Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

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39 Acres of Agricultural Land Allotted to 17 Farmers in Chiniot Under ‘Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar’


Chiniot: A ceremony was held to distribute allotment certificates of 39 acres, 3 kanals and 2 marlas of agricultural land to 17 farmers of Chiniot district under the ‘Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar’ program of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif.



Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Ayesha Rizwan said the ‘Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar’ program is a guarantee of economic independence for farmers and marks the beginning of a new era of prosperity.



She said successful candidates were selected on the basis of transparency and merit, and congratulated the beneficiaries.



The DC added that the Revenue Department will provide land ownership to deserving farmers, while the Agriculture Department will extend full support including loans.



She described the day as memorable in the history of Chiniot, as the campaign to improve financial conditions of landless farmers has begun in practice. Under this historic initiative, farmers will be able to earn their livelihood and the program will prove to be an important milestone in rural development.



Providing land to landless farmers is practical proof of the government’s people-friendly vision, she added.



Representatives of parliamentarians and Muslim League leaders said the Punjab government is effectively implementing farmer-friendly policies, and the program will increase agricultural production and strengthen the rural economy.



They noted that the Chief Minister is taking historic steps for farmers’ prosperity and the project will provide honorable employment to thousands of deserving families. The successful farmers thanked Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and called the project a new ray of hope.



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NAHE-HEC concludes national faculty development programme for fresh PhDs


Islamabad: National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan held the closing ceremony of the National Faculty Development Program (NFDP) Cohort-IX for Interim Placement of Fresh PhDs (IPFP) Fellows, marking the successful completion of the professional development programme at HEC Secretariat, Islamabad.



Chairman HEC, Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest and awarded certificates to the participants in recognition of their successful completion of the three-week professional development programme.



In his address, the Chairman congratulated the IPFP Fellows on successfully completed the programme and encouraged them to pursue academic excellence with professionalism, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to learning. He emphasized that Pakistan’s higher education institutions require competent, innovative, and ethically grounded faculty members who can inspire students, advance high-quality research, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s socio-economic development.



He underscored the need to further strengthen and transform the IPFP initiative into a sustainable model that places greater emphasis on entrepreneurship. Reaffirming the significance of the teaching profession, he described it as one of the noblest callings, urging the fellows to uphold the highest standards of academic and professional excellence throughout their careers.



Earlier, in her welcome remarks, Dr. Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director, NAHE congratulated the fellows on successfully completed the training programme and urged them to translate the knowledge, innovative teaching methodologies, and professional competencies acquired during the programme into effective classroom practice and academic excellence.



She reaffirmed NAHE’s commitment to equipping future faculty members with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to meet the evolving demands of higher education through high-quality professional development initiatives.



During the ceremony, Dr. Muneer Ahmed, Director, NAHE, administered the professional oath to the IPFP Fellows, reaffirming their commitment to academic integrity, ethical conduct, excellence in teaching and research, lifelong learning, and dedicated service to advancing Pakistan’s higher education sector.



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Sindh health minister pledges enforcement of laws at Breastfeeding Week launch


Karachi: Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho on Friday launched World Breastfeeding Week, pledging stricter enforcement of laws regulating infant formula promotion and expansion of baby-friendly hospitals to improve breastfeeding practices across the province.



Launching the week-long observance, with breastfeeding promotion activities continuing throughout August, Dr Pechuho said breastfeeding remained one of the most effective interventions for protecting newborns, improving child nutrition and reducing infant mortality.



She said the government would strengthen implementation of the Sindh Protection and Promotion of Breast-feeding and Young Child Nutrition Act, which prohibits the promotion, advertising and marketing of infant formula, breastmilk substitutes and commercial complementary foods intended for children up to three years of age.



Dr Pechuho said the government would remain vigilant in enforcing the law to protect families from unethical commercial practices that discourage breastfeeding and undermine mothers’ confidence.



She said Sindh was also expanding the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative by transforming tertiary, district and regional hospitals into facilities where mothers are supported to initiate breastfeeding within an hour of birth, newborns receive immediate skin-to-skin contact and unnecessary formula feeding is discouraged.



More than 3,000 healthcare providers have already been trained in clinical lactation management, breastfeeding counselling and maternal nutrition to strengthen breastfeeding support at public health facilities, she added.



Dr Pechuho said exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months, followed by safe and nutrient-rich homemade complementary foods alongside continued breastfeeding, protected children against severe diarrhoea, pneumonia and acute malnutrition.



Along with routine immunisation, she said, optimal breastfeeding remained one of the most effective ways to improve child survival and health.



Marking World Breastfeeding Week under the theme ‘Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,’ the minister urged healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, the media and families to help create an environment in which every mother received the support needed to breastfeed successfully.



Supporting the campaign, UNICEF described breastfeeding as a shared responsibility and a cornerstone of child survival, nutrition and development, calling upon governments, health professionals, employers, communities and families to strengthen support systems for mothers.



UNICEF Sindh Chief of Field Office Prem Bahadur Chand said investing in evidence-based policies and services and protecting breastfeeding would help ensure that every child received the healthiest possible start in life.



He said UNICEF would support advocacy, awareness, community engagement and media activities across the country throughout August to promote and support breastfeeding.



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34 colliers died in Quetta’s Surranj coalmine explosion due to poisonous gas


Quetta: Casualties in coal mine explosion caused by poisonous gas here in Spain Kariz Surranj has reached 34 while the rescue operation was still ongoing to evacuate any more trapped workers.



According to the data released by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan, rescue teams have so far recovered the bodies of 34 miners from the mine in the rescue operations after the coal mine accident that occurred in Surranj, while rescue teams are continuously engaged in searching any more affectees trapped due to the accident.



According to officials, the explosion occurred due to the filling of toxic gas in the coal mine, as a result of which a part of the mine collapsed and several miners were buried under the debris.



Rescue teams are continuously working to remove debris from the mine with the help of heavy machinery and special equipment.



Official authorities said that the rescue operation would continue until all the affected miners would be pulled out of the mine.



During the rescue operations, the rescue personnel were carrying out operations with utmost caution due to the toxic gas and other hazards present inside the mine.



On the other hand, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, taking notice of the Surranj coal mine accident, has sought a report on the incident from the Mines and Minerals Department, and also directed the concerned authorities have also been directed to further expedite the rescue operations and provide all possible assistance to the affected miners.



According to sources, arrangements were being made to send the bodies of the deceased miners to their native areas after necessary procedures, while the affected families were also being kept informed of the situation.



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PPSC announces three written and 10 final results of 4 departments


Lahore: The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has announced three written and 10 final results of 4 departments.



Among the candidates, seven candidates have been declared successful for the interview for 18 posts of Stenographer in the Board of Revenue, Deputy Commissioner Office Rawalpindi.



The successful candidates include Fatima Mukhtar, Anam Ghulam Rasool, Muhammad Usmanuddin, Rayan Ahmed Mughal and Seemab Hanif.



One candidate has been declared successful for the interview for three posts of Stenographer in the Board of Revenue, Deputy Commissioner Office Gujarat.



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ICCBS conducts entrance examination for MPhil and PhD Admissions 2026


Karachi: The International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) at the University of Karachi successfully conducted the entrance examination for admission to its MPhil and PhD programmes for the 2026 academic session.



According to an ICCBS spokesperson, hundreds of aspiring candidates participated in the two-hour examination, which was held from 10 a.m. To 12 noon at the Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, situated within the ICCBS premises, said a statement on Friday.



The spokesperson said that comprehensive security arrangements were implemented on the instructions of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, Director of ICCBS, to ensure a transparent and orderly examination process. Entry to the examination venues was restricted to authorised candidates only.



He added that the results of the entrance test will be uploaded on the official websites of the ICCBS and the University of Karachi on August 2, 2026.



Emphasising the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and transparency, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah stated that admissions to all MPhil and PhD programmes will be awarded strictly on merit in accordance with the University of Karachi’s admission policy for higher education.



Candidates who qualify in the written examination will be invited to appear for interviews on August 4, 2026. Successful applicants will be offered admission to the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) and the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, both constituent institutions of the ICCBS.



ICCBS also arranged a shuttle bus service to facilitate candidates from Maskan Gate and the Campus Gate (near Sheikh Zayed Islamic Center) to the examination venues, following the directives of the ICCBS Director.