Day: May 20, 2024

The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has decided to establish state-of-the-art IT labs in Islamabad's schools to equip youth with the latest skills and increase their employment opportunities. This was stated by Secretary Federal Education and Professional Training Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, while speaking at the National Launching Workshop for "Internet Dost and Internet Zabardast" in Islamabad today. The workshop was organized by the National Rural Support Programme with support from Google.org. Highlighting the crucial role of Information Technology and digitalization in achieving progress and development in the current era, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani underscored that accurate data collection regarding out-of-school children, educational facilities, and health services is unattainable without relying on IT. The Secretary said schools in the Federal Capital have been upgraded, providing students with the best facilities. He said the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training is committed to providing the best educational facilities to students in government schools. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani further added that gym and sports facilities, as well as self-defense classes, would be provided to the students. He said the federal government has launched an initiative to provide free lunch meals to primary students in government schools in Islamabad to enhance child growth and encourage schooling. In the first phase, about forty elementary schools will receive healthy, quality, and hygienic free meals. CEO of the National Rural Support Programme Dr. Rashid Bajwa highlighted that the "Internet Dost, Internet Zabardast" initiative would cover 48 districts across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Baluchistan as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federal Capital Islamabad by July next year. The initiative will directly benefit over 103,500 underserved women, youth, parents, teachers, and children, aiming to bridge the digital gap and address gender and geographical disparities. He noted tha t Google had introduced the "Safe Internet" concept in Pakistan, focusing on students and children. Source: Radio Pakistan

The Sindh government is postponing intermediate exams across the province by five days, citing the current heatwave. Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah endorsed the proposal from provincial Minister for Universities and Boards Muhammad Ali Malkani to delay intermediate exams across the province by five days. The exams, initially scheduled to commence on May 22, have been rescheduled to start on May 27. This decision was made following directives from CM Shah, with the Universities and Boards Department adjusting the exam dates accordingly. It is pertinent to mention that different parts of Sindh, including Karachi, have been experiencing scorching heat for the past few weeks. The temperature is expected to increase further during the next 10 days. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecasted the possibility of three heatwaves hitting different cities across the country over the next 25 days. An advisory has warned of heatwave conditions in many parts of the country, particularly Punjab an d Sindh, starting from May 21 due to high pressure in the upper atmosphere. This could escalate into a severe heatwave from May 23 to 27. During this period, daytime temperatures are expected to be 4 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal in Sindh and Punjab from May 21 to 23, and 6 to 8 degrees Celsius above normal from May 23 to 27. In Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Balochistan, daytime temperatures are expected to stay 4 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal from May 21 to 27. Source: Pro Pakistani

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan for the regular meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. At the airport, he was recieved by Director of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nursalimuly Yergalym, Pakistan's Ambassador in Astana, Nauman Bashir Bhatti and Pakistan's National Coordinator SCO, Ambassador Marghoob Saleem Butt. In Astana, a meeting has been arranged between the Deputy Prime Minister Dar with the Foreign Minister of Kyrgyz Republic, Jeenbek Kulubaev, this evening in order to discuss the latest situation in Bishkek with a view to ensure the well-being of Pakistani students. Source: Radio Pakistan

The authorities' negligence in Kaghan Valley regarding safety measures for drivers and the fitness of jeeps meant for mountainous roads has resulted in frequent accidents and injuries, especially during the summer. Last week, two female students from Post Graduate College Haripur lost their lives when a jeep they were traveling in plunged into a ravine in Kiwai. The group was en route to visit Shogran. Furthermore, multiple individuals, including three professors and three other female students, sustained injuries. The absence of a mechanism to assess the fitness of jeeps operating on tracks and to restrict inexperienced drivers from driving poses a major safety concern. Many tourist destinations in the Kaghan Valley are accessible only by jeeps, making it necessary for travelers from distant areas to rely on them to visit places like Sri Pai, Lake Saiful Malook, Lala Zaar, Sharan, and others. Tourists are demanding authorities to ban unfit vehicles and inexperienced drivers. Traffic Police Superintenden t Shah Nawaz Khan clarified that while they don't oversee vehicle fitness checks, they will support any actions taken by the relevant department and enforce rules against non-professional drivers. Source: Pro Pakistani

Pakistan and Turkiye have expressed the resolve to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation in multiple spheres. Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at a joint press stakeout in Islamabad today said both countries have agreed to take the annual bilateral trade from existing one billion dollars to five billion dollars. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said they have reviewed bilateral cooperation including trade, investment, connectivity and defence. He said the strategic and comprehensive bilateral relations are manifested by elaborate institutional mechanisms and high-level exchanges. The Deputy Prime Minister said both sides also discussed the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting scheduled to take place in Islamabad in the near future to carry out a comprehensive review of cooperation and strategic economic framework. Ishaq Dar also thanked Turkiye for its continuous support on the issue of Kashmir and reiterated Pakistan's support for the legitimate struggle of the people of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Discussing the Gaza situation, both leaders agreed on an immediate need for a permanent ceasefire and the establishment of an independent Palestine state to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East. In his remarks, Hakan Fidan told the media that Pakistan is a strategic partner of Turkiye as there have been an unshakeable friendship and brotherhood between the two people who always supported each other. He said both sides decided in principle to broaden and strengthen ties in trade, defense, investment, banking science and technology and innovation. Source: Radio Pakistan

In a brazen act of theft, the official residence of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Nasir Ali Rizvi, was targeted early Sunday morning. Thieves made off with telephone cables worth millions of rupees, disrupting communication services in the area. The incident occurred between 3 AM and 4 AM when the criminals struck outside the government residences where the IG resides. According to media reports, the thieves severed the telephone cables, leading to a complete shutdown of all telephone numbers in the vicinity. This audacious theft highlights the increasing trend of street crimes in Islamabad. The federal capital has witnessed a surge in criminal activities, with over 10,500 cases registered in 2022. These crimes, which include armed robberies, thefts, and snatchings, have resulted in losses amounting to a staggering Rs 4 billion. Authorities have noted a troubling link between the rise in street crimes and the presence of illegal Afghan migrants in the city. Investigations into stolen mobile phones often reveal connections to Afghanistan, suggesting a broader network of criminal activity. The escalation in street crimes is reflective of the broader socio-economic challenges facing Pakistan, including rising poverty, inflation, and unemployment. These issues have exacerbated the situation, leading to an increase in desperate measures by individuals facing economic hardships. The Islamabad Police Department is currently investigating the theft of the telephone cables and is working to restore communication services in the affected area. Meanwhile, security measures around key government installations and residential areas are being reviewed to prevent such incidents in the future. Source: Pro Pakistani