Day: July 9, 2023

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Call for Papers: National Conference On STEM Education

Lahore, July 09, 2023 (PPI-OT): The Virtual University of Pakistan, through its Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) and Department of Education, is organizing a two-day national conference on STEM: Practices and Prospects in Assessment and Evaluation. This conference is sponsored by the STEM Education British Council Project. It aims to provide insights into different types of tests, test development, psychometrics, scoring, and grading systems in the context of online and STEM education.

The students are invited to submit their abstract and full paper on given themes to be considered for presentation and publication. This is an excellent opportunity for you to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and engage in meaningful discussions with fellow experts and scholars from around the world.

The cash prize of Rs. 20,000/- PKR will be awarded to the Best Paper and Best Poster, respectively. So don’t wait, register now at https://bit.ly/stemeduconf and submit your entry at stemeduconf@vu.edu.pk.

Key Dates:

Deadline for Abstract Submission: August 15, 2023

Abstract Acceptance: August 25, 2023

Online Registration: August 25 – October 05, 2023

Full Paper Submission Deadline: September 25, 2023

Notification of Full Paper/E-Poster Acceptance: October 10, 2023

Presentation (PPT Slides) Submission Deadline: October 12, 2023

On-Desk Registration: October 17-18, 2023 (08:00 AM-9:30 AM Both days subject to availability of seats)

Conference Dates: October 17-18, 2023

For any queries and information, please email at stemeduconf@vu.edu.pk or dial 042-99201505 Ext: 8541, 8963.

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

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President Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condole the demise of journalist Raja Shafqat Ali’s father

Islamabad, July 09, 2023 (PPI-OT): Former President of Pakistan and President Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman PPP, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of the father of senior journalist, Raja Shafqat Ali.

In separate condolence messages to Raja Shafqat, President Zardari and Chairman FM Bilawal have said that the leadership and workers of the PPP share his grief. The PPP leadership prayed to Almighty Allah to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this loss with equanimity.

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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Serious efforts required for extension in GSP+ status

Islamabad, July 09, 2023 (PPI-OT): Former President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt on Sunday demanded of the government to redouble efforts to get GSP+ status that is set to expire at the end of current year. The European Union (EU) is considering GSP+ status for Pakistan and other eight countries, and it will continue monitoring the human rights, freedom of media and labour rights in all the countries enjoying the status, he said.

The EU has decided to introduce fresh legislation to continue the scheme for another 10 years, but there is a deadlock between the EU Council and the EU Parliament on the issue of migration, he added. Shahid Rasheed Butt said in a statement issued here today that the EU Parliament strongly believes that trade should not be linked with the migration issue but the EU Council thinks otherwise.

The EU Council includes ministers from each EU country, they meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies. The ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the agreed actions, he informed. It has been proposed that the current scheme should be extended for four years. The proposal will now be put to vote in the EU Parliament, where the legislature will decide the time period.

By the time, the GSP+ scheme would be stringent, and some countries may not even qualify for it, therefore Pakistani policymakers should try to be included in the list of countries enjoying the trade concession under the scheme. The countries enjoying the benefit will have to submit a plan of action to implement over 30 conventions to qualify and remain eligible for duty-free access of goods to EU markets, which may prove challenging for Pakistan.

Shahid Rasheed Butt informed that Pakistani exports to EU were 5.5 billion Euros in 2013 which jumped to 6.64 billion Euros in 2021. However, Pakistan’s imports have also increased by 69 percent during the period. EU is a very important trade partner as 28 percent of our exports are going to this area; under GSP+ Pakistani goods have duty-free access on 66 percent of tariff lines.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt

Consul General Ghana

Former President ICCI

Former Patron ICST

Tel: +92-333-5132199, +92-51-2822571

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Economic matters must supersede politics

Islamabad, July 09, 2023 (PPI-OT): Former Vice President of FPCCI Atif Ikram Sheikh said on Sunday economic compulsions must overtake politics as the survival of the country is at stake while our future is linked to a strong economy. The IMF’s deal has improved investors’ confidence and their tough reform preconditions are a must for economic recovery, which is badly needed, he said.

Atif Ikram Sheikh who has also served as President ICCI and Chairman PVMA said in a statement issued here today that Pakistan was going through economic turmoil since last year and was desperately seeking IMF bailout to avoid a default.

On June 23, the IMF announced an SBA, a bailout package of $3 billion for nine months; China provided a rollover of $3 billion, while Saudi Arabia and UAE also helped Pakistan with billions of dollars which has improved the overall situation, he observed. The former government had negotiated the IMF bailout package of a $6.5 billion loan programme in 2019 to be delivered over three years but decided not to implement the reforms for political reasons, leading to suspension of tranches by the lender.

IMF’s loans always draw criticism while loans from other sources which are costly and never debated, he said, adding that many of the bilateral financiers always look to the IMF’s decisions before extending the financial bailout packages. Atif Ikram Sheikh said that many believe IMF’s structural adjustment programmes do not consider local realities; its emphasis on a free market economy impacts the poor and their other conditions hurt masses, therefore IMF programmes remain unpopular for the populist governments worldwide.

In Pakistan, the governments regularly announce subsidies to address rising prices and win over the electorates, but these subsidies are not sustainable and add to the budget deficit. However, IMF programmes come with several conditionalities that are considered harsh on the poor, as it insists on removing subsidies and reducing the budget deficit and other “non-essential” expenditures.

Many governments criticise IMF conditions, yet they see the lender’s support as the only means to gain confidence of creditors’ confidence. Pakistan must now reform the power sector so that the cost of electricity is recovered, remove all tax exemptions to boost revenue, improve foreign currency reserves, reduce the budget deficit and allow market determined exchange rate, he demanded. We are in an election season, during which the IMF conditionalities will put serious pressure on the populist measure of the government, but hard economic decisions have to be taken to save the country, he said.

For more information, contact:

Atif Ikram Sheikh

Ex. Chairman PVMA, Former VP, FPCCI,

Former President ICCI, Former President HCCI,

Tel: +92-51-4437597, 4440772

Fax: +92-51-4440773

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Sri Lanka crowned ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier champions

Dubai, July 09, 2023 (PPI-OT): Sri Lanka sealed the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier crown with a comfortable 128-run victory over the Netherlands in the final in Harare.

Having set the Dutch 234 to win, the Lions picked up five wickets inside the opening powerplay before cleaning up the tail to bowl Netherlands out for just 105.

Both sides had already sealed qualification for this autumn’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India but Sri Lanka rounded off their time in Zimbabwe in style, retaining their unbeaten status and taking home the trophy.

Theekshana and Madushanka shine with the ball

Maheesh Theekshana (4/31) and Dilshan Madushanka (3/18) were Sri Lanka’s stars with the ball as they dismissed the Netherlands for just 105 to seal the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier title.

The Lions survived a middle order wobble to post 233 and the Dutch chase faltered early as they slipped from 25 without loss to 49 for six.

Sri Lanka duly took control and though Max O’Dowd (33) and Logan van Beek (20*) stemmed the tide for a while, it was always an uphill battle and the Netherlands fell 128 runs short of their target.

Having been put in to bat, Sri Lanka began steadily until Vikramjit Singh made the breakthrough in the ninth over, dismissing Sadeera Samarawickrama (19).

Fellow opener Pathum Nissanka (23) then fell in Singh’s next over courtesy of a superb diving catch from Aryan Dutt to leave the Lions 44 for two.

But Kusal Mendis (43) and Sahan Arachchige wrested back control of the contest for Sri Lanka, taking their side past 100 in the 20th over before Mendis fell lbw to Saqib Zulfiqar (2/59).

Arachchige and new batter Charith Asalanka (36) kept the scoreboard moving until both departed in consecutive overs, Arachchige chipping Zulfiqar to point for 57 before Asalanka was run out.

When captain Dasun Shanaka became Logan van Beek’s first victim and Dhananjaya de Silva fell for a single, Sri Lanka were 190 for seven – having been 180 for three – but vital knocks from Wanindu Hasaranga (29) and Theekshana (13) hauled them to a competitive 233 all out.

Chasing 234, the Netherlands started well with openers O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh scoring at five an over until Singh fell to Madushanka for 13 in the fifth over.

That wicket signalled the start of a Dutch collapse, Madushanka removing Wesley Barresi for a duck in his next over before Hasaranga accounted for Teja Nidamanuru without scoring.

Noah Croes was then trapped leg before and Scott Edwards was run out to reduce the Netherlands to 41 for five.

That quickly became 49 for six as Saqib Zulfiqar was trapped leg before by Hasaranga but Van Beek steadied the ship with O’Dowd, until the latter was bowled by Theekshana.

Theekshana then cleaned up both Ryan Klein and Aryan Dutt in quick succession before the spinner took the final wicket midway through the 24th over to seal a 128-run victory and the tournament title for Sri Lanka.

Both sides will now switch their focus to India, where Netherlands will take the Q1 place in the World Cup draw, and Sri Lanka Q2.

Scores in brief

Sri Lanka beat Netherlands by 128 runs at Harare Sports Club, Harare

Sri Lanka 233 all out in 47.5 overs (Sahan Arachchige 57, Kusal Mendis 43; Vikramjit Singh 2/12, Logan van Beek 2/40)

Netherlands 105 all out in 23.3 overs (Max O’Dowd 33, Logan van Beek 20*; Maheesh Theekshana 4/31, Dilshan Madushanka 3/18)

Sri Lanka ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 fixtures

7 October – South Africa v Sri Lanka, Delhi – 2pm

12 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Hyderabad – 2pm

16 October – Australia v Sri Lanka, Lucknow – 2pm

21 October – Netherlands v Sri Lanka, Lucknow – 10.30am

26 October – England v Sri Lanka, Bengaluru – 2pm

30 October – Afghanistan v Sri Lanka, Pune – 2pm

2 November – India v Sri Lanka, Mumbai – 2pm

6 November – Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Dehli – 2pm

9 November – New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Bengaluru – 2pm

Netherlands ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 fixtures

6 October – Netherlands v Pakistan, Hyderabad – 2pm

9 October – New Zealand v Netherlands, Hyderabad – 2pm

17 October – Netherlands v South Africa, Dharamshala – 2pm

21 October – Netherlands v Sri Lanka, Lucknow – 10.30am

25 October – Australia v Netherlands, Delhi – 2pm

28 October – Bangladesh v Netherlands, Kolkata – 2pm

3 November – Afghanistan v Netherlands, Lucknow – 2pm

8 November – England v Netherlands, Pune – 2pm

11 November – India v Netherlands, Bengaluru, 2pm

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

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First phase of women’s skills camp concludes at the NCA

Lahore, July 09, 2023 (PPI-OT): The first phase of the women’s skills camp concluded today at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. 20 players from Lahore and adjoining areas featured in the five-day camp from July 5 to July 9.

The camp proved to be a remarkable platform for skill development, focusing on fitness enhancement and refining cricket techniques. The event was organised under the supervision of Pakistan women’s team support staff, led by Head Coach Mark Coles.

Throughout the duration of the camp, the players received comprehensive training and guidance from the skilled coaching staff. Various aspects of the game which include batting, bowling, fielding, and strategic game play, were addressed to enhance the players’ overall performance.

Head Coach Mark Coles expressed his satisfaction with the progress made during the camp. He said, “It was truly inspiring to witness the talent and determination displayed by these cricketers. They have showcased tremendous potential, and I am confident that their hard work and commitment will help the coaching staff as well as the selectors to identify future talent in women’s cricket.”

18-year-old Shawaal Zulfiqar, who represented Pakistan in ICC U19 Women’s World Cup in January this year and recently in ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023 said: “The camp really helped us to improve our skills and fitness. The facilities here at the National Cricket Academy were really impressive which helped us in our training.

“It was great to train alongside senior players in the camp as it helped us to understand the requirements of the game at the international level.

“I have represented Pakistan women at the age-group level and now my focus is to work hard and represent the national team in future.”

Meanwhile, the upcoming second phase of the women’s skills camp is set to take place in Karachi’s Hanif Muhammad High Performance Centre from 13 to 17 July. Like Lahore, this phase will see 20 players including Pakistan’s captain Nida Dar, who featured in the first phase of the skills camp in Lahore.

The following is the list of invited players:

Karachi (13-17 July) – Anoosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima, Fatima Sana, Gull Rukh, Humna Bilal, Huraina Sajjad, Khadija Chishti, Lubna Behram, Maham Manzoor, Maham Tariq, Masooma Zahra, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Najiha Alvi, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Saima Malik, Syeda Aroob Shah, Yusra Amir and Zaib-un-Nisa

Coaching staff – Mark Coles (head coach), Taufeeq Umar (batting coach), Saleem Jaffer (bowling coach), Mauhtashim Rashid (fielding coach) and Dr Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist).

For more information, contact:

Media Manager,

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 54600, Pakistan

Tel: +92-42-5717231-4

Fax: +92-42-5711860

Website: www.pcb.com.pk