National

Way forward for TTS school hangs in steadiness as HEC revises coverage for monetary constraints

Published

2 months ago

January 26, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The over 4000 professors of public sector universities, employed underneath Tenure Observe System (TTS) of Greater Training Fee (HEC) at the moment are frightened about their future because the HEC has revised the coverage of TTS for monetary constraints.

By means of the revised funding coverage shared with all universities, HEC has knowledgeable that it will be unable to fund any new TTS program for monetary/grants constraints.

“HEC will be unable to offer funds towards TTS owing to severe monetary limitations. Nevertheless, universities could undertake TTS hiring and prepare funds from their very own sources,” HEC made it clear to all universities which wish to begin the TTS and recruit school underneath this program.

Because the TTS program was initiated by HEC and it was bearing a share of the engaging packages supplied underneath this program, the colleges, as feared by professors, would exploit the lecturers by varied means.

An workplace bearer of All Pakistan Tenure Observe School Affiliation (APTTA) claimed that by means of the brand new coverage, it’s feared that HEC goes to finally cease this system, which based on him, has been very profitable as in comparison with the present primary pay scale (BPS) system when it comes to analysis, growth and advance research within the universities.

In response to him, underneath the direct management of universities, school members underneath the TTS system could be exploited by discount in salaries and different perks supplied underneath this system by HEC whereas sharing a significant portion of the bundle of TTS school with universities.

The APTTA, which is the consultant physique of over 4000 TTS professors throughout the nation, is scheduled to carry a press convention over the brand new concern on Friday as they’re now frightened about not solely their salaries and different perks but in addition promotions and way forward for this system.

As per the brand new coverage the fee will be unable to offer funds to new TTS applications owing severe monetary limitations. Nevertheless, universities, which wish to begin this system, could undertake TTS hiring and prepare funds from their very own sources.

In response to an official spokesperson of HEC, if universities put together their price range in such a means that there’s some cushion to permit them to recruit school on TTS, they could achieve this.

“This doesn’t imply they’re allowed to alter TTS Statutes ready by HEC. The High quality Assurance division of HEC has a watch on these by means of institutional efficiency analysis,” the spokesperson stated whereas replying to a question about assurance about following the TTS statute by the colleges initiating the TTS program.

As per the coverage the colleges not receiving HEC recurring funding however getting TTS funds would get capped TTS funds. Funding over and above the prescribed ceiling shall not be attainable. Moreover, for these universities/HEIs that are receiving HEC annual recurring funding and TTS grant the ceiling for TTS grant has been prescribed and merged into the annual recurring allocation.

“It’s a undeniable fact that HEC’s funding has been stagnant since 2917-18. Final 12 months the federal government elevated the wage bundle of TTS. HEC allowed a rise and supplied funds to your complete current TTS school and capped the ceiling, which means HEC is constrained to offer any further funds on this regard,” the HEC spokesperson claimed.

By means of the brand new coverage, HEC claims, the fee will proceed offering funds to your complete current school. Nevertheless in future HEC could not present funds for recruitment of recent TTS school till funding improves.

In reply to a question, the HEC official claimed that the fee would take motion in case any college violates the TTS statute of HEC even when the college doesn’t get funding for this system. Universities ought to solely begin the TTS recruitment when they can fulfil all necessities of this system clearly talked about within the statute.

National

Alvi emphasises significance of oral hygiene in stopping 95pc of ailments

Published

6 mins ago

March 20, 2023

Pakistaneo.com

ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi emphasised the significance of oral hygiene in stopping ailments in his message to the nation on World Oral Well being Day. He stated that 95 % of ailments will be prevented by adopting the follow of cleansing the mouth twice a day with a toothbrush or twig.

Highlighting the importance of oral cleanliness in Islam, the president talked about that the prophet used to steadily clear his mouth and enamel. He additionally quoted a hadith saying that cleanliness is taken into account half of religion in Islam and emphasised that 21 hadiths in Sahih Bukhari stress the significance of cleansing and utilizing twigs.

Moreover, Dr. Alvi warned in regards to the risks of betel nut, which may trigger oral most cancers and urged individuals to keep away from it. He emphasised that oral ailments are troublesome and costly to deal with, however will be prevented by correct oral hygiene.

ALVI URGES MODERN WAYS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

In the meantime, President Alvi urged the necessity for a visionary method to increased schooling in Pakistan, bearing in mind the huge potential of the nation’s youth.

Talking on the fifth Vice-Chancellors’ Discussion board of Universities within the Islamic world in Islamabad, he careworn the significance of adopting know-how to maintain up with the fast-changing world.

Minister for Federal Training Rana Tanveer Hussain echoed the president’s views, emphasising the function of universities in growing abilities and addressing the challenges of the fashionable world.

He additionally referred to as for the creation of a framework for mutual recognition of levels amongst OIC member states to reinforce cooperation and facilitate the motion of expert manpower.

The Discussion board, which has introduced collectively over 250 vice-chancellors, together with forty from twenty OIC nations, goals to advertise collaboration and dialogue between universities within the Islamic world.

It additionally seeks to share experiences, pool sources, and strengthen networks to form the way forward for increased schooling within the area.

National

Naqvi warns of stern response to future PTI ‘assaults’ on police

Published

1 hour ago

March 20, 2023

Pakistaneo.com

— Interim authorities constitutes JIT to probe violent clashes between police and supporters of Imran Khan

LAHORE: The caretaker authorities of Mohsin Naqvi in Punjab has shaped a joint investigation staff (JIT) to analyze the alleged torture of police personnel by the hands of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters in Lahore over the previous week.

Saying the choice in a press convention on Monday, the interim chief minister additionally warned the opposition social gathering of former prime minister Imran Khan that any “future mistreatment” of legislation enforcement officers can be met with an “equal response.”

Intermittent clashes between Khan’s supporters and Punjab police and paramilitary Rangers personnel have erupted over the previous few weeks.

The clashes started when Islamabad police tried to arrest Khan at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore in reference to the Toshakhana case. PTI supporters resisted the arrest, leading to a number of accidents among the many police personnel.

One other conflict erupted on Saturday when legislation enforcement businesses raided Khan’s home in his absence. PTI employees reportedly clashed with police whereas attempting to cease them from getting into the home.

Naqvi expressed concern over the “mistreatment” of legislation enforcement officers and warned that the police will now reply to any mistreatment equally. He additionally famous that the police had been unable to implement courtroom orders as a result of their lack of ability to enter the home.

Naqvi additionally criticised Khan’s “behaviour” and threatened to withdraw the safety the federal government supplied if he continues to verbally abuse police personnel. He declared that the police couldn’t defend somebody who mistreated them and anticipated the identical drive to safeguard them.

He additional mentioned he had given full powers to the provincial police chief, Usman Anwar, to do what he deemed applicable, and that no political social gathering had reacted as aggressively as PTI throughout its protest.

Naqvi additionally assured the police that authorized motion can be taken wherever mandatory and warned that anybody resorting to violence would face a stern response. He introduced that the caretaker authorities would write a letter to the Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP) concerning the matter.

Moreover, Naqvi introduced compensation for injured police personnel, with Rs100,000 for minor accidents and Rs500,000 for main accidents.

National

Dammed thirsty: the cross-border battle for water

Published

4 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Pakistaneo.com

PARIS: With half the world experiencing water shortage for no less than a part of the 12 months, the large dams being constructed by some nations to spice up their energy provides whereas their neighbours go parched are a rising supply of potential battle.

Forward of a UN convention in New York on world entry to water, AFP appears at 5 mega-projects with very totally different penalties, relying on whether or not you reside upstream or downstream.

MEGA-DAM ON THE NILE

The waters of Africa’s longest river, the Nile, are on the centre of a decade-long dispute between Ethiopia — the place the Nile’s largest tributary, the Blue Nile, rises — and its downstream neighbours Sudan and Egypt.

In 2011, Addis Ababa launched a $4.2 billion hydroelectric challenge on the river, which it sees as important to lighting up rural Ethiopia.

Sudan and Egypt, nonetheless, see the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as a menace to their water provides — Egypt alone depends on the Nile for about 97 p.c of its irrigation and ingesting water.

Ethiopia has insisted the dam won’t disturb the stream of water and turned on the primary turbine in February 2020.

IRAQI, SYRIAN THIRST

Lengthy used to drilling for oil, war-scarred Iraq is now digging ever deeper for water as a frenzy of dam-building, primarily in Turkey, sucks water out of the area’s two nice rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates.

Turkey launched the development of a big complicated of dams and hydroelectric crops throughout the southeast within the Eighties.

In 1990 it accomplished the large Ataturk Dam on the Euphrates River, simply 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Syria’s border.

Extra not too long ago, in 2019, the traditional city of Hasankeyf on the Tigris was submerged to make method for the huge Ilisu Dam.

Iraq and Syria say Turkey’s dam-building has resulted in a drastic discount of the water flowing via their lands.

Baghdad recurrently asks Ankara to launch extra water to counter drought, however Turkey’s ambassador to Iraq, Ali Riza Guney, ruffled feathers final July when he stated, “water is essentially wasted in Iraq”.

Syria’s Kurds in the meantime have accused their arch-foe Turkey of weaponising the Euphrates, accusing it of intentionally holding again water to spark a drought, which Ankara denies.

CHINA’S MEKONG DAM SPREE

China is a frenetic dam builder, setting up 50,000 dams within the Yangtze basin up to now 70 years — together with the notorious Three Gorges.

However it’s China’s tasks on the Mekong River, which rises in China and twists south via Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam, that the majority alarm its neighbours.

The Mekong feeds greater than 60 million individuals via its basin and tributaries.

Washington has blamed China’s actions for inflicting extreme droughts in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

In 2019, the US monitor Eyes on Earth revealed satellite tv for pc imagery displaying the dams in China holding “above-average pure stream”.

Beijing insists its reservoirs assist to keep up the steadiness of the river, by storing water within the wet season and releasing it within the dry season.

WATER RIVALRY IN KASHMIR

The Indus River is likely one of the longest on the Asian continent, reducing via ultra-sensitive borders within the area, together with the demarcation between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in Kashmir.

The 1960 Indus Water Treaty theoretically shares out water between the 2 nations however has been fraught with disputes.

Pakistan has lengthy feared that India, which sits upstream, may limit its entry, adversely affecting its agriculture. And India has threatened to take action from time to time.

In an indication of the tensions, the arch-rivals have constructed duelling energy crops alongside the banks of the Kishanganga River, which flows into an Indus tributary.

TENSIONS ON RIO PARANA

The Itaipu hydroelectric plant, located on the Parana River on the Brazil-Paraguay border, has typically been the supply of tensions between the 2 co-owner nations.

One of many two hydroelectricity crops that produce essentially the most energy on the planet, alongside China’s Three Gorges, had its vitality shared out underneath a 1973 treaty.

However Paraguay demanded extra and ultimately acquired thrice more cash from Brazil, which makes use of 85 p.c of the electrical energy produced.

In 2019, a brand new deal on the sale of energy from Itaipu almost introduced down Paraguay’s authorities, with consultants arguing it could scale back Paraguay’s entry to low-cost energy.

The 2 nations promptly cancelled the deal.