Islamabad/Karachi, APR 26: /DNA/ – The National Curriculum Review Committee (NCRC) has reviewed the curricula of undergraduate and graduate degree programmes in the discipline of Environmental Science.

The draft, developed in line with the HEC undergraduate and graduate education policies, reflects the latest advancements and trends in the field of Environmental Science and will now be considered by the HEC management before its dissemination to the universities for implementation.        

HEC conducted the three-day consultative meeting of NCRC from 23 to 25 April 2024 at its Regional Centre, Karachi with Prof. Dr. Sardar Khan in the chair. He is a distinguished fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) and a former Vice Chancellor of Kohat University of Science and Technology.        

Mr. Muhammad Ali Baig, Deputy Director HEC, who is Secretary of the NCRC, highlighted the HEC initiatives regarding promotion of quality education, development of curricula, and the curricula review process. He shed light on the imperatives of promoting environmental education to make the Pakistani youth adept at navigating and mitigating the pressing environmental challenges, both locally and globally. He underscored the importance of developing comprehensive curricula for degree programmes in the discipline of Environmental Science, integrating interdisciplinary courses, capstone project, and internship. He said the purpose of having such comprehensive curricula is to ensure that the graduates have the capability of elucidating theoretical frameworks, implementing practical methodologies, and spearheading initiatives crucial for preserving earth’s ecological integrity.

The NCRC has representation from the higher education institutions across Pakistan. Notable participants included chairpersons, heads, and representatives from Quaid-i-Azam University, University of Karachi, University of Peshawar, University of the Punjab, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University, Sindh Agriculture University, University of Swat, University of Sindh, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Government College University Lahore and Government College University Faisalabad.

ISLAMABAD, APR 26 (DNA): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to attend a special meeting of the World Economic Forum on “Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development” in Riyadh on April 28-29.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in her weekly press briefing, told the media that the prime minister, accompanied by Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, would travel to the Kingdom at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

She said that the high-level participation in the Forum would provide an opportunity to highlight Pakistan’s priorities in global health architecture, inclusive growth, regional collaboration and balance between growth and energy consumption, besides interacting with the participating world leaders and heads of international orgnisations.

The prime minister will visit Gambia to attend the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference under the slogan “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development,” on May 4-5, 2024 in Banjul, the capital city of Gambia.

The OIC summit is being held at a critical time when the Israeli atrocities in Gaza continued unabated where the Muslim world leaders will deliberate on the situation in Palestine.

She said that Prime Minister Shehbaz would express Pakistan’s grave concern on genocide in Gaza, advocate for their right to self-determination, the imperative of solidarity, besides deliberating on Islamophobia, terrorism, and the challenges faced by the world, particularly the Muslim world.

The prime minister will also hold bilateral meetings with the Muslim world leaders.

The OIC Summit will be preceded by the preparatory meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers on May 2-3 to be attended by Foreign Minister Dar, who will also hold bilateral meetings.

The spokesperson told the media that Pakistan was witnessing a surge in provocative statements from the Indian leaders asserting unwarranted claims on the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Pakistan rejects the Indian claims as fueled by hyper-nationalism with inflammation rhetoric, such claims pose threats to regional peace and stability.

She urged the Indian politicians to cease the practice of dragging Pakistan into their internal discourse aimed at gaining electoral motives.

She said that despite Indian rhetoric and assertions, IIOJK remained an internationally recognized disputed territory as the UN Security Council’s resolutions clearly outlined that final status would be determined by the will of the Kashmiri people through a free plebiscite.

“India would be wise to help implement those resolutions instead of harboring delusion of grandeur,” she remarked.

The spokesperson also condemned the ongoing vilification, stigmatization and victimization of Muslims and other minorities in India.

To a question, Spokesperson Baloch said currently, there was no back channel diplomacy going on between Pakistan and India to normalize bilateral trade.

Apprising the media of the visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, she said during the interactions, both sides agreed to strengthen economic and cultural cooperation, turn the bilateral borders into borders of peace and cooperation, fast-track the negotiations on Free Trade Agreement and release each other’s prisoners.

Asked about the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project, she said it was discussed during President Raisi’s visit and also featured in the joint statement. She said Pakistan had significant energy needs and was exploring options for its import.

She said Pakistan had noted the statements from the US authorities about the Pakistan-Iran trade and was engaged with the US and discussed all aspects of the energy needs.

She told the media that a high-level delegation of China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) led by Chairman Luo Zhaohui visited Pakistan and met Prime Minister Shehbaz and other leadership wherein both sides agreed to accelerate the projects being executed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Highlighting the situation in Gaza and the discovery of two mass graves, Spokesperson Baloch called for investigation and fixing of responsibility for the Israeli war crimes, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, lifting of the siege and unhindered access to humanitarian aid.

Coming to the US Country Report on Human Rights Practices, the spokesperson reiterates the rejection as it had flawed methodology.

ISLAMABAD, APR 24: /DNA/ – Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar held telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of United Arab Emirates to express deepest sympathy on the devastation caused by recent torrential rains. He commended the leadership of the UAE for the swift, efficient and timely administrative response to this natural calamity. They also exchanged views on matters of bilateral as well as global significance.

Govt should issue befitting, solid response to US administration threatening statement 

ISLAMABAD: /DNA/ – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lashed out at the puppet government for its silence over the US’s warning of imposing sanctions against Pakistan for doing business with Iran, which raised many questions and urged the Foreign Office to issue a befitting, solid and unambiguous response on the issue as the nation would not compromise on its sovereignty, autonomy and national integrity come what may. 

PTI Spokesperson, in a strongly-worded statement on Wednesday, expressed deep concerns over the silence of the Pakistani government and the Foreign Office over the US State Department’s threatening statement pertaining to the Pak-Iran mutual economic cooperation and said that the FO’s silence on the issue raised several important questions about the puppet government’s foreign strategy.

He said that the government devoid of public support and mandate did not have the courage and capability to adopt a solid strategy regarding the sovereignty and independent foreign policy of Pakistan.

He said that being a free and sovereign state, Pakistan had full authority to chalk out an independent foreign policy based on its national interests, adding that making defence and autonomy of Pakistan inviolable through independent foreign policy was the topmost agenda of the PTI Founding Chairman Imran Khan.

He said that Imran Khan had taken all possible measures to promote cordial relations with all countries by following the principle of mutual cooperation.

PTI Spokesperson lamented that Imran Khan was being punished for his stance of Haqeeqi Azadi of the nation, adding that public expressed full confidence in PTI by giving overwhelming mandate on February 8 to make Pakistan self-reliance state; however, mandate thieves were imposed on the nation fraudulently.

He noted that the silence on the recent statement after the failure of the federal government to adopt a clear cut policy on the US administration’s sanctions on entities supplying items for Pakistani missile program was tantamount to jeopardizing the country’s security and sovereignty.

PTI Spokesperson sought an explanation from the Pakistani government on the situation related to the American statement and demanded that the FO to give a strong response to the US administration’s threatening statement because Pakistan was an independent sovereign country.

LONDON, APR 24 (DNA): Recently unveiled study of London’s Imperial College on smoking titled “Tobacco’s global environment footprint” finds major tobacco production in under-developed countries which is matter of grave concern.

Citing the study, Dr Aftab Madni, Dean of the Indus University said, “Almost 90% of all tobacco production is concentrated in the developing world”.

As per study, out of the 10 tobacco producing countries, nine are developing which include four low-income food deficit countries (LIFDCs). “Pakistan falls in the category of LIFDCs,” he said.

Dr Aftab Madni said concerning was the fact that easy availability of cigarettes has become a cause for these people to fall deeper in poverty.

He said the amount that they spend on buy cigarettes can be spent on food and other essential items. He said Capital Calling has mentioned that there is a need for the country to follow the WHO guidelines taxing tobacco.

The Dean Indus University said similarly PIDE, a government-run research institute, has reported that there are 24 million active smokers in the country.

He said the institute has reviled that, “The total costs attributable to all smoking-related diseases and deaths in Pakistan for 2019 are Rs 615.07 billion ($3.85 billion), and the indirect costs (morbidity and mortality) make up 70 percent of the total cost. The total smoking-attributable costs are 1.6 percent of the GDP, whereas the smoking-attributable costs of cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are 1.15 percent of the GDP.”

Dr Madni said that according to some reports, 337500 Pakistanis have lost their lives because of smoking.

He said these statistics are reason enough for the government to increase taxes on tobacco products. He also said that Pakistan has lost Rs 567 billion just to facilitate two Multinational Cigarette companies in last seven years.

ISLAMABAD, APR 24 (DNA) —The book on ‘Physics and Cosmology’ written by former CSP officer Sardar Irshad Shaheen was launched on Wednesday here at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).

The book talks about creation of the universe in the light of science and philosophical spirituality, and has been published in the United States, a news release said.  Sardar Shaheen, a CSP, worked in the Inland Revenue Service, FBR and he was also appointed as Advisor to Federal Tax Mohtasib. He claims that right from his school days, he was inquisitive about writing about nature, the universe and life.

The book launch was participated by notables of the federal capital and included senior parliamentarian Farhatullah Babar and former Inspector General of Police and Chairman One-man Commission on Minorities’ Rights, Dr Shoaib Suddle.

The book is a thoroughly researched work, citing over 800 references, and talks at length about the emergence of the universe, concepts in science as well as ways and beliefs held by different religions.

But the author has exclusively penned it not on the premise of religion but on what science has to say on the creation and sustenance of the universe, and the concept in the unitary of Almighty.

 This is why the book frequently quotes the Holy Quran in relevance of thought process, and not as a religio-motivational aspect.

 It refers to Sufism and the teachings of the holy men and carves out rationality in the limelight of science and practical theories. It did not ever refer to religion as a word or concept, but glued itself to spirituality, per se. The trend of mysticism in the West, he said, evaluates it from the perspective of Quantum theory, and draws parallels between the East and West based on scientific theories.

 He exclusively quoted the sermons of Imam Hussain ibn Ali in ‘Miratul Arifeen’, which go on to establish the origin of the universe and the existence of the Almighty.  He also referred to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who narrated the existence of God in Hadees-e-Qudsi, saying, “HE was there since time immemorial, and made Himself known as he wanted his Manifestations to be known…”

The book explores the interconnectedness between modern physics and mystical cosmology. It delves into the works of prominent figures such as German philosopher Hegel and Muslim mystic philosopher Ibn-al Arabi, highlighting their profound insights into the nature of existence and the universe.

The introductory chapter outlines a chronological journey through key scientific theories like the Big Bang theory, the expansion of the universe, and the formation of galaxies, while also delving into Sufi perspectives on creation and the relationship between humanity and the cosmos.

The text aims to bridge the gap between science, philosophy, and spirituality, offering a thought-provoking exploration of the fundamental questions surrounding human existence and the universe.  Through a synthesis of diverse disciplines and perspectives, the book sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the intricate connections between science and spirituality at deeper levels. — DNA