logo
Minority Week to begin tomorrow

Minority Week to begin tomorrow

Express Tribune6 days ago
Celebrations of the Minority Week will begin in Punjab on Thursday with a double-decker bus convoy starting from the Cathedral Church of Pakistan at Regal Chowk.
Provincial Minorities Minister Ramesh Singh Arora said while chairing a meeting that the week would be celebrated across Punjab from August 7 to 11.
The opening ceremony will also feature a plantation campaign aimed at promoting environmental awareness.
The convoy will visit religious and cultural landmarks, including Krishna Mandir, Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Badshahi Mosque and Iqbal's Mausoleum, before culminating at Minar-e-Pakistan, where a grand interfaith celebration will be organised.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Representation, good governance: Citizens' rights must be at the heart of all reforms: minister
Representation, good governance: Citizens' rights must be at the heart of all reforms: minister

Business Recorder

time5 days ago

  • Business Recorder

Representation, good governance: Citizens' rights must be at the heart of all reforms: minister

ISLAMAABD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal emphasised that citizens' right to representation and good governance must be at the heart of all reforms. The minister, Wednesday, chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Governance Reforms Committee, which was constituted by the prime minister to address pressing governance challenges in the federal capital. The meeting was attended by Senator Barrister Zafarullah Khan, MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz, MNA Anjum Aqeel, Member Governance Dr Adnan Rafiqe, and senior officials from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), and the Ministry of Planning. In the meeting, Senator Barrister Zafarullah Khan briefed participants on the recommendations of the subcommittee and outlined the administrative and legislative hurdles affecting the effective functioning of Islamabad's governance system. The discussion focused on the structural issues that have emerged due to the lack of a coherent governance model and absence of legislative authority, resulting in inefficiencies in public service delivery. During the meeting, Federal Minister Iqbal emphasised that citizens' right to representation and good governance must be at the heart of all reforms. He said that people must have a voice in decisions that impact their daily lives and that governance should be rooted in democratic values, participation, and transparency. He added that Islamabad's residents deserve a modern and responsive system that ensures efficient delivery of services and meets their expectations. The minister reiterated that the government is committed to providing the citizens of Islamabad with a governance model that could serve as a role model for other parts of the country. Iqbal said that the lack of a clear governance structure and legislation has caused confusion and inefficiency. He added that Islamabad's small size makes it ideal for piloting governance reforms that can later be applied in other cities. Minister for Planning Iqbal concluded by reaffirming that the government remains committed in its mission to build a citizen-centric governance system that is inclusive, efficient, and accountable. The ongoing reforms aim to transform Islamabad into a model city with improved service delivery and better quality of life for all residents. The committee also emphasised the urgent need to democratise the 1980 Presidential Order No 18, a legacy of the martial law era under which Islamabad continues to operate. It was noted that updating this framework is essential to ensure effective public representation and align governance with democratic principles. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Agri census launched: Number of farm households increases to 11.7m
Agri census launched: Number of farm households increases to 11.7m

Business Recorder

time5 days ago

  • Business Recorder

Agri census launched: Number of farm households increases to 11.7m

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said that the number of farm households has increased from 8.3 million to 11.7 million, while the total livestock population now stands at 251 million. While launching the results of the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 on Wednesday, he said that Pakistan's first-ever integrated digital agricultural census, marking a significant milestone in the country's data-driven transformation of the agriculture sector. The minister termed the occasion a 'turning point' in Pakistan's agricultural history, stating: 'Today's launch is not the end, but the beginning of a practical revolution rooted in data.' He said that the census reveals a notable expansion in Pakistan's cultivated land, which has grown from 42.6 million acres in 2010 to 52.8 million acres in 2024. However, the average farm size has declined from 6.6 acres to 5.1 acres, reflecting changing land ownership patterns and population pressures, he said. Punjab govt launches 7th Agri Census 2024 Highlighting the government's digital vision, Iqbal noted, 'Under the Prime Minister's URAAN Pakistan initiative, we seek to digitally empower every sector of the economy. This census is a testament to that commitment.' The digital enumeration covered every province and region, including remote and high-altitude areas, ensuring full national representation. Thousands of trained personnel, equipped with digital tools, carried out the exercise, replacing outdated paper-based methods. He emphasised that the newly-gathered data will support targeted, transparent, and effective policymaking in the agriculture sector, which has long suffered from fragmented and outdated statistics. He said, 'The census provides detailed insights into land use, irrigation systems, crop diversity, livestock, mechanisation and farm demographics. These findings are expected to inform a wide range of public and private sector initiatives, including, smart subsidy and credit schemes tailored to smallholders and underserved regions; climate-resilient agriculture and better disaster preparedness; mechanisation and irrigation efficiency programmes; agribusiness investments, including food processing and value chain development.' Underscoring the human dimension of agriculture, the minister said, 'Agriculture is not just about land and crops; it is about people. Through knowledge and empowerment, we will make our farmers the masters of their own destiny.' He highlighted the census's role in identifying women farmers and young agripreneurs, enabling inclusive policymaking and opening new pathways for digital advisory services and modern training. He reiterated that evidence-based governance is vital to achieving Pakistan's economic goals. 'This data will lay the foundation for a food-secure, export-oriented, trillion-dollar economy by 2035.' The minister acknowledged the efforts of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), provincial and district governments, universities, experts, and development partners such as the FAO for their collaboration in this historic exercise. In closing, he urged all stakeholders to act on the findings with urgency and unity of purpose: 'Let us move forward with a shared commitment—to make every farm more productive, every farmer more prosperous, and Pakistan's agriculture globally competitive.' He said that the 7th Agricultural Census 2024, through its digital methodology and inclusive scope, sets a new benchmark for evidence-based policymaking and reaffirms the government's commitment to transforming Pakistan's agricultural landscape through innovation, data, and empowerment. Moreover, as part of the digital advancements under the 7th Agricultural Census, a dedicated Data Portal for Large Holdings has also been launched. This portal hosts detailed data collected from large-scale agricultural holders during the census and now provides them with the opportunity to regularly update their information in real-time. Iqbal appreciated this innovative step and stated that it is a commendable initiative which will be shared with all provinces to support coordinated and data-driven agricultural planning. He said that it is a major step towards dynamic data governance, enabling timely interventions, improved planning for high-value agriculture, and direct engagement with major stakeholders in the sector. According to the latest census, the total livestock population in the country has reached 251.3 million in 2024. The number of cattle has reached 55.8 million, buffalos 47.7 million, sheep 44.5 million, goats 95 million, camels 1.5 million, and donkeys 4.8 million. In Punjab, cultivation of wheat area is 41.5 per cent, Sindh 40 per cent, KPK 50 per cent and in Balochistan 48.3 per cent. Sugarcane cultivation area in Punjab is 13.4 per cent, Sindh 2.7 per cent, KPK three per cent and Balochistan 3.2 per cent. Cotton growing area in Punjab now merely 3.7 per cent, Sindh 14 per cent and Balochistan 0.2 per cent. The cultivation area of rice in Punjab is 1.9 per cent, Sindh 21.5 per cent, KPK 4.3 per cent and Balochistan 8.2 per cent. The cultivation area of maize in Punjab is 10.2 per cent, Sindh 13.2 per cent, KPK 18.4 per cent and Balochistan 16.7 per cent. He said that the census reveals a notable expansion in Pakistan's cultivated land, which has grown from 42.6 million acres in 2010 to 52.8 million acres in 2024. However, the average farm size has declined from 6.6 acres to 5.1 acres, reflecting changing land ownership patterns and population pressures, he said. Average farm size of Punjab increased from 5.6 acres to 6.15 acres. In Sindh farm size reduced from 8.8 acres to 5.03 acres. In KPK it was reduced from 3.6 acres to 2.12 acre. Whereas in Balochistan it reduced from 22.7 acres to 16.07 acres. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Punjab to celebrates Minority week from August 7
Punjab to celebrates Minority week from August 7

Express Tribune

time5 days ago

  • Express Tribune

Punjab to celebrates Minority week from August 7

Listen to article The first-ever Minority Week is expected to commence from August 7 to 11 in Punjab. The five-day celebration aims to honour the contributions of religious minorities to Pakistan's social and national fabric while promoting interfaith harmony and national unity. The events are also designed to highlight the success of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, a campaign promoting peace and stability. According to the Punjab Department of Minority Affairs, Minority Week represents a concrete effort to promote religious tolerance, interfaith dialogue, and national cohesion by fostering meaningful engagement between followers of different faiths. The inaugural ceremony will be held on August 7 at the historic Cathedral Church of Pakistan at Regal Chowk, Lahore. A colourful procession aboard double-decker buses will travel through key religious and cultural landmarks, including Krishna Mandir, Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Badshahi Mosque, and the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal, culminating at Minar-e-Pakistan. A tree plantation campaign will also be launched during the opening event. A diverse range of participants, including foreign diplomats, civil society members, representatives of welfare organisations, students, teachers, religious leaders, and members of various minority communities, are expected to take part in the festivities. According to the official schedule, August 8 will feature an academic session at a leading university focusing on minority rights and their social contributions. On August 9, a seminar on interfaith harmony will be held at Alhamra Hall, Lahore, featuring notable religious scholars, civil society representatives, students, and researchers. The Sports Board Punjab will host a Sports Day on August 10, bringing together youth from minority communities for various traditional and competitive games. The celebrations will conclude on August 11 with a closing ceremony at Aiwan-e-Iqbal in connection with National Minorities Day. The final event will be attended by Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, members of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, foreign dignitaries, senior government officials, religious leaders, and students and faculty from prominent educational institutions.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store