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PSO expands women’s driving, riding training program across Pakistan

By
Najam ul Hassan
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ISLAMABAD, Jul 25 (APP): Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has expanded its flagship women’s skill development initiative, PSO Shaheen, by launching the second phase and quadrupling the reach in Lahore and Islamabad.

Following the success of the initial rollout, the program continues to equip women with essential car driving and bike riding skills to enhance their mobility and confidence, a press release issued on Friday said.

The training sessions have expanded to two more cities Lahore and Islamabad, marking a significant expansion of the program which originally began in Karachi. In Phase 1, an impressive 82% of trained women successfully obtained their driving licenses and certificates, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness.

PSO Shaheen is committed to supporting women’s journey toward greater mobility and confidence. Many participants from the previous phase have already utilized their newly acquired skills to support their families, launch small businesses, and even finance their own motorcycles.

The initiative continues to grow rapidly, helping to transform the lives of women across Pakistan by boosting their confidence and creating pathways for personal and professional growth.

20,000 saplings to be planted under ‘Plant for Pakistan’ campaign

By
Samina Ch
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LODHRAN, Jul 25 (APP):Deputy Commissioner Dr Lubna Nazir formally launched the ‘Plant for Pakistan’ campaign by planting a sapling at Lodhran Minor.
The plantation activity was participated by Assistant Commissioner Lodhran Iram Shehzadi, local Forest Department officials, and schoolchildren. Dr Lubna highlighted the importance of collective action in tackling climate change and promoting greenery. “The ‘Plant for Pakistan’ campaign was a visionary step towards environmental protection, and it reflects the strong commitment of our Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to building a greener and healthier Punjab,” she said.
She also distributed free saplings among children and educated them on the significance of tree plantation, proper care of plants, and water conservation.
According to DC, the Forest department has set a target of planting 20,000 trees across the district during the campaign. She urged the public and private sectors to actively participate in the drive, stating, “No campaign could succeed without the active involvement of the citizens. Together, we could make Pakistan green and prosperous for our future generations.”
He said that the Plant for Pakistan campaign was launched under the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

Senate passes resolution unanimously to condemn Israeli’s Parliament decision

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Jul 25 (APP): The Senate on Friday passed a resolution unanimously by strongly condemning the recent decision of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) to approve a resolution asserting so-called Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, in brazen violation of international law, United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the Geneva Conventions.
The resolution was moved by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan on behalf of entire House.
The resolution Recalled that the West Bank is internationally recognized as occupied territory and that any unilateral annexation or claim of sovereignty is a clear affront to the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The House affirmed the Government and people of Pakistan’s unwavering support for the just cause of Palestine and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State, in line with the relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
The House recognized that such actions by the occupying Israeli government gravely endanger peace and stability in the region and expose the expansionist and apartheid agenda of the Israeli regime.
The House rejects and denounces the Israeli Parliament’s resolution as illegal, illegitimate, and null and void under international law.
The House demands that the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, take immediate and concrete action to halt Israeli expansionism and protect the rights of the Palestinian people;
The Senate calls upon the Government of Pakistan to intensify diplomatic efforts in collaboration with OIC and like-minded nations to resist and reverse such unlawful attempts.
The House expresses solidarity with the people of Palestine in their rightful struggle for freedom, dignity, and self-determination.

Police foil midnight terrorist attack on Basyakhel police station

By
Samina Ch
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BANNU, Jul 25 (APP):A major terrorist attack on Basyakhel Police Station here was thwarted late last night after police officials responded with swift and courageous action, forcing the attackers to flee without causing any casualties.
According to police officials, the assault began around 1:35 a.m. when heavily armed terrorists launched an attack from multiple directions using snipers and heavy weapons. The exchange of fire continued for nearly an hour.
Despite the intensity of the attack, the police displayed exceptional bravery and professionalism, immediately returning fire and successfully repelling the threat. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
DIG Bannu Sajjad Khan and DPO Saleem Abbas Kalachi praised the officers for their outstanding performance and announced commendation certificates and cash rewards in recognition of their valor.

Google develops AI tool that fills missing words in Roman inscriptions

By
NNPS Desk
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LONDON, Jul 25 (WAM/APP): Google’s DeepMind has unveiled a new artificial intelligence tool called Aeneas, designed to assist historians in studying ancient Roman inscriptions, according to The Guardian. The tool helps identify the origin and date of the inscriptions and suggests missing words in damaged or incomplete texts.

Aeneas was developed in collaboration with historians, including Dr. Thea Sommerschield from the University of Nottingham. The AI was trained on a database of nearly 200,000 Latin inscriptions, containing more than 16 million characters.

The inscriptions, found on monuments, tombs, and even everyday items, are valuable records of life in ancient Rome. However, many are fragmented or worn, making them difficult to interpret. Aeneas analyses the text and sometimes images from an inscription and compares it with similar examples from the 7th century BC to the 8th century AD. It uses deeper linguistic and historical patterns, not just keyword matches, to find connections.

The AI can determine the likely Roman province where an inscription was created and estimate its date within about 13 years. It also proposes possible words to fill in missing parts, tested so far on texts where the original wording is already known.

In tests, Aeneas provided accurate insights into famous inscriptions such as the Res Gestae Divi Augusti and linked similar texts across different regions of the Roman Empire. Historians called the tool “transformative,” with 23 researchers finding it useful in 90% of cases.

Commissioner visits major industrial units, vows support for growth

By
Samina Ch
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KOHAT, Jul 25 (APP):Commissioner Kohat Division, Mutasim Billah Shah, on Friday paid an extensive visit to key industrial units in the region, including Kohat Cement Factory Limited and Babri Textile Mills.
During the visit, he reviewed production processes, assessed labour facilities, and discussed challenges related to industrial development. He was accompanied by the Additional Deputy Commissioner Kohat and officials from relevant departments.
Factory management briefed the Commissioner on the stages of production, resource availability, and various issues affecting operations. In response, Commissioner Shah emphasized the vital role of industry in the region’s economic development and called for urgent measures to resolve existing hurdles.
He directed officials to take practical steps to promote industrial growth and create employment opportunities for the local population.
At the end of the visit, the Commissioner praised the performance of the industrial units and assured full administrative support for their continued progress.

Reports on NFC Award, child rights laid before Senate

By
Ali Ali
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ISLAMABAD, Jul 25 (APP):Two important reports pertaining to fiscal monitoring and child rights were laid before the Senate on Friday during the ongoing session of the Upper House.
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, laid the 1st Biannual Report on Monitoring of the Implementation of the 7th NFC Award for the period from July to December 2022, on behalf of Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Finance and Revenue. The report was presented under clause (3B) of Article 160 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
He also laid the Annual Report 2024–2025 of the National Commission on the Rights of Child on behalf of Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Human Rights. The report was submitted in accordance with sub-section (1) of section 17 of the National Commission on the Rights of Child Act, 2017.

Junaid Chaudhry underscores $850 million export potential in Gwadar’s value-added seafood, date industries

By
Ali Ali
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ISLAMABAD, Jul 25 (APP):Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Friday stated that with consistent investment, strategic policymaking, and improved infrastructure, Gwadar Port has the potential to generate over $850 million annually through value-added fisheries and date exports.
Chairing a high-level meeting on Gwadar Port operationalization attended by officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and representatives from relevant ministries and organizations including Gwadar Port Authority, Commerce, Industries, and Communication through Zoom, the minister laid out a comprehensive strategy to boost economic activities in Gwadar.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to utilizing local resources and empowering local businesses to operationalize Gwadar Port and stimulate the regional economy.
He emphasized that fisheries and dates are the key economic drivers of the region. “Gwadar has a rich fish catch potential, and we must focus on local value addition to maximize benefits,” he said.
He pointed out that 34 fish processing units are currently operating in Balochistan, but most require technological upgrades to meet export standards. “Transforming these units to add value through packaging and processing before exporting is critical for uplifting the sector,” he added.
The minister pointed out that Balochistan’s coastline makes up 76.2% of Pakistan’s total coastal length, yet its fish production significantly lags behind its actual potential.
“Balochistan has an estimated annual fish catch potential of around 300,000 tons. With proper value addition, this could generate approximately $645 million each year. However, current production is nearly half of that due to limited fishing capacity, obsolete technology, and regulatory hurdles,” he stated.
Turning to dates production, the minister stated that Panjgur and Turbat (Kech) districts together produce over 225,000 tons of dates annually—more than half of Pakistan’s total. “With value addition, the sector can generate up to $200–$205 million in revenue each year,” he said.
To support business and connectivity in the region, the minister announced steps to improve air travel. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will increase its weekly flights to Gwadar from one to three.
“Two weekly flights between Gwadar and Karachi and one between Gwadar and Islamabad are under consideration,” he said.
Furthermore, the possibility of introducing a chartered flight mechanism to facilitate travel for businesspersons and investors is also under consideration, the minister added.

Senate session prorogued sine die after completion of agenda

By
Samina Ch
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ISLAMABAD, Jul 25 (APP):The Senate session was prorogued sine die on Friday by the presiding officer, formally concluding proceedings following the completion of the scheduled agenda.
The session wrapped up after all listed items were addressed, with lawmakers holding final discussions on key matters of national significance. No date was announced for the next sitting.
“The President, in exercise of powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 54 of the Constitution, has been pleased to prorogue the Senate session upon conclusion of its business,” stated the prorogation order, read aloud by Presiding Officer Shahadat Awan, who chaired the sitting.

KP police rendered unmatched sacrifices for peace: Mushtaq Ghani

By
Ali Ali
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ABBOTTABAD, Jul 25 (APP):Former speaker KP Assembly and sitting MPA Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani Friday has said that the officers and personnel of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have rendered unmatched sacrifices for the restoration and maintenance of peace in the province. “Their efforts and bravery will always be remembered,” he stated while addressing the completion ceremony of a professional training course at the Abbottabad Police School of Intelligence.
The ceremony was organized by the Director of the School, Arif Javed Khan, to mark the successful conclusion of the training program.
Senior police officers, including SSP Traffic Qamar Hayat Khan, SSP Investigation Tahir Iqbal Khan, SSP Special Branch Khabir Khan, and others, were present at the event.
The program began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome address by Director Arif Javed Khan, who also thanked MPA Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani for gracing the occasion.
In his keynote address, the chief guest congratulated all course participants on completing their training and lauded the efforts of the Director and staff of the School of Intelligence.
He reiterated the vital role of KP Police in ensuring public safety and peace, and appreciated the department’s continued focus on training and professional development.
At the end of the ceremony, certificates were distributed among the course participants by the chief guest, while Director Arif Javed Khan presented a commemorative shield to MPA Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani.
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