NLA establishing new tradition for book promotion

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA), which emerged on the horizon in 2017, is in the process of establishing a new healthy tradition for the genuine promotion of books as it encourages its members to bring books during its various events for its onward donation to the deserving institutions on the occasion. 

For its ceremony organized to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day at the Junagadh Lawn on May 21, the NLA had highlighted in the invitation card that there will no registration fee for the event but every guest must bring along a book or two for donating the same to the Junagadh Library & Resource Centre. 

The NLA members and guests responded positively and there was a collection of more than one hundred books on different subjects which was gifted to the officials of the Junagadh Library & Resource Centre who gleefully accepted the package.

Similarly instead of giving away shields or momentoes to the dignitaries and guests of honour, the NLA presented books to the distinguished visitors gracing the ceremony, who thoroughly appreciated the move of the hosts.

Advisor’s compelling address stuns librarians

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Advisor of the National Library Association (NLA), Syed Khalid Mahmood, stunned the audience with a compelling address during the ceremony organized to celebrate the World Book & Copyright Day at the Junagadh Lawn in Karachi on May 21. 

Although he has never been a library professional himself, he has earned appreciation and reverence from the librarians spread all over the country for having promoted their cause for the last many years and yet again he pleaded their case for due recognition. 

“The librarians employed at the government organizations are blessed with proper grades and facilities but those working in the private sector were not getting adequate compensation which is a pity. This is a serious matter and it demands action. Unity in the ranks of librarians will help resolve such issues,” he advised. 

“The NLA has provided you the platform. Our President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, and Secretary, Anwar Hussain, have worked with missionary zeal for the last five years to keep it afloat. A few others have assisted them from time to time but let me assure you that it’s in your own interest too if you contribute your bit in making this movement more effective,” Khalid Mahmood, a renowned media personality, remarked. 

“Post-registration the NLA will have mandate to do bigger things. Therefore start extending your support by whatever means right now, if you haven’t started doing it yet. Strong NLA will make you stronger, your profession stronger. It will be for the collective benefit of all professionals,” he stressed.

DS Karachi emphasizes on improving Railways efficiency, safety

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Emphasizing the imperative need for ensuring immaculate safety aspect in train operation, the Divisional Superintendent Railways, Karachi Division, Kashif Rashed Yusufani, called upon the Divisional Officers and all other concerned personnel to contribute their bit in achieving the cherished objective of providing hazard-free service to railway passengers. 

He was speaking as chief guest at a one ‘Train Safery Operation seminar organized at the Technical Training Center on his directive. 

The seminar was attended by Divisional officers, Assistants, Train examiners, PWI, Guards, Station Masters and other relevant officials. The main objective was to acquaint them about how to take measures in advance to cope with accidents. 

The DS was appreciative of the officials and the staff members who were working efficiently despite problems of material and staff shortage.

He exhorted the officials and subordinates in charges to essential ensure carrying out now and then inspection of various railway installations and told them that timely inspections will surely reduce problems by 60-70 percent because such inspections would surely help pin point the safety related problems. 

He emphasized that no one should hide the problems, if identified, whether it related to track system, rolling stock or engine defection and the same should be forwarded to concerned officials for immediate remedial action.

“The staff must necessarily share the same with their officials as hiding the same or keeping it in abeyance, will be harmful for the railway,” he declared, adding that they will have to work together in making Pakistan Railways a profitable entity. 

His emphasis was that rules and regulations must be observed fully as only this could help the organization in making further advancements.

On the occasion Divisional Transportation Officer (DTO) Sajjad Ahmed Wagho, apprised the seminar participants about the importance of the event in detail and recalled that many lives were lost in trains accidents during the past few years besides accruing financial losses to the railway which also caused damage to the Railways credibility. 

The seminar was informed about three main reasons for accidents which were the condition of tracks, rolling stock problems and human error. Besides, natural calamities, subversion, material shortage and problems in defective signaling system were identified as other causes of accidents. 

The seminar proposed setting up of safety cell, procurement of safety materials, surprise inspections and taking immediate corrective measures of minor deficiencies as short term remedies. 

The seminar was attended, among others, by Deputy DS Shahid Hussain Sammpn, DCO Ishaq Baluch, DME-I Junaid Ahmed, DME-II Habibullah Maher, DN-I Kamran Ghauri, Assistant Operating Officer Shahid Hussain Khilji, Assistant Transportation Officer, Jahan Babar, Station Managers Karachi Cantonment, Karachi City, Keamari, Kotri and Hyderabad.

AKU’s Prof Zulfiqar Bhutta ranked among top global scientists

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Professor Zulfiqar Bhutta of the Aga Khan University (AKU) has been ranked among the top 100 medicine scientists in the first edition of top scientists ranking for medicine published by Research.com, one of the major knowledge centres for medicine research. He is the only scientist from Pakistan and the low- and middle-income countries who made it to the top 100. 

The ranking is based on criteria that considered h-index, which indicates how productive and influential a researcher is, publications and citations. The ranking team examined 166,880 scientists on Google Scholar and Microsoft Academic Graph, and over 65,743 profiles for the discipline of medicine.

“As is the case for other recent recognitions, though a personal recognition, this ranking reflects the achievements of scores of young researchers and faculty members across the world having worked with me on problems of the most marginalized and impoverished women and children in poor communities,” Professor Bhutta commented. 

He is the founding director of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health and the Institute for Global Health and Development at AKU and Co-Director of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, Robert Harding Chair in Global Child Health and Policy, and a Senior Scientist in the Child Health Evaluative Sciences programme at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.

“Congratulations to Professor Bhutta and his team for this great achievement. Their relevant research at AKU has changed lives not only in the countries where we seek to serve but also globally,” the AKU President, Sulaiman Shahabuddin, greeted. 

Professor Bhutta is one of the original members of AKU’s faculty since the establishment of the University. Having begun his career at AKU in 1986, the University provided a foundation for the development of an illustrious career in which he built research programmes on maternal and child health and nutrition with national and global impact, despite the challenges of political turmoil and economic insecurity in Pakistan.

Between 1996 and 2002, Professor Bhutta and his team at the University undertook extensive community outreach and research programme in an urban slum of Karachi and several rural areas of Pakistan, which then expanded to many regions and provinces of Pakistan as well as other low- and middle-income countries.

Over the last two decades, he has closely collaborated with the government of Pakistan to assess effectiveness of health care approaches and innovations in real-world settings through partnering with public sector community health workers. Many of these large community-based cluster randomized trials led by Professor Bhutta have generated findings that changed global policy, most notably the finding that using chlorhexidine for cord care among home births was associated with significant reduction in the risk of neonatal sepsis and death, and that public sector community health workers could successfully work with communities to reach those at greatest risk and reduce perinatal mortality as well as maternal morbidities. 

His work has been the foundation of multiple international guidelines, including changing World Health Organization policy on the treatment of persistent diarrhoea and malnutrition along with establishing lady health workers (LHW) as foundational members of community-based interventions in Pakistan, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. His team in Pakistan and Canada has extensively worked on strategies to improve maternal and child health and nutrition in conflict settings and emergencies. Notably his team works with community volunteers and health workers in tribal areas of Pakistan to improve polio and routine immunization coverage. 

Professor Bhutta holds the title of Distinguished University Professor at the AKU which is the highest faculty rank the university can confer as well as an Award of Distinction and Award of Excellence in Research. He has received several international awards and recognition. Recently, he also received the Roux Prize for turning evidence into health impact and the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for outstanding achievements in global health research.

Railways, Saylani facilitate free meals for coolies at Karachi Cantt

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

For the first time in the history of Pakistan Railways, a compassionate step has been taken whereby the coolies at the Karachi Cantonment Station will be getting two time meals daily free of cost. 

This has been made possible by the Divisional Superintendent Railways, Karachi Division, Kashif Rasheed Yusufani, in collaboration with the Saylani Welfare Trust. This in reality will benefit those who perform laborious duties day and night at the station away from the comfort of their homes. 

The step is a part of the many welfare measures being undertaken by the DS Railways for the staff as well as the passengers. 

Keeping in view the rising temperature causing frequent heatwaves, on the directive of the DS, the air-conditioning working has been activated in both the reservation halls at the Cantonment Station. 

Meanwhile a guide map has also been installed at the Cantonment Station showing the various facilities provided for the benefit of visitors and passengers so that they may not face any problem in reaching out to their desired offices or boarding the trains. 

On DS orders the Passenger Facilitation counters have been setup at all the major stations of Karachi Railways Division where complete information is provided to passengers besides making seats in trains available. 

Kashid Rasheed reckoned that the responsibility of the Railways was to provide every possible facility to its passengers and let no stone unturned to achieve this objective.

AKU President hosts diplomat dinner

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of the Aga Khan University (AKU), hosted a dinner reception in the honour of diplomats from around the world in Karachi. 

“The AKU’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the developing world and beyond, through world-class teaching, research and healthcare delivery,” the AKU President observed while briefing diplomats on the university's contributions and social impact.

“The AKU educates students for local and global leadership from campuses and teaching hospitals in six countries, including Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom. Being a not-for-profit institution, all revenues generated by the University and its hospitals are invested back in education and research, and in helping patients and improving healthcare,” he stressed. 

Sulaiman Shahabuddin also talked about AKU’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030. “The AKU’s first solar power project in Pakistan is a key step forward to realizing our environment and climate ambitions. Using renewable, clean energy brings not only cost savings but benefits people and the planet alike,” he said. 

The dinner was attended by diplomats from France, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and other countries.

#karachi #karachinews #karachialerts #AllAboutKarachi #karachipakistan #karachieducation #karachi #karachipakistan #KarachiUpdates #karachilatest

Environmental emergency demanded to counter global warming

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Shahida Kausar Farooq, Chairperson of Subh-e-Nau, an NGO working for environmental issues, has appealed to the federal and provincial governments to immediately impose an environment emergency in the country to deal with the devastating effects of global warming in Cholistan, Gwadar and Dera Bugti. 

In a statement, she stressed that environmentalists around the world have been warning for decades that global warming could cause sudden changes in the weather around the world. It was being predicted that changes will happen and the world may face famine as a result. The warmest months of April and May have made these predictions come true. 

"We need to take revolutionary steps today. Animals are dying of thirst in the famine-stricken areas. We need to change our priorities and take immediate steps to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing weather patterns,” she appealed. 

Shahida Farooq pointed out that the glaciers were melting due to extreme heat, which could lead to floods in the country, a glimpse of which was witnessed in Hunza the other week. 

She stated that the Federal Minister for Climate Change, Sherry Rahman, herself understood these issues very well and she should take notice of this situation.

KWSB official warns of grave water crisis, demands forensic audit

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Muhammad Suleman Chandio, Advisor, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB), has warned the concerned authorities about the possibilities of grave water crisis if remedial and preemptive actions were not taken immediately. He has also demanded for the forensic audit of the K-IV project. 

The ex-Special Secretary (Technical) to Local Government Department, Government of Sindh, and a former Managing Director of the KWSB, in an interview with PNFS, pointed out that it’s for the first time in the last 63 years when the shortage of water at entry of Sindh, Gudoo Barrage, is 60%. 

“Karachi has Keenjhar Lake as the only storage for the metropolis. The levels of lake are rapidly decreasing from 54 feet to 47 feet whereas dead level is 43 feet after which water cannot be accepted by the KW&SB K-G Canal. The inflow now entering in Lake is less than daily drawl 1200 cusecs/650 MGD from lake so lake levels are rapidly decreasing. The rate of decrease of level in two weeks is one foot and now consumption of balance of four Ft level will take in hardly less than two months,” he remarked. 

“There is still one month more required to reach water at Guddoo Barrage and from that to Keenjhar it travels in three weeks. In case of theft in K.B Feeder dead level may come early than receipt of water of glaciers water. That situation will be very dangerous for more than 20 million people of Karachi. Riots can erupt in whole city which will not be controllable if there’s no water available in Karachi,” he added. 

Suleman Chandio urged the civil and military agencies to take it as SOS message to ensure that any case there shall be no further reduction of Keenjhar Level and shall be maintained a few feet above dead level of 43 feet. Corp-5 Headquarter may establish an Emergency Centre and control the situation in advance before it becomes too late.

“The current situation reflects the worst storage position for the present drawl of 1200 cusecs/650 MGD. What will happen when we will draw additional 1200 cusecs/650 MGD for total 2400 cusecs/1300 MGD for which no additional storage other than Keenjhar Lake is available because due to wrong Route of K-IV which is situated high upon Kheerther-Range Mountain for vested interest for two famous housing towns and there will be zero water for K-IV during non-season as per usual phenomenon,” the KW&SB official regretted. 

“The present K-IV route is totally failure in result of finding of NESPAK as third party in 2019, failure in availability of water storage, failure of intake from Lake, failure being in belt of earthquake zone, unnecessary Power House being established, unnecessary extra staff colonies and malafiedly tendered without feasibility of new scope of work based upon in about 120 kilometers,” he felt. 

“Pipelines scope of work has been suggested by the blue-eyed contractors of high ups and now K-IV under execution with WAPDA is totally failure. WAPDA's consultants did not undertake all the required surveys, studies on ground and any selection of pipeline scope of work and any design in absence of these actual ground surveys, studies stayed useless and malafide,” Suleman Chandio revealed. 

“Strangely why feasibly study before preparation of PC-I has been ignored although this step for 146 billion engineering mega project can't be condoned or bypassed by Government of Pakistan and how fictitious pipe design and tenders were floated and how work orders were issued in absence of all requirements mentioned above,” he questioned. 

He demanded forensic audit be performed and the work orders issued to consultants and contractors regarding K-IV shall be cancelled until the arrival of audit report.