nspp conducts 5th
| |

NSPP conducts 5th three-day directors’ training …

 

LAHORE: The Executive Development Institute (EDI) of the National School of Public Policy (NSPP), Lahore, successfully conducted the fifth course of its three-day Directors’ Training Program (DTP) for State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) from August 19 to 21, 2026. The training initiative was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and focused on enhancing corporate governance, leadership and institutional performance within SOEs.

A total of 21 participants from across Pakistan attended the program, representing federal and provincial governments as well as the private sector. Participants included officials and executives from the Ministry of Industries and Production, SECP, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan Airports Authority, NESPAK, PASSCO, Northern Power Generation Company Limited, WAPDA, Water and Sanitation Services Company Haripur, Punjab Mineral Company, Punjab Police, Universal Service Fund, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center, and Lahore Development Authority.

Rector NSPP Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of strengthening corporate governance through quality professional training. He said the program aimed to establish a new benchmark in governance training with the support of SECP. He also emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability and responsible leadership in public-sector organizations.

Dr. Naveed Elahi, Dean EDI, provided an overview of the training program and explained its focus on improving SOE governance and performance through effective leadership. He said the course addressed contemporary governance requirements, including directors’ legal responsibilities, board effectiveness, risk management and ethical decision-making. He encouraged participants to actively engage in case studies, simulations, discussions and networking opportunities throughout the training.

The program featured a distinguished panel of guest speakers, including Mr. Abdul Rehman Warraich former SECP Commissioner; Dr. Ishrat Hussain, former Advisor to the Prime Minister; Mr. Kashif Ahmad Noor Military Accountant General; Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja, Rector NSPP/DG CSA; Dr. Irum Saba Director, IBA Karachi; Mr. Muhammad Anwar Sheikh retired Federal Additional Secretary, Finance Division; Mr. Mairaj A. Ariff, former Director General, NIPA Quetta; Dr. Kashif Zafar Dean-SST, UMT Lahore; Mr. Imtiaz Mahmood Company Secretary, SNGPL; Mr. Tariq Bajwa former Governor State Bank of Pakistan and Ex-SAPM on Finance; and Mr. Salman Amin Member, Competition Commission of Pakistan.

The three-day course covered a wide range of topics, including principles of corporate governance, SOE reforms and legal frameworks, government stewardship, directors’ selection and performance evaluation, external and internal audits, audit committees, organizational culture, Islamic finance, financial risk governance, public service obligations, competitive neutrality, business planning, cybersecurity, digitization, reporting and disclosure, board composition and structure, as well as board simulations and case studies.

During the closing session, Rector NSPP thanked the participants for their active participation and valuable contributions. He also appreciated the efforts of the Dean EDI and his team in successfully organizing the program. Participants showed keen interest throughout the course and actively participated in question-and-answer sessions.

At the conclusion of the training, Rector NSPP, along with the Dean EDI, distributed certificates among the participants, formally marking the successful completion of the fifth Directors’ Training Program for State-Owned Enterprises.

Similar Posts

  • | |

    PML-N can end AJK’s deprivations: Marryium Auran…

    Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) can help address the longstanding deprivations faced by Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). She made the remarks while addressing a PML-N rally in Rawalpindi. She also urged party workers to actively support PML-N candidates and work for their success. Marryium Aurangzeb said the PML-N had delivered development projects across Punjab. She rejected criticism that the provincial government had focused only on Lahore. She said roads and other infrastructure had been developed in cities across Punjab. She asked critics to visit different parts of the province and assess the development work themselves. The senior minister also challenged the opposition to present similar development projects instead of criticising the government. She referred to the motorway projects built during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure. She also mentioned the metro bus services introduced during Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure. “Do not just complain. Build a motorway like Nawaz Sharif did,” she said. She added that critics should also demonstrate their ability to provide public transport services similar to those introduced under Shehbaz Sharif. Marryium Aurangzeb highlighted development initiatives in Azad Kashmir as well. She said green buses were now operating on the roads of Muzaffarabad. She also praised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s housing programme. She said the provincial government had provided homes to around 200,000 people through the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” initiative during the first 18 months. The senior minister also highlighted the government’s education programmes. She said 100,000 children had received laptops under the provincial government’s laptop scheme. She added that 50,000 students had been awarded Honhaar scholarships. According to Marriyum Aurangzeb, these initiatives were aimed at supporting students and creating better educational opportunities for young people. She said the PML-N had a record of development and public welfare projects. She urged party workers to remain united and campaign actively for the party’s candidates. Marryium Aurangzeb maintained that the PML-N could play an important role in addressing the grievances of the people of AJK and bringing development to the region.

  • | | |

    PSX surges 5,335 points as investor confidence str…

    Stock Exchange (PSX) recorded a strong performance during the outgoing business week, with the benchmark 100 Index gaining 5,335 points amid renewed investor confidence. The KSE-100 Index closed the week at 181,430 points, marking a significant rise from the previous level. During the week, the index traded within a range of 4,963 points, reaching a high of 182,007 points while its lowest level stood at 177,043 points. Trading activity also remained robust, with approximately 3.74 billion shares changing hands during the week at a total value of around Rs169 billion. The positive momentum was further reflected in the overall market valuation. The market capitalisation of the PSX increased by Rs482 billion over the week, reaching Rs20.237 trillion. Market sentiment remained positive as investors closely monitored developments surrounding the Iran-US conflict and signs of a possible pause in hostilities, which helped support confidence in the local equity market.

  • |

    Trump signs new executive orders seeking to restrict US birthright citizenship

    US President Donald Trump has signed two new executive orders aimed at restricting birthright citizenship, five weeks after a 6-3 Supreme Court decision rejected his administration’s broader attempt to end automatic citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. The newly issued directives attempt a narrower approach by targeting specific exceptions under the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment. The primary focus of the orders is a total ban on birth tourism, a practice where pregnant foreign nationals travel to the US to give birth so their children acquire automatic citizenship. The directives also place restrictions on children born in the US to foreign government employees, foreign combatants classified as alien enemies, and residents of US territories pending potential congressional legislation. Speaking alongside White House aides Stephen Miller and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during an Oval Office ceremony, Trump criticised the high court’s prior 30 June ruling and argued that non-citizens were taking advantage of constitutional protections established following the Civil War. Legal experts and civil rights advocacy organisations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and UnidosUS, noted that the executive actions do not carry the authority of statutory law and will face immediate challenges in federal court for attempting to bypass constitutional precedent and Supreme Court authority.

  • | |

    Trump faces awkward moment as Epstein letter repor…

    WASHINGTON: An uncomfortable chapter in the long-running controversy surrounding President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein returned to the spotlight after journalists whose reporting brought an alleged birthday letter linked to the two men into public view were honored at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The moment came during the rescheduled annual dinner on July 24, where Trump was present as The Wall Street Journal received the inaugural Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability for its investigative reporting on his past relationship with Epstein. The award recognized the Journal’s reporting on a controversial letter allegedly written by Trump for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. Trump has denied writing the letter and has strongly disputed the newspaper’s account. The report nevertheless triggered renewed public attention on Trump’s past association with Epstein and contributed to wider scrutiny of documents connected to the late financier. What made the award particularly striking was Trump’s presence in the room. According to reports from the event, Trump briefly congratulated the journalists as they received the honor. His reaction attracted attention because he had previously threatened legal action against the Journal over its Epstein reporting. The dinner itself had already been surrounded by unusual circumstances. The original White House Correspondents’ Association gathering in April was disrupted by a shooting incident, forcing the event to be postponed. The rescheduled dinner took place in July under heightened security measures. Trump also used his speech to take several pointed shots at journalists and political opponents, continuing his frequently combative relationship with the American press. The event nevertheless maintained its traditional role of honoring journalists for investigative and public-interest reporting. The Epstein controversy remains politically sensitive in the United States. Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while facing sex-trafficking charges, had social and professional connections with numerous prominent people. The release and examination of documents related to his activities have repeatedly generated political controversy. For Trump, the latest episode creates an unusual image: a president sitting in the audience as journalists he has publicly challenged receive an award for reporting on one of the most politically explosive stories surrounding his past. The development is likely to keep the Epstein controversy in the headlines, particularly as questions surrounding previously unreleased documents and Trump’s historical relationship with Epstein continue to attract intense public and political scrutiny.

  • Dr. Lubna Zaheer meets Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb

    LAHORE: Chairperson, Department of Film & Broadcasting, University of the Punjab, Prof. Dr. Lubna Zaheer, held an exclusive meeting with Senior Minister Punjab Marriyum Aurangzeb. During the meeting, Dr. Lubna Zaheer briefed the Senior Minister on various academic, creative and development projects initiated by the Department of Film & Broadcasting. She highlighted the department’s initiatives to promote film education, nurture young filmmakers, encourage student-led productions and strengthen linkages between academia and the film and media industry. Dr. Lubna appreciated the efforts of the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab and Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, for taking practical steps towards the revival and development of the province’s film and media industry. She particularly acknowledged the government’s focus on creating opportunities for young filmmakers and strengthening the creative sector. Dr. Lubna also apprised the Senior Minister of the department’s ongoing and proposed projects aimed at providing students with modern production facilities, enhancing their professional skills and creating greater opportunities for emerging filmmakers. The two sides exchanged views on the development of Pakistan’s film and media sector and the role of academic institutions in promoting a vibrant and responsible creative industry. On the occasion, Dr. Lubna Zaheer presented her book سیاست سے ہٹ کر to Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

  • | |

    Naqvi makes surprise visit to NCCIA headquarters, …

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made an unannounced visit to the under-construction headquarters of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Islamabad and expressed concern over the slow pace of development work. During his inspection, Naqvi reviewed the progress of the headquarters upgrade project and questioned officials about the delays. A worker informed the minister that only nine workers were currently assigned to the site and that construction activities had remained suspended for several days. Expressing dissatisfaction over the situation, Naqvi contacted the relevant authorities on the spot and instructed them to immediately accelerate construction work. He stressed the need for timely completion of the project and directed officials to ensure that progress was maintained. The surprise inspection comes as the government seeks to strengthen the country’s institutional capacity to tackle cybercrime through the NCCIA.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *