Tag: Khyber Pakhtun­khwa

  • College teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa getting salaries without taking classes, reveals report

    College teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa getting salaries without taking classes, reveals report

    Around 200 teachers of the higher education department posted at different government degree colleges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are getting salaries without taking classes as they have been posted irrationally and in the wrong positions, reports Mohammad Ashafaq for Dawn.

    Along with the 200, another 679 teachers in government colleges were not meeting the required credit hours, as per official documents. Against the department’s policy of two credit hours, these teachers have only one credit hour.

    Specified workload for teachers

    The higher education department has specified a workload of each teacher that is 12 credit hours in a week while relaxation has been made of three credit hours for the faculty assigned other duties including coordinator, controller, examiners and chief proctors in the respective colleges.

    Burden on rest of the teachers

    The posting and transfers of teachers has shifted the burden to the remaining 808 teachers serving in different colleges, who are forced to attend additional classes in their respective institutes due to shortage of staff.

    A breakdown of teachers not taking classes

    The data shows that six professors in BPS-20 posted in different colleges, 33 associate professors in BPS-19, 61 assistant professors in BPS-18 and 85 lecturers in BPS-17 are not attending classes.

    The teachers, who attend half of their classes, include 31 professors in BPS-20, 195 associate professors in BPS-19, 163 assistant professors in BPS-18 and 285 lecturers in BPS-17.

    The teachers, who are overburdened and attend additional classes beyond their capacity, include 16 professors in BPS-20, 84 associate professors in BPS-19, 238 assistant professors in BPS-18 and 270 lecturers in BPS-17.


    The truth about irrationality of posting

    Sources told Dawn that the minister and secretaries of higher education were responsible for irrationality in the transfer of teachers.

    “For instance, if there is a vacant seat for Urdu teacher in BPS-19 in a government college, which is located in urban area or important city like Peshawar, HED orders posting of a mathematics teacher there in the same grade,” they added.

    However, after posting on the wrong position, the mathematics teacher couldn’t teach Urdu because in colleges only a teacher specialised in subject could teach the same subject. “Wrong posting can be managed at school level but it is not possible in higher education institutions,” they added.

    Sources said that teachers were using their contacts with the high authorities to get posting on wrong positions. They added that such teachers were unable to teach in colleges.

    They said that principals of government degree colleges had also reservations over wrong postings as it caused academic losses to students.

  • Transgenders to be allotted separate rooms in KP hospitals

    Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur has decided to allocate separate rooms for transgenders in all the district headquarter hospitals of the province, reports Geo.

    Governor Ghulam Ali and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had a meeting in which the problems faced by transgenders were discussed. It was decided in the meeting that a separate cemetery will be allocated for their burials. Separate rooms for transgenders will be allocated in each district headquarters hospital .

    Gandapur said that further steps will also be taken to solve all other problems faced by transgenders.

  • Temperature to rise in Sindh; drop in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    Temperature to rise in Sindh; drop in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    The Department of Meteorology has indicated the possibility of an increase in hot temperatures in Sindh and Balochistan while hailstorms are expected in some parts of Punjab, reports Geo News.

    There is a possibility of a gradual increase in temperature during the day in the southern districts of Sindh and Balochistan, as per the Meteorological Department.

    However, in Karachi, there is a chance of clear weather in the upcoming weekend. The minimum temperature recorded was 24.4 degree celsius in the last 24 hours.

    The minimum temperature is expected to be 21 to 23 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is expected to be 33 to 35 degrees during the next 24 hours. Humidity is 76 percent while winds are blowing at a speed of 15 km per hour.

    Simultaneously, heavy rain was reported in Muzaffarabad city and its surroundings and snowfall on the mountains made the weather beautiful.

    The Meteorological Department says that there is a possibility of rain in various cities of Punjab, including Khushab, Jhelum Murree, Guliyat, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Gujarat, Sialkot and Hafizabad. Meanwhile, there is a possibility of hailstorm in a few places.

    In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Abbottabad, Mansehra and Haripur will experience thunder and lightning along with the rain.

    Light snowfall is expected in the mountains.

  • Khyber Medical University prohibits ‘intimate relationship’ between faculty, students to counter sexual harassment on campus

    Khyber Medical University prohibits ‘intimate relationship’ between faculty, students to counter sexual harassment on campus

    Khyber Medical University (KMU) has officially prohibited ‘intimate relationship’ between members of staff and students in accordance with the Higher Education Commission to put an end to harassment on campuses.

    Dr Brekhna Jamil, the chairperson of KMU’s harassment inquiry committee, issued the notification, stating that severe penalties will be implemented if the policy is violated along with a possible oral or written “reprimand, dismissal, suspension, expulsion, disciplinary probation, imposition of fine, withholding of degree, cancellation of professional licence, inclusion of decision in personal file and other related sanctions as deemed appropriate,” reports Dawn.

    “These relationships pose conflicts of interest, compromise professional judgment, and risk the credibility of the institution. The individuals involved in such relationships should declare it,” the notification read — titled ‘Prohibition of intimate or romantic relationships between faculty members, staff and students as per HEC’s policy on protection against sexual harassment in higher education institutions 2020,’ .

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet set to take oath today

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet set to take oath today

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet is set to take its oath of office today after Chief Minister of the province Ali Amin Gandapur got approval from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who is currently in Adiala jail serving sentences in multiple cases.

    Ali Amin Gandapur said in a statement that he discussed the formation of the KP cabinet with Imran Khan in Adiala jail.

    “Cabinet members will take oath today,” he confirmed.

    After meeting the founder of PTI, the newly-elected chief minister came back to Peshawar and asked relevant authorities to arrange the oath taking ceremony in the Governor House.

    However, the names of cabinet members have not been revealed yet.

    Interestingly, a majority of those considered and approved as cabinet members by Imran Khan were unaware of their selection. The News learnt from its sources that KP CM Gandapur did not disclose the names of his cabinet members, as he was under pressure by certain factions within the party to accommodate their nominees.

  • Rain-related death toll exceeds 30 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; dozens injured

    Rain-related death toll exceeds 30 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; dozens injured

    The number of people killed in rain-related accidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has increased to 27, including 18 children, on Sunday, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has reported.

    Apart from the fatalities, at least 38 people, inc­luding 20 children, have been injured.

    PDMA has issued a report on accidents in the province during the last five days, highlighting that 346 houses were partially destroyed while 46 houses were completely destroyed. Additionally, 76 cattle too, have died.

    Goods were distributed among the victims of Charsadda, Dir Lower, Dir Bala, Bajaur, Khyber Nowshera, Peshawar by PDMA.

    More rains are reportedly expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s cabinet will be finalised after Imran Khan’s approval

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s cabinet will be finalised after Imran Khan’s approval

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet will be finalised after the approval of sentenced founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, Geo has reported, quoting newly-elected chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Saturday.

    “I will meet the PTI founder over [matters pertaining to the formation of the] KP cabinet on Monday (March 4),” Gandapur said.

    Geo sources claimed that there are 15 members on the list of prospective cabinet members that will be shown to founder PTI, including the names of Mushtaq Ghani, Khaleeq ur Rehman, and Aqib Ullah Khan. 

    The development comes days after newly-elected members of the provincial legislature were sworn in by now-former speaker Mushtaq Ghani in a ruckus-hit inaugural assembly session.

    A day earlier, Ali Amin Gandapur, after being elected chief minister, demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja in his victory speech in the provincial assembly.

  • After Punjab gives control to a woman, all hail women deputy speakers in KP, Balochistan

    After Punjab gives control to a woman, all hail women deputy speakers in KP, Balochistan

    After Maryam Nawaz was given the charge of Chief Minister in Punjab, other provinces are also stepping up and recognizing the position of women in politics. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have also elected women for the post of deputy speakers in their respective assemblies.

    PTI-backed member from Chitral, Suraiya Bibi has been elected as the Deputy Speaker in KP Assembly after securing 87 votes.

    Suraiya Bibi is from the constituency of PK-1 Chitral, representing the Banu, Chitral, and Lower Dir regions. She has served as the Vice President of the Malakand Women’s Wing of the Tehreek-e-Insaf. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology. However, it is important to note that she is the second woman in the province to have been elected for this post. The first was Mehr Taj Roghani from Mardan, who is now a senator.

    In Balochistan, Ghazala Gola has been elected unopposed as the deputy speaker of the Balochistan Assembly.

    She belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and according to her Twitter bio has served as a provincial minister on women’s development in Balochistan.

    Additionally, Sindh Assembly has elected Anthony Naveed from PPP as the deputy speaker. Naveed is from a minority community and is a former Special Assistant To Chief Minister Sindh – Pakistan on Interfaith & Harmony.

  • Woman strangles 8-years-old nephew over property dispute

    Woman strangles 8-years-old nephew over property dispute

    A woman in the Ghazi Tehsil of Haripur allegedly strangled her minor nephew and threw his body into a well over a property dispute. She has been arrested by the police along with two accomplices, reports Dawn.

    The boy, Abdul Moeed, 8, a student of grade III, went to school on Feb 21 but didn’t return home. The family searched for the missing boy, but could not find any clue to his whereabouts, informing the police.

    As per the initial investigation conducted by the police, the suspect, Abida Shaheen, was identified by the police upon investigation of her mobile phone record. She disclosed that she strangled Moeed with the help of two accomplices, Waseem and Mohammad Akhtar, and then threw his body into a well in the village.

    After her confession, the police recovered the body from the well and shifted it to Ghazi Tehsil Headquarters Hospital for autopsy.

    A criminal case was registered against the woman and the accomplices under sections 201, 202, and 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    The motive behind the boy’s murder was a property dispute between two brothers – the husband of the accused woman and the boy’s father – the police said.

  • Man and woman honour-killed in Kohistan

    Man and woman honour-killed in Kohistan

    A woman and a man were shot dead, allegedly by the woman’s father and brother in the Kolai Pallas area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohistan district in an act of ‘honour’ killing, reports Dawn.

    The police reached Bar Paro in Kolai Pallas and found two bodies lying in a pool of blood. The deceased were identified as Ubaidullah of Ghato, Sherakot, and Baloo Bibi of Bar Paro, who were allegedly shot dead by her father Angeel and brother Muhammad Islam.

    As per the FIR, the two suspects fled the scene after committing the crime, following which the police launched an investigation.

    In November, a girl was killed allegedly by her father on the orders of a jirga in the Barsharyal area after social media pictures showed her and her friend in the company of two unrelated boys in their village, an act considered taboo in the area. The other girl was rescued by the police.

    A similar incident had been reported a decade ago where five women cheering for a dancing boy in the video were allegedly killed, along with the boy’s four brothers, on the orders of a local jirga. The alleged killings captured international attention, and then-Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry took suo motu notice of the incident.