Private students to be provided quality education

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has initiated a process of bringing private students to the mainstream of regular students, so that quality education for private students may be ensured.

In the third meeting of experts on distance education, which was held recently at the HEC, it was decided that initially six universities of the country will have a directorate of distance education with a cost of Rs 6.3 million and for the first year, funds will be provided by the HEC. After a year, funds will be made available into the recurring grant of the universities.

Universities selected for the purpose of establishment of directorate for Distance Education are, University of Punjab Lahore, Bahauddin Zakriya University Multan, University of Peshawar, University of Karachi, University of Sindh Jamshoro and University of Balochistan Quetta.

These universities have been selected for a pilot project on the basis of the number of private students registered. staff report

Source PakistanDailyTimes

Reform process for irrigation system being implemented

LAHORE (November 23, 2007): The Punjab government is implementing a comprehensive reforms process to improve the management and maintenance of the irrigation system to ensure its long-term physical and financial sustainability, said Punjab caretaker Irrigation Minister Syed Dilawar Abbas briefing Caretaker Chief Minister Ijaz Nisar on Thursday.

Source brecorder

18 IT projects worth Rs 4.5 billion being executed in Sindh

KARACHI (November 13, 2007): Adviser to Sindh Minister for Information Technology Muhammad Noman Saigal has said that 18 IT projects worth around Rs 4.5 billion are being executed in the province. He disclosed this while speaking with the media personnel on an inauguration ceremony of new office of IT department in Sindh Secretariat here on Monday.

Source Business Recorder

Plan being made to promote ICT, reduce piracy

ISLAMABAD (April 01, 2007): The government is implementing a programme to assist the software industry to migrate from licensed software platforms to open source solutions.

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Pakistan Naphtha Exports Up As Domestic Gasoline Demand Wanes

SINGAPORE -(Dow Jones)- Pakistan's naphtha exports more than doubled on-month in February as the country's domestic gasoline consumption continues to drop, with more vehicles converting to compressed natural gas.

Pakistan exported 104,119 metric tons of naphtha in February, up from 42,665 tons in January, according to Pakistan refinery officials.

The country exported 851,687 tons of naphtha in 2006 compared with 680,342 tons in 2005.

An official at Pakistan State Oil said the country exports naphtha to Singapore, India and to some extent, Japan.

"Traders like Trafigura are buying our naphtha, and as we cannot directly export to India, these traders buy it and sell it there," the official said.

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ITT in Air Force-Pakistan Deal

ITT Gets $78 Million Air Force Contract to Provide Pakistan With Electronics WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Air Force on Friday awarded a $78 million contract to a unit of ITT Corp. to provide integrated defense electronics for Pakistan.The electronics warfare system for F-16 aircraft will come from Clifton, N.J.-based ITT Avionics.ITT shares closed Friday at $60.32 on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Rs 200 million biotechnology project being launched

Punjab Minister for Agriculture Arshad Khan Lodhi has disclosed that a biotechnology project worth of Rs 200 million has been launched to develop new varieties of crops having maximum per acre yield. These varieties would be free from disease also, he added.

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Mobile Number Portability Arrives in Pakistan

Telenor Pakistan says that it gained the first customer who took advantage of mobile number portability when it was launched in the county last week. Syed Mehar Masood-ul-Haq changed his service from Mobilink to Telenor Pakistan.

Commenting on the move, the CEO Telenor Pakistan Tore Johnsen said, "We are happy to be the first operator to have a customer port in after MNP. MNP is significant because it makes it possible for the customers to change operators without changing their mobile numbers. It is great to know that customers have started exercising their right and that the first one to have done so has chosen Telenor Pakistan as his operator of choice. We will try our best to serve him and all the customers who come to us."

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High-power BIT delegation leaving for Pakistan Monday

A Chinese delegation will visit Pakistan this week on the invitation of the Higher Education Comission.

The delegation will discuss academic exchange programme between BIT and Pakistani universities.
BIT has also been enlisted among the consortium of Chinese Universities constituted to set up University of Engineering, Science and Technology in Pakistan. Meanwhile, a 6-member Pakistani delegation, led by Secretary Science and Technology Pervez Butt is also due here on April 9.

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PESHAWAR: Modern forestry system planned

Bureau Report PESHAWAR, March 24: USAID, in collaboration with the Malaysian government, would introduce a modern forestry system in the NWFP on the pattern of Malaysia’s forestry system. Malaysia is known as a model for the effective...

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