Revolution brought about in education sec tor: Rana Tanveer

SHEIKHUPURA

S ta f f R e p o R t

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain said on Saturday that the amount of work done by the present government for promotion of education is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan

He was speaking at the foundationlaying ceremony of Allam Iqbal Open University Regional Campus at Sheikhupura, which would be completed with Rs 250 million He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, a revolution was brought about in the education sector He said his entire team is making progress and improvement in every sector

Imran Khan s role in May-9 incidents was very condemnable and he should not be pardoned for those heinous acts under any circumstances Those who attacked national installations their mastermind and accomplices should be punished severely Now he is expected to be arrested, added the minister Director General Pakistan Institute of Education Dr Muhammad Shahid Saroya PML-N central leader Chaudhry Shahbaz Chhina Chaudhry Sarfraz Ahmad Chhina Director General Regional Services Malik Taukir Ahmed Regional Director Javed Iqbal, Dr Bashir Ahmed, Dr Syed Baqar Hamdani, Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam Gujjar, Rana Muhammad Irshad Chaudhry, Iftikhar Ahmed Gujjar Malik Muhammad Ramzan Columnist Mirza

Punjab apex body reviews securit y arrangements in province

LAHORE

A meeting of the provincial apex committee was held at the Punjab Chief Minister House on Saturday to review security arrangements in the province The meeting was jointly presided over by Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Lahore Corps Commander Lieutenant General Syed Amir Raza

The forum reviewed the progress made on the decisions taken during the last meeting of the apex committee in February 2023 The participants took a comprehensive look at the progress on the revised National Action Plan (NAP) and overall security related issues including the Punjab Safe City Project During the meeting major damage to Safe City Project installations/equipment due to vandalism on May 9 2023 was highlighted and the subsequent remedial measures were also discussed

Besides this, the participants reviewed the elaborated security measures during upcoming Moharamul Haram The forum was also briefed on the close cooperation and joint response of the civil administration and the armed forces to mitigate the difficulties arising from the floods The forum expressed satisfaction over the measures taken in the province to protect foreigners, especially Chinese nationals, including those working in the CPEC projects The committee resolved to continue to work in concert to defeat terrorism and achieve common goals in the light of the NAP

Speakers highlight importance of e-commerce, online businesses

PESHAWAR

S ta f f R e p o R t

Speakers at an awareness seminar highlighted the importance of E-commerce, online businesses and trade promotion in the emerging world and asked the business community especially young male and female start-ups to adapt modern techniques and tools to harness benefits of growing digitization in businesses and trade The awareness seminar on Ecommerce was organized by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), and Trade

Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) here at the chamber s house on Saturday

The SCCI s acting president Ijaz Khan Afridi presided over the awareness session while TDAP Director General Nouman Bashir was chief guest on the occasion

Besides, the TDAP officials Zahid Muhammad, Aamir Khan, members of the SCCI’s executive committee Naeem Qasmi Laal Badshah and Aurangzeb Ihsanullah Fazal e Wahid Saddar Gul

Ishtiaq Muhammad traders importers and exporters digital leaders innovators and male and female entrepreneurs were in attendance in a large number on the occasion Ijaz Khan Afridi in his opening remarks stressed the need for equipping modern knowledge and techniques for business and trade promotion He said the business community start-ups and young entrepreneurs should take full advantage of online businesses especially with advent of Amazon in Pakistan The chamber s president said Pakistan has ranked fourth in freelancing in the world and will soon improve and consolidate its position by consistent and vigorous efforts He noted Pakistan’s IT exports are gradually increasing over the passage of time He said E-commerce is ideal for young male and female entrepreneurs especially start-up businesses He went on to say that the Trade Development portal has provided assistance for Pakistan s share in global trade

Yasin Baig and a large number of participants were present Rana Tanveer Hussain said that the future of youth lies in getting skilled

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Remittances from expatriats with no source disclosure were enhanced to 100 000 USD incentives for the IT sector and no new taxes were imposed The government had to accept the conditions in the IMF agreement and many facilities given in the budget were withdrawn

The LCCI President said that the difference between the state bank and interbank dollar rate is creating a lot of problems Remittances have decreased by five billion dollars in the last year Many problems are caused by devaluation FDI is not coming into the country due to high cost of doing business

He said that maintaining the system after the flood and covid was critical It is to the credit of the present government that they not a d e l i b e r a t e d e c i s i o n n o t t o r e p o r t t h e crimes of sexual violence being committed i n I n d i a n - o c c u p i e d J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r a n d i n I s r a e l i - o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n e ”

Thousands of women and girls have been r a p e d a n d g a n g r a p e d a n d s u b j e c t e d t o e n f o r c e d i n c a r c e r a t i o n , t o r t u r e a n d a b d u c t i o n , A m b a s s a d o r A k r a m s a i d I n a d d i t i o n , t h e P a k i s t a n i e n v o y s a i d , thousands of women, girls, boys and men h a v e b e e n d e t a i n e d a n d t o r t u r e d a s punishment and humiliation while entire c o m m u n i t i e s w e r e p r e v e n t e d f r o m t h e i r r i g h t s t o f r e e d o m o f e x p r e s s i o n a n d religion, education and employment And since India s unilateral and illegal education instead of traditional education In the modern era, the demand for technical people is increasing day by day He said that 25 million children are out of school in Pakistan but he made sincerely efforts and enrolled 90 000 children in schools of Islamabad within a year The number of out-of-school children has been reduced to zero in the capital area, he said and added that the method of online education has been permanently adopted He said that e-schooling has also been started in the country He said Muridke area of Sheikhupura had been made hub of universities, and added that Pakistan’s number one university Quaide-Azam University campus would be inaugurated in Sharqpur Sharif area of Sheikhupura in few days only managed the system but also addressed our grievances We want to increase exports but the priority should be to reduce imports and that will be through industrialization and import substitution He said that many industries were closed after Corona However there is a problem with MDI fixed charges It should be resolved He said that regulatory duties and customs duties should be abolished on raw materials which are not manufactured in this country He said that the tax net has to be increased The benefits should be communicated to those who are not in the tax net Depreciation of rupee increases inflation and interest rate

The interest rate is twenty two percent If it decreases the business cost will decrease

The LCCI President said that solar and alternative energy should be made mandatory for houses of more than one kanal He said that work should be started on reservoirs and dams to avoid floods He said that State Owned Enterprises should be privatized He said that SMEs should be promoted They should be given easy access to loans Banks should be asked to ease conditions for loans Steps should be taken to regulate the undeclared money He said that the confidence of overseas Pakistanis should be restored He said that government s work on climate change is commendable He said that Assessing Officer should be accountable if he does wrong He said that political stability is essential for economic stability He also requested Prime Minister to spare time for LCCI Achievement Awards

Pakistan condemns permission for desecration of Torah, Bible in Sweden

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Saturday condemned the permission for public desecration of the Torah and Bible in Sweden

In a statement, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said, “Offensive acts of religious hatred cannot be condoned in the guise of freedom of expression and opinion

As a religion of peace Islam calls for respect for all religions, sacred personalities and holy scriptures

“In line with this Islamic ethos, Pakistan has always stressed the need to advance mutual respect harmony and peaceful coexistence among religions faiths and cultures We call on the international community to condemn, with one voice, all such abhorrent acts of religious hatred, which hurt the sentiments of its followers and constitute deliberate incitement ” she added The fresh incident of desecration of a holy book comes of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) approved a resolution on religious hatred on Wednesday

An Iraqi immigrant to Sweden desecrated the Holy Quran in Stockholm last month and this act of religious hatred drew a strong condemnation from several Muslim states, including Pakistan, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the European Union, Pope Francis and the Swedish government Introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the 57-nation OIC the resolution calls for the UN rights

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed warned on Saturday that any attempt to manipulate the upcoming caretaker setup in the Centre would make the general election controversial before time

Taking to Twitter, the former interior minister said if the PDM-led government tried to show cunning in formation of the caretaker setup it would make the polls controversial He said the formation of the interim government would make it clear whether the elections would be held in a transparent manner or not chief to publish a report on religious hatred and for states to review their laws and plug gaps that may “impede the prevention and prosecution of acts and advocacy of religious hatred

The United States and the European Union strongly opposed the resolution, saying it conflicts with their view on human rights and freedom of expression Condemning the desecration of the Holy Quran they argued the OIC initiative was designed to safeguard religious symbols rather than human rights The outcome of Wednesday s vote marks a major defeat for Western countries at a time when the OIC has unprecedented clout in the council the only body made up of governments to protect human rights worldwide

He warned that the prevailing crisis would deepen if the poor segment of society was ignored by the caretaker government Sheikh Rashid said the rulers were busy in power struggle by turning a deaf ear to the inflation-bitten public, adding that the economic crises would intensify if the public was not taken on board in matters of national interest Lashing out at the ruling coalition he said inflation was on the rise while a recent decision of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to increase electricity price by Rs5 per unit had also frightened the public He also took aim at Finance Minister measures of August 5, 2019, conflict-related violence and harassment and humiliation of women and girls in Kashmir has increased significantly ” Ambassador Akram told the Security Council We would therefore urge the secretary-general to rectify the report s omissions and include information on the incidence of sexual violence in foreignoccupied Kashmir and Palestine and list India and Israel amongst those parties perpetrating conflict-related sexual violence in future reports to the Security Council In this regard he also called for faithful implementation of all Security Council resolutions related to protracted conflicts

Ukraine FM likely to arrive in Pakistan on 20th

ISLAMABAD M o n i to R i n g R e p o R t U k r a i n i a n F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r D m i t r y K o l i b a i s l i k e l y t o v i s i t P a k i s t a n n e x t w e e k t o m e e t t h e c i v i l - m i l i t a r y l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e c o u n t r y A c c o r d i n g o ff i c i a l s o u r c e s , U k r a i n i a n F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r D m i t r y K o l i b a w o u l d a r r i v e o n a t h r e ed a y v i s i t t o P a k i s t a n o n J u l y 2 0 D u r i n g h i s s t a y i n P a k i s t a n , K o l i b a w i l l m e e t h i s P a k i s t a n i c o u n t e r p a r t B i l a w a l B h u t t o Z a r d a r i , a n d w i l l c a l l o n P r i m e M i n i s t e r S h e h b a z S h a r i f b e s i d e s h o l d i n g m e e t i n g w i t h m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s H o w e v e r, t h e r e w a s n o o ff i c i a l c o n f i r m a t i o n o n e i t h e r s i d e a b o u t t h e v i s i t I t m a y b e n o t e d t h a t I s l a m a b a d m a i n t a i n s a n e u t r a l s t a n c e o n t h e R u s s i a - U k r a i n e c o n f l i c t a s i t h a s e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n s o v e r t h e h u m a n i t a r i a n c r i s i s i n t h e w a rt o r n c o u n t r y L a s t y e a r F M B i l a w a l r e i t e r a t e d P a k i s t a n s n e u t r a l i t y o n t h e R u s s i a - U k r a i n e c o n f l i c t s a y i n g t h a t I s l a m a b a d w a s n o t t a k i n g s i d e s We w o u l d n o t b e t a k i n g s i d e s a s w e a r e s i c k a n d t i r e d o f w a r s a n d c o n f l i c t s , t h e m i n i s t e r s a i d i n a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h A l J a z e e r a PM appoints Fuad

Asadullah as DG IB K A R A C H I S ta f f R e p o Rt P r i m e M i n i s t e r S h e h b a z S h a r i f o n S a t u r d a y a p p o i n t e d F u a d A s a d u l l a h K h a n a s d i r e c t o r g e n e r a l o f t h e I n t e l l i g e n c e B u r e a u ( I B ) A c c o r d i n g t o t h e n o t i f i c a t i o n t h e p r i m e m i n i s t e r h a s a p p o i n t e d F u a d A s a d u l l a h K h a n a s D G I B f o r a p e r i o d o f t h r e e m o n t h s o n a c o n t r a c t b a s i s L a s t y e a r i n D e c e m b e r t h e c o a l i t i o n g o v e r n m e n t g a v e h i m a n a d d i t i o n a l c h a rg e o f t h e D G I B f o r a y e a r F u a d A s a d u l l a h K h a n i s a g r a d e 2 2 o ff i c e r a n d h e h a s b e c o m e t h e f i r s t I B o ff i c e r w h o h a s b e e n e l e v a t e d t o t h e r a n k o f D G

Strong Pakistan-origin lawmakers’ coordination to help play greater role in US politics: Envoy

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan has said strong networking and greater coordination among lawmakers of Pakistani descent would serve the interest of the community by aggregating their strength and enhancing their ability to play even a greater role in US politics In a virtual interacting with US state lawmakers of Pakistani descent who are serving their respective constituencies in different parts of the United States he said coordinated efforts will ensure synergy to the efforts aimed at promoting Pak-US relations and bringing the people of two countries closer to each other Masood Khan expressed satisfaction over increasing role of Pak-American politicians in political arena and expressed the hope that services of Pak-origin law makers would contribute positively towards US politics and serving the interests of the community and their constituents Referring to the landmark resolution successfully introduced by Representative Farooq Mughal in Georgia for establishing sister-state relations between Sindh province and the state of Georgia, he said the agreement provided a blueprint for other lawmakers to facilitate similar arrangements of Pakistan with their respective states

Ishaq Dar saying he had no other plan except begging for the IMF bailout package He said the default was still staring at Pakistan despite the IMF loan deal as the existing foreign exchange reserves of $4 billion were barely enough for one-month imports He also lamented decline in remittances The former minister said PDM leader Fazlur Rehman who was ignored in Dubai meeting by the PML-N and the PPP, was a candidate for the president s slot and demanding more share in the caretaker setup He also called the silence of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari meaningful