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Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
193 schemes proposed by MNAs cancelled
More than 193 development schemes worth billions of rupees, proposed by MNAs from Karachi and Hyderabad, have been cancelled following allegations of serious irregularities in the tendering process, sources told The Express Tribune. The Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL) — now responsible for executing these projects — scrapped all the tenders issued two months ago, citing concerns over corruption linked to former officers of the now-defunct Public Works Department (PWD). According to sources, the development schemes had been initiated on the recommendations of MNAs from both cities and were previously handled by the PWD. After the department's dissolution, the execution of such federally-funded schemes was transferred to PIDCL. However, the company reportedly enlisted the help of several ex-PWD officials to oversee the tendering process, which led to the awarding of contracts through e-tendering. Senior contractors allege that the process was marred by serious irregularities and contract trading. In response, PIDCL CEO Waseem Bajwa and General Manager Shafi Chachar took strict notice and ordered the cancellation of all awarded tenders. Sources further revealed that PIDCL plans to issue fresh advertisements for re-tendering the schemes. However, the cancellations have brought development work in Karachi and Hyderabad to a standstill, raising concerns among lawmakers over the future of their constituency funds. Insiders also noted that PIDCL lacks the engineering capacity required to manage such a large volume of development projects - a shortfall that could jeopardize the timely utilisation of MNA development funds. Despite repeated attempts, the PIDCL general manager could not be reached for comment.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Shops looted as lock-breakers go on spree
A gang of criminals comprising five armed outlaws, including a woman, looted shops after breaking the locks in Gulshan-e-Hadeed and fled with valuables worth millions of rupees. Reportedly, the gang, in a car, reached the market, broke the locks of a jewellery shop, a mobile phone shop and a retail shop, and decamped with gold ornaments, cash and other valuables. SHO Steel Town Aslam Baloo told The Express Tribune that the incident occurred at 5:30am on Monday. A female member engaged the guard in talks and in the meantime her accomplices overpowered him. They then broke the locks, and stole five tolas of gold, Rs150,000 in cash from the jewellery shop and the retail shop.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Monsoon rains in Pakistan claim more lives as death tolls hits 279
Islamabad, July 25: As torrential rainfall continues to wreak havoc, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday confirmed that the overall death toll since the onset of the monsoon season in the country has risen to 279. The NDMA also advised the provincial governments to be on alert and remain prepared to respond in emergency-like situations. Additionally, 676 people have sustained injuries nationwide in rain-triggered incidents, Pakistan's leading newspaper, The Express Tribune, reported. According to the reports, Pakistan's Punjab province emerged as the worst-affected region, recording the highest number of casualties, with 151 reported deaths and 535 injuries. It is followed by 64 deaths and 80 injured in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region while Sindh has reported 25 deaths and 40 injuries till now. As many as 148 rescue operations have been carried out till date, most of them being directed towards Punjab province, with 128 rescue missions recorded in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region and Sindh. The NDMA has issued flood alerts and warnings in several areas, including regions in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir like Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Shigar, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, and Bagh. Warnings have also been issued for possible floods and landslides, especially in hilly areas, as a result of the heavy downpours. Rain along with glacial melt might result in increased flow in the river Chitral in the Chitral valley, affecting regions including Buni and Reshun, the NDMA detailed. The authorities have also issued directions to all the departments and agencies concerned to take foresighted measures, be prepared with personnel, rescue teams as well as machinery that might be required to respond when any emergency presents itself. Local administrations along with Provincial Disaster Management Authorities have also been instructed to be on alert and take necessary actions for prevention.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Armed gangs outsmart police
Armed snatchers in the city's upscale localities have adopted a novel technique to conceal weapons by hiding pistols in leather slits strapped below their knees, enabling them to evade police checks with alarming ease. The tactic, reportedly inspired by online content and aided by AI-based tips on avoiding detection, has surfaced in areas including Hayatabad, Dalazak Road and Ring Road. Members of Ababeel Force were unable to detect firearms during routine frisking, despite weapons being worn directly on the body. According to police sources and young suspects' own confessions on social media chat groups, the new gangs often target cafes, tea points and juice bars in affluent zones. They scout potential victims, usually youth with high-end smartphones, before executing the heist via motorcycles. Instead of strapping pistols to their waists or backs, the offenders tuck compact firearms inside narrow leather pouches worn close to the ankle, slipping past conventional pat-downs. A senior officer with over a decade of experience in K-P's counter-terrorism and investigations told The Express Tribune that technological evolution, including AI, has drastically altered how crimes are committed. "Drug smuggling based on live location sharing is already a challenge. Now, AI-driven street crimes are surfacing where even non-organised youth gangs are imitating techniques used by terrorist outfits," he said. Another officer disclosed that not only petty criminals but terrorists too have adapted. "In Chamkani, the suicide bomber wore a half-jacket, not the typical full-body explosive vest, a change that helped him deceive surveillance. This shift in patterns highlights the urgency to modernise police procedures." He said that current methods of body searches and checkpoints were outdated in light of evolving criminal innovation. "Modern policing has to catch up fast."
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Drop in postgraduate admissions hits UoP
The University of Peshawar, one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, is grappling not only with deepening financial troubles but also with a sharp decline in student enrollment in its higher education programs, particularly the M. Phil and PhD disciplines. According to official documents obtained by The Express Tribune, the number of students enrolling in postgraduate research programs has dropped significantly over the past five years. In 2020, 178 students were enrolled in the PhD programs, however, by the academic year 2024-2025, this number had dwindled to just 66 PhD students. Similarly, the total number of postgraduate students, which was 4,708 in 2022, has decreased to 4,081 in 2025. The decline appears to be part of a troubling trend. Data shows that in 2021-2022, 661 students enrolled in M. Phil and 208 in PhD programs. The following year saw a rise, with 800 M. Phil and 223 PhD students. However, the numbers began to fall again in 2023-2024, with 714 M. Phil and 172 PhD students, before plummeting in the current academic year. The university documents further revealed that several departments failed to attract a single PhD candidate over the last five years. These include key disciplines such as computer science, data science, fashion designing, interior designing, software engineering, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Alarmingly, only one student has enrolled in the PhD program for Computer Science since 2020. Equally concerning is the lack of interest in foundational social science disciplines. Departments like political science, psychology, regional studies, and Urdu saw no new admissions in recent years. The absence of enrollment in such core subjects reflects a growing disillusionment among students, raising concerns about the university's academic environment. Tufail Khan, a prospective M. Phil student who was unable to secure enrollment, blamed the academic staff for neglecting their responsibilities. "Teachers don't take interest in classes. Many of them are preoccupied with foreign students because they receive stipends from international programs. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) must establish guidelines requiring faculty to actively supervise postgraduate students and ensure annual PhD completions. However, no one here holds the teachers accountable," he noted. Khan further alleged that many faculty members were distracted by part-time jobs, social media, and foreign-funded projects, leaving little time for teaching or student mentorship. This, he claimed, is one of the major reasons behind the growing academic disconnect on campus. Speaking on the issue, Dr Danish Baber, a researcher and head of the creative wing at the Directorate of Information and PR, pointed to soaring tuition fees as a major barrier. "Students do enroll, but most cannot afford to continue their education. Persistent government budget cuts have forced public universities to raise fees annually in order to survive. Until the government increases funding for higher education, the decline in research and postgraduate study will continue," he warned. Dr Muhammad Uzair Khan, former president of the Peshawar University Teachers Association, painted an even grimmer picture. "UoP has struggled to pay salaries to its staff in recent months due to severe budget shortfalls. Financial constraints are crippling the institution. We can't even pay our employees on time. Moreover, the growing number of sub-campuses across the province is another contributing factor since many students now prefer to study at institutions closer to home, reducing the appeal of the main campus in Peshawar," said Dr Khan. Despite these challenges, Dr Khan emphasized the urgent need for the government to allocate special grants to save the university from further decline. "If immediate steps are not taken to promote higher education and invest in research, the situation will deteriorate beyond repair," he cautioned. Conversely, an official from UoP, speaking on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged that the proliferation of universities across districts, combined with high tuition fees and institutional neglect, might be pushing students away from the main campus.
