ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) in collaboration with the Service Facility Wing of the European Union organized an awareness seminar on “European Union’s Horizon2020”, in Islamabad.

The purpose of the seminar was to educate the academia and research organizations on various aspects of applying for the funding under Horizon 2020, which is one of the biggest EU research and innovation programme, said a press release.
The programme that is worth €80 Billion is available from 2014-2020 and caters to three key areas: excellent science, industrial leadership, and societal challenges. Minister, Deputy Head of Mission, Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, Ms. Anne Marchal, and Executive Director COMSATS, Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi, spoke on behalf of their organizations.

The event was attended by a number of Vice-chancellors and researchers, looking to improving chances of benefitting from good funding opportunities. The event proceedings were made available through live-streaming to a wider audience, including COMSATS Ministerial focal points, Centres of Excellence, and partner organizations in different continents. Some representatives of foreign missions in Pakistan were also present on the occasion.

A Technology Transfer Consultant, George Panagopoulos, provided training on three thematic aspects pertaining to H2020. These covered an introduction to the programme and work plan for the last two years; sources of information on the programmes and documentation needs; and ways to prepare and submit proposals best suited to qualify for the funding. Mr. Panagopoulos was representing the PRAXI Network, Greece. He highlighted the available funding opportunities in the fields of transport, energy, environment, biotechnology, nanotechnology, defense, agriculture, forestry, social sciences.

Opening the Seminar, Dr. Zaidi recalled to the audience the warm working relations that COMSATS has been able to establish with organizations from the North over the span of last few months, including the European Commission.
He believed that all who attended the seminar physically as well as electronically would feel better informed and equipped to duly benefit from H2020. Highlighting the importance of good research, he emphasized the need for developing countries to benefit from the programme and considered COMSATS a useful facilitation platform in this regard.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Marchal highlighted the importance of H2020 for researchers and scientists across the globe and appreciated COMSATS’ effort to disseminate important information on the programme for the benefit of many. She considered programmes such as Erasmus+ and H2020 as an important link between the EU and developing countries. She informed that the seminar materialized as a result of the working relations developed between COMSATS and EU earlier and thanked Dr. Zaidi for a proactive partnership from COMSATS.

The participants of the event took with them great encouragement in the form of success stories from Pakistan. Two Pakistani researchers, Prof. Dr. Syed HabibBukhari and Dr. Aminah Khan shared their experiences that helped them secure funding for their projects under the programme. Dr. Bukhari and Dr. Khan had won funding for their projects on “MeTABLE–Advanced Bioinformatics for Genome and Metagenomeand Discovery of Novel Biocatalyst from Extremophiles: Implications for Improving Industrial Processes” and “Tobacco cessation within TB programmes: A ‘real world’ solution for countries with dual burden of disease”, respectively.

Discussion and Q&A sessions of the event further complemented the training imparted during the seminar. These pertained to: national focal points for H2020, available sources of information, capacity-building aspects of the projects, joint venturing between universities, possibilities for social science related projects, important timelines, ICTs in agriculture, inter-disciplinarity of the projects.

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) would establish Adult Literary Centers in all 99 jails of the country under ‘Literacy for Jail Project’ to educate prisoners in the jails.
Talking to APP, NCHD official, Rai Riaz Hussain said that the ‘Literacy for Jail Project’ to educate prisoners in the jails is a massive programme alongwith skill development programmes to make them useful citizens after their release from jails on completion of their term.
He informed that at present 8 Adult Literacy Centers were functional in Jails of Kasur and Toba Tek Singh while others were in progress, adding NCHD had planned to establish such centers across the country.
He said that education is the antidote of terrorism, extremism, violence, gender disparities and any other discrimination while NCHD is determined to achieve 90 percent literacy rate in the country.
To question, he said that in September 2016 NCHD launched ‘Non-formal Education Project’ in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Association (JICA) in Islamabad Capital Territory. Under the project, he said, 12 non-formal schools were established for the age group of 8 to 14 years.
On commenting National Training Institute (NTI) of NCHD, he said it was set up with the aim to meet the needs of literacy professionals working in the field of literacy and non-formal education, and develop their capacities in line with the latest approaches evolving in the world with the help of other stake holders. NTI would also prepare Accelerated Learning Modules and condensed syllabus required for learners, he added.

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has established a Cyber Security Wing on modern lines to evolve cyber security strategies and to meet emerging cyber terrorism threats.
The Wing, called Cyber Security, Information and Communication Technology Wing (CS ICT), undertaken a number of initiative in cyber security service and most important of them was Tat’heer drive introduced to counter extremist ideologies.
Tat’heer is a multi-pronged cyber counter terrorism strategy which includes napping of radical contents available on Internet and social media. The drive helps in strategizing evidence-based counter- terrorism measures.
The key components of Tat’heer drive include development of surfsafe reporting portal https://surfsafe.pk/. The admin portal
of surfsafe is equipped with analytical review mechanism for reported contents.
Another initiative is Tat’heer Android and iOS Apps for mobile which had been developed with an objective to enable every citizen
to report any hate speech or extremist contents (videos, audios, photos and texts) wherever they observe in their vicinity.
NACTA also launched social media e-campaign on facebook/twitter. The authority portal is nacta.gov.pk, surfsafe.pk and tat’heer app with an aim to ensure its presence on social media by making citizenry access to portals and mobile app to report any hate
materials.
The authority has also transformed its previous websites with a state-of-the-art web-portal, hosted through the most
secured means, with zero prevalence of chances for its hacking.
It is a modern, responsive and interactive web portal which has capacity to engage with relevant stakeholders, both
locally and internationally.
The other initiative was National Action Plan (NAP) portal. The government mandated NACTA to view progress on implementation
status of 20 points of NAP.
In order to undertake this task, the CSICT Wing has developed a web based application called NAP portal. NACTA
has given access to the portal to each stakeholder of NAP who update progress on implementation status on regular basis.
NAP portal has enabled all stakeholders to receive and collate these updates timely.
Moreover, NACTA’s Management Information System has been developed which is a comprehensive database for managing e-records with automation of records pertaining to administration, finance and human resources wings of NACTA.
The system is based on the three modules: HR, Finance and inventory.
NACTA is also is cultivating a National Database of Terrorists profile, incidents and organizations. It is called National Counter
Terrorism Database.
Terrorists data including updated status on red books (Most Wanted Terrorists) have been obtained from all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), CT Wings and other agencies.

ISLAMABAD, May 08 (APP):The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the
Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018 aimed at ensuring rights of
transgender persons with majority vote by rejecting amendments proposed by
JUI-F lawmaker Naeema Kishwer Khan.
Syed Naveed Qamar of Pakistan People Party
Parliamentarian (PPPP) piloted the bill to provide for protection, relief and rehabilitation
of rights of the transgender persons and their welfare and for matters
connected therewith and incidental thereto [ the Transgender Persons (Protection
of Rights) Bill, 2018 in the House.
Opposing the bill, JUI-F lawmaker Naeema Kishwer
said the bill should be referred to the standing committee for detailed
deliberation. She moved a motion and amendments to refer the bill to Council of
Islamic Ideology and the standing committee.
Mover of the bill, Syed Naveed Qamar said that
detailed discussions were carried out on the bill the standing committee of the
Senate and requested the House to pass the bill.
Ayesha Sayyad of Jamaat-i-Islami also opposed the
bill and maintained that the bill should be referred to the standing committee.
Under the proposed law,
the Transgender persons will be able to register to obtain a driver’s licence
and passport. They will have the option to get their gender changed in National
Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) records.
Harassment of
transgenders will also be prohibited in and outside their homes. They will not
be discriminated against by educational institutions, employers, in trade and
health services, and when using public transport and buying or selling or
renting property.
The government will
establish a safe house for transgenders and provide them medical and
educational facilities and psychological counselling. Separate rooms will be
established at jails where transgenders could be detained. In addition to all
basic rights, they will be entitled to inherit property.
The government will take
steps to ensure employment opportunities for transgenders and they will have
the right to vote in all national, provincial and local government elections
and they will not be discriminated against in their pursuit of a public office.
Anyone found guilty of
forcing a transgender person to beg will be sentenced to six months in prison
and served a fine of Rs50,000.
The Senate has already passed the bill.

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Sartaj Aziz Tuesday said keeping in view the rapidly decreasing per-capita water availability in Pakistan, more financial resources were required in order to build more water reservoirs.
“Pakistan’s per-capita water availability has been dropped to under 1,000 cubic feet as against 5000 cubic feet during 1950s,” Sartaj Aziz said while addressing a national consultative workshop on Climate Resilient Development” here.
The workshop was organized by ministry of Planning, Development, and Reforms in collaboration with the World Bank Group.
Country Director Pakistan, World Bank, Patchamuthu Illango was also present on the occasion.
Sarjat Aziz informed that for the year 2018-19, the government had allocated 10 percent of total development budget for water projects under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2018-19.
He said the government, for the first time in country’s history, had introduced water policy in which the government had recommended to build 10 million acre feet of water resources including Bhasha Dam.
The deputy chairman said Pakistan was facing acute water crisis and due to silting issue, the storage capacity of the dams was continuously dropping.
World Bank country director, on the occasion said Pakistan was among seven largest countries who were vulnerable to climate changes.
He said the bank was supporting only those electricity projects which were environment friendly such as renewable and hydro power projects.

LAHORE, May 08 (APP):Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who was shifted to Services Hospital after receiving bullet injuries in an assassination attempt was recovering fast was likely to be discharged within next five days.
Talking to APP here on Tuesday, Medical Superintendent of the Services Hospital Dr. Ameer said the minister was shifted to the VIP Room of Surgical Unit after successful surgery.
A special team of doctors including Surgeon Mehmood and Orthopaedic Surgeon Rana Arshad conducted the surgery.

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has taken a number of strategic initiatives to transform Pakistan’s ICT (Information and Communication Technology) landscape in next few years.
Talking to APP Tuesday, a ministry official said the ministry through ignite National Technology Fund had set up a network of National Incubation Centers to spur innovation and entrepreneurship in collaboration with private sector.
To make Pakistan self-reliant in various aspects of satellite technology for both civilian and strategic domains, the National Space Programme (NSP-2047) had been started, he added.
The official said the mega project DigiSkills Training Programme to train one million people for freelancing and specialized ICT skills was going to start very soon. To enhance research and product development focusing on 4th Industrial Wave technologies,Technology Innovation Fund had been introduced and the ministry had also enhanced financial inclusion through licensing of Third Party Service Provider (TPSP).

ISLAMABAD, May 08 (APP):Senators Nuzhat Sadiq, Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Shamim Afridi were
respectively elected as Chairpersons of the Senate Standing Committees on
Maritime Affairs, Religious Affairs & Inter-Faith Harmony and Water Resources
whereas Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar was elected as Chairman of Functional
Committee on Human Rights.
Elections of the Chairpersons of the Committees were held at the Parliament
House as contemplated by the Rule 184(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct
of Business in the Senate, 2012, said a press release issued here Tuesday.
Name of Senator Nuzhat Sadiq was proposed by Senator Shamim Afridi for
the chairmanship of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs which was
seconded by Senator Sitara Ayaz.
Molana Abdul Haideri was elected as Chairman of the Senate Standing on
Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony. Leader of the House in the Senate,
Senator Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq seconded the proposal. The newly elected
Chairman observed that the committee would make all efforts for promoting
inter-faith harmony.
Raja Zafarul Haq, while felicitating the newly elected chairmen and chairpersons,
said that the committees have crucial role to play as there was dire need to promote
peaceful coexistence among various faiths and beliefs.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Sherry Rehamn said that the committees
have huge role to play to promote inter-faith harmony.
Senator Shamim Afridi was elected as Chairman of the Water Resource committee
after name was seconded by Senator Shibli Faraz. Members of the Committee greeted
Shamim Afridi and assured their cooperation.
Expressing her felicitations, Senator Sherry Rehman Leader of the Opposition in
the Senate observed that water scarcity and fair distribution of water resources are
some of the issues that the committee needs to focus on.
She said that Pakistan is 7th water-scarce country and there is need to take
serious steps to address water related issues the country is faced with. Senator
Agha Shahzaib Durrani said that water issue is one of the critical one and the
committee has to take up it as a challenge.
Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar was elected as chairman of the Functional Committee
on Human Rights. His name was proposed Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Muhammad
Zafarul Haq and was seconded by Senator Keshoo Bai.
Chairman of the Committee said collective efforts would be made to uphold human rights
as envisaged under the Constitution and address issues related to human rights violations.
He thanked the members for reposing confidence in his person.
All the Committee Chairpersons were elected unopposed.