Latest news with #UET
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Punjab laptop scheme: Who is eligible, and how to register?
Listen to article Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday relaunched the provincial government's student laptop scheme after an eight-year hiatus, announcing the distribution of high-performance 13th-generation Core i7 laptops to top-performing students across the country, according to Express News. Speaking at a ceremony at Lahore's historic University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Nawaz inaugurated the first phase of the scheme by distributing laptops and engaging with students directly, instead of addressing them from the stage. She also launched the second phase of the 'Honahar Scholarship' programme, which will offer financial assistance to thousands of students. Officials confirmed that an online portal has been set up for students from other provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. While Punjab will receive the largest share of the laptops, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be allocated 3,136, followed by Balochistan with 938, AJK with 517, and Gilgit-Baltistan with 410. Under the Honahar Scholarship Phase II, students in their second to fifth year or third to eighth semesters will be awarded PKR 20,000 each. In Lahore Division, over 3,121 students from 27 public colleges, six medical colleges, and several universities will benefit from scholarships worth more than PKR 120 million. Additionally, 14,000 students in Lahore Division will receive laptops under the scheme, with distribution occurring across 13 public universities, six medical colleges, and 27 higher education institutions. The event also included a ceremonial guard of honour presented to students, while a special documentary on the laptop scheme and scholarships was screened. UET students performed patriotic songs in celebration. During her address, Maryam Nawaz expressed her confidence in the youth's potential, saying, 'When Pakistan's youth say 'Qadam Qadam Abaad Rahe,' then Inshallah, this land shall forever thrive.'
Business Recorder
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz relaunches laptop scheme after eight years
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday relaunched the province's flagship laptop distribution scheme after an eight-year gap, announcing the first-ever distribution of 13th-generation Core i7 laptops to students. The revival of the scheme marks a major initiative under the new provincial government, with the first phase officially inaugurated by CM Maryam Nawaz at the historic University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, according to a statement issued from the Chief Minister's office. Punjab govt launches Ration Card Program worth Rs40b 5,000 laptops for students from other provinces The statement added that in line with CM Maryam's directive, the laptop scheme has been extended beyond Punjab to include students from other provinces and regions across the country. It stated that a total of 5,000 laptops will be distributed to students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. 'Among these, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will receive the highest share with 3,136 laptops, followed by Balochistan with 938, Azad Jammu & Kashmir with 517, and Gilgit-Baltistan with 410 laptops,' the statemtn said, adding that an online portal has been launched to facilitate applications from students in these regions to streamline the process. 'Hunarmand Scholarship Phase-II' launched In addition to the laptop scheme, the chief minister also announced the launch of Phase II of the 'Hunarmand Scholarship' program. Under this phase, 20,000 scholarships will be awarded to deserving students enrolled from the third to the eighth semester and those pursuing degrees lasting two to five years, the statement said. 'This initiative is aimed at promoting merit-based support for talented youth and increasing access to digital and educational resources across Pakistan,' it added.
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Punjab relaunches laptop scheme after eight-year hiatus
Listen to article Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has relaunched the provincial government's student laptop scheme after an eight-year hiatus, announcing the distribution of high-performance 13th-generation Core i7 laptops to top-performing students across the country, Express News reported. At a ceremony held at Lahore's historic University of Engineering and Technology (UET), the Chief Minister formally inaugurated the first phase of the scheme by distributing laptops and sitting among students rather than on the stage. She also launched Phase II of the 'Honahar Scholarship' initiative, which will provide financial aid to thousands of students. According to officials, an online portal has been opened for students from other provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Punjab will receive the largest share, but Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will receive 3,136 laptops, followed by Balochistan with 938, AJK with 517, and Gilgit-Baltistan with 410. As part of the Honahar Scholarship Phase II, students from second to fifth year or third to eighth semesters will be awarded PKR 20,000 each. In Lahore Division alone, over 3,121 students from 27 public colleges, six medical colleges, and several universities will benefit from scholarships worth over PKR 120 million. Additionally, a total of 14,000 students in Lahore Division will receive laptops under the scheme. These will be distributed across 13 public universities, six medical colleges, and 27 higher education institutions. In a show of honour, a ceremonial guard of honour was presented to students at the event, where the Higher Education Department also screened a special documentary on the laptop scheme and scholarships. UET students performed patriotic songs to mark the occasion. 'When Pakistan's youth say 'Qadam Qadam Abaad Rahe,' then Inshallah, this land shall forever thrive,' Maryam Nawaz said during her address.
Express Tribune
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Autocracy Inc
The writer is a UET graduate and holds Master's degrees from Sargodha University and Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad. He can be contacted at wajahatsultan6@ Listen to article The rise of autocracy has become a defining challenge for modern democracies. Autocracy in the 21st century is an interconnected global phenomenon. What does it mean? It means autocracy doesn't function in isolation now. Nowadays, different autocracies are networked together and function through various mechanisms. Autocratic regimes, despite ideological differences, allied together to resist democratic values. For example, countries like China, Iran and Russia have common goals. Russia is a nationalist state, China is a communist state and Iran is a theocratic state. All these states differ in ideology but they have a common goal across the globe: to undermine the rule of law, an independent judiciary, independent media and human rights — which threaten their authority. These states not only suppress opposition within their borders but also go hand in hand in coordinating efforts to discredit the democratic allure on the global stage. Autocracies work slowly and gradually. They penetrate the institutional setup in such a way that people fail to recognise the early signs of autocracy. For example, in Poland, the ruling party's politicisation of the judiciary initially went unnoticed. Later on, when the judiciary directly impacted public life in matters of abortion rights and corruption scandals, people began to notice the impact. With time, it becomes difficult for citizens to mobilise against autocracy until the damage becomes severe. The main idea of this piece is that today's autocracy is more sophisticated. It relies on complex, sophisticated networks that blend kleptocracy, narrative control and global influence. Modern-day autocracies function like global corporations with shared interests. They support each other through businesses, transactions, exchanges, arms trade and cooperation through ideas. In the previous century, autocracies share ideals, as seen in figures like Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin. Nowadays, autocracies share ideas. In the previous centuries, controlling land was an important tool to control enemies. In modern times, controlling information is a new tool for hegemony, power and control over narratives. Once we all believed that technology would integrate more societies and eventually democracy would prevail. But at the same time, we come to know how certain big autocratic powers can tame technology to stifle dissent and manipulate public opinion. Autocratic governments have developed sophisticated networks of controlling information, using both propaganda and cutting-edge technology to maintain power, influence and control. An emerging superpower built a Great Firewall to block all kinds of internet access that were deemed threats to their regime. With time, the Great Firewall idea translated into the broader system of surveillance. These surveillance systems are not just about controlling narratives, but also about predicting and preventing dissent before it happens. Overall, by leveraging technology and global influence networks, major autocratic powers have maintained clout at home and abroad — challenging democratic values. Modern dictators and autocrats don't use violence to promote themselves or control opponents. They use sophisticated smear campaigns that target ideas of democracy, as well as the people who promote those ideas. Autocrats don't just discredit ideas of freedom and democracy. They chase the person who promotes them. They accuse activists of treason and foreign conspirators. They undermine their credibility to isolate them and then neutralise their campaigns for human rights. Moreover, autocracies pass such laws that ban NGOs and civic organisations. Once again, modern technology — social media, once seen as a liberating force — is now a battleground where state-sponsored campaigns, and bots work to harass activists and crush political campaigns. In short, modern autocracies use more sophisticated technology, interconnected networks and disinformation to undermine democracy globally.
Express Tribune
21-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
CM unveils plans for girls free education in K-P
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has announced plans to make education completely free for female students in the province, emphasizing that only an educated mother can create an educated and civilized society. He attended a convocation of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar on Friday as Chancellor and awarded degrees and gold medals to graduates. A total of 555 graduates received Bachelor, Masters, and PhD degrees, while 23 outstanding graduates were honored with gold medals. Minister for Higher Education, Meena Khan Afridi, UET faculty and management, graduates and their parents, also attended the convocation. In his address, the chief minister felicitated the graduates, their parents, faculty members and expressed his best wishes for the graduates and encouraged them to work hard in their respective fields to bring pride to the province and the country. The CM urged the graduates to pursue research and technology, as these fields offer vast opportunities. He also mentioned that significant efforts are being made to promote the industrial sector in the province to create employment opportunities for graduates. Furthermore, he announced that the upcoming budget would include a loan scheme for doctors, engineers and other professionals, enabling them to establish their own startups and companies instead of seeking jobs, thereby generating employment for others. During his speech, Gandapur highlighted that the provincial government has established a seed fund for scholarships and is providing opportunities for students to study abroad on scholarships. Similarly, efforts are also underway to provide free education opportunities to orphan children. The CM said that his government inherited financial challenges in various sectors but is working hard to overcome them and make institutions self-sufficient. When the incumbent government assumed power, universities faced liabilities of Rs72 billion, which have now been reduced to Rs24 billion. He assured that a new mechanism is being developed to resolve salary and pension payment issues in universities, ensuring that they become self-sustainable. Gandapur expressed his pride in UET Peshawar, terming it a prestigious institution not only for the province but for the entire country. He praised the university for producing renowned professionals in engineering and technology and for adapting to modern demands by introducing new programs.
