The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Monday forecast that there is a strong possibility that the crescent for Ramadan 2023 will be sighted on the evening of March 22 (Wednesday).

The update was shared by the Met department’s Climate Data Processing Centre. This means the first of Ramadan is likely to fall on Thursday, March 23 in Pakistan.

According to the climate record, the weather is expected to be fair and partly cloudy in most parts of the country during the Ramadan moon sighting time.

Earlier, chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz had told Geo News that the chances of the holy month of Ramadan falling on March 23 were high, therefore, the first fast was likely to be observed on Thursday.

He had also said that the sky was expected to remain clear so the moon could be easily sighted.

Meanwhile, the PMD had said last week that rainfall was expected at the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

Muslims throughout Pakistan and the rest of the world observe the month of Ramadan annually. It is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, MAR 21: Microsoft and Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission announced winners and runner ups of the jointly organized Imagine Cup 2023. The announcements were made during the closing ceremony held in HEC head office.

The event was attended by several Vice Chancellors, and Pakistan’s educational leaders as well as Director General Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. Almalik, Chairman Higher Education Commission, Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, and Microsoft Country Manager Jibran Jamshad.

Chief Guest at the event was Dr. Salim M. Almalik. Speaking at the event, he noted, “Such partnerships with companies like Microsoft empower the students to use their creativity in addressing real societal problems using modern technology”.

Microsoft announced winners in all four categories of Imagine Cup competition i.e., Earth, Lifestyle, Health, and Education. Winners at the event included team “Smart Fruity Bytes” in Earth category from Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan (MNSUAM), team “Journovolt” in Lifestyle category from Usman Institute of Technology Karachi, team “Human Life Saviour’s“ in Lifestyle category from FAST NUCES Lahore Campus and team “AR Learn” in Education category from University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Peshawar. Additionally, 9 more university teams from North, Center, South, and Baluchistan regions were declared Imagine cup regional winners and runners-ups.

The four winning teams also received cash prizes and will now be representing Pakistan on the international level competing with the world top finalist teams.

Addressing the guests and team, Mr. Jibran Jamshad, Country Education Lead, Microsoft Pakistan said, “Imagine Cup is one of the successful and empowering examples of how Microsoft is enabling students to build 21st century skill sets through access to latest technology, training and mentorship. As a result, students are offered new opportunities for the future.”

He added, “The Imagine Cup provides tech students, software developers and entrepreneurs new possibilities to innovate and solve some of the world’s biggest social environmental and health challenges. We have selected excellent local projects and now the champion team will compete in the World Finals Competition for a prize of $100,000, the Azure grant and a mentoring session with Microsoft CEO.

The top teams showcased their projects at the event and Vice Chancellors of the winning institutions and other universities discussed their experience of participating in the competition. Unanimously all participants agreed that Imagine Cup promoted a strong work ethic among students, allowed them to innovate and gain new skills and be awarded great prizes.

In closing remarks, the Chairman HEC, Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed said, “Microsoft and HEC continuously work to introduce tech reforms in the education sector. The Imagine Cup is one of the projects that both HEC and Microsoft are proud to have worked on. In the end these activities bring students together motivating them to contribute to the greater good of their country in an innovative way.”

Worth noting that Microsoft has already entered into an education transformation agreement with HEC covering key higher educational institutions in Pakistan. Under this agreement, Microsoft offers FREE certifications for 100,000 eligible students and organizes several capacity building programs and holds similar activities for the education stakeholders throughout Pakistan. The key objective remains empowering the education sector through technology and with the latest Microsoft products and services.

FROM QAZI SHOAIB KHAN
DNA
ATTOCK (MARCH-20): All necessary arrangements of elections in five provincial assembly constituencies in Attock are being finalized to conduct free and transparent polling on the scheduled date of April 30, 2023. The District Election Commissioner Attock Noor ulKhitab while sharing the elections preparations with the media persons here on Monday hassaid that total 106 candidates include 13 candidates have filed nomination papers for PP1 Attock, 23 candidates for PP2 Attock, 23 candidates for PP3 Attock, 21 candidates for PP4 Attock and 26 candidates for PP5 Attock.
He said that scrutiny of the nomination papers is being finalized and final list of the candidates will be displayed as per the schedule while training of the staff deputed for election duty will be started in due course of time, as well. The scrutiny of their papers will be continued March 22, 2023.The candidates can withdraw their papers on April 05, 2023 and final list of candidates will be notified on the same day. The election symbols will be allotted to the contesting candidates on April 06, 2023 whereas polling will be conducted on April 30, 2023. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) extended the deadline for nomination paper filings till March 16 aiming to facilitate candidates vying for provin¬cial assembly elections of Punjab province.
According to ECP spokesperson, the ex¬tension was granted in re¬sponse to the demands of candidates and was aimed at providing ample time to complete the nomination process. the District Election Commissioner Noor ulKhitab saidthat there are 1319817 registered voters in Attock district in five provincial constituencies: PP I, II, III, IV and V. These registered voters include 684391 male and 635426 female voters. He said that 1069 polling stations will be set up which include 317 male, 298 female and 454 combined polling stations.the District Election Commissioner Noor ulKhitab while talking to this scribehas said that there are 1319817 registered voters in Attock district in five provincial constituencies: PP I, II, III, IV and V. These registered voters include 684391 male and 635426 female voters. He said that 1069 polling stations will be set up which include 317 male, 298 female and 454 combined polling stations.He said that total of 13417 personnel will be deputed which include 1069 presiding officers, 8232 assistant presiding officers and 4116 poling officers. He said that Deputy CommissionerAttock Rao Atif Raza was appointed as District Returning Officer, AC Hazro Kamran Ashraf as Returning Officer PP I Attock, AC Hasanabdal Dr Sana Ramchand as Returning Officer PP II Attock, ADC Waqar Akbar Cheema as Returning Officer PP III Attock, AC AttockShagufta Jabeen as Returning Officer PP IV Attock and AC Jand Muhammad Irfan as Returning Officer PP V Attock in pursuance of the orders of Provincial Election Commission, accordingly. Mr. Noor ulKhitab said the polling staff willalso beimparted necessary training to conduct the fair and transparent election process as per code of conduct. However, the contestant candidates have expressed their concerns over the prevalent changing scenario of the country with their views that electioneering of provincial assembly Punjab launched by 106 contestant candidates of different rival political camps in the inter provincial bordering district Attock plunged into a doldrums as a result of prevailing crisis arisen after the recent clashes between the PTI leaderships and PDM led government. They are now hanged at wait and see situation when the entire picture is clear despite filing their nomination papers in the five provincial assemblyconstituencies of PP1, PP2, PP3, PP4 and PP5 respectively.

FROM QAZI SHOAIB KHAN
DNA
ATTOCK (MARCH-20): 15 years student on Monday was crushed to death by train while crossing through the railway line near New Town of Attock Railway Station. Police said, 15 years old Abdul Rafah son of Jahangir Khan coming from school was crossing the railway line near New Town of Attock Railway Station when an train ran over him causing his instant death.
On getting information, Rescue-1122 reached the spot and shifted the dead body to Asfandyar District Headquarter Hospital Attock where his dead body was handed over to its real heirs after completing other legal formalities. Later on, he was laid to rest in the local graveyard amid the tears of his bereaved parents and other people who recited his funeral prayers held in the evening of Monday.

Says Imran violating the constitution by dragging institutions into his “dirty” politics

Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday censured Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for brazenly attempting to tarnish the reputation of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General AsimMunir.

Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said: “PTI’s disgusting smear campaign against Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir at the behest of Imran Niazi is deserving of the strongest condemnation.”

The campaign against the COAS was intolerable and the continuation of a conspiracy against the national institutions, according to a PM Office press release.

Throwing yet another brickbat at the PTI chairman, the premier said: “This man Niazi [Imran Khan] is stooping to unprecedented lows in his desperation for power & going to the extent of damaging the country & undermining our armed forces & their leadership.”

The prime minister urged overseas Pakistanis to raise their voice against the “foreign-funded” campaign. He said as the dirty political game was being played through the expatriates, they should not become part of the conspiracy.

Imran Khan was violating the constitution by dragging the institutions and their leadership into his “dirty” politics, the PM added.

The prime minister also instructed the interior minister to strictly deal with those running such a smear campaign against the institutions.

He also warned of strict legal action against those fanning chaos and subversion in the country.

DNA

Rawalpindi: Poultry sector is under severe pressure due to increase in production cost. Currently sixty percent of poultry farms have been closed resulting in job loss. The government should work on cultivation of soybeans at the local level so that dependence on imports is reduced. These views were expressed by Saqib Rafiq, President of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, while addressing the meeting of the Standing Committee on Poultry in the Chamber house.

He said that the Rawalpindi Chamber had raised the issue of import ban and containers stuck at the port at all levels, and the government should take steps to reduce the cost of production.

RCCI President Saqib Rafique and Chairman Dr. Farhan Farooq presided over the meeting. Issues related to the poultry sector were discussed in the meeting. The committee expressed concerns over the increase in cost of production, non-availability of chicken meat due to inflation and recommended that the government should provide incentives and tax exemptions to promote local machinery/plants for import substitution. Chairman Farhan Farooq welcomed the suggestions from the committee members.

Senior Vice President Muhammad Hamza Sarosh, Vice President Faisal Shehzad, former Presidents Dr. Hassan Saroosh, Raja Amer Iqbal, Malik Shahid Saleem, committee members and members of RCCI were also present in the meeting.

Unknown men stationed at FJC to kill him: Imran Khan
Asks CJP to permit him to attend court hearings via video link
Vows PDM’s bid to pit PTI against army won’t succeed
Says PTI wants polls not anarchy
States ‘Queen of liars’ acts as if she is daughter of Nelson Mandela

DNA

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan came down hard on the cabal of crooks and said that there was a plan to assassinate him at Federal Judicial Complex (FJC), where he arrived to attend a hearing in the Toshakhana case, as some unknown men clad in plain shalwar kameez were stationed there to execute the plot.
Imran Khan stated that he almost walked into a death trap in the Judicial Complex but Almighty Allah saved him in the nick of time.
Addressing the nation here on Monday, PTI Chairman said that the manner in which police resorted to teargas shelling and pelting stones at his convoy he feared that the unknown people present at the Judicial Complex would have killed him.
He said that his colleague quickly came and signaled them to escape the premises because he understood this was a trap.
Imran Khan stated that the purpose of the approximately 20 men was to carry out another attempt on his life in the fashion they did in Wazirabad, as the three to four guards protecting him would have easily been pushed away.
“I passed through all the obstacles to appear before the court on Saturday, because I am a law abiding citizen. However, seeing election results, their aim is to now kill me,” he said.
PTI Chairman called on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to take notice, as what happened with him at the FJC. He said that it was a plan and a trap to kill him and everything would be crystal clear as what their plan was when the CJP probed these unknown people.
He went on to say that these thieves were scared of him because it was evident the PTI would easily crush them whenever the polls were held; hence they were hell-bent and used every kind of measure to somehow remove him from the political arena.
He requested CJP Bandial to permit him to attend court hearings via video link, as he was ready to answer for every single case, adding that the accused who attacked him was presented before the court via video link but he was forced to present before the court in person despite death threats.
PTI Chairman further asked the CJP to take notice of the police highhandedness, as they carried out crackdown and raids on the homes of party office-bearers and workers, adding that the PTI only had hope from the judiciary.
Imran Khan said that whenever he came out of the house, his life was under threat and more cases were filed against him. He asked the CJP to see all the cases against him and explain that where he went wrong that even terrorism charges were levelled against him.
The PTI Chairman said what the imported government did to him had never happened in the history of the country. “Their aim is to kill me by spreading chaos when I go out to appear before court. My life is in danger,” he said, adding that democracy was being killed and constitution was being violated.
Imran Khan made it clear that even if he was imprisoned it wouldn’t affect the election results because the thieves badly exposed before the masses now.
“We are collecting all evidence of the kind of violence they inflicted and will send them to international human rights organisations,” he said, adding that the European Union was being approached in this regard as well.
Imran also directed the PTI’s overseas chapters to approach their local politicians and alert them about the “human rights violations” in Pakistan.
He flayed cabal of thieves for calling his party workers terrorists, saying such allegations would spread hatred and divide the nation, adding that PTI was the only federal party which can keep the country united.
Lashing out the PDM, Imran Khan said that these looters were creating polarisation in the society, adding that they were trying to pitch the PTI and armed forces against each other in an attempt to eliminate his party, which he said they cannot defeat in the elections.
“Efforts are being made to make PTI and the army come face to face. PDM is trying hard to incite quarrel between PTI and the army as these people cannot win the elections so they want to eliminate PTI,” he added.
“I want to tell all PTI that no matter what the provocation, we must protest peacefully and within the bounds of the Constitution. Otherwise, we will give these fascists reason for more violence,” he directed his workers and supporters.
“I want to make it clear that this country is mine and so is the army and the crooks would not succeed in their nefarious designs come what may. I have to live and die in Pakistan,” he asserted. Imran said despite death threats he was appearing before courts as he was only concerned about the country and not afraid of death.
Imran Khan said that these crooks had nothing to do with the interest of the state because they had no stake here as they stationed all their looted wealth abroad and would not hesitate to spread anarchy in the country to protect their vested political interest.
PTI Chairman went on to say that his political opponents were not concerned about the country’s issues and conspiring to eliminate him to protect their vested interests.
Coming down hard on Mohsin Naqvi, Imran Khan stated that he was appointed to the post not for holding elections but to banish his party.
He said the imported government was creating hurdles in connection with the environment for the general elections despite the date drawing near, as the authorities were reluctant to allow them to hold jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan.
Flaying Maryam Nawaz, Imran Khan said the ‘queen of liars’ acts her father is Nelson Mandela.
He said that “Law of the jungle” prevailed in the country, as the ‘queen of liars’ was above the law and dictating the authorities.
Imran Khan said that fascism was on the rise, as police raided Musarat Cheema house and stayed there for two hours and even looted valuables from her homes as they did in his residence in Zaman Park, adding that Hassan Khan Niazi was arrested even after securing bail. He said that Ali Amin Gandapur was attacked while en route to D I Khan and police blamed him like they blamed me for Zille Shah’s brutal killing.

CENTRELINE again elected as Executive Committee member

Imtinan Shahid elected Senior Vice President, Aslam Kazi Vice President, Shahab Zubairi Finance Secretary, Munir Jilani Joint Secretary

DNA

KARACHI: The Annual Meeting of the APNS General Council held on March 20, 2023 at APNS House, Karachi unanimously elected Nazafreen Saigol Lakhani as  President, Imtinan Shahid as Senior Vice President, Muhammad Aslam Kazi as Vice President, Sarmad Ali as Secretary General, S.M. Munir Jilani as Joint Secretary and Shahab Zuberi as Finance Secretary of the Society.

The AGM was held under the chairmanship of Mr. Sarmad Ali, President of the Society. The Council unanimously approved the report of the Executive Committee for the year 2022-2023 as well as the Annual Accounts of the Society for the year 2022.

The General Council attended by 128  members from across the country, formed an Election Commission headed by Dr. Waqar Yousuf Azeemi with  Nasir Daad Baloch  and Mumtaz Ahmed Phulpoto as members. The Election Commission conducted the election of the Executive Committee for the year 2023-24.

Following dailies and magazines were elected un-opposed to the Executive Committee of the APNS for the next tenure:

Daily Aghaz, Daily Business Recorder, Daily Deyanat, Daily Dawn, Daily Jasarat, Daily Jiddat (Khi), Daily Abtak, Daily Dunya, Daily Jang, Daily Khabrain, Daily Pakistan, Daily Tijarat, Daily Ausaf, Daily Sahafat, Daily Awam (Quetta), Daily Mashriq (Quetta), Daily Mashriq (Peshawar), Daily Wahdat, Daily Kawish (Hyd), Daily Kaleem (Sukkur), Daily Aftab (Multan), Daily Paigham, Daily Business Report, Daily City 42, Daily Pakistan Observer, Daily Halchal (Hyd) and Daily Sayadat, Monthly Dastak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Monthly Naey Ufaq, Monthly Naya Rukh,  Monthly CENTRELINE, Fortnightly Ibrat Magazine and Weekly Nikhar were elected on periodical seats.

The new Executive Committee elected Mrs. Zahida Abbasi of Daily Nau Sijj, Karachi on woman – publishers seat. The newly elected Executive Committee appreciated the performance of the Election Commission.

The AGM in a resolution, expressed its profound concern on the state of print media due to the present economic situation which has caused severe financial crisis for newspapers, many of them are at the verge of collapse. In this situation, the media expected support from the government to brave the financial crunch. The AGM urged upon the Federal Government to pay the long outstanding dues of newspaper industry amounting to over Rs.2 billion, increase the quantum of advertisements and allocate a separate share of print media in the advertising budget so that the newspaper industry would be able to survive in the present situation. The AGM reiterated that the Federal Government has not yet implemented the recommendation of 8th Wage Board to increase the government advertising rates in proportion increase in the wages despite various assurances.