LUMS students learn about Railways operations

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A six-member group of students of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) visited the headquarters of the Pakistan Railways in Lahore to acquaint themselves with the infrastructure, operation and working of the railway system.

The group consisting of four girls and two boys, called on the Chief Personnel Officer, Shoaib Adil, at his office and had an in depth interaction with him about the railway affairs. 

The CPO briefed the visitors about the railway working in greater details and specially the efforts being made by the Railways Minister, Khawaja Saad Rafique, for the railway's turn around to make it Pakistan's prestigious organization. 

He explained to the students the railway's soaring revenue income, the addition of new locomotives and carriages and the working of different cadres of the railway staff besides other things. 

The LUMS students pitched a volley of searing questions especially about the steps taken for increasing the railway's revenues, the hiring system for the employees, the train operations, the safety and security measures for passengers. 

Shoaib Adil informed that since the present leadership took over, the efficiency of the railway staff has went up manifold which brought amazing changes in the organization leading to achievement of remarkable results. 

He said as of today any hiring is made on total merit and more focus is paid on their training particularly with regard to provision of travelling facilities, safety and security of travelers and related aspects.

PICG, PBC Conference on the ‘Role of the Non-executive Chairman’

A half day conference on the ‘Role of the Non-executive Chairman’ was held by Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG) in collaboration with Pakistan Business Council (PBC) recently at Karachi Sheraton hotel.

With a brief introduction by Mr. Fuad A. Hashimi (President & CEO, PICG) and Mr. Kamran Y. Mirza (Chief Executive, PBC), the conference was focused on the role of a non-executive chairman, a key issue in the realm of Corporate Governance practice. Mr. Salim Abbas Jilani (Chairman SSGC) chaired the conference and was also one of the moderators. Mr. Munnawar Hamid OBE (Chairman BOC & Silk Bank) was the other moderator.

Mr. Ken Rushton, senior advisor at Nestor Advisors and a member of the Private Sector Advisory Group of the Global Corporate Governance Forum, delivered the key note address on ‘International Best Practices’. It was followed by presentation on ‘Experience with Pakistani State-Owned Enterprises’ by Mr. Zaffar A. Khan (non-executive independent director on the boards of companies like State Bank of Pakistan, Unilever, and Shell Pakistan etc.). The last presentation was on ‘Perspectives from Family-Owned Businesses in Pakistan’ by Mr. Razzak Dawood (Chairman, Descon Engineering & PBC and Rector of LUMS).

A highly interactive discussion forum followed the presentations raising issues on how to further enhance the role of non-executive chairman in the companies. In a nutshell, the objective of the conference was to highlight the current scenario and proposing a set-up where organizations in any segment, specifically those relating to public sector enterprises, must run in a neutral manner under the framework of good governance.