ISLAMABAD, Apr 25 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Media Affairs, Dr. Musadik Malik Wednesday said Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif had worked with great commitment to bring betterment in education sector and achieved success in this regard.
Talking to a private news channel, he said due to sincere efforts of the Punjab government, there was no ghost school or teacher in the province.
He said enrollment of students was enhanced in schools across the province, adding monthly stipend was also being paid to female students in the schools for their educational expenses.
He said despite all of this, there was a need to work more in the education sector for promoting quality education.

LAHORE, Apr 25 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif taken notice of the incident of burning of
a woman in Begum Kot area of Lahore and sought a report from the inspector general of police Punjab.
He directed to investigate the matter, adding that legal action should be initiated against criminals and provision of justice be ensured to the affected family.

LAHORE, Apr 25 (APP):A delegation from the cotton producing African counties including four ambassadors called on Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana at the Governor’s House here on Wednesday.
The ambassadors included Eloi Laourou, Dieudonne Windewouga Sesire, Ngarbatinan and Mamodou Henri from Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali ,respectively. Pakistan’s representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dr Tauqir Shah was also present during the meeting.
Cotton Commissioner Ministry of National Food Security and Research Dr Khalid Abdullah and members from the All Pakistan Textile Manufacturers Association (APTMA) also attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, the governor said cotton is one of the important crops of Pakistan, adding Pakistan is the fourth largest cotton producing country of the world. He said the government had provided 100 billion rupees subsidy to the farmers.
Rajwana said Pakistan is a peace-loving country and rejects negative propaganda against others. He said our cause and goal was common and it was our common interest to benefit from the experiences of one another for the increase of cotton produce.
The governor said millions of people were associated with the cotton industry in Pakistan, adding that these people were playing an important in the economy of the country. He said Pakistan earned huge foreign exchange from cotton and cotton related products.
Rajwana lauded the role of APTMA in cotton processing. Governor
Rafique Rajwana also responded to the queries of the visiting delegates from the African countries.

LAHORE, Apr 25 (APP):Inspector General of (IGP) Police Punjab Capt (R) Arif Nawaz Khan Wednesday said a campaign against bonded labour at brick kilns should be started to eliminate it permanently in the province.
While giving directions to the CCPO Lahore, RPOs and DPOs via video link conference, he said no delay would be tolerated for action against owners of kilns that practice forced labour.
He said a crackdown with the help of the labour department and teams of Child Protection Bureau should be launched and FIRs should be lodged against owners or managers.
He said on Shab-e-Barat all DPOs should devise security plans for mosques, Imam Bargahs and other congregations personally and also ensure a ban on sale of fireworks.
In case of any loss with respect to fireworks, DPO of the respective district will be held liable.
In the session, Additional IGP Operations Aamir Zulfiqar Khan while briefing the IG said that total strength of Kilns in Punjab was 9,288 in which 266,750 labourers worked.

RAWALPINDI, Apr 25 (APP):A delegation of National Youth Assembly from across Pakistan on Wednesday visited
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and interacted with DG ISPR, Major
General Asif Ghafoor.
The delegation was briefed about geo-strategic environment and challenges to
national security, said a statement issued here by ISPR.
The delegation was also briefed about achievements of Pakistan armed forces in the war against
terror and contributions towards regional peace.
The DG ISPR also talked about targeting of youth through fifth generation/hybrid war in
which social media was being used as an effective instrument.
The delegation acknowledged achievements and contributions of Pakistan Armed Forces and
expressed their respect and support for security forces in providing them a
peaceful environment.
They pledged to do their part in countering negative propaganda against Pakistan and its armed forces.

HYDERABAD, Apr 25 (APP):President Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Sindh Shah Muhammad Shah Wednesday said the creation of Southern Punjab Province would open a Pandora box and create unrest in the country.
The demand in that regard was aimed at creating misunderstandings among the masses, he said in an interview with APP.
Shah Muhammad alleged that the tribal heads of Southern Punjab were beneficiaries of Turkhan and British rulers, who always made it to the parliament with the support of area people, but did nothing for them except usurping their rights.
He said the demand for the Southern Punjab Province was a ploy by the tribal leaders to fool the people to win next general election. The so-called elected representatives were exploiting the sentiments of people for their personal goals, he added.
Shah Muhammad said before the present PML-N government, a Seraiki speaking Sindhi and a resident of Southern Punjab held the posts of president and prime minister respectively, but they did nothing for the socio-economic development of the area.
He said the PML-N government had initiated a number of projects in Southern Punjab, which after completion would change the destiny of the area. Those development works had created fears among the so-called elected representatives of the area, who started making demand for a separate province, he added.
Commenting on the situation in Balochistan, Shah Muhammad said it was the PML-N leadership, which had improved the situation in the province. After 2013 general election, he said, the PML-N was in a position to form government in the province, but the then Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had decided to remove the sense of deprivation of the people and provided an opportunity to Dr Abdul Malik Baloch to form provincial cabinet.
He said when Nawaz Sharif assumed the office of prime minister, the country was facing internal and external threats. Under his dynamic leadership, the PML-N government overcame the gigantic challenges of terrorism, economy and power load-shedding
The PML-N Sindh leader said launching of CPEC was the great achievement of the government as the completion of projects under it would change the destiny of the country and its people.
He said the party had earned popularity, particularly its leader Nawaz Sharif, because of its governmet’s people’s welfare oriented policies, which would result into its win in the general election with big majority.
He dispelled the impression that the PML-N government had not carried out any development work in Singh. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, he said, had initiated series of mega development projects, including K-4, Green Bus Route, Thar Coal Project and Motorway-9 in the province, which were now near completion. The restoration of law and order in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, was another great achievement of the PML-N government, he added.
The bad governance of the provincial PPP government, he said, had created disappointment among the people of Sindh, who were now looking towards the PML-N leadership. The provincial chapter of the party was now fully active and after the visits of PML-N President and Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, the PML-N was gaining popularity in the province, he added.
He said at present, the PML-N was not part of any political alliance in the province, however, in future the political understanding with seat adjustments could not be ruled out
He said the both federal and provincial caretaker governments should be formed in accordance with the constitution and the general election should he conducted in a free, fair and impartial manner.