In a move that has raised eyebrows, several schools in Sindh, including the Beaconhouse School System, have opted to ignore the provincial education department’s order to delay school timings. The order was issued in light of the cold weather, directing schools to start classes at 9:00 AM instead of the usual 8:00 AM. However, schools under the Beaconhouse group have taken a different stance, forcing students to arrive at school before 8:00 AM, resulting in students being turned away if they are late.
The education department had recently announced that schools would start at 9:00 AM until February 4, considering the severe cold weather. However, the Beaconhouse group’s schools have chosen to ignore this directive. Despite repeated attempts to contact Arif Jaleel, the head of the Beaconhouse group, he has remained silent on the matter.
In a subsequent development, Additional Director Professor Rafia Malla revealed that the Beaconhouse administration was informed about the strict implementation of the order, warning them that they would face action if they failed to comply. According to Rafia Malla, the Beaconhouse administration has since assured that they would start classes at 9:00 AM from Wednesday.
Meanwhile, various other news items have emerged, including President Asif Zardari’s meeting with UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, where they discussed strengthening bilateral ties between Pakistan and the UAE. Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lieutenant General (R) Nazeer Ahmed stated that Karachi could potentially pay off all of Pakistan’s debt. The Federal Ministry of Health Services has issued a warning and advisory regarding the outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus from India. Relatives of the victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy have demanded the return of their loved ones’ bodies.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi emphasized that the issue of Waziristan’s affected persons is not a matter of political rhetoric but requires a prompt solution. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz advised against promoting instability in any country. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf was asked about the federal government’s domestic violence bill and child marriages bill. MQM senior leader Hyder Abbas Rizvi claimed that the Sindh government is guilty of professional negligence. Leader of the opposition in the Senate, Maulana Raees Hassan Khan, stated that the freedom of expression has been curtailed in Pakistan through the PECA Act. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that the world acknowledges Pakistan’s successes. A consignment of essential goods was delivered to PTI Chairperson Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, at Adiala Jail. NAB’s largest ever single case has been unearthed. Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon challenged the MQM leadership. Rescue 1122 personnel faced criticism for their 40-minute delay in reaching the scene of the Gul Plaza fire. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, and CPEC Engineer Amir Muqam stated that the Kashmiri people are fighting for freedom, and Pakistan is backing them on all forums. He also condemned the Indian government’s stance and urged them to meet with the Kashmiri people. A plane carrying the deputy chief minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, experienced a near-miss before landing. The Federal Ministry of Health Services has issued a warning and advisory regarding the outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus from India. A massive naval fleet is heading towards Iran, with the US President commenting on its rapid advancement and clarity of purpose. Relatives of the victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy have demanded the return of their loved ones’ bodies. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has revealed that the national team traveled to the World Cup at their own expense.
