Day: November 30, 2021

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Abysmal Voter Turnout in Youth Must be Changed: PILDAT 

Islamabad, November 30, 2021 (PPI-OT):Even though Youth make the largest chunk of Pakistan’s population and registered voters in 18 to 29 years cohort form the largest of all age cohorts, Youth voter turnout remains abysmally low in Pakistan. Citing estimated data on Youth voter turnout collected by Gallup Pakistan over the past 8 General Elections since 1988, PILDAT has said that Youth voter turnout in the past eight (8) elections happens to be just 31% which is 13 percentage points lower than the average overall voter turnout in these eight (8) elections.

Youth voter turnout is even lower than women voter turnout during the past two elections for which women voter turnout figures are available. Average Youth voter turnout estimates are a mere 31.5% compared to 40% for women voter turnout and 53% for average national voter turnout during the last two elections in 2013 and 2018. In India, youth participation in the 2019 General Election exceeded the All India turnout by approximately 2%.

The issue of low level of youth voter turnout in Pakistan is further compounded by extremely scant youth participation in the political process as a whole with minimal political association and participation in elections as candidates at various levels (Local, Provincial and National). PILDAT, which has consistently invested in building youth’s leadership potential and understanding of the democratic process through 16 Youth Parliaments Pakistan, strongly believes that in order to strengthen Pakistan’s electoral process and to make it more inclusive, it is imperative that every state and political entity plays an effective role to increase Youth participation in elections.

PILDAT has just launched the registration process for young Pakistanis to register to join the 17th Youth Parliament Pakistan through which 272 young Pakistanis will be selected from equal number of National Assembly constituency across Pakistan. In addition, youth representation is invited from young Pakistanis living in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and from young Pakistanis residing overseas.

Drawing attention of the Election Commission of Pakistan to the critical issue of low voter turnout in youth of Pakistan, PILDAT has urged the ECP to consider:

1. Carrying out estimation of total number of registered voters in the age group of 18 to 29 in the electoral rolls with breakdown for gender, provinces and even constituencies needs to be undertaken. This data also needs to be made public periodically at least on a yearly basis

2. Undertaking research focusing on Youth participation in electoral process to understand the reasons behind extra-ordinarily low youth voter turnout in Pakistan

3. Designing and executing special campaigns aimed at educating youth about the importance of participation as a voter

4. Conducting multiple Exit Polls to ascertain the level of Youth voter turnout in future general elections

5. Amending the ECP Strategic Plan 2018-2023 to include strategic actions aimed at addressing the low Youth voter turnout

6. Creating a dedicated wing or at least designating a focal person within the ECP to focus continuous attention on Youth participation in electoral process

PILDAT remains committed to enhancing Pakistani youth’s engagement in the process of democratic governance in Pakistan. In addition to the ECP, all actors, including political parties, national and provincial governments, and media must join hands to accelerate youth’s meaningful engagement in the electoral and democratic process in Pakistan.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT)
P.O. Box 278, F-8, Postal Code: 44220, Islamabad, Pakistan
Email: info@pildat.org
Website: www.pildat.org

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Applications Open for Eiffel Scholarship Program for Excellence

Lahore, November 30, 2021 (PPI-OT):

ADMISSIONS:

You can use the link below for desired masters programs that you are looking for in France:

http://taughtie.campusfrance.org/tiesearch/#/program/2283?lang=en&siteroot=https:%2F%2Fwww.pakistan.campusfrance.org%2F

Make sure to checkmark in the filters column “masters” in degree level, “yes” in 100% taught in English, and “national fee”, by selecting national fee you’ll be able to find the list of public universities offering low fees. You will also be able to see the university and city in which the program is offered. “Admission deadlines” and eligibility criteria are mentioned on each university’s website.

The admission process is simple, after searching the universities and programs of your interest using the above link, you can go directly on the university’s website and apply online for admission (fill up an online application form, upload your documents and submit).

SCHOLARSHIPS:

You can also apply for various scholarship opportunities.

1. On our Facebook page “Campus France Pakistan” we regularly post other scholarship offers, which are fully as well as partially funded.

2. After you have secured admission to any of the universities in France, you can write them an email and request for a scholarship, many French universities grant scholarships directly to the students as well.

3. You can look for all scholarship announcements on Campus France’s website, using http://campusbourses.campusfrance.org/fria/bourse/#/catalog?lang=en&cid=156

4. For all HEC scholarships kindly visit: https://hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/Pages/InternationalScholarships.aspx

5. Eiffel scholarship is already announced and details are posted on the “Campus France Pakistan” Facebook page, where all important information and deadlines are mentioned.

All the information regarding the Eiffel program are also available on our website: https://www.pakistan.campusfrance.org/call-for-eiffel-applications?fbclid=IwAR0F6zvTmEVeb7gvuKyxsqsIAYLHDVWBhWNQjjgi1sYuF_73bhIpm2l7BzQ

This program is reserved for candidates of non-French nationality. Eiffel scholarships are available in the following fields:

Science and techniques:

Biology and health

Ecological transition

Mathematics and digital

Science and engineering

Human and Social sciences:

History, French language and civilization

Law and political sciences

Economics and management

1st step:

You have to choose by yourself the French establishment according to your project of study.

Contact the International Relations departments of the school/university through their website, by email, or by telephone.

There is no list of establishments, any French school or university of higher education can apply.

2nd step:

If the university/school has decided to support your application to the Eiffel scholarship, they will send the application on your behalf.

Summary: To apply for Eiffel, while filling an online application form for admission to a French university, mention in the same form that you want to apply for the Eiffel scholarship. That is the way to apply for the Eiffel scholarship program.

Applications submitted directly by students or by foreign educational institutions will be rejected.

You might also find funding at this address: http://www.campusfrance.org/en/page/campusbourses-grant-search-engine%20

Or at http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/studying-in-france/finance-your-studies-scholarships-4965/

For more information, contact:
Forman Christian College
Ferozpur Road, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99231581-8
Fax: +92-42-99230703
E-Mail: contact@fccollege.edu.pk
Website: www.fccollege.edu.pk

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The PPP was founded for the rights of the poor: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the Foundation Day jalsa of the Party in Peshawar 

Peshawar, November 30, 2021 (PPI-OT):Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressing a mammoth public gathering in connection with the 54th Founding Day of PPP in Peshawar, announced protest demonstrations against the government for increasing petrol prices and creating a gas crisis in the country. He demanded of the government to leave the IMF programme which has made the people’s lives hell.

This is the first time that the PPP has observed its founding day in the KP province. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari congratulated the Jiyalas and the people of Pakistan for observing the Founding Day of a party that has always worked for the poor people of Pakistan. He said that PPP is the party of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and the poor and downtrodden. He also remembered all those who sacrificed their lives for democracy in the country. Chairman PPP paid rich tribute to late Rahim Dad Khan who dedicated his life for the party and democracy.

He said that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa always supported Shaheed Quaid-e-Awam, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and President Zardari. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was in KP just a day before she was martyred. The people of KP will also not disappoint him as they never disappointed PPP leadership in the past, he said. He said that the selected puppet government did not want the gathering to take place here and the administration also erected hurdles but the brave Jiyalas held the gathering here in Peshawar despite that the permission was not given. Just a few days ago, the puppet chief minister of KP wanted to hold a jalsa in the same place but was failed.

Our friends (PDM) also held a failed gathering here despite being constituted of several parties as this gathering has eclipsed that gathering. This is because the people have decided to support the party of martyrs and poor. The PPP was founded for the poor, for the rights of the poor, for human rights and for economic rights of the people. The PPP’s policies have been for the poor, labourers, growers, students, pensioners and the people of Pakistan. This is why the PPP leaders were supported by the people of Pakistan in the past and today they have proved that they are supporting the party of the people of Pakistan, Pakistan Peoples Party.

At the time of President Zardari’s government, there was the worst recession in the world, Pakistan had to deal with two floods and we were fighting the terrorists but because of his pro-poor and pro-people policies the country was growing and developing. Unfortunately, after the PPP, all other government did not care about the people. This government made a deal with the IMF which is anti-people and the people are facing worst price-hike in the country. The people are troubled because of this puppet and incapable government. Quaid-e-Awam had said that it is not the fate of the people to remain poor forever. Slogan for Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was “Benazir aaye gi, Razgar laye gi”.

The PPP is the only party which always provides employment. This selected government is usurping your political and economic rights but the PPP is with the people and will defeat the nefarious designs of this government. This government has already announced to increase petrol prices which we reject. We demand of this government to come out of this anti-people IMF deal. This government wants the State Bank to become a slave of the IMF but we will not allow that to happen and will challenge it on the streets and in courts.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the EVM is another RTS and we reject elections with EVM. We will challenge it on the streets and courts. This government is playing a game in the name of overseas Pakistanis. These overseas Pakistanis are abroad working for their families and sending remittances to Pakistan because Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave people the right of passport and negotiated with the countries to provide employment to Pakistanis going abroad. We want the representation of the overseas Pakistanis in the parliament so that they can fight for their rights. How can a person vote in Paris or New York, but have his vote counted in Peshawar and Mardan? This is to dilute the vote of people living in Pakistan.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the EVM is another RTS and we reject elections with EVM. We will challenge it on the streets and courts. This government is playing a game in the name of overseas Pakistanis. These overseas Pakistanis are abroad working for their families and sending remittances to Pakistan because Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave people the right of passport and negotiated with the countries to provide employment to Pakistanis going abroad. We want the representation of the overseas Pakistanis in the parliament so that they can fight for their rights.

How can a person vote in Paris or New York, but have his vote counted in Peshawar and Mardan? This is to dilute the vote of people living in Pakistan. This will not be allowed and the PPP will challenge this on the streets and in courts. Chairman PPP said that there are several conspiracies being hatched by this government. It wants to award NRO to the Indian spy, Kulbhushan Jadhev through parliament but we will challenge it.

Chair PPP said that KP is a province of brave people who fought and defeated terrorists and did the job which the super powers of the world could not do. Now this government is secretly negotiating with the killers of our citizens, our children including the children of APS, of our women, of our brave jawans of police, FC and the army. How can the government hold negotiations with them and reach a ceasefire? He said that there is an Islamic constitution in the country. We cannot negotiate with anyone who does not accept this constitution. Islam does not allow the killing of children.

We demand them to handover the killers of our children, women, policemen and soldiers so that they could be presented before the courts and punished for their crimes. Only after that we will think whether to talk to the terrorists or not. How could the president and foreign minister hold secret talks with them? They do not have the permission of the people of Pakistan. They have no mandate in this regard. The selected do not have the permission to negotiate.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that we want that the promises made to the people of former tribal areas to be fulfilled and we reject every effort to impose FCR under any pretext as we have rejected FCR. We reject the efforts to usurp the economic right of the tribal people. This failed government is playing with the future of Pakistani nation. The real face of the “change” of Imran Khan is historic poverty, unemployment and the price-hike. The only party which gives rights to labourers, growers and youth and students is the PPP. The PPP gave BISP and will also introduce cards for labourers and growers and provide projects for youth.

Chairman PPP said that the PPP will also win the local body elections. The PPP has always come to power by the support of the people. We do people’s politics. The ones who conspire release audio and video tapes. We believe in the power of the people. The history is with the PPP. The people who called Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari thieves and used to phone to sentence them for ten and twenty years and to confiscate their property are dealing with a similar situation now.

We think that such telephone calls were wrong in the past and they are wrong now as well. Our slogan is still the same, “Maang raha hai har insaan, Roti, Kapra aur Makan” but “Cheen raha raha hai ab Kaptan, Roti, Kapra aur Makan”. Chairman PPP raised slogans with the people, ‘Thappe pe Thappa, Teer pe Thappa’. He asked people to vote for the PPP candidate, Arbab for the Mayor of Peshawar.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced to hold protest demonstrations in every city and town in Pakistan against the constant rise in petrol prices on 10 December. On 17 December, the PPP will hold protest demonstrations in every district headquarter against the gas crisis throughout Pakistan. The martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto will be observed in a huge public rally in Garhi Khuda Bux on 27 December where the next phase of the protests will be announced.

For more information, contact:
PPP Media Cell (Sindh)
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
Peoples Secretariat Shikarpur Colony,
Behind Mazar-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Karachi, Pakistan
Cell: +92-305-3370383
Email: contact@ppp-tu.com
Website: https://www.ppp.org.pk

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Government College University vintage campus turns into magical Hogwarts school of wizardry 

Lahore, November 30, 2021 (PPI-OT):This winter, around one and half century old vintage campus of the Government College University Lahore has been turned into magical Hogwarts school of wizardry as week-long Harry Potter festival on Monday begins on the campus. The festival that the University will host till December 5 also marked the grand release and screening of Pakistan’s first Harry Potter fan movie titled ‘The Last Follower and the Resurrection of Voldemort’, This comes a decade after the last Harry Potter film, ‘The Deathly Hallows Part-2’, was released in 2011.

And, the quest to find what happened in the world of Harry Potter years after the death of Lord Voldemort is what inspired the Khayaali Productions, a group of students from GC University Lahore, to come up with a film on the subject. The film is a rollercoaster of magical visuals shot at the gothic architecture of GCU Lahore and it was premiered exclusively at the University’s Bukhari Auditorium from 29th November and will continue till 5th December 2021.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi not fully supported the making, release of the movie but also enthusiastically took part in its promotional videos shared all across the social media platforms of Pakistan. Waleed Akram, a former student of GCU, is the director, cinematographer, and editor of the movie which starts after several years Harry Potter series and unfolds in mysterious directions.

According to Waleed, the purpose of introducing this new genre in our country was to show our love towards the magical world of Harry Potter for the first time. Moreover, he says, the fanmade movie also reflects the potential of our youth who pulled it off with extremely limited resources. He said this fanmade move is a non-commercial project, and it’s made with the sole purpose of entertainment. He said they started working on the project way back in 2018 but Covid-19 delayed some re-shoots. He said they are premiering updated version of film after re-shoot.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Zaidi said our youth has immense potential and we just need to provide them opportunities, little guidance and support. He said ‘The Last Follower and the Resurrection of Voldemort’ casts students and alumni of GCU, who with wands in their hands and House scarves around their neck, look to be engrossed in their setting as they try to cast a spell.

The main cast of the movie includes rising stars, Umer Darr, Jazib Akram, Mariam Hassan Naqvi, Talha Chahour, Dua Marium, and Sheikh Mubashir. The extraordinary visual effects are done by Zeeshan Hameed. Ibrahim Hassan is the Associate Director and Productions head of the movie while Sheikh Mubashir is the assistant director and production head. Hammad Javed is the production assistant in this project. The festival includes other than the screening of movies, Harry Potter experiential space at GCU Salam Hall, Harry Potter merchandise, food stalls, face paint and posters, photo booths, and many other adventures.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk

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Khurram Nawaz Gandapur calls on Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo 

Lahore, November 30, 2021 (PPI-OT):PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur called on Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, former Chief Minister Punjab. Both the leaders exchanged views on the prevailing political situation in the country, particularly the upcoming local bodies elections. Speaking on the occasion, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo said that the idea of democracy is not complete without the local government institutions in place. He said that the establishment of powerful local institutions administratively and financially is the constitutional requirement. He said that it is unfortunate that local governments have always been given step-motherly treatment.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that it is a paradox that the elections for the local government institutions are always held whenever there is a military led government and the same are relegated to the backburner when so-called democrats rule the country. He said that a strong and effective local government system will strengthen democracy in the country.

PAT Secretary General said that the prices of the petroleum products have decreased by 15% in the international market. He said that the benefit of this decrease should immediately be transferred to the masses who are bearing a heavy brunt of inflation and price hike. He said that welfare of the common should be on the top of the government’s agenda.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)
365-M, Model Town,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-140-140
Email: info@pat.com.pk
Website: www.pat.com.pk

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Mossarat Qadeem Elected as FAFEN Chairperson 

Islamabad, November 30, 2021 (PPI-OT):The National Council of Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) elected its new chairperson Ms. Mossarat Qadeem on November 29, 2021 for a term of three years. Ms. Mossarat Qadeem, who has replaced Mr. Hameedullah Kakar, is a civil society figure and activist internationally known for her work on women empowerment and peace. She heads Paiman Alumni Trust. This is Ms. Mossarat’s second term as FAFEN’s chairperson.

Elections for FAFEN’s provincial, national and executive councils were held in November 2021 to elect the new office-bearers. FAFEN’s member regional networks had elected their conveners in September and October 2021. The election of chairperson marks the culmination of FAFEN’s transition from a network of civil society organizations to a network of 20 independent regional networks with cumulative membership of over 500 civil society organizations. The transition process started in December 2020.

Ms. Mossarat will head a nine-member Executive Council of FAFEN, two members elected from each of four provinces and one member on woman seat, comprising Mr. Mukhtar Javed and Zaheer Khattak from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Sajid Ali and Mr. Zahid Iqbal from Punjab, Mr. Hameedullah Kakar and Mr. Nasrullah from Balochistan and Mr. Younas Bandhani and Mr. Jan Odhano from Sindh. Ms. Ambreen Ajaib has been elected on woman seat in the Executive Council. The outgoing Executive Council has felicitated the newly-elected chairperson and other members.

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