RAWALPINDI, Sep 17 (APP):A total of Rs 287,000 fines were imposed in Rawalpindi Division during the last 24 hours for overpricing of flour and roti.

According to a briefing given in a price control meeting chaired by Commissioner Rawalpindi Engineer Aamir Khattak on Wednesday, fines worth Rs 169,500 were imposed against overpricing of flour while one outlet was sealed.

District-wise details showed fines of Rs 88,000 in Rawalpindi with one outlet sealed, Rs 2,000 in Attock, Rs 10,000 in Jhelum, Rs 35,000 in Chakwal, and Rs 34,500 in Murree.

Similarly, fines of Rs 117,500 were imposed across the division for overpricing of roti, including Rs 27,000 in Rawalpindi, Rs 5,000 in Attock, Rs 28,500 in Jhelum, Rs 47,000 in Chakwal, and Rs 10,000 in Murree.

Action was also taken against underweight roti, with Rs 7,500 fine imposed in Murree.

The commissioner directed the authorities concerned to ensure the availability of roti and naan at government-notified rates. He reiterated that strict enforcement of the Price Control Act would continue and violators would be dealt with without discrimination to provide maximum relief to the public.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Hassan Waqar Cheema, Additional Commissioner Coordination Syed Nazarat Ali Shah, Director Food and other officials.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 17 /DNA/ – The Higher Education Commission (HEC) convened a meeting to discuss the matter of parallel accreditation of Bachelor of Computer Engineering and Software Engineering programmes by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC).

The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Zia ul Qayum, Executive Director, HEC, with participation from the Director General Quality Assurance Agency, HEC, Mr. Nasir Shah and representatives of the NCEAC Secretariat, alongside officials from PEC including Engr. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed Sheikh, Sr. Additional Registrar / Technical Advisor Regulations, Engr. Jehan Zeb Khan, Additional Registrar / Head-EEU, and Mr. Wazirzada Mohammad Owais, Consultant, Techno-Legal Affairs.

The forum held detailed deliberations on the overlaps, challenges, and implications of parallel accreditation and highlighted the importance of evolving a harmonized and collaborative mechanism between the two Councils.

The participants underscored that resolving this issue is essential to ensure quality assurance, clarity for higher education institutions, and consistency for graduates entering the national and international job markets.

The HEC reaffirmed its commitment to working with both PEC and NCEAC and emphasized that the curricula will be reviewed against international standards, after which a final decision will be implemented.

ISLAMABAD, Sep 17 (APP/DNA): In a significant step towards preserving Pakistan’s academic and institutional memory through varsity-level archiving initiative, the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Archives of Pakistan (NAP) at a formal ceremony held at the NUST Central Library.

The event was attended by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, as the chief guest, alongside senior officials from the Cabinet Division.

Being integrated with NUST Archive at the university’s central library, the milestone initiative has set a new precedent for university-level archiving by formally establishing a framework to preserve, digitise, and curate institutional records.

The event also marked the inauguration of the “Quaid Corner”, a dedicated space within the Central Library showcasing rare archival materials, photographs, and documents related to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, generously provided by the National Archives of Pakistan.

This space will serve as a symbolic and academic resource for students, researchers, and faculty, connecting them with the ideological roots and foundational vision of the country.

Sharing his views at the event, NUST Pro-Rector Academics, Dr. Osman Hasan, said that archives are not merely storage facilities, but also living repositories of national memory, vital for research, policymaking, and institutional continuity.

 He maintained that the joint initiative between NUST and NAP is poised to serve as a solid foundation for future academic research, curriculum development, public discourse on governance and national development.

It is pertinent to mention that NUST Archive Section serves as a central point for preserving the university’s intellectual legacy. NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS) has also reinforced the project through providing technical expertise in digitisation, metadata structuring, and quality assurance of archival content.

ISLAMABAD, Sep 17 (APP/DNA):Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, met with Mohammad-Reza Aref, the First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The meeting, which took place on September 16 focused on enhancing bilateral trade relations between the two countries, said a release issued here on Wednesday.

A high-level discussions covered issues such as trade barriers, export-import potentials, and regulatory cooperation.

The gathering reflects Islamabad’s and Tehran’s ongoing efforts to deepen economic and commercial ties.

KARACHI, SEPT 17 /DNA/ – KASB KTrade hosted an investor delegation from Global Critical Resources, led by Austrian investor Cevdet Caner, during their visit to Pakistan.

The delegation included Joachim Pfeiffer, former German parliamentarian; Jay Truesdale, CEO of TDI International; Ali Farid Khwaja, CEO of Critical Metals plc; and Richard Canning, CEO of Global Critical Resources.

Global Critical Resources is a US based mining investor and operator. It owns and operates natural resource mines in Botswana and Chile. Critical Metals Plc, is a U.K. listed mining company which operates copper mine in DRC and is looking to acquire more assets.

During the roadshow in Pakistan, the delegation engaged with leading corporate executives and policymakers.

They met with management of companies such as Mari Energies and OGDC, as well as senior government and industry leaders. The meetings highlighted Pakistan’s potential in the exploration and production of natural resources.

The delegation extended special appreciation to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for arranging and facilitating their meetings, and for showcasing the attractive investment opportunities in Pakistan’s natural resources sector.

As one of Pakistan’s leading investment platforms, KASB KTrade continues to actively promote foreign investments across asset classes, including stocks, bonds, private equity, venture capital, and now, natural resources.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 17: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Riyadh on Wednesday on an official visit to discuss bilateral ties. The prime minister is accompanied by senior members of his cabinet during the visit, which is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and broadening cooperation in various sectors.

During the visit, the premier will hold a bilateral meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to review the entire spectrum of Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.

“The visit is expected to result in the formalisation of cooperation in diverse fields, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to deepen their partnership,” the FO statement read.

“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy a historic relationship, rooted in shared faith, values and mutual trust,” the Foreign Office said, adding that the trip will provide an important opportunity for both leaders to consolidate ties and explore new avenues of collaboration.

It is to be noted that since assuming office, PM Shehbaz Sharif has visited Saudi Arabia several times. In October 2024, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed 34 memoranda of understanding (MoUs), aimed at enhancing private sector collaboration and boosting commercial partnerships.

This year, the prime minister has made two official visits to Saudi Arabia. His first, from March 19-22, focused on strengthening trade, investment, and economic ties. The premier visited again from June 5-6 during the Eidul Adha in the Kingdom.

PM Shehbaz also held a meeting with MBS earlier this week on the sidelines of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha. The summit was convened as a show of solidarity with Qatar after Israeli airstrikes on September 9 targeted Hamas leaders in the Gulf state.

During the cordial meeting, both leaders discussed the emerging situation following Israel’s aggression.

PM Shehbaz expressed deep appreciation for Mohammed bin Salman’s leadership in uniting the Muslim Ummah during this critical time and assured Pakistan’s full diplomatic support, particularly at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where Pakistan is a non-permanent member, as well as in other multilateral forums, including the OIC.

The Saudi crown prince appreciated Pakistan’s active diplomatic role at the UNSC and OIC in demonstrating solidarity with Qatar.