NAVTTC to launch pilot project for imparting training in 7 trades
FAISALABAD (APP): Haji Muhammad Dogar, regional director general, National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) Punjab, said on Saturday that a pilot project was being launched in collaboration with Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) to impart training to unemployed youth in seven different trades. The arrangement would further be expanded to other chambers on successful completion of the pilot project, he added. In a meeting with FCCI President Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz here, he said that NAVTTC had chalked out a comprehensive strategy to increase industrial production in addition to adding quality to locally produced products. He said that the government should frame laws for declaring technical jobs mandatory for technical diploma or certificate holders. He said that NAVTTC had been bearing training expenditures, and also providing scholarships to enrolled students in selected technical training institutions.
Model cattle market completes
FAISALABAD (Staff Reporter): Work at the model cattle market on a 23-acre land near Niamuana Samundri Road has been completed at a cost of Rs315 million. Divisional Commissioner Momin Agha visited the model cattle market and inspected different sections of the market. He also checked the quality of construction work and directed the officers concerned to test all the installations again to avoid any obstacle or problem for making the market functional without further delay. The commissioner said that it was an important and significant step of Punjab govt to organise the livestock business on modern lines. He directed that all installations and other facilities be made in accordance with the modern technology. He said that Fesco authorities be contacted for electricity connection immediately. During the briefing, he was informed that 22 sheds for cattle, veterinary hospital, civil dispensary, bank, mosque, dormitories for the livestock breeders, toilet block, admn. Block, cafeteria, overhead reservoirs with 20,000 gallon water capacity and other facilities have been provided in the market.
KBD a must as country faces serious water scarcity
MULTAN (Staff Reporter): Parliamentary secretary for agriculture Rana Ijaz Noon said that the country was faced with serious water scarcity thus the construction of Kalabagh Dam had become necessary for preserving water and generate electricity. Addressing the seminar organized to make the farming community aware of a programme, he said that increase in agricultural inputs and decrease in crop prices in international market badly hit local farmer. He said that the weather changes affected entire world. “We’re devising our future policies in view of environmental changes,” he added. Former speaker of National Assembly Syed Fakhar Imam told a seminar that the local farmers suffered Rs22 billion loss due to low rate of cotton last year, and urged the government to announce the support prices of crops so that the crop targets could be achieved. He said that the national economy was dependent on cotton and therefore this crop needed more attention than any other thing.
He pointed out that over 54 per cent national exports were either direct or indirect products of cotton. He said that South Punjab and Balochistan were future of Pakistan due to their agriculture and natural resources respectively.
Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA) Dr Asif Ali has said that the farmers will get multiple and direct benefits worth over Rs163 billion per year from Khadim-e-Punjab Zarai Khushhali Programme.
He added that the Chief Minister had announced Rs. 100 billion package for the farmers in view of poor farming conditions and it would help lift the agriculture sector. He added that another programme to give interest-free loans to the farmers worth Rs. 13 billion had also been launched which would give benefit to 450000 farmers of the province. He said that the farmers would get Rs. 25000 per acre loan for Rabi crop and Rs. 40000 per acre Kharif. He said that the farmers would be given smart phones to keep the aware of news on weather changes and latest agricultural news. He said that Rs. 9.49 billion had been allocated for fertilizer subsidy while Rs. 3 billion for supply of quality seed to the farmers. He hoped that one million farmers would get benefit of these schemes. He said that a number of other projects including establishment of agricultural commission were being launched for the welfare of farmers.
DG Agriculture (Extension) Dr. Anjum Ali, DG (Field) Dr Qurban Ali, Cotton Commissioner Dr Abdullah and others also spoke on the occasion.
Unscheduled power outages test
industrial workers'patience
KAMALIA (Staff Reporter): Prolonged and unscheduled power cuts, being conducted in this scorching heat, not only have made the lives of citizens miserable but also left most of the craftsmen and power loom workers jobless. According to a survey conducted by this correspondent, people are suffering great ordeal due to unscheduled power outages as the Fesco has started 14 hours of loadshedding in the city while situation in rural areas is worse than that where loadshedding of 18 hours is being conducted. "Unscheduled power outages also created scarcity of water and people even in the mosques do not find enough water for ablution to offer prayers," they regretted. They pointed out that the traders and workers are the worst hit of the outages whose business depends on the uninterrupted supply of electricity and most of the craftsmen and power-loom workers have been rendered jobless. Industry workers in different parts of the city protested against unscheduled outages and demanded the authorities concerned to look into this grave condition.
PML-N City President Haji Muhammad Zakaria Rahmani said that unscheduled load shedding has reached its peak in Kamalia city, adding that the outages also hit industrial output and industrialists are appealing to the government to save them from collapse. He said that the loadshedding, being conducted only in Kamalia city and surroundings, is also adding to patients' miseries at the hospitals. He warned that if the unscheduled power outages are not stopped, traders would observe a complete shut down in Kamalia city.