PAT to devise future strategy on 27th

PAT CEC will meet on January 27 to devise future strategy on its ongoing Qisas Movement on Model Town issue. The spokesperson for Pakistan Awami Tehreek said the party’s federal council will meet a day after the centre executive council meeting. PAT CEC is comprised 100 leader while FEC is a 1,000 member body. PAT Spokesperson Noorullah Siddique said the steering committee and action committee meeting will be called after CEC and FEC meetings. The steering and action committees will devise the final strategy on protest movement, he said. The steering committee and action committee comprised the senior leadership from opposition parties including PTI and PPP. Meanwhile, Awami Muslim League President Sheikh Rasheed made a telephonic contact with PAT Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri on Wednesday. A statement issued by the PAT said both leaders discussed political situation and protest strategy. Sheikh Raheed and Qadri will soon hold a meeting in Lahore, the statement added.–Staff Reporter

NAB arrests two fraudsters

NAB Wednesday claimed to have arrested PPCBL Chief Financial Officer and another person for their alleged involvement in PPCBL scam. According to NAB spokesman, Punjab Provincial Cooperative Banks Limited (PPCBL) Chief Financial Officer Tahir Iqbal Butt and another accused Muhammad Boota Sajid had embezzled millions of rupees causing loss to national exchequer. The investigation into the scam revealed that PPCBL CFO Tahir Iqbal Butt who was also a member of the Fund Placement Committee which remains sole responsible of PPCBL funds investment, whereas, the accused as CFO and member of committee was subjected to ascertain and analyze the financial health, credit rating and other aspects regarding the Institute in which PPCBL intends to invest with but the accused failed to apply prudence regarding investment decisions. Accused CFO along with his accomplice, Muhammad Boota, in connivance with each other proposed to invest 200 million in TIBL despite the latter's weak liquidity position, and a blanket approval of Rs 215 million was made to invest in KASB and TIBL in 2009 without seeking formal approval from other Fund Placement Committee members. Accused Boota Sajid was the sole signatory of five cheques amounting to Rs 60 M, 50M, 25M and 20M cheques, respectively, and allegedly caused a commission of offence as defined in National Accountability Ordinance (NAO). –Staff Reporter

Crackdown on quacks
The Punjab Healthcare Commission has closed down 20 fake treatment centres of quacks during the last two days, and initiated further proceedings against them. According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, the businesses included 12 general quacks, four fake dentists, three bone-setters and one hakeem. In Shahdarah, six fake treatment centres Afzal Clinic, Saleem Medical Hall, Shahbaz Clinic, Asif Iqbal Clinic, Ahmed Clinic, Hussain Pharmacy and Clinic were sealed. Other included: Baig Dental Clinic, Manzoor Clinic, Malik Shareef Phalwan Hadi Jore, Galini Dawakhana, Amanat Clinic, Sajjad Clinic, Al Shifa Dental Care in Tajpura; Khushi Muhammad HadiJore, Mohsin Ayub Dental Care, Haneef Hadi Jore and Shahid Clinic in Ghaziabad, and Choudhry Clinic and Babur Clinic in Al Faisal town. So far the PHC had closed down over 7,000 fake treatment centres of quacks, and imposed a fine of more than Rs54 million on them. –Staff Reporter

Moot on medical education
Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) arranged workshop on enhancement in quality of medical education on Wednesday. The purpose of this workshop was to encourage research to achieve excellence in healthcare delivery. Member Higher Education Commission Punjab and Ex-Vice Chancellor Govt College University Prof Khaliq Ur Rehman gave lecture on quality assurance to the head of departments and teachers of FJMU. Director Quality Enhancement Department Prof Kamran Khalid Kh said that it was important for a university to maintain the quality education. Vice chancellor FJMU Prof Khalid Masood Gondal said that quality enhancement training was necessary for teachers. –Staff Reporter

School Education Department
to recruit 852 through PPSC
The Punjab School Education Department has decided to recruit 852 headmasters, subject specialists and, district education officers(DEOs) through Punjab Public Service Commission. According to Director Public Instructions (DPI) office sources, 176 grade-17 slots and 144 grade-18 slots would be filled. Likewise 240 subject specialists and 292 senior subject specialists will also be recruited, it was learnt. –APP

Govt to launch new website
for job information
The Punjab government Wednesday decided to launch a new website for the youth seeking for employment and job opportunities. A senior official of secretariat told APP that Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Punjab Umar Rasool directed the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) to launch a new website to advertise jobs and upload data, which would help find available jobs to the candidates searching for employment in various government organizations. Umar Rasool further directed the PITB to mention the job category, as per the educational qualification of candidates. –APP

PES provides emergency
service to 474 people 24 hours
The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) provided emergency services to 474 victims of 667 accidents in the province during the last 24 hours. The statistics show that 154 accidents were reported in Lahore with 153 victims, 72 in Multan with 86 injured and 71 in Faisalabad with 83 victims. According to the data, 522 motorbikes, 89 auto rickshaws, 61 motorcars, 35 vans, 10 passenger buses, 21 trucks and 100 other types of auto vehicles and slow moving carts were involved in aforesaid road traffic accidents. Rescue 1122 staffers have shifted all injured to different hospitals of the province. –APP

Wildlife Protection Monitoring
Cell established
Wildlife Protection Monitoring Cell has been formed under the supervision of Wildlife Planning Assistant Director Mudassar Hassan for the protection of wildlife and to make an ongoing campaign against illegal hunting more effective. According to Punjab Wildlife and Parks department sources on Wednesday, the cell has been made by the department Director General Khalid Ayaz Khan. Deputy Director Wildlife Gujranwala Region and Incharge Vigilance Sqaud Abdul Shakoor, Assistant Director Wildlife Lahore Region Muhammad Rafique have been given responsibility to conduct raids across Punjab to check illegal hunting and netting. After receiving complaints regarding illegal hunting, DG Khalid Ayaz Khan directed the officers of different regions to speed up the campaign against illegal hunting in their respective areas. The regional officers have also been directed to send report in this regard on daily and weekly basis to Wildlife protection cell. He further said that all field officer should ensure the implementation of wildlife act in their respective areas and stay alert to take timely action against illegal hunters. The DG said that incharge officers of all regions would be bound to send the report of their relevant areas to Assistant director Wildlife planning through SMS or cell phones. –APP