US Aligarhian visits SSUET

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, is an institution on which, anyone having an admiration and love with the great reformer and educationist Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, can feel pride for its being the fruit of Sir Syed’s educational endeavours.”

This was observed by Vice-Chancellor SSUET, Prof. Dr Jawaid H. Rizvi while speaking at a reception hosted by the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) in the honour of Dr Shaheer Khan, the visiting Aligarhian and a noted member of Aligarh Muslim University Alumni, Northern California.

Dr Jawaid Rizvi welcomed Dr Shaheer Khan and appreciated his services for the cause of the Aligarhians at the international level.

In his remarks on the occasion Dr Shaheer highlighted the establishment of the Aligarh Muslim University Alumni USA. He informed that its foundation was laid in the 1970s and now it has chapters in about 15 states which are playing an important role towards promotion of cause of education and Aligarh culture.

He further disclosed that a directory of Alumni members has also been prepared containing names and addresses of some 25,000 members from 102 countries of the world.

According to him quite a few websites have been developed and uploaded on the internet in relation to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and the Aligarh Muslim University which contain enormous information about the Aligarh Movement which ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan.

On the occasion he paid rich tributes to the late SSUET Chancellor Engr Z A Nizami and the the late General Secretary AMUOBA, Engr Mohammed Zakir Ali Khan, for the cause of promotion of the Aligarh Movement.

Appreciating the services of Dr Shaheed Khan in relation to the cause of Aligarhians, the AMUOBA’s General Secretary Mukhtar Ahmed Naqvi, described the establishment of the Sir Syed University as a great achievement of the Alumni of the Aligarh Muslim University and this exemplary feat was being eulogized the world over.

He suggested that a campaign be launched in the US for Endowment Fund of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology. 

Shoaib Adil deserves recognition after unearthing embezzlement, irregularities

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Karachi Railway Division authorities have unearthed Rs 0.7 million embezzlement at Mirpurkhas Railway station which led to the arrest senior reservation supervisor.

The supervisor was arrested following a discreet raid conducted by Divisional Commercial Officer (DCO), Shaoib Adil Mughal, who earlier had received a tip of the loss being caused to Pakistan Railway.

According to railway sources, the Mirpurkhas booking supervisor had not deposited the ticket sale amount of Rs 0.7 million and thus caused a revenue loss to the railway.

The sources pointed out that an Inspection Team from Railway Headquarter Lahore had visited Karachi Railway Division on November 22 and 23 and also inspected Mirpurkhas Railway station but did not report this fraud to Karachi Railway division authorities.

Shaoib Adil Mughal, after taking over as DCO on September 9, was credited to have unfolded two frauds of Karachi division inside a couple of months.

In year 2012, he was also instrumental in nabbing a gang of retired railway employees who were selling fake railway Paper card tickets in Karachi. A case was registered against them.

On that performance the Railway administration, headed by Anzar Ismail Rizvi, had recommended his name for bonus salary which was awarded to him besides the appreciation certificates.

This year, despite unfolded two frauds, he has not been rewarded yet and instead having been recommended for OSD which was quite frustrating and demoralizing for any civil servant who has performed very well during the Mid career Management Course at NIM Karachi which offered him to join NIM and render his services for NIM as Additional Directing Staff.

Since joining in September 2013, he has shifted at least a dozen staff on their irregularities and disciplinary action is underway against them 

Recently he raided 19 up at Ghadar station and in midnight Khyber Mail 1 up surprisingly from Kot and a STE in 1 up Khyber mail has been caught taking money from a passenger and he caught him on the spot.  He also conducted inspection of HDR-MPS section and caught minor irregularities and one major irregularity of a booking clerk at Tando Allahyar.

SSUET hailed for making fast strides in engineering education

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has been progressing at fast pace because of its highest quality of education and best possible facilities available to its students.

This was stated by the President of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) and the Chancellor of the SSUET, Engr Mohammed Adil Usman, while addressing the Annual General Body of the AMUOBA held in Karachi.

He described the introduction of three new programmes of Architecture, Software Engineering and Bio Informatics from the 2014 academic session as a living example of the development and success of the university.

He said that since its inception, the university not only focused on providing best and most modern education but also produced a large number of engineers who have demonstrated their talent and skill not only in Pakistan but world over.

Engr Adil Usman pointed out that a major character of this university is that no student is deprived from acquisition of education merely because of financial constraints  but poor and deserving students are financially assisted and during the last academic year about Rs 35 million were given to 1884 boys and girls as scholarship.

He said that the establishment of CISCO Academy at SSUET was an important achievement and besides education in networking, the university has been made a center of online examination.

The Chancellor pointed out that the SSUET was the only university in the private sector where extracurricular activities were fully encouraged and its students won top positions in various important national and provincial events besides sports and which speaks of their talents.

Emphasizing upon making the promotion and pursuation of education mission of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as the AMUOBA’s foremost objective he committed not to ignore the element of merit to achieve highest educational standards at the SSUET.

He specially recalled the services of AMUOBA’s late President, Engr Z A Nizami and its late Secretary, Mohammed Zakir Ali Khan, and said that foundation stone of a new 8-story academic block at the campus has been laid and the construction work was in full swing.

Earlier the AMUOBA’s Secretary Mukhtar Ahmed Naqvi present the Association’s Annual report, highlighting the successes made towards the achievement of its objectives.  The meeting approved the minutes of the AMUOBA’s previous AGM. The Treasurer SSUET, Salman Saleh presented the audited accounts of the Association.

KWSB launches crackdown against defaulters

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

 

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has launched a crackdown against defaulting domestic water consumers who were earlier served final disconnection noticed and severed 116 connections in the city’s different areas on November 26.

 

However, a team of KWSB’s revenue collection was attacked by some mischievous elements who opened fire at them in Federal-B-Area and A FIR has been filed against them, the KWSB said.

 

Deputy Managing Director Revenue, Mohammed Aslam Khan disclosed that some 17 billion rupees are outstanding against water consumers and a recovery campaign has been launched on the directives of the KWCB Chairman, Mohammed Sajid Jokhio, and Managing Director, Qutbuddin Shaikh.

 

Out of 116 connections severed, 21 were disconnected in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, 18 in Jamshed Town, 17 in North Nazimabad, 15 in Federal-B-Area, in Orangi, nine each in SITE and Saddar, seven in Korangi, four in Landhi, three in Bin Qasim and two in Lyari.  

 

Karachi facing water shortage due to power cuts

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Karachi is experiencing a water shortage of about 20 mgd daily and by the fifth day it had reached the shortage level of 90 mgd because of the shortage of power supply to its pumping stations.

“The Water Board is unable to supply 650 mgd water which has by now come down to 450 mgd,” a spokesman of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) disclosed, adding that a water crisis had developed in all areas of the city because power cut by the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC).

The KWSB has now enforced rotated water supply system and there had been shut down of water in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on November 25.

There will be no water supply to PAF Masroor, Baldia, Sher Shah, Pak Colony, Old Golimar, Nazimabad and SITE from 8 pm on November 26 for next the 24 hours, a KWSB announcement said.

It had already been warned the disconnection of power supply to the pumping stations of the KWSB could cause a severe crisis situation.

The KWSB, a public utility organization, has been supplying water on a very nominal rate on no profit no loss basis, despite the rate of recovery being on the lower side.

NED University’s Petroleum Engineering department attains global recognition

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Texas-based Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has declared the Petroleum Engineering Department of the NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, as an outstanding chapter of the year 2013.

The NED University’s SPE student chapter has received the Outstanding Chapter Award (OCA) for the second time. The chapter has distinguished itself as one of the top seven distinguished SPE chapters around the globe.  

The other OCA recipients for 2013 are the University of Lagos, the Malaysia University of Technology, the University of Aberdeen, the Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense, Darcy Riberio, the University of Tulsa and Tyumen State Oil & Gas University.

The Exclusive SPE student chapter of Pakistan has received all the three prestigious awards including chapter of the month and the Gold Standard status besides the OCA in the SPE Middle East North Africa and India region.

After receiving these prestigious awards in 2011, the chapter has been crowned once again with the OCA for the year 2013 through assessment of its programmes, activities, and levels of participation during a single academic year in respect to over 200 other chapters worldwide.

The SPE Student Chapter team of Petroleum Engineering Department enjoys the pride and honour to raise the flag of Pakistan in the whole region and to have brought laurels to the university and the department through this regional and international recognition.

The SPE, founded in 1957 as a constituent society of the American Institute of Mining Engineers (AIME), is acclaimed as one of the largest individual-member organization serving managers, engineers, scientists and other professionals worldwide in the upstream segment of the oil and gas industry. It had become a separately incorporated organization in 1985.

The Oil and Gas Committee of AIME had evolved into the Petroleum Division of AIME as membership grew and as interest among the members was more clearly delineated among the mining, metallurgical, and petroleum specializations.

The SPE has reached its highest number of members in its history, partly due to the high growth rate in the number of student members and chapters. It continues its constant search for new ways to meet member needs in all phases of their careers in all parts of the world.

Meanwhile Prof Dr Muhammad Afzal Haque, Vice Chancellor, NED University of Engineering and Technology, and Prof Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, Dean, CEA, have congratulated the Department of Petroleum Engineering, headed by its chairman Prof Dr Abid Murtaza Khan, on their accomplishments.

KWSB urge KESC to restore power supply to pumping stations

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Karachi faced a shortage of 120 mgd in the supplies made to the city following the disconnection of power supply to the pumping stations of the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) and the situation could go from bad to worse if the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) remained adamant in restoring electricity to pumping stations.

 “There is every possibility that a severe crisis situation may arise in the city due to water shortage as a result of KESC’s action,” Qutbuddin Shaikh. Managing Director, (KWSB), warned.

He said that schedule of water supply was badly affected due to shut down of power supply to pumping stations and if this continues, a volatile situation among citizens may erupt and particularly during the weekend when water consumption increases.

He pointed out that the KWSB was already faced with water shortage but KESC’s such behaviour could further worsen the situation making it difficult to maintain equitable supply of water.

Qutbuddin Shaikh reminded that the KWSB is a public utility organization which has been supplying water on a very nominal rate on no profit no loss basis.

He said although there is very low rate of recovery, still the KWSB was supplying water notwithstanding its limitations and KESC should keep the interest of people in view.

He said that the KESC should approach the Provincial and Federal Governments for settlement of its dues instead of punishing the citizens. He hoped that the KESC will make contact at government level instead of resorting to an extreme action.

Reiterating the caution that the water supply shortage can even result in a law and order situation, the KWSB Managing Director elaborated that it takes more time in restoring water supply than the shut down hours and as a result the water supply schedule gets badly affected.

First phase of SSUET Admission process completed

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The first phase of ongoing 2014 admission process at the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has been completed with the expiry of the deadline for the last date for submission of admission forms for various engineering disciplines.

The second phase will envisage holding of written test on November 24 to be held at Expo Center and display of lists of successful admission seekers thereafter. Over 5000 will be appearing in the test.

The university is offering admissions to Computer, Electronics, Civil, Telecommunication and Bio-Medical Engineering besides Computer Science. This year around 25-30 percent more admission forms have been submitted as compared to last year.

During academic session 2014, the SSUET is introducing three new programs of Architecture, Bio-Informatics and Software engineering. This would bring the total number of faculties at SSUET to nine.

The ongoing admission process was reviewed at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chancellor SSUET Engr Mohammed Adil Usman and attended, among others, by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawaid Hasan Rizvi and Registrar Syed Abrar Ali.

He directed that while granting admissions, high priority should be given to merit and transparency. He reiterated that holding of entry test on November 24 should be ensured in a peaceful environment.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawaid Hassan Rizvi is personally monitoring the entire admission process to ensure merit.

Maqsood-un-Nabi takes over as new Railways DS Karachi

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Maqsood-un-Nabi, an officer of the railway group, has been transferred from the Pakistan Railways Headquarters, Lahore, and posted as the Divisional Superintendent of the Karachi Division.

Before the new assignment, Maqsood-un-Nabi was working as the Chief Operating Superintendent at the Railway HQ Lahore and he now replaces Mahmood Lashari who, on transfer, has been posted as Director General Vigilance at the Railway HQ.

Earlier Maqsood-un-Nabi had served as the Chief Commercial Manager at Lahore and besides also having worked as the Deputy DS Railway at Karachi. He brings with him very rich experience in the field of railway operation as well as commercial sector.

“My main focus will be on punctuality of trains and passenger facilitation,” the DS Railways said in an interview adding that since he took over the punctuality rate went up from previous low of 73 percent to 87 percent at present and it will improve further in coming days with the kind of measures being taken by him.

He said that he had taken up the management sector as a challenge for himself and issued directives to divisional managers to bring improvement in their managerial skills to achieve the desired targets set for them which include punctuality of train operation, public facilitation and most important revenue generation.

Maqsood-un-Nabi remarked that back marketing of tickets has been controller by 99 percent and severe action taken against those involved in the menacing practices. He said that he has the full cooperation of SP Railway Police and Divisional Commercial Officer and black sheep in the force are being screened out.

The DS Railway added that he had also taken up the issue of railway’s land  grabbing and in his very first meeting with divisional officers he issued directive for developing a system to have immediate information about any case of land grabbing and initiation of immediate action by the anti-encroachment cell which too has been activated.

Under public facilitation program, he said, passengers going for upcountry dest inations are informed about delays in departure of trains through mobile phone messaging so that they may not have to face any inconvenience by reaching the station on time.

Similarly cleaning coaches of trains leaving for upcountry destinations is being ensured particularly with emphasis on water and power supply. He said he had issued strict instruction that there should not be repetition of any problem once identified.

He said that on his directive a railway is deputed at Cantonment Station who would check the trains and submit report about any event taking place during his duty hour.

SSUET extends date for submission of Admission Forms until November 18

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has extended the last date for submission of admission forms until November 18.

The deadline for submission of forms was expiring on November 11 but in view of the rush of the admission seekers, the university extended the date by a week to accommodate them.

There, however, is no change in the date of aptitude test which is scheduled to be held on November 24. It has been emphasized that the admissions will be strictly on merit giving weightage to marks obtained in Matric (SSC), Intermediate (HSC) and aptitude test.

This year there has been an all time high number of students seeking to get admission in engineering disciplines of Computer, Electronics, Civil, Bio-Medical, Telecommunication besides Computer Science with more than 30 percent increase reported in the number of admission seekers as compared to last year. 

The SSUET has over 5500 students on its roll studying in the engineering disciplines of Computer, Electronics, Bio-Medical, Civil and Telecommunication besides Computer Science. The university is already offering post-graduate programs at Master and Ph.D levels besides robust continuous education program in the evening.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) 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.