Day: July 10, 2026

Dera ismail khan: Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, and Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, Dera Ismail Khan, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen academic, research and institutional collaboration between the two higher education institutions.

The MoU was signed during a visit by Vice Chancellor of Gomal University, Prof. Dr. Niamatullah Babar, to the Dera Ismail Khan campus of Qurtuba University.

The agreement was facilitated through the Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) of both universities.

The signing ceremony was attended by Vice Chancellor of Qurtuba University, Prof. Dr. Khair-uz-Zaman, Director ORIC at Gomal University, Dr. Muzammal Ahmad Khan, and Deputy Director ORIC of Qurtuba University.

Under the agreement, the two universities will collaborate on joint research projects, exchange academic and research resources, promote cooperation in teaching and administrative affairs, and organize joint academic activities for faculty members and students.

The partnership also aims to enhance institutional linkages, innovation, research excellence, and the overall quality of higher education.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Niamatullah Babar said that strong collaboration among universities was essential for promoting quality education, impactful research and national development.

He expressed confidence that the MoU would create new opportunities for faculty, researchers and students of both institutions and contribute significantly to the advancement of higher education and research in the region.

Rawalpindi: Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi Region, Babar Sarfraz Alpa held an open court (Khuli Katchery) at Sadiqabad Police Station to hear public grievances and ensure prompt redressal of citizens’ complaints.

The proceeding was attended by the SP Rawal Division, the SDPO New Town Circle and other relevant police officers. During the open court, citizens directly presented their complaints and applications to the RPO.

Listening to each complaint carefully, RPO Babar Sarfraz Alpa directed the concerned officers to process all applications in accordance with the law through transparent, impartial, and timely action.

He instructed officers to submit detailed reports within the prescribed timeframe.

Addressing the gathering, the RPO said that resolving citizens’ issues at their doorstep remains the top priority of Rawalpindi Region Police. He described open courts as an effective platform for strengthening public trust and improving communication between the police and the community. He added that all available resources are being utilized to ensure the protection of citizens’ lives and property while addressing their concerns efficiently.

Following the open court, the RPO visited Sadiqabad Police Station to inspect its operations. During the visit, he reviewed the front desk, lock-up, Moharrir’s office, and other key sections of the police station, issuing necessary instructions to the officers concerned.

RPO Babar Sarfraz Alpa emphasized that police officers must treat every citizen visiting police stations with courtesy, respect, and fairness in accordance with the law. He urged officers to utilize their professional capabilities to ensure the timely delivery of justice and improve public confidence in the police service.

Sargodha: Deputy Commissioner, Asad Abbas Magsi on Thursday paid a surprise visit to the DC Office Complex, where he reviewed the performance of various departments, inspected official records and assessed cleanliness arrangements.

According to the handout issued here, during the visit, the DC checked employees’ attendance and expressed displeasure over the absence of officials from different departments.

He directed the authorities concerned to issue warning letters to the absentee employees and ensure strict compliance with attendance rules.

Inspecting office records and the overall working environment, the deputy commissioner emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline, transparency, and efficiency in public offices.

Speaking on the occasion, Asad Abbas Magsi said he would continue making surprise visits to government offices to monitor administrative arrangements and improve service delivery.

He said the government was taking all possible measures to facilitate citizens and directed officers and officials to perform their duties with dedication and ensure the provision of quality public services in a timely and efficient manner.

Washington: Pakistan and the United States were holding negotiations regarding ‘Agreement on Reciprocal Trade’ on Thursday and Friday in Washington DC.

According to Foreign Office Spokesperson, Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul is leading Pakistan side including Tahir Andrabi as ACDIS Secretary OPHRD, Nadeem Chaudhary and Joint Secretary Tariff Policy Ashfaq Khan here – with other line Ministries joining on virtual online platform.

Peshawar: The National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, has successfully concluded the National Outreach Programme (NOP) for University Management Staff at the University of Peshawar.

The programme, organised by the Centre for Human Resource Career Development (CHRCD), University of Peshawar, reaffirms HEC’s commitment to strengthening institutional leadership and administrative excellence across Pakistan’s higher education sector.

The programme brought together university management staff to enhance their competencies in university governance, leadership, administration, and institutional effectiveness.

Managing Director NAHE Dr Noor Amna Malik graced the certificate distribution ceremony as chief guest. She distributed certificates among the participants in recognition of their successful completion of the programme and commended their commitment to continuous professional development.

In her remarks, She reiterated HEC’s resolve to expand high-quality professional development opportunities for university leadership and management across the country through NAHE’s national outreach initiatives.

The ceremony was also attended by Meritorious Professor Dr Johar Ali, Vice Chancellor, University of Peshawar, as the Guest of Honour. He congratulated the participants on completing the programme and encouraged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training

Director CHRCD Dr Muhammad Naeem Butt acknowledged the collaboration and support in advancing professional development initiatives. He said through such collaborative initiatives, NAHE continues to achieve excellence in governance, leadership, and institutional development across Pakistan’s higher education institutions.

Peshawar: More than 70 youngsters including female students, completed a two-day digital marketing workshop held at the Hazara University Battagram Campus, as the district administration and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Youth Affairs Department moved to implement a technical skills initiative announced during the 8th Metrix Pakistan Youth Summit.

The workshop was organised by District Youth Office Battagram in collaboration with RankingGrow and Metrix Pakistan.

Officials said the programme was conducted on the instructions of Taj Muhammad Khan Tarand, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Youth Affairs and Sports, with the objective of improving access to market-oriented technical education for young people.

The training programme covered digital marketing, search engine optimisation (SEO), social media marketing, personal branding, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, content strategy and freelancing. Participants attended practical sessions designed to introduce them to career opportunities in the digital economy.

According to officials, the workshop was the first initiative launched under a series of technical skills programmes announced during the 8th Metrix Pakistan Youth Summit, which was held in Battagram last month. Similar training programmes are expected to be organised in phases across the district.

In a statement issued through his office, Mr Tarand said technical education had become an important component of youth development and economic progress.

“The changing nature of the global economy requires young people to acquire modern technical skills. Our objective is to ensure that youth across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including those living in remote districts, have access to quality training that enables them to compete in national and international markets,” he said.

The workshop was facilitated by Ammad Ali, chief executive officer of RankingGrow, who said practical skills had become increasingly important in the digital economy.

“Digital platforms have created opportunities that were unavailable a few years ago. The purpose of this training was to familiarise participants with practical tools and strategies that can help them build careers in freelancing, digital marketing and online entrepreneurship,” he said.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, District Youth Officer Alam Zeb Khan said the participation of more than 70 young people, including women, reflected a growing interest in technical education among the district’s youth.

“The response has been encouraging. We believe skill-based programmes can play an important role in improving employability and encouraging entrepreneurship. The District Youth Office will continue working with partner organisations to organise similar initiatives in the future,” he said.

Metrix Pakistan founder and chief executive officer Hassan Nisar said the workshop represented the implementation of commitments made during the youth summit.

“The summit was designed as a starting point for long-term engagement with young people. The announcement of technical skills programmes has now entered the implementation stage. Through collaboration with public institutions and private-sector partners, we intend to continue expanding opportunities for youth to acquire industry-relevant skills,” he said.

At the conclusion of the programme, shields were distributed among organisers. Officials said additional training initiatives focusing on digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship would be rolled out in Battagram in the coming months as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen youth development through technical education.