Category: Karachi

Karachi: Mastercard has once again collaborated with foodpanda to boost digital payment in Pakistan and support the nation's transition toward a cashless economy.

According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, currency in circulation (CIC) in the country increased by 11.2% during the first half of 2024. The partnership introduces initiatives designed to encourage the use of digital payment methods over cash on delivery (COD).

By leveraging foodpanda's extensive network, Mastercard will drive awareness and usage of secure, rewarding payment options for millions of consumers across the country.

Muhammad Nana, senior vice president, Digital Partnerships, Eastern Europe Middle East, and Africa region (EEMEA), Mastercard. said, 'By combining our global expertise in seamless and secure payment technologies with foodpanda's vast reach, we are making digital payments more accessible and convenient for consumers across the country.'

Karachi: Sindh Madressatul Islam University's 31st meeting of Syndicate was held at the Conference Room of the university on Tuesday. The Vice Chancellor Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai chaired in which the meeting minutes of different statutory bodies of the university were approved and decisions were made. Addressing the meeting Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai said SMIU was progressing in different areas of academic and development successfully. It also fully concentrates on quality education and training of its students as after graduation they could participate in national development with dedication. Dr. Sahrai informed the meeting that the SMIU has achieved sustainable position in its financial matters by generating its own resources. This is why it has become able to add new programs and centres in the university and enable smooth working of the university. The members of the Syndicate who attended the meeting were Dr. Sarosh Lodi, Vice Chancellor NED University, Dr. Tauha Hussain Ali, Vice Chancellor Mehran University of En gineering and Technology, Sohail Anwar Baloch, Additional Secretary, Universities and Boards, Prof. Dr. Arabella Bhutto, Vice Chancellor Shaheed Allah Bukhsh Soomro University, Jamshoro (Nominee of HEC, Islamabad), Haji Muhammad Hanif Tayyab, former federal minister, Dr. Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, Dean Faculty of I.T., SMIU, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Khan, Chairperson Department of Software Engineering/Advisor to Vice Chancellor on Academic Affairs, Dr. Ambreen Fazal, Chairperson Department of Media and Communication Studies, Quratulain Nazir Ahmed, Assistant Professor, Asif Hussain Samo, Assistant Professor, Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Shaikh, Registrar and Mr. Shafeeq Ahmed, Lecture at SMIU.

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday praised the efforts of non-profit organizations that have been actively partnering with his government to provide quality education to children from underserved areas of the province through modern digital learning systems.

The Chief Minister made these remarks during a surprise visit to two schools operated by different non-governmental organizations in the underprivileged localities of Korangi, in collaboration with the Sindh Education Foundation (SEF).

The CM first visited the Green Crescent Trust (GCT) school in Bilal Colony. The principal, Irum Fatima, informed him that the school has enrolled 559 students from low-income families, offering classes up to the eighth grade. Additionally, the school provides preschool education for children under five.

Shah learned that SEF offers regular financial assistance to partner schools based on student enrollment. The SEF currently funds Rs 1,300 per student per month for its affiliated schools run by NGOs.

The Chief Minister instructed the Education Minister to conduct regular inspections of SEF-affiliated schools in the city, emphasizing that the government's efforts should yield positive results.

During the visit, the principal expressed that she was unable to enroll over 1,000 children from deserving families due to the school's limited capacity.

Shah assured her that his government would support efforts to expand the school's capacity and advised her to contact the Education Minister regarding this matter.

The Chief Minister toured the classrooms and engaged with the students, reviewing academic activities and the daily attendance register.

Teach the World Foundation President Shafiq Khan was also present and briefed the CM on innovative technology-aided learning methods being implemented to enhance educational quality for children in underprivileged areas.

The GCT has been dedicated to enrolling out-of-school children in Sindh for the past 30 years, operating a network of 170 charitable schools in remote areas of the province. These schools currently serve over 32,800 students from low-income families, with 19 of the schools affiliated with the SEF, including 12 located in Karachi. One notable campus in Matiari provides education in English and features a state-of-the-art facility.

Later, the Chief Minister visited the Digital Micro School in Awami Colony, which also operated in partnership with the SEF. He learned that tablet computers are being used to educate 100 students at the school, all of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds and had not previously attended school.

The CM sat on the classroom floor and interacted closely with the children.

During his visit, CM Shah reviewed how students were using the tablet computers for regular classroom education, focusing on English and Mathematics through an engaging learning system.

He stated that he initiated this surprise visit to assess the effectiveness of using tablet computers in an underserved area and mentioned that this technology could be extended to other schools if it proves beneficial for student learning.

Finally, the Chief Minister announced his intention to continue making surprise visits to educational institutions, police stations, revenue offices, and other public facilities to assess their functionality, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday expressed concerns regarding the 46 per cent dropout rate among students who complete their primary education due to the lack of middle schools in the area, therefore, he directed the school education department to introduce afternoon shifts for middle school classes at primary schools, aiming to address this problem.

The meeting was held at CM House, with Minister of Education Syed Sardar Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, Secretary of School Education Zahid Abbasi, Chairman of P and D Najma Shah, Secretary of Finance Fayaz Jatoi, Secretary of Colleges Asif Ikram, and other concerned officers in attendance.

Minister of Education Syed Sardar Shah and Secretary of School Education Zahid Abbasi briefed the Chief Minister and reported that there are 16.89 million children aged five to 16 enrolled in the province, which includes 5.20 million in public schools and 4.01 million in private schools. Additionally, schools under the Sindh Education Foundation have 93,000 students, non-formal education serves 5.66 million children, and madrasas have 1.03 million students.

During the discussion, the Chief Minister pointed out two major challenges facing the School Education Department, enrolling 7.8 million out-of-school children and reducing the dropout rate, which currently stands at 46 per cent.

He emphasised that these two challenges could only be addressed by strengthening both formal and non-formal education streams in terms of access, quality, and governance.

To a question, the CM was informed that there were 36300 primary schools and 4,600 post-primary/middle schools. The significant gap between the number of primary and post-primary schools contributes to the dropout rate.

Shah directed the education department to initiate post-primary schools during the second shift/afternoon shift in primary schools, with plans to upgrade them to the middle school level.

Murad Shah instructed the education department to convert the Sindh Textbook Board (STBB) into a company, restricting its role to book publication and distribution only. The responsibility for textbook development will be transferred to the Directorate of Curriculum, Assessment, and Research (DCCAR).

The Chief Minister also directed the Minister of Education to reform DCCAR by converting technical positions to market-based roles, bringing in efficient technical human resources.

He emphasized that private schools are significant stakeholders, catering to 40% of enrollment, and therefore must be properly regulated, monitored, and evaluated.

Murad Shah approved the creation of inspector positions within the Directorate of Private Schools to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation, including the implementation of a 10% freeship policy in private schools and proper inspections.

Karachi: Sindh Minister for Energy Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Monday, stressed on completion of the alternate energy project aimed at provision of solar panels to 0.2 million households across the province at the earliest.

The minister, while chairing a meeting at Energy Department regarding provision of solar panels to 200,000 homes with the support of the World Bank, instructed to ensure transparency, merit as well as simple and convenient-for -people distribution process.

The meeting in which detailed consideration was given to the method of distribution of solar panels, according to a statement issued here, was attended by Senior Energy Specialist Dmytro Glazkov, Energy Specialist Manahil Raza and Consultant Abrar Khattak from the World Bank, Secretary Energy Mosaddiq Ahmed Khan, PD Sindh Solar Energy Mahfouz Ahmed Qazi, and heads of various solar distribution companies.

Syed Nasir Shah directed the World Bank delegation and distribution companies to keep the process of distribution of solar panels very simple and convenient for the people. He also directed the meeting to speed up the steps regarding distribution of solar panels and maintain merit and transparency in all work.

The minister asked the heads of solar panel distribution companies to complete all the steps on time and to contact him directly in case of any difficulties.

He said that the project should be completed at the earliest as per the vision and instructions of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and efforts should be made to make its fruits available to the public within three months.

Karachi: Sindh Minister for Energy Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Monday, stressed on completion of the alternate energy project aimed at provision of solar panels to 0.2 million households across the province at the earliest.

The minister, while chairing a meeting at Energy Department regarding provision of solar panels to 200,000 homes with the support of the World Bank, instructed to ensure transparency, merit as well as simple and convenient-for -people distribution process.

The meeting in which detailed consideration was given to the method of distribution of solar panels, according to a statement issued here, was attended by Senior Energy Specialist Dmytro Glazkov, Energy Specialist Manahil Raza and Consultant Abrar Khattak from the World Bank, Secretary Energy Mosaddiq Ahmed Khan, PD Sindh Solar Energy Mahfouz Ahmed Qazi, and heads of various solar distribution companies.

Syed Nasir Shah directed the World Bank delegation and distribution companies to keep the process of distribution of solar panels very simple and convenient for the people. He also directed the meeting to speed up the steps regarding distribution of solar panels and maintain merit and transparency in all work.

The minister asked the heads of solar panel distribution companies to complete all the steps on time and to contact him directly in case of any difficulties.

He said that the project should be completed at the earliest as per the vision and instructions of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and efforts should be made to make its fruits available to the public within three months.