College educators stage demonstration

LAHORE: Dozens of teachers from different public colleges of the provincial metropolis on Tuesday protested against the Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab for what they termed its unjust policies and indifferent attitude towards college teachers.

On the call of Punjab Professors & Lecturers Association (PPLA) the teachers had gathered outside Punjab Civil Secretariat. Carrying placards and banners they highlighted their demands which included service and pay protection, swift promotions and five-tier promotion formula as being followed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Abdul Khaliq Nadeem, PPLA Central President, Lahore chapter president Prof Tauseef Sadiq and others were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, a PPLA delegation led by its president also held a meeting with Punjab Higher Education Minister Raja Yasir Humayun and informed him of college teachers’ concerns. The minister assured the delegation that their genuine issues would certainly be addressed on priority basis. He said input of the teachers would be sought vis-à-vis education reforms. He said teachers who were under pressure could not perform well owing to which the PTI government was all for addressing their genuine concerns. A PPLA official said like Lahore similar demonstrations were held at district level across the province. He said the call for protest scheduled for March 26 outside Punjab Assembly was not withdrawn yet.

KEMU: The newly-elected President of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) Prof Tariq Iqbal Bhutta and Vice-President Prof Aamer Zaman Khan visited King Edward Medical University (KEMU) and addressed the faculty.

On this occasion, KEMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Khalid Masud Gondal threw light on the historical achievements of the institution and briefed the guests about recently completed projects and ongoing projects.

Prof Tariq said KEMU was a role model for all the medical institutions. The standardised system under the supervision of undergraduate medical education and postgraduate levels will provide the best doctor to the nation. We are making the arrangements for online registration and other certifications of doctors on priority basis, said Tariq. Prof Aamer said with the mutual cooperation and coordination of medical institutions we would improve the training system and medical education according the international standards.