Senate seeks review of IPP deals over rising power costs

In line with the vision of the Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Honorable Chief Minister of the Punjab to promote digital transformation and innovation in higher education, the University of Okara (UO) has initiated efforts to explore the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents for academic and administrative operations. As part of this initiative, a high-level delegation comprising the Vice Chancellor of the Punjab Tianjin University of Technology (PTUT), Prof. Dr. Adeel Akram, and Chief Executive Officer of GalaxAI Solutions, Sheraz Waheed, visited the UO on Thursday. GalaxAI Solutions is an Islamabad-based technology company working on Sovereign AI infrastructure for Pakistan’s higher education sector. A meeting of the university’s academic heads and IT team was held under the chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Sajjad Mubin. During the session, the PTUT delegation delivered a comprehensive presentation on AI agents, highlighting their potential applications in admissions management, campus administration, academic support, and day-to-day institutional operations. Addressing the participants, Prof. Mubin appreciated the PTUT team for visiting the UO to share their expertise and practical insights into emerging AI technologies. He described PTUT as a rapidly progressing institution and reiterated his vision of transforming the UO into a smart university through the integration of cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Akram emphasized that AI has the potential to significantly enhance efficiency across teaching, research, governance, and administrative functions. He noted that intelligent AI agents can help universities streamline routine processes, improve decision-making, and deliver better services to students and faculty. The meeting concluded with an understanding that PTUT will submit a formal proposal for the transfer and implementation of the AI technology at the University of Okara. The proposal will be reviewed by the University’s relevant authorities and statutory bodies, and any future implementation will be subject to the completion of all required approvals.

GUJRANWALA: The Gujranwala Waste Management Company (GWMC) has dismissed 575 employees over alleged absenteeism and poor performance, while another 184 employees deputed from other government departments have been repatriated to their parent departments. The action was taken following inspections and monitoring of sanitation operations in different union councils of the district, officials said. Managing Director of the Gujranwala Waste Management Company and Suthra Punjab, Abdul Razzaq Dogar, has stepped up monitoring of sanitation arrangements and ordered action against employees found absent from duty or failing to perform their assigned responsibilities. Sources said the company had received complaints regarding poor sanitation arrangements and the alleged absence of field workers. Following the complaints, the management conducted inspections and discreet monitoring to identify employees who were either not performing their duties or were allegedly drawing salaries without proper attendance. According to sources, the alleged irregularities were causing a financial burden of around Rs25 million a month on the public exchequer. Officials said the company’s management was now carrying out surprise inspections of two to three union councils every day. During these visits, sanitation arrangements, garbage collection and attendance of workers are checked without prior notice. “Where sanitation arrangements are found unsatisfactory or employees are absent from their assigned duties, action is taken,” Mr Dogar said. The disciplinary action has also been extended to supervisory staff. Show-cause notices have been issued to 46 officers and employees over negligence, while 52 have been given formal warnings. Besides, 21 officers and employees have been transferred or posted to different union councils and tehsils as part of efforts to improve monitoring and field operations. Officials said the management was also reviewing staff working against additional positions and those considered a burden on the organisation. The objective, they said, was to ensure that the available workforce was utilised effectively and that salaries were paid only to employees performing their assigned duties. Mr Dogar said action against inefficient and non-performing elements would continue without discrimination. He said the measures were expected to reduce unnecessary expenditure and improve the performance of sanitation operations, while also helping reduce public complaints regarding garbage collection and disposal. The company has also constituted special committees to monitor the collection and disposal of waste. The committees will submit daily reports on sanitation operations, according to officials. At the union council level, Suthra Punjab teams have also been made more active and placed under closer supervision of officers. The management has directed field staff and supervisory officers to ensure regular attendance and timely removal of garbage from residential and commercial areas. The latest action is part of efforts to improve sanitation services in Gujranwala district, where complaints regarding garbage accumulation, irregular collection and poor cleanliness have remained a concern in several areas. Officials said inspections and monitoring would continue and further disciplinary action would be taken against employees found negligent or absent from duty.