Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

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Team to work on weaknesses for more improvement: Shan Masood

Multan: Pakistan captain Shan Masood reflected on his team's hard-fought victory over the West Indies in the first Test, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and addressing areas for improvement. Holding a press conference after the match at Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday, Shan Masood acknowledged the challenges posed by the Multan pitch, describing it as one of the toughest surfaces to bat on. Despite the difficult conditions, he praised the team for their resilience, particularly the crucial partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, which played a significant role in the win. He highlighted the importance of small contributions in a team game, noting that even 20 or 30 runs can be decisive in challenging conditions.

He stressed the need for continued growth, stating that Pakistan must aim to become one of the best teams by addressing their weaknesses. He shared that the team had noted key areas for improvement and was committed to working on them for future matches. The captain lauded the bowling unit for their exceptional performance, singling out Abrar Ahmed for his ability to take critical wickets at crucial moments. He credited the entire bowling attack for their determination in securing 20 wickets on a difficult pitch, which proved vital to Pakistan's success. Shan also spoke about the challenges of playing on flat pitches in domestic cricket, which he believes do not fully prepare players for Test-level challenges. However, he remained optimistic, stressing the importance of adapting and strengthening Pakistan's domestic structure to nurture better players.

He described his focus on personal responsibility and fostering a positive team environment, rather than being distracted by external criticism. He highlighted the need for every player to understand their role and contribute selflessly to the team's success. He expressed pride in integrating young players like Rohail Nazir and Kashif Bhatti into the team, ensuring they feel supported and ready to contribute. Reflecting on the longer format of the game, Shan underscored his team's love for Test cricket and the importance of enjoying the process on the field. He urged fans and analysts to appreciate the complexities of the game and remain flexible in their assessments. "For me, success in Test cricket was about collective effort rather than individual achievements," he said and added that he remained focused on helping the team grow as a cohesive unit. With the second Test approaching, Shan expressed confidence in his team's ability to build on this victory and continue their journey toward becomi ng a stronger and more consistent side.

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Haider says improvement health sector top priority

Larkana: Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Haider Shah on Sunday said that heath facilities should be provided to the poor and needy person and ensure availability of all medicine in the stores, in emergery wards in Larkana district.

He expressed these views while presiding over a high-level meeting in Commissioner's Office Larkana on Sunday.

In which the elected representatives Provincial assembly members and stakeholders including the secretaries of two major departments, PND and Finance Department, participated in the ADP.

There are 500 schemes so we have reviewed all the schemes. He said that Shaheed Ms. Benazir Bhutto Medical University had some problems which we have seen and solved these problems so that the remaining works of administration block, different teaching side, hostel, canteen, stadium can be done.

Talking wirh media person he said that the situation of Chandka Medical Hospital has been reviewed, in which the government will decide on the things that were needed in terms of machinery, tools and medicines. We are trying to build a hospital equipped with modern medical facilities in Larkana.

He said that efforts will be made to move the vegetable market outside the city. There is a shortage of graveyards in Larkana city, so we will build a graveyard on 20 acres of the city and 15 to 20 acres on the other side of the city.

He said that it has been decided to speed up the work of the schemes which are suffering from slow progress so that these schemes can be completed on time. He said that no new scheme has been kept by Sindh government in this year's budget, a big project of houses for flood victims is going on under which houses are being built for flood victims.

He said that there is a mega project of drainage in Larkana, for this a task will be given to a technical department, efforts will be made to improve the drainage system in major cities and all divisional headquarters of Sindh and we will give a mega project for clean drinking water through public health. The government of Sindh has given a 5-year concession for government jobs and the Supreme Court has banned the 15-year concession. He said that the recruitment will start from grades one to four, which process is ongoing, he told.

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15 nabbed over power stealing

sargodha: Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Sargodha Circle caught 15 power pilferers and got registered 19 cases during the current drive against power pilferage. According to FESCO theft report issued here on Sunday that task force teams on the direction of Superintendent Engineer raided various areas of the circle and caught 15 power pilferers. He informed that during the last 24 hours, the authorities caught one pilferer from Sargodha City, booked three consumers from Shahpur area, whereas, five power thieves were caught red-handed while stealing electricity through main electricity lines and meter tampering.

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Senator Siddiqui calls Javed Shahzad’s death a blow to responsible journalism

Islamabad: Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a central leader of PML-N and parliamentary party leader in the Senate, described the death of Journalist Javed Shahzad as a significant loss for responsible journalism and praised his commitment to preserving the noble principles of the field.

Visiting the residence of the late journalist, Senator Siddiqui extended his condolences to Shahzad's family and offered Fateha.

Speaking with the deceased's brother and sons, Siddiqui fondly remembered Javed Shahzad as an exceptionally kind and compassionate individual, with whom he had been in daily contact.

'He was an honest and responsible journalist who faithfully performed his professional duties,' said Senator Siddiqui. 'Javed Shahzad's name will be remembered as a diligent journalist who firmly believed in the noble values of journalism.'

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Record number of women enrollment in higher education, scholarships for remote areas introduces, says HEC Chairman

Islamabad: Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Sunday revealed that Pakistan has achieved a major milestone in higher education, with the highest turnout of women in universities since 2002, surpassing many countries.

He said that the government was committed to providing more opportunities and scholarships for girls and students in remote areas, further bridging the gap in access to education.

In an exclusive interview with PTV news, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of HEC shared that women's higher education in Pakistan has reached new heights.

Back in 2002, the enrollment of women was just 30 to 32%, but now it has increased to 48 to 58%, which is a significant jump and a testament to our efforts to promote women's education, he added.

This growth is even more impressive when compared to other countries, and I am proud to say that Pakistan is leading the way in this regard, he mentioned.

"I am delighted to share that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has made significant strides in promoting women's education in Pakistan", he said.

As part of our efforts to empower women and bridge the gender gap in higher education, we have allocated almost 50% of our scholarships to female students, he noted.

This initiative is designed to provide equal opportunities to women and encourage them to pursue higher education, thereby contributing to the country's socio-economic development, he added.

Our scholarship programs, including the Overseas Scholarship Scheme, the Indigenous Scholarship Scheme and the Need-Based Scholarship Scheme have been tailored to support talented and deserving female students from all over Pakistan, he mentioned.

With the government's support, the Higher Education Commission is working tirelessly to create a more inclusive and equitable education system, providing opportunities for students from all backgrounds to pursue higher education, Chairman added.

Our commission is committed to sustaining this progress through our policy-making efforts and continuing to empower women leaders in higher education across Pakistan, he said.

As the Chairman of HEC, I am dedicated to empowering Pakistan through higher education, and I believe that this growth in women' s enrollment is a major step towards achieving that goal, he added.

"I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the present government and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif for successfully hosting an international conference on girls' education", he said.

This landmark event has not only showcased Pakistan's commitment to promoting girls' education but has also brought the global community together to address the challenges and opportunities in this critical area, he added.

The conference has been a resounding success and I am proud to see Pakistan taking a leadership role in advocating for girls' education worldwide, Chairman mentioned.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's vision and dedication to this cause are truly commendable and I am confident that this conference will have a lasting impact on the lives of girls and women around the world, he expressed confidence.

As the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, I am committed to supporting the government's efforts to promote girls' education and empower women through education, he added.

Responding to a query about scholarships for students from FATA and Balochistan, he stated that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) is giving special attention to these regions.

"We are establishing girls' campuses in remote areas to provide easier access to education, he said, adding, moreover, we are committed to providing equal opportunities for scholarships to students from these areas, not only within Pakistan but also abroad".

Our goal is to empower the youth from FATA and Balochistan by providing them with opportunities to pursue higher education, both locally and internationally and to help them become an integral part of the country's development, he added.

He further added that the federal government is extending its full support to provincial universities, providing them with equal opportunities to thrive and grow.

I am confident that this support will have a positive impact on the higher education sector and will help us achieve our goal of promoting education and research in Pakistan, he concluded.

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Ahsan Iqbal slams PTI supporters for defending founder’s proven corruption

Islamabad: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday condemned what he described as 'regrettable and shameful' attempts by supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to defend their leader Imran Khan, even after he was proven corrupt and convicted in the mega £190 million graft case.

In a statement, the minister said that the PTI founder built his entire political campaign around the 'corruption card' and lured people toward him with promises of transparency and accountability.

He regretted that PTI supporters had turned a blind eye to Imran Khan's corrupt practices, adding, "The duplicity and hypocrisy of PTI are laid bare as they defend a leader who, rather than confronting the grave breach of trust, resorts to religious or anti-establishment narratives to deflect criticism."

Ahsan mentioned some clear and undeniable facts, including that Britain's National Crime Agency had returned £190 million to Pakistan, which was supposed to be deposited in the national treasury for public benefit. 'Instead of depositing this money in the national treasury, Imran Khan transferred these funds to benefit his ally, the famous property tycoon Malik Riaz. The money was deposited in a Supreme Court account that was created to pay the fine imposed on Malik Riaz.'

In return, the minister said, the PTI founder received personal benefits from Malik Riaz, adding, "Even if these benefits are ignored, transferring state funds for personal purposes is an unforgivable crime."

He recalled that a leading British daily, The Financial Times, had published a detailed report on July 28, 2022, exposing Imran Khan's corruption in using charitable funds for his political campaigns. 'To date, Imran Khan has not taken any legal action against the newspaper, which raises serious questions about his innocence,' he added.

He said the £190 million scandal was not just limited to financial corruption but represented a serious betrayal of public trust. 'The leader who called himself a champion in the fight against corruption was found involved in a mega-corruption scandal of £190 million.'

The PTI and its supporters' hypocrisy in defending Khan's actions, he said, was a clear violation of the principles they once claimed to uphold, adding it served as a stark warning about the dangers of blind loyalty, personality cults and unchecked power.