ISLAMABAD, JUN 3 (DNA) – University students from across the country gathered outside the office of the Higher Education Commission in Islamabad on Wednesday demanding their full semester fee be waived.

They also wanted varsities to stop their online classes and promote students to the next semester without any examinations.

With placards in their hands, the students shouted slogans and blocked the capital’s Service Road for traffic.

These students have not just been protesting on roads but have also voiced their concerns on Twitter and other social media platforms. They say that the pandemic has affected them severely.

In a thread on Twitter, Aswad Shiraz, a student at Iqra University, called out varsities for charging full semester fees during the coronavirus pandemic, declaring it “immoral” and “unfair”.

“It is not just a piece of cake for everyone to bear the financial burden of their academics as some [students] do part-time jobs and give home tuition to pay off their expenses,” he said.

Shiraz stated that due to the pandemic, they could no longer work, leading to difficulty in paying fees.

The online classes that the varsities conduct only include daily lectures and recordings for which students use their own resources such as WiFi and mobile internet.

The student explained that their university fee covers all the student services and facilities such as clubs and societies and campus facilities which have not been utilised since educational institutions were closed.

Owing to this, we demand that the universities reduce their fees by 50%, Shiraz said.

Following Shiraz’s tweets, several other students from all provinces expressed their concerns and have requested the HEC to consider their demands.

Schools, universities and colleges were closed down by the government in late February as a precautionary measure against the novel coronavirus spread. Following this, educational institutions resorted to online classes.=DNA

MAHNOOR ANSAR

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Shibli Faraz has appealed to the people to strictly follow the standard operating procedures in the face of rising cases of Coronavirus otherwise the government will be compelled to again enforce the lockdown.

He was addressing a news conference along with Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Farrukh Habib in Islamabad.

The Information Minister regretted that the people did not follow the precautionary measures in the wake of easing of restrictions. He said the restrictions were eased to provide livelihood opportunties to the weaker segments of the society. To provide succour to the disadvantaged segments of the society, the government also launched Ehsaas Program and other initiatives.

Shibli Faraz said the government is pursuing a very well organized and coordinated strategy to curb the spread of the contagion.  This is the reason the corona cases are less to our estimates.

The Information Minister said all the relevant departments are working in close coordination to address the issue of locusts. He said a well thought out strategy just like Covid-19 is being followed to make the fight against the crop munching pests successful.

Alluding to the political situation in the country, the Information Minister dispelled the impression of victimization of the political opponents. He made it clear that the accountability process will go ahead.  He said future belongs only to those parties who believe in the service of the public.

Shibli Faraz said action will be taken against the mafias who held the country’s economy hostage for their own vested interests.

Farrukh Habib, in his remarks, said Prime Minister Imran Khan has exposed the mafia and the money plundered by the corrupt elements will be recovered and spent on the poor people.

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 3 (DNA) – The COVID-19 crisis has affected many lives and disrupted all systems and institutions, including educational institutions, but the forced changes can be harnessed to bring about an increase in efficiency and quality of services at the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

This was stated by Chairman HEC Tariq Banuri while addressing HEC’s all-staff meeting held online on Wednesday. HEC is committed to using the crisis in order to automate its process and systems, simplifying application procedures for universities, faculty members, and students, and moving towards greater efficiency.

The Chairman directed all the HEC Divisions to take necessary steps for “re-engineering of all HEC operations and processes” as per the current requirements, ensuring transparency, clarity, and precision in them.

He emphasised that all the lapses, in terms of quality in all HEC operations, must be identified and addressed.

He said all HEC Divisions have been asked to ensure complete online readiness and online access, including by taking advantage of other HEC programs, especially the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS), the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), and the Education Testing Council (ETC). The HEMIS and Statistical Information Unit (SIU) have collected data on faculty members, and are compiling a complete database of staff and students.

ETC has been asked to develop a hybrid system of evaluation and assessment, with a more effective use of information technology.

Expressing satisfaction that the degree attestation system was able to continue to provide its services through online operations during the lockdown, he directed the Attestation Division to make its processes more effective in the future, and to save students from the hassle of traveling to HEC offices for attestation.

He said that the attestation and equivalence processes will be permanently provided online and through TCS to avoid hassle and make it easier for applicants to avail themselves of the services. He also highlighted the HEC’s steps to address the issues faced by faculty and Tenure Track System staff.

He congratulated National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE) for the successful design and operation of the National Faculty Development Programme 2020, which had to be conducted only due to the lock down. “The feedback of the programme from the participants is very good.” He directed NAHE to organize short duration trainings for HEC staff and others in essential Software services and other valuable skills. “NAHE should start a programme to improve the gaps, help HEC standardise its ‘Style Manual’, and provide trainings to its staff about communication skills, IT skills, analytical skills, and legal skills etcetera.”

The Chairman condoled the deaths of family members of HEC and universities staff due to COVID-19.

He advised the HEC staff to follow precautionary measures strictly, including wearing masks in all public places, frequently washing hands and use sanitizer, and adopting social distancing. “We all must take all necessary precautions to protect ourselves, our families, neighbours, and colleagues.”

Expressing his sympathy for five HEC staff members who have also contracted the virus, he prayed for their early recovery.

He said HEC will consider gradually calling back its employees to office as the government is easing restrictions, however pursuance of proper Standard Operating Procedure will be a must.=DNA

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ISLAMABAD, JUN 3 (DNA) – Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has said that business community is not against tax payment but MCI has increased property tax by 300% in one go, which has increased the difficulties of business class.

Therefore, he urged that the current increase in property tax should be withdrawn and this tax should be gradually increased by taking the business community into confidence. He expressed these views while talking to Mian Tariq Latif, DMA/Director Revenue of MCI during his visit to ICCI. Amir Ranjha, Deputy Director MCI was also present on the occasion.

Mohammad Ahmad Waheed said that encroachments in markets were not only created problems for business community, they were also distorting the beauty of markets.

He stressed encroachments from all markets should be removed by taking trade associations of concerned markets in confidence.

He said that the increase in board tax fee should also be reviewed.He said that a verbal agreement was reached between DMA and ICCI for a board tax @ of Rs. 60 per square foot, which should be implemented.

Emphasized that sanitation arrangements in commercial and industrial areas should be further improved and MCI should intensify its efforts to address the issues highlighted by the business community.

Tahir Abbasi, Senior Vice President ICCI, Muhammad Aslam Khokhar, Usman Khalid, Zia Chaudhry, Asher Hafeez, Khalid Chaudhry, Malik Rabinwaz, Nisar Ahmad Langa and others also highlighted the issues of business community and offered proposals for their solution.

Mian Tariq Latif, Director Municipal Administration and Director Revenue, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad speaking at the occasion said that encroachments from markets in Islamabad would be removed in cooperation with traders and this process would be started from Jinnah Supermarket.

However, the cooperation of market unions was needed in this regard. He said that efforts would be made to solve the problems of the business community through understanding and in this regard a meeting of ICCI delegation would be arranged with Mayor of Islamabad.

He said a joint committee of the two institutions would be considered to identify important issues and find their better solutions. He assured that he would fully cooperate with Chamber in resolving the key issues of business community.=DNA

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ISLAMABAD, JUN 3 (DNA) – Over 1,000 people have yet to receive alternate plots after the Capital Development Authority constructed new sectors on their land, a bench of the Islamabad High Court remarked on Wednesday.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah, chided the CDA for not taking any action in the case. Islamabad has become a classic example of elite culture, he remarked. The CDA is responsible for rule of law in the city, he noted.

“Is this a joke to you? Thousands of people were displaced and no compensation has been provided to them.” Are housing societies above the law, asked Justice Minallah. “Why aren’t they following the rules?”

Ali Nawaz Awan. who is the PM’s special assistant on CDA affairs, also appeared in court. “The court is absolutely right. We have to make things better,” he said.

Justice Minallah remarked that they just want Islamabad’s elite culture to come to an end. Judges, bureaucrats and journalists have been given plots in Islamabad but people who land was purchased haven’t been given anything, he added.

The court has reserved its verdict in the case.=DNA

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