Category: Islamabad

Islamabad:The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CPJ), Justice Yahya Afridi, visited SOS village in Hayatabad Peshawar, an institution which his late father Umer Khan Afridi patronized all his life.

The Chief Justice was accompanied by his wife.

THe CJP was briefed by the Director of the Village Ms. Kokab Batool Qureshi.

The SOS Peshawar is a Charity Organization funded through private donations. It currently houses around 121 children from various age groups up to 25-26 years. The SOS Peshawar provides boarding facilities to orphans and abandoned children. In addition to providing quality education as well as technical skills, it also arranges marriages of children. The Chief Justice and the madam interacted with the kids and took a keen interest in their routine activities.

They both shared lunch with the kids and encouraged them in their curricular and extra-curricular activities. He mentored them to excel in their studies to become useful for themselves as well as for society.

He also lauded the role of the Director of the SOS and appreciated her keen interest in maintaining discipline on the campus as well as high standards of education and upkeep of the institution. The Chief Justice assured the children and management of SOS Village that he would be available for them whenever needed.

Islamabad:Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday directed for taking practical steps for the improvement of efficacy and effectiveness of Pakistan's Missions in line with the broader strategic objectives of the government.

The FM chaired the first meeting of the Committee on Rationalizing Pakistan's Missions abroad which was constituted by the Prime Minister, DPM/FM Office said in a press release.

The meeting reviewed the structure, functioning and performance of Pakistan's Missions abroad.

Islamabad:The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) organized a groundbreaking brainstorming session and consultative workshop to focus on addressing the challenges faced by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Punjab Central region.

The initiative, aligned with the vision of Chairman PEC Engr. Waseem Nazir, was hosted by the University of Lahore, bringing together key stakeholders, including students, parents, alumni, academia, industry representatives, and government officials.

The consultative workshop, aimed to consolidate insights from the earlier discussions and was attended by the Chairman PEC as the chief guest, along with PEC Governing Body members and senior academicians.

Speaking at the concluding session, Chairman PEC, Engr. Waseem Nazir emphasized that this workshop is part of a nationwide series covering nine clusters and engaging 130 HEIs.

He reiterated that the initiative, spearheaded by the PEC Governing Body (2024-27), is aimed at reforming engineering education and enhancing the status of the engineering profession in society.

"This initiative is designed to address the growing needs of the engineering sector, future challenges, and the latest skill requirements. We aim to align engineering education with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and equip graduates with the expertise needed to tackle evolving global challenges," he stated.

The event witnessed participation from prominent PEC members, including Vice Chairman PEC Punjab Dr. Suhail Aftab Qureshi and Governing Body members Engr. Usman Farooq, Engr. Dr. Naveed Ramzan, Engr. Dr. Khalid Farooq, and Engr. Dr. Noor Sheikh.

Additionally, renowned academic figures such as Dr. Shahid Masud from LUMS, Dr. Shahid Munir (Vice Chancellor UET Lahore), Dr. Mujahid Kamran (former VC Punjab University), Engr. Haider Ali Khan from Lahore Leads University, and Dr. Fayaz Hussain Shah from the University of Lahore contributed to the discussions. Their participation underscored the significance of the initiative in addressing critical issues within the engineering education sector.

Vice Chancellors and representatives from various HEIs appreciated PEC's initiative, acknowledging it as a crucial step toward strengthening Pakistan's engineering education system.

They highlighted that bridging the gap between academia and industry is essential to producing graduates who are job-ready and capable of meeting market demands.

'This effort will help fill the gap between education and the job market by ensuring that engineering programs are aligned with industry needs and global trends,' they stated.

The speakers stressed the importance of such collaborative efforts in refining curricula, enhancing research opportunities, and preparing students with the skills required for an evolving technological landscape.

Islamabad:The156th death anniversary of renowned poet Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib is being observed on Saturday.

Born on December 27, 1797 in Agra, Ghalib's poetry is known for its deep philosophical themes, love, and wit, making him an iconic literary figure.

Ghalib spent most of his life in Delhi, where he gained fame for his ghazals, which continue to influence Urdu literature. His works reflect themes of love, sorrow, and the complexities of human emotions.

His poetic work Diwan-i-Ghalib, Kulyat and Maktoobat were published in Persian language.

He also witnessed the decline of the Mughal Empire and wrote about the socio-political changes of his time.

He passed away on February 15, 1869, in Delhi.

Islamabad:A devastating road accident near the Qazi Ahmed-Amri Bridge on Saturday morning claimed the lives of at least six pilgrims heading to Sehwan Sharif and left several others injured.

Police sources reported that a vehicle carrying pilgrims overturned near the Qazi Ahmed-Amri Bridge in Fatoohal Zardari, resulting in the on-the-spot deaths of six pilgrims and injuries to several others, private news channel reported.

Rescue teams and police personnel promptly reached the accident site and shifted the injured to emergency wards at hospitals in Qazi Ahmad district, where medical staff provided immediate attention.

An investigation into the incident has been launched to determine the cause of the accident.

Islamabad:International Finance Corporation's Chief Makhtar Diop has said that IFC is increasing equity investments and eyeing large-scale infrastructure financing in Pakistan, in an investment plan that could unlock $2 billion annually over a decade.

"Between now and maybe October, we will be able to progress enough on a couple of transactions that will signal that this is a country ready to receive large-scale financing for critical and important infrastructure," said Makhtar Diop, the corporation's managing director told Reuters during his visit to Pakistan.

International Finance Corporation chief Makhtar Diop's maiden visit to Pakistan follows the World Bank's plans to allocate up to $20 billion for Pakistan under a Country Partnership Framework announced in January, with the IFC (the World Bank's private investment arm) also slotted to invest the same amount.

Diop said a $2 billion annual investment "is not a large number" for Pakistan, which needs infrastructure development in international airports, energy, water and ports.

According to Reuters, the IFC had an exposure of $2.1 billion in Pakistan during the fiscal year 2024, ending in June, marking its record investment in the South Asian country's $350 billion economy.

Diop said the IFC is looking into agriculture, infrastructure, the "very important" financial sector, and the digital sector.

Diop said equity-based transactions were to be expected in Pakistan too.

"Debt will still be a very important part in our business, but our equity will increase in the world, but also in Pakistan. It means we are believing really in Pakistan because we can take equity for a long, long time," he said.