Karachi, Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqir, has issued directives to the school education department for the provision of both hard and soft copies of textbooks to students, emphasizing the importance of digital content in the current era. This initiative is part of a broader move towards digitizing education in Sindh.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the decision was announced during the inauguration ceremony of the website for the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Mirpurkhas at the Chief Minister House. Justice Baqir highlighted the relevance of digital content for students, noting its portability and accessibility compared to traditional hard copies.
The event was attended by key education officials, including Secretary University and Boards Noor Ahmed Samun, Chairman Mirpurkhas Board Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Secretary Board Aneesuddin, and Controller of Examinations Anwar Aleem. The Chief Minister launched the Board’s website by pressing a computer button, marking a significant step in the digital transformation of educational resources in the region.
The new website will offer various online services, including enrollment facilities, enrolment cards, examination forms, and roll number slips. Additional features include online verification, submission of duplicate documents, registration of examiners and supervisory staff, and the availability of informative videos for students and teachers. It will also present correction forms and examination results online.
Particularly notable is the e-Academy initiative by the Mirpurkhas Board, aimed at students in remote areas of Tharparkar district. The Chief Minister was informed about the board’s efforts to promote co-curricular activities through model papers for SSC and HSC students, available on the website and official social media platforms.
The Mirpurkhas Board has also established an Information Desk and a Facilitation Center (One Window Operation) alongside a Grievance Portal to address student grievances promptly. Efforts to streamline procedures by eliminating unnecessary document demands were also highlighted.
Justice Baqir’s directive for all education boards to transition to online procedures is a significant move towards reducing manual handling and error proneness in educational administration. His call for a plan to provide both hard and soft copies of textbooks reflects a commitment to modernizing education in Sindh, catering to the needs of a digitally inclined generation.
Islamabad, In a significant diplomatic engagement, Pakistan’s Additional Foreign Secretary (Middle East) Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, who is currently visiting Egypt, met with the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Asia, Ahmed Shaheen. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Ambassador Sajid Bilal, also participated in the discussions.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting focused on reviewing and enhancing the wide-ranging bilateral relations between the two countries, including political, trade, and investment ties. Both parties discussed strategies to further solidify these relations, particularly through the upcoming Joint Ministerial Commission meeting and Annual Bilateral Consultations scheduled to be held later this year in Islamabad.
A notable topic of discussion was the Fourth Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference and Single Country Exhibition, held in Cairo from 9 to 11 January 2024. The event was significant as it coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Egypt. Both the Additional Foreign Secretary and the Assistant Foreign Minister for Asia lauded the success of this conference.
The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to maintain active engagement and collaboration, aiming to advance cooperation and dialogue beneficial to both Pakistan and Egypt. This meeting marks a continued effort to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two nations and signifies a positive step towards deeper diplomatic and economic relations.