Pakistan

HEC withdraws restriction on festivals after criticism

Published

11 months ago

Farwa

HEC maintains it respects all religions, faiths.
Commission says earlier order taken “out of context.”
NA speaker slams HEC’s decisions; orders reversal.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Thursday issued a notification withdrawing its recent order, directing higher education institutions to “distance themselves” from activities “incompatible with the country’s identity and societal values.”

In a notification today, the HEC maintained that it respected all religions and faiths, clarifying: “The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is highly respectful of all religions, faiths, and beliefs, and the associated festivals and celebrations observed in the country.

“The message communicated in this regard is in no way intended to hurt the sentiments of any individual or group.”

Earlier this week, a notification from the commission had earned the body people’s ire.

In a notification issued on Tuesday, the commission spoke about one such “widely reported” and “publicised” instance involving the fervour exhibited in celebrating Holi from the platform of a university, adding that it had “caused concern and has disadvantageously affected the country’s image”.

The commission’s order came in the wake of Holi celebrations held at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad, which stirred controversy across the internet, with some commending the show of diversity and others criticising the organisers for going against Islamic values.

In light of the lash back and the controversy thus created, the HEC has now stated that the previous order was “out of context”.

“The portrayed impression and disseminated connotation that HEC has banned’ celebration of any festivities is out of context to the spirit of the communication made, as HEC has emphasized upon the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country to focus upon the core reason of their existence i.e., academic excellence, research quality and harnessing the talent of the youth towards a structured, disciplined, and responsible citizen as per the nation’s ideology,” the statement read.

The notification also added: “Considering that the message inferred from the communication has regrettably led to misinterpretations, HEC is pleased to withdraw the same.”

During a national assembly session today, the NA speaker condemned the ban and ordered it immediately withdrawn.

Taking to its official Twitter handle, the NA wrote: “While taking notice regarding the ban imposed by HEC on Holi celebration in educational institutions, NA Speaker cited the Objective Resolution and the Constitution of Pakistan (1973), which acknowledge the rights of minorities and ensure freedom for all religious sects to practice their religious activities.”

Speaker issued a ruling to reverse the illegal and unconstitutional decision of the HEC, and subsequently, the Parliament will actively pursue the matter. “

Business

Price of LPG “slashed” by Rs. 20 per kilogram

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

Sources claim that LPG rates have been lowered by Rs 20, making the cost per kilogram drop from Rs 280 to Rs 260.

It is noteworthy to remark that the costs of LPG were reduced by Rs 20 per kilogram earlier, resulting in a total reduction of Rs 40 per kilogram within a few weeks.

The price of liquefied petroleum gas for the month of May 2024 was lowered by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on April 30.

The LPG tariffs were lowered by Rs 11.88 to Rs 238.46 per kilogram in accordance with the OGRA’s notice. On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the new rates will go into effect.

In April of last year, the price per kilogram of LPG was Rs 250.34. pricing reduction of Rs 140.18 has resulted in a new pricing for home LPG cylinders set for May 2024 of Rs 2813.85.

The OGRA reported a drop in liquefied petroleum gas pricing in April. The price of LPG is now Rs 250.34 per kg instead of Rs 256.78 due to a reduction of Rs 6.44 per kg.

The price of the household cylinder was fixed at Rs 2954.03 for the month of April, down from Rs 3030.12, a decrease of Rs 76.9.

Business

ADB delegation stops by FBR headquarters

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

Senior Director ADB Tariq Niazi oversaw the expedition, which also involved Sana Masood, Farzana Noshab, and Senior Public Sector Management Specialist Laisiasa Tora. The meeting included presentations from economists as well, according to an FBR press release.

The officers focused on structural and policy adjustments as they discussed the Domestic Resource Mobilization Program’s implementation at the meeting.

$300 million was given to the Pakistani government by ADB in December 2023 as a result of the hard work and dedication of FBR. Better laws, regulations, and institutional capability for the FBR were established by Sub-Program I.

With the $300 million in funding provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the Government of Pakistan in December 2023, the delegation conveyed satisfaction with the program’s effective launch.

The FBR also underlined how crucial digitization is to recording the economy and boosting productivity in a sustainable way.

In order to promote the Government of Pakistan’s Digital Tax Administration Project, both parties decided to look into measures to improve their cooperation.

Latest News

Off-duty police in Islamabad are prohibited from donning uniforms.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

The new directives, according to specifics, were sent via wireless by the federal capital police and state that no officer may wear a uniform when reporting for duty or leaving it.

According to the police official, uniforms will only be worn when on duty; otherwise, two policemen will accompany each other during duty hours and will always be required to carry guns.

A different development was the earlier release of an app by the Islamabad Police with the goal of improving crime prevention and public safety.

Launched on the orders of former Interior Minister Sarfraz Akbar Bugti, the recently released ICT-15 app aims to empower the people of the capital city by giving them the ability to actively engage in the battle against crime and protect their areas.

Residents of Islamabad can now easily download and utilize the ICT-15 app because it is easily accessible on the Google Play Store.

Citizens can report a variety of issues with this easy-to-use application, such as incidents, unlawful behavior, complaints against law enforcement, the presence of undocumented people, or any suspicious criminal activity.

The police promise quick reaction times as soon as information is reported using the app, so assistance will be provided as quickly as feasible.