Latest news with #GovernmentofPunjab
The Hindu
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
A.P. Governor advocates cultivation of oilseeds, pulses to check malnutrition in country
Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer has appealed to farmers to focus more on cultivating pulses and oilseeds, thereby reducing their imports and contributing to the nutritional security of the country. Participating in the 57th Convocation of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), at Atkur village in Krishna district on Thursday (July 24, 2025), the Governor pointed out that Andhra Pradesh was a leading performer with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.8% in agriculture and allied sectors during the 2024-25 fiscal year. India has achieved a record food grain production of 353.95 million tonnes in 2024, and the country's agricultural commodities are reaching several countries across the globe, he said. He stressed the need for maintaining nutritional security and food safety, while increasing the production of food grains. Former Special Chief Secretary to Government of Punjab, A. Venu Prasad, who was the chief guest for the programme and an alumnus of ANGRAU, Bapatla, said the institute helped him achieving to greater heights in career. 'ANGRAU, located at Lam in Guntur district, is competing with top institutes in the country. Students should select the courses of their choice and excel in the field,' Mr. Venu Prasad said. Later, the Governor and the chief guest awarded degrees and awards to the meritorious students and the staff. ANGRAU Vice-Chancellor R. Sarada Jayalakshmi Devi said that established in 1964, the university had so far awarded degrees to 48,352 students, including 36,664 undergraduates, 11,688 post graduates and researchers. 'The university has released 25 new varieties of crops during 2023-24 fiscal year, of which nine were at the State level and 16 at the national level,' Ms. Jayalakshmi Devi said. Kaikalur MLA Kamineni Srinivas, Krishna district in-charge Collector Geetanjali Sharma, ANGRAU Registrar G. Ramachandra Rao were among the dignitaries who participated in the programme.
Business Recorder
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Overseas Pakistanis: Services of OPC Punjab to be improved
LAHORE: Commissioner OPC Saman Rai has said that overseas Pakistanis are a valuable asset to the country, and providing them with timely facilities and addressing their complaints is among the top priorities of the Government of Punjab. While presiding over a high-level meeting of the Overseas Pakistanis Commission Punjab Commissioner Saman Rai discussed various reform initiatives aimed at making services provided more efficient, modern, and accessible. The meeting was attended by Director General OPC Ahmar Malik, Director Admin Aamir Ahmed Khan, Director Police Matters Imtiaz Ahmed Khan, Director Revenue Shoaib Niswana, Assistant Director Budget Azeem Bari, and Assistant Director IT Farhan Ramzan. It was decided in the meeting that the complaint redressal system would be fully aligned with modern requirements. The OPC mobile app will soon be made available on the Apple App Store, and a call centre will be reactivated to ensure immediate complaint registration and guidance. Additionally, the user interface of the web portal will be improved to make it more user-friendly and in line with international standards. She instructed that all digital platforms of OPC be upgraded to meet public expectations and international standards to enhance trust in the institution and ensure timely and transparent resolution of each complaint. Saman Rai is an officer of the Government of Punjab, Pakistan Administrative Service, currently serving in Grade 20. She has been posted as the Commissioner OPC Punjab to expedite pro diaspora engagement and complaint redressal mechanism. Throughout her career, she has served at various key administrative positions including Director General Population Welfare and Director General Public Relations (DGPR) Punjab. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab brings ‘youth skill' under focus by allocating Rs26bn in FY26
LAHORE: World Youth Skills Day is celebrated Monday globally to spotlight the transformative power of technical and vocational education in building inclusive economies and resilient societies while the Punjab government has also focused on it by allocating Rs 26 billion in fiscal year 2025-26. Following the vision of the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Government of Punjab has placed skills at the heart of its economic agenda. Under the CM Skilled Punjab initiative, landmark programmes are in placed as Rs 26 billion are allocated for skills development and entrepreneurship for the fiscal year 2025-26. For the first time Punjab has consolidated all TVET policy under a single Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Department (SDED); bringing Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA), Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC), Punjab Skills Development Authority (PSDA) and Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE) under one strategic umbrella to ensure every effort is aligned with labour-market demand. The Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), Pakistan's largest skills fund and the implementing arm of CM Skilled Punjab Initiative has spent 15 years building employer-led training pathways. In that time, it has enabled 600,000 graduates (44 percent women) across 250 trades. Current flagships programs include PSDF: Tabeer – International Placement of Rs 2.7 billion for 2,500+ global job placement, PSDF - Mein Digital- Empowering rural women through IT of Rs 1billion for 3,000 educated rural women and PSDF -Pehchan- Skill Development Program for Transgender for Rs 870 million for 2,250 marginalized transgender, each designed to unlock new segments of talent and link them to high-value local or overseas work. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Upturn
12-07-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Boardroom Dreams Take Flight: Punjab's Business Blasters Light Up IIT Ropar
Spearheaded by the Government of Punjab and the State Education Department, through its NGO implementation partner Udhyam Learning Foundation , the Business Blasters program builds on the Entrepreneurial Mindset Curriculum now rolled out from Class 9 onwards — turning classroom curiosity into community-changing ventures. Business Wire India In the auditorium of IIT Ropar, the energy felt less like a student showcase and more like a startup summit — stalls buzzing, pitches echoing, investors leaning in, and parents wiping proud tears. At the heart of it all stood 40 student-led businesses — built by Class 11 students from Punjab's government schools, who transformed classroom ideas into tangible, market-tested, and revenue-generating ventures. And today, they lit up the pitch. Amandeep and Zeenat from Rupnagar stood proudly behind their Creative Girl Resin Art stall — where keychains and decor pieces, handcrafted with resin and heart, flew off the shelves. What started as a passion project during their free periods now looked like a full-fledged design label. From Moga, the all-girls team BB Choco turned chocolate into a conversation — offering healthy, homemade treats that had even the adults asking, 'when should we restock?' Their cocoa creations weren't just sweet — they were smart, guilt-free, and proudly homegrown. In the center aisle, Electrical Sharks from Pathankot showcased their retrofitted electric bicycle — a sleek, silent mobility solution built using local parts and even more local ambition. 'It's not recycling,' one of them smiled, 'it's revolting against pollution.' Over at the driving simulator station, the A3 Driving Game from Malerkotla had guests queuing up to try their innovation — a low-cost, interactive driving game designed to help beginners learn road safety and combat the rising tide of rash driving deaths in India. In a quieter corner, Herby Sprinkle from Patiala handed out samples of their tangy herbal amchur and masala blends — sun-dried mangoes, traditional spices, and Ayurvedic wisdom in every packet. 'We just used what our dadi used to,' smiled Harnoor, one of the co-founders, 'and now people are asking where they can order it online.' But the day wasn't just about exhibition — it was also about elevation. The top 10 student teams were selected for a high-stakes, Shark Tank-style showdown, where they pitched their businesses live to a jury of CEOs, venture capitalists, and senior government officials. With stage lights on and mics clipped, students confidently defended their ideas, answered rapid-fire questions, and proved that their business instincts were as real as their prototypes. The audience cheered as deals were offered, mentors signed up, and Punjab's youngest founders owned the stage — not just as students, but as CEOs in the making. In total, Rs. 18 lakh in funding was committed to student teams by a distinguished jury of angel investors, including Mr. Pramod Bhasin (Former CEO, Genpact), Mr. Vikramjit Sahney (MP, Rajya Sabha), Ms. Sairee Chahal (Founder & CEO, SHEROES), Dr. Hemant Kanakia (Former CEO, Torrent Networking Technologies), among others. IIT Ropar committed to incubating at least five promising ventures from the Business Blasters program, while Innovation Mission Punjab extended its support by connecting student-led startups to its vast network of mentors and market linkages. The Expo was inaugurated by Hon'ble Education Minister Shri Harjot Singh Bains , who addressed the young founders and an audience packed with industrialists, investors, and educators. During his address, the Minister also made a landmark announcement that will redefine how students graduate from school. 'From now on, every school student in Class 11 and 12 must build and execute a business idea to graduate. This is not just about academics anymore — it's about preparing young people to build, earn, and solve real-world problems before they even step into college.' — Hon'ble Education Minister, Government of Punjab Sharing the stage — and the stalls — was Shri Manish Sisodia , former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and the visionary behind India's first Business Blasters program. His presence at the event wasn't just symbolic — it was a full-circle moment. From laying the foundation in Delhi to now witnessing its powerful resonance in Punjab, he spent hours visiting student stalls, sampling their products, and engaging in heartfelt conversations with the young founders. 'School se nikalne wala har baccha ab kuch bana ke jayega, kuch bech ke jayega, kuch value add karke jayega — sirf degree leke nahi jayega. Agar baccha life mein paisa kamana nahi seekh payega, toh degree kis kaam ki?' 'Every child leaving school should leave having created something, sold something, added value — not just with a degree. If they can't learn how to earn, what use is a degree?' At the center of the day's celebration was the launch of 'Loud and Local – The Young Entrepreneurs of Punjab', a stunning coffee table book that features portraits, profiles, and personal essays of the student founders — proof that power doesn't need a corner office to start; sometimes, it begins with Rs. 2,000 seed money and an idea. Stalls at the Expo offered everything from: Solar-powered mobile chargers by Manpreet in Barnala Customized resin art by Amandeep and team in Rupnagar Driving simulations from Malerkotla Herbal skincare soaps from Fatehgarh Sahib A self-defense safety stick for women by Protect Plus from Ferozepur And even the Skillexus platform — a student-built career guidance site to help peers navigate higher education options Beyond product innovation, the Expo also honoured teachers who played pivotal roles in mentoring student entrepreneurs — offering time, trust, and even personal resources to help their students dream bigger. Spearheaded by the Government of Punjab and the State Education Department, through its NGO implementation partner Udhyam Learning Foundation , the Business Blasters program builds on the Entrepreneurial Mindset Curriculum now rolled out from Class 9 onwards — turning classroom curiosity into community-changing ventures. With this, Punjab is laying the foundation for a full four-year journey in enterprise — starting with a question, and ending with action. The Business Blasters Expo 2025 wasn't just a celebration. It was a declaration. Punjab's youth are not waiting for opportunity — they're building it. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. Business Upturn take no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Business Recorder
30-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab PA Speaker distributes cheques among sanitation workers
LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan distributed award cheques among hardworking sanitation workers in Kasur under the 'Suthra Punjab Programme' initiated by the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, in recognition of their excellent cleanliness arrangements during Eid-ul-Azha. On this occasion, the Speaker not only distributed the award cheques on behalf of the Punjab government but also announced an equal amount of personal reward for each worker — a gesture that was warmly appreciated by the attendees. Addressing the workers, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan paid tribute to the leadership of the Government of Punjab and stated that the vision of public service envisioned by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is now being implemented in letter and spirit. The successful execution of the 'Suthra Punjab' initiative is a prime example of this. The Speaker commended the efforts of the Suthra Punjab workers, stating that hardworking individuals are the backbone of a province's progress and development. 'Loyal and dedicated individuals like you are our pride,' he said. 'The true beauty of our society lies in the hands that serve silently and selflessly.' Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan especially acknowledged the commitment, discipline, and sense of duty demonstrated by these workers during the Eid holidays. 'Their performance is truly commendable,' he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
