TOBA TEK SINGH: The threeday fifth International Students Convention & Expo of 2025 concluded on Monday at the Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), which was held in collaboration with the InterUniversity Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan.

Vice Chancellor Dr Rauf-i-Azam said the convention played a crucial role in nurturing youth talent, facilitating discussions on global challenges, and fostering international partnerships. He thanked distinguished guests, including the guest of honour Dr Zubair Muhammad Hamdullah Zahid, Ambassador of Palestine to Pakistan, and Prime Minister`s Coordinator Rana Ehsan AfzalKhan.

The convention witnessed the participation of VCs from different universities, faculty members, andstudents from universities across Punjab, along with international students representing over 20 countries, including Palestine, Turkey, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Nigeria, and Jordan.

Dr Zahid lauded the initiative as a positive step and expressed gratitude to the people of Pakistan for their unwavering support for Palestine`s cause. The convention provided a vibrant platform for students, researchers, academicians, educators,innovators, and industry leaders to collaborate, exchange ideas, and drive positive change.

The event featured an array of activities, including student competitions, workshops, a Model United Nations on climate change, city tours, indoor sports, innovation and industrialstalls, an education expo, and entertainment programmes.

With an overwhelming participation of over 10,000 students, the convention proved to be an inspiring and transformative experience.

UAF: The country can earn heavyrevenue by promoting floriculture, which will not only help the farming community increase their income but also alleviate poverty.

This was stated on Monday by experts at the inauguration session of the third international workshop on diversification, value addition, and supply chain management of the floriculture industry, arranged by the Institute of Horticulture Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).

Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Sarwar Khan said that the country had huge potential to grow excellent quality flowers. He added that it was the need of the hour to focus on diversification to combat the challenges. He said Pakistan was blessed with a suitable climate to grow flowers in every season, but the country was not tapping into its full potential.

Former Punjab Horticulture Director Dr Amjad Aulakh said that there was scope for value addition in floriculture products throughprocessing, packaging, and supply chain management. This would increase farm income, generate jobs, and reduce poverty, he added.

Institute of Horticulture Director Dr Ahmad Sattar stressed the need to develop the industry according to international standards. He said it was high time to explore marketing strategies and adopt new technology in the sector to boost the economy.

Dr John M. Dole from NC State University, USA, said that controlled environment agriculture was very important. Talking about the goals of national academies, he said they were focused on increasing nutrient use efficiency in crop production systems, reducing soil loss, and optimising water use.

Dr Iftikhar Ali said new cut flower crops introduced by the commercial floriculture lab at IHS, UAF, were cheaper than bulbous crops, and the majority could be grown in open fields as short-duration crops.

Waheed Khalig Ramay, convenerof the FCCI Standing Committee on Environment and Floriculture, said that with the adoption of modern practices, flower production could be significantly increased.

ACCIDENTS: A motorcycle rider died, and his pillion rider was critically injured after a truck hit their motorcycle near Deputy Wala bus stop on Faisalabad-Chak Jhumra Road on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Muhammad Arshad, 36, and the injured as Muhammad Naveed, 24, who was shifted to Chak Jhumra THQ Hospital.

Also, a Jhang-to-Sargodha bus overturned near Rasoolpur on Jhang-Sargodha Road on Monday evening, resulting in injuries to several passengers. Reports said others were given first aid, while four critically wounded passengers were shifted to DHQ Hospital.

Theywereidentified as Attaullah, 54, Bilgees Bibi, 45, Sajid Ali, 34, and Riffat Bibi, 30.

FIRE:A fire triggered by a childhandling a pistol took the life of another minor boy in Chak 75 RB near Khurrianwala in Faisalabad on Monday.

Reports said a seven-year-old boy, Muhammad Kashif, was playing with his father`s loaded pistol when it accidentally went off. The bullet hit another child, identified as Asadullah, who died at the scene.

ENCOUNTER: A robber was seriously injured in an alleged encounter in the Nishatabad police area in Faisalabad on Monday.

Police claimed that they were returning after recovering stolen goods on the indication of suspect Abid Dogar when his unidentified accomplices attacked the police van and snatched him from police near the Sem Nullah bridge, located on Daewoo Terminal Road.

More police force was called in, and after an exchange ofheavy gunfire, police found him injured. He was shifted to Allied Hospital.

Police said that he was hit by bullets fired by his own accomplices.