Day: December 16, 2022

United states, Pakistan partner for $40m activity to build healthy families

KARACHI: Mission Director for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Reed Aeschliman and Sindh Minister for Health and Population Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho launched a new family planning, maternal, newborn, and child health program.

The U.S. Government-funded $40 million Building Health Families Activity (BHFA) will operate in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to enhance primary healthcare systems. The activity will support voluntary family planning (FP) and improve maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services in Pakistan.

“The United States has a long history of partnership with the Government of Sindh,” Mission Director Aeshliman said. “USAID is committed to strengthening this relationship by building upon the foundation and legacy of our partnership and a shared goal to save and improve lives.”

Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho lauded the continued support from the U.S. government through USAID and emphasized the Sindh government’s commitment towards improving health care for the people.

Focus on healthcare equity is fundamental to BHFA’s approach, and the activity is committed to addressing the needs of women, girls, and youth as well as people traditionally marginalized from accessing quality healthcare. Making health systems resilient to shocks from climate change is another core focus.

The activity will meaningfully engage men and boys, strengthen human resources for health, deploy new digital health solutions, and ensure commodity and supply chain security for FP/MNCH services, eventually contributing to more resilient health systems.

Mother, son killed in road accident near Larkana

LARKANA: An aged mother and her son were killed in a road accident near Qamber on Friday.

According to a report, a bike was hit by a speeding wagon on Nasirabad-Wagan Road, a result, 40-year Shamsuddin Channo and his 65-year old mother Nawab Khatoon, wife of Muhammad Bux Channa received severe injuries. They were rushed to Casualty of Chandka Medical College Hospital where doctors pronounced them dead.

It was told that Shamsuddin was taking his mother to Baka Mori village located in between Qambar and Nasirabad when the ill-fated road accident occurred. After necessary legal formalities, their bodies were handed over to the heirs. Kambar-Shahdadkot police have arrested the driver of the wagon and impounded the vehicle.

IBA teachers salary be released, demands PTA

LARKANA: IBA test pass newly recruited teachers should be relieved from mental anxiety by giving them 9 months outstanding salary which has not been paid to them due to the lethargic attitude of education department bosses.

The newly appointed IBA test pass teachers in the education department are doing their duty with full of hard work and honesty. Before joining the education department, many teachers were working in the private sector or in any other department on good salary, but after joining the education department, due to non-payment of monthly salary for the last 9 months, these newly recruited teachers are facing serious financial problems along with their family members who should not be punished for sheer negligence of education and finance departments.

They are facing and living a life of mental torture, former president of Primary Teachers Association (PTA), Larkana taluka, Ghulamullah Sangi, former district president Syed Hidayatullah Shah, Sikander Ali Jarwar, Afsar Ali Qureshi, Ghulam Shabbir Chandio, Ijaz Dhamrah, Mohammad Sharif Umrani, and others demanded from the Provincial Minister of Education Syed Sardar Shah and Secretary Akbar Laghari to remove all obstacles in the salary of new primary teachers (each of BPS-14) and release the salaries of the teachers as soon as possible so that new teachers can get rid of mental anxiety and harassment.

Rulers flayed for gas crisis in Sindh

LARKANA: The lives of millions of citizens have been severely affected across Larkana district by the uncalled for gas loading shedding by SSGC.

The people of Sindh province according to the constitution have the first right to the gas coming out of Sindh but its people are being denied and facing double standards by the rulers.

In this connection, lawyer Waseem Akhtar Katpar, social worker Noor Ahmad Mengal and others in an emergency meeting said on Friday that the illegitimate load shedding of gas in Sindh in winter and summer seasons is beyond understanding, while in the large province of Punjab, a huge amount of gas is being consumed in factories, mills, industries of industrial areas, but still the amount of gas outage in Sindh is very high being the producer of the most needed commodity.

They said that depriving energy to the residents of Sindh will have far-reaching consequences in future if the citizens are denied basic rights. The people of Sindh are being annoyed by more and more unannounced gas load shedding which has ruined their lives, they said.

In order to solve the problems of the people, the rulers should understand that on the one hand, there are small villages in Sindh where most of the people do not have gas supply and the residents are cooking on burning wood, tree branches and wooden sticks, and on the other hand, there are big factories and industrial estates in the heavily populated province of Punjab where gas supply has become easy without production, they said. They said that the people of Sindh should be freed from the unlawful inconvenience and botheration of their own gas load shedding otherwise, they warned, there will be a strong protest.

Pakistan summons Afghan envoy to record protest over Chaman border shelling

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday summoned Afghan Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad to record protest over the Chaman border shelling.

According to the statement issued here, the Foreign Ministry issued a “strong condemnation” over the recent incidents of “unprovoked cross-border shelling” by Afghan Border Security Forces in the Chaman-Spin Boldak area.

“It was reiterated that the protection of civilians remained the responsibility of both sides and that the recurrence of these incidents must be prevented. It was agreed to use established institutional mechanisms in this regard,” a press release issued by the FO said. “Pakistan remains committed to maintaining fraternal relations with Afghanistan. Peace along the Pak-Afghan border is intrinsic to this end,” it added.

Balochistan CM pays tribute to APS martyrs

QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, has said that nation had rendered great sacrifices for peace.

In his message issued here on Friday on the eve of Army Public School’s tragedy, he said, “On account of sacrifices rendered for peace, we are dwelling in a peaceful environment”.

Presenting salute to the innocent martyrs of APS and his families, he said that the tragedy of APS had united the whole nation against terrorism, adding that the whole nation was standing shoulder to shoulder with security forces to root out terrorism. He said that December 16 would be remembered as the blackest day in the history of the country, adding, “Pain of the APS’ martyrs is still alive in our hearts.”

Inaugural ceremony for establishment of COMSATS University Quetta held

Quetta: An inaugural ceremony for the establishment of COMSATS University Quetta Campus was held in the premises of PCSIR Campus, Mastung Road, Quetta.

Agha Hassan Baloch, Federal Minister for Science and Technology was the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony. Dr. Shahnaz Naseer Baloch, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Syed Hussain Abidi, Chairman PCSIR, Dr. Muhammad Tabassum Afzal, Rector CUI, Mir Farooq Langove, JS, MoST, Dr. Jan Muhammad Baloch, VC Turbat University, Dr. Sajida Noreen, VC Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Dr. Shafiq ur Rehman, VC Baluchistan University, Prof. Naeem Shahwani, Dean BUITEMS and several official, political and social dignitaries were also present at this auspicious occasion.

The Federal Minister while delivering his speech highlighted that the promotion of Scientific and Technical education is one of the most priority agenda of the present government, particularly for the Baluchistan region. The establishment of CUI Campus at Quetta is indeed an implementation of one of the visionary agenda of our dynamic leadership Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal who is more emphasized to bring the educational reforms for prosperity Baluchistan province.

The establishment of CUI Campus at Quetta will play a vital role for our younger generation to compete at national and international level in the field of science and technology. The Federal Minister appreciated the efforts of the Chairman PCSIR and Rector CUI for extending their full cooperation for implementing this noble cause.

The Federal Minister also assured his full support for budget allocation so that the Campus could be functional by March, 2023. He also highlighted his recent initiatives, after taking the charge as Federal Minister, for the progress and prosperity of Baluchistan community especially educational scholarship scheme.

At this occasion, the Federal Minister announced the house hiring facilities for the employees of PCSIR and PSTC, Quetta and a special budget amounting to Rs.20.00 million will be allocated for the purpose. Moreover, fee concession for the students of PSTC, Quetta shall be considered at an appropriate level and shall be announced in due course of time. In addition, the Honourable Minister announced the installation of Solar Tube Well in the premises of PSTC Campus from his own grant.

The Parliamentary Secretary, in her speech, also highlighted the role of higher education and hoped that with the implementation of this memorable step, the Balochistani youth will be able to prove their abilities in the field of science and technology, in general and development of the country, in particular. The Chairman PCSIR in his welcome speech assured his full cooperation for the progress of Baluchistan province, whereas, Rector CUI also assured that this Campus will be at par with other campuses of the country.