NEWS

PEF LAUNCHED EXPANSION PHASE-10 OF FAS PROGRAM

LAHORE(PR)A spokesman of the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has taken exception to the attempted union-formation and collection of money in name of union-fund from school-owners who have remained unsuccessful in partnership with the foundation in expansion phase-10 of its public private partnership based Foundation Assisted School (FAS) program for the needy children.

In a statement issued here today, the spokesman made it clear that the school partners have been selected purely on merit and fulfilling of program-specific criteria of the FAS. However, some unscrupulous elements are trying to extort money from the school owners who were unable to fulfill the one-kilometer departmental condition for partnership. These schools are being hoodwinked that any deviation is possible in this condition, which is totally incorrect as partnership agreements have been signed, added the spokesman. He advised the private school owners not to be blackmailed in the name of any union-formation as the expansion Phase-10 of FAS program has already been launched and no change is possible in this regard.

The spokesman advised the private school owners, in their own interest, that they may not succumb to any cheating in the name of union-formation and should wait for the launch of next expansion phases for partnership with the foundation to help arrange free education for the children of low income families in the Punjab. The expansion phases are announced after the formal approval of Board of Directors of the PEF and the selection of new partners is carried out purely on merit and in accordance with the program-specific criterion, the spokesman added.

The private school owners interested in educational partnership with the PEF under any of its public private partnership based programs should contact the concerned department of the foundation. They may also visit PEF official website www.pef.edu.pk for information and guidance, concluded the spokesman.

Blind cricketers have earned honour and glory for their motherland:Saqib Zafar 

BAHAWALPUR(PR)Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Saqib Zafar has said that blind cricketers have earned honour and glory for their motherland through their strong commitment and dedication for promoting competitive sports for special persons. He made these remarks while speaking as a Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony of National Bank of Pakistan's T-20 blind cricket tournament, here, today. The ceremony was attended by Assistant Commissioner General Muhammad Waseem, Divisional sports officer Syed Mateen Shah, District sports officer Maqsood-ul-Hassan, sports officer Tallat Masood, Bank Officials, a large number of blind cricketers and spectators.

"Blind cricket tournament is a practical testimony of Government's unflinching commitment of ensuring inclusive progress and development by institutionalizing the active, energetic, vibrant and robust participation of the special persons through various focused initiatives aimed at main streaming the persons with disabilities" Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Saqib Zafar noted.

Commissioner Saqib Zafar highly appreciated the sports initiatives of holding blind cricket tournament by the sponsors and the sports organizers at the Dring Stadium which would sharpen the pace of sports acculturation in Bahawalpur Division.

Chairman Pakistan Blind Cricket council Syed Sultan Shah said that this sports event stands as the biggest blind cricket tournament in Pakistan. He further said that 12 teams from around the country are participating in this tournament which includes: - Karachi, Quetta, Islamabad, Okara, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Abbot Abad, Azad Kashmir and PBCC bank star teams. He further maintained that as many as 2 thousand and 5 hundred blind cricketers have been playing cricket in Pakistan and this tournament is aimed to select 16 players for national blind cricket team which would participate in India T-20 blind cricket tournament 2017. He highly appreciated Commissioner Bahawalpur's keen interest and patronage for turning the vision of holding blind cricket tournament into reality.

First day of National Banks of Pakistan's T-20 blind cricket trophy

BAHAWALPUR(PR)On the first day of National Banks of Pakistan's T-20 blind cricket trophy two matches were played at Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur yesterday . First Match was played between Peshawar and Gujranwala blind cricket teams. Peshawar cricket team won the toss and elected to bat and scored 239 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Gujranwala cricket team managed to score 134 runs and lost the match. The second Match was played between Azad Kashmir and Faisalabad blind cricket teams. Faisalabad cricket team scored 65 runs. Azad Kashmir cricket team reached the target on 15th over and won the match.

 Punjab Government has earmarked a massive development budget  to expand the road network in Punjab: Iqbal Channer

BAHAWALPUR(By our Staff Reporter))Provincial Minister for Cooperative & Chairman Cholistan Development Authority Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channer has said that Punjab Government has earmarked a massive development budget amounting to Rs. 550 billion which has a component of Rs. 52 billion to expand the road network in Punjab. He made these remarks while speaking at a public meeting held at Baqirpur ground district Bahawalpur. The public meeting was attended by PMLN workers and a large number of citizens.

Provincial Minister Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channer said that Punjab Government has spend funds to the tune of Rs. 120 million on various development schemes at Baqirpur which include:- Construction of road networks, laying of sewerage lines, construction of fore wall of the graveyard and farm to market roads program.

Provincial Minister Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channer further maintained that Punjab government was fully committed to sharpen the pace of development work in the rural area which is aimed to turn Chief Minister Punjab's vision to put the far flung rural areas of the province at fast track development process.

"The top priority of Chief Minister Punjab is to widen the socio economic delivery system by expanding both health and education sectors which is practically manifested by establishing new health facilities and a proposed children complex at Bahawalpur is a part of larger development program of the Punjab Government", He noted.

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Three days POLIO eradication campaign kicked off in district Bahawalpur

BAHAWALPUR(PR)Three days POLIO eradication campaign kicked off in district Bahawalpur which is aimed to administer POLIO drops to as many as 5 lakh 97 thousand and 956 children of less than 5 years of age. To administer POLIO drops a total number of 1344 POLIO administering teams would remain in operation in 5 tehsils of district Bahawalpur. The inaugural ceremony of three days POLIO eradication drive held at the OPD of Bahawal Victoria Hospital where principal Quaid-e-Azam Medical College Professor Dr. Ajlal Haider Rizvi inaugurated the three days campaign by administering the POLIO drop to a child. The ceremony was attended by EDO health Dr. Shahid Khaleeq, Assistant Commissioner Bahawalpur city Rao Tasleem Akhter, District Officer health Dr. Saeed Asghar, Medical Superintendent Bahawal Victoria Hospital Dr. Rao Javed Akhter, representative of World Health Organization Dr. Munir Jhandeer and other officers and officials of the concerned departments.