High-level meeting moves for price control, traffic streamlining in Ramazan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Minister for Agriculture and Supply and Prices, Muhammad Ismail Rahoo, alongwith Commissioner Karachi, Iftikhar Shalwani, held a high level joint meeting regarding control price check of essential commodities and other goods items during holy month of Ramzaan at the Commissioner office on May 2. 

The Deputy Commissioners, Salahuddin (Karachi South), Ali Ahmed Siddiqui (Karachi East), Zahid Memon (Karachi West) and Javed Abbasi (Karachi Malir) attended the meeting along with Abbas Memon (ADC Karachi Korangi) and other senior officers of the Bureau of Supply and Prices and related departments. 

The Sindh Minister pointed out that the painting and distribution of price lists was the responsibility of Market Committee but all FCs and the Bureau of Supply were their support to MC during the holy month, they all should work together for maximum relief are being provided to common people through distribution, display and awareness of general public at all big markets, super marts, and other shops. 

He stated that media will also be taken on board for maximum publicize price lists monitoring and inspections of all sites where complaints of any sort regarding high and non affordable things will be dealt with heavy fines and resolve the grievances of common people. 

The Minister has directed that officers concerned should regular visits and monitor the issues of prices etc in holy month balance the supply and demand if the goods according to schedule prices for maximum relief shown to people by the government and its functionaries. 

Commissioner Karachi, Iftikhar Shalwani, thanked the Minister Agriculture for holding such important meeting over prices in holy month with respective departments and agencies to provide relief at grassroots level. 

He said that control rooms have already been setup in all DC offices and, through his liaison office, approached all concerned and monitor the activities in the holy month. 

He has also sought details of all departments concerned and agencies steps and progress of implementation prior to the holy month, having directed traffic police to take steps for smooth flow of traffic during Iftar time in particular. 

He further directed the all DCs to provide relief to general public in order to maintain sanctity of holy month as compared to the past. 

Traffic police informed that more than 1,000 personnel at seven centres would be deployed to streamline traffic's flow in the city during the holy month while additional water will be made available for people by the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) and 22,700 gallon water will be at disposal on requisition of all DCs and others to cater the needs. 

Prices lists will be displayed by all social, print and electronic media on daily basis for awareness of general public.

National Quit Smoking Day on 1st Ramazan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The various health professionals’ organizations have voiced their concerns on the hazards of smoking cigarettes, which reportedly bring out the death of 166,000 people every year in Pakistan, on the eve of the National Quit Smoking Day to be observed on the upcoming first day of Ramazan. 

They have thrown light on the devastating tobacco epidemic rampant in the country and emphasized that the holy month of Ramadan provided a golden opportunity for people to quit smoking. 

“Cigarettes are killers that travel in packs. Tobacco consumption is the leading preventable cause of death, causing seven million deaths per year worldwide. Moreover, this death toll is expected to rise to 10 million per year by the year 2025 if the tobacco epidemic continues uncurbed. The horrifying impact of tobacco use in Pakistan is made apparent by the fact that smoking killed 166,000 Pakistanis in 2018 alone,” they warned. 

Prof Javaid Khan of the Aga Khan University (AKU) and Chair of the National Alliance for Tobacco Control, speaking at the Karachi Press Club, informed that every year, 1st Ramazan is commemorated all over the Muslim World as Quit Tobacco Day. 

“Ramazan presents a unique opportunity for Muslims to adopt a healthy lifestyle and quit tobacco use. Each puff of tobacco smoke is made up of thousands of chemicals, including at least 70 known to cause cancer. Tobacco kills half of those who use it, with its victims dying, on average, 15 to 20 years prematurely,” he stated. 

Prof Javaid Khan also urged religious scholars of the country to use this holy month to disseminate information to the public about the hazards associated with tobacco use. 

Dr Qaisar Sajjad, Head and Neck Surgeon and Secretary General, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), added that smokeless tobacco in the form of Gutka, Naswar and manipuri was responsible for 90% of head and neck cancers in the country. 

Advising the government to increase the taxation on tobacco products, he regretted the delay in introduction of Sin Tax on cigarettes as announced by the Health Minister last year.

ZAB E-Fest 2019 unfolds creativity, innovation

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

ZAB E-Fest 2019, an annual inter-university engineering competition, organized jointly by the faculties of computer sciences and mechatronics engineering of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Karachi, was inaugurated by Engr Muhammed Shafique, Vice-Chairman (Sindh), Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).

Speaking on the occasion, Engr Shafique appreciated that students from different universities from all over Karachi who were participating in this project competition. 

“In this modern age of technology advancement, challenges for engineering education were growing at the same pace,” the chief guest pointed out and added that the students needed to equip themselves with the latest and up-to-date technological knowledge, skills and hands on experience. 

He said it was inspiring for the students that their projects will be evaluated by the industry and academic professionals.

According to him bridging the gap between industry and academia was the need of the present time as both segments desired to fill the gap by exchanging the ideas and experience among each other. 

He hoped that the projects displayed in this event will be very eye-catching for the people either to solve their problems or to improve their systems 

He appreciated the efforts of SZABIST in providing superior and high quality education to the students with more progressive, state of the art and value added methods. 

Earlier, Dr Altaf Mukati, Vice-President Academics presented the welcome address and highlighting the objectives of ZAB E-Fest 2019 project exhibition.

On the occasion, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, President, SZABIST presented souvenir to chief guest, Engr Muhammed Shafique. 

Among others, the event was attended by Prof Dr Imran Amin, head of computer science department, members of the faculty and a large number of students. 

ZAB E-Fest has been launched with the cherished goals to inspire, motivate and produce a change. It endeavors to provide a platform for the youth to showcase their talents and skills in fierce competitions, displaying cutting edge technology and presenting it deliberately from all over.

With an aim to reach the goal of an ideal world and to provide know how and innovation of technology to everyone, each year the organizers take up initiatives that inspire dedicated and hardworking participant from all ages and walks of life, to come together and put their idea into reality.