WBF, BID launch project for prevention of diabetes during pregnancy

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) has launched a three-year ‘Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention and Control Program’ project in Pakistan with the collaboration of the Baqai Institute of Diabetology (BID), Karachi.

The Head of the Institute, Prof Dr. Abdul Basit, while explaining the salient features of the project said in an interview that the WBF is helping the developing countries in combating the rapidly rising epidemic of diabetes with the BID being its strategic partner in Pakistan.

“Our country has a high prevalence of diabetes while in the past years, the occurrence of high blood pressure had doubled and that of obesity tripled in the ages of 15 to 25 years, therefore even younger population, (18 years or less) is getting afflicted with Type 2 Diabetes,” he remarked.

According to him nearly 9.6 million children are overweight and obese. There is increased risk of rise in the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes, causing huge economic burden.

He said that health needs to be a priority of our policy makers and there ought to be national policies for the prevention of diabetes and it has become important to launch diabetes-related international projects in Pakistan.

Prof Dr Basit pointed out that diabetes occurring first time during pregnancy is called Gestational Diabetes. Women of south Asian origin are more likely to have Gestational Diabetes and its adverse consequences.

Over 10% of pregnancies in our population are complicated by Gestational Diabetes which creates risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease in the mother, later in the life and increased risk of developing obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes in the offspring during child hood and adolescence. 

Continuing, he said, Gestational Diabetes should be considered as an early warning sign of Type 2 Diabetes occurrence (40% - 60% risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in 5 to 15 years) and efforts should be made to prevent it through lifestyle modification strategies such as improving physical activity, reducing weight and improving diet of Pakistani women of reproductive age and the project is a major step in that direction.

On the occasion, Dr Shabeen Naz Masood said that women with uncontrolled blood sugar levels during pregnancy may have immediate adverse consequences such as deranged lipid levels, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.  

They are more prone to obstetric complications, such as abortions, preterm deliveries and Shoulder Dystocia and have greater probability of undergoing caesarian section, she said and added that offspring of women with GDM are at an increased risk of developing congenital malformations such as defects in the heart , central nervous system and musculoskeletal system, hypospadias,  polydactyl and fetal growth restriction. The birth of a large and heavy baby may cause complication during labour. The newborn may suffer from respiratory distress, jaundice or low blood sugar. Fetal mortality is also high.

Dr Musarrat Riaz, another noted Diabetic specialist, said that our ethnic predisposition to diabetes necessitates universal screening of all pregnant women for Gestational Diabetes and the simplest test is the estimation of blood sugar 2 hours after giving a drink of 75 gm glucose, at the first visit of pregnant lady to a doctor irrespective of that the patient is fasting or not. Patient education is the key to the management and medical nutrition therapy and exercise are the first steps.

If blood sugar is still not within normal limit insulin therapy is initiated. Insulin is the gold standard treatment. Blood sugar of the mother should be monitored during pregnancy and at regular intervals after delivery.

Accompanying Prof. Basit, another specialist, Dr Asmat Nawaz, informed that main objectives of this project are to create awareness in the community, to train doctors and health care professionals and to establish Gestational Diabetes screening as a regular procedure. 

He said that Public Awareness Campaign through print and electronic media would be initiated, awareness literature in Urdu and Sindhi languages would be developed, doctors, midwives and paramedics would be trained, three major Gestational Diabetes canters and 30 minor Gestational Diabetes clinics would be established and over 13000 pregnant women would b e screened.

Khumar Farooqui passes away

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Noted poet and writer, Masroor Alam Farooqui, famously known as Khumar Farooqui, passed away in Karachi after a brief illness. He was 71. He has left behind a widow, two sons and two daughters besides grandsons and granddaughters to mourn his death.

Khumar Farooqui was born at Agra, British India, in 1942. Upon migration to Pakistan, he did his MA and LL.B from Rawalpindi. He joined government service at the Federal Bureau of Statistics from where he retired as the Chief Statistical Officer.

A born poet, Khumar Farooqui joined the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, as a consultant and worked in its Literary and Cultural Forum headed by Late Brig (Rtd) Qamarussalam after whose death he became the convener of the forum.

He used to attend mushairas at national and international levels. His poetry was widely acclaimed in the poetic and literary circles. He wrote over a dozen books on various topics including autobiographies, hamd, naat, nohas and marsias.

He was compiling the history of the Aligarh Muslim University which, however, remained incomplete because of his sudden death. He also wrote his own biography and helped a large section of people in writing poetry.

At the Sir Syed University, he immensely contributed in organizing a score of literary functions and his last such function was held on the eve of the Independence Day on August 14, 2013.

Meanwhile the Chancellor SSUET, Engr Adil Usman and Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawaid H Rizvi, have expressed their profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Khumar Farooqui and paid homage to him for his contribution towards literary and poetic activities held at the University. They prayed to Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant fortitude to bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.

AMUOBA delegation calls on President-Elect Mamnoon Hussain

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A delegation of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), led by its President and Chancellor SSUET, Engr Mohammad Adil Usman, called on President-Elect Mamnoon Hussain, at the State Guest House, Karachi, on September 2.

Comprising of the AMUOBA’s Executive Committee members, the delegation discussed various issues and brought to his knowledge problems and challenges faced by the Association and academic sector.

The SSUET Chancellor and the President AMUOBA, Engr Adil Usman, on behalf of the Association, formally congratulated  Mamnoon Hussain  on his success in the Presidential election  and his commendable achievement. He said the country expects that he would act to address the genuine problems and particularly for economic prosperity of Pakistan.

He informed that due to high standard of education at SSUET, over 5000 students are studying in the university while three new disciplines were being introduced to start from 2014 academic year which Architecture, Software Engineering and Bioinformatics.

Engr Adil Usman briefed the President-Elect about the university’s new campus, being developed on 200 acres of land in Education City, besides throwing light on the grand project of Sir Syed Tower due to take off  shortly.

The delegation comprised Cdre (Rtd) Saleem A. Siddiqui, Muhammad Yousuf Siddiqui, Mukhtar Ahmed Naqvi, Muhammad Salman Sualeh, Shajar Ali Hashmi, Ali Zafar Khan Afridi, Masood Alam, Abdul Rasheed Khan, Dr Jafar Nazir Usmani, Tariq Sabzwari and others.

President-Elect Mamnoon Hussain described the visit of the AMUOBA delegation very important and meaningful. He thoroughly appreciated the efforts of the AMUOBA members who, he observed, are following the Aligarh spirit and vision of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan for promotion of cause of education.

He said such visits would definitely help boost bilateral relations in evolving strategies to tackle serious issues.

On the occasion Chancellor Adil Usman presented the publications of the SSUET as memento to President-elect Mamnoon Hussain. 

SSUET starts process for 2014 admissions

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The process for Admissions-2014 in engineering technologies of Electronics, Civil, Computer,  Telecommunication and Bio-Medical besides Computer Science has started at the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi.

According to pre-admission notice issued by the University, the Aptitude test will be held on November 24, 2013.

The University is all set to introduce new programs of Architecture, Software Engineering and Bio-Informatics from academic year 2014 and according to Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawaid H Rizvi, the SSUET’s  Board of Governors  has already  given go ahead in this regard..

According to him the university is also exploring the possibility of introducing BS program at its Institute of Environment and Human Settlements.

The Disaster Relief Plan Cell at this institute has published various reports on Disaster preparedness in the wake of floods, rains, earth quakes, fire etc which were highly appreciated in various circles.

The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that at present SSUET has over 5500 students on its roll studying in the engineering disciplines of Computer, Electronics, Bio-Medical, Civil and Telecommunication besides computer science.

He said that keeping the new emerging trends, the university has decided to start new programs to meet the growing market demands.

Dr Rizvi said the university is already offering post-graduate programs and at Master and Ph.D levels besides robust continuous education program in the evening.

He said the introduction of new programs from new academic year would open up doors for those who want to enter the fields having greater potential to cope with the growing market demands.

It may be mentioned here that Higher Education Commission has granted highest W4 ranking to the University while graded as 5-star University by the Charter Inspection and Evaluation Committee of Sindh Government. The ISO 9001 certified, SSUET is a member of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and International Association of Universities (IAU), UNESCO, Paris.

According to a university announcement, the admissions will be strictly on merit giving weightage to marks obtained in Matric (SSC), Intermediate (HSC) and Aptitude test. The university has made available model test papers of last 5 years at the Bank’s booth inside the campus.

Foundation stone of PEC branch office building laid in Karachi

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chairman of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Engr Syed Abdul Qadir Shah, laid the foundation stone of new building of PEC Branch Office in Karachi.

After laying the foundation, he also addressed a gathering at the site situated near Clifton. He said that the number of registered engineers and constructors in Karachi was more than any other city of Pakistan and the infrastructure/facilities needed to be developed to facilitate the large number of engineers residing in the commercial hub of Pakistan.

The PEC Chairman said that strengthening of branch office will not only benefit the people of Karachi but will also help in facilitating the engineering community of neighboring regions of Karachi.

Engr Abdul Qadir Shah reiterated that the primary mandate of the PEC was to regulate the engineering qualification and work for the betterment of registered and professional engineers.

He expressed the hope that the new building will become a second home for engineers. He also remarked that the PEC would continue to serve the nation as per the high standards set in its objectives and will play its due role in the development of the Country.

Engr I A Osmani, Senior Vice Chairman, Engr Mukhtar Shaikh, Vice Chairman (Sindh), Engr. Khadim Hussain Bhatti, Registrar of PEC, Engr G R Bhatti, Advisor PEC Karachi ,and other prominent engineers from different organizations of public and private sector were also present on the occasion.

Prof Dr Joachim Herzig addresses SSUET seminar on Biomechanics of Contractile Proteins

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, organized a highly informative workshop and seminar on the topic of ‘Biomechanics of Contractile Proteins’ recently.

On the occasion Prof Dr Joachim W Herzig, the visiting scholar from Germany, gave a detail presentation on the topic which continued for about two and a half hours. The session was attended by the faculty members of biomedical department of the SSUET, experts and students.

Prof Dr Joachim, who is also a consultant to a number of pharmaceuticals companies on biology and human science, is acclaimed as an international authority in his field and advisor to number of Universities and research institutions.

Focusing on the theories of motion among humans and animals, Prof Joachim analyzed bioinformatics predominantly focusing on three types of large data sets available in molecular biology, macro molecular structures, genome sequence and result of functional genomics experiments.

In his presentation he compared genomics of humans and animals. He gave an overview of muscular movement, muscular structure and functions. In this regard he cited examples to show how mosquitoes fly using his wings, which are functions of his body organs which expands and contracts.

He showed that a normal mosquito wings stretches 200 times per second and that makes mosquitoes to fly. In this regard he quoted an example of human body that needs proteins and dissolve into energy for motion in the body.

He cited the example of how a man stretches his arms and what chemical reaction takes place inside the body. He took names of number of agents and re-agents that help in dissolving proteins and calcium in human plasma that enables a man to move.

Dr Joachim pointed out that it is an extraordinary field of human research and all major pharmaceutical companies are concentrating on producing medicines and chemicals that can help human body to do work and move.

He quoted human hearts which, he said, contracts and expands as an example of myosine and proteins. He said that upon expansion, human heart receives blood and on contraction it circulates blood in human body. The tissues of heart are made to function like this with the help of myosine, calcium and protein. He invited researchers from Universities and institution to focus in this area of human bodies functioning, its longevity and age and observed that perhaps quality of life is likely to improve to a great extent.

He is currently on a visit to Karachi for about a month and his lecture/talks in many Universities are available on web and anyone interested can download and start further research in this area that has great potential.

Dr Joachim also answered to a number of question raised by participants and students of bio-medical. He thanked Chancellor Engr Mohammed Adil Usman, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Jawaid H. Rizvi of SSUET for inviting him to this largest private sector university.

The guests on the occasion included Dr Shahida Qaiser, currently working as Managing Director of a pharmaceutical firm and Mr Pervez Hayat Noon, who is highly educated widely travelled and currently holding a reputed pharmaceutical company in Pakistan.

Earlier, the SSUET Registrar, Engr Abrar Ali, gave a thorough introduction about SSUET and said that it presently has over 5500 students on its roll studying in the disciplines of Computer, Electronics, Bio-Medical, Civil, Telecom Engineering and Computer Science.

On the occasion the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor presented bouquets to the visiting professor from Germany.

Research opportunities at the interface if bio medicine and engineering include cell/tissue engineering use of bio materials, clinical and medical instrumentation, physiological modeling, bio-nanotechnology, cellular biomechanics, neural engineering, engineering biophysics, a number of discoveries at brain computer interface and controlled drug delivery system.

The field of Bioinformatics is multi-disciplinary. With informatics providing enormous computing powers to the bioscience processes, bioscience firms are readily allowing the expansion in their IT infrastructure for R & D operations.

Concept of supply chain management highlighted at SSUET seminar

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The concept of supply chain management, a new concept which is going to prove beneficial for engineers-in-making when they enter the practical life and come across with industrial and commercial businesses, was highlighted at a one-day seminar organized by the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi.

“It is a new a new field with wide applications to be applied by upcoming engineers when they enter the practical arena,” Engr Noman Ali, the visiting Regional Manager, Seimens, Saudi Arabia, pointed out in a detail presentation on the topic.

He described  supply chain management as an integrated process that spans the movement of and storage of raw materials, inventory and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption.

“It is the design planning and execution, control and monitoring of supply chain activities with the objective to ensure efficient and effective use of time and resources by avoiding wastage,” Engr Noman explained adding that the ultimate objective aims to come up to expectation of customers and achieve the set  targets.

The topic was particularly relevant to the students of final year who, he said,  would soon enter  practical life where knowledge of supply chain management would be quite beneficial to them.

The workshop was largely attended, among others, by Vice-Chancellor SSUET,  Prof Dr Jawaid Hasan Rizvi,  Dean Engineering Prof Dr S M Makhdumi, Associate Dean Prof Dr Najeeb Siddiqui besides the chairpersons of various faculties, heads of departments, faculty members and students.

In his concluding remarks Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawaid Hasan Rizvi, appreciated the comprehensive presentation given by Engr Noman Ali.

Prof Dr S M Makhdumi, Dean Engineering, announced that in view of importance of the subject the SSUET would consider starting a short course on supply chain management in the near future.

Action demanded against irregularities in homeopathy

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Former Acting President, National Council for Homeopathy, H.Dr Jawed Hussain Shah, has urged upon the concerned authorities to take immediate notice of rampant irregularities in Homeopathy and the falling standard of Homoeo education.

In a statement issued in Karachi on August 18, he called for initiation of immediate action against all colleges providing sub-standard education, conduct of sub-standard education and above all fake admissions.

He reiterated his demand that the authority for conducting Homoeo examinations be with drawn from the Council and entrusted to some Board or University to bring an end to ongoing irregularities and corruption.

He pointed out that the Homeo examinations which were due to start from June 20, 2013 had to be delayed because of the in fight going on for occupying the chairmanship of Examining Body of National Council of Homeopathy and now these are expected to commence from August 20.

H.Dr Jawed Shah observed that the quality of examinations has become sub-standard and non-transparent because of  acting Registrar and Acting Controller of Examination while the government-nominated Chairman was not allowed to function by a section of people having vested interests.

He said that majority of Council members are those who owns Homeopathic Medical colleges and are responsible for falling standard of homeopathic education.

He demanded of all the Provincial authorities to setup raiding teams to check use of unfair means during Homeo examinations as well as the activities of  ‘booty mafia.’

He said that those examination centres be sealed  where use of unfair means may be allowed and the colleges involved therein be black-listed.

Noted writer Prof Dr Farman Fatehpuri passes away

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News and Features Services)

Eminent writer, scholar and critic, Prof Dr Farman Fatehpuri, passed away in Karachi on August 3. His funeral prayer was offered at Masjid Khulafa-e-Rashideen, 13-D/1, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and he was laid to rest at the Karachi University's graveyard.

He has left behind two sons and four daughters to mourn his death. One of his sons, Engr Syed Abrar Ali, is presently the Registrar at the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi.

The SSUET Chancellor, Engr Mohammad Adil Usman, and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawaid H Rizvi, have expressed their grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Prof Dr Farman Fatehpuri.

In their condolence messages, they paid rich tribute to the great writer for his contribution toward the promotion of the cause of Urdu, noting that the literary world has lost one of its most versatile personalities. They prayed to Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant fortitude to bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.

Prof Dr Farman Fatehpuri was acclaimed as an outstanding Urdu linguist, researcher, writer, critic and scholar. He was widely regarded as the supreme authority on life and work of Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, the greatest-ever Urdu poet. He is credited to have penned more than 300 scholarly articles, 600 book reviews and 400 editorials of Nigar. He received Sitara-e-Imtiaz, for his literary accomplishments, from the Government of Pakistan in 1985.

He was born on January 26, 1926 in Fatehpur, Uttar Pardesh, India. He did his matriculation in his Fatehpur, intermediate from Allahabad and graduation from the Agra University. He had migrated to Pakistan in 1950 and relocated in Karachi.

He became the first Pakistani to earn the prestigious degree of Doctorate in Literature in 1974. He remained associated with the University of Karachi for more than three decades, having produced numerous PhDs and researchers. He was then appointed as the Chief Editor and Secretary of the Urdu Dictionary Board.

He also served as a member of the Civil Services Board of the Government of Sindh. He became the editor of the monthly publication, Nigar the oldest Urdu literary journal, founded by Farman's mentor, Allama Niaz Fatehpuri.  

He had special association with the legendary Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and hardly ever missed a function organised in his memory by the SSUET.

Fall semester commences at SSUET on July 22

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The fall semester classes at the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, are set to commence on July 22.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawaid H Rizvi, revealed that the necessary arrangements have been completed with regard to maintenance of classrooms and laboratories while the faculty had started reporting on duty since July 15.

Meanwhile the Chancellor SSUET, Engr Mohammed Adil Usman, alongwith Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawaid Rizvi, have conducted department wise faculty meetings from July 15 to 20.

During meetings, the faculty members were introduced to Chancellor Adil Usman, specifying their qualifications, experience and teaching assignments for the coming semester.

The Chancellor expressed satisfaction that the university has very well qualified and experienced faculty and was impressed by the efforts being made for enhancement of quality teaching education.

He noted that many faculty members have completed their Ph.D programs and many others pursuing their post-graduation at Ph.D and Masters levels at SSUET and other universities.

He assured continued support of the university for enhancement of quality education as well as Faculty Development Programme.

On the occasion ice-Chancellor Dr Jawaid Rizvi expressed the determination to strictly follow the policy guidelines from the Chancellor.

Chancellor Adil Usman also held free and frank exchange of views with the Faculty members and assured that their views would be valued.

The faculty assured that every effort will be made to promote the image of the University as a Centre of Excellence and transfer of latest knowledge to students.

With the conclusion of these meetings, the university is now set to start from July 22. During the holy month of Ramazan-ul-Mubarak, the classes will be held from 8.30 am to 3.10 pm daily except Friday when the timings will be from 8.30 am to 11.50 am.