RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Government has devised a plan to close down 194 more Government Schools functioning in Rawalpindi which constitutes 10 per cent of schools in division under new “Merging Policy” initiated.

The initiatives undertaken by Punjab government have been at odds to the mounting population rate across the country, as around 25,000 schools functioning for the last three decades in Punjab including 757 educational institutions in Rawalpindi Division have been closed down under “Merging policy” introduced in the province.

According to statistics of Education Department, over 74,000 education institutions including Primary, Middle, high, higher Secondary Schools were operating in Punjab in 1983. However, under the policy of formation of Model School and merging policy of Punjab government, the number of educational institutions had lowered to 49000.

Similarly, around 2700 education institutions were functioning in 1983 in district Rawalpindi, while this figure was reduced to 1943 in 2017 under the new policy.

Awareness campaign: The 4th national narcotics control committee meeting has decided to organize a comprehensive awareness campaign against drug abuse through media to achieve better results.

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) would be involved for the purpose. The meeting decided that Ministry of Information would ensure telecast/print of public service messages on drug abuse as corporate responsibility.

Ministry of Information would also ensure involvement of Pakistan Television (PTV), Radio Pakistan and Associate Press of Pakistan (APP) to disseminate messages against harmful effects of drugs. The Directorate of Electronic Media and Publication would also be involved in campaign against use of illicit drugs.

Ministry of Information would activate PEMRA and media houses to support anti-drug messages and telecast such messages on air as public service. It will also take up with media houses for using time slots under their policy. An update will be provided to Narcotics Control Division for record.

Regarding dissemination of awareness material, it was decided that Ministry of Narcotics Control/Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) would provide materials for creating awareness at Railway Stations and passengers coaches. Ministry of Narcotics Control would share awareness material with Provincial governments and other stakeholders as well for its printing and dissemination.

The governments of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) would re-print awareness material shared by Narcotics Control Division for dissemination amongst the masses, it was further decided. Provincial government were provided material on harmful effects of drugs for proper dissemination on regular basis. Narcotics Control Division would provide further help whenever it is needed. A detail report on dissemination of material would be provided to Narcotics Control Division.

Suicide case: Islamabad police have included in investigation lady class teacher in suicide case of 7th class student Osama. The lady teacher said she considered Osama her pupil. Sources said that a student of seventh class, Osama, Resident of Tarnol, had allegedly committed suicide a day before on his failure in love with his class teacher.

Police have also recorded statement of lady class teacher who said that ‘she considered Osama as her pupil and she knew nothing about his feelings’. Police also recorded statements of 20 students present therein and younger brother of the deceased. Students told police that Osama fired bullet in his belly in front of them. Investigation team said that the incident seemed to be of suicide and relatives of student are giving it wrong color.

Camp: A camp has been set up in Police Line No 1 for diagnosing hepatitis B and C in the Rawalpindi police employees.

According to media reports, the camp has been established in collaboration with the Red Crescent. The camp was started with taking blood sample of City Police Officer (CPO), Israr Ahmad Khan Abbasi.

Rawalpindi police spokesperson said that blood samples of all respective police employees will be taken.