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Digital Detox camp at UoS stresses creativity, love for culture among students

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
SARGODHA, Jul 16 (APP):The Pakistan Institute of China Studies (PICS) at the University of Sargodha (UoS) concluded its three-week Digital Detox Summer Camp for kids, an engaging initiative designed to encourage young participants to unplug from digital screens and immerse themselves in creativity, culture, and real-world connections.
A total of 18 participants joined this transformative programme, which focused on holistic growth through experiential learning and interactive activities.
The camp offered a dynamic blend of sessions to help children rediscover the joy of hands-on engagement, cultural appreciation, and self-expression. Participants explored an enriching lineup of activities, including Chinese language classes, traditional Chinese games, a vibrant Chinese food festival, and sessions on Chinese cultural traditions—all fostering global understanding and cultural sensitivity.
To support spiritual and ethical development, the camp also featured Islamiyat sessions and regular Namaz, encouraging discipline and reflection. Gym sessions promoted physical well-being and teamwork, while arts and crafts workshops inspired creativity and imagination. The popular open mic sessions served as a platform for self-expression, allowing children to develop confidence and communication skills in a fun and supportive environment.
A highlight of the camp was the final exhibition, where parents were invited to witness their children’s creative outputs, language learnings, and cultural projects. The exhibition received warm praise from families and faculty, celebrating the growth and effort of each participant.
To add a joyful conclusion to the experience, a recreational tour was organized, offering children an opportunity to relax, have fun, and create lasting memories together outside the camp setting.
The Digital Detox Summer Camp was widely appreciated for its thoughtful integration of education, ethics, fitness, creativity, and cultural enrichment. Parents commended the program for helping their children become more focused, confident, and socially engaged. It stood out as a meaningful initiative that not only reduced screen time but also nurtured positive behavior and character development.
With its completion, the camp reaffirmed the University of Sargodha’s and PICS’s commitment to fostering youth-oriented programs that promote well-being, creativity, and global awareness through innovative and immersive experiences.

CM approves Rs100m for hosting Asia Cup Wheelchair Cricket Tournament

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
KARACHI, Jul 16 (APP): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced a Rs. 100 million grant for the Asia Cup Wheelchair Cricket Tournament, an annual grant of Rs. 15 million for the Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Council (PWCC), and a dedicated customised coaster (minibus) for the national wheelchair cricket team.
He announced this while meeting with the two-time Asian Champion Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Team at the CM House on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Minister for Education Sardar Shah, Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Sports Minister Muhammad Bux Mahar, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, and Secretary DEPD (Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities) Tauha Farooqi. The delegation included Rukhsana Rajput, President of the Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Council, and team captain Mohammad Zeeshan, who briefed the Chief Minister about upcoming international wheelchair cricket events.
During the meeting, the CM was informed that a Pakistan vs Afghanistan Wheelchair Cricket Series is scheduled to take place in September 2025 in Karachi. The Wheelchair Cricket Asia Cup 2025 will be hosted by Pakistan in October, with matches scheduled to take place in both Karachi and Hyderabad.
Participating teams in the Asia Cup include Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, and potentially India.
To support the successful organisation of the upcoming tournaments and to strengthen the team, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah made the announcements of Rs. 100 million grant for the Asia Cup Wheelchair Cricket Tournament, an annual grant of Rs. 15 million for the Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Council (PWCC), and Provision of a dedicated coaster (minibus) for the national wheelchair cricket team.
The chief minister also directed the Sports Minister Muhammad Bux Mahar to immediately begin renovation and preparation work at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, for hosting Asia Cup matches
CM Murad Shah stated, “We are committed to ensuring the Asia Cup is held in a grand and dignified manner. Our wheelchair cricket team has made the nation proud, and we must provide them with the support they deserve.”
The CM also presented traditional Sindhi gifts, an Ajrak and a Sindhi Topi, to team captain Mohammad Zeeshan as a token of appreciation for his leadership and the team’s outstanding achievements.
The meeting underscored the Sindh Government’s growing commitment to inclusive sports development, especially for athletes with disabilities.
Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Team, having won back-to-back Asia Cup titles, continues to rise as a symbol of courage, determination, and sporting excellence.

Beijing police to train Islamabad officers in modern policing and AI

By
Kamran Muraad
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ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (APP): Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with a delegation from the Beijing Police Department, led by Deputy Director General Gao Jianzan. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the Islamabad Police and Beijing Police.
It was agreed that officers from Islamabad will travel to Beijing for specialized training in modern policing methods and technology. The officers will also receive training in artificial intelligence to improve policing systems back home.
Minister Naqvi said that the advanced training will boost the capabilities of Islamabad Police. He highlighted the importance of learning from the experiences of the highly equipped and modern Beijing Police force.
The minister also welcomed Beijing’s support in providing anti-riot training to Islamabad Police and stressed the importance of timely information exchange in tackling terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, and human smuggling.
Minister Naqvi thanked the Beijing Police delegation for their commitment to expanding cooperation.
The Chinese delegation included Li Yuhang, Deputy Director General of China’s Ministry of Public Security, and senior directors from the Beijing Police Department. Pakistani officials, including Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Federal Secretary Interior, DG FIA, and IG Islamabad, were also present during the meeting.

IPRI study warns of rising political polarisation fueled by social media surge in Pakistan

By
Shahzad Ahmad
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ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (APP):The Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) on Wednesday launched a comprehensive research study titled “Social Media Impact on Political Polarisation in Pakistan,” highlighting the growing influence of digital platforms in deepening political divides across the country.
The launch ceremony, held here, was attended by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar, alongside senior academics, researchers, and policy stakeholders.
The book is the result of rigorous qualitative and quantitative research and includes the use of datafication to interpret emerging digital trends. It evaluates the interplay between social media platforms and the increasingly polarised political atmosphere in Pakistan. Drawing on insights from academics, civil society, government stakeholders, and digital users, the study presents a wide-ranging analysis of how platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube are shaping discourse in the public sphere.
The prescriptive part of the research focused on: Digital Literacy, Social Media Accountability, Design Changes in Social Media Platforms to promote dialogue instead of conflict, Fact Check Mechanisms, Strong Libel Laws, and last but least Indigenous SM Platform.
The speakers underscored that the onus is on leaders across disciplines like politicians, religious leaders, government entities, and individuals to ensure secure use of social media. It was also noted that social media does not create polarization, rather it shapes and amplifies it.
“It gives a stage from which belief can gain momentum, whether in goodwill or hostility. Whether it is a view that tolerates dissent, or one prepared to defend itself, be it through words, or unfortunate instances, through weapons,” said Director Advocacy & Communications, IPRI Siddique Humayun..
The research notes that between 2017 and 2025, the number of social media users in Pakistan more than doubled, growing from 31 million to 66.9 million, thereby expanding the digital space for political engagement, but also amplifying ideological divides.
The study calls for urgent and coordinated efforts from policymakers, political parties, civil society, and media platforms to mitigate these effects. It recommends introducing digital literacy into educational curricula, holding social media companies accountable for harmful content, moderating online discourse, promoting fact-checking initiatives, and exploring indigenous digital platforms to reduce reliance on foreign-owned networks.
To mitigate social media’s polarizing effects, the study recommends enhancing digital media literacy, regulating the spread of misinformation, promoting inclusive discourse, and encouraging critical engagement with content to disrupt echo chambers.
Earlier, President IPRI Lt Gen (retd) Majid Ehsan elucidated on the growing role of social media in shaping political attitudes, behaviours, and divisions in the country. He said that the study situates itself in the context of Pakistan’s rapidly expanding digital landscape, where platforms like X, Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram have become central to how people receive, discuss, and contest political ideas.
He pointed out that the research explores how social media interacts with partisan identities, how it enables both engagement and exclusion, and what this means for political polarisation in Pakistan.
Director Research Brig (retd) Dr Raashid Wali Janjua, who spearheaded the research, quoted Jonathan Haidt from US Surgeon General’s report, saying that after the “introduction of like and share buttons on Facebook and Instagram between 2009-2012, the suicide rates in Generation Z went up by 62% and amongst girls 180% with female drug use rising up to 112%.”
Similarly, the Twitter (now X) became a nastier place after introduction of share button. The design features meant to promote platform engagement encouraged factionalism in academic as well as political spaces.

Gilani expresses grief over loss of lives in recent rains

By
Samina Ch
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ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (APP):Chairman Senate Muhammad Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious human lives and injuries to several individuals caused by the recent torrential rains in various parts of the country.
In a statement, he extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the forgiveness of the departed souls and the swift recovery of the injured.
The Chairman said that natural calamities are a time of trial, and the entire nation must stand united and support one another during such challenging times.
He directed the concerned departments to ensure immediate and effective rescue and relief operations in the affected areas to prevent further loss of life.
He also urged the federal and provincial governments to fully support the affected families and ensure the provision of necessities in the rain-hit areas.

Upgraded third Supply Chain Expo link global kindred spirits

By
Samina Ch
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BEIJING, July 16 (APP):the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), the first supply chain expo at the national level worldwide, is set to be held in Beijing from July 16 to July 20, featuring exhibitions, forums, seminars and trade fairs.
From product R&D and design, procurement and transportation of raw materials, to production and distribution of semi-finished and finished products, to final consumption, through which forms a chain system that requires efficient collaboration, the supply chain.
With an exhibition area of about 120,000 square meters, the five-day expo, Themed “Connecting the World for a Shared Future”, has attracted a total of 651 enterprises from 75 countries and regions. The proportion of overseas exhibitors this year has reached about 35%, in which European and United States exhibitors accounted for 50%, and the Fortune Global 500 and industry leading enterprises accounted for more than 65%. More than that, it will embrace 170 overseas delegations, an increase of 21% over the previous session, CEN reported.
“NVIDIA has become the computing platform that drives the global AI ecosystem. In China, more than 1.5 million developers are turning their innovations into reality on our platform. DeepSeek, Alibaba, Tencent Hunyuan, MiniMax, Baidu Ernie Bot, all of such world-class models that were bred and shared in China are driving the mushrooming development of global AI,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, in his opening speech. “Hundreds of projects in China are using NVIDIA Omniverse to simulate digital twins for the design and optimization of factories and warehouses, which is the best example of how AI is bringing new growth opportunities to China’s outstanding supply chain ecosystem.”
“Our recent research shows that if current tensions continue to escalate, the global trading system will be severely damaged, with non-fuel exports from developing countries will decline by 33% over the next five years,” stressed John W.H. Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce. “It is necessary that events like today highlight the need for shared development.”
The third CISCE consists of seven exhibition areas, namely Supply Chain Service, Digital Technology, Healthy Life, Green Agriculture, Smart Vehicle, Clean Energy and the advanced Manufacturing chain. The reporter learned that many companies come here together with upstream and downstream suppliers for win-win effect. “It’s not about competing for business, but collaborating for partners,” reflecting the feature of this expo with the theme of “Chain”.
Also, the 3rd CISCE are going to release the 2025 edition of the Global Supply Chain Promotion Report. Alongside the report, a series of latest indices were introduced: the Global Supply Chain Promotion Index, the Global Supply Chain Connectivity Index, the Global Supply Chain Innovation Index, and the Global Supply Chain Resilience Index, all of which will more accurately present global supply chain trends and major risks through quantitative analysis methods.
Ren Hongbin, chairman of CCPIT, noted that the data-driven insights offered by the report addressed key questions related to global supply chain connectivity and disruption risks, which are of great concern to both governments and the global business community.

Removal of Pakistan’s name from British ASL an important milestone: Asif

By
Shahzad Ahmad
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0
ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (APP):Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif while welcoming the United Kingdom’s Air Safety Committee decision on Wednesday, termed the removal of Pakistan’s name from the British Air Safety List (ASL) as an important milestone.
Addressing a press conference, the minister said Pakistan achieved this milestone under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The lifting of the ban reflects growing international confidence in the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority’s compliance with global safety standards, he said.
He said that the UK has now allowed Pakistan’s national airline and other private carriers to once again apply for permission to operate direct flights. “Pakistan will apply for an operating licence to resume direct flights to the UK,” he said.
Although there was no formal ban on PIA’s direct flights to New York, the minister said efforts were also underway to resume direct flights to New York and other destinations.
Khawaja Asif criticized an irresponsible statement by then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for triggering the ban on PIA operations in European countries and the UK.  Ghulam Sarwar’s remarks caused irreparable damage to the reputation of both PIA and Pakistan, he added.
He said that the ban also resulted in financial losses amounting to billions of rupees for the national flag carrier and negatively affected the country’s global image.
The minister appreciated the continuous and tireless efforts of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), PIA, and other officials, especially Khawaja Saad Rafique, in working to lift the ban on Pakistani airline operations in the UK.
Khawaja Asif also expressed gratitude to European and British aviation regulators for their guidance and support in helping Pakistan address safety concerns and meet international standards.
He said that the decision would also ease travel for the estimated 1.6 million overseas Pakistanis living in the UK and Europe.
Looking ahead, the minister said the government was moving towards the privatization of PIA, expressing confidence that the lifting of the ban would help maximize the proceeds from the airline’s sale. He said that all international routes of PIA would be restored.
In response to a question, he said that various consortium had shown interest in the PIA privatization process.
It is worth mentioning that the UK and European aviation authorities imposed a ban on PIA flights in July 2020 following the fake pilot licence scandal. At the time, then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan had claimed that a number of pilots were flying with fraudulent licences.

Finance minister reviews USC closure up process

By
Shahzad Ahmad
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ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (APP):Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb here on Wednesday chaired a  high-level meeting of the Committee constituted by the Prime Minister to oversee the closure and privatization of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC).
The Committee has been tasked with ensuring a smooth and transparent closure process, formulating a suitable VSS for USC employees, and recommending a structured timeline for privatization.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries & Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan; Secretaries Establishment, Finance, Industries & Production, Managing Director of USC and senior officers from the Finance and Revenue Division attended the meeting today.
During the meeting, the committee led by the finance minister reviewed the progress made in the light of the tasks assigned to it and held detailed deliberations on the way forward. It was reaffirmed that, in accordance with the government’s directives, all operations of USC will be closed by 31st July 2025.
The committee discussed at length the formulation of a fair and financially viable Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) for the USC employees.
During the course of the meeting, the members examined various dimensions of the proposed VSS, including its projected size, potential fiscal impact, and legal and operational implications associated with its structure and rollout.
The committee recommended that the Privatization Commission be consulted regarding the optimal structuring and feasibility of privatization or alternatively asset sales linked with the USC operations.
To facilitate a comprehensive analysis, the chair constituted a sub-committee headed by the Secretary Establishment Division.
The committee will include representatives from the Finance Division and the Industries & Production Division to examine the legal and operational aspects, contours, size, and structure of the proposed VSS and submit its report to the main Committee by the end of the week.
This will enable the committee to consolidate its findings and finalize its report and recommendations to be submitted to the Prime Minister in line with the Terms of Reference.

KP Chief minister honors martyrs, pledges full support to police

By
Samina Ch
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0
PESHAWAR, Jul 16 (APP):Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur visited Police Lines Peshawar  Tuesday, where he was welcomed by Inspector General of Police and senior officials.
 A police contingent presented a guard of honor, and the CM paid tribute at the Martyrs’ Monument, laying floral wreaths.
During his address at the Police Durbar,  Chief Minister emphasized honoring martyrs and their families, stating, “Nations that respect their martyrs are invincible.”
He announced that martyrs’ families would be received standing in all government offices, including the CM’s Secretariat.
Highlighting police welfare, Ali Amin Gandapur revealed the KP police budget was increased from Rs. 124 billion to Rs. 158 billion, with salaries raised to match other provinces.
The recruitment quota for martyrs’ children was boosted from 5% to 12.5%, with 280 heirs already inducted. Free plots for martyrs’ families in housing societies were also confirmed.
The Chief Minister inspected new APCs, bulletproof vehicles, and modern equipment, vowing, “Resource shortages won’t hinder police needs.”
He urged merit-based policing, warning against recommendations: “If the CM doesn’t interfere, no one should.”
Chief Minister directed traffic police to show leniency to poor laborers while penalizing powerful violators. “Peace is priority—development follows law and order,” he asserted, promising immediate resource allocation.
The event concluded with prayers for martyrs’ elevated ranks.

Sindhi Adabi Board approves various projects

By
Samina Ch
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0
HYDERABAD, Jul 16 (APP):The meeting of the Board of Governors of the Jamshoro (P) Sindhi Adabi Board was held under the chairmanship of the chairman of the board, Makhdoom Saeed-ul-Zaman “Aatif”.
 According to a press release issued here on Wednesday members of the Board of Governors Sarfaraz Rajar, Dr. Karim Khawaja, Dr. Nawaz Ali Shawq, Dr. Asad Jamal Puli and Madam Nazir Naz participated.
During the meeting, various projects of the institution were approved.
The chairman and members of the board, while passing the letter, requested the government of Sindh to make a grant of at least 30 crore rupees for the development of the Sindhi Literary Board so that the institution can run its business in a better manner.
In his statement issued after the meeting, Makhdoom Saeed-ul-Zaman “Aatif” said, “The publication of books for the promotion of Sindhi language, literature, history, culture and heritage is the primary responsibility of the institution. We are determined to publish more and more new, quality and important books, especially those that are waiting to be published or those that are important in scientific, literary and research contexts. Correspondence is ongoing on the important issues of the Sindhi Board. The Chairman of the Sindhi Adabi Board and the members of the Board of Governors.”
Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah requested that PC-1 should be approved for the new construction of a book shop of Sindhi Literary Board in Hyderabad along with the stopped PC-1 of Sindhi Literary Board and should be re-opened.
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