National

KARACHI: The Sindh College Education Department has directed government colleges across the province to stop presenting traditional gifts and souvenirs to the Secretary College Education during official visits. The directive, issued on August 6, instructs the Director General Colleges and regional directors in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur and Larkana, along with principals of government colleges, to ensure that no gifts are presented to the secretary during his visits. The department has specifically prohibited the presentation of Ajrak, Sindhi caps and bouquets. It has also made clear that commemorative shields, souvenirs and other ceremonial items should not be offered. Officials have been asked to strictly follow the instructions and ensure that the directive is implemented in both letter and spirit. The department has warned that any failure to comply with the orders will be taken seriously, signalling a move away from the customary practice of presenting traditional gifts to senior officials during official visits.

MULTAN: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two passengers, including a woman, at Multan International Airport for their alleged involvement in a human trafficking network linked to sexual exploitation in Saudi Arabia. According to an FIA spokesperson, the passengers were intercepted during immigration clearance after officials noticed suspicious behavior. Both had reportedly travelled to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas. During the subsequent examination of their mobile phones and digital communications, investigators allegedly found material indicating their possible involvement in a scheme involving commercial sexual exploitation. The FIA said its preliminary investigation revealed that an agent had arranged the passengers’ travel to Saudi Arabia under the pretext of performing Umrah. Investigators suspect that the actual purpose was to subject them to commercial sexual exploitation after their arrival in the country. The agency seized the passengers’ mobile phones and other relevant material for further investigation. The two suspects, along with the recovered evidence, were subsequently transferred to the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Multan. The FIA has expanded its investigation to trace the alleged agent and identify other individuals connected to the suspected trafficking network. Officials said legal action would be taken against all those found involved in the organized operation.

LAHORE: The Lahore Sessions Court has directed Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari to appear in person and record her statement in a case involving the alleged circulation of a fake video on social media. The matter was heard by Additional Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqui, who rejected Bukhari’s request to record her statement through video link. The court ordered her to personally appear at the next hearing to record her statement. Bukhari had challenged an earlier order issued by a judicial magistrate requiring her to appear before the court in person. The case relates to allegations surrounding the circulation of a fabricated video attributed to the provincial minister. Bukhari had approached the authorities against the alleged dissemination of the video and lodged a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) against Falak Javed. The court’s latest order means Bukhari will have to appear before the Sessions Court at the upcoming hearing as proceedings in the case continue.

ISLAMABAD: Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmed has called for a major shift in Pakistan’s approach to higher education and research, saying universities must become central to the country’s economic, technological and social development. Speaking about his recent nearly two-week visit to China, Dr Niaz Ahmed said Pakistan could learn valuable lessons from China’s development model, particularly its close cooperation among universities, industry, research institutions and the government. The HEC chairman visited China with a delegation of senior vice chancellors from leading Pakistani universities on the instructions of the prime minister and at the invitation of Chinese education authorities and academic institutions. During the visit, Pakistani and Chinese universities discussed joint and dual-degree programmes, faculty and student exchanges, collaborative research and greater opportunities for Pakistani students to pursue higher education in China. He said efforts were also underway to strengthen the CPEC Consortium of Universities and establish 10 Sinology Centres in Pakistan. The Higher Education Commission has been asked to nominate 10 Pakistani universities for the initiative. Dr Niaz said his meetings with Chinese universities and research organisations showed that universities there function as more than degree-awarding institutions. They are closely connected with industry and government, helping develop new technologies, solve industrial problems, support startups and prepare skilled workers for emerging economic needs. He noted that research in China is increasingly focused on turning knowledge into practical solutions, new products and economic opportunities rather than simply increasing the number of research publications. The HEC chairman said China’s rapid progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and digital technology was particularly striking. These technologies, he observed, have moved beyond laboratories and are now being used in factories, transportation, hotels and urban services. He also highlighted China’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle industry, saying the transformation demonstrated the importance of developing technology rather than simply consuming it. According to him, countries that build their own technological capabilities will be better positioned to compete in the future. Dr Niaz attributed China’s progress not only to investment and technology but also to discipline, punctuality, hard work and a clear national vision. He said the country’s experience demonstrated how coordinated efforts by government institutions, universities, industries and citizens could produce lasting national development. Reflecting on Pakistan’s traditional focus on Western academic models, he said his visit had strengthened his belief that China offers an important Asian development experience that Pakistan should study carefully. He stressed, however, that Pakistan should adapt successful practices to its own circumstances rather than simply copy the Chinese system. The HEC chairman said Pakistani universities now needed to examine whether they were merely producing degree holders or actually developing human capital capable of contributing to the national economy. He called for curricula to be aligned with future employment needs, with greater emphasis on artificial intelligence, data science, automation and other emerging fields. Universities, he said, must also strengthen faculty capabilities and build closer relationships with industry. Dr Niaz further stressed that research should focus on solving national and industrial problems, developing technologies and creating business opportunities rather than remaining limited to academic publications. After returning from China, he said, he shared his observations with university leaders across Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and the federal capital. The objective was to encourage universities to reconsider their approaches to curriculum development, research, faculty training and industry partnerships. He said Pakistan already possesses a large network of universities, talented researchers and a young population, but these strengths need to be supported by a clear national strategy and sustained investment. “The real strength of a nation lies not only in roads, buildings and factories, but also in knowledge and human capital,” Dr Niaz said, stressing that Pakistan’s journey towards developed-country status must begin in university classrooms and research laboratories and eventually translate into stronger industries, a more productive economy and greater national prosperity.

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march planned for September 27 will focus on reaching party founder Imran Khan rather than demanding his immediate release. Speaking in an interview with private media, Afridi said he would personally lead the march and stressed that it would not be a one-day activity. He indicated that the participants would remain engaged in the movement rather than simply travelling to Islamabad and returning. Afridi said the decision to launch the march was taken after consultations with PTI leadership and representatives of the Tehreek Tahafuz Aain-e-Pakistan. He added that Aleema Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, would also participate in the campaign. Explaining the objective of the protest, the chief minister said the immediate goal was to gain access to Imran Khan, while any decision regarding his release would have to be made in accordance with the Constitution and the law. Afridi also addressed questions about announcing the march several weeks in advance. He said September 27 was selected after considering weather conditions and allowing sufficient time for preparations. The announcement comes as PTI continues to mobilise its supporters around the issue of Imran Khan’s imprisonment, with the party seeking greater political and legal pressure over his continued detention.

LAHORE: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has ordered authorities at Allama Iqbal International Airport to speed up the immigration process after passengers complained about delays during his visit to the facility. Naqvi inspected immigration counters and spoke with officials and passengers to assess how long travellers were taking to clear immigration. Several passengers told him that the process was taking around 30 minutes and urged authorities to improve arrangements. Taking immediate notice of the complaints, the minister directed airport officials to keep all immigration counters operational so that passenger queues could be cleared more quickly. He assured travellers that the additional counters would help reduce waiting times and make the process more convenient. During the visit, Naqvi also acted on a passenger’s complaint that an agent had demanded money. He referred the matter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director and ordered action against the agent. The interior minister further directed authorities not to allow passengers to travel on incomplete documents. At the same time, he stressed that travellers carrying complete and valid documents should not be unnecessarily stopped from boarding their flights. Naqvi said modern technology had made immigration procedures more efficient but warned that strict action would continue against people attempting to travel using fake or fraudulent documents. The minister’s visit comes as authorities face growing pressure to improve passenger facilitation and reduce waiting times at Pakistan’s major international airports.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is bracing for another spell of flood-related risks as heavy monsoon rains, rising river levels and high water storage at major dams put several parts of the country on alert. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), through its National Emergencies Operation Centre, has warned of possible low to moderate flooding in vulnerable areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to the latest assessment, the Indus River has already reached low flood levels at Kalabagh, Chashma, Taunsa and Guddu. While the Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum, Kabul and Sutlej are currently within normal ranges, officials expect water flows in several major rivers to increase on August 8 and 9. The NDMA has identified Sukkur on the Indus, Marala on the Chenab and Balloki on the Ravi as areas where low-level flooding could occur. The Jhelum downstream of Mangla Dam and the Kabul River near Adezai are also being closely monitored. Several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Upper Dir, Abbottabad, Shangla, Khyber, Orakzai, Kohat, Tank and North and South Waziristan, face the possibility of low to moderate flooding. In AJK, Bagh and Kotli are also considered vulnerable, while Zhob, Musakhel, Kohlu, Barkhan and Dera Bugti in Balochistan remain under watch. Punjab is facing risks from hill torrents, particularly in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur. The NDMA has also warned of possible urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Okara and Lahore. Water storage at the country’s major reservoirs remains high. Tarbela Dam’s water level has reached 1,548 feet, with storage at 97.94 per cent, compared with 95.98 per cent during the same period last year. Mangla Dam is at 1,205.2 feet, with storage recorded at 62.99 per cent, slightly above last year’s 62.80 per cent. Authorities have urged residents, tourists and travellers in mountainous and flood-prone areas to remain vigilant, as intense monsoon rainfall can trigger flash floods, landslides and debris flows with little warning. People have been advised to avoid riverbanks, streams and other vulnerable locations and to check weather forecasts and road conditions before travelling as the monsoon system continues to affect the country.