Tag: textbooks

  • New postal rates: Pakistan Post customers to pay up to 150% more from next month

    New postal rates: Pakistan Post customers to pay up to 150% more from next month

    Pakistan Post has announced a substantial increase in domestic postal rates, set to take effect from August 1. The Ministry of Communication released an official notification outlining the revised rates, which will impact various types of mail and parcel services.

    For non-registered ordinary letters, envelops, the new rates will be as follows:

    – 20 grammes: Increased from Rs20 to Rs30

    – 50 grammes: Increased from Rs38 to Rs60

    – 100 grammes: Increased from Rs50 to Rs75

    – 250 grammes: Increased from Rs75 to Rs120

    – 500 grammes: Increased from Rs100 to Rs150

    – Per kilogramme: Increased from Rs200 to Rs300

    – 2 kilogrammes: Increased from Rs250 to Rs380

    However, for certain printed materials, including textbooks, pamphlets, journals, periodicals, music sheets, maps, circulars, invitations, bills, greeting cards, and other books apart from textbooks, the rates will experience a more modest increase from Rs2 to Rs5 per 100 grammes.

    The parcel rates have also been significantly adjusted, with the following changes:

    – 1 kilogramme: Increased from Rs100 to Rs150

    – 3 kilogrammes: Increased from Rs175 to Rs270

    – 5 kilogrammes: Increased from Rs250 to Rs380

    – 10 kilogrammes: Increased from Rs375 to Rs570

    – 15 kilogrammes: Increased from Rs500 to Rs750

    – 20 kilogrammes: Increased from Rs625 to Rs940

    – 25 kilogrammes: Increased from Rs750 to Rs1,130

    – 30 kilogrammes: Increased from Rs875 to Rs1,320

    Furthermore, urgent mail service rates have also experienced a hike.

    For deliveries within cities or between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, inclusive of all taxes and charges, the new rates will be as follows:

    – Up to 250 grammes: Rs59 to Rs90

    – 500 grammes: Rs110, with an additional Rs45 for every subsequent half kilogramme.

    Deliveries between other cities will follow the following rates:

    – Up to 250 grammes: Rs230

    – Each additional half kilogramme: Rs75

    Cash-on-delivery charges for deliveries within the city are as follows:

    – Up to 250 grammes: Rs55

    – Up to 500 grammes: Rs80

    – Each additional half kilogramme: Rs18

    For cash-on-delivery outside the city, the charges are:

    – Up to 250 grammes: Rs87

    – 500 grammes: Rs122

    – Each additional 500 grammes: Rs35

    These rate adjustments are expected to impact both individuals and businesses utilising Pakistan Post’s services for their communication and delivery needs.

  • India removes chapters on evolution from textbooks of grades 9 and 10

    The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) of India has removed chapters and topics related to evolution from textbooks meant for students of grades nine and 10.

    According to Al Jazeera, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has eliminated Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution for the 2021-2 academic year. As per the report, all references to evolution have been removed from the textbooks, while students who want to learn about evolution must take biology in the 11th or 12th grade.

    Earlier this month, news reports in Indian media said that chapters and topics related to the Mughal empire were removed from India’s 12th-grade history syllabus. However, NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani denied the news reports calling them a lie. “There was a rationalisation process last year. Due to Covid, there was pressure on students everywhere,” the NCERT director said, adding that the expert committee recommended dropping the chapters which won’t impact the knowledge of the students.