Author Asma Hassan advises youngsters to read books

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Speaking at the seminar ‘Books are forever’ which was jointly organized by Department of Library & Information Science (DLIS) of University of Karachi, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD) and National Library Association (NLA) at the University’s Faculty of Arts Auditorium on February 18, Asma Hassan, the author of famed book Mayar-e-Zindagi, advised the young generation to devote more time in reading general books besides their textbooks. Following is the text of her speech: 

“Our relationship with books can never be broken whether they are in conventional printed form or in the digital format. It has been observed that the young generation of today spends hours after hours every day using social platforms like Facebook, Youtube and Instagram but it finds reading just a couple of pages of a book very challenging because they consider books as boring whereas Tik Tok videos are focus of their attention.” 

“Personally I am not a critic of these activities but I only wish that social media should purely be considered as a source of entertainment so that maximum time could be utilized in doing productive work.” 

“The practice of reading non-textbooks or reference books seems on the verge of extinction. We only read that much which could let us pass the exam or let us secure the required marks to appear on merit list. I firmly believe that book reading is essential for mental development. It enables us to think from different angles and our thought-process improves.” 

“Now it’s the time that we should get rid of the illusion that life could be led without reading books. If we don’t engage into reading books and we don’t strengthen our relationship with books we will be rolled over in the time to come.” 

“We need to promote book reading culture for the sake of our society. We need to do it for making progress in life. The thinking of people would change and their lives will become more purposeful if they could read more books. We should mobilize all our resources to guide our youngsters in particular to let them adopt the right course for a better future for themselves.” 

“We, the writers, also have a responsibility to shoulder. We need to produce the kind of stuff which appeals to the young guns, motivates them and urges them to do better. We, through our write-ups, have to give them solutions to the many probing questions they have in their minds.” 

“I am fully convinced that when compelling content will be produced and motivational books will be published in good numbers, more and more youngsters will start reading such books and they will learn a lot to bring about improvement in their life.” 

“My request to the students of the Library & Information Science department is to read more and more books themselves to be able to serve organizations much more effectively as professional librarians in their careers.” 

“The University of Karachi is a great institution and its students are extremely fortunate to be blessed with such a proactive faculty at their department which augurs well for the future. The National Library Association (NLA) has been doing a fabulous job and they have made their presence felt in a short span of time. They appear on course of achieving higher glories. Rotary International, we all know, is a leading international voluntary service organization with its chapters serving the humanity all over the world, including Pakistan.”

“It’s real very heartening to find three wonderful entities joining hands for the promotion of book culture in the country. Joint efforts are indeed more likely to yield results as the resources are pooled and bigger events become possible. I congratulate all of you for organizing such a successful and memorable seminar. Long Live Books, Long Live Pakistan!”

Rotary renews pledge to support books

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

While emphasizing on the importance of reading, the top officials of Rotary International renewed the pledge of the leading voluntary organization of the world to continue supporting the cause of books besides concentrating on other areas of community services. 

Rotary International’s District Governor for Pakistan, Dr Aftab Imam, and Jahangir Moghul, who is the Assistant Regional Public Image Coordinator of Rotary International’s Zone 1-B, addressed the during the seminar ‘Books are forever’ which was jointly organized by the Department of Library & Information Science (DLIS) of University of Karachi, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD) and National Library Association (NLA) at the University’s Faculty of Arts Auditorium on February 18.

“It has been established that the progress made in the East and the West has been mainly possible because of their education system and their reading habits. Look towards Japan and China in the East or Europe and North America in the West they have grown phenomenally on the basis of education and books,” Dr Aftab Imam reckoned.

“If we also desire to progress then we must also pay full attention to education. We have to encourage our youngsters to read more books to gain knowledge and expertise. There should be more such activities to motivate and groom them,” he advised.

“Rotary Clubs have a history of supporting books and library related projects and our club, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan is among the front-runners in promoting such activities in Pakistan. We are alive to the situation that we need more books and more libraries in order to grow and progress,” Jahangir Moghul, the club’s Charter President, observed in his speech.

“As Rotarians our motto is Service Above Self and we pride ourselves in doing projects to serve the humanity. Many of you would have heard about Rotary. All you need is just to google the word Rotary and you will get to know a lot of interesting things. We play a proactive role in eliminating illiteracy from the society and books are the tools that help us achieve our goals,” he pointed out. 

“Let’s not forget that there are innumerable benefits of reading books. The younger generation needs to be more active in reading because this is the time where you can grow faster by acquiring more knowledge to beat the stiff competition which you encounter in different fields,” Jahangir Moghul reminded. 

“Let me urge you to enlist book reading among your top priorities. Trust me you never be disappointed or depressed by odd failures if you continue reading motivational books which given you courage and strength to continue working hard which is the key to success,” he concluded. 

The seminar was conducted by Syed Khalid Mahmood, President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, while the vote of thanks was proposed by the club's Past President, Engr Asim Murtaza Khan.

Seminar highlights virtues of books

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The seminar ‘Books are forever’ which was jointly organized by the Department of Library & Information Science (DLIS) of University of Karachi, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD) and National Library Association (NLA) at the University’s Faculty of Arts Auditorium on February 18 highlighted virtues of book reading. 

Every speaker unanimously agreed that books held the key to success at all levels and in all spheres of life. They shared their experiences and motivated the students to devote more time to reading books in order to succeed and flourish. 

Prof Dr Faiyaz Vaid, Dean Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, was the keynote speaker while Prof Dr Nigar Sajjad, former chairperson, Department of Islamic History, University of Karachi, delivered the Presidential address 

The other speakers were Dr Aftab Imam, District Governor, Rotary International, Prof Dr Farhat Hussain Khan, Chairperson, DLIS, Jahangir Moghul, Charter President, RCKD, Asma Hassan, author of Mayar-e-Zindagi,  Muhammad Ibrahim, Member, Executive Committee, NLA, and Qazi Rasheed Bhatti, an entrepreneur and social worker. 

The NLA President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, made a few important announcements while Engr Asim Murtaza Khan, Past President, RCKD, proposed the vote of thanks. Syed Khalid Mahmood, President, RCKD, and Advisor, NLA, conducted the ceremony alongwith Hira Yaseen, Joint Secretary, NLA. 

Famous book ‘Mayar-e-Zindagi’ authored by Asma Hassan was presented to all the dignitaries, alongwith shields and bouquets. The registration had started at 9 am while the meeting got underway at around the designated time of 10 am and concluded at 12 30 pm. Strict discipline was maintained throughout the two and a half hours sessions and the auditorium was packed to capacity with the students of DLIS turning up in large numbers.

Rotary, NLA join hands with KU for promoting book culture

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

As many as three organizations, Rotary International, University of Karachi and National Library Association (NLA), have joined hands for holding a seminar ‘Books are forever’ which will take place at the University’s Arts Auditorium on February 18. 

After a series of meetings between them during the past couple of weeks, the schedule was finalized on February 17, incorporating last minute changes due to sudden withdrawals of a few speakers at the eleventh hour. 

 According to the details, Dr Aftab Imam, Governor, Rotary International, and Chief Commissioner, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), will be the guest of honour while Prof Dr Faiyaz Vaid, Dean Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, will be the keynote speaker and Prof Dr Nigar Sajjad, former chairperson, Department of Islamic History, University of Karachi, will deliver the Presidential address. 

 

The registration for the seminar will start at 9 am while the meeting will be called to order at 10 am by Syed Khalid Mahmood, President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, and Advisor, NLA, who will also conduct the ceremony alongwith Hira Yaseen, Joint Secretary, NLA. 

Prof Dr Farhat Hussain Kha, Chairperson, Library & Information Science department, University of Karachi, will present the welcome address while the other speakers will include Jahangir Moghul, Charter President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, Prof Dr Nusrat Idrees, Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Karachi, Asma Hassan, author of Mayar-e-Zindagi, and Muhammad Ibrahim, Member, Executive Committee, NLA. 

The NLA President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, will make a few important announcements on the occasion while Engr Asim Murtaza Khan, Past President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, will propose the vote of thanks at 12.30 pm to mark the conclusion of the two and a half hours session. 

The students of all classes of the university’s Library & Information Science department are expected to attend the seminar in large numbers and they will be engaged in an interactive session of about half an hour with the panel of speakers. A good turnout of working librarians was also being anticipated by the organizers.

Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari is back!

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, the founder of the Library Promotion Bureau (LPB) and an ex-chairperson, Department of Library Information Science, University of Karachi, is back to his home city of Karachi after having spent the last one year in North America. And he’s back to business once more, without wasting a single moment which has been his hallmark for decades. 

Although his travel plans have had to be altered more than once due to COVID-19 related issues during the past year and a half, the octogenarian scholar has lost none of his mighty enthusiasm and his spirits have not been dampened even a bit. 

He was his usual self at the Record Office of the Library Promotion Bureau (LPB) in Karachi on December 23 where he informally spent time with members and visitors. He was full of energy as he geared up to attend the many ceremonies in his honour which have been lined up for the next couple of months. 

The bureau has had the reputation of coming alive particularly during the period he stayed in Karachi as the library professionals from all over the country converged to seek audience with him and to invite him to their institutions. 

In the past, he had made it a point to spend three months every year in Pakistan while staying abroad for the remaining nine months. This time, however, he has arrived after a gap of more than a year as he had overstayed in Karachi due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. Quite remarkably, the LPB, despite the innumerable challenges of the pandemic, continued bringing out its books as well as their quarterly journal.

Vulnerable Pakistanis to get priority for Chinese COVID-19 vaccine

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

China will provide a coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by Sinopharm, a unit of the China National Pharmaceutical Group, to Pakistan as part of a trial agreement.

The University of Karachi and Sinopharm are set to collaborate on vaccine trials and Pakistan will get vaccine doses sufficient to vaccinate one-fifth of its population. 

According to reports, the initial doses will be used to vaccinate the most vulnerable among the Pakistani population including the elderly, healthcare workers and people with medical conditions associated with serious cases of COVID-19.

Earlier in April, Sinopharm had invited the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, to collaborate in conducting clinical trials of its inactivated vaccine for COVID-19 in Pakistan. 

In a letter sent to NIH Executive Director Maj Gen Dr Aamer Ikram, the general manager of China Sinopharm International Corp, Li Can, had expressed the hope that a successful clinical trial in Pakistan will make it one of the first few countries for the launch of a Covid-19 vaccine. 

The NIH official was then reported to have stated that although clearances were needed for the purpose, the collaboration could be a great thing for Pakistan. Meanwhile, researchers have said that Sinopharm’s coronavirus vaccine candidate appeared to be safe and triggered antibody-based immune responses in early and mid-stage trials. 

The candidate has already moved into a late-stage trial, one of a handful of candidates being tested on several thousand people to see if they are effective enough to win regulatory approval. 

Sinopharm is testing the potential vaccine in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a Phase 3 trial expected to recruit 15,000 people, as China has too few new cases to be a useful trial site. 

The shot did not cause any serious side effects, according to a paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by scientists who are part of Sinopharm and other China-based disease control authorities and research institutes. The results were based on data from 320 healthy adults in Phase 1 and 2 trials. 

Sinopharm’s chairman told state media last month that a potential vaccine could be ready by the end of this year with Phase 3 testing expected to be completed in about three months. 

The novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 750,000 people globally, has prompted a race to develop a vaccine. More than 150 candidate vaccines are being developed and tested around the world. China is leading the development of at least eight vaccine candidates in different stages of clinical trials.

Lockdowns enhance reading habits: Prof Dr Nasim Fatima

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, a renowned scholar and educationist, has reckoned that, contrary to general belief, reading habits among the masses has enhanced during the last four months of lockdowns, enforced to contain spreading of coronavirus (COVID-19). 

“On the basis of feedback received from publishers and booksellers, I found it very heartening to note that reading of books has been one of the favourites pastimes of many people who had to be confined to their homes due to lockdown since the month of March,” she informed in a brief chat with PNFS at the Record Office of the Library Promotion Bureau (LPB) on July 13. 

“The credit also goes to publishers and publishers for having facilitated the readers during this tough period in particular. They have not only offered discounts but also improved their online services and arranged for the delivery of books at doorstep of their customers,” Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, the first lady chairperson of the Library & Information Science department at the University of Karachi, added. 

Regarding the activities of the LPB, she revealed that they had resumed meetings on weekly basis while taking care of all the SOPs. 

“Obviously our mobility has been affected like every other aspect of life due to the lethal virus. We, however, have continued working from home and we also have made it a point to meet once a week to discuss the progress of various projects in our hands,” she explained.

Online classes launch discussed at KU

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The administration and teaching faculty at the University of Karachi (KU), on April 22, examined the preparations for introduction of online teaching in the wake of prolonged coronavirus epidemic in the country.

At a relevant meeting, held with KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi in chair, it was decided said that the university should utilize all available technologies to conduct classes at the earliest, whether these were already available through university resources or would be provided by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). 

The KU and other higher learning institutions and school and colleges are closed under the government’s preventive requirements enforced following the COVID-19 outbreak in the country about two months back. 

The meeting was attended by the registrar, various deans and directors and in-charges of the related programmes and services of the university. 

Professor Iraqi asked the deans to conduct a meeting with all the chairpersons on planned online teaching initiatives and take them onboard. “We intend to start online classes to facilitate students and continue the learning process at the earliest.” 

The Convener of the KU eLearning Committee, Dr Syed Jamil Hasan Kazmi, presented the finding of a survey, described the readiness about the six dimensions of online classes that KU is looking to cater which include university readiness, faculty readiness, course readiness, technology readiness, library readiness, and students’ readiness. 

About university readiness, he said that the KU was in the process of implementing the Learning Management System acquired through HEC, and IDs of teachers have been generated which soon would be sent to teachers. 

About students’ readiness, he informed the participants of the meeting, which was second of its kind, that so far around 8,000 students have recorded their responses. “We are studying the responses to cater to the needs of students and to make sure that the learning process continues.” 

Dr Syed Asim Ali briefed about the viability of MS Teams Software and Zoom Software and the availability of MS-Teams license in Pakistan Education Research Network subscriptions. He presented HEC’s recommendation about online learning in this regard.

Chinese university gifts face masks to KU

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The staff at the University of Karachi (KU), which at present is closed for any academic purpose, will start getting face-masks, having been gifted by a Chinese university from April 7.

An official of the KU informed PNFS on April 6 that teaching and non-teaching staff may start getting the face-masks from the university’s health clinic on April 7. 

As many as 7,000 surgical face-masks, including about 50 N95 facemasks, have been arranged by KU’s Confucius Institute (CI) recently, in the wake of Coronavirus epidemic in the country, the official added. 

Earlier at a ceremony during the day, the CI Director, Professor Zhang Xiaoping, handed over the facemasks boxes on behalf of from the Sichuan Normal University of China to Senior Medical Officer of KU Clinic, Prof Dr Syed Abid Hasan in the presence of KU Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, and senior faculty members. 

Professor Xiaoping shared that Pakistan and China have been good friends for many years. “When the human to human transmission of coronavirus occurred in China we got a lot of support from Pakistanis,” he added, observing that now, like numerous countries across the globe, Pakistan is also faced with the challenge of the COVID-19 and the Chinese government and people are very much concerned and willing to support Pakistanis.

He recalled that the KU VC and the Pakistani Director of CI at KU others recorded video messages and prayed for early recovery of the coronavirus affected people in China. 

“We got a lot of special support and wishes from the people of Pakistan,” he said and added that the SNU, which is the hosting university of the CI, had provided durable face-masks for the teaching and non-teaching staff of KU. 

The KU VC, Dr Khalid Iraqi, said that the university administration was grateful to SNU for its goodwill gesture. 

“While Pak-China friendship has got stronger and deeper with the passage of time, such a difficult time is bringing them further closer to each other,” he mentioned. 

On this occasion, VC also appreciated the role and services of the staff of the KU’s clinic, saying the whole staff is available around the clock to facilitate the teachers and non-teaching staff. 

The KU Registrar Professor, Dr Saleem Shahzad, expressed that Sichuan Normal University has sent the gift to help the KU staff and believed that these masks will help against the disease at this difficult moment. 

The KU Senior Medical Officer, Dr Syed Abid, thanked the SNU for providing surgical and N95 masks. He also informed the gathering that Al Khidmat, a welfare organization, has also provided three doctor’s suits, hand sanitizers, surgical facemasks, and gloves to the KU Clinic recently.

Coronavirus research: ‘More steps are due’

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

Following the recent release of details of a ‘half-done’ study related to whole genome sequencing of locally spread coronavirus by a research centre at the University of Karachi (KU), the scientists at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) on April 1 declared that virus in question collected from a boy by them for research purposes had come from Saudi Arabia.

“The virus transmitted to the boy locally has come from Saudi Arabia and infected 15 patients of same family, which indicates that the local spread of this virus is very fast,” a DUHS press release quoted the medical experts of the University and added that team of experts were continuing analyzing the Coronavirus sequence and more steps were yet to be taken.

Earlier, the KU researchers had claimed in a press release that the genome sequencing of Coronavirus collected from a local patient having a travel history was complete. 

“The virus examined at Jamil-ur-Rahman Centre for Genome Research of KU was more closely related to the virus from China.” 

The scientists, who worked under the leadership of DUHS Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Saeed Quraishi, said that the novel Corona Virus 2019 (SARS-COV-2) was changing its genetics according to Pakistan’s local conditions. 

The DUHS information regarding genome sequencing of locally spread virus will help in treatment, diagnostics and vaccine development, according to them. 

A DUHS press release said that the research was in its initial stage and the sequencing has been done with the cooperation of a KU centre, while the fully equipped modern biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) virology lab at DUHS was used for the isolation of ribonucleic acid (RNA) from the sample, a crucial and dangerous exercise indeed. 

“The presence of virus was confirmed through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) at Dow University.” It was further said that the DUHS research revealed that the sequence of this virus was slightly different from Wuhan virus with few mutations. 

“This virus has originated in China and came to Pakistan through Saudi Arabia.” 

Moreover, the scientists noted, this was just one of the investigated cases, while ‘they are in the process of analyzing many other samples of Coronavirus that have been transmitted from other countries including Iran, Iraq, Syria, the United Kingdom, the United States and others’.

Coronavirus: Indigenous research generates concerns

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The release of details of a ‘half-done’ study by a group of scientists at the University of Karachi, claiming that their analysis of the whole genome sequence of coronavirus will be helpful in decision making at national level for the use of future therapeutic options and vaccinations, has generated concerns among experts. 

A press release of the university quoted Prof M Iqbal Choudhary, Director of Director of International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), saying this was the first indigenously sequenced whole genome of Coronavirus from Pakistan. 

“Analysis of the sequence revealed nine mutations in the different regions of genome, as compared to the sequence reported from Wuhan, China,” where the virus originated three months back.

“Mutation is change which appears in the DNA of all organisms and viruses, Dr Choudhary said, adding that comparison with genomes from other parts of the world revealed that virus examined at Jamil-ur-Rahman Center for Genome Research was more closely related to the virus from China, the point from where the pandemic was started. 

A day earlier, a senior scientist from the University had claimed that the virus was different than the one in Wuhan and was less harmful, said a scientist requesting secrecy. 

The technique that allows researchers to read and decipher the genetic information found in the DNA of anything from bacteria to plants to animals is called genomic sequencing. 

"In pandemic it becomes more important to monitor the way, rate and nature of mutations which may have impact on effectiveness of future therapies and vaccinations," the ICCBS director said while recommending that more genomes from Pakistani patients were sequenced to understand the full spectrum of genetic variations, and the way the virus was evolving here.

Interestingly, the research details did not mention the age, gender and place of treatment of the patient from whom the RNA was drawn for the scientific research at the KU facility in question. 

It was claimed in the press release that the genome sequencing of Coronavirus collected from a local patient having a travel history was complete now. 

An enquiry conducted by this scribe in the matter revealed that the sample was drawn from a child belonging to a locally infected cluster of people. 

“The subject in question has never visited abroad,” claimed a source privy to the handling of the oropharyngeal swab specimen obtained for genome sequence at a public sector medical university.

In the meantime, experts have termed the development a premature assessment, rather a ridiculous move as the KU Centre needed to seek more such samples from different hospitals. 

They are also silent about the in question traveler's exact place of visit. “Why does not the solitary scientist in question interact with experts related to the subject?” “We need to apply our experts' brain and support as well along with the machines”, said a keen observer, adding that efforts should be made to ensure protection and treatment out of the available resources. 

Meanwhile a senior microbiologist and pathologists at the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Prof M Saeed Khan, in a television interview, said that the research details pertained to a collaborative study undertaken by a KU centre and Dow university, but it was difficult to draw any conclusion about the behaviour of the virus at this stage, particularly when the human genetic in the country is different from other parts of the world. 

“The virus under study was isolated by DUHS scientists from among a sizeable number of Coronavirus patients, while it is anticipated that research would move out of the initial stage,” he added.

University of Karachi’s Urdu department to hold international conference on Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The department of Urdu of the University of Karachi, with the collaboration of the Anjuman Tariqqi Urdu and Higher Education Commission (HEC) will be organizing an international conference to commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan from October 16 to 18. 

The central theme of the conference will be focused on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s contribution to literature, culture and history of South Asia. 

The department of Urdu of the University of Karachi, under its dynamic chairperson, Prof Dr Tanzeem-ul-Firdous, has taken up the initiative of holding a mega event to pay tribute to the multi-faceted personality of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, who is credited to have played the lead role in the reawakening of the Muslims of South Asia. 

The three-day international conference will throw light on the monumental contributions of the legendary scholar and educationist who changed the mindset and the thinking of the Muslims, successfully persuading them to take to modern system of education. 

During the conference, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s role in the promotion of Urdu literature will also be discussed while a few speakers will present papers on his legendary services to the field of education. 

It’s in the fitness of things that the department of Urdu, having a prominent position in the University of Karachi for research, has chosen to take part in the 200th birth anniversary celebrations of the great Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in a befitting manner. Over 75 scholars of the department have already completed their Ph.D. research programme while about a dozen projects were in progress. 

Historically the department had come into existence way back in 1955 when the University of Karachi decided to organize postgraduate classes in Urdu under its own management instead of through the colleges. 

At the time of its establishment, Moulvi Abdul Haq, ‘Baba-e-Urdu’ was designated as honorary Professor and the Chairman of the department while the teaching responsibilities were carried out by the teachers of local colleges. 

Later Dr Ghulam Mustafa Khan, a prominent scholar and Professor at Urdu College Karachi, was appointed both as a cooperative teacher and as the Chairman of the department. In the same year, Dr Abul Lais Siddiqui was appointed as a Reader and Chairman and Dr Abdul Qayyum, Dr Syed Shah Ali, and Qudratullah Fatimi joined as lecturers. 

Dr Syed Abul Khair Kashfi, Dr Farman Fatehpure, Dr Aslam Farrukhi, Prof Jameel Akhtar Khan, Dr Haneef Fauq, Dr Younus Hasni, Shamim Ahmed, Prof Sahar Ansari, Dr Vaqar Ahmed Rizvi, Dr Sidiqa Arman, Dr Moinuddin Aqeel and Dr Zafar Iqbal feature among famous academics to have been associated with the Urdu department of the University of Karachi.

International Day of Sports celebrated

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

An exhibition volleyball match marking the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace was played between Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) and the University of Karachi at the SSUET campus on April 6.

 

In what turned out to be a one sided contest, SSUET emerged victorious in straight sets with the scores 25-14, 25-18 and 26-24.

The SSUET captain Asif alongwith Humayon, Sohail, Azadar and Hatim outclassed the opponents. KU's Anus and Ammar offered some resistance to but they were unable to change the complexion of the match.

Shahid Masood, Joint Secretary, Pakistan Volleyball Federation, and Secretary Sindh Volleyball Association, was the chief guest on the occasion and he appreciated the efforts of SSUET in promoting the sports.

At the end, Shahid Masood, alongwith the SSUET Registrar, Syed Sarfraz Ali, and the SSUET Director Sports, Mubashir Mukhtar, distributed the prizes and souvenirs to both the teams.

A large number of faculty members, staff and students from both the universities witnessed the match.

Sir Syed, University of Karachi host National Conference on Space Sciences

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The first-ever National Conference on Space Sciences, spread over a couple of days, concluded in Karachi on October 9 with the Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Engr Z A Nizami, calling upon the engineers to keep pace with the fast changing technologies.

The conference was organized by the SSUET with the collaboration of the University of Karachi, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) as a part of World Space Week-2012.

The opening session was inaugurated by the Sindh Education Minister, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq at the University of Karachi while the concluding session was held at SSUET on the second day with Chancellor Z A Nizami being the chief guest on the occasion.

Engr Nizami remarked that the technologies are witnessing rapid changes every moment and one can take advantages of the latest development only by keeping pace with the same.

He referred to his visit to the Harvard University some time back and said the chief speaker on the occasion, a Nobel Prize winner, while giving his remarks had stated that he is making speech exact at 4.30 but cannot say what will be a change in the very next moment.

At SSUET, the Chancellor said, a system has been worked out to introduce all important aspects of the engineering disciplines being taught here keeping the technological changes taking place so rapidly in view and it is here for the engineers to keep pace with the same if they want to progress.

He informed that in India engineering subjects are taught in consonance with the employment related survey which is carried out every year and released only two months before the start of admissions. He desired similar practice in Pakistan.

“We are faced with lot of challenges in space technology and we have to address them efficiently and promptly,” he asserted.

He pointed out that over a hundred projects in various engineering disciplines are developed here at this university every year and he is introducing a system to make these projects self-financing. In this regard he assured all out support, whatever required from the university, to project developers.

He considered the conference very fruitful and a laudable effort and said that new upcoming technologies will have to be pursued to achieve success in various engineering fields.

Earlier Dr M. Jawed Qamar, Founder Director, Institute of Space and Astrophysics, University of Karachi, presented some of the recommendations formulated at the conference asking for introduction of astronomy at school level, introduction of astronomy and space science at degree level in simple term and labs, observatory etc at science level; focusing importance on basic sciences mainly Astrophysics in developing countries, specially Pakistan.

Another recommendation called for maintaining peaceful conditions, necessary for continuous research, particularly in space sciences.

The Vice-Chancellor SSUET, Prof Dr Jawed H. Rizvi, said the conference brought new problems and issues to lime light, which needs to be considered by international bodies like the UN.

The conference, he said, has also helped in promoting personal contacts between scientists and engineers, attending the 2-day moot.

Dr Jawed Iqbal, In charge Institute of Space, University of Karachi, spoke highly about the outcome of the conference and thanked KU, SUPARCO and HEC for their valuable coordination.

Dr Syed Faisal Ahmed Bukhari, Chairman, Department of Computer Engineering and Convener, Organizing Committee, SSUET, presented the vote of thanks and said this conference was a contribution towards World Space Week 2012 on the theme of ‘Space for Human Safety and Security’ and it produced valuable results.

At the conference space engineers and scientists made over a dozen technical presentations. The session concluded with distribution of certificates among chairmen of various sessions of the conference and shields to session secretaries.

Sindh Government organizes Career Counselling Seminar

Sindh Youth Minister
Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari

By Mohammad Nazakat Ali

The Youth Affairs department of the Government of Sindh has been working proactively for the benefit of the youngsters and they organized yet another successful programme, this time with the collaboration of the Federal Public Service Commission at the University of Karachi on July 22.

The Career Counselling Seminar held at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Arts turned out to be quite an enlightening session and it was a morning to remember for all those present on the occasion.

The Sindh Youth Minister, Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, who was the chief guest of the ceremony, noted with satisfaction the growing number of programmes being held by the provincial government to enlighten the youth.

He told the audience that the Youth Affairs department of the Government of Sindh has planned to hold a record number of career counseling programmes during the current year to guide the youngsters towards a better future.

Suhail Safdar Member Federal
 Public Service Commission

He described the University of Karachi as a model institution that has been serving the cause of the country for a number of years.

Faisal Subzwari, who delivered yet another inspirational speech, advised the students as well as the professionals not to forget their Alma Mater while pursuing their career goals.

Suhail Safdar, Member, Federal Public Service Commission, Government of Pakistan, gave a presentation in which explained in detail the procedure of applying and the process after the submission of the applications. He also took questions to clarify matters to the satisfaction of the participating students.

He observed that there’s a decline in the interest of people taking to civil service in the urban parts of Sindh.

He disclosed that the Federal Public Service Commission had organized such seminars in the various universities located in the rural of Sindh and the response had been phenomenal.

He was of the opinion that the youngsters of Karachi, possessing enormous talents, would do well if they turn towards civil service.

Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs
Government of Sindh

Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Secretary, Sports & Youth Affairs to the Government of Sindh, said it’s always a privilege and pleasure to hold a programme at the University of Karachi, having produced numerous luminaries.

He pointed out that civil service is a huge avenue and the youngsters can play a proactive role in serving the country by taking to it.

“You get an opportunity of serving in and out of the country. It’s quite a challenging job and you should think getting on board if you have the passion to play your part in the service to the nation,” he added.

Shoaib Siddiqui, addressing the youth, made the point that they had reached the age from where they should now start thinking of themselves, their families, the community, the province and the country.

“The Federal Public Service Commission is one of those institutions of our country that has maintained high standards throughout,” he complimented.

The welcome address was delivered by Prof Dr M Abuzar Wajidi, Dean, Faculty of Management & Administrative Sciences, University of Karachi.