imparting comprehensive organizational insights within a short 1-2 month internship is unrealistic.
As regular employees delegate tasks to interns, acknowledging their shared experience, the need for societal awareness becomes evident. This pervasive issue often goes unheard amidst missed opportunities. Enthusiastic students aspiring to excel in Pakistan’s professional arena deserve encouragement, promotion, and fair compensation for their labour, regardless of minimal averages. Organizations must redefine internship boundaries to create a positive experience that motivates every aspiring professional towards a promising future.
In the tapestry of internships, the struggles of students like Maheen, Sherry, Shiza and Hassan echo loudly—a testament to the inequalities faced by those from distant areas. Their stories urge us to reevaluate and reshape the internship landscape, ensuring every student’s journey is marked by opportunity, not obstacle. It’s time to bridge the gap, to create a realm of learning that knows no bounds and a future that holds promise for all.

Soldier martyred, 4 terrorists killed in Bajaur clash: ISPR

By
NNPS Desk
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0

PESHAWAR, Aug 13 (APP): A soldier was martyred and four terrorists were killed during a clash in Bajaur tribal district.

“On night 12/13 August 2023, security forces conducted an Intelligence Based Operation in general area Charmang, Bajaur District on reported presence of terrorists,”

During an intense exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists, four terrorists were sent to hell while one terrorist was apprehended,” said ISPR in a press release.

The weapons, ammunition and explosives including a suicide vest was also recovered from the terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent citizens, especially suicide blasts.

During intense exchange of fire, Sepoy Muhammad Shoaib (age 24 years, resident of District Kohat), fought gallantly and embraced Shahadat (Martyrdom).

The sanitization of the area was being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area.

Security forces of Pakistan remain determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan.

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