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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Pakistan went nuclear on this day in 1998. Today, Sindh celebrates
In high spirits after the recent combat victory over India, the people of Sindh celebrated Yom-e-Takbeer on Wednesday by participating in rallies and seminars, paying tribute to the military and civilian martyrs as well. The official and unofficial rallies were taken out in all districts of the province. Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Zainul Abedin Memon led a rally from Shahbaz Building to the Post Master General's office. Addressing the participants he said Pakistan is a golden day in the country's history when Pakistan proved its impeccable defence capability before the world. "This day not only helped restore the balance of power in South Asia, but made Pakistan emerge as the sole nuclear power among the Muslim countries." He underscored that the atomic program is a guarantee of defence for Pakistan. A large rally was also organized in Matiari district. "This day reminds us that with national unity, strong resolve, and self-reliance, we can overcome any challenge," affirmed SSP Faisal Bashir Memon. DC Muhammad Yousuf Sheikh said Youm-e-Takbeer is a day to pay tribute to the great scientists, military and civil leadership, and workers whose sacrifices made this achievement possible. In Jamshoro a rally started from the DC office, led by Additional DC Nooruddin Hingorjo. The enthusiastic participants chanted slogans, praising the scientists and the Pakistan army as well as the political leadership. A hospital operated by the Atomic Energy Commission in Larkana district organized a rally in connection with Yom-e-Takbeer. Doctors, paramedics and a large number of citizens took part in the activity. The hospital's Director Dr Abdul Samad Shaikh said Pakistan's atomic program is meant for peace and not aggression. He noted that 20 hospitals working under the commission are providing free cancer treatment to the patients. The Sindh Education Department in Shaheed Benazirabad district arranged an event at M H Khuwaja auditorium hall. The speakers underlined that Pakistan on this day 27 years ago conveyed to the global community for the sake of freedom, sovereignty and national security the country's armed forces are ever ready. Jamaat-e-Islami, Sunni Tehreek, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Pakistan, Pakistan Milli Muslim League, traders associations and many other groups of people also organized events to mark the day.


Express Tribune
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Buildings lack facilities for differently-abled persons
Karachi, the capital of Sindh, is home to dozens of buildings of the federal and provincial governments alongside those of various government agencies, yet most of these buildings do not have special arrangements for persons with disabilities (PWDs). This is in spite of the fact that the Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018, mandates the provision of special arrangements for PWDs in all government buildings managed by the provincial government. Under this law, all existing government buildings were to be made accessible to PWDs within 5 years. However, even after the passage of seven years, no progress has been made in this direction. Abdul Haseeb Khan, a teacher at the Sindh Education Department office in Tughlaq House, shared the challenges he faced as a differently-abled person due to the lack of designated parking spaces. "Sometimes when I visit the building for my official work, I am unable to find a disabled parking space to park my car near the building. Hence, it takes me a long time to find a parking space and even when I can, it is usually quite far from the building," lamented Khan. Similarly, Amanullah, a government employee with a locomotor disability, also faced a similar problem while visiting the Health Department Office in the New Sindh Secretariat. "When I reach the building on my three-wheeled motorcycle I cannot find a designated parking space near the building," said Amanullah, who too had to park his car far away from the building, forcing him to walk a long distance with one leg. "Even though different laws do exist at the provincial and federal levels to protect the rights of differently-abled people they have not been implemented properly. Under a federal law 'Accessibility Code of Pakistan, 2006' all new buildings in the country should be accessible for PWDs. Similarly, the ruling of the 'Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018' dictate that facilities for people with physical disabilities are mandatory in not only the new buildings but also the existing ones," informed Abid Lashari, President of the National Disability and Development Forum, who further revealed that wheelchair ramps were only available at the Social Welfare Department in Sindh. It is worth noting that under the Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018, the provincial government was supposed to allocate special parking spaces for PWDs in all public places, but this has not happened yet. As a result, the vehicles of differently-abled employees and visitors are parked on the road outside the buildings. This can be gauged from the sheer number of official and non-official vehicles parked outside all buildings of the Sindh Secretariat including the New Sindh Secretariat, Tughlaq House, Old KDA Building and Finance Building. A similar situation was observed at the Income Tax Building of the federal government located between these buildings, where no space was allocated for disabled parking. Similar was the predicament at the Sindh Assembly, located near the Sindh Secretariat, when it came to the provision of parking facilities for PWDs. A few years ago, a multi-story parking lot was built in the premises of the Sindh Assembly, where a parking space had been allocated for the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly however, no space was allocated for PWDs. In this regard, The Express Tribune contacted Tauha Farooqi, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Sindh, to delve into the reasons behind the non-implementation of the said law but he failed to respond.


Express Tribune
21-03-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Online tracking of school repairs projects launched
The education department launched a monitoring dashboard, which will enable real-time tracking of school rehabilitation efforts across Sindh. A development conference on the rehabilitation of flood-affected schools in Sindh, organised by the Sindh Education Department, emphasised the need to make school infrastructure resilient to environmental impacts and to train students in risk management related to floods. The conference, titled Development Conference on Flood Affected Schools, was heldi in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank. During the conference, it was revealed that 19,808 schools in Sindh were affected by the floods, of which 7,503 were completely destroyed and 12,305 suffered partial damage-some of them deemed structurally unsafe. The damage to school buildings has disrupted the education of 2,381,275 students. Further insights from the conference highlighted that Sindh's government, in collaboration with various donors and stakeholders, has initiated rehabilitation projects for 5,284 schools. The initial phase of restoration will cover 26% of the affected schools, while 74% still require additional funding for reconstruction.


Express Tribune
25-02-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Sindh announces revised school timings for Ramadan
Listen to article In preparation for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, the Sindh Education Department has announced updated school timings for primary, secondary, higher secondary, and elementary institutions, including those operating in both single and double shifts, local media reported. According to local media, primary schools in single shifts will run from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm, with Fridays having an adjusted schedule from 8:00 am to 11:30 am. Primary schools operating in double shifts will hold the first shift from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, followed by the second shift from 11:45 am to 2:45 pm. On Fridays, the first shift will remain unchanged, while the second shift will run from 11:45 am to 1:30 pm. For secondary, higher secondary, and elementary schools operating in single shifts, classes will be held from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm, with an adjusted schedule of 8:00 am to 11:30 am on Fridays. Double-shift secondary and higher secondary schools will follow the same first shift timings (7:30 am to 11:30 am), with the second shift from 11:45 am to 2:45 pm. On Fridays, the second shift will be held from 11:45 am to 1:15 pm. This announcement follows the Punjab Education Department's revised school timings for Ramadan, where double-shift schools will operate from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm for the first shift and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm for the second shift, with an adjusted schedule of 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm on Fridays.


Express Tribune
06-02-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Sindh announces Shab-e-Barat holiday on February 14
Listen to article The Sindh government has declared a holiday for both private and public educational institutions in the province on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat, which will be observed on the night of February 14. According to a notification issued by the Sindh Education Department, all educational institutions, both public and private, will remain closed on Friday, February 14, to mark the religious event. Shab-e-Barat is observed by Muslims to seek forgiveness and pray for the well-being of loved ones, with many spending the night in prayer. The holiday announcement provides students and staff with time to observe the occasion.