Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: A devastating collision between a passenger coach and a truck left at least two people dead and several others injured in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the Lasbela district of Baluchistan.

According to Police sources, the accident occurred at Zero Point in Lasbela, where the coach and truck crashed into each other, resulting in the immediate death of two passengers, private news channel reported.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to district headquarter Uthal hospitals, where they are receiving medical treatment.

The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, but officials suspect speeding and reckless driving may have contributed to the tragedy.

An investigation into the incident has been launched and authorities have promised to take action against those responsible.

Islamabad: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal chaired the 25th Board of Governors' meeting of the National School of Public Policy (NSPP) here on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Finance Division, Establishment Division, the Rector of NSPP and other board members who participated via video link, a news release said.

During the meeting, the minister emphasized the importance of hiring the best faculty at public sector training institutes like Pakistan Administrative Staff College (PASC), National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) and Civil Service Academy (CSA). "Training institutes are formative phases of a civil servants' career and shape the future trajectory of their service hence equipping these institutes with competent trainers and staff will ensure effective performative results," he added.

Ahsan Iqbal stressed the need for a citizen-centric approach, adding that a well-trained faculty, proficient in modern case study based learning methods was crucial to revive the gaps in training and real world challenges.

The minister further highlighted the importance of adding latest AI based modules to the IT related training curriculum to enhance students' skills.

He said the current training programs only taught usage of microsoft applications but the global curriculum of IT courses in training institutes was now inculcating education on Artificial Intelligence.

He directed the Finance Division to make general guidelines for investment of endowment funds.

Rector NSPP briefed the minister that during the 24th board meeting, the board had decided that Finance Division may accord approval of seed money as well as draft regulations for establishment of endowment fund.

Earlier, the board had also approved proposal of NSPP to operate endowment fund through receipt of donations from other national and international donor organizations.

The minister gave directions to Finance Division to remove all hurdles in the process of endowment fund at the earliest.

Highlighting the significance of endowment funds, the minister stated, "Every university that has an endowment fund to support its various academic and operational initiatives through the fund. The primary goal is to ensure the institution's long-term financial stability."

The NSPP Rector during the briefing told the minister that Journal of Public Administration had been given official recognition by HEC.

He stated, "Journal of Pakistan Administration promotes research on significant social, economic and governance issues and the ways public policies are made and implemented. Its articles deal with topics of concern to public policy scholars and practitioners nationwide and beyond."

He also said that all its previous 10 editions were available online for public reading.

Ahsan Iqbal instructed Secretary Establishment to seek early approval of change of nomenclature from NSPP to NUPA (National University of Public Administration) from Law Ministry.

Other areas under discussion during the board meeting included construction of New Office Block, Alumni Hall and Sadequain Gallery. The Sadequain gallery, which was opened in PASC campus in 2023, displays 31 rare paintings of Sadequain worth 5 million dollars. Suggestion for hiring a curator for the gallery was discussed among the board members.

The minister was also briefed that three coffee table books were under the process of production: Sadequain Gallery: An Ode to the Artist; which explores Sadequain's connection to the institution;

National Management Course at Pakistan Administrative Staff College: A Journey Together; which highlights the journey of National Management Course; and Pakistan Administrative Staff College, Rise of Premiere Civil Service Training Institution (1960-2025); which highlights the establishment history of PASC.

Islamabad: Around 382,118 job seekers registered with Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) an attached department of Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP and HRD).

An official source told reporter here on Tuesday, he said that OEC was established year 1976, as a Public Sector recruitment agency, registered as a private limited company, under Companies Act, 1913 (now Companies Act, 2017, Section-42).

It is a Public Sector company governed under Public Sector Companies (Corporate Governance) Rules, 2013 of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

It's an Autonomous Body under administrative control of Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, he added.

He said that 144,600 emigrants dispatched so far while 95,692 overseas returned after completing their jobs contract from the different countries.

The source revealed that 25,106 Korean Language trained candidates, 118 Japanese language trained candidates and

200 IELTS trained nurses were also registered with OEC.

Pakistan, the sixth most populous country of the world, possesses highly skilled, skilled/semi-skilled and unskilled workforce which can cater world's demand in different skill categories.

It was the responsibility of OEC to promote overseas employment, facilitate overseas employers in selection of work force and provide competent, reliable and cost-effective human resource from Pakistan for international labour market. Overseas employment reduces unemployment in the country and it is an important source of foreign earnings/remittance which plays a major role in socio-economic development of the country, he added.

OEC, since its inception has facilitated more than 142,000 professionals in securing overseas employment in different countries.

OEC is committed to explore new avenues for exporting manpower and confident to extend our best services.

Islamabad: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday declared Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur and others as proclaimed offender in a terrorism case registered by I-9 Police Station in 2022.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sapra heard the case registered by capital police against Ali Amin Gandpur and other PTI leaders on violent protest on disqualification of PTI founder. PTI leaders Faisal Javed and Wasiq Qayum appeared before the court during the hearing.

The court declared Ali Amin Gandapur and accused Umar Tanvir Butt as absconder due to continuous disappearance, and separated the case proceeding against them. The court also ordered to initiate the proceeding to declare Aamer Kayani as pro-claimed offender on his not appearance despite the repeated summons.

During hearing, PTI's leader Faisal Javed filed an application seeking to remove the clauses of anti-terrorism act in the court.

The court also issued arrest warrants against the absence accused and sought arguments on January 15.

It may be mentioned here that I-9 Police Station had registered a case against the accused in 2022.

Islamabad: Research Fellow at China International Press and Communication Centre (CIPCC) Muhammad Zamir Assadi has said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are poised to enter a new era of development in the year 2025.

'New opportunities will emerge under these initiatives in 2025, benefiting not only both countries but the entire region,'Assadi said while talking to reporter.

Assadi highlighted the significance of CPEC, a flagship project of BRI, in strengthening the ties between the two brotherly nations, noting that CPEC would serve as an economic growth engine for Pakistan and a milestone in regional development.

He said a number of projects like infrastructure, energy, and industrial development were being carried out under CPEC, which would create a favorable environment for investment. 'The construction and development of roads, railways, and ports will facilitate business activities, attracting investors.'

Assadi mentioned that special economic zones were being established under CPEC that offered attractive incentives to both local and international investors.

Islamabad: The Supreme Court on Wednesday was found satisfied over a report presented by the government of Punjab regarding the rights of the prisoners according to the jail manual.

Additional Advocate General Punjab presented the report on the directive of the Constitutional Bench after father of a prisoner complained denial of due rights to the prisoners.

The seven-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, while hearing the petitions regarding trial of civilians in military courts, had directed the Government of Punjab to produce a comprehensive report on the rights of the prisoners. Father of Ihsan Niazi, a convict by the military court in May 9 riots, had complained denial of the rights of prisoners and keeping them in a high security zone.

Additional Advocate General Punjab informed the court that two among the 27 convicts are released after they have been pardoned by the military court of appeal. 25 prisoners are in jail and provided with all and equal rights like other prisoners. Their families are allowed to see them once in ten days and such meetings have already taken place. They are permitted to receive meals from home.

The Complainant, Hafizullah Niazi, however continued to complain that nobody other than parents and siblings are allowed to see the prisoners and they are not allowed to come out of their lockups like other prisoners.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, on this, remarked that you yourself accepted that the meetings have taken place and they are permitted food from home. Why are you exaggerating things to this extent?

Mrs Justice Musarrat Hilali observed that prisoners should be allowed to come out of their lockups and enjoy day light. There should be no problem in it, she added.

The Court directed the Advocate General to inquire further and inform the court that either these prisoners are allowed to enjoy day light or not.