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ECP concludes training for 1.49 million election staff ahead of 2024 polls

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NNPS Desk
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ECP

ISLAMABAD, Feb 03 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed the training of approximately 1.49 million election staff to ensure the smooth execution of the upcoming general elections in 2024.

In a statement, the ECP spokesman said that the training sessions guaranteed the capability of all election personnel to carry out their responsibilities proficiently and professionally in the upcoming general elections of 2024.

According to the spokesperson of the commission, a total of 27,676 sessions were conducted over 87 days in remote areas nationwide, involving 3,821 master trainers to train election staff comprehensively.

The sequence of training sessions commenced on November 19, 2023, concluding on the evening of February 3, 2024. Participants in these sessions comprised 144 District Returning Officers (DROs), 859 Returning Officers (ROs), and polling staff.

A total of 7,663 two-day training sessions were held, involving 191,526 trained polling staff, including both Presiding Officers and Senior Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs).

Additionally, 19,630 training sessions were carried out for 785,060 Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) and Polling Officers. To guarantee transparent, free, and fair elections, 32 Regional Monitoring Coordinators (RMCs) and 1,336 District Monitoring Officers (DMOs) were appointed at the regional level to oversee election activities according to Section 234 of the Election Act, 2017. Adequate training was also provided for Monitoring Officers (MOs).

The commission conducted 148 training sessions to improve the operation of the Election Management System (EMS), engaging around 5,000 officers and data entry operators (DEOs) linked with returning officers.

Likewise, the Commission imparted training to 1,400 Master Trainers (MTs) to guarantee effective execution of security responsibilities during the elections. These Master Trainers then delivered essential training to 503,495 security personnel.

LESCO detects 407 power pilferers in 24 hours

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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LESCO
LAHORE, Feb 03 (APP): Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has detected a total of 407 connections from where the customers were pilfering electricity in all its circles of five districts (Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Okara) on the 147th day of grand anti-power theft campaign.
The LESCO spokesman told media here Saturday that the company has also submitted FIR applications against electricity thieves, out of which 173 FIRs have been registered in respective police stations, while 07 accused have been arrested.
Grand anti-power theft operations against electricity thieves are being conducted on the directives of the Federal Power Division and the LESCO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engineer Shahid Haider is supervising these operations.
The LESCO chief vowed that the operations would continue without discrimination until the complete end of electricity theft. The electricity pilferers as well as the LESCO officers and employees who facilitate them are also being brought to justice.
On the 147th consecutive day of the anti-power theft campaign, the spokesman added, large commercial consumers were also found involved in electricity theft and all of them were also disconnected and charged with detection units.
Among the seized connections 12 were commercial, 01 agricultural and 394 domestic, and all these connections were disconnected and charged with a total of 329,875 units as detection bill amounting to Rs 11.346 million.
Apprising the media about some major power pilferers, he explained that LESCO charged Rs 1.6 million detection  bill to an electricity pilferer in Shahdara area; Rs 225,000 and Rs 217,000 fine in the form of detection bills respectively to two customers stealing electricity in Baghbanpura area of Lahore; and Rs 190,000 detection bill to a power thieve in Qila Gujjar Singh area.
During the 147 days of grand anti-theft campaign, the spokesman mentioned, the LESCO detected pilferage on 50,965 power connections and 47,162 FIRs have been registered against electricity thieves in the relevant police stations, while 17,458 accused have so far been arrested by the police.
The LESCO has so far charged a total of 70,927,864 detection units worth Rs 2,747,295,956 to all the power pilferers.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar witnesses signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Authority of Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan and Abu Dhabi Ports Group, UAE

By
Khuram Maryam
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Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar witnesses signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Authority of Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan and Abu Dhabi Ports Group, UAE
APP22-030224 ISLAMABAD: February 03 - Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar witnesses signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Authority of Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan and Abu Dhabi Ports Group, UAE. APP/TZD/FHA
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar witnesses signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Authority of Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan and Abu Dhabi Ports Group, UAE
APP22-030224
ISLAMABAD

CDA Chairman assures to address issues of business community

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NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 03 (APP): Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Captain (R) Anwar ul Haq said on Saturday that CDA would take all possible measures to address key issues to facilitate the business community for business development.

He said that efforts are underway to develop transparent and financially viable systems in CDA to better serve the citizens and the business community.

He said that CDA is working on an automated parking system to address the parking issue in markets and the Islamabad Citizen Club would soon be made operational.

He said this while talking to a delegation of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) during its visit to the CDA Head Office led by Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President.

Anwar said that the CDA is ready to hand over public toilets and filtration plants to ICCI for their maintenance and operation on mutually agreed terms.

He said that CDA is also ready to hand over its hospital to ICCI for maintenance and operation after its upgrade.

He said that CDA is considering outsourcing the water supply and waste management systems to make them hassle-free services for the citizens.

He said that CDA is digitizing the land record to facilitate the business community and the citizens.

He also updated the business community about other important initiatives of CDA including the introduction of electric buses and, tree plantation drives to make Islamabad an environmentally friendly city.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry briefed the Chairman CDA about the key issues of the business community.

He urged the civic body to take urgent measures to address them. He said that ICCI is constructing water filtration plants in G series, which should be handed over to the Chamber for their maintenance and operations.

He urged the CDA to set up flower markets in Marakaz, complete the slaughter house project, operationalize the Citizens Club, and set up a wholesale poultry market in the federal capital.

He urged the CDA to focus on the better development of all markets and replace all old sewerage lines in Islamabad with new ones to address sewerage issues.

Faad Waheed, Senior Vice President ICCI briefed the Chairman CDA about the issues of the industrial sector and stressed their early redressal.

Zafar Bakhtawari former President ICCI and Secretary General UBG, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi former President ICCI, Ajmal Baloch, Raja Hassan Akhtar, Zahid Qureshi, Khalid Chaudhry, and others were in the delegation.

Hua Chunying calls on foreign journalists to report on China objectively, fairly

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NNPS Desk
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Hua Chunying

BEIJING, Feb 3 (APP): China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying attended a reception for foreign journalists based in Beijing.

Speaking on the occasion, Hua called on foreign journalists to report on China objectively and fairly.

She added that China’s diplomacy in 2023 has been upholding integrity, pursuing innovation, and continually forging ahead.

Faced with the ever-changing and intertwined world, she said China has firmly chosen the path of peace, openness, cooperation, and unity, and remained the promoter and maintainer of world peace and stability.

Around 600 people attended the event, including journalists from international media outlets, diplomatic envoys, as well as representatives of Beijing Municipality.

ECP completes all arrangements for general elections

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
ECP
ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (APP): The Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed all arrangements for general elections being held on Thursday.
The Election Commission has established ninety thousand six hundred seventy-five polling stations in all four provinces and over one hundred and twenty million registered voters will cast their vote for National Assembly and four Provincial Assemblies, Radio Pakistan reported.
Of these, forty-one thousand four hundred and three are combined polling stations while twenty-five thousand three hundred twenty are for male and twenty-three thousand nine hundred fifty-two for women voters.
A total of 5,121 candidates are in the race for the National Assembly seats. These include 4,807 male, 312 female and two transgenders.
The elections will be held on two hundred and sixty-six general seats of the National Assembly and five hundred and ninety-three general seats of four provincial assemblies.

Asadullah Baloch reiterates to establish medical, engineering colleges in Panjgur after winning Feb 8 polls

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NNPS Desk
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Asadullah Baloch

QUETTA, Feb 3 (APP): President of Balochistan National Party-Awami and former Provincial Minister Mir Asadullah Baloch has said that medical and engineering colleges are part of the election manifesto of BNP Awami to expand the educational programme which has been started in Panjgur.

He said the right to vote is a sacred right and an onerous responsibility that you owe to the motherland and stressed that the people should be used wisely as some people are far from service and now they are trying to deceive the people by false promises, said a news release received here on Saturday.

He expressed these views while addressing various induction ceremonies held in Panjgur, during which, hundreds of people joined BNP-Awami.
President of BNP-Awami, Mir Asadullah Baloch said that the leader leads his people and the region towards development by giving a better direction.

He said that BNP Awami’s politics is based on honesty and service of the public as we have also implemented the manifesto in the last tenure announced in the 2018 general elections.

The manifesto is to serve our people and work more which resulted in great relief to poor people, he said adding that numerous people who were suffering from various life-threatening diseases were treated through the Balochistan Awami Endowment Fund initiative of the social welfare department.

He said that the intention to work must be clear, when the intention is to work, then Allah helps a person.
Asadullah Baloch said “We know that education can bring changes in society as educated people can play an important role in shaping the status of the country.”

Baloch said that he has dedicated time to making the future of the children bright and increasing higher literacy rate which would lead to a lower unemployment rate in the region.
Asadullah Baloch said “If I had just set in Quetta and passed the time like other representatives, today there would not be such large-scale development works in Panjgur.

The main reason is the sincere and loving relationship with the people, for which I have dedicated my entire life.”
He expressed commitment that more efforts would be taken to resolve the issues of education, health, agriculture, unemployment and poverty in the ruler areas of Panjgur which are suffering from poverty and backwardness in all aspects and provide relief to the people in terms of basic needs after coming in power.

He said that we have mentioned the works done by BNP Awami for the development of Panjgur in our manifesto and the other parties who come into power several times, would also submit their performance reports so that the people would know how much work is in their account.

Mir Asadullah Baloch congratulated Haji Muhammad Ashraf and colleagues on joining BNP Awami and said that this is their party and now we all will take our region to greater prosperity and a historic victory on February 8 and the journey of service will be restart from there.

FDE revokes ministry’s order, stirring debate on hierarchy and rules of business

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
FDE
ISLAMABAD, Feb 03 (APP): The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) nullified the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training’s (MOFE&PT) order to reinstate Dr. Samia Dogar to her former position as Director, Federal College of Education (FCE).
Mr. Majid Umer, an associate professor at FCE, has been directed to look after the administrative matters of FCE as a principal.
Earlier, the MOFE&PT had issued the reinstatement order of Dr. Samia Dogar on December 12, 2023, following a directive from the Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment.
However, after 48 days, the FDE, an attached/subordinate department of MOFE&PT, took the unprecedented step of canceling the reinstatement orders, raising eyebrows and concerns among the educational community. Critics argue that such a move challenges the established hierarchy within government offices, as the FDE is an attached department of the MOFE&PT.
It is pertinent to mention here that Dr. Samia Dogar, a Professor of BPS-20 position, had previously been removed from the directorship of FCE and the administrative control of FCE was abruptly transferred to the FDE on March 1, 2023.
Dr Samia was attached to Islamabad Model College for Girls, G-10/4, allegedly as a form of punishment, further complicated the situation, leading to a violation of seniority lists and recruitment rules specific to the FCE.
The Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment issued a directive to MOFE&PT, directing the immediate reinstatement of Professor Dr. Samia Dogar to her previous position. This decision followed an appeal filed by Dr. Samia against Waseem Ajmal Chaudhary, Secretary of MOFE&PT, under Section 6 of the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010.
The ombudsman expressed serious concerns about the proceedings of the inquiry committee of MOFE&PT, highlighting the violation of Dr. Samia’s due process rights leading to the reinstatement of Dr. Samia by MOFE&PT on December 12, 2023.
An assistant professor at FCE stated, “Dr. Samia Dogar’s journey has been marked by legal battles and workplace challenges. I expect she will choose to challenge the decision through legal channels instead of obeying the orders of FDE because FDE has no authority to issue the orders to FCE by cancelling the orders of its ministry.”
Another teacher of FCE, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed concerns about the need for training of FDE officers regarding the rules of business, suggesting a lack of awareness of the proper protocols.
She said that cancelling the ministry’s orders by FDE had raised eyebrows and questions about the hierarchical structure within the education sector. FDE’s overturning the orders of its controlling office is both unprecedented and against the established rules of business.
This move of the FDE will open a new Pandora’s box of litigation as FCE falls under schedule-2 of the rules of business, while the FDE is under schedule-3. The Ministry, being the higher controlling office, is expected to have authority over both entities.

Green Pakistan project designed to maximize agricultural productivity: Fu Shuai

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NNPS Desk
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Fu Shuai

BEIJING, Feb 3 (APP): The Green Pakistan Million Acre Smart Farm project incorporates advanced equipment, innovative techniques and intelligent water management systems, all designed to maximize agricultural productivity while minimizing environmental impact,” said Fu Shuai Vice GM of Dayu Irrigation International Department.

Speaking on the occasion of the delivery ceremony of first shipment of equipment for the project, he said, “Green Pakistan Initiative, launched last year aims to transform the agricultural landscape. We are dedicated to participating in this groundbreaking endeavor and contributing our expertise.”

The delivery ceremony was also attended by Zaeem, President of the exclusive distributor in Pakistan.
The first shipment of equipment for the Green Pakistan Million Acre Smart Farm Project was dispatched from China to Pakistan marking a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural development, local media reported.

This collaborative initiative, led by China’s Dayu Irrigation Group and local partners, aims to revolutionize farming practices and contribute to the implementation of the Green Pakistan Initiative.

Dayu Irrigation Group aims to integrate intelligent irrigation control systems into Pakistan’s farming as part of the Green Pakistan Million Acre Smart Farm Project.

By monitoring crop growth and optimizing water and fertilizer application, this system seeks to enhance yield, improve crop quality, and reduce labor costs for farmers.
The successful shipment of the initial equipment batch signifies the beginning of a transformative journey for Pakistan’s agricultural sector.

Through unwavering Pak-China partnerships, the Green Pakistan Initiative is poised to usher in a new era of sustainable agriculture, benefiting farmers, rural communities and the nation as a whole.

Ali Mardan orders to start relief, rehabilitation operation in rain, snow affected districts

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
Mir Mardan Khan Domki
QUETTA, Feb 3 (APP): Balochistan Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki on Saturday ordered that to start relief operations and rehabilitation of highways and roads, besides restoration of municipal services in rain and snow affected districts of the province.
In a statement issued here said that the caretaker chief minister has instructed to keep the PDMA monitoring room active round the clock.
He directed that all the commissioners, deputy commissioners of respective districts should complete the preparations for emergency measures according to the weather conditions.
CM directed the district administrator and Quetta Municipal Corporation that urgent steps should be taken to drain the rain water from various area in Quetta city.
Mir Ali Mardan Domki instructed the PDMA to start an immediate rehabilitation operation to restore the connecting roads by removing snow from the roads in Ziarat, Kan Mehtarzai, Kozhak Top and other areas.
CM also instructed to rescue the passengers stuck on closed roads including Makran highway, Sami Kour Turbat and other roads to safe places.
Ali Mardan Domki instructed PDMA to start rescue operation immediately and initiate maintenance of roads and restoration of municipal services should be ensured in the rain and snow affected districts.
The local authorities should play an active role for the discharge of rain water from urban areas and for sanitation, the caretaker chief minister instructed the Secretary of Local government.
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