Day: July 5, 2021

Posted on

Conducting 3D Coaching Course under the auspices of Pakistan Federation Baseball

Lahore, July 05, 2021 (PPI-OT):A 3D (Three Dimensional) Coaching Course was organized in Lahore in collaboration with Pakistan Federation Baseball and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. According to Secretary General of Pakistan Federation Baseball Sheikh Mazhar Ahmed, a one-day 3D Coaching Course was organized in Lahore in collaboration with the Federation and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Sheikh Mazhar Ahmed added that a team of two coaches from the United States, Dan Britton and Silas Mullis, supervised the course. The coaches and officials from Pakistan Federation Baseball including Fakhar Shah, Tariq Nadeem, Umair Imdad Bhatti, Nadeem Sajjad Shah, Aftab Mehboob, Mujaddid Awan and Hisham Khan has attended the course.

According to Syed Fakhar Ali Shah, President PFB, the coaches of Pakistan’s national youth and senior baseball teams have been invited for this 3D course. The purpose of the course was to make the coaches understand that not only the training but also the relationship with the players should be such that if a player is facing any kind of problem then the coach should be aware of it. So that when the player comes for practice or match, there is no pressure on his mind or any family pressure. The positive thinking of the players has to be improved so that they can show their best abilities on the ground.

According to Syed Fakhar Shah, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes had provided the services of US Baseball Coach Mr. John Golding for Pakistan Federation Baseball in 2016 with whom Pakistan team participated in World Baseball Classic Qualifier 2016. He hoped that this course would play an important role in the training of coaches. At the end of the course, certificates were distributed to the participants.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Federation Baseball
Punjab Stadium, Ferozepur Road,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel. +92-42-353-41121
Fax + 92-42-357-11828
E-mail: pakistanfederationbaseball@hotmail.com

Posted on

E-CAT Test at Virtual University

Lahore, July 05, 2021 (PPI-OT):As per the instructions of the Chancellor Virtual University, President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, the entrance test for admission in engineering universities of Punjab in the context of Digital Pakistan was conducted in 109 campuses of the Virtual University.

A state-of-the-art control room has been set up at the Virtual University to monitor engineering tests.
Rector Virtual University Prof. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti, Registrar Virtual University Dr. Mohsin Javed, Controller Examinations Dr. Faisal Tehseen Shah and Additional Controller Examinations Sarmad Latif Mir visited various test centers and reviewed the examination arrangements.

Speaking to media persons on the occasion, Rector Virtual University Prof. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti said that 109 campuses of Virtual University have been allotted for 33649 students for engineering test. These campuses included Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Sheikhupura, Nankana, Sialkot and many other cities. 103 centers have been activated in Punjab, 2 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 1 in Azad Kashmir and 3 in Islamabad.

The transparency of the entry test has been ensured with the help of 1000 CCTV cameras. The test will be completed in 4 days through 16 stages keeping in view the recommendations of the NCOC, he added. The Virtual University has also introduced a mobile application to guide students in engineering test so that students can easily view the details of their examination center and roll number.

COVID-19 desks are set up in all the campuses of the Virtual University where gloves, masks and sanitizers are also provided to all the students. VU has provided air conditioning environment for the convenience of students. Rector, Virtual University said that online tests would also help in maintaining social distance. He further reiterated that the Virtual University will continue to show the most outstanding performance in the field of information technology.

For more information, contact:
Virtual University of Pakistan (VU)
M.A. Jinnah Campus, Defence Road, Off Raiwind Road,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-880-880
Fax: +92-42-99200604, +92-42-99202174
Website: www.vu.edu.pk

Posted on

Earmarking Merely 10% of the Education Development Funds for School Education Inadequate to Address the Needs of the Most Marginalized Children in the Federal Capital: PYCA

Lahore, July 05, 2021 (PPI-OT):“The Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Mr. Shafqat Mehmood and his entire team deserve huge congratulations for announcing the single largest increase in the federal education development budget in over a decade. However, with merely 10% of the development budget earmarked for school education, there is an immediate need to rationalize this division of funds.” This statement was made by Ms. Areebah Shahid, Executive Director Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA) in light of the recently announced education budget.

The federal government allocated a total of Rs. 140 billion for federal education for the fiscal year 2021-22, compared to the previous year’s Rs. 118 billion. A 44% increase was also observed within the education development budget taking it to Rs. 48 billion during FY 2021-22 compared to the Rs. 34 billion allocated for education development initiatives during the last two fiscal years. While 10% of the development funds will be spent on school education, 90% have been earmarked for higher education.

“Although, after the 18thAmendment the primary responsibility of the federal government is higher education, however the schools in the federal area also come under its purview,” pointed out Mr. Hisham Khan, Program Coordinator at PYCA. “An estimated 30,000 children remain out-of-school in the federal capital, making the current allocation of funds for school education inadequate to bring about any significant improvements in terms of greater enrolment, retention and improved learning among the most marginalized children.”

The need to prioritize school education has become all the more pronounced in the aftermath of the COVID-19 emergency. Recent data emerging from Pakistan points at a potentially large exodus of children, especially girls from schools owing to the financial strain experienced at the household level. At the same time, prolonged school closures have also contributed to huge learning losses among the most marginalize learners and any strategy to mitigate this situation will require additional and sustained funding over the next few years.

With these sobering realities threatening the educational future of thousands of the most marginalized children, the Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Mr. Shafqat Mehmood must empathetically review the situation and ensure that the educational needs of the most vulnerable young learners in the federal capital are not left unattended.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA)
Email: info@pyca.org.pk
Website: https://pyca.org.pk/

Posted on

Jayasundara banned for seven years under ICC Anti-Corruption Code

Dubai, July 05, 2021 (PPI-OT):Sanath Jayasundara, a former performance analyst at Sri Lanka Cricket, has been banned from all cricket for seven years after the ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

The ban is backdated to 11 May 2019, when he was provisionally suspended.

Following a full hearing and presentation of written and oral argument, the Tribunal found Jayasundara guilty of:

Article 2.1.3 – offering a bribe or other Reward to the Sri Lankan Sports Minister to contrive in any way or otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of an International Match

Article 2.4.7 – obstructing or delaying an ACU investigation into possible corrupt conduct under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code

Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager – Integrity Unit, said: Jayasundara’s attempt to bribe a Minister is a grave transgression while the efforts to cover up his tracks and the lack of remorse are hugely disappointing.

“We won’t tolerate corrupt conduct in our sport and my team will be relentless in preventing such behaviour. This ban should serve as a deterrent for anyone who may be tempted along the wrong path.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Posted on

LUMS wins CASE Platinum Award for its National Outreach Programme

Lahore, July 05, 2021 (PPI-OT):LUMS has won the global Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Platinum Award 2021 in the ‘Best Practices in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ category for its National Outreach Programme (NOP). The CASE Platinum Awards recognise the world-class programmes and practices in educational advancement.

“The power of intentionality rippled through this entry like a rock tossed in still water. This programme’s ability – through disciplined outreach and coordination—to identify talent from all parts of Pakistan is impressive. This entry displayed sustainability and growth, and could be a model for organizations and universities globally, if willing to be intentional and make the financial investment. We appreciated the varied layers of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging expressed in the students served,” noted the CASE Platinum Award Judges.

CASE is a prestigious not-for-profit organisation dedicated to educational advancement with global institutions who share the goal of championing education to transform lives and society. LUMS was selected from among nearly 300 entries submitted from across the world for the eight award categories. LUMS represented the Asia-Pacific region in the international round of this competition, as it was selected as a regional finalist earlier this year.

Speaking about this achievement, Founding Pro Chancellor, LUMS, Syed Babar Ali said, “It is a moment of great pride for us and we feel immensely gratified for this recognition. This award belongs to everyone who played a role in refining individual aspects of this programme and shaping a broader path in making quality higher education accessible to more and more students from underserved areas of the country.”

The NOP is LUMS’ signature initiative to make quality education accessible to all and is underpinned by the University’s philosophy of ‘Learning Without Borders’. The programme exemplifies the values of merit, diversity, inclusion, and equity. For the past two decades, LUMS has remained committed to the National Outreach Programme, and has offered full scholarships to one out of 10 students from the most disadvantaged areas of Pakistan. To date, nearly 1,200 students from 136 cities and small towns across Pakistan have been a part of this celebrated initiative.

“Through the NOP, LUMS creates an infinite multiplier through scholars, who become change agents for their families, the broader communities and the country. The impact is transformational at all levels,” said Vice Chancellor, Dr. Arshad Ahmad.

Graduates develop knowledge, skills, and values to go on to graduate schools in top universities worldwide; they raise their own standards of living, and almost all give back to their communities. The broader impact of NOP students on the rest of the student body is equally profound. Programme scholars demonstrate an exceptional work ethic and perseverance, and bring languages and micro-cultures that truly enhance the diverse learning environment at LUMS.

For more information, contact:
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
D.H.A. Lahore Cantt. 54792
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35608000
Fax: +92-42-35725048
Website: www.lums.edu.pk

Posted on

Sindh Assembly passes six government bills, adopts one resolution

Islamabad, July 05, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Provincial Assembly of Sindh passed six government bills and adopted a resolution on Monday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 21st sitting of the 21st session:

Members’ Participation

The House met for three hours and nine minutes.

The sitting started at 03:31 pm against the scheduled time of 02:00 pm.

The speaker chaired the entire proceedings.

The deputy speaker was not present.

The leader of the House (Chief Minister) did not attend the sitting.

The opposition leader was present for 39 minutes.

As many as 35 MPAs (21 percent) were present at the outset and 18 (11 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQMP, MMAP and TLP were present, while leaders of GDA and PTI did not attend the sitting.

Six out of nine minority lawmakers attended the proceedings.

Output

The House passed six government bills including the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Sindh High Density Development Board (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Sindh Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Sindh Shops and Commercial Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Sindh Zakat and Ushr (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Sindh Institute of Music and Performance Art Bill, 2020.

Minister for parliamentary affairs introduced the Sindh Food Fortification Bill, 2020 which was referred to the relevant committee for further consideration.

Tabled by a PPPP lawmaker, the House adopted a resolution condemning military coup and dissolution of national and provincial assemblies on July 5, 1977.

Representation and Responsiveness

Eight out of seventeen starred questions were taken up during the question hour. In addition, the lawmakers asked 17 supplementary questions.

The House took up five calling attention notices (CANs) regarding ban on smoke emitting rickshaws in Karachi, provision of group insurance facility to the employees of the province on their retirement, regularize the services of employees and doctors of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Lyari University and illegal construction of buildings in Korangi town Karachi.

Another CAN on the agenda was deferred due to the absence of relevant minister.

An adjournment motion regarding gas load shedding for domestic consumers was deferred while other about low GDP of the country got lapsed due to mover’s absence.

The chair rejected a privilege motion of a PTI lawmaker regarding alleged misbehaviour of policemen with him outside the assembly premises.

Order and Institutionalization

Female Lawmakers belonging to PPPP protested during the proceedings for 15 minutes against the remarks of opposition leader against the women. They also walked out from the House for six minutes on the same issue.

The session was prorogued sine die.

Transparency

‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.

The attendance of lawmakers was not available to the media and observers.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org