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World bank approves $47.9m grant to improve Punjab primary education, enrolment

The World Bank on Monday approved a $47.9 million grant to improve primary education in Punjab, saying the project will expand early childhood schooling, re-enrol out-of-school children and strengthen teacher support. In June, the World Bank has ap­­proved $100m for the “Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services in Balochistan” (GRADES-Balochistan) project, which aimed

Centre, KP seem to be on ‘same page’ on NFC tweaks

For a change, the federal government led by the PML-N and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government headed by the PTI seem to be in agreement on changes to the oversized population factor in determining the share of the federation and its federating units under the new National Finance Commission (NFC), set to hold its introductory meeting later this week. “We will demand that population and backwardne

Crop data to be augmented using satellite technology

In an effort to settle disputes over crop data, especially in Punjab, a new programme aims to use satellite technology to obtain accurate crop cultivation figures. Unreliable figures on total acreage and production of a specific crop have remained a persistent issue for the country. The lack of accurate information makes it difficult for stakeholders, including government departments, to fra

Top official replaced amid controversy over KP gas field award

The government has removed a senior petroleum division official on orders from the PM Office, following a controversy involving the award of a majority government-owned gas field to third party, sources told Dawn. Director General Petroleum Concessions Kashif Ali, a grade 20 officer, has been transferred to the administration/policy wing of the petroleum division. In his stead, Imran Ahmad,

FM Dar meets Bangladesh’s Yunus during historic visit as ‘revitalising Saarc’ comes under focus

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday met Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during his landmark visit to Dhaka during which the latter stressed the need to revitalise regional cooperation through South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc). Ever since a popular uprising in Bangladesh saw Sheikh Hasina’s government toppled in August of last y