ISLAMABAD, Aug 09 (APP): The Higher Education Commission (HEC) organised on Wednesday a ceremony to confer the Best University Teacher Awards for the year 2022 upon the outstanding faculty members of Pakistani universities in three broad categories, viz. Life Sciences & Medicine; Physical Sciences & Engineering; and Social Sciences & Humanities.

The annual Best University Teacher Award initiative of HEC aims to recognise exemplary university teachers and motivate the faculty to enhance their pedagogical and mentoring skills.

Dr. Syeda Salma Hassan from Government College University, Lahore, Dr. Kamran Khalid from Fatimah Jinnah Medical University, Lahore and the third by Rafia Mumtaz from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) has won the Best University Teacher Awards 2022 in the categories of Social Sciences & Humanities; Life sciences and Medicine; and Physical Sciences and Engineering respectively.

Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed presided over the ceremony, attended by Executive Director HEC Dr Shaista Sohail, Advisor Academics Engr. Muhammad Raza Chohan, Vice Chancellors of different universities, faculty members, and a large number of students.

The conferment of the Best University Teacher Award was also marked by the distribution of cash prizes and certificates among the winners of the Inter-University Essay Writing Competition.

Addressing the ceremony, Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed termed teaching a prophetic profession and advertised the faculty and teachers to strive for doing justice to their duties and perform their responsibilities to the best of their capabilities.

He emphasised the importance of training the youth alongside the provision of education to them. He expressed his pleasure that female faculty and students in a large number were among the participants and winners of the two HEC initiatives.

He said that the participation of candidates from far-flung areas reflects how the country’s education sector is becoming more inclusive with each passing day.

He underlined that HEC organised an Essay Writing Competition on Pakistan’s 75th anniversary to gauge the aspirations of youth. “I take pride in stating that our youth holds lofty dreams, and I am optimistic that Pakistan’s future will shine brighter with the sincere efforts of our students,” he concluded.

In her welcome address, Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail highlighted the significant role of teachers in educating the country’s youth and building their character.

She advised the students, being privileged for studying in the country’s prestigious higher education institutions, to do their best in their respective fields and prepare themselves for their future role in the socio-economic development of Pakistan.

Advisor Academics Engr. Muhammad Raza Chohan shared the background of the Best University Teacher Award initiative and its shed light on the selection process.

He said HEC received 51 nominations for the Award and two different committees of experts played their vital role in the finalisation of winners.

He stated, “Today, we celebrate excellence at two levels: one in imparting knowledge and the other in gaining knowledge.” He further informed the audience that over 4500 students applied for the Inter-University Essay Writing Competition, from which 10 winners were meticulously selected from each category.

Each of the three Best University Teachers were awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1 million, whereas the cash prizes for the Inter-University Essay Writing Competition were Rs. 500,000 for the first position, Rs. 300,000 for the second position, Rs. 200,000 for the third position, and Rs. 100,000 for the fourth to tenth position holders in both Urdu and English categories.

Similarly, the top three winners of the Inter-University Essay Writing Competition in Urdu were Talha Ijlal from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Saifullah from the International Islamic University, and Lubna Maryam from the University of Gilgit-Baltistan.

In the English category, Syed Haris Nawaz from Abdul Wali Khan University, Muhammad Wajid from the National University of Modern Languages, and Nimra Arooj from the National University of Medical Sciences secured the top three positions.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 9 (APP): The polio immunization campaign continued on Wednesday across the country to protect children from the crippling disease.

According to official sources, trained and dedicated “Sehat Muhafiz” have been engaged in the vaccination drive to inoculate the targeted children at their doorstep.

“I urge all parents and caregivers to ensure the vaccination of eligible children during the campaign to save them from the debilitating disease. Polio is incurable, and vaccines can protect our children,” Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel said.

“The front-line health workers have been playing a vital role in keeping our children safe from the debilitating effects of polio. Despite facing many challenges, they have been working tirelessly.”

“We recognize the important contributions of the health workers to achieve the goal of polio eradication,” said the Minister.

Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre, Dr Shahzad Baig said, “Let’s work together and play our part to protect our children from vaccine-preventable disease.”

He said, “I particularly urge all parents and caregivers to get their children vaccinated instead of hiding them or refusing to take the necessary drops during all vaccination drives. It is important to realize that the polio virus still exists in our surroundings, and no child is safe until all children are truly vaccinated.”

He said that the Sehat Tahhafuz Helpline 1166 and 24/7 WhatsApp Helpline 0346-777-65-46 will be available to assist parents and caregivers in reporting missed children.

He added that repeated polio vaccination campaigns are imperative for building immunity among children and preventing lifelong paralysis.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 9 (APP): The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Wednesday came at a disagreement over the matter of construction of the golf course at the land of Margalla Hills National Park.

The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change chaired by Senator Seemee Ezdi along with committee members expressed their deep concerns about the encroachment on the National Park’s land in the federal capital.

A comprehensive update was furnished to the committee regarding the news of a golf course construction within Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) near Sinyari village.

Chairperson, IWMB, Rina Saeed Stated that ongoing demarcation of the National Park Boundary was following court directives, adding that 138 acres of land had purportedly been allocated by CDA for the golf course construction, a move contested as encroaching upon Margalla National Park Land.

The CDA officials argued that the 138-acre was part of Chonthra village, not the National Park—an assertion contradicted by IWMB officials.

Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Minister Senator Sherry Rehman emphasized the need for a clear demarcation of the National Park Boundary to prevent further encroachments.

She also shared her efforts to address the construction of a road through the National Park Land, having contacted relevant authorities to halt the unauthorized activity. IWMB officials noted that road construction was still ongoing based on their information. The committee made the recommendation to halt unlawful construction.

During the meeting, the committee members were provided with an insightful briefing by Ministry officials regarding Pakistan’s holistic strategy for addressing Climate Change.

The officials expounded on the intricacies of the “National Adaptation Plan” (NAP), a meticulously crafted blueprint resulting from extensive consultations at both Federal and Provincial levels. The NAP stands as a visionary pathway, aimed at bolstering Pakistan’s resilience to climate challenges and fostering robust communities. Among its primary objectives, the NAP seeks to galvanize financial resources and establish a global fund pipeline.

It centres on the formulation of adaptive strategies and the delineation of sectoral priorities. The plan encompasses a multitude of crucial facets, including Disaster Risk Management, the National Clean Air Policy, the expansion of Green Pakistan, directives on the National Hazardous Waste Policy, regulations addressing Single Use Plastic, the 2023 Climate Change Gender Action Plan (CCGAP), and more.

The NAP also unveils a spectrum of transformative initiatives, such as the Living Indus Initiative, Recharge Pakistan, Scaling Up of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Risk Reduction (GLOF-II), RED++ Readiness Initiative, Pakistan Blue Carbon Ecosystems, and Snow Leopard Conservation.

Additionally, the Ministry officials briefed the Committee on the preparations for the upcoming COP-28, set to convene in the UAE.

They emphasized Pakistan’s focal points during COP-28, including Global Financial Architecture Reforms, an expanded scope for grant-based global financing, leveraging the Loss and Damage Fund, doubling adaptation finance, accelerating the commitment of providing $100 Billion annually for climate initiatives, ensuring access to the Just Energy Transition Work Programme, and the establishment and funding of early warning systems and risk reduction mechanisms for highly vulnerable countries.

The committee lauded the ministry officials for their effective advocacy on Pakistan’s behalf on the international stage.

On the consideration of the point of public importance regarding the flood mitigation measures in Pakistan raised by Senator Rubina Khalid in the Senate sitting, the committee decided to summon provincial forest departments and the federal flood commission for the next meeting.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 9 (APP): The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday maintained its stay against the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan in a case pertaining murder of a lawyer in Quetta.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Yahya Afridi heard the appeal of the former prime minister against addition of his name in the FIR of the incident.

At the outset of hearing, the complainant of the case raised objections against two members of the bench including Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi.

The bench expressed annoyance with the lawyer Amanullah Kanrani for leveling false allegations. Justice Yahya Afridi said that the lawyer should have submitted a written application if he had objections against any member.

The lawyer should have not leveled such allegations verbally while standing at court rostrum, he said.

Justice Naqvi observed that the lawyer had to answer on the allegations raised by him against two members. Justice Afridi asked the lawyer to tender the unconditional apology immediately. He asked the advocate to file a written apology to the court.

At this, the lawyer tendered unconditional apology to the bench.

The court maintained its stay order against the arrest of Imran Khan and adjourned further hearing till August 24.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 09 (APP): Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Raja Riaz while appreciating prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team for bringing back the country from the verge of default on Wednesday said that wrong policies of Imran Khan-led-government had brought the country to the brink of default.

In his farewell address at the National Assembly, he said no doubt he contested the election on the PTI ticket but he and some other colleagues opposed the wrong policies of Imran Khan and parted way with PTI.

Even Deputy Commissioners and District Police Officers were being posted in Punjab after taking bribes by CM Usman Buzdar and Farah Gogi, he said.

Coming hard on PTI Chief, he said that Imran Khan ruined the country and he and his other colleagues decided to support the incumbent government to dislodge the PTI government through a no-confidence motion.

He said the inflation has further increased and urged the forthcoming caretaker government to take concrete steps to control it.