Oman Air, INJAZ join hands
KARACHI (PR): Oman Air Pakistan and INJAZ Pakistan have collaborated together for the first time, for The INJAZ Al-Arab Young Entrepreneurs Competition 2015, with Oman Air sponsoring tickets to the students who are participating in the competition to be held in Muscat in last week of November.
The competition is an annual celebration of the achievements of students who participated and won the National Company Program Competition in their countries after demonstrating sound knowledge in business planning, market research, marketing, sales and feasibility studies.
Ken Marshall, Country Manager Oman Air Pakistan, stated: “Oman Air has always been keen in propagating and assisting new talent in Pakistan. Pakistan is a land full of potential; what it needs is support and opportunity to thrive, and Oman Air aims at delivering exactly the same especially for students who have shown budding talent and exceptional abilities in academics and the entrepreneurial environment.

Indonesian quarantine
inspectors visit Pakistan
KARACHI (PR): Trade Development Authority of Pakistan in collaboration of Plant Protection Department of Ministry of Food Security sponsored and organized visit of two-member delegation from Indonesia Agricultural Quarantine Agency (IAQA) from 16-20th November.
The objective of their visit was “recognition Status of Sargodha as pest (Mediterranean Fruit Fly) free citrus producing area for Kinnow (citrus) in Pakistan and registration of food safety laboratories in Pakistan. During their stay at Pakistan, the delegation inspected 6 laboratories in Karachi and Lahore, then visited Bhalwal and Sargodha and personally checked the field.
If Indonesian expert approve Pakistani laboratories then consignment of Pakistani exporters will be inspected in Pakistan and will increase the export of kinnow to Indonesia.

ACCA conducts ‘popcorn Search Challenge’ in schools
LAHORE (PR): The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants has been conducting a business game called the ‘Popcorn Search Challenge’ at leading matriculation, intermediate, O and A Level schools of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad in the months of October and November.
Some of the schools which participated in the business game include Beaconhouse School System, The City School, The International School of Choueifat, Forman Christian College (FCC), SICAS etcetera.
The purpose of the ACCA Popcorn Search is to provide a platform to the student body of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad where they can explore business ideas and develop their skills in entrepreneurship.
The challenge entails developing an Income Statement and this helps young students gain an insight into a career in accounting. The business decisions taken by the students have a financial impact on their company – just as the business decisions accountants make.
The national final of the ‘Popcorn Search Challenge’ will be conducted in Lahore on November 26, 2015.

Low budget allocation for climate change flayed
LAHORE (PR): World is going to commit huge on climate change in upcoming COP21 moot and Pakistan is lacking even serious commitment in this sector. Meager amounts have been allocated in current year’s budget on climate change related initiatives of energy, food, mines and minerals, livestock and other departments whereas transport sector has been awarded with huge allocation of Rs28030 million against last year’s only 50 million allocation.
This was stated by the speakers while addressing a seminar on “Global Climate Change talks and situation in Pakistan” held on Friday. Seminar was organized by the Indus Consortium and Oxfam International.
Aneela Bibi of Federal Ministry Finance, member parliament Saadia Sohail Rana, Chief Executive Secan Mushtaq Gill, Mariam Khan (Environment department Punjab), Director Irrigation Research Institute Zakir Hussain Sial, member Climate Change commission Dr Javaid Iqbal, environmentalist Haroon Akram Gill, Hussain Jarwar and Faisal Naseer addressed the seminar.

US consulate chooses
Fatburger
LAHORE (PR): In an initiative to introduce and highlight American franchises and businesses operating in Pakistan, the American Consulate in Lahore chose Fatburger (M M Alam Road) to showcase model operations and Fat’s commitment to the cause of high food standards & public health. Consul General Zachary V Harkenrider, along with commercial and public affairs teams visited the Fatburger franchise on M.M. Alam Road recently.
The team from the Consulate spent over two hours going through each stage of food preparation and operations. They found the entire process hygienic at par with the highest international standards of food preparation. In the end, the team made their own burgers.
The Consul General also reiterated his resolve to make the American brands operating in Pakistan ambassadors of excellence devoted to upholding the principles of integrity, public good and responsible operations.

USAID initiative in Sindh

KARACHI (PR): The USAID is working with provincial governments across Pakistan to reinforce the foundational reading skills of primary grade children. In Sindh, USAID is making the dream of grade 1 and 2 children to read and learn efficiently a reality. As a result of its demonstrated successes through the SRP and the PRP, USAID has closely coordinated with the Government of Sindh and key policy makers to inculcate a culture of reading in the province.
These unremitting efforts and commitment have led to an official notification by the Sindh Education and Literacy Department to all primary public schools in the SRP’s and PRP’s 22 target districts to include a daily, 35 minutes reading period in their classroom schedules, as also notified in other provinces.
These efforts are a part of a USD 165 million, government-to-government initiative, titled, Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP). SBEP is the U.S. Government’s direct support to Sindh Education Sector Plan 2014-18 and its implementation. It comprises a suite of distinct but complementary projects, aiming to strengthen and reformSindh’s education sector, build human and institutional capacities, improve pedagogical excellence in early grade reading, expand and sustain reading outcomes, and engage communities to promote reading.
The Sindh Reading Program, an integral component of SBEP, and the sister project, Pakistan Reading Project, are strategically aligned with Sindh’s basic education sector priorities to advance primary education, and contribute to USAID’s global education target of 100 million children with improved rudimentary learning and literacy skills.

Awareness walk

ISLAMABAD (PR): UN-HABITAT and UNICEF organised a walk at National University of Science and Technology (NUST). The walk was organized to increase awareness regarding sanitation and hygiene in Pakistan. This walk is a part of the international ‘Urgent Run’ advocacy campaign.