Minister for adopting interactive teaching style

LAHORE

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Prof Ahsan Iqbal has said that we must reject the elements fanning pessimism and move forward with the message of hope.

Prof Ahsan Iqbal also said it was an era of knowledge economy and there was a need to change our traditional teaching style which had become redundant and adopt interactive teaching style that could create critical thinking among students. He said all the investment would be withdrawn by the investors if there was any political turmoil in the country as all those countries progressed where there was continuation of policies. He said Corps Commanders of Pakistan Army were safeguarding the boundaries of Pakistan very well, adding the Corps Commanders of the development of the country were the Vice-Chancellors of the universities.

He was addressing a big gathering at Punjab University’s Faisal Auditorium here on Tuesday. PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, deans of faculties, heads of departments and a large number of students were present on the occasion. 

The minister said the 20th century belonged to political ideologies but the standards of development had changed in 21st century and now the development of a country depended upon three things, including how surplus was the production of the country i.e. the economic development; whether the development was inclusive and all the areas and segments of society were benefiting from the development and what was the competitiveness of the country? 

He said youth was Pakistan’s biggest power, adding if they were given quality education, they would become the largest driving force for development of the country. He said universities must create skills among students, produce world-class research, bridge gap between academia and industry, work for community uplift and play role for eradication of extremism from society. He said the academic environment of Punjab University had improved manifold and it was hoped that PU would lead in all these matters. He said annual budget of HEC was Rs48 billion in 2013 and now the government had increased it to Rs78 billion. He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was the backbone of country’s development and the energy crisis would end by 2017-18. In his address, PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran lauded Prof Ahsan Iqbal for extending all-out support to the universities. He said because of special attention of Prof Ahsan Iqbal, Rs840 million were given to Punjab University in 2014-15 session for various academic and development projects. He said that PU would also get Rs1 billion for its mega project related to environment and energy. Earlier, the federal minister inaugurated newly setup Cluster Centre at New Campus and visited Centre for Coal Technology.

dengue: Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital (PGMI/LGH) Principal Prof Khalid Mahmood has said all the patients suffering from dengue fever have recovered and left the hospital. The same record would be maintained during the current year and all the preparations regarding eradication of dengue are completed. He expressed these views while chairing a high meeting at Committee Room of LGH on Tuesday which was attended by Prof Agha Shabbir Ali, Prof Saima Ameer, MS Dr Niaz Ahmed, in charges of different departments, administrative doctors and nursing administration, according to a press release. Prof Khalid Mahmood said staff deputed at dengue counters at emergency ward be available at their duty round the clock. The same facility would also be ensured at outdoor from 8am to 8pm daily. He directed the sanitary inspectors and AMS concerned to keep close eye on cleanliness in their deputed areas and try to address the reasons of unhygienic conditions. He said cleanliness is the most effective tool to thwart menace of dengue. The principal said that as many as 14 training workshops regarding dengue were conducted at LGH during last year wherein 426 doctors and nurses attained training. 

experts: An eight members delegation of experts of Istanbul Municipality (ISTACH) called on Managing Director, Lahore Waste Management Company, (LWMC) and discussed matters about rehabilitation of Mehmood Booti dumpsite. The LWMC officials said the meeting discussed the possibility how to utilise the trapped gas at dumpsite, conversion of Mehood Booti dumpsite into recreational park and most importantly, the operationalisation of newly-constructed Pakistan’s first ever scientific disposal site at Lakhodair that would help handle 2500 tons of waste in Lahore on daily basis and resultantly help reduce environmental hazards for citizens of Lahore. 

Turkish delegation comprising Fatih Peker, Ms Sibel Tokel, Aydin Baran, Ms Hacer Ak, Cevher Ak, Muammer Sener, Yavuz Ilter and Yener Gudekli were briefed by LWMC senior officials. The delegates expressed satisfaction over standard and quality of construction of landfill site and hoped it would soon be made functional under their supervision.