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PU holds seminar on marketing blunders

By
Ali Ali
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LAHORE, Aug 17 (APP):The Punjab University (PU) Department of Graphic Design and Postgraduate Research Centre of Creative Arts organized a seminar on ‘Learning from marketing blunders – Sady Wal Tak Sajna’ here on Saturday.
On this occasion, Chairman Department of Graphic Design Prof Dr Ahmad Bilal, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications in JazzCash Syed Asad Rizvi, faculty members and students were present.
In his address, Prof Dr Ahmad Bilal said that this seminar is part of a series leading up to the International Conference on Creative Arts (ICCA-24). He said that ICCA-24; 100 Years of Lahore Cinema, is taking place at the Old Campus, to celebrate the century of Lahore cinema, as 1924 was the birth year of cinema. In the previous century cinema was the driving force of every other industry and firstly commercials were also shown on cinema screens, he added.
In an insightful presentation, Syed Asad Rizvi explored the evolving landscape of modern advertising, shedding light on the latest trends and the significant challenges that brands face in today’s competitive market. He highlighted both the triumphs and pitfalls of some of the famous campaigns of leading global brands. He showcased how top global brands have succeeded by navigating industry complexities. He also examined critical mistakes that led to the downfall of several prominent brands, offering valuable lessons for advertisers, marketers and business leaders.
Former Principal of the College of Art and Design, Prof Shahnawaz Zaidi, congratulated the Department of Graphic Design for organizing an excellent seminar featuring a top industry practitioner.

Three injured in Quetta Sariab road blast

By
Ali Ali
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0
ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (APP):At least three persons were wounded in a powerful explosion in Quetta Sariab Road near a university on Saturday afternoon.
 Police sources confirmed the injuries and said that the attack was carried out through an improvised explosive device (IED), the private news channel reported.
Police said that the powerful explosion was heard far and wide causing panic in the city. There has been no claim of responsibility for the explosion yet, police officials mentioned.
 Rescue and security forces reached the site immediately after they were informed and shifted injured persons to the local hospital where an emergency was being imposed, police sources added.

Renowned music composer Ghulam Ahmed Chishti remembered

By
Ali Ali
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0
ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (APP):Renowned music composer Ghulam Ahmed Chishti also known as Baba Chishti was remembered on the occasion of his birth anniversary on Saturday.
Born on August 17, 1905, in Jalandhar, Chishti became fond of music in his childhood. He was later noticed by a stage play director Agha Hashar Kashmiri when Chishti came to Lahore in 1934 and hired his services to assist him with his work.
Under Kashmiri’s influence, Chishti began learning the intricacies of the music industry and trained with him. Upon Kashmiri’s death, Chishti joined a recording company and began composing on his own. Amongst his first records were those for Jaddanbai and Amirbai Karnataki before partition.
Chishti had introduced Noor Jehan to the Lahore stage when she was nine years old in 1935. He started his career composing music for the films with Deen-o-Dunya in 1936. Once he got some recognition, he was offered to compose music for L. R. Shori’s film Sohni Mahival in 1938. He became known for his compositions both in Urdu and Punjabi languages.
In Chishti’s career, things took a drastic turn for the better, after the independence of Pakistan. He decided to migrate to Pakistan in 1949 and  offered his services as a musician to the Pakistani film industry.
He composed music for three filmsin 1949. His initial compositions for Sachai, Mundri and Pheray (1949) were simultaneously produced.
 Pheray (1949) became a blockbuster hit and earned plaudits for the composer. It is reported that the six songs in the film were written, composed and recorded in a single day.  Later in 1955, the Punjabi film Pattan (1955) came along and became a musical hit film for Baba Chishti and boosted his career and he became a well-sought-after music director by the film producers after the box-office success of this film. Chishti excelled at Punjabi compositions and had great  influence on filmmusic. With almost 5,000 tunes to his credit, he composed scores for over  140  films and was the first musician to reach the ‘100 films’ threshold in newly independent Pakistan after 1947.Being a poet, he had written lyrics for 12 of the most popular Pakistani film songs besides writing hundreds of other film songs during his career.
Besides Noor Jehan,  Saleem Raza, Mala, Nassem Begum, Masood Rana and Pervaiz Mehdi were his discoveries in music industry.
Ghulam Ahmed Chishti was awarded the Pride of Performance Award for Arts in 1989 by the President of Pakistan.
He died at the age of 89 due to a heart attack on December 25, 1994 in Lahore, Pakistan.

PDMA warns of rising water level in Chenab river

By
Ali Ali
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0
MUZAFFARGARH, Aug 17 (APP):Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warned of rising water level in Chenab river at location of Head Marala.
About 112964 cusec feet water is recorded at the said location giving clear signal of flood could hit the area.
About 163215 cusec feet water is accumulated at Khanki location with 101726 cubic feet of flood is passing at Qadirabad, said PDMA in its freshly released report.
According to report, there is moderate level of flood risen in Chenab river.
The PDMA issued instructions to local population to remain alert to the areas adjacent to the river.

Aggressive tree plantation: A key solution to Pakistan’s heatwaves, ecosystem health

By
NNPS Desk
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By Andleeb Khan

ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (APP): Pakistan, one of the most affected countries by climate change, faces severe challenges due to escalating heatwaves and widespread deforestation. Although numerous tree planting campaigns are active across the country, these efforts are insufficient to address the scale of athe crisis.

Aggressive tree plantation: A key solution to Pakistan’s heatwaves, ecosystem health

Tree planting is not just a strategy but a crucial tool in managing climate challenges, improving public health, and protecting agriculture and the environment. As highlighted by the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate threats underscores the urgent need for intensified and consistent tree plantation initiatives.

According to the Global Forest Watch, Pakistan had 648,000 hectares of tree cover in 2010, accounting for 0.74% of its land area. However, by 2023, the country lost 148 hectares of tree cover, releasing 60.2 kilotons of CO2. Since 2001, Pakistan has lost 9,940 hectares of tree cover, representing a 1% decrease since 2000, and emitted 2.88 million tons of CO2 equivalent. Deforestation, driven largely by human activities, has been a major issue, with 4.1% of tree cover loss occurring in areas affected by such activities.

In 2024, Pakistan has reported 1,534 high-confidence VIIRS fire alerts, a significant increase compared to previous years. The highest number of fire alerts recorded in a year was 1,869 in 2018. From July 5, 2021, to July 1, 2024, there have been 59,835 VIIRS fire alerts. Forest fires, primarily caused by human negligence, are the leading driver of deforestation in Pakistan.

Recent fire incidents in June, particularly in Margalla Hills National Park—which spans 12,605 hectares and is managed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB)—highlight the severity of the situation. These fires, often exacerbated by heatwaves, have become increasingly frequent and intense due to climate change and human negligence.

Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts. Public awareness campaigns and more educational seminars are essential to emphasize the importance of tree planting and the need to avoid practices that could trigger fires, such as cooking and smoking in forested areas.

Naseer Memon, a renowned climate change and natural disaster expert, stresses that sustainable plantation involves choosing the right species. Ecologically harmful and invasive species should be avoided, and post-plantation care must not be overlooked in the pursuit of high planting targets.

Dr. Ghulam Raza Bhatti, a botanist at the Botanical Garden, Biodiversity & Conservation, notes that Pakistan’s diverse terrain—from the coast to the K2 Mountains—supports a variety of ecological zones and forest types. This diversity necessitates a variety of vegetation suited to different ecological zones.

In Islamabad, the city’s undulating landscape offers several areas suitable for tree planting, including avenues, major and emerging arteries, parks, green belts, residential areas, educational institutions, and government offices. Urban tree cover is crucial for enhancing the city’s environmental quality.

Dr. Ghulam Raza highlighted the need to seek expert advice before planting saplings, as not all trees are suited to every region or ecosystem. Choosing the appropriate species for the specific environmental conditions is essential for ensuring successful growth and maximizing the environmental benefits.

Additionally, Pakistan is grappling with a severe energy crisis, with rising power consumption putting immense pressure on the national grid. To address this, promoting extensive tree plantation—especially of fast-growing species suitable for biomass energy—can serve as a pivotal strategy. By diversifying its energy sources and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, Pakistan can move towards a more sustainable energy future.

In a nutshell, prioritizing large-scale tree plantation is more than just a conservation initiative; it’s a holistic approach to tackling Pakistan’s environmental, social, and economic issues. This strategy not only helps in disaster resilience and public health improvement but also contributes to energy conservation and sustainable development. By adopting this approach, Pakistan can forge a path towards a greener, healthier, and more prosperous future for all its citizens.

Health specialist urges public vigilance to contain Monkeypox outbreak

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (APP): Health specialist Saturday called for heightened public awareness and community participation in the efforts to contain Monkeypox, highlighting key strategies such as early identification, isolation and collective action.

Professor Dr. Ashar Mashhood talking to the PTV New said that as the world grapples with the Monkeypox outbreak and emphasis on public awareness, community engagement and accurate information highlight the importance of a collective response to the outbreak. “By working together, we can contain the spread of Monkeypox and protect our communities”, he added.

Responding to a query, he explained, “Monkeypox is a viral (zoonotic) disease (a virus transmitted to humans from animals), adding that it is caused by the monkeypox virus which belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family”.

Dr. Mashhood further said that the primary mode of transmission of Monkeypox is through close contact with infected animals, such as rodents, primates and other wild animals. He added that this can occur through handling or consuming meat from infected animals or through contact with contaminated animal products.

He emphasized the importance of proper handling and cooking of animal products to prevent the transmission of the virus.
In addition to animal-to-human transmission, Dr. Mashhood noted that Monkeypox can be spread through human-to-human contact.

This can occur through respiratory droplets, such as those produced by coughing or sneezing, or through contact with infected bodily fluids or skin lesions, he said.

He stressed the importance of practising good hygiene, such as frequent hand-washing and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), to prevent the transmission of the virus.

The expert also highlighted the importance of early detection and isolation of cases to prevent the spread of Monkeypox.
He noted that symptoms of the virus can include fever, headache, muscle aches, and skin lesions and that prompt medical attention is essential for effective treatment and prevention of complications.

Muslim groups demand removal of Ram Mandir float at New York’s India Day parade

By
NNPS Desk
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0

NEW YORK, Aug 17 (APP): Indian Muslim and other faith-based organizations have called on organizers of Sunday’s parade in New York marking India’s independence day to remove a float featuring Ram Mandir, saying it is considered as a symbol glorifying the destruction of mosques and violence against the Muslims in the South Asian country.

The float depicts the controversial Ram Mandir, which was consecrated earlier this year in Ayodhya, claimed to be the Hindu god’s birthplace. But its site has long been bitterly contested between Hindus and Muslims, and in the early 1990s the Babri mosque that stood there was razed by a Hindu fundamentalist mob.

The mosque’s destruction was followed by nationwide riots that killed some 2,000 people, mainly Muslims. In 2019, the Indian Supreme Court handed over the land to Hindus.

On their part, the parade organizers have rejected calls to remove the float, saying it celebrates the inauguration of a sacred landmark that is significant to hundreds of millions of Hindus.

Several U.S.-based organizations have written a letter to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, calling the float anti-Muslim and saying it glorified the mosque’s destruction.

Among groups who signed the letter were the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Hindus for Human Rights.

Other group signing the letter were: the Federation of Indian American Churches of North America (FIACONA), Muslim Public Affairs Council, New York State Council of Churches, Genocide Watch, Center for Pluralism, India’s Civil Watch International, American Muslim Institution, and Association of Indian Muslims in America.

“This float’s presence represents these groups’ desire to conflate Hindu nationalist ideology with Indian identity…” the letter said.

“We implore you to take immediate and decisive measures to prevent inclusion of a polarizing and divisive float in this parade.”

Mohammed Jawad, president of the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), said, “[The mandir] is widely understood as a monument to Hindu supremacist ideology, one that highlights Modi’s goal of creating a Hindu ethno-state, and reinvigorates the Indian right’s goal of taking over and destroying mosques across the country.”

Jawad added, “It is an anti-Muslim symbol, and those who celebrated the Ram Temple’s consecration are very much aware of this … we can’t allow this to slide in a city like New York, where diversity is cause for celebration and communities of all backgrounds coexist.”

“There’s no room for hate,“ Mayor Adams said at a press conference earlier this week. “If there is a float or a person in the parade that’s promoting hate, they should not.

Mayor Adams’ office later told the Associated Press, the American news agency, that the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment right to free speech prevents the city from denying a permit or requiring that a float or parade’s message be changed simply because it does not agree with the content.

Human rights experts say India has seen a rise in attacks, including violence and discrimination, on Muslims and other minorities in recent years under Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Day Parade Committee announced that the event will take place in New York City on August 25.

APP/ift

NA body highlights Edu Ministry’s role in educational policies, implementation

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training an insightful and detailed briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, about the Ministry’s role in the development and implementation of educational policies and professional training frameworks.

The second meeting of the Committee was held on Friday at National Assembly Secretariat under the chairmanship of Dr. Azim Uddin Zahid Lakhvi, MNA.

Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Training said that their mandate encompasses the advancement of educational quality, expansion of access and enhancement of vocational training programs, all geared towards achieving national development objectives.

The Ministry’s performance highlights included significant progress in curriculum reforms, educational accessibility, and skills development, underscoring its dedication to fostering an inclusive and progressive educational environment that meets the diverse needs of the nation’s workforce.

The Chairman of the Committee stressed on enhancing the budgetary allocation to the universities. He affirmed the Committee’s steadfast support for initiatives poised to make a lasting impact on the nation’s educational landscape.

Emphasizing the importance of enhancing educational opportunities and addressing existing disparities, the Chairman emphasized on the committee’s commitment to support measures that enable students to achieve their educational aspirations and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Committee Members also noted that the schools in peripheral areas of Islamabad are deprived of the facilities being provided to elite areas. The committee’s emphasized on improving educational standards and ensuring equal opportunities for all students.

In addition, the Committee highlighted that the support provided from certain NGOs has been beneficial, it often lacks long-term sustainability.

They emphasized the necessity for the Ministry to ensure the continuity of these initiatives, stressing that educational priorities should be established by the Ministry itself. This approach will ensure a more coherent and sustained effort in addressing the educational needs of the nation and supporting the development of students as future contributors to the country’s progress.

The Committee Members commended the Ministry’s recent four-month initiatives, particularly in aligning skill-building efforts with 21st-century competencies, curriculum and assessment reforms, infrastructure improvements, and student support enhancements.

They also noted the disparities in educational quality between schools within and outside designated sectors, calling attention to the need for equitable resource distribution. The Chairman committee applauded for the establishment of IT labs and modern training in IT.

The Committee reviewed several legislative proposals, including “The International Institute of Technology, Culture and Health Sciences Bill 2024”, “The South City University Bill 2024”, “The Nippon Institute of Advanced Sciences (NIAS) Bill 2024”, and “The Pakistan Examination Board Bill 2024”. Following thorough discussion, these Bills were deferred, with specific attention requested from the Law Ministry regarding “The Nippon Institute of Advanced Sciences (NIAS) Bill 2024”. Identified gaps were discussed, and the Bills were referred for subsequent meetings of the committee.

The NA Committee unanimously expressed their commitment in supporting initiatives that can enhance the quality educational opportunities for all citizens and to provide them with advance professional trainings, thereby contributing to the development of responsible and capable citizens.

UN to probe security forces’ ‘serious’ rights abuses in Bangladesh protests

By
NNPS Desk
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0

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 16 (APP): A United Nations team will go to Bangladesh next week to investigate “serious human rights violations” committed during the upheaval that toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said Friday.

Student protests that began peacefully in early July soon turned violent when Sheikh Hasina’s followers and security forces clashed with demonstrators and cracked down on rallies, leaving at least 300 people dead and thousands injured. Authorities also arrested more than 11,000 people, mostly student activists.

The violent uprising that forced Bangladesh’s longest-serving premier to resign and flee the country brought political transition, with Nobel-winning economist Muhammad Yunus leading the new interim government as chief adviser.

Farhan Haq told reporters tht UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and Yunus, the Bangladesh interim leader, discussed a “comprehensive range of support that the UnHuman Rights Office could provide to the interim government and the transition, including accountability issues.”

Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the political transition underway in Bangladesh represents an historic opportunity to ensure governance is anchored in human rights, inclusivity and the rule of law.

Turk also stressed the need for accountability for rights violations and violence connected to anti-government protests that rocked the country in recent weeks, prompting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India.

“The transition ahead presents an historic opportunity to reform and revitalize the country’s institutions, to restore fundamental freedoms and civic space, and to give all in Bangladesh a part in building the future,” said Turk, whose office, OHCHR, has issued a preliminary report on the unrest.

“Accountability for violations and justice for the victims are key for the way forward and will need to be accompanied by a national healing process,” he added. “A comprehensive, impartial and transparent investigation into all human rights violations and abuses that have occurred will be a critical first step.”

The protests, which began in mid-June, were triggered by the reinstatement of a controversial quota system for civil service jobs.

According to the report, “there are strong indications, warranting further independent investigation, that the security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force in their response to the situation.”

It went on to say that additional alleged violations also warrant thorough, impartial and transparent investigations, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, and severe restrictions on the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.

Following the Government’s resignation on 5 August, there were also reports of looting, arson and attacks on members of religious minorities in Bangladesh, as well as reprisals against and revenge killings of members of the former ruling party and police.

On 15 August, mobs armed with bamboo sticks, iron rods and pipes reportedly assaulted supporters of the former Prime Minister. Journalists were also reportedly attacked and threatened, preventing them from filming at the scenes.

The report stressed the importance of rapidly restoring law and order, and the need for effective measures to prevent further loss of life, violence and acts of reprisals.

Recommendations include ensuring that law enforcement agencies receive clear instructions and training on the use of force, in line with international human rights standards.

The UN rights chief has welcomed the initiative by various student organizations, faith leaders and others, who are forming groups to protect minorities and religious sites belonging to minority communities.

Turk called for all persons responsible for human rights violations, including those who used or ordered the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, to be held to account. Victims must be provided reparations and effective remedies, he added.

Additionally, he welcomed the release of thousands of detainees and longer-term political prisoners, including some victims of enforced disappearance, and urged the release of all those arbitrarily detained.

The human rights report also called for a systematic approach to vetting for any appointments and dismissals to the judiciary, security sector and other institutions.

APP/ift

An elderly beggar begs from auto drivers near traffic junction on Jaranwala Road

By
Khuram Maryam
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0
An elderly beggar begs from auto drivers near traffic junction on Jaranwala Road
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