Effective measures help increase revenue of Railways' Karachi Division

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

Despite ongoing resource constraints, Pakistan Railway Karachi Division, succeeded in making a leap forward with an increase in its revenue income during the months of March and April. 

The Division earned a revenue income of Rs 9 million per day in passenger sector only during these two months, an increase of Rs 2 million per day as compared to revenue generated during January 2012. 

According to Divisional Superintendent Railway, Anzer Ismail Rizvi, Karachi Division earned a revenue income of Rs 550 million during the two months under review. 

"The revenue increase was achieved mainly because of strict vigilance and monitoring against ticket less traveling,” the DS Railway stated. He said that black marketing of tickets has also been effectively controlled with passengers being facilitated in reservation of seats in various upcountry bound trains. 

He said effective measures were also taken to ensure that passenger could board a train without valid traveling document at entry points of three major stations of Karachi, Cantonment and Hyderabad Railway stations. 

Anzer Rizvi pointed out that speed restrictions at various points have been made normal by about 40 kilometers between Karachi and Tando Adam as a result of which the punctuality of trains have improved and now the trains were running at normal speed of maximum 105. 

He said that an additional train service has been started between Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas, restoring a previously closed service. This service was closed after railway sources started depleting. 

The restoration of service has greatly facilitated the commuters between Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas. Meanwhile the Divisional authorities also restored the Lower AC coach service between Karachi and Sukkur on alternate day for which power generating unit was arranged through local resources. 

The DS Railway informed that a schedule of repair of 28 locomotives out of 111 allotted to Karachi Railway Division has been prepared whereby four locomotives will be repaired and brought on track every month from January 2013. 

However, he said it will depend on arrival of spare parts either imported or made available locally. To a question, he said, that freight trains, which are a main source of revenue, have again been made operative with an average one train per day with containerized goods for Premnagar dry port and Furnace oil for Lal Pir Power station. He said that efforts were underway to run two freight trains daily from Karachi within a fortnight. 

Chancellor Nizami rewards SSUET cricketers

By Syed Khalid Mahmood 

The Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Engr Z A Nizami, has renewed the pledge that all the talented sports persons will be supported and patronised by the institution in order to breed healthy competition in the society. 

He was speaking at a reception in the honour of the SSUET cricket team which finished runners-up in the recently held Red Bull Tri-nation Cricket Championship in Sri Lanka besides having clinched the national Inter-Varsities title. 

The SSUET had qualified for the Sri Lankan event by winning the National Inter-Varsities championship. 

“We would like our students to excel in the fields of education as well as sports. We facilitate them to let them display their talent in extra-curricular activities,” Engr Nizami remarked in his brief speech. 

Former Test cricketer, Salahuddin Ahmed Sallu, who was the chief guest in the ceremony, observed that the outstanding athletes should be provided special assistance and facilities to pursue their education while unfolding their talents in the field of sports. 

“The students should also pay due attention to their studies in order to succeed in their future life. The curriculum should be designed in such a manner that allowed them sufficient time in the playgrounds,” Salahuddin, who has also been chairman of the national selection committee, urged. 

He lauded the role of the SSUET, named after the visionary leader Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, in promoting sports alongwith education and congratulated their team for the good show in the Saarc event and for winning the national Inter-Varsities title. 

“It’s a collective responsibility to have a kind of environment where we could produce dashing students, active athletes and above all good human beings,” he added. Chancellor Nizami and Salahuddin later distributed certificates of financial assistance among the members of the winning team. 

Shah Hasan Atta’s Maqamat-e-Dil launched at SSUET

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

The Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, Engr Z A Nizami, has renewed the commitment to continue supporting the cause of promotion of Urdu language and its literature.

He stated this while speaking as the chief guest at the launching ceremony of Shah Hasan Atta’s book titled “Maqamat-e-Dil” which was held under the SSUET at its spacious Bashir A Malik Auditorium. 

The graceful ceremony was largely attended by noted writers, scholars and other eminent literary personalities.

The Chancellor pointed out that despite the fact that the SSUET is an engineering institution, it has published around 200 books on general subjects that showed the dedication and commitment to the cause of Urdu language.

“I personally feel that it is too difficult to preserve events and memories with complete truth and accuracy, yet Shah Hassan Atta wrote a book that is a valuable addition to the work of literature,” Engr Z A Nizami complimented.

He paid glowing tributes to the outstanding works of Shah Hassan Atta and announced to bring out his biography soon and also to print his unpublished works.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Sehar Ansari, an eminent poet, said that author Shah Hassan Atta has left indelible marks in the period when every other person was a giant. He had deep studies and knowledge. He was the first Secretary of the students’ union at Aligarh Muslim University and later became the Vice President of students’ union. 

Dr Waqar Ahmed Rizvi, a noted writer and critic, described Shah Hassan Atta was a fabulous writer whose focus was much more on spirituality and Sufism.

Senior Aligarian Saeed Siddiqui and Shah Umar Atta, author’s son, also spoke on the occasion, appreciating the SSUET’s gesture of encouraging scholastic works for the promotion of Urdu, the national language of Pakistan.

Engineering & IT Fair 2012 held at Aligarh Institute of Technology

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

The Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Engr Z A Nizami, has observed that technical education provides a boost to the economic advancement and plays a significant role in the national human resource development creating skilled manpower, enhancing industrial productivity and improving the quality of life in general. 

He was speaking as chief guest at the 6th Engineering & IT Fair 2012 organized by the Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT) at their campus in Karachi.

Appreciating the exhibits on display, Chancellor Nizami highly complimented the efforts of the students who, he reckoned, are producing best results in their respective fields of studies and applying practical use of their knowledge in a true sense. 

Speaking on the occasion, Convener AIT, and Vice-President of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys' Association (AMUOBA), Engr. Muhammad Adil Usman, called upon the students to continuously keep themselves updated with latest information and knowledge in the area of learning to help compete in the market and industry. 

The Engineering & IT Fair is an annual event organized by AIT and its basic purpose is to provide Students of BS (Compter Science) and students of diploma programme a platform to showcase their talents.

He described the projects on display as innovative and motivational and believed that these would enhance the employability skill of the students. He announced that the AIT will soon be introducing a new technology - Bio-informative technology. 

The 6th Engineering & IT Fair attracted a very large number of visitors and proved to be a commendable venture of projects on displa, highlighting the interplay of academics, business and technology. 

Around more than 300 projects were on display at the fair. Guests from various universities, institutes and technocrats from industries also visited the fair to act as judges for the competition.

Later prizes were distributed among the top three winners in seven categories. Chancellor Z A Nizami gaveaway the prizes to the students of Computer Science and Electronic departments. 

The projects Shopping Cart System of Computer Science department and Digital Clock by using seven segment display of Electronic department secured first prizes in the competition. 

I A Usmani, and Convenor AIT, Muhammad Adil Usman, also presented prizes to the winning students.