SSUET participates in Advanced Quantitative Analysis workshop

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The use of predictive analytics software has made it easier to confidently predict next moves and thus help in making smarter decisions and resolve problems with improved results.

“It helps universities easily integrate statistical analysis, data and text mining and survey research instruction in the classroom,” Prof Dr. Jawaid H Rizvi, Vice-Chancellor Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, observed during the two-day online training workshop on Advanced Quantitative Analysis through SPSS and AMOS organized by Institute of Research Promotion, Lahore .

The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that innovative programmes help prepare future business leaders to encounter tough challenges using industry leading IBM technology.

IBM SPSS software enables educators to teach effectively, helps students gain critical analytical skills and supports more accurate and insightful institutional research and decision making, he added.

The workshop objective was to train the participants in how to produce various advanced level statistics according to their research needs and how to use SPSS and AMOS for producing quantitative analysis, interpreting values, applying tests and producing results in graphical modeling.

Around 40 participants of SSUET were connected to the other institutions and researchers across the country through this Webinar, HD Video Conference.

The program also focused on Interpretation and writing quantitative findings and building capacity to produce quantitative analysis through software.

Quantitative analysis has become increasingly pre-requisite to academic research, managerial reports and field analysis. Sophisticated quantitative techniques are applied to report patterns, test significance, infer statistics and present results in graphical models.

SSUET takes lead to migrate on Office 365 application of Microsoft Cloud

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has become the first academic institution of the country to migrate on Office 365 application of Microsoft Cloud, the technology now being used globally.

In this regard a ceremony was held at the SSUET in which the Office 365, the latest cloud technology of Microsoft, was formally launched by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawaid Hasan Rizvi.

In a detail presentation on the occasion Zafar-ul-Islam, Microsoft Technology Expert, Asia Pacific Region, stated that this facility is provided by Microsoft free of cost to academic and research institutions all over the world.

A team of SSUET networking staff had been working with Microsoft to transfer SSUET email service to Office 365.

"This has been a major undertaking that includes changes to our authentications system, grouping and training", Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jawaid Rizvi, remarked while inaugurating the services by clicking the computer button.

He acknowledged the networking and server room staff for having worked hard for a successful migration and many of them have already received training on the new cloud technology.

This is an important step towards transfer and adoption of high tech cloud technology for which direction and timeline of year 2015 have been given by Higher Education Commission (HEC) to the member public and private sector universities, he pointed out adding that SSUET is also the partner of Microsoft Software Strategic Alliance through HEC.

In his welcome address Abdul Moid Khan, System Manager SSUET, said that they had been working with Microsoft, its local and international support is available all the way in this project. By transfer of SSUET network services on Microsoft Cloud, SSUET will enter into the world of paperless environment and will enjoy following high tech facilities free of cost.

In his presentation, Zafar-ul-Islam dilated upon in detail the salient features of the technology and its applications in various academic, commercial and business fields, including Exchange online (For Emails on SSUET domain <xyz@ssuet.edu.pk>), outlook Web app (Outlook Web version) Lync online (For Video Conferencing and messaging) and  SharePoint Portal Online (Complete Document Management System)

He informed that Migration on Microsoft Office 365 is widely adapted globally, especially in academic environment, as Microsoft is providing these services free of cost to all academic institutions like Duke University, Emory University, Thomas Jefferson University, University of Iowa and University of Washington chose Office 365 for education and next-generation cloud productivity services.

He said many universities in Pakistan are working on this project. However, it is a big achievement that SSUET is the first in academic sector in Pakistan with more than 7000+ accounts to adopt and transfer on Office 365 cloud.

The Associate Dean SSUET, Dr Najib Siddiqui, said that it is the latest technology adopted by SSUET and it will take this institution to new horizons providing support to imparting modern education to its students.

Zafarul Islam explained the top 10 business and technical priorities, highlighted the importance of education and said that technology play an important role in it as well as development of society and economy as a whole besides industrial skills.

On the occasion, Mr Anas Kidwai, Project Coordinator Microsoft Innovation Center, gave a presentation on Microsoft and Academia Collaboration.

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.