BAHAWALPUR NEWS

Education is the top most priority of the present government:Baligh-ur-Rehman

BAHAWALPUR(PR)Engineer Mian Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman, Minister of State for Education and Professional Training, Interior and Narcotics Control has said that education is the top most priority of the present government as the government is spending record amount of Rs. 1800 billion on this sector. Similarly, funds for Higher Education Commission have also been doubled by increasing from Rs. 41 billion to Rs. 91 billion. These education friendly steps by the government have included our country among nations rapidly improving in the field of education.  The Minister of State expressed these views during medal distribution ceremony at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur Yesterday morning. He praised academic, administrative and fiscal reforms introduced by Pro. Dr. Qaiser Mushtaq, Vice Chancellor putting university on right track. He also appreciated 11^th position of the IUB in recent ranking announced by the Higher Education Commission showing 40 points improvement in short span of 1 year. He said that hiring of candidates on merit through several selection boards, enforcement of regular semester calendar and steps to secure to university campuses are significant developments for the betterment of the university. He said that federal government has recently approve historic grant of Rs. 860 million for various projects of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur which shows her commitment for the educational development of the region. The Government is paying full attention to academic development of Bahawalpur, recently Government Sadiq College Women University has been allocated 125 acres of land. Developmental work is on progress at the site of Veterinary and Livestock University near Bahawalpur. Higher Education Commission is planning to establish a University campus in every district of the country. On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Qaiser Mushtaq, Vice Chancellor thanked the Minister for his presence in the medal distribution ceremony and briefed about academic and developmental projects going on in the Campuses. He said that an efforts being made to bring cultural change in the university by providing congenial environment to faculty, employees and students without any discrimination. The enforcement of regular academic calendar has ensured conduct of semester schedule on time and the admissions in fall and spring semesters have doubled the student enrolment.  The University Campuses in Bahawalpur have been made 100 % secure while steps are being taken to standardize the security of sub Campuses of Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan. The Vice Chancellor, Government Sadiq College Women University Bahawalpur Prof. Dr. Tallat Afza, faculty members, officers and students also attended the ceremony.  

 

Energy crisis will be over by 2018:Sher Ali Khan

             LAHORE(PR)Punjab Minister for Mines & Minerals Chaudhary Sher Ali Khan has said that energy crisis will be over by 2018 as Provincial as well as federal government are utilizing all possible sources to meet the needs of energy by promoting Energy Mix along with completing the power projects based on coal, gas and solar sources. Provincial government has introduced semi mechanized mining technology and latest machinery to get maximum production of local coal to operate its coal fired power plants.

                  He said this while presiding over a meeting in this regard, here today. Ch. Sher Ali Khan said that promotion of latest technology in the Mining Sector and capacity building of Mines and Minerals department is the top priority of Punjab Government. We are lucky to have 600 million tons of local coal reserves in Salt Range area of the province and Punjab government is providing maximum possible facilities and incentives to local and foreign investors, private sectors and industrialists for mining of these coal reserves at low production cost. Ch. Sher Ali Khan said that 100 MW, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Plant at Bahawalpur, already operational has started its production whereas work at   RLNG based power plants at Bhikki, Hawaili Bahadur Shah and Balluki is underway speedily. He further said that Punjab government is willing to provide maximum possible facilities to the farmer community for installation of low cost bio-energy plants at village level. Moreover, Punjab government has also started its 250 MW Wind Energy project at district Rajanpur in Southern Punjab. The project will be completed next year,he added. Ch. Sher Ali Khan said that modern technology would be helpful in utilization of domestic coal reserves. He said that energy conservation is also the need of the hour for which consumers should supplement the efforts of the government. Punjab government is restructuring the mining sector and  foreign investment in mining sector is also encouraged with huge incentives. The minister said that Punjab government is spending sufficient amount of funds on energy production by promoting alternate energy resources. A number of coal fired power projects including 300 MW in Pind Dadan Khan and 1320 MW project in Sahiwal are also in the pipeline that would help overcome the energy challenges faced by this country

              
Department of Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education has enhanced administrative and financial powers
  LAHORE(PR)After final approval of Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the department of Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education has enhanced administrative and financial powers of autonomous medical institutions, head of the institutions and medical superintendents in the province and a notification has been issued in this regard. Secretary Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Najam Ahmed Shah informed that government has amended schedule V&VI of Punjab Medical and Health Institutions Rules 2003 for this purpose. He said that the purpose of giving financial and administrative powers to the heads and MSs of autonomous medical institutions is to improve the efficiency of these institutions and evolve an efficient healthcare system by removing flaws in healthcare delivery system. According to the notification, while complete powers have been given to Board of Management of autonomous hospitals and specialized institutions, principals, heads of institutions and MSs have been empowered in a number of administrative and financial matters. Now principal and MS will have the power to make bulk purchase of medicines up to 40 lakh and 30 lakh respectively through purchase committee for the hospital. Similarly, principal and MS will have the authority to make local purchase of medicines of five lakh and two lakh rupees respectively. Principal can give one year’s leave to any employee, however, relevant rules will be applicable in case of X-Pakistan leave. Principal and MS will have administrative and financial power of sanctioning up to 40 lakh and 30 lakh rupees respectively. Similarly, principal will have the authority to purchase construction material of up to 15 lakh rupees for construction work of immediate nature for the hospital while MS has the authority to spend ten lakh rupees for this purpose. Moreover, principal and MS will have the power to hire consultant or firm with a sum of up to 20 lakh and ten lakh rupees respectively, however, the consultant or firm should be register with the P&D. Similarly, they will be authorized to spend a sum of up to 20 lakh rupees with the approval of purchase committee for the purchase of computers, hardware, software, photo state machines etc. Principal and MS can give approval for the purchase of machinery of up to 40 lakh and 30 lakh rupees respectively however implementation of procurement procedure will be compulsory. Secretary Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Najam Ahmed Shah said that principals and MSs of autonomous and specialized healthcare institutions have been necessary powers and now they will be able to make prompt decisions for improving the working of their respective hospitals.
No organized child lifting gang operating in 3 districts of Bahawalpur police range:Gohar Mushtaq Bhutta

BAHAWALPUR(PR)Acting Regional Police Officer Bahawalpur Gohar Mushtaq Bhutta has maintained that there was no organized child lifting gang operating in 3 districts of Bahawalpur police range and a campaign run at social media regarding kidnapping of children was totally baseless. He made these remarks while presiding over a joint meeting of high police officials, representatives of Media and civil society. Acting District Police Officer Captain retired Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto and Additional Advocate general Malik Mumtaz Akhter was also present on this occasion.

"Rumors regarding lifting of children have created an environment of fear and harassment which has agonized parents, therefore, Media and civil society should highlight true picture at the public Radar", Acting RPO noted.

Acting RPO further said that all the 57 calls regarding lifting of children received at police emergency call centre 15 from January 1st  to July 31st were proved to be false. He further said that 13 incidents of torture against alleged child lifter have been reported and 5 cases have been registered against the accused involved in torturing at various police stations since August 2016.

Acting RPO called upon the citizens that instead of torturing alleged child lifter the citizen should inform the police at police emergency call centre 15.

Acting RPO Gohar Mushtaq Bhutta assured the public that all available resources have been mobilized to have a close vigil on the activities of all strangers and suspects.

Acting RPO while responding to a question said that police recovered all the children in 106 cases registered in Bahawalpur district, 41 out of 42 children were recovered in district Rahim Yar Khan while 1 out of 2 kidnapped children has so far been recovered ranging from a period of 1st January 2012 to 18th August 2016 in Bahawalpur police region Bahawalpur.

Health department's anti-adulteration teams conducted raids at various milk out-lets

BAHAWALPUR(PRHealth department's anti-adulteration teams conducted raids at various milk out-lets at different places and checked the quality of milk through modern equipments. As a result the teams found 70 liter of milk un-hygienic and adulterated which was destroyed. The teams also sealed one milk out-let and imposed a fine to the tune of Rs. 30 thousand. This was stated by District Officer health (Head quarter) and focal person anti-food adulteration Dr. Zeeshan Rauf in a press statement.

Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan visited various historical places in district Bahawalpur

BAHAWALPUR(PR)Provincial Minister for education Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan visited various historical places in district Bahawalpur. The Minister paid a visit at Derawar fort, Shahi Masjid and Sadiq Garh Palace.

During his visit Provincial Minister said that Punjab Government was mobilizing all available resources to preserve the splendid and glorious heritage of Bahawalpur region.

Regional Manager Tourism Development Corporation briefed the visiting Minister about various initiatives undertaken by his department to promote cultural tourism of Cholistan and other historical places.

                
PEF has emerged as the largest free education-provider in the province

LAHORE(PR)Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has emerged as the largest free education-provider in the province as 67 percent of its partner schools are situated in the south. Similarly, 69 percent of the student-beneficiaries belong to the southern part of the province. Due to it, great achievement has been made in eradicating illiteracy and ignorance in the far-flung and remote hinterlands, where it is quite difficult for the low-income families to arrange education for their children for want of resources.  

                   Chairman PEF Engr. Qamar-ul-Islam Raja said this while addressing the first day of 3-Day District Coordination Meeting at Jinnah Auditorium, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan on Saturday. 1047 school partners from Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanewal attended the meeting. He said that promotion of education in the low-income families is our priority agenda. It is important that our school partners are playing an important role in promotion of education in disfranchised sections of the societies; it is our sovereign commitment to help promote quality education in the partner schools through useful interventions. Efficient use of IT has also been made. He commended the fact that students have shown great interest in benefiting from PEF sponsored educational programmes as the total number of beneficiaries has surpassed two million. He observed that promotion of education should be treated as national agenda, and all segments of the society should supplement this program, so that all the children should be in schools by the year 2018.

                   MD PEF Tariq Mehmood said that different initiatives have been introduced to improve the educational standards of the partner schools. It has helped the students to study free of cost and excel in life with self-confidence and courage. He told that a comprehensive policy mechanism will be devised for up-gradation of partner schools having sufficient facilities and meeting the program criterion. It would help the students, including the girls, to continue their education, he added. He further said that governmental instructions with regard to adoption of anti-dengue measures and schools’ security should be implemented in letter and spirit.

                   The meeting was also addressed by different programme directors.

PEF has provided the life-changing facility of free quality education to the low-income families in the province

LAHORE(PR)Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has provided the life-changing facility of free quality education to the low-income families in the province, who cannot provide education to their children, due to different reasons. For this purpose, educational partnerships have been made with thousands of private schools in 36 districts of the province, so that the needy students could study in partner schools situated in their close proximity. The poor families should, therefore, don’t indulge their children in child-labor activities; and instead, send them to PEF partner schools. PEF will pay for their monthly dues as well as arrange free textbooks. We are committed to bring every child to the school so that no one should be out of school by 2018. As a result of continued support and financial patronage of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab province has emerged as the glowing example of education-promotion in whole of South Asia.

Chairman PEF Engr. Qamar ul Islam Raja said this while addressing the school partners gathering at Jinnah auditorium, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan on Sunday. 1058 school partners from Multan, Layyah, Vehari and Rajanpur attended the meeting.

Mr. Raja said that poverty and ignorance are two social evils that have plagued the society. It is our commitment that every child will get his/her basic right of education to wriggle out of the quagmire of poverty. For this purpose, PEF has established a network of partner schools in every nook & corner of the province. Due to it, more than two million needy children are studying free of cost in PEF partner schools; and are free of the burden of educational expenses.

MD PEF Tariq Mahmood, in his address, asked the school partners to motivate the low income families to provide education to their children. Education is the only support that they can provide to their children for living an honorable life. Education also reinvigorates and strengthens the budding souls to emerge as future leaders to steer the country to progress. He said that a comprehensive training program has been launched to sensitize the partner schools’ teachers and head teachers about latest concepts of education and teaching. These training workshops were being held in different districts and tehsils to help the school partners to improve their educational standards. He said that PEF has also increased the amounts of cash-awards for position-holder students of Punjab Examination Commission and Boards of Intermediate & Secondary Education in the Punjab. The meeting was also addressed by the program directors.

Later, Sheher Bano Saeed and Muhammad Shahzad- former students of PEF partner schools in Multan were awarded Rs. 20 thousand and Rs. 15 thousand respectively for securing second (arts) and third (science) positions in matric exam 2016 held under the aegis of Multan Board.

BWMC should mobilize all available resources to maintain cleanliness and tidiness in Bahawalpur City:Dr. Syed Waseem Akhter

BAHAWALPUR(PR)MPA and Director Bahawalpur Waste Management Company Dr. Syed Waseem Akhter has maintained that to provide a clean, healthy and congenial environment is the prime responsibility of BWMC. Therefore, BWMC should mobilize all available resources to maintain cleanliness and tidiness in Bahawalpur City. He made these remarks while inspecting the working of BWMC regarding its cleanliness operations at Mohallah Gari Baan, Mohallah Gul Hassan, Phattay wali gali, Dhobio Wali gali, and Koocha Rehman in the jurisdiction of Union Council No. 12.

MPA Dr. Syed Waseem Akhter directed the concerned officials to place waste boxes to ensure better collection of the garbage.