Lahore, In a concerted effort to address the housing needs of police personnel, IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar recently conducted a site visit to the Elite Training Center Bedian Road, where he inspected the ongoing construction of the Police Housing Project (GEMS). The visit underscores the Punjab Police’s commitment to improving the living conditions of its employees.
According to Punjab Police, during his visit, IG Punjab was briefed by Additional IG Elite Waqar Abbasi and AIG Development Sahibzada Bilal Umar about the progress of the housing project. Dr. Anwar meticulously reviewed the construction materials and stressed the importance of maintaining high standards of quality. He issued instructions to expedite the construction process without compromising on material quality.
Dr. Anwar emphasized the personal supervision of the construction work by senior officers to ensure the timely completion of the residences. He remarked that the Police Housing Project (GEMS) is a significant step towards resolving the longstanding issue of housing for police employees, marking a pivotal development in the welfare initiatives undertaken by the Punjab Police.
The presence of senior police officers and officials from the Communication and Works Department during the visit highlighted the collaborative approach adopted for the successful execution of this project, aiming to provide quality housing solutions for the force’s members.
Santiago, Education ministers and high authorities from Latin America and the Caribbean, gathering in Chile for the Santiago 2024 Education Ministerial, have pledged to intensify their efforts to reactivate, recover, and transform educational systems in the wake of the pandemic. The meeting culminated in the adoption of the Declaration of Santiago 2024, a comprehensive document aimed at reaffirming the commitment to education as a fundamental human right and advancing towards the goals set by Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4).
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Declaration was formalized following the Extraordinary Meeting of Ministers of Education of Latin America and the Caribbean, held at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on January 25 and 26, 2024. The meeting, which marked 60 years since a pivotal conference on education and development in the region, focused on accelerating progress towards SDG4 and the 2030 Agenda.
The ministers agreed on the necessity of sustainable funding, innovative policies, and inclusive and resilient strategies to transition from commitment to concrete action. Claudia Uribe, director of the UNESCO Regional Multisectoral Office in Santiago, highlighted the meeting as a new milestone in regional cooperation in education, emphasizing a renewed commitment towards collective action for educational recovery and transformation.
The Declaration of Santiago 2024 calls for ensuring the financial sustainability of educational policies and addressing the exacerbated educational inequalities caused by the pandemic. It emphasizes the need for strengthening responses to emergencies, crises, and supporting those who have been left out or prematurely exited the educational system.
Nicolás Cataldo, the Minister of Education of Chile, stressed the importance of moving from commitment to action, highlighting the need for joint efforts in financing public policies related to education to achieve innovative strategies and meet objectives.
José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of ECLAC, noted the pandemic’s opportunity to transform educational systems, based on the experiences and innovations developed during the crisis.
The Declaration also underscores the importance of training and professional development for educators, the promotion of socio-emotional and civic competencies among students, and the development of digital skills. Additionally, it calls for the establishment of a “Conference of Ministers of Education of Latin America and the Caribbean” as an intergovernmental body to strengthen regional cooperation and urges international organizations and banks to support the regional educational agenda.
The Santiago 2024 Declaration sets a proactive path forward, with the formation of a working group to develop a Regional Reference Framework on public education policies for reactivation, recovery, and educational transformation. The commitment underscores the region’s dedication to overcoming educational challenges through comprehensive, innovative, and collaborative efforts.