ISLAMABAD, Dec 13 (APP): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid has left for Saint Petersburg to participate in the 4th Saint Petersburg International Cultural Forum which is being held on December 14-16.
The opening ceremony of the Cultural Forum will be held on December 14th, with the theme “Handing over of Batton from Literature to Movies”.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, Information Minister said that culture is a hall mark of every civilization as it leads to peace, love and brotherhood among Nations.
He said closer cultural contacts not only strengthen bonds among the people of various States but also enable them to understand each other values and culture.
He said such a Cultural Forum also provides an opportunity to interact with the participating countries, exchanging views and learning from each other’s experiences and best practices particularly in the field of art and culture.
The forum is being organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the city Administration of Saint Petersburg.
Culture Ministers participating in the forum include the Minister of Culture of Abkhazia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Malta, Serbia, Italy, Malaysia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Afghanistan,
Qatar, Palestine and South Sudan.
Besides, Director General UNESCO, top ranking representatives of the Russian Government, Head of Diplomatic Missions, Heads of major Museums and Theaters, prominent figures from the world of art and experts in international cultural cooperation would also be participating in the Forum.

MARY, Turkmenistan, Dec 13 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Sunday condemned the blast took place in Parachinar and expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of life and property.
The Prime Minister, who is in Turkmenistan on two day visit,
also commiserated with the bereaved families and directed the authorities concerned to provide special medical care to the injured.
“Our resolve to eradicate the menace of terrorism is getting
stronger and stronger with the loss of innocent lives and sacrifices of the officials of Pakistan Army and law enforcement agencies,” the Prime Minister said.
He said the fight is an irreversible process until this
terrorism is rooted out from the country.

MULTAN, Dec 13 (APP): State Minister for Education Baleegh-ur-Rehman said that the ranking of Pakistani universities have improved during the tenure of incumbent government.
He was addressing the convocation of a local college Saturday night.
He said that there were only two universities included in the list of 300 best universities of Asia in 2006.Now, 10 universities of Pakistan are included in that list.
The minister informed that incumbent government was striving hard to promote and improve standard of education throughout the country.
In Past, the HEC budget was Rs 40 billion but incumbent government increased it to Rs 80 billions.
The government launched fee-reimbursement scheme for M.A, M Phil and PHD scholars, provision of laptop scheme, Endowment funds, and emergence of different universities especially in South Punjab, he said and adding that the government also prioritize South Punjab for provision of educational as well as other facilities also.
The minister lauded the role of private sector education institutions for promoting and improving standards of education. He stated that quality education help putting country on way leading to progress and prosperity.

Quoting example of different countries including Japan,
Germany and some others,  he stated that these countries made progress by the dint of excellence in education sector.
The state minister warned that he would not allow fictitious or bogus campuses to operate and loot students. He urged students to get education in institutes present in list of HEC.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Friday launched his Educational Reforms Programme aimed at upgrading facilities in 422 schools and colleges in the Federal Capital.

Prime Minister Sharif unveiled the plaque of the programme at the Federal College for Women, Panjgaran Chak Shahzad.

Under the Programme the facilities of science and IT labs,libraries, sports, better classrooms and play areas would be upgraded in educational institutions. Some 21 educational institutions in the federal capital will be upgraded in the first month, while the remaining would be upgraded in 10 months.

The Prime Minister visited various sections of the college. He visited classrooms, talked to students and teachers and inquired about the facilities required and the problems they face.

He had candid discussion with the students and the teachers.
Principal of the college Mrs Tasneem Sami briefed him about the changes brought about after the visit of Ms Maryam Nawaz to the College, few weeks back.

The multi-million programme has been developed by Ms Maryam Nawaz Sharif to address the concern about dilapidated buildings, poor teaching standards in government schools and colleges, particularly those in the suburbs of the Capital.

The Prime Minister was also shown a documentary showing the condition of the college before the renovation.

State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry informed the Prime Minister that besides refurbishing the infrastructure it would also include refresher courses for teachers. Foreign scholarships will be offered to the most promising young teachers, he said.

Maryam Nawaz, Minister for CAD Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar and Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid accompanied the Prime Minister.

BAHAWALPUR, Dec 11 (APP): Three-day national anti-polio campaign would start from December 14 in Bahawalpur District.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP): Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on Friday said that implementation on the joint communiqu signed and issued on conclusion of the Heart of Asia Conference (HAC) would bring positive
affects in the region.