GUJRAT, FEB 18 /DNA/ – Adolescence is a critical developmental period, and substance abuse can have long-lasting impacts on a teenager’s mental, physical, and social well-being. Rehabilitation for teenagers struggling with drug addiction requires an empathetic, and structured approach that addresses both their immediate needs and long-term recovery goals.

Three students from Beaconhouse School System Gujrat—M. Arham Ali Rathore, Momin Farooq, and Abdullah Habib—formed “Group Sober Choices” with the goal of spreading awareness about drug addiction and suggesting rehabilitation strategies. As part of their initiative, they organized seminars to educate the community on the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of recovery. These seminars served as a platform for sharing information, promoting empathy, and fostering understanding among community members.

In addition to public awareness efforts, the group engaged in direct, one-on-one interactions with individuals struggling with addiction. These conversations aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the addicts’ behavior, struggles, and motivations. They also explored the dynamics of how these individuals interacted with their families, shedding light on the emotional and social challenges faced by both addicts and their loved ones. Through these discussions, the students gathered valuable insights on the importance of family support in the rehabilitation process and sought to promote healthier, more compassionate relationships within affected families.

By addressing both community-level awareness and personal relationships, Group Sober Choices worked toward creating a more informed and supportive environment for those battling addiction. Their holistic approach emphasized empathy, education, and collaboration as key elements of the rehabilitation journey.

The group also used social media as an effective tool for reaching a wide audience. Share infographics, videos, and testimonials that highlighted the risks of drug abuse and the benefits of seeking help. They also created interactive campaigns to encourage discussion and engagement.

With $40bn investment by WB, new chapter of progress to begin in Pakistan, says PM Shehbaz

Mahnoor Ansar/DNA

ISLAMABAD: Lauding the government’s ongoing initiatives, a delegation of World Bank executive directors on Monday said Pakistan’s journey of economic reforms, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was progressing at pace.

The remarks came during a meeting between PM Shehbaz and a nine-member WB delegation, which is currently visiting Pakistan after a hiatus of 20 years.   

“The positive outcomes of the government’s ongoing reform initiatives are being felt which is a promising development,” noted the delegation.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Shehbaz said that with the cooperation of the WB, several key development projects were completed in Pakistan, which had played a vital role in the country’s progress, according to a statement issued by PM Office.

The premier welcomed the delegation on their visit to Pakistan and said the partnership between the WB and Pakistan spanned over seven decades.

“Pakistan has greatly benefited from its partnership with the World Bank,” he said, adding the WB provided substantial assistance to the people affected by the 2022 floods in Pakistan.

PM Shehbaz observed that the recent Country Partnership Framework of the WB included an investment of $40 billion in Pakistan which was highly encouraging.

With $20 billion allocated for various projects in health, education, youth development, and other social sectors, a new chapter of progress would begin in Pakistan, he added.

The prime minister said that an additional $20bn investment in Pakistan’s private sector under the International Finance Corporation (IFC) would accelerate the country’s economic growth.

Appreciating the WB’s trust in the government’s policies, he said Pakistan’s institutional and economic reform programme was moving rapidly.

“The country’s economy is on the right path and moving towards growth,” the premier added.

He also stressed that sustainable economic development required further efforts. The country’s chief executive said that the credit for economic turnaround went to the hard work of the government’s economic team.

The prime minister observed that Pakistan’s exports and remittances were increasing, adding that a reduction in interest rates was boosting investment in the production sector.

 He further said that the government was introducing transparency to control corruption.

Digitisation remained a priority in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reforms, he reiterated.

The premier further said the power sector reforms aimed to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply and reduce losses.

“The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has created an attractive environment for investment in Pakistan, functioning under a unique system involving all stakeholders,” he added.

Shehbaz maintained rather than relying on loans, they prioritised investment and partnerships.

The WB delegation members praised Pakistan’s ongoing reform programme and its effective implementation.

The delegation also appreciated the government’s reform measures in the energy, industrial and export sectors, privatization, revenue generation, and other key areas.

The nine-member WB delegation is currently visiting Pakistan, overseeing portfolios of various countries within the World Bank. The delegation will discuss economic development projects and investment opportunities in Pakistan.

Top judge reorganises key committees and appoints judges for oversight roles

Court Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Days after six judges were sworn-in as justices of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has formed multiple administrative committees within the apex court.

The top judge has restructured the six-member Case Management Committee, led by him, which includes Justice Naeem Afghan, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, and Justice Shafi Siddiqui, along with the Additional registrar and IT director.

The development comes days after Balochistan High Court (BHC) chief Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, ex-Sindh High Court (SHC) chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, SHC senior puisne judge Salahuddin Panhwar, Peshawar High Court (PHC) judge Shakeel Ahmad, ex-Islamabad High Court (IHC) chief Justice Aamer Farooq, and ex-PHC chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim took oath as SC judges following the approval by President Asif Ali Zardari.

Meanwhile, Justice Miangul Hassan was sworn-in as an acting apex court judge.

In his latest administrative move, CJP Yahya has appointed several judges to oversee anti-terrorism courts in different provinces.

Justice Musarrat Hilali will supervise anti-terrorism courts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, whereas Justice Malik Shahzad will do so in Punjab, Justice Hashim Kakar in Balochistan, Justice Panhwar in Sindh, and Justice Aamer Farooq in Islamabad.

The SC Building Committee will now be headed by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, with Justice Siddiqui and Justice Aamer Farooq as members.

Meanwhile, CJP Afridi will personally oversee the IT Committee, with Justice Muhammad Ali and Justice Mian Gul Hassan as members.

Other committee appointments include Justice Shahid Bilal leading the Research Centre Committee — with Justice Farooq and Jusitce Siddiqui as members — Justice Muhammad Ali heading the Law Clerkship Programme Committee with Justice Miangul Hassan as a member.

Five judges including the CJP, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Kakar, Justice Panhwar and Justice Shakeel Ahmad will hear various chamber appeals.

Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi has been given charge of the SC Archive and Museum Committee with Justice Panwhwar and Justice Miangul Hassan as members.

Additionally, Justice Shahzad will chair the committee on model courts and swift justice, while Justice Kakar, Justice Panhwar and Justice Ibrahim will serve as members.

Justice Ibrahim has also been designated as the SC’s security judge, responsible for overseeing security matters at the top court’s building, branch registry, and judges’ colony.

Justice Miangul Hassan has been appointed as the liaison judge for child custody cases under the Pakistan-UK protocol.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 17 (DNA): Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa chaired a meeting on Monday regarding Spring Tree Plantation Drive 2025 at CDA headquarters. The meeting was attended by the Member Environment, DG Environment, and other senior officers, along with representatives from the corporate sector, brands, and companies, including Nestle, Centaurus Mall, Garana, Imarat Group of Companies, Agency 21 as well as representatives of various NGOs and other companies.

During the meeting it was decided that Spring Plantation Drive 2025 will be launched on a large scale in Islamabad .

During the briefing, Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa was informed that the Spring Plantation Drive 2025 will be formally launched on February 19 at IMCB F-8. He was briefed that the Spring Tree Plantation Drive 2025 will include massive tree plantation in F-9 Park, Shakarparian, along the nullahs, as well as in urban and rural areas.

The meeting also decided that a large number of seed balls for the plantation drive will be dropped using helicopters and drones for plantation at Margalla Hills National Park. Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa emphasized that the Spring Plantation Drive 2025 should involve the active participation of civil society, private, and corporate sectors. He directed that the corporate sector and brands play their role for the welfare of citizens and the environment.

Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa further directed that areas be allocated for tree plantation to various companies and brands. He also directed that students from educational institutions, as well as the general public, be included in the plantation campaign.

To promote the Spring Plantation Drive 2025, Chairman CDA directed that stalls be set up in all major parks, and commercial areas of Islamabad to distribute plants. He also instructed that a digitized system be introduced for better monitoring of the plants planted under the campaign, and an online plant tracking system for the planted trees should be established.

Chairman CDA stated that a list of indigenous plants compatible with local climate should be displayed on the CDA website, and the selection of plants for the Spring Plantation Drive 2025 should include fruit-bearing, and flowering trees. He further emphasized that everyone should play their part collectively to ensure the success of this year’s plantation campaign.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 17 (DNA): The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) conducted a seminar on regulatory framework and safety in CNG Sector, emphasizing the importance of safety to minimize incidents at CNG stations. The event held at OGRA’s Auditorium, was graced by the presence of the senior government officials alongwith DG Gas, Chief Engineer HDIP and All Pakistan CNG Association. 

The event was chaired by Chairman OGRA, Mr. Masroor Khan, alongside Member Oil and Finance. In his address, Mr. Khan emphasized the importance of safety in CNG Sector and said that  he was part of the discussions before the start of CNG station in year 1995. “This sector is very close to my heart and I would like to say that the sector has initially faced many safety issues but has improved quite well”.

The other speakers including DG (Gas), Member (Oil) OGRA, Chief Engineer HDIP and the representatives of CNG sector have also shared their views. The primary objective of the seminar was to create awareness among stakeholders about the challenges and efforts taken for safety improvement at CNG Stations as well as in the CNG vehicles.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 17: The Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA) on Monday challenged the incumbent government’s amendments to the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in the capital’s high court.

The petition argues that the Peca Amendment Act was an “attack on press freedom” and requests a judicial review. The petitioner’s lawyer also urged the court to form a larger bench to hear the case.

The petition argues that the appointment of an authority and tribunal under Peca falls under government jurisdiction. It further states that the Peca Amendment Act 2025 violates Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution.

The petition further claims that the law grants the government unlimited censorship powers, severely infringes on digital rights and that the regulatory authority under Peca has no constitutional standing.

Acting IHC Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar directed that the case be linked with other pending petitions before Justice Inam Amin Minhas. He further stated that Justice Minhas would decide on the request for a larger bench.

During the hearing, the acting chief justice inquired about the schedule for the case, to which Advocate Mian Samiuddin responded that the case before Justice Minhas had been postponed for two weeks.

The development comes after the ruling coalition bulldozed the controversial amendments in the National Assembly and the Senate. Opposition parties, journalists and media bodies decried the lack of consultation before the passing of the amendments.

The law, which has now come into effect following President Asif Ali Zardari’s assent, provisions new definitions, the establishment of regulatory and investigative bodies, and stricter penalties for disseminating “false” information.

The new amendments lowered the punishment for spreading “fake information” online to three years while the offender could also face a fine of up to Rs2 million.

The new amendments also proposed the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Social Media Protection Tribunal.

Furthermore, it stated, that any person “aggrieved by fake and false information” can approach the authority for removal or blocking access to such information and the authority would issue orders no later than 24 hours on the request.

The fresh changes also stated that the authority might require any social media platform to enlist with it in any manner, form and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

Additionally, the new amendments also proposed the constitution of a Social Media Complaint Council to receive and process complaints made by aggrieved parties against violation of any provision of the cybercrime law.

It also proposed the establishment of Social Media Protection Tribunals that will resolve cases within 90 days, with appeals allowed to the Supreme Court within 60 days.