Islamabad, Pakistan Railways has announced the restoration of the Akbar Bugti Express, a passenger train service running from Quetta to Lahore. This move aims to enhance passenger convenience and boost revenue for the department.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the restoration of the Akbar Bugti Express follows directives from the Caretaker Minister for Railways, Shahid Ashraf Tarar. The service is intended to provide a reliable transportation option for residents of Quetta and Punjab, facilitating travel between Balochistan and the rest of the country.
The official further stated that Pakistan Railways had expanded its network to ninety-six express trains last year, covering various destinations across the nation. This expansion is part of ongoing efforts to improve service delivery and meet the commuting needs of the population.
Karachi, In a significant move, Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqir, has ordered that 15% additional marks be given to students of the Higher Secondary Board I of Pre-Medical, Pre-Engineering, and General Science faculties. This decision came on the heels of a recommendation from a fact-finding inquiry committee formed to investigate the sudden drop in the passing percentage of Intermediate Education Karachi Class XI Results 2023.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the committee, which included Vice Chancellor of NED University Dr. Sarosh Lodhi, Executive Director IBA Karachi Dr. Akbar Zaidi, and Secretary Sindh HEC Moinuddin Siddiqui, presented its findings and recommendations, which were subsequently approved by Chief Minister Baqir. The Chief Minister directed the Chairman of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi to ensure the implementation of these recommendations. This includes moderation of marks post-examination and issuing show cause notices to the Controller of Examinations, all Deputy Controllers, and IT managers responsible for the oversight of the 2023 examinations.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister ordered the immediate removal of the head of the IT department, Muhammad Shaheer Waqar, citing incompetence and a lack of trust in his ability to hold such a crucial position. The fact-finding committee highlighted the dire state of the board’s IT section as a contributing factor to the administrative failures.
To address the academic and administrative lapses identified, Chief Minister Baqir directed the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi to adopt several measures. These include ensuring the examination paper pattern and marking scheme are made available before the academic session begins and remain constant for at least three years. Additionally, the number of examination centers will be increased to facilitate centralized assessment, and the use of OMR for MCQs will be ensured to eliminate errors.
The Chief Minister also emphasized the importance of training for Head Examiners, Deputy Head Examiners, Co-Examiners, Factotums, and Invigilators, ordering the Board to conduct in-house training sessions to improve the examination process.
This suite of directives from Chief Minister Baqir is aimed at rectifying the issues plaguing the Higher Secondary Board Karachi, ensuring fairness and enhancing the quality of education for students in Sindh.