Day: September 11, 2021

DALBANDIN: Nazeer Ahmed Ejwari, President, Government Teachers Association, District Chagae, has said that posting and transfer of teachers on likes and dislikes basis had brought education department of the province to the verge of ruination.

Addressing a press conference at Dalbandin Press Club here on Saturday, he said that education sector in the province, particularly in district Chagae had already been declining owing to the acute dearth of teachers, but instead of overcoming the deficiency of staff, senior teachers of district Chagae were being replaced with junior teachers without cogent reasons.

He said that the transfer of senior PET Abdul Ghafar Bangulzai on political ground was unjust. He called on Minister for Education, Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, Secretary, Secondary Education Department, Muhammad Hayat Kakar, Director, Secondary Education, Balochistan and other concerned authorities to take notice of the interference into education department on political grounds and get the transfer orders of senior teachers of district Chagae cancelled, otherwise, the Government Teachers Association, District Chagae would launch a protest movement against the authorities of education department.

On the occasion, Divisional Senior Vice President, Haji Abdul Latif Adil, Muhammad Tariq Sanjrani, former District President, Agha Amir Shah, Moulana Inayatullah Sadi, Lal Shah Saghir, Muhammad Iqbal Reki, Ghulam Qadir Bareach, Noor Ahmed Anus, Mehmood Azad, Hafiz Abdul Bari, Muhammad Rafique, Jamil Ahmed, Dad Karim Azad and others were also present.

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the federal government was supportive and helping to allow the K-Electric to collect two of the KMC taxes- fire and conservancy – through electricity bills.

“Some people who do not want to see the KMC reviving its financial strength are opposing it [the collection of KMC taxes through electricity bills] forgetting that the TV fee is already being collected through electricity bills,” he said while talking to media at Mazar-e-Quaid on Saturday, where he visited to pay rich tribute to the Father of Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, on the occasion of his death anniversary.

To a question, Shah said that the KMC set a collection target of fire tax and conservancy at Rs1 billion every year but it could hardly collect Rs250 million. “Therefore, it has worked out a plan to collect both the taxes by reducing their rate through electricity bills,” he said and added, “The KMC was not introducing any new tax but these were the old tax being collected.”

The CM said the KMC under the improved tax collection plan had decided to collect it along with electricity bills so that collection targets could be achieved in the interest of the city and its people. “I am surprised that some people have come out to oppose it for nothing and forgetting that TV fee is already being collected through the power bills then why not the KMC taxes,” he questioned?

Mr Shah disclosed that he had talked to the Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen and Chairman NEPRA to allow the KMC to collect its taxes through electricity bills and they were very positive and assured their support and full cooperation.

To another question, the CM said that the provincial government would launch the Orange Line along with the federal government’s Green Line project. “We are bringing 250 buses in the city but due to some technical issues the project lingered on and now a government agency has offered to procure the buses,” he said.

Replying to another question, Shah said that due to cleaning of nullas and improvement of drainage system, the rainwater did not accumulate on the roads and streets as it had been in the past. He added that work on Malir Expressway, Red Line BRT and Blue BRT would start very soon.

The chief minister, to a question, said that his government was ready to provide medical treatment to legend actor Umer Sharif. “Our culture dept has already announced to provide medical treatment to Umer Sharif,” he said and added as far as his treatment in America was concerned, it was a federal government which would issue him visa and such other facilities.

Paying rich tribute to the father of the nation, the chief minister said that he had founded Pakistan to make it a peaceful and democratic nation. “We have to carry forward Quiad’s mission by following his guiding principles,” he said and added when Pakistan came into being, Kashmir was its part and parcel but later it was occupied by India- therefore we should remember our brothers of Kashmir who have been struggling against Indian occupation and aggression on this day. Earlier, the chief minister laid a floral wreath on the Mazar-e-Quaid and offered fateha

LARKANA: A three-year-old boy, Muhammad Hanif, son of Sajid Bhutto, a resident of Abad village located near Garhi Khuda Bux, was bitten by a stray dog in the face when he was playing outside his house on Friday.

He was seriously injured and his relatives rushed him to the Chandka Medical College Hospital Dog Bite and Vaccine Centre for treatment and further management. The affected boy was administered ARV vaccine, his wounds were stitched, bandaged and then he was shifted to Surgical ward where he will remain admitted for further treatment.

It must be mentioned here that as many as 4521 dog bite cases emerged in Larkana which were reported at the CMCH during last seven months from January to July 2021 out of which 690 dog bite cases were reported in January, 676 in February, 625 in March, 731 in April, 596 in May, 713 in June and 490 in July 2021. Out of 490 cases in July, pet dog victims were 196 and street dogs bites were 294.

KARACHI: Karwan-e-Hayat, Institute for Mental Health Care hosted an event on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day on Friday late evening at a local hotel, which attracted health experts to discuss the subject.

This day represents the global commitment to focus on suicide prevention. The theme of WSPD 2021, “Creating hope through action,” reflected the need for collective action to address this urgent public health issue. The event focused that all members of society are responsible to take action to prevent suicide. It is estimated that globally every 40 seconds someone commits suicide.

Zaheeruddin Babar, CEO-KeH emphasized the need for society to take measures to identify people who might be on the verge of committing suicide and how we can help them. He further elaborated that suicide can be prevented through key evidence-based prevention measures which include restricting access to means for suicide (e.g. pesticides, etc.).

Ms Tamkeen K. Abbasi, Chief Communication Officer-KeH said that promoting good mental health can also play a key role in preventing suicide. She further commented that social stigma and a lack of awareness remain major barriers to help-seeking for suicide, highlighting the need for mental health literacy and anti-stigma campaigns.

It is estimated that about 15 million people suffer from mental disorders in Pakistan and approximately two million alone in Karachi. KeH provides modern therapy, pharmacology, and new community approaches, which makes the treatment of mental illness more holistic and effective. This paves way for the patient to return to a functional life. Last year alone KeH provided psychiatric treatment to more than 75,000 patients.

KeH has been at the forefront of psychiatric care and rehabilitation in Pakistan for more than 39 years. KeH remains one of the largest providers of mental health care in Pakistan, with a focus on poor and underserved sections of society, providing them free or highly subsidized quality care and rehabilitation.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Afridi, Dean, Faculty of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons; Prof. Dr. Haider Naqvi, Head of Psychiatry, Dow University of Health Sciences; Prof. Dr. Ejaz Ahmed Vohra, Director Post Graduate (Clinical), Dr. Ziauddin University and Prof. Dr. Qudsia Tariq, Chairperson Department of Psychology, University of Karachi also spoke on the occasion.

All the speakers empathized that Suicides and suicide attempts have a ripple effect that impacts not only individuals but also families. The associated risk factors for suicide, such as a job or financial loss, trauma or abuse, mental and substance use disorders, and barriers to accessing health care, have been further amplified by COVID-19.

KARACHI: National Forum for Environment and Health, and Hilal Foods and Hilal Care join hands for plantation 1000 trees in the city.

First phase of the campaign started at Hill Park. Briefing about the campaign, NFEH President Muhammad Naeem Qureshi said that this plantation activity being held in Karachi by his non-governmental organization in the current season as a total of 2,000 saplings had been planted that are now being fully taken care of for their proper nurturing and we are now planning to plant 1000 more plants in the city at hill park and other places in Karachi.

He disclosed that there was a need to plant 10 million more saplings in Karachi to keep the city green, for improvement of the weather, and protection against environmental pollution. He said the government, private sector, and NGOs were required to work together to achieve this noble cause.

The CEO of Hilal Foods and Hilal Care, Faisal Munshi, said that they would continue to make efforts to do tree plantation and improve environmental conditions in Karachi while realizing our corporate social responsibilities. The participants of the ceremony took part in the tree plantation activity as over 200 saplings were planted on the occasion. These included saplings of Jungle Jalebi, Sukh Chain, Gul Mohar, Amaltas, and other plant species. Proper care of these saplings will be ensured.

Others present on the occasion include NFEH Vice-President Engineer Nadeem Ashraf, Yogi Wajahat, Ghulam Kabria, Jilani Yousuf, COO of Hilal Foods Irfan, Director Marketing Salman Yousuf, and Mustafa Zulfiqar of E-Commerce.

KARACHI: Met office has forecast that on Saturday, rain-wind/thundershower is expected in Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, eastern Balochistan and lower Sindh. Isolated heavy falls are also likely to occur during the period.

Sunday

Rain-wind/thundershower is expected in Islamabad, upper/ central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Isolated heavy falls are also likely to occur during the period.

Past 24 Hour Weather

Hot and humid weather prevailed elsewhere in the country. However, rain recorded in Punjab: Lahore (Farrukhabad 232, Lakshmi Chowk 223, Chowk Nakhuda 196, Shahi Qilla 176, Nishtar Town 149, Tajpura 130, Mughal Pura, Iqbal Town127, Gulshan-e-Ravi 126, Samanabad 118, Johar Town 99, City 96, Upper Mall 87, Gulberg 71 and AP 63), Kasur 98, Islamabad (Z / P, Saidpur, Golra 83, Bokra 25 and A / P 01), Mangla 44, Okara 41, Rawalpindi (Shamsabad 37, Chaklala 09), Narowal 34, Jhelum 24, Sialkot (A / P 21 and City 03), Murree 20, Attock 18, Gujrat 10, M.B. Din 06, Sahiwal, Sargodha City 04, Khanewal 03, Gujranwala 01, Sindh: Mithi 23, Badin 06,Thatta 03, Kashmir: Rawalakot 13, Kotli 06, Muzaffarabad (City and A/P 01), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Dir (Upper 12 and Lower 10), Malam Jabba 08, Parachinar 05, Peshawar (City 03 and A/P 01), Drosh 03, Mohmand Dam 02, Bannu, Kalam 01, Gilgit-Baltistan: Skardu and Gilgit 01mm.

Yesterday’s highest maximum temperatures (°C): Turbat 41, Dadu, Sibbi, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sakrand and Dalbandin 40.