PIA ferried 14,850 Hajj pilgrims so far

Muhammad Junaid Yunus, MD PIA

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi (PNFS)

National carrier PIA has so far air lifted 14,840 intending Hajj pilgrims  by 34 direct flights to Jeddah.

Managing Director PIA, Muhammad Junaid Yunus, since the first Hajj flight left from Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta and  Karachi, is personally supervising to ensure that Hujj flights operated as per schedule.

According to the airline spokesman, PIA is carrying out its Hujj operation through its own fleet, without compromising the domestic and international schedule which is being maintained according to the expected time of departures (ETD) and arrivals (ETA).

Besides, maintaining the schedule of daily eight hajj flights from federal and provincial capitals,PIA is also ensuring its regular 125 flight departures and arrivals for its an estimated 13-14 thousand international and domestic passengers on daily basis.

According to PIA, so far four Hajj flights from Karachi have carried 2012 intending pilgrims; eight flights from Lahore carried 4024; nine flights from Islamabad carried 4527; nine flights from Peshawar carried 2961 and  four flights from Quetta carried 1316 to Jeddah.

However, quoting teachnical reasons, PIA said that to ensure safety of the aircraft and passengers and to make journey comfortable, there were some delays in the departure of regular flights which were allowed to depart as soon as the engineers confirmed the aircraft safety. 

As regards the Hajj flights, so far, only one from Peshawar suffered 27 minute delay due to passenger's scrutiny and  narcotic checking at the airport on Sept 20.

PIA engineering is also maintaining fitness of 32 aircraft out of fleet of 38 for safe air travel while five planes are under major maintenance due to Bird hits at Lahore and Karachi needing new engines. One ATR 42-500 that skidded off the main runway few days back due to torrential rains in Lahore is also undergoing repairs.  

Spokesman said that PIA's 204 pre-Hajj flight departures t Jeddah and 4 direct flights to Madinah-tul-Munawwara will continue till October 20. This year PIA is expected to carry over 95,000 pilgrims through Hajj and regular flights.

SSUET to launch book on legendary Ali brothers in January

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

The voluminous book on the lives and accomplishments of the legendary Ali brothers, Maulana Mohammed Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali, is set to be launched on January 4, 2013 under the auspices of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi.

This was announced by the SSUET Chancellor, Engr Z A Nizami, following his meeting with the visiting noted peace activist, writer and critic from London, Sayeed Hasan Khan, on September 20.

Chancellor Nizami pointed out that the launch of the book on January 4 will coincide with the ‘Jauhar Day’ which the SSUET observes every year.

A book of about 600 pages been written by Khalid Alig, a prominent former diplomat, writer, journalist and thinker and a grand son of the Ali brothers, who now resides in the US.

“Even at the age of 90, Khalid Alig still drives his car and goes to the gym,” Sayeed Hasan Khan informed Chancellor Nizami during their meeting at the SSUET.

He was of the opinion that no one else other than Khalid Alig can throw light on the lives and achievements of the Ali brothers in a more better and authentic way and its launch at a venue named after the great reformer and educationist Sir Syed Ahmed Khan would be the most appropriate occasion.

Sayeed Hasan Khan, who is a most close friend of Khalid Alig, lives in London for the last 50 years and as a writer he has produced two books namely ‘No Clear Hands” and ‘Kurt Jacobsen – Parables of Permanent War.’

Now-a- days he is writing a book based on his memoirs relating to the period of his migration from Breli (India), association with Muslim Students Federation in his teenage and the events which occurred before shifting to UK in 1961 and as a peace activist.

During his meeting with Chancellor Nizami, he also had an exchange of views with prominent Aligarhians and members of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA).

SSUET organizes poster presentation 2012

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

The Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, organized a poster presentation displaying  a number of innovative research projects, designed and produced by the students of Computer Engineering Department.

The students made a visually pleasing presentation with combined text and graphics that kept the visitors spellbound.  Their creativity and imagination was greatly admired.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Syed Jawaid Hasan Rizvi observed that the scientific and technical information at such forums facilitates rapid communication of scientific ideas through poster presentations.

Appreciating the innovative skills of students he reckoned that poster presentation represented a well-designed, eye-catching, and engaging display of research and scientific information and conveys the results of research activities to promote scientific achievements of the presenters

The Vice Chancellor gave assurance to the students that the university will provide all possible financial help and support to them to complete their projects and make them commercially viable.

The projects on display included Automated Web & Mobile Based Trading System, Image Processing for Visually Impaired, Shop Pro via Smart Phone, Disaster Management System, MIS for Welfare Organization, Remote Appointment System for Health & Care, Map Generators with Location Awareness for Windows Mobile, Media Neuron and Intelligent Parking Management System.

Pak Railways Karachi Division earns Rs 580 m from freight despite resource limitations

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

Despite acute resource constraints, the Karachi Division of Pakistan Railways operated as many as 25 goods trains during August 2012 which earned revenue of Rs 82.294 million to the cash-strapped organization

Besides this, a special campaign was launched under special directives of the government to transport Furnace oil for Lal Pir and Muzaffargarh Power Houses to avoid looming power shortage.

“Despite all odds, the campaign  continued for 40 days during which the railway operated 50 oil specials as a result of which some 1800 tank wagons carried 35,580 tons of oil which kept the power houses functional and helped overcome ever increasing load shedding,” Divisional Superintendent, Anzar Ismail Rizvi, revealed in an interview on September 13.

He claimed that the Karachi Division can operate up to 10 freight trains daily provided the locomotives were made available for the same, adding this can put the Railways back to its financial track.

On an average, he pointed out that the Division earned freight revenue of Rs 577.847 million with a daily average of Rs 2.110 to Rs 4.705 million per day from January to August in 2012.

The DS stated that the during these months, the freight earning stood at Rs 65.415 million in January 2012, Rs 88.250 million in Feb., Rs 66.990 million in  March, Rs 52.995 million in April, Rs 76.526 million in May, Rs 29.107 million in June, Rs 136.432 million in July and Rs 62.132 million in August.

On the Passenger side, Anzar Rizvi said, the Division earned revenue of Rs 1960.650 million during January-August 2012 with a daily average ranging from Rs 6.623 to Rs 8.948 million.

According to the DS the Railways earned revenue of R 205.300 million in January, 229.700 million in February, 276.800 million in March, 268.455 million in April, 250.200 million in May, 268 million in June, 242.900 million in July and 219.300 million in August 2012.

He mentioned that keeping aside the resource limitations the Railways operated two Ed special trains on August 6 and 17 and earned revenue of Rs 205 million during the period from August 14 to 24 from current reservation alone.

PEC postpones its dinner in mourning of Karachi tragedy

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the massive destruction caused by inferno at the garment factory resulting in a major loss of human lives.

The PEC Chairman, Syed Abdul Qadir Shah, stated that the heart of every Pakistani was bleeding and every eye was full of tears over this tragedy.

He remarked that no amount of money can compensate for lives lost and neither the dear and near ones could come back.

“But it is high time for every Pakistani to pray to Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant fortitude to bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss. The PEC fully stands by the grieved families on this gruesome occasion,” Abdul Qadir Shah observed.

He said that for the future the engineering aspects of all such premises should be thoroughly scrutinized and no industrial unit, not fulfilling the engineering requirements, should be permitted to establish itself.

He announced the postponement of PEC's annual dinner which was due to be held on September 14 at the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi.

Meanwhile the death toll from a garment factory at Karachi's Hub River Road rose to 289, many of whom perished because they were unable to escape building that lacked emergency exits and basic safety equipment such as alarms and sprinklers.

The deadly blaze, having erupted on the night of September 11, was one of the worst industrial accidents in Pakistan's 65-year history.

SSUET establishes seminar library of Basic and Applied Sciences

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has been equipped with a seminar library for the faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences.

The library, equipped with latest computer system, was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Syed Javed Hassan Rizvi in the presence of faculty members on September 8.

The library has a number of high quality reference books, other publications and informative resource material in all areas of Basic and Applied Sciences for usage and work impact of the researches.

The books for the library were donated by the faculty members, SSUET’s and central library. The department of Basic & Applied Sciences offers published material, freely available to all interested students who, by investing some time, can increase their knowledge about the relevant subjects, concepts and ideas.

          

In his remarks on the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor while emphasizing the need of creating an academic and research culture in the faculty, said the library will serve as top most knowledge resource for students and motivate them to involve themselves into basic and applied science research that is important to the advancement of human knowledge with different end goals in sight.

The basic research is conducted solely for the purpose of gathering information and building on existing knowledge, as opposed to applied research, which is geared to address and answer real-world problems.

Sir Syed University taking initiatives to develop research methodology

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

“The strategically planned research does have positive impact on socio economic aspects of the lives of people as well as on the physical environment,” Prof Dr Javed Hassan Rizvi, Vice-Chancellor, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, SSUET, remarked while chairing a meeting with the Ph.D faculty of the university on September 1.

“The outcome and findings of the research can be achieved through presentations at scientific and professional conferences and meetings, publishing research and professional journals and magazines,” he stressed.

Reviewing the SSUET’s research development activities, the Vice-Chancellor was of the view that research activity enhances quality of education and such an approach will can be of immense benefit for the career of PhD students.

“It is imperative for the university to conduct research and explore possibilities for utilization of innovative research for industry development,” he emphasized

It was proposed in the meeting that sufficient funds be allocated as incentive for the faculty members to promote research culture at the campus.

The meeting also discussed organizing symposium and seminars on various topics to promote research-friendly environment at the campus.

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), under the dynamic leadership of its Chancellor, Engr Z A Nizami, has been promoting research-oriented activities and encouraging its students and faculty to be a part of it.

Pakistan Railways operate Eid trains despite resource constraints

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

The second Eid Special Train, with 890 passengers on board, left Karachi Cantonment Station for Rawalpindi at its schedule departure time of 11 am on August 17. The Pakistan Railways will be operating three special trains on Eid-ul-Fitr.

The first Eid special train had left Karachi Cantonment Station on August 16 with 780 passengers on board while the third Eid special train will operate from Peshawar to Lahore on August 18 which would be of economy class to cater to the rush.

The Pakistan Railways, General Manager (Operation), Junaid Qureshi, saw off the train on August 17, stating that the organization operated three special trains this year despite difficult conditions and resource constraints.

Talking to the media at Cantonment Station, the GM explained that Railways was being run under heavily odd conditions and that even in such circumstances the work of the operational, commercial and other staff merited appreciation.

Later chairing a meeting of some Principal Officers from Lahore and Divisional officers, Junaid Qureshi reviewed the railway’s problems of mechanical nature, locomotives and rehabilitation of track.

The Pakistan Railways, Divisional Superintendent, Karachi, Anzar Ismail Rizvi, categorically denied black marketing of tickets as reported in a section of the press.

He said that unlike the previous years, this year more stringent measures had been taken to check black marketing of tickets and it was due to this  that not a single such complaint as well as excess fare payment was received.

He remarked that in both the Eid special trains, the railways has provided better facilities of light, water and washrooms and travelling people appreciated the same.

In the context of alleged report of black marketing of tickets, the DS Railways said that reservation for two Special trains had started on August 11 with booking of 313 seats at city station reservation office, 388 on 12^th, 401 on 13^th, 150 on 14^th, 116 on 15^th and 275 on 16^th. He said even left over seats were purchased by intending passengers from Cantonment Station’s current reservation counter even before the departure of trains.

At Cantonment Station’s current booking office, the railway earned a revenue of Rs 1.4 million on August 12, Rs 1.5 million on 13^th, Rs 1.65 million on 14^th, Rs 1.965 million on 15th and a record Rs 3.293 million on 16^th.

He contended that these figures were self-explanatory to negate the report of black marketing of tickets.

Meanwhile in a major operation the Pakistan Railways Karachi Division retrieved its 18 acres of precious land near Shah Latif Town which had been occupied by powerful land mafia.

The Divisional Superintendent, Anzar Ismail Rizvi, disclosed that  this 18 ares piece of land was part of 357 acres of land located in Jumma Goth near Shah Latif Town and was meant for rehabilitation of people who would face dislocation during execution of Karachi Circular Railway project.

He revealed that the land was reoccupied by the railway authorities after an operation carried out with the help of the district administration.

KPT observes Independence Day with traditional fervour

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

The Karachi Port Trust (KPT), observed the 65^th Independence Anniversary of Pakistan, with traditional fervour on August 14. Quran Khwani and special prayers were held at all the KPT mosques after Fajr Prayers while the siren of KPT Head Office and entire vessels in the harbour sounded for two minutes started at 8:58 am.

The newly appointed KPT Chairman, Jawed Hanif Khan, performed the flag hoisting at a graceful ceremony at the Head Office at 9:00 am and inspected the neatly dressed squads of Port Security Force, Port Fire Service, Port Civil Defence, Traffic Department, Marine Apprentices and Karachi Sea Scouts while a neatly dressed band presented the guard of honour.

As usual, the KPT Head Office and Keamari Boat Basin building were profusely illuminated during the nights falling on August 13 and 14.

The KPT Chairman distributed the Best Employee Awards of the Year to each of the selected candidates of every division of the organization, encouraging them and all others to perform even better in future.

Jawed Hanif Khan, a veteran of the District Management Group of the Civil Superior Services (CSS), replaced Mohammad Aslam Hayat as Chairman of the KPT a couple of weeks ago.

He had started his professional career in 1986, having done Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from the NED University of Engineering & Technology, Master of Arts (Economics) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Karachi.

Before joining the KPT, he was serving as Director General of Planning and Development at the Port Qasim Authority. Previously he worked as District Coordination Officer of the City District Government Karachi, Deputy Commissioner of Karachi Central and Deputy Commissioner of Sukkur and Badin.

Jawed Hanif’s rich experience of management and administration would come handy for a vibrant institution like the KPT which has initiated quite a few mega projects, with the collaboration of private sector, during the last few years which include the state-of-the-art food court, Port Grand, at Native Jetty and Jinnah Rotary Bridge.

The KPT will be further strengthened with his expertise as more development work is planned to be carried out in the near future aimed at making Karachi Port the primary hub of maritime activity in the region.

SSUET, MAJU celebrate Independence Day with honour and dignity

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

Pakistan’s Independence Day was celebrated at the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, with great honuor and dignity, on August 14.

An impressive flag hoisting ceremony marked the Day. The Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Syed Jawaid Hassan Rizvi, hoisted the national flag which was followed by singing of national anthem by the students and faculty members of the University.

On the occasion glowing tributes were paid to those who had sacrificed their lives during the struggle for having an independent homeland.

The ceremony was attended, among others, by Prof. Dr. Najeeb Siddiqui, Associate Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Mukhtar Ahmed Naqvi, Consultant CEP, Chairmen of all the departments, Acting Registrar, Syed Ejazullah Hussaini, Khumar Farooqui, Consultant, Literary, Art and Cultural Forum, besides faculty and other staff members.

Addressing the ceremony the Vice Chancellor called for continued efforts to make Pakistan a progressive and developed state where people lived with honor and dignity and in peace according to the tenets of Islam.

“We are facing some serious challenges these days that need to be resolved collectively,” he said adding that today there is great need for unity and tolerance to make Pakistan progress economically. He reckoned that the future of Pakistan is bright.

“Let us all resolve on this occasion that we will keep the flag of our nation flying high and will march forward to the path of progress and prosperity,” Prof. Dr Rizvi exhorted

On the occasion the university students presented national and patriotic songs which were responded by the guests with enthusiastic and continued clapping.

The ceremony concluded with prayer led by Mufti Rashid-ul-Qadri for national progress and prosperity of the Muslim Umma.

The Independence Day was also celebrated with great fervour and zeal at the Mohammed Ali Jinnah University (MAJU) where Director, Prof Dr Abdul Wahab, performed the flag hoisting ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion Prof Dr Wahab urged upon the younger generation to rise to the occasion and work hard to lead Pakistan to its destined goal. He said that great responsibility devolves upon the students who have to take over the reigns of the country in their future and steer the ship of the nation towards progress, prosperity and greater welfare of the people.