Latest news with #PIE
Express Tribune
13-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Non-formal education enrolment rises 20 per cent
A 20% increase has been recorded in enrollments in Pakistan's non-formal education sector, according to the 2023-24 National Non-Formal Education (NFE) Statistical Report. The document has been released by the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE). Non-formal education has been described as a "second-chance model" that is cost-effective, flexible, and community-based. The monthly cost per child ranges between Rs 1,000 to Rs1,500, considerably lower than the expenses of formal education systems. The annual report, presented a detailed snapshot of the country's non-formal learning landscape, spotlighting both achievements and persistent gaps. The number of non-formal education centers across the country has reached 35,427, serving over 1.29 million learners, reflecting a 20% increase in enrollment compared to the previous year. The report notes that in 2023-24, enrollments in non-formal education centers grew by 20%, with 57% of learners being girls, marking a promising step toward gender parity. Female teachers make up 82% of the workforce, demonstrating strong female participation in the non-formal education system. A total of 3,382 adult literacy centers are currently operational, serving 80,093 learners, indicating an increasing focus on youth and adult literacy. Additionally, 10,181 refugee children, mostly from Afghanistan, are enrolled in NFE programs. Innovative models like ALP (Middle-Tech) have been introduced, integrating both academic and vocational skills to improve retention and outcomes. Despite the progress, the report highlights substantial regional disparities, particularly in enrollment rates across remote and underserved areas. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey, female literacy remains significantly lower than male literacy, especially in rural Balochistan, where only 31% of women are literate. The latest UN report ranks Pakistan 164th out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), and 144th out of 173 on the Human Capital Index (HCI), with education being a key contributing factor. Among the report's key recommendations is the expansion of ALP programs, particularly the Middle-Tech model, which boasts a 70% completion rate.
Independent Singapore
11-07-2025
- Independent Singapore
25-year-old police officer involved in road accident while riding police motorbike
Photos: TikTok nightridersg/SG Road Vigilante SINGAPORE: A traffic accident involving a police motorcycle caused congestion along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) towards Changi Airport on Tuesday evening (July 8). The incident took place just before the Central Expressway (CTE) exit. According to the Singapore Police Force, officers were alerted to the accident at about 7:50 p.m. It appears that the police motorcycle skidded while travelling on the expressway. The rider, a 25-year-old police officer, was conscious when paramedics arrived. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that he was subsequently conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for medical treatment. Photos taken by eyewitnesses have been circulating online. Photos uploaded by the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page showed ambulances, several police vehicles, and multiple rescue personnel at the scene. In one of the photos, the police motorcycle could be seen along the expressway shoulder near scattered debris. A nearby sedan appeared to have scratches on its door, although it is unclear if it was directly involved in the incident. A resident living in an HDB flat overlooking the expressway said the accident appeared to have occurred shortly after 7 p.m. The accident resulted in congestion along that stretch of the PIE during the busy evening peak hour. Police investigations are ongoing. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
IOL News
04-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How ageing infrastructure is impacting the local property market in South Africa
Municipalities are faced with the challenge of dealing with the legacies of the past regarding infrastructure development. Image: Se-Anne Rall The local property sector is facing challenges due to ageing public infrastructure, which suffers from limited maintenance and facilities management. This comes as South Africa marks the end of the first year since the seventh Administration took office, following the National and Provincial Government Elections that took place on 29 May last year. Additionally, there are ongoing delays in government payments to service providers, Nolubabalo Tsolo, the executive director at the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS), told "Independent Media Property". She said a key issue is the lack of transparency regarding national government properties. 'The government continues to occupy leased buildings while simultaneously leasing out its properties. To address these issues, the government needs to focus on improving its asset management systems. "This will ensure that public property assets meet both social and economic objectives, ultimately helping to identify the value they provide,' Tsolo said. The organisation which represents the quantity surveying profession at government, industry and any other forum said that with the 7th Administration, one year into the current term of office, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI,) Dean Macphearson, has reported that state-owned buildings have been hijacked nationwide. ASAQS said the minister has committed to conducting a comprehensive audit of all government-owned properties. 'Additionally, the minister stated that these buildings will be rehabilitated and used for housing. This is a positive step toward addressing the housing challenge that we face in South Africa.' Addressing the Budget Vote on Wednesday, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane highlighted illegal property occupation as a significant impediment to South Africa's development objectives. She said that during the current financial year, they will develop a Policy Framework for the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from an Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE) to give effect to the latter's amendments. 'We will also embark on countrywide stakeholder consultations and engagement sessions with various sector partners in the human settlements value chain on the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from an Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE) draft policy,' Simelane said. The housing backlog stands at over 2.4 million households in need of adequate housing in South Africa as per the National Housing Register. In the five years between 2024-2029, Simelane said working with all their strategic partners, they have undertaken to deliver 237 000 Breaking New Ground (BNG) units, 314 000 serviced stands, 140 000 subsidies disbursed through various housing interventions to the missing middle, upgrading 4 075 informal settlements, 15 000 social housing units, register and handover 80 000 title deeds and improve the management of available rental stock by achieving a 95% tenanting rate and a 90% collection rate in social rental stock. ASAQS said that challenges that are continuing to affect the South African property sector are the procurement processes, citing that there should be transparency on the procurement policies, and the country needs to be aware of the companies that are constantly appointed. It said the delay in the payment of service providers continues to be an obstacle to the progression of the economy of the country as this leads to companies closing and some employees' salaries being delayed. Tsolo said the DHS should aim to achieve a property management system that integrates with the asset management system and procurement system, thereby ensuring transparency to alleviate corruption. In the Budget Vote speech, Simelane said that a few years ago, the Department developed the Housing Subsidy System (HSS), a portal that is supposed to serve as a housing needs register data bank and information system. However, she said it is a legacy system which is not compatible with the latest technologies and lacks the critical component of citizen engagement. 'Working with the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), we are in the process of developing the National Digital Human Settlements Management System, which will modernise the way we manage human settlements data and improve coordination across departments. "This initiative will address current inefficiencies by providing a centralised platform for better resource management and service delivery,' Simelane said. She added that this system aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the management of construction projects, ensuring the timely completion of projects and accurate allocation of resources. 'The integrated software solution aims to streamline and automate various processes related to managing human settlements. It will help government housing authorities, urban planners, and city administrators to efficiently manage housing, land, infrastructure development, housing beneficiary lists and related aspects of human settlements. "The development of a comprehensive, integrated online National Digital Human Settlements Management System (NDHS MS) will further enable citizens to apply online for a housing product and be informed about the outcome of their applications,' said Simelane.
The Star
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Strong supercomputer orders drive PIE's recovery
Maybank IB said it has kept its forecasts unchanged and remain constructive on PIE's outlook. PETALING JAYA: PIE Industrial Bhd will likely see a recovery in its earnings in the third quarter of financial year 2025 (3Q25) on stronger order loadings for its supercomputers, says Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB). A quick update with PIE revealed that the group began the year on a strong footing, supported by solid order loadings from a supercomputer customer in 1Q25, which contributed 37% of 1Q25's revenue. 'That said, we expect a slight moderation in 2Q25 orders due to softer market sentiment, which affected the demand for its products during the period. 'However, we expect volumes to rebound in 3Q25, returning towards 1Q25 levels as demand shows signs of recovery,' Maybank IB said in a report yesterday. The research house also noted that PIE's prospective customers remained cautious, opting to delay purchase decisions until there is clarity on the implementation of the delayed US tariffs, which will resume on July 8. On a positive note, PIE had completed a pilot run for a new US-based switches customer secured via Vietnam+1 efforts although the final decisions had also been deferred due to ongoing tariff uncertainties. Maybank IB said: 'We leave our forecasts unchanged and remain constructive on PIE's outlook, underpinned by potential new customer wins and the upcoming commissioning of plant six.' The research house also kept the stock's target price unchanged at RM4.70 per share. Key risks to the group include weaker demand, operational delays (including customer onboarding and ramp-up), customer concentration, rising costs and adverse trade policy developments.
Malay Mail
26-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Another highway crash in Singapore: Four hurt in Bukit Timah Expressway pile-up involving two lorries, van
SINGAPORE, June 26 – Four men were taken to hospital following a multi-vehicle collision involving two lorries and a van on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) this morning. The Straits Times cited Singapore Civil Defence Force and police saying they were alerted to the incident at around 7.50am, in the direction of the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) after the Bukit Panjang exit. Authorities said a 67-year-old male lorry driver and his three male passengers, aged between 29 and 45, were conscious when taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The second lorry driver, aged 30, is currently assisting police with their investigations. The crash follows another fatal accident on June 25 involving two lorries on the Central Expressway. In that incident, a 34-year-old man died and a 24-year-old lorry driver was arrested for careless driving causing death.
