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Educational institutions to gradually reopen across country from Sept 15: minister

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Our Correspondent
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood on Monday announced the gradual opening of educational institutions across the country from September 15.
Addressing a press conference along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Faisal Sultan in Islamabad on Monday, he said that they decided to gradually open the educational institutions and in this regard the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has decided that from September 15 higher education institutions, colleges and universities will be reopened. He said there are seven million students in this category.
The minister said the classes for Grade six to eight will be reopened from 23rd September after reviewing the Covid-19 situation. The total strength of students in this slot is 6.4 million.
He said if the situation remains well under control, the primary level schools will also be reopened from September 30, adding that today is also a big day because we were waiting for the situation to improve so that the educational institutions could be reopened.
Mahmood said the decision regarding reopening of educational institutions has been taken after detailed consultations with all the stakeholders including the provincial education ministers, the administration of schools, experts and think tanks.
The Minister said that the decisions taken today will be equally applicable on vocational training institutes and seminaries. He said strict action will be taken if the educational institutions don t comply with the SOPs.
He said the reopening of institutions was a difficult decision but has been taken for the future of the youth. He said matters pertaining to schedule of examinations and the course work are also being reviewed.
“I would like to thank the parents who have been patient for six months and today we have reached the point where we are gradually opening educational institutions from September 15,” said Shafqat Mahmood.
The federal minister said that it is necessary to monitor the health of the children and after a seven-day review, classes from sixth to eighth would be opened from September 23. “On September 30, if the situation improves, all the primary schools will be reopened,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Faisal Sultan said that the number of students in the classrooms will be kept low and it will be compulsory for the students to wear masks.
He said special instructions have been given to the educational institutions regarding Standard Operating Procedures to avoid any situation that can lead to revert this decision.
Faisal Sultan urged the parents to ensure the use of masks for school going children. He said schools  administration should minimize the density of students in class rooms through shift management. He said social distancing should be ensured in all types of gatherings in educational institutions.
Earlier today, Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) had decided to reopen universities, colleges and school for matric students in the country from September 15.
Federal Minister for Education and Vocational Training Shafqat Mahmood, chaired the conference on the issue. Ministers from all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir attended the meeting.
During the meeting it was decided that in first phase universities, colleges and school for ninth and tenth grade will be allowed to reopen from September 15 under strict implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and in second phase students of sixth to eight standard will be allowed to return to schools from September 22. Primary Schools will be allowed to reopen from September 30 in third phase.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a session of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) today to discuss reopening of schools colleges and universities after country continues to see steady decline in coronavirus cases.
In today’s session, the chief ministers of all four provinces, federal ministers, Special Assistants to PM, civil and military officials will be present and provide their input.
The Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood will brief the NCC on the SOPs and suggestions regarding reopening of schools. The committee, in light of recommendations will take final decision
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Bikes provided to 1254 polio workers serving in far flung areas

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Our Correspondent
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ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has provided motorcycles to polio vaccination workers serving in farm flung areas with an aim to facilitate then and cover vast area.

According to details, the governor has provide 42 bikes to polio workers of federal capital Islamabad, 376 bikes to polio workers of Azad Kashmir, 164 bikes to polio workers of Gilit Baltistan and 672 bikes to tribal districts.

In first phase 1254 motorcycles have been provided to polio vaccination workers while in second phase more motorcycles would be provided to polio workers serving in far flung areas.

The government has provided funds for procuring motorcycles and motive behind the provision of bikes is to facilitate the workers and covering a vast area.

(With additional input from INP)

Read More: Pakistan’s K2 nuclear reactor using Chinese technology completes thermal testing

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Investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad

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Our Correspondent
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ISLAMABAD: An investiture ceremony was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad where President Dr Arif Alvi conferred upon military awards to the officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces in recognition of their meritorious services to the nation.
Wing commander Muhammad Noman Ali Khan was awarded Sitata-i-Jur’att, for demonstrating valour in defence of mother land by shooting down an Indian aircraft when enemy s war planes violated Pakistan s airspace after the Pulwama incident.
Wing Commander Hassan Mahmood Siddiqui was conferred upon Tamgha-i-Jur’att for shooting down another plane of the enemy in February last year.
It may be added that Pakistan Air Force had evolved the Operation Swift Retort after to combat enemy s designs in the wake of situation emerged after Pulwama incident.
In total, one Sitata-i-Jur’att, 23 Sitata-i-Basalat, two Tamgha-i-Jur’att, and 44 Hilal-i-Imtiaz Military were conferred upon to martyrs and officers of the three forces.
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SECP official Sajid Gondal missing from Islamabad, says family

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Our Correspondent
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ISLAMABAD: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Joint Director Sajid Gondal has been missing from Islamabad since last night, his family confirmed.
His car was found in front of the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) on Park Road, located in Chak Shahzad, and his family says they have not been able to contact him since.
According to his family, last night Gondal visited a family-owned dairy farm in Chak Shahzad but the staff said he left later in the evening.
The SECP official, who is also a former journalist, did not come home, his family said.
Earlier this morning, one of the employees at the farm told his family that his car was parked outside NARC.
Though a formal complaint was not lodged at the time, local police, as part of routine procedure, examined Gondal’s car and informed the family that due to heavy rain earlier in the day, no fingerprints could be found on the vehicle.
Gondal’s wife submitted a complaint of the incident in the Shahzad Town police station, expressing suspicion that her husband had been “kidnapped by unidentified persons”. She urged the police to ensure his return, adding that the family “did not have any enmity”. The police are yet to file a first information report.
Meanwhile, the SECP released a press statement expressing solidarity with Gondal’s family. It further said that it was “providing complete assistance to the family in this moment”.
“The SECP staff are praying and hoping for an early and safe return of Gondal,” the statement concluded.
Earlier in the day, a team of SECP officials met Gondal’s family and it was decided that a team of lawyers would be consulted to decide if a case should be filed on behalf of the family or the department.
‘Bring Back Sajid Gondal’ was the top trend on Twitter in Pakistan after reports of him going missing started circulating on social media earlier today.
Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari took notice of the incident and said in a tweet that the police have been directed to register an FIR.
“Protection of each citizen’s life is our constitutional obligation. Rule of law must prevail — all must be dealt with according to the law,” she said.
Rights body Amnesty International expressed concern over the incident and urged authorities to “establish Gondal’s whereabouts immediately”.
“Sajid Gondal, a former journalist and an official with the SECP, is missing and feared to have been disappeared. We call upon the authorities to establish his whereabouts immediately,” the organisation tweeted.
PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal termed Gondal’s disappearance as “disturbing news” and urged the government to “immediately take all necessary steps to ensure his safe recovery”.
“Such acts bring bad name to Pakistan,” Iqbal said in a tweet.
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Experts in Islamabad to assess health of Kavaan before shifting

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Our Correspondent
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ISLAMABAD: Kaavan was a bit reluctant to let three veterinarians come near it to assess the health of the 35-year-old elephant at Islamabad Zoo, Zoo officials said.
The three experts have flown in from Cambodia to assess the elephant’s mental and physical conditions.
They will sedate the elephant to perform necessary health checks before permitting Kaavan to travel to its retirement home in a 25,000 acre sanctuary in Cambodia.
However, the veterinarians need to get close to Kaavan before they can administer the right amount of anesthesia on the old elephant, the sources said.
The vets will assess its psychological, mental and heart conditions before they can allow the elephant to travel. They will then present their findings to the expert committee overseeing the process of Kaavan’s shifting to Cambodia.
However, a few conservationists in the committee such as biodiversity specialist Prof ZB Mirza say the elephant might not survive the journey to its retirement home in Cambodia. Prof Mirza argues that even if it does make it, other male elephants might attack Kaavan and kill him.
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Islamabad domicile holders to get 50pc quota in federal institutions jobs

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Our Correspondent
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ISLAMABAD: On directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, government has decided to grant 50 per cent quota to Islamabad domicile holders in jobs of federal institutions.
According to the notification issued by Establishment Division, the quota will be applicable on jobs of grade 1 to 15. Federal government departments have allocated 19 percent quota for Sindh, 7.5 per cent for open merit, 11.5 per cent for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 6 per cent for Balochistan, two per cent for Azad Kashmir and one per cent for Gilgit-Baltistan.
Former Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) will have three percent quota and government has decided to continue quota for ex-FATA for next 10 years despite of their merger in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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Thundershowers expected in Islamabad, upper KP, GB and Azad Kashmir

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Our Correspondent
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ISLAMABAD: Intermittent thunderstorm shower is expected in Islamabad, southern Punjab and south-eastern Sindh, however, hot and dry weather is expected in Balochistan on Friday.
More thunder showers with gusty winds are expected in Islamabad, upper/central Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir during the next twelve hours.
Intermittent thunderstorm is also expected in southern Punjab and south-eastern Sindh, however, hot and dry weather is expected in Balochistan.
In an earlier press release, the Met Office had said that rains in Karachi had “subsided” and that dry weather was expected to prevail in most parts of Sindh for the next 10 days with one or two brief rains at a few places during the period.
“Dry weather conditions in Karachi will be supportive for rescue/relief operation during next 10 days,” stated the weather department.
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200 Pakistanis stranded in India due to COVID-19 return home

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Our Correspondent
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ISLAMABAD: Nearly 200 hundred Pakistanis stranded in India due to the coronavirus lockdown in both the countries, returned home via the Attari-Wagah border on Thursday.
Train service between Islamabad and New Delhi was suspended on August 15 after the coronavirus outbreak, leaving hundreds of Pakistanis stranded on the other side of the border in Gujrat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, New Delhi and Rajasthan.
Pakistan repatriated its nationals from India following the efforts of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.
In June this year, the Attari-Wagah border was opened for three days to repatriate stranded Indians in Pakistan.
Pakistan on March 19 had closed the Wagah Border in its bid to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.
Read more: 200 Pakistanis stranded in India due to lockdown to return on Sept 3
In May, the Indian government had facilitated the return of 179 Pakistanis to their country through the land border. They were stranded in various states of India due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
After restrictions were partially lifted, 400 Pakistanis again returned home from the Wagah border.
On March 14, India had suspended cross-border movement of passengers through the Attari-Wagah border after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Earlier on May 28, 300 Indian nationals returned to their country after both the countries eased lockdown restrictions during the pandemic.
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PTCL concludes its Flagship Internship Program ‘Experia 2020’ 

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Our Correspondent
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) successfully concluded its flagship internship program Experia 2020 with a closing ceremony held at the PTCL HQ, Islamabad.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, the company engaged with the students virtually and provided them with ample learning opportunities and mentorship.
For this flagship program, 25 students from well-renowned universities such as LUMS, IBA Karachi, NUST, FAST and Bahria University were selected out of 1200 students through online Gamified Assessment.
On the occasion, Syed Mazhar Hussain, Group Chief Human Resource Officer, PTCL & Ufone, said, “Our commitment to the youth of Pakistan remains strong as we create ample opportunities of learning and mentoring. Experia is one of the flagship internship program at PTCL, where we nurture and groom the best talent from various universities in Pakistan.
We made efforts to ensure that this program continues in its true spirit even in COVID-19 by adding virtual mechanism in place.”
Selected students were given an online orientation of a detailed six-week plan and were assigned to their respective projects and departments.
As part of Experia’s holistic learning, the interns were provided access to PTCL’s internal Learning Management System known as ‘LearnX’ along with a recommended in-house built program ‘Developing Managerial Skills’.
They were also given exclusive access to world renowned Digital Learning Platform ‘LinkedIn Learning,’ which they will continue to access and learn from even after their internship.
In a fun and innovative way, the interns were given an opportunity to learn about PTCL’s culture, Code of Conduct, CSR initiatives and its Corporate Values.
They were also given virtual tours of the Network Operations Center, Telephone Exchange, Smart Shop and Data Centers.
The final presentations took place online with the top three students presenting their projects during the closing ceremony. The students were also taken on a field trip to PTCL Satellite Earth Station, located on the outskirts of Islamabad known as ‘Malaach Earth Station’.
PTCL is committed to develop young talent of Pakistan by providing learning and growth opportunities to build confidence, skills and pride for their bright future.
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Opposition’s Rehbar Committee to meet today Thursday

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Our Correspondent
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ISLAMABAD: The Rehbar Committee of opposition parties will meet today (Thursday) in Islamabad to decide on the date of the All Parties Conference (APC).
According to details, the meeting of the Rehbar Committee is scheduled to be held at the residence of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Akram Durani In Islamabad at 2:00pm.
Sources said that the meeting will be attended by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal and Marriyum Aurangzeb of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nayyar Bukhari and Farhatullah Babar of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and leaders of eight other opposition parties.
Sources also informed that the Rehbar Committee will decide about the agenda of the APC as well as chalk out a joint strategy on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) law.
The leaders of opposition parties are also scheduled to address a joint press conference after the conclusion of the Rehbar Committee meeting.
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