PARC holds National Dialogue on agricultural research

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

A three-day National Dialogue on Agricultural Research started at the National Agricultural Research Centre Islamabad Speaking at the inaugural session the Honorable Minister of National Food Security and Research, Chaudhary Tariq Bashir Cheema, highlighted the government s commitment to promoting the agricultural sector and improving the livelihoods of farmers The minister emphasized the importance of research and innovation in achieving sustainable agricultural development and achieving the target of self-sufficiency in edible oil production The minister advised the Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research to pinpoint governance and financial issues hindering agriculture research

Organized by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council the Dialogue shall witness eminent agricultural scientists and policy makers from all over the country as well as international organizations to define futuristic pathways for agricultural research The event aims to explore challenges recent trends and novel technological in- novations in the field under the theme of ''Harnessing Agriculture

Potential to Boost Pakistan s Economy The inaugural session was attended by national and international stakeholders in agriculture The Dialogue has been planned to provide platform for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss and deliberate on the latest developments and innovations in agricultural research and plan for future research accordingly The stakeholders will be making efforts to identify strategies and solutions to overcome the challenges faced by the agricultural sector and pave the way for sustainable development The National Dialogue on Agricultural Research will cover a range of topics, including crop improvement, livestock and fisheries, natural resource management food security and rural development The event will feature interactive sessions panel discussions and presentations by renowned experts and sci-

In line with directions of the Chairman Capital Development Authority Captain Noor ul Amin Mengal massive operations againt illegal constructions and encroachments keep Islamabad free from illegal constructions and encroachments in Park Enclave Phase III Enforcement Directorate Land and Rehabilitation Islamabad Administration and Islamabad Police are participating in this operation

According to details 115 rooms 35 kitchens 32 washrooms, 5 bramday and 33 illegally constructed boundary walls constructed on state land were demolished with the help of heavy machinery Four people were also arrested for obstructing the opera-

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A high-level meeting was held under the joint chair of Chief Secretary Punjab and Chief Census Commissioner Dr Naeem uz Zafar to devise a strategy for Verification/ Coverage of leftover areas to ensure complete census coverage in Punjab till 15th May, 2023 in mutual consultation with Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) and the Punjab Administration Chief Secretary Punjab appreciated the Census work and deep analysis by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, which was extremely helpful in rectifying issues of under-coverage assessing problematic blocks through geotagged locations Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) presented the reasons for low coverage, mined through the Digital Systems, in detail and gave recommendations for mitigation to achieve full coverage Block-wise lists of one member, two members and nonliving units were shared with Punjab Administration for a targeted approach Chief Census Commissioner Dr Naeem uz Zafar as- entists in the field of agriculture

The Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research emphasized to improve governance through establishment of a well-coordinated system among different institutions and rationalize existing resources to improve efficiency of the research system

Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) welcomed the distinguished guests He highlighted importance of research to deal with the food security challenge of the country He shared PARC led coordinated efforts of National Agricultural Research System like; germplasm sharing variety development and release – more than 700 varieties Agricultural Linkages Program –throughout NARS He further emphasized National Agricultural Research System needs autonomy to enhance collaboration with international partners in technology joint projects exchange programs and capacity building

Enclave Phase

tion The objective of the operation is to eliminate encroachment from the acquired land for the sectors

On this occasion, Chairman Capital Development Authority Captain Noor ul Amin Mengal said that the encroachments should be removed and the remaining development works of Park Enclave should be completed as soon as possible He further said that after the elimination of encroachments in Park Enclave phase three the encroachments from phase one and two will be eliminated

It is pertinent to mention here that the operation started to eliminate the encroachment of the acquired land for the sectors will remain continue Member Estates are supervising the operation in line with the directions of Chairman CDA Captain Noor ul Amin Mengal

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Allowing untrusted suppliers in any part of the network also subjects Malaysia s infrastructure to national security risks ” Huawei, the U S embassy in Kuala Lumpur the EU delegation to Malaysia and the Malaysian Ministry of Communications and Digital did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment

NUST students display mural

ar t on a huge c anvas

I s l a m a b a d: In a stirring display of artistic prowess, creativity and teamwork, NUST Marketing & Communications joined by a spirited team of students has successfully unveiled the first-ever wall mural at NUST on as large a canvas as the rear of Power Zone one of the vast sports and fitness complexes at the university s Islamabad campus It has taken months of unparalleled commitment and perseverance for the team to realise the mural that features a mesmerising blend of colours, shapes, and designs From bold and vibrant brushstrokes to delicate and intricate patterns the mural is a true testament to the power of collaboration and imagination and a reminder of the incredible things that can happen when people work together to achieve a common goal P R

S trategy devised to ensure complete coverage of Census in Islamabad till 15th May

In pursuance of directions of Mr Ahsan Iqbal, Minister PD & SI, to complete census exercise on 15th May, 2023 for timely handing over data to Election Commission of Pakistan PBS higher management has decided to hold series of meetings starting with Chief Commissioner Islamabad on 1st May, 2023 Such meetings will also be conducted with Provincial Government of Punjab on 2nd May, 2023, KP on 3rd May, 2023, Sindh on 4th May, 2023 and Balochistan on 5th May 2023 A meeting between Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) higher management and ICT administration under the chair of Chief Census Commissioner, Dr Naeem uz Zafar, to determine the reasons (gaps) of low coverage in Islamabad and devise a targeted strategy to ensure complete coverage till 15th May, 2023 was held in National Census Coordination Centre (N3C) PBS head office on 1st May 2023

The reasons of low coverage determined through data analysis and ground realities were discussed in detail with ICT administration As ICT Administration is fully responsible for completion of Census Field Work in Islamabad The problems of negative growth rate specially in Islamabad Urban are lack of security of Enumerators A P P

Emirates boarding pass unlocks hundreds of offers in D ubai this summer

I s l a m a b a d: Emirates has today announced the return of its popular My Emirates Pass Starting from 1st May 2023 to 30th September 2023 My Emirates Summer Pass enables customers to get even more from their trip with five months of exclusive offers at hundreds of locations in Dubai and the UAE Emirates customers flying to or through Dubai can simply show their boarding pass and a valid form of identification to hundreds of retail leisure and dining outlets as well as famous attractions and luxury spas, to enjoy fantastic discounts throughout Dubai and the UAE

To access the offers, customers can simply show their printed or mobile Emirates boarding pass at participating venues along with a valid form of identification

If you checked in online and downloaded your mobile boarding pass to the Emirates App or Wallet, remember to screenshot it to present at participating venues as it will disappear from your apps once you’ve landed A P P sured full support of PBS in identifying further gaps and provision of desired information In turn, Chief Commissioner Punjab assured his full cooperation in filling the gaps identified by PBS and completing the important National task of the Census within the stipulated timelines District Commissioners (DCs) and Assistant Commissioners (ACs) have a key role conducting field visits for effective vigilance and monitoring and will convene meetings on a daily basis and share daily progress reports with the Chief Census Commissioner • Strict action will be taken in case of misreporting by

Field staff In pursuance of directions of Mr Ahsan Iqbal Minister PD & SI, to complete the census exercise on 15th May, 2023 for timely handing over data to the Election Commission of Pakistan PBS higher management is holding a series of meetings with Provincial and ICT Administration starting with Chief Commissioner Islamabad which was held on 1st May, 2023 Second meeting was held with the Punjab administration on 2nd May 2023 Such meetings will also be conducted with the Provincial Governments of KP on 3rd May, 2023, Sindh on 4th May, 2023 and Balochistan on 5th May, 2023 respectively