Over 40,000 Pakistani students celebrate their CIE results

Students can be seen appearing in the exams. — Online/File 

• In Pakistan, more than 40,000 students from over 250 Cambridge schools made more than 100,000 entries.
• Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry were the most popular AS and A-Level subjects in Pakistan.
• Cambridge IGCSE and O-Level results will be released on August 18.

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ISLAMABAD: Thousands of students in Pakistan celebrated receiving their Cambridge International AS and A-Level results last week which marked an end to the end of another difficult year for the students and schools.

Cambridge International, part of the University of Cambridge and the largest provider of international education for five to 19-year-olds globally released the results of its June 2022 exam series on Thursday, August 11 to Cambridge International AS and A-Level schools in Pakistan and around the world.

“Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, exams went ahead in nearly all countries this year, with more than 220,000 students making entries for Cambridge International AS and A Level in the June 2022 series,” a statement released in this regard read.

Globally, 95% of Cambridge students took exams in June 2022, compared with 75% in June 2021. Where exams could not go ahead because of local COVID-19 restrictions, Cambridge International provided an alternative assessment, marked by Cambridge examiners.

The statement mentioned that in Pakistan, more than 40,000 students from over 250 Cambridge schools made more than 100,000 entries for Cambridge International AS and A-Level exams in June 2022. 

This is almost double the size of the June 2021 entry in Pakistan, when COVID-19 restrictions caused around 50% of students to defer their exams to the November 2021 series.

It should be noted that Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry were the most popular Cambridge International AS and A-Level subjects in the June 2022 exam series in Pakistan.

Across the entire Cambridge International exam series in June 2022 more than 460,000 students — making 1.4 million entries in 147 countries — have been able to gain the qualifications they need to take their next steps, which is a testament to their resilience and the ongoing support of their teachers, families, and communities.

Cambridge International Chief Accountable Officer Christine Özden said: “This year has been another tough one — the pandemic has continued to disrupt our lives and learning in different ways. Some of our students and teachers have been affected by school closures and ongoing restrictions.

“More than ever, I congratulate Cambridge students for their hard work towards these results. They’ve shown great resilience and dedication to get to this point, and I am proud of everyone’s achievements. They can now progress to new opportunities and experiences, and I’m confident they have the skills, knowledge and courage to succeed in every choice they make.

Meanwhile, Cambridge International Country Director, Pakistan, Uzma Yousuf said: “I would like to congratulate all our Cambridge International AS & A Level students in Pakistan on their results. This is a fantastic achievement and shows their resilience and dedication to their studies despite the challenges in these exceptional times. Their families and teachers can be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.”

Cambridge International AS and A-Level results were released on August 11. Cambridge IGCSE and O-Level results will be released on August 18.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/over-40000-pakistani-students-celebrate-their-cie-results/?feed_id=11378&_unique_id=62faceb5d62f0

EU envoy plays Pakistani anthem on trumpet

In a special gesture, to honour Pakistan's 75th Independence Day, European Union Ambassador Dr Riina Kionka played the national anthem on the trumpet.

The unique way to mark the upcoming 14th of August, when Pakistan obtained independence in 1947, was shared through a special campaign on the social media channels of the European Union delegation to Pakistan in Islamabad, said a news release issued by the European Union Commission on Thursday.

The year 2022 also marks 60 years of EU-Pakistan relations in a long-standing partnership that makes both countries stronger together. 

It added that the EU is committed to a stable, democratic, and pluralistic country that respects human rights and benefits from its full economic potential by supporting sustainable and inclusive development for all its citizens.

The collaboration between the European Union and Pakistan is grounded in the strategic engagement plan signed in 2019.

It maintained that the SEP's cooperation areas include not only peace and security, but democracy, rule of law, human rights and migration, but also energy, climate change, and science and technology.

As one of Pakistan's biggest trading partners, the EU helps the country join the global economy and grow its economy in a sustainable way. Since 2014, it has given Pakistan preferential access to the European single market through the GSP+ system.

Meanwhile, the EU ambassador called on Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar at the ministry. Both discussed issues of mutual interest and the further development of bilateral relations and reiterated their commitment to work together for a stronger partnership.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/eu-envoy-plays-pakistani-anthem-on-trumpet/?feed_id=9859&_unique_id=62f5ffc3d4617

UAE to invest $1bn in Pakistani companies: Report

The United Arab Emirates intends to invest $1 billion in Pakistani companies across various sectors, state news agency (WAM) reported citing an official source in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE is keen to continue cooperation with Pakistan “in various fields, which include gas, energy infrastructure, renewable energy, health care,” the agency added.

The move will likely help revive investor sentiment in the country, which has been beset by dwindling foreign exchange reserves as well as a depreciating rupee. However, as an IMF bailout programme becomes clearer, sentiment has improved and the stock market on Friday rallied by some 670 points.

The IMF’s summer recess ends on Aug 12. “So, technically the IMF Executive Board’s meeting could take place before Aug 20, if recommendations are sent to the board by Aug 6,” one of the sources said.

Pakistan and the IMF signed the $6bn bailout accord — Extended Fund Facility (EFF) — in 2019. But the release of a $1.17 billion (seventh and eighth) tranche has been on hold since earlier this year, when the IMF expressed concern about Pakistan’s compliance with the deal.

The last executive board consultation was held on February 2 this year. On July 13, the IMF reached a staff-level agreement on the combined seventh and eighth reviews for the EFF, which has to be approved by the board before it is disbursed.

The sources said Pakistan tried to get the board’s approval before the summer recess (Aug 1 to 12) and sent several officials to Washing­ton to persuade the Fund to do so. Earlier this week, Army Chief Qamar Bajwa telephoned US Deputy Secr­etary of State Wendy Sher­man to seek Washing­ton’s support for the package. “But the Pakistanis were informed that it’s not possible to hold a board meeting before the recess as a number of members are already on leave,” one of the sources said.

Another source said the IMF was “keen to help Pakistan out” and that “there has been no delay on their behalf”, but it was “not possible to expedite the process”.

The sources said the IMF had asked Pakistan to get assurances from Saudi Arabia and the UAE that they would give an expected $4bn loan to the country after the IMF releases its tranche.

“The Pakistanis received, and conveyed, the assurance from the two friendly countries,” a senior diplomatic source said. “So, we see no problem in the board’s approval.”

But other sources said Pakistan had been warned “not to allow the political situation to go out of hand”. The government had further been told that “street violence and protests by the opposition or a government crackdown on PTI leaders can have a negative impact on the deal”.

The US media, while commenting on Gen. Bajwa’s calls to US diplomatic and military officials three days ago, pointed out that “Pakistan’s military, which has directly ruled the country for more than half of its 75-year history, has closely worked with the US and is an official ally in the war on terror against Al Qaeda”.

“And the calls have helped, but even the Americans cannot persuade the IMF to circumvent its procedure,” a diplomatic source said.

“Pakistan desperately needs the IMF loan. In July, the fund said it would raise the value of the bailout from $6 billion to $7 billion, if approved by its executive board, usually considered a formality,” one of the reports said.

Another report noted that “the revival of IMF’s bailout package will help Pakistan and encourage other international financial institutions to engage with the country”.

The report pointed out that since Imran Khan’s ouster, “Pakistan’s currency has plummeted to an all-time low amid uncertainty about IMF assistance”.

The steady decline in the nation’s currency “has spread panic among its business community” and “rising food prices has made the Sharif government highly unpopular”.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/uae-to-invest-1bn-in-pakistani-companies-report/?feed_id=7185&_unique_id=62edb5f9649c9

Pakistani scholars’ delegation meets outlawed TTP’s leadership in Kabul

Delegation of Pakistani scholars in a meeting with the leadership of the banned TTP. — Twitter

KABUL: A delegation of Pakistani scholars on Tuesday met with members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Kabul. The delegation left for Afghanistan from Islamabad on Monday after receiving an invitation from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Sources said that the delegation representing TTP was led by Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, while the Pakistani delegation is headed by Mufti Taqi Usmani.

TTP’s delegation informed scholars about the obstacles encountered during their negotiations with Pakistani authorities, sources shared.

Sources further added that the delegation from Pakistan listened to TTP’s reservations and also shared their point of view with them.

Pakistani scholars will also meet with the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan during their visit. Other scholars in the delegation include Hanif Jalandhari, Maulana Tayyab Punj Mir, Molvi Anwaar-ul-Haq, and Mufti Ghulam-ur-Rehman. 

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/pakistani-scholars-delegation-meets-outlawed-ttps-leadership-in-kabul/?feed_id=2494&_unique_id=62e0347308801