Our Correspondent
Kotli
President Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Masood Khan has said that the state government has sharply focused on good governance, rule of law and access to justice in order to transform the liberated territory into one of the most developed regions. In a message read out at the conference titled ‘International Conference on Modern Trends in Social and Management Research’ organized by University of Kotli here on Sunday, Sardar Masood said that the state government was heavily and rapidly investing in infrastructure development, hydro-power generation, quality education, universal access to health, tourism, industry and agriculture.
He said that it was our ambition to transform Azad Kashmir into an engine of growth and productivity for Pakistan and the entire region. The President said Azad Kashmir is one of the most beautiful places in the world. ‘It is part of the paradise on earth and Kotli is a nugget of a city nestled in the valleys and mountains,’ he added. Sardar Masood said that Azad Kashmir has rich geographical landscapes. Snowcapped mountains, glaciers, rivers, natural springs, valleys and forests, flora and fauna and biodiversity – enrich and adorn our land. But, he maintained that the most precious asset we have is our people – strong, sturdy, resolute and talented.
They are scaling new educational heights in the five public sector universities, scores of postgraduate colleges and a vast network of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. We have the highest educational score in the whole of Pakistan, he added. The AJK president said that he was impressed by the wide range of themes of the conference encompassing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), sustainable development, e-commerce, marketing, micro-financing, banking, eco-tourism and hospitality in the liberated territory.
Sardar Masood Khan said that the Azad Kashmir universities have also started teaching new technologies such as machine learning, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data and biotechnology. These technologies would help us attain leap-frog development and become part of the regional and international supply chains.
Addressing the students, the AJK president said that they were the architects of the future of Pakistan and the liberated territory. Therefore, they should build on and expand the knowledge they gather from this conference and play their part in making this world peaceful, secure and prosperous. The conference was attended by delegates from all over the world including key speakers Patrick Hanks, Professor of Lexicography, UK, Ms Catherine, Enviro- Activist, South Africa, and Paul Hildebrand from Germany. Earlier, Vice Chancellor the University of Kotli Dilnawaz Gardezi welcomed the delegates.
KP adopts zero tolerance against unlawful hunting of wildlife
Staff Reporter
Peshawar
Provincial Minister for Environment, Forests and Wildlife Department, Syed Ishtiaq Urmar here Sunday said the KP government had adopted zero tolerance against unlawful hunting of migratory birds and wildlife by mobilizing field staff to save the endangered houbara, falcons, cranes and ducks from poachers and hunters during winter season in the province.
‘We have mobilized the field staff of wildlife department in all divisions of Khyber Pakthunkhwa especially in southern districts after the start of winter season of migratory birds including Houbara Bustard, Falcons, Cranes and ducks to Pakistan from Central Asian Republics due to dropping of temperatures in those countries and increase of flora, weeds and insects in our province courtesy to PTI’s Govt flagship billion trees afforestation project (BTAP).
The field staff were directed to increase patrolling in all those areas where migratory birds arrive from Mongolia, Siberia and Central Asian Republics (CARs) in November and December. These migratory birds are crossing Chitral, Charsadda, Mohmand, Dir, Bajaur and mostly stay in Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and onwards to the Cholistan desert during winter season.
Scientifically known as macqueeni houbara, the districts of D.I. Khan, Tank, Rahim Yar Khan, D.G. Khan and arid areas of southern Punjab provide rich diversity of flora, fauna, insects and weeds to houbara population population and others migratory birds. The wildlife experts said houbara was a very sensitive bird and did not use the route again if they sense any danger on their way during the first journey. Houbara gives birth to only two chicks a year, but the elder kills the younger one due to the fear of sharing food. In case the houbara looses its mate it takes three to five years to find a new one.
The population travels in groups with a leader. Once they loose their chief, the deputy guides the group to reach its destination. The minister said wildlife staff in houbara favourite areas were directed to conduct patrolling in rivers, lakes, canals and ponds areas on regular basis and take strict action against illegal hunters besides imposing heavy fine under wildlife laws.
Two brothers among three killed
Faisal Khawer Butt
Sialkot
Two brothers among three people were killed in firing of unidentified armed men here early Sunday morning, police said. According to details, unknown miscreants sprayed bullets at three people in Feroz Ke Nagra area of Pasrur in district Sialkot.
As a result of firing, two real brothers Akmal Shehzad 35, Imran 32, and their employee Muhammad Javed 42, were killed on the spot. The attackers fled the scene after committing triple murder and the bodies were shifted to hospital for postmortem. Reasons behind the killings could not be ascertained.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Gujranwala, Tariq Abbas Qureshi taking notice of the incident has directed DPO Sialkot to arrest the culprits. A case was registered into the incident.
WHO sets standard of one pharmacist for 15 beds
Lahore
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a standard of one pharmacist for 15 beds each in any hospital to provide proper healthcare to patients. Despite issuance of a notification by the Punjab government in October 2012 to fill all vacant posts of pharmacists, only in Lahore city many posts of pharmacists are lying vacant.
This was disclosed by a source associated with health sector here on Sunday. Some years back, the WHO standard for pharmacists was one pharmacist for 50 beds, but due to sharp increase in population and consequently patient burden on hospitals, the WHO had to revise the standard and now one pharmacist was needed to cater healthcare to 15 patients.—APP
