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CM calls for more investment in higher education

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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KARACHI, Jan 31 (APP):Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar suggested that universities can enhance their infrastructure, faculty quality and research capabilities through increased government funding and public-private partnerships.
This he said while speaking at Habib University during his visit on Wednesday morning.
President Habib University Wasif Rizvi, Lt Gen (retd) Tariq Waseem Ghazi and faculty members received the chief minister and visited him multi-layered campus.
The chief minister said that the provincial government has established several universities in the province for which efforts were being made to make them the best educational institutions. “The establishment of a university was not enough but to make it a seat of learning was a big challenge,” he said.
Justice Baqar expressed satisfaction over the private sector’s contribution to higher education, citing Habib University as a shining example of this collaboration between industry and academia.
The CM lauded the state-of-the-art architecture of Habib University, its faculty and modern method of education. “This university is not merely an institution, but it is a complete package of the best faculty and an ideal educational atmosphere,” he said.
During a briefing to the chief minister, Wasif Rizvi, president of the University, revealed that Pakistan has been ranked 119th in higher education, behind Nepal, Bangladesh and Ghana.
He added that only 12 per cent of the total intermediate enrolment can secure admission to higher education, which is a cause for concern and needs to be addressed.
He suggested that the government should consider launching higher education through public-private partnerships to secure investments in the sector.

Civil service academy officers visit CCP for interactive session

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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ISLAMABAD, Jan 31 (APP):As part of their training under 51st Common Training Programme (CTP), a syndicate group of 20 probationary officers from the Civil Service Academy, visited the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) for an interactive session.
           Saeed Ahmad Nawaz, member office of Fair Trade Market Intelligence Unit (MIU), CCP, presided over the session, said a press release issued here on Wednesday.
           Speaking on the occasion, he discussed the measures taken by CCP including the establishment of a MIU to effectively implement the competition law.
           The syndicate group was led by faculty Incharge, Rehmat Wali Khan, Deputy Director.
           The group members who are currently researching the “Implications of Fifth Industrial Revolution (IR 5.0) on Public Sector Management in Pakistan,” asked multiple questions.
            Responding to the questions, Saeed A Nawaz underscored the significant challenges and opportunities presented by the advent of the Fifth Industrial Revolution.
         The syndicate group also benefited from a comprehensive presentation delivered by Shahzad Hussain, DG (Advocacy), Registrar CCP. The presentation explained the substantive provision of Competition Law dealing with abuse of dominance, prohibited agreements, deceptive marketing, and mergers and acquisitions.
        It also traced the historical trajectory of Competition Law highlighting its pivotal role in fostering a competitive environment conducive to Pakistan’s economic progress. Reflecting on the visit, the syndicate group members expressed gratitude to the CCP for the warm hospitality and offering invaluable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities posed by IR 5.0. The visiting members found the engagement beneficial for their research, press release added.

Election room made functional in Khanewal for monitoring

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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KHANEWAL, Jan 31 (APP):The Election Control Room has been made fully functional in Khanewal as per instructions from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to monitor election activities on polling day.
Deputy Commissioner and DRO Waseem Hamid Sindhu and DPO Rana Omar Farooq visited the election control room on Wednesday where Deputy Director Development Shahid Rehman and SNA Shahid Bhutta gave them a detailed briefing. DC and DPO specifically reviewed arrangements for monitoring polling stations declared sensitive.
DC asked the control room officials to be attentive to their duties. He said that district administration was extending full assistance to ECP in holding elections in a free fair, and peaceful manner.

Orientation session held at Taimargara for security In charges of polling stations

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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PESHAWAR, Jan 31 (APP):Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police here Wednesday arranged an orientation session in Police Lines Taimargara for security In charge of polling stations regarding the peaceful holding of elections.
The session was attended by security In charges of polling stations including the Deputy Superintendent of Police Headquarters and line officers.
Master trainers briefed the attendants about their duties, election preparations, security arrangements and measures taken to hold elections in a fair and transparent manner.
Security In charges were also informed about their duties and the code of conduct issued by the election commission.

Moderate to heavy rain lashes capital; subsides fog

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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0
APP44-310124 RAWALPINDI: January 31 – Mercury dips as rain, hailstorm lash the twin cities. APP/IQJ/MAF/TZD/ABB
ISLAMABAD, Jan 31 (APP):Moderate to heavy rain lashed the federal capital, like other parts of the country, on Wednesday, bringing relief to the commuters who were bearing the persistent dense foggy conditions during the last month.
The rain continued from Tuesday night till Wednesday evening with occasional gaps and turned into heavy falls at times. The sudden hail storm also accompanied by heavy rain in the city at around 5:30 pm.
The city dwellers who had been facing month-long densest foggy conditions which was an unusual thing for them welcomed the rain which not only subsided the fog but proved to be beneficial for the standing crops.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, a westerly wave was affecting the western and upper parts of the country and likely to persist during the next few days.
On Thursday, cloudy weather with rain (snowfall over mountains) is expected in Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Potohar region, Upper Punjab, and Kashmir. Heavy rainfall/ snowfall is likely at isolated places in Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat, and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the period.
Fog is likely at a few places in Punjab and upper Sindh. During the last 24 hours, mainly cold and Cloudy weather prevailed in most areas of the country.
However, rain (with snowfall at isolated places) occurred in Kashmir, Islamabad, Northeast/central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi, Thatta and Ormara. Fog prevailed over plain areas of Punjab and upper Sindh.
The PMD has warned that snowfall over the upper parts of the country may affect transportation on January 31 and February 01 therefore the tourists are advised to be cautious.
The rainfall recorded was Kashmir: Muzaffarabad (Airport 34mm, City 33), Rawalakot 22, Garhi Dupatta 18, Kotli 08, Punjab: Rawalpindi (Chaklala 17, Kacheri 11, Shamsabad 07), Murree 10, Islamabad (Zero Point, Golra 08, Saidpur 07, Airport 06, Bokra 05), Mangla 08, Gujranwala, Jhelum 06, Sialkot (Airport 06, City 05), Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin 04, Chakwal, Narowal 03, Hafizabad, Khanpur, Sheikhupura 02, Attock, Johar Abad 01, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Dir (Upper) 13, Kakul 09, Patan 07, Parachinar 06, Balakot, Charat 05, Drosh 04, Bacha Khan (Airport), Mir Khani 02, Chitral, Kalam, Peshawar, Saidu Sharif 01 Sindh: Quaidabad 08, DHA Phase Two 05, North Karachi 04, Kemari, Saadi Town, Nazimabad 03, Malir, Old Area (Airport), Masroor Base 02, Surjani Town, University Road, Faisal Base 01, Thatta 01, Balochistan: Ormara 01mm.
The snowfall recorded was 02 inches in Murree. The lowest minimum temperatures recorded during the last 24 hours were Leh -07C, Kalam, Gupis -05, Skardu -03, Hunza, and Rawalakot -02C.

RDA lodges FIRs against three illegal housing schemes

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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RDA
RAWALPINDI, Jan 31 (APP):Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on the directives of the Director General (DG), Muhammad Saif Anwar Jappa
has lodged FIRs against three illegal housing schemes, said a RDA spokesman here on Wednesday.
He informed that the Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MP&TE) Directorate, RDA had lodged FIRs against illegal housing schemes namely Imperial City in Mauza Sahang Mandra at Chakwal Road, National Gold Enclave in Mauza Sahang Mandra at Chakwal Road and Kashmir Green City in Mauza Kari Dulal at G.T. Road Mandra, Tehsil Gujjar Khan, Rawalpindi.
Cases were registered against the owners namely Masood Azmat, Sardar Niaz Khan, Sardar Jahangir Akbar, Sheikh Nadeem Manwar and Muhammad Nadeem in Mandra police station, he informed.
He said that the MP&TE Directorate RDA was taking legal action against the illegal advertisements and marketing of illegal housing schemes. Earlier, the authority had issued notices to the aforementioned illegal housing schemes.
The spokesman said that RDA had warned that without getting the requisite No Objection Certificate from RDA for launching a housing scheme, apartment projects, commercial buildings, etc. within the controlled area of RDA, all sorts of advertisements, marketing and development work of the projects would be illegal.
RDA had also advised the citizens not to invest in illegal housing schemes and to check the status of the housing project on the official website of RDA or visit the authority’s office to get information.
The sponsors of illegal housing projects had also been warned to immediately stop the marketing of the unapproved schemes to avoid strict legal action, he added.
He said RDA had sent letters to the Governor State Bank of Pakistan, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi, FIA Cyber Crime Islamabad, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Islamabad, SNGPL Islamabad, the District Collector Rawalpindi, District Council Rawalpindi, PEMRA Islamabad and Commissioner Islamabad about illegal advertisements of private housing schemes on social media.
The DG had directed the MP&TE Directorate to take strict action against illegal and unauthorized housing schemes, constructions and commercial activities, booking offices and encroachments without any discrimination, he added.

PML-N high on popularity graph: Shehbaz

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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0
Shehbaz Sharif
LAHORE, Jan 31 (APP):Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has claimed that his party’s popularity graph among people is still high, despite its active participation in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government in the past.
Talking to digital media representatives here on Wednesday, he emphasised the importance of February-8 elections and highlighted its vitality for the country’s economic and social fabric. Amid numerous challenges confronting Pakistan, Shehbaz believed that general election was finally going to be held on the scheduled date, wherein the fate of Pakistan would be determined by its people through their constitutional right to vote.
He called upon all stakeholders to learn from country’s political history and set aside their personal interests and make collective efforts for achieving the unmet developmental goals of Pakistan by exploring its great potential in various fields.
Shehbaz Sharif cited that hardworking nations find a niche at international level, asserting that keeping in view Pakistan’s current internal and external challenges, “we all have to get united to face these challenges firmly”.
He claimed that during the PML-N government in 1990s, Pakistan had been outperforming India in various fields, and called for assessing all those factors which landed the country in the current situation.
“We have to learn from the past; nothing will be done by crying over the split milk,” he remarked and stressed the need for removing bottlenecks in the path to progress and prosperity. “We have to forget about our personal interests and have to play our role for development of the country,” he added.

FESCO striving hard for staff welfare: Engr. Amir

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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0
FESCO
FAISALABAD, Jan 31 (APP):Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) is striving hard for the welfare of staff and solution of all problems being confronted by them, said FESCO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engr. Muhammad Amir.
He was addressing a delegation of All WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union, which met him under the supervision of General Secretary Khurshid Ahmed Khan.
He said that there is an ideal relationship between the FESCO administration and labor union which is helping to solve the officials problem rapidly.
He further said that protection of the line staff from fatal and non-fatal accidents is top priority of FESCO, in this connection FESCO is purchasing safety instruments and gadgets worth millions of rupees.
He also directed the Sub Divisional Officers (SDOs) to personally monitor the T&P parade and check the safety instruments on a daily basis.
He made it clear that the FESCO administration, union and staff would have to work together to make the FESCO a profitable entity so that every employee of FESCO could enjoy its fruit.
During his address, General Secretary All WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union Khursheed Ahmad Khan congratulated Chief Executive Officer (CEO) FESCO Engr. Muhammad Amir on assuming the charge of the post of Chief Executive and hoped that under his leadership the company would double its progress.
He said that Engr. Muhammad Amir has served in various positions in the company for a long time and he has always shown proof of being a worker-friendly person by his words and deeds.
Thousands of FECO employees are happy on assuming his charge as Chief Executive Officer and they expect that Muhammad Amir as Chief Executive will solve their problems on priority basis, he added.
He also assured full cooperation of the union to make FESCO a top level distribution company among all DISCOs. He demanded the finalization of the promotion cases at company and circle level. He also demanded to provide staff according to the yardstick and revision of yardstick according to the numbers of consumers.
Director General (HR) Farrukh Aftab, DG (Admin) Ather Ayub Ch, Add. DG (PR) Tahir Sheikh, Regional Chairman Hydro Union Sarfraz Hundal and a large number of union members were also present at this occasion.

CM inaugurates first govt cancer care hospital

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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0
Federal Interior Minister
LAHORE, Jan 31 (APP):The first cancer hospital at the government level has been made operational on the special direction of Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi.
The CM inaugurated the Mayo Cancer Care Hospital at Manawan, here on Wednesday.
Mohsin Naqvi while announcing to provide free treatment facility to the patients in the cancer hospital revealed that every patient will be provided free treatment and no patient suffering from any stage will be denied treatment in the first government cancer hospital. For the time being, the cancer hospital comprises 100-beds and will be increased up to 1000-beds in the coming few years.
The CM visited the cancer hospital and reviewed facilities being provided to the patients. He obtained a token from the machine and ordered to simplify the automated system, adding that besides English writing, Urdu writing should also be displayed on the token machine for the facilitation of the patients. The CM reviewed the treatment mechanism of the cancer patients and monitored the whole Chemotherapy mechanism. He visited the room for collecting blood samples and also planted a sapling in the lawn of the hospital.
Mohsin Naqvi issued directions to write in the Urdu language on the sign boards for the facilitation of patients. He revealed that Chemotherapy and surgery will be carried out in the cancer hospital. All the administrative and financial affairs of the cancer hospital have been handed over entirely to the King Edward Medical College University. A state of the art hospital has been built for the treatment of cancer patients at the government level, he added.
The CM apprised that the cancer treatment is highly expensive which a common man cannot afford, adding that free treatment will be provided to the patients in this hospital. It is a dire need of the people of Punjab to have a high-quality cancer hospital at the government level. It is the foremost responsibility of the government to provide a state of the art hospital for cancer patients at the government level, he added.
CM Naqvi while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Mayo Cancer Care Hospital apprised that the first complete cancer care hospital of Punjab has been established. No patient suffering from any cancer ailment will be denied treatment facilities in the Mayo Cancer Care Hospital. Even the patient suffering from the last cancer stage will also be provided treatment facilities in the Mayo Cancer Care Hospital, he said and added that it is highly deplorable for not having a complete hospital to provide cancer treatment facilities in a population of 13 crore. There were cancer departments in the hospitals but there was not a single complete hospital.
Mohsin Naqvi stated that owing to a few weeks of hard work, the Manawan Hospital has been turned into Mayo Cancer Care Hospital. The government has established a cancer hospital and now it is the responsibility of the doctors and the staff to provide complete care to the cancer patients. If the doctors of cancer care hospital take the ownership then the hospital will earn a great name and fame, he added.
The CM directed to ensure care of the patients like being done in the private hospitals otherwise it will become a routine government hospital. The doctors will have to take the ownership of the hospital for ensuring better treatment facilities. It is a great milestone to establish a complete hospital for the treatment of cancer patients in a big hospital of the big Punjab province. It will become a cancer hospital comprising 1000 beds by the Grace of Allah Almighty in the coming ten years, he added. The cancer care hospital will be exemplary if the management succeeds in formulating a better system for the cancer treatment. The diagnosis of cancer is considered equal to giving death information. If the cancer patients are encouraged then their lives can be saved, he added. If anyone is diagnosed with cancer ailment then he must be aware about visiting the Mayo Cancer Hospital. The government has established a hospital and provision of treatment and fulfilling other responsibilities is in the hands of the doctors. The doctors and the staff will have to adopt a professional attitude. The patients across Punjab will be provided free treatment facilities in the Mayo Cancer Care Hospital, he added.
Provincial Ministers Dr. Javed Akram, Dr. Jamal Nasir, Secretaries of SHC&ME, C&W, Commissioner Lahore, Special Secretary SHC&ME, VC KEMU, CEO and concerned officials were also present on the occasion.

Tharparkar 7th world largest desert faces scarcity of water

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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0
HYDERABAD, Jan 31 (APP):The 7th largest desert in the world is renowned for being the only fertile desert. However, due to limited rainfall, the area faces a scarcity of water, even for basic needs. Consequently, the residents are unable to fully capitalize on the land’s fertility, a social media report said
Nonetheless, the desert’s fertility has resulted in the natural growth of trees, enhancing its beauty. During the rainy season, which typically spans from July to September, the desert transforms into a mesmerizing landscape, attracting tourists primarily from the Sindh province and occasionally from other regions.
Following the rainy season, there are sufficient water reserves in the form of ponds, providing the local population with water for about three months. While the pond water serves as a major drinking source for both humans and animals, it is understandably not as clean as desired. Nevertheless, it offers a crucial alternative in the absence of water scarcity.
Wells are the primary source of water in the area, but the groundwater level can reach depths of up to 200 feet, which further increases during periods of no rainfall. Traditionally, women undertake the task of fetching water from the wells using ropes.
Given the significant depth of the water, a single woman cannot fetch water alone. It requires a team of five to six women to collectively pull a single bucket of water from the well.
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