ISLAMABAD, OCT 24 (DNA) – Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Tariq Banuri has said that HEC has always protected rights of teachers and students, with the goal of continuous enhancement in the quality of education.

“We are reviewing all past policies for flaws or redundancies in order to improve, modify, amend, or revoke, as needed, but all this has to be based on evidence, analysis, and a proper rationale, not random observation. That is the approach we have established at at HEC.”

These remarks were made after the Chairman met with a few representatives of university teachers’ association who were protesting outside HEC. He said that HEC has been continuously devising and developing policies for all the stakeholders, after due consultation with experts from all across Pakistan and nothing is prepared or finalized in haste.

The meeting was also attended by Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail, Member (Operations and Planning) Dr. Fateh Marri, Adviser (Administration and Coordination) Mr. Awais Ahmad and Director General (R&D) Dr. Zain ul Abdin.

“Every policy has gone through a number of phases, namely identification of a problem (often by aggrieved persons), collection of evidence, in-house analysis, review by external experts, and thorough consultation with faculty members, university leaders, and other professionals from all across Pakistan. This leads to drafting of detailed proposals, with proper justifications, for the consideration of HEC’s governing body. The Commission then takes appropriate decisions after considering all aspects of the issues, and on the basis of the best interest of students, teachers, and the society in general,” the Chairman said.

The main concerns raised by the delegation pertained to the service conditions and benefits of university teachers. These had earlier been discussed with the representative associations of both TTS and BPS faculty members, both of which had been assured of HEC’s commitment to and sympathy for the demands of the teachers. It was also emphasized that these matters had long-term implications, and policies and structures could be modified only after due deliberation, and never in haste. He urged university teachers to make constant improvement in teaching and research their foremost cause.

The faculty members were assured that all their legitimate concerns would be taken care of. They were also informed that one of the fundamental principles of HEC’s policy reform was that no change would be applied retroactively, and that all benefits achieved by anyone on the basis of an old policy would be respected under the new policy. Only their future actions will need to conform to the new policy. This principle was introduced to protect the interests of the faculty.

This principle was central to the new HJRS policy, and all progress achieved by faculty members until June 2020 would be acknowledged and evaluated under the old policy framework. HEC will once again clarify to the universities that all papers published before June 2020 would be evaluated in accordance with the old system, and will be counted towards faculty benefits, and that only the papers published after June 30, 2020 would be evaluated under the new policy.

The faculty members asked for a relaxation of the requirement of post-PhD experience for purposes of promotion. It was explained that the policy could be reviewed only on the basis of proper evidence, and a justifiable rationale that relaxation of the policy would not affect the quality of education. In May 2020, HEC had requested FAPUASA to provide such evidence. The faculty representatives offered to collect the statistical data and evidence and submit a written rationale. A deadline of 31 March 2021 was agreed for the review of the policy on the basis of the evidence and rationale, and that the existing policy would be suspended until this deadline.

Similarly, faculty members asked for a relaxation of the minimum qualifications required for appointment as a lecturer or assistant professor. Their argument was that people of the requisite qualifications were not available in Balochistan. It was agreed that HEC will convene a meeting with the Vice Chancellors of universities in Balochistan within the next two weeks, to which representatives of FAPUASA will also be invited. The meeting will review the recruitment record and also the arguments in favor of and against minimum educational qualifications of new faculty members. The Association will assist by sharing data in support of their assertion that there is dearth of MPhil/MS in Balochistan requiring relaxation of MS qualification for appointment as Lecturers and Assistant Professors in universities in Balochistan.

FAPUASA representatives also demanded the enactment time scale promotion policy for BPS faculty members. The Chairman said that this issue had also been agreed with representatives of the BPS faculty. He said that as a regulatory authority, HEC was equally mindful of the concerns of BPS as well as TTS faculty. To resolve the issue of time scale promotion, it is necessary to prepare comprehensive service statutes for BPS faculty members, after weighing their full implications. The representatives of BPS faculty members had already been asked to propose their concrete recommendations regarding these statutes. The same offer was made to FAPUASA. These recommendations will be reviewed and analyzed as per HEC’s procedures and submitted to the Commission for consideration at its 39th meeting scheduled in March 2021.

The delegation raised a number of issues pertaining to TTS faculty members, especially to ensure that there was no discrimination between various faculty members. The issues raised were: (i) inadmissibility of honorarium,  (ii) exemption from working on the administrative posts, (iii) one-time waiver for tenure track to allow faculty not covered under 6-9 period under the new policy, (iv) exclusion of additional publication requirement during the extended tenure period, (v) implementation and endorsement issues, (vi) uniform application of early tenure once in a career, and removal of ban imposed on CUI on TTS recruitments, and endorsement of faculty. These had already been discussed with representatives of the TTS faculty association.

However, in the spirit of dialogue and inclusion, It was agreed that HEC will convene a joint meeting with representatives of both the associations during the 3rd week of November to address the question of discrimination between different faculty members.

It was also emphasized that HEC policy was to ensure that faculty members should not be penalized on account of delay/other considerations on part of university in the tenure and selection/promotion process. Backlog of Comsats University’s TTS endorsement cases will be cleared within a fortnight and an exclusive meeting will be held with new Rector CUI during next week to review the recruitment issues. However, the University will be allowed fresh recruitments only when its system is put in order.=DNA

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RAWALPINDI, Oct 24 (DNA): Pakistan armed forces have extended best
wishes to the United Nations (UN) on its 75th anniversary,
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

The military’s media wing said on Twitter that Pakistan has contributed
over 200,000 troops in 46 UN missions in 28 countries, whereas, 158
Pakistani peacekeepers sacrificed their lives for global peace.

Pakistan had joined the UN peacekeeping mission on September 30, 1947,
and the first batch of Pakistani soldiers had been deployed in Congo.
The country has taken part in joint missions in 28 countries and its
peacekeepers including military officers sacrificed their lives.

Earlier in the year, the United Nations (UN) had honoured the Dag
Hammarskjold medal to a Pakistani soldier in May, Naik Muhammad Naeem
Raza, who embraced martyrdom while serving in the UN mission in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many global and UN leaders have
admitted the performance of the armed forces of Pakistan.

Moreover, 83 female soldiers of the Pakistani military troops are
currently part of the UN peacekeeping mission, whereas, Pakistan became
the first country for deploying its women military officers in Congo on
June 19, 2019. DNA

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DNA

ISLAMABAD – Speaker of Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga, Mir Rahman Rahmani, called on Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi today.

Welcoming the visiting dignitary, the Foreign Minister highlighted the importance Pakistan attaches to its fraternal relations with Afghanistan.

He also emphasized the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, with increased interaction through the respective Parliamentary Friendship Groups as well as between women parliamentarians on both sides.

The Foreign Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan and highlighted Pakistan’s positive contribution to the Afghan peace process.

He stressed that after the Afghans themselves, no other country had a greater stake in lasting peace in Afghanistan than Pakistan. The Foreign Minister noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan had repeatedly underlined that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and that a political solution was the only way forward. The U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement has provided a historic opportunity for the Afghan leaders to now work together and secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

The Foreign Minister underlined that progress in the Intra-Afghan Negotiations would help in reduction in violence leading to ceasefire. He also cautioned that there was a need to remain watchful of the role of “spoilers” who did not wish to see peace and stability return to Afghanistan or were averse to strong Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.

On the bilateral plane, the Foreign Minister stressed the importance of APAPPS, noting that this mechanism provided the best platform to address all relevant issues. The Foreign Minister underscored that enormous synergies and complementarities existed in trade and economic fields between the two countries which should be optimally utilized. A new visa regime has been implemented for Afghan nationals which would facilitate people-to-people links.

Mr. Rahmani, accompanied by a high-level delegation, is on a three-day bilateral visit from 23-25 October 2020. He will also participate in “Pakistan-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Forum 2020 – Partnership for Mutual Benefit” seminar in Islamabad on 26-27 October 2020.

GWADAR, Oct. 24  – As the first teaching building of the Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute (PCTVI) topped out couple of days back, the project demonstrated major progress which would herald the completion of the construction works and its scheduled delivery.

According to Gwadar Pro on Saturday, the China-supported construction project is undertaken by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC).

The PCTVI, as a project supported by China, covers an area of about 7,350 square meters, with teaching buildings composed of classrooms, offices, and laboratories, training workshops, reading rooms, dormitories for both students and faculties, and other supporting rooms.

The construction of the project commenced in January 2020 and was scheduled to be finished within about 20 months.

“With the unique geographical location of Gwadar and the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak combined, the project schedule is facing multiple hindrances, which ranges from the hardship in accessing the site on the part of the Chinese technicians, the delayed arrival of construction materials, the difficulty in recruiting Pakistani workers, and the anti-terrorist pressure,” according to Huang Jiehua, leader of the construction works.

He said that to continue the progress as expected, all the participating parties have been rising to the challenges with multiple endeavors.

Based on corresponding construction stages, regular epidemic control measures were compiled and updated, which include closed-off and grid management, daily body temperature measurements, and daily key area disinfections.

During the epidemic, the construction continued by harnessing local resources. Specifically, up to 450 training sessions were given to newly recruited local workers of all levels so as to guarantee employment and income in the area. Till now, there are 29 and 280 employees from China and Pakistan respectively in the project.

According to Huang, PCTVI, as one of the key projects aiming at improving the local livelihood under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, appears to be the first Pakistani vocational school focusing on port shipping with other techniques as supplements.

The project, after coming into operation, will cultivate well-educated, skillful labor force for Gwadar and the whole Balochistan area and fulfill the commitment of both China and Pakistan in deepening cooperation in livelihood and securing common development.

It will also upgrade the education in the area and bring immense benefit to the local people.

The construction of the Institute is projected to complete by the end of January 2021, after which the renovation works will be commenced, Huang added.

Former President ICCI Shahid Rasheed Butt on Saturday said indecision by the authorities to fix wheat support price will compound the flour crisis in the country pushing helpless masses to the corner.

The country may go through a famine-like situation leading to civil turmoil if mismanagement continues in the wheat sector, he said.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said that responsible institutions should intervene to improve food security by reversing wrong decisions, new and failed experiments, doctored statistics, smuggling and speculation in the food market.

He said that authorities unnecessarily delayed imports and now they are reluctant to announce wheat support price despite the beginning of the sowing season in some parts of the country.

Indecision is making farmers nervous which can have disastrous consequences, he said, adding that a review in the wheat support price is the only option to calm the market.

Wheat support price was increased from Rs1200 to Rs1300 in 2014, it was increased to Rs1350 in 2019 and Rs1400 in March 2020.

The support price was not increased in proportion to the prices of inputs and cost of doing business. Now the government wants to purchase wheat at the old price while its policies have compelled masses to buy the wheat at a record price of Rs2500 per 40kg.

Presently the cost of the wheat crop is almost Rs1650 per 40kg, therefore, the government should hike support price to Rs1700 per maund which will also trigger inflation by almost six percent.

If the government wants to keep inflation in check then it should provide a real subsidy on urea which covers twenty percent cost of crop and reduce taxes on other inputs which will bring the price of wheat and flour down.

The business leader noted that per acre yield of wheat is dismally low as compared to regional countries at 25 to 26 maund per acre due to lack of interest on the part of policymakers.

Masses cannot get any relief and food security cannot be ensured unless the government stops new experiments and takes steps to provide relief to struggling farmers.

The area under wheat cultivation in Punjab has already reduced by 21 percent and it will go down advance if policies are not changed, he warned.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 24 –  “PAF is ever ready for a befitting response to any misadventure by the enemy and is striving to make country’s defence invincible”, said the Air Chief, while addressing the students and faculty at Jinnah Auditorium, National University of Science & Technology, Islamabad.

On his arrival, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force was received by Rector NUST Lieutenant General Naweed Zaman, (Retd).

The Air Chief in his address, said that Pakistan was facing enormous challenges in the wake of 5th generation/ hybrid warfare, launched by the enemy with the evil designs. He emphasized the need to invest in technology and indigenization in order to achieve self-reliance in every field, particularly defence.

He urged upon the students to pursue their goals with focus and play a pivotal role in making Pakistan a progressive country.

He also appreciated NUST’s contributions in spearheading scientific and technological advancements, which are imperative for the country’s progress.

A large number of students and faculty members attended the event. The address was followed by a comprehensive question & answer session.

Later on, the Air Chief planted a sapling at the campus. He also visited

N-ovative Health Technologies (NHT), Pakistan’s first facility for indigenous production of cardiac stents and medical implants.

The opening ceremony of the 27th China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair is held at Yangling Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Zone in Shaanxi province on Oct 22, 2020.

An agricultural technology training demonstration base was unveiled on Thursday at the 27th China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair, an annual promotion and exhibition for agricultural development in Shaanxi province.

The fair was organized in conjunction with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, China National Intellectual Property Administration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Shaanxi provincial government. It will run until Monday.

Six indoor and outdoor exhibition halls and display areas with more than 2,000 stands were installed at the fair, in a total exhibition area of 160,000 square meters. This year also marks the first year that the fair is being held both online and offline.

Themed “Technological innovation leads to high-quality growth”, the fair will feature more than 100 activities and attract participants from 70 countries.

At the opening ceremony on Thursday, Zhao Yide, governor of Shaanxi province, said, “The activities we hold at the fair can bring more opportunities for communication and cooperation at home and abroad, while injecting stronger impetus into the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas and high-quality agricultural growth.

Xu Nanping, vice-minister of science and technology, said that the fair has played an important role in strengthening international exchanges and cooperation in agriculture.

“In the next step, we plan to implement an innovation-driven development strategy to speed up innovation in the agricultural sector,” Xu said.

The fair’s organizers said the training demonstration base will establish a number of modern agricultural research centers, international collaboration labs and agricultural technology promotion application platforms to promote cooperation.

Yangling has been home to the Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Zone since 1997. The high-tech fair has attracted thousands of agricultural companies and scientific research institutions from more than 70 countries worldwide since 1994.