DNA

ISLAMABAD, MAR 21: The British High Commission organised a reception on Tuesday, 21 March for returning Chevening scholars who were awarded the scholarships for the year 2021/22.

Through a rigorous recruitment process, 42 Pakistanis were selected for the Chevening scholarship last year. Half of those selected consisted of female scholars who went to study master’s programme at the UK Universities. Acting British High Commissioner, Jo Moir, congratulated the returning Pakistani scholars and welcomed them into the Chevening alumni family, which is an influential network of over 2000 alumni across Pakistan. The event was attended by officials of the British High Commission, returning scholars, and Chevening alumni.

Chevening scholars returned at a time when the UK is focusing on supporting education in Pakistan which is also a Commonwealth priority. In the last 10 years, the UK has spent over £900m on education development in Pakistan – directly allowing 5.8m children to gain a decent education including 2.1m girls.

Last week the British High Commission marked Commonwealth Day with a range of activities. Many of the UK’s current development initiatives in Pakistan, including education, were committed to at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.

British Acting High Commissioner Jo Moir said:

“Congratulations Cheveners for completing a master’s degree from the world-renowned universities of the UK. Education is central to development and to the improvement of the lives of young people including women and girls.

“The UK is proud to support wider education efforts in Pakistan, including on girls’ education and through the British Council.

“The UK will keep engaging with the young people of Pakistan from the platform of the Commonwealth to ensure global stability and growth”.

Lahore, MAR 21 /DNA/ – Pearl-Continental Hotel Lahore chefs won four gold medals, two silver medals and two trophies in the fifth season of Pakistan International Culinary Championship (PICC) held at Royal Palm Golf and Country Club, Lahore.

The Chefs Association of Pakistan (CAP) along with its strategic partner, the College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM) Pakistan and Dubai, and co-organizers The World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) launched the fifth season of PICC 2023 to challenge the potential of Pakistan professional chefs from hotels, restaurants, catering companies, bakeries, fast-food restaurants etc.

The objective of the Championship was to showcase Pakistani cuisine, unveil the potential of the hospitality industry, and recognize the creativity, innovation, and style of professional chefs in Pakistan. Participants from various regions of the country competed in the event.
Pearl-Continental Hotel Lahore emerged as the leading establishment, earning four gold medals, two silver medals, and two trophies. The PC Lahore team’s exceptional talent resulted in a clean sweep of the awards, earning them high praise from both international chefs and the judging panel.

The Executive Chef of PC Lahore, Nauman Iftikhar Khan said that “It has been a very challenging period for us as a culinary competition of this level is both emotionally and physically intense. The team has sacrificed their time and sleep.”

Mr. James Wilson, the General Manager of Pearl-Continental Hotel Lahore, hosted a celebratory dinner for the victorious chefs. The executive team, including Mr. Vangelis Boulis, EAM F&B, as well as other heads of departments, also participated in honoring the accomplishment. On occassion, Mr. James expressed that “Having such an exceptional team of chefs together at Pearl-Continental Lahore was a remarkable accomplishment and a source of pride for the establishment. As a leader in the hospitality industry in Pakistan, Pearl-Continental Lahore has once again demonstrated its excellence through the success of its team”.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 21 (DNA): President Arif Alvi on Tuesday felicitated the newly elected members of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), an organization of major Pakistani newspapers and publishers.
The president congratulated Naz Afreen Sehgal Lakhani and Sarmad Ali as the unanimously elected president and secretary general, Imtenan Shahid as senior vice president, Muhammad Aslam Qazi as vice president, S.M. Munir Jilani as joint secretary, and Shahab Zuberi as finance secretary of the APNS.
President Alvi expressed hope that the newly elected APNS body would take steps for the promotion of mass media in the country.
He urged the media to work towards ensuring peace and tolerance besides promoting ethical and democratic values.
The president emphasized the role of newspapers in eliminating fake news and raising public awareness on issues concerning social problems, especially women, and persons with different abilities.
BISP Board approves piloting new payment model for beneficiaries.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 21 (DNA): National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Tuesday emphasized the crucial role of media in combating the spread of false information, urging them to take responsibility for preventing dissemination of fake news to avoid harmful effects on society.

He congratulated the newly elected officials of All Pakistan Newspapers Society [APNS] and called for unbiased dissemination of information and urged media organizations to foster inclusion and tolerance.

The Speaker also highlighted the media’s role in addressing economic and social problems facing the country, combating moral decline, intolerance, and societal uncertainty.

The Speaker expressed optimism about the newly elected officials of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and their dedication to the development of media in the country. He encouraged them to continue their efforts towards a vibrant and responsible media landscape that serves the interests of the people of Pakistan.

He congratulated the newly elected officials of the APNS, including Naz afreen Sehgal Lakhani as President, Sarmad Ali as Secretary General, Imtanan Shahid as Senior Vice President, and Muhammad Aslam Qazi as Vice President.

Additionally, SM Munir Jilani was congratulated for being elected as the Joint Secretary, and Shahab Zuberi was congratulated for being elected as the Finance Secretary of APNS.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 21: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Secretary General Asad Umar on Tuesday told envoys in Islamabad that the party is seeking free and fair elections to end political instability in the country.

The PTI leaders held a “breakfast meeting” with the diplomatic corps in Islamabad organised by Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Neil Hawkins. The ambassadors of European and Muslim countries were also present during the meeting.

“We exchanged views on the regional and overall political situation of the country during the meeting,” Qureshi said.

Both leaders informed the envoys about the PTI’s demand for transparent elections as per schedule and bringing the atmosphere of ongoing political instability in the country to an end.

“We are deeply grateful to the Australian High Commissioner Neil Hawkins for organising this breakfast meeting,” Qureshi added.

The PTI — led by Chairman Imran Khan — has been campaigning for general elections in Pakistan for months since its government’s ouster through a vote of no-confidence in April last year.

To press for their demand for snap polls, the party dissolved the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies — the provinces where it was in power.

On the other hand, the former premier has also been embroiled in various legal challenges. The matter of his appearances in courtd has since caused immense chaos with his party workers taking to the streets, confronting security personnel that led to violent clashes in Lahore and Islamabad.

FROM QAZI SHOAIB KHAN
DNA
ATTOCK (MARCH-21): Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza on Tuesday while planting a sampling on the International Forest Day here in Attock has said that people should play their active role to make tree plantation drive a successful event in order to maintain natural environment for their next generation.
He was expressing these views after kicking off the tree planation campaign on the impressive ceremony held on the eve of International Forest Day celebrations here along the Ghazi Barotha Water Channel. Among others, the ceremony was also attended by the District Forest Officer Attock Mr. Ishfaq Bashir Bhutta, Deputy Director Public Relations Attock Mr. Shahzad Niaz Cheema and a large number of people from different walks of life. On this occasion, the Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza was also shared the updates that 13 lacs 71 thousands plants of different categories would be planted during the ongoing spring season.
The District Forest Officer while highlighting the salient features of the forest has said that 09 lacs 34 thousands plants were allocated for state lands, 01 lac, 48 thousands were handed over to provincial departments, 02 lacs 31 thousands plants for the owners of private lands and 58 thousands sampling will be planted by the defense organizations. The Deputy Commissioner Attock directed the forest department to also ensure the secureness of these sampling after completion of the tree plantation move.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Attock accompanied by Addl Deputy Commissioner Revenue Mr. Waqas Aslam Marth, Assistant Commissioner Attock Ms. Shaguta Jabeen and other relevant officers also inspected the distribution system of free flour to the deserving people at mega free flour points established in ground of District Council Attock. He said that the eligible deserving people could avail the facility of free flour after getting their registration all mega points set up in their six tehsils during the holy month of Ramazan, he added.

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.