SSUET trials for HEC Games commence

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News &  Features Services)

The 10-day long trials for selection of teams for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Games started at the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, on November 2.

The SSUET will be selecting 14 teams including those of cricket, football, hockey, volleyball and basketball. 

These teams will play in the HEC Games, scheduled to start from December 2016 at different venues of various universities all over Pakistan. 

The trials for selection of the SSUET teams are being organized by the SSUET’s sports department. 

The Director Sports, SSUET, Mubbashir Mukhtar, informed that the trials will help find out new talents to replace those who passed out after completion of their studies. He said that about 1,200 to 1,500 students will be participating in trials for 14 to 16 different disciplines.

The SSUET has shown good performance in sports competitions. 

During 2016 the university has won bronze medal in Judo, Silver in Boxing and three Bronze while won tournaments in cricket and football at universities level. 

Meanwhile, the Registrar SSSUET, Syed Sarfraz Ali, along with Director Sports Mubbbashir Mukhtar, witnessed the students participating in the trials. 

The Registrar was quite impressed with the performance of students and expressed the confidence that the university will be able to raise good teams through talent hunt, competent enough to bring laurels for the university in upcoming sports events. 

He reckoned that the SSUET’s sports department was making commendable efforts to boost the university’s image through sports.

SSUET staffers earn ISO certification

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Around 20 employees of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, which included both faculty and non-faculty staff, were awarded ISO-9001:2015 Internal Auditor Certificates at a ceremony held in the newly renovated conference room of the university. 

The ceremony was organized by the University's procurement department for the recipients of the certificate who participated in the 3-day ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor programme held under the supervision of Total Quality Certification Services International (Pakistan), led by Riaz Wasaya, CEO TQCSI as well as programme trainer. 

Presenting the certificates to recipients the SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, under scored the importance of such programmes which, he observed, play an important role in the field of education. 

He announced that the university will continue to hold such type of programs in future as well. The Chancellor said that since the programme related to quality management system, the university would like to have far better quality management system so as to bring it at par with organizations having top class quality management systems. 

He said that the university has already implemented ISO 9001 Quality Management System which is working so efficiently. 

Earlier Riaz Wasaya, the CEO TQSCI and Programme trainer stressed on organizing more similar type of programs like Lead Auditor, Health and Safety programs. 

The ceremony ended with vote of thanks proposed by the SSUET Registrar, Syed Sarfraz Ali, who too endorsed the proposal for organizing such programs on frequent basis.

Walk for breast cancer awareness at AKUH

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

With approximately 40,000 deaths and 90,000 new cases every year, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Pakistan. The number of deaths can be reduced significantly with early detection and treatment, the participating experts at a walk to mark the Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) reckoned.

The walk was part of a series of events organized by the AKUH to raise awareness for an early detection of the disease. Clad in pink, the walk was attended by men and women, patients, survivors, breast surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurses and the general public. 

“Breast cancer is an uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in breast tissue. These cells can form a tumor that may be seen on a screening mammogram and ultrasound scan even before they can be felt as a lump. Currently, medical science doesn’t know exactly what causes the disease, therefore, early detection remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control,” Dr Adnan Jabbar, an assistant professor and section head of medical oncology at the Aga Khan University (AKU), observed. 

 “Although breast self-examination has limitations, it can be the first step to examine any developments in the breast, e.g., a new lump, swelling, an unusual pain or any change in the size, shape or skin of the breast. Such changes should be reported to a health professional immediately,” he said. 

“Since the disease is increasing among young women in the country, women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam at least every three years. After 40 years, they should have a breast exam and mammograms by a health professional every year. Doctors may also recommend breast ultrasound, MRI or biopsy, if needed,” he added. 

Dr Shaista Khan, a professor of surgery at AKU, warned that women were at greater risk than men. Key risk factors could be overweight, old age and the disease in the family. 

“Women diagnosed with breast cancer can live healthy lives given the disease is diagnosed and treated timely. Treatment for early breast cancer usually involves surgery only or some combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The AKUH’s Patient Welfare Programme and Patients’ Behbud Society for AKUH provide financial assistance to women who are fighting breast cancer and need support,” she highlighted. 

While sharing her experiences, a survivor commented: “I am a proud mother, a wife and a breast cancer survivor. I am here to support those who are fighting the disease. Activities like this are always inspirational”. 

The AKUH’s CEO, Hans Kedzierski, was also dressed in pink to show solidarity with breast cancer patients and survivors. 

“We at the AKUH have successfully established a breast cancer team, a multidisciplinary group of specialists, that offers comprehensive care under one roof – an advantage for our patients,” he said. 

Other activities of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month included marking pink Fridays by wearing pink clothes or accessories, and organizing awareness sessions at AKUH as well as at educational and corporate institutions in the city.

KPT-Bahria University agreement signed

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has signed an agreement with the National Centre of Maritime Policy Research (NCMPR), Bahria University Campus, Karachi at a ceremony held at KPT Head Office. 

The agreement is aimed at establishing the KPT Chair for cooperation enhancement and interaction between academia and the Maritime Industry of Pakistan. The agreement was signed by the Chairman, KPT, Vice-Admiral (Rtd) Shafqat Jawed and the Rector, Bahria University, Vice-Admiral (Rtd) Tanveer Faiz. 

Speaking on the occasion, the KPT Chairman, while unveiling the objectives, highlighted the existing gap resulting in creation of increased demand for skilled human resources in Pakistani Ports and Shipping sector. 

The establishment of chair, he observed, will fill the gap in due course as professionals and skilled human resources will be available for undertaking maritime projects within the country and pave the way for maritime education as well thus opening avenues for research and innovation to meet the emerging demands of port operations while using maritime expertise and international standards. 

He stressed on linking KPT Staff College with the Chair to establish further linkages with the international/national institutes of maritime industry. 

He said that the materialization of the project will result in benefiting the KPT through focused research for future expansions and efficient port operations as the maritime sector is gradually growing in Pakistan. 

On the occasion momentos were also exchanged. The ceremony was well attended by top management officials of KPT and the NCMPR besides Director General NCMPR Vice Admiral (Rtd) K G Hussain.

K-Electric stopped from sending bills on approximation

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Advisor to Regional Office of Federal Ombudsman, Mohammad Yameen, has asked the K-Electric (KE) to stop the practice of sending bills on approximation to its consumers.

Hearing applications in Deputy Commissioner Office's Malir Camp, the Advisor declared that sending bills without meter reading was a cruel act against poor citizens and he noticed aggrieved consumers sometimes virtually crying during hearing of their applications before the Ombudsman Court. 

“How a poor man can afford to pay such inflated bills while they have not enough income for two time's meal,” he observed adding that the KE should address such complaints and send bills as per meter reading. 

An applicant, Anjum Muzammil, told the Ombudsman Court that her husband has expired while she has six children and she has been sent an inflated bill on approximation which she was unable to pay. 

The Advisor corrected her bill with consultation of the KE representative, Waqas Ahmed, and suspended the excess billing, providing swift justice. Another applicant, Shakeel Ahmed, complained that whenever they go to KE complaint office, nobody listened and, therefore he came there for justice. The court suspended the excessive bill. 

A crying applicant, Syeda Razia Hasan Zaidi, told the court that she lived on pension of her husband which was Rs 12,000 per month and was not in a position to pay excessive bill. The court ordered revision of the bill as per meter reading and suspended the excessive bill. 

Applicant Tariq Jawaid complained that nobody came for meter reading while the KE continued sending excessive bill. The court ordered the KE change the meter at company's expense and ordered to revise the bill on three months' average basis. 

Applicant Arsalan Ahmed, a crockery dealer, informed that his father had expired recently and the KE sent him an excessive bill of Rs. 52,208 and sought justice from the court. However, the KE representative produced proof of power theft to which Arsalan explained that it was not a picture of his house. The court suspended IRB from his bill to meet the ends of justice. 

Two applications of Shamim Ahmed were also heard whereby both owner of the house and tenant were sent separate excessive bills, The Ombudsman Court suspended the excessive amount from both bills. Applicant Nasir Ahmed alleged that the KE was sending him excessive bill. The KE representative clarified that there was no excessive billing and the applicant even did not pay the correct bill. Therefore the court rejected his application and advised him that he can pay the bill in installments. 

Applicant Naseem Ahmed Advocate produced his bill appearing personally in the court and submitted that his bill was not only sent on approximation but excessive amount was also included in it. The court suspended the excessive bill and ordered to correct the bill. The same kind of order was issued on applications of Rafaqat Abbasi and others.

Railways medical camp at Kotri

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan Railways, as a part of its social responsibility and on the directive of Divisional Superintendent Engr Nisar Memon, setup a day-long medical camp at Kotri Railway Hospital near Kotri Railway Station. 

It was the seventh medical camp the Karachi Division of the Pakistan Railways has organized so far during the ongoing year.

Earlier it had setup camps at Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Tando Adam, Dadu and other railway stations in the Division. 

Conducted under the supervision of the Divisional Commercial Officer, Nasir Nazeer, along with Divisional Medical Superintendent, the camp was visited by over 400 patients who included railway employees and their families besides people in the surroundings 

The camp was manned by railway doctors who included eye specialist, gynaecologist, dentist and general physician who treated the visiting patients and provided them free medicines

SSUET, AIT thrive under new leadership

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Ever since the present SSUET Chancellor Jawaid Anwar, who is also the President of Aligarh Mulim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), has taken over, the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, and the Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT) have made significant strides during the year 2016-17 resulting in infrastructure development as well as financial relief to faculty members and other employees 

"On a positive note the issues were taken as challenges while a strategic plan with corrective measures to address the challenges was delivered on stringent timelines", the progress report 2016-17 published by AMUOBA noted. 

According to the report, the establishment of Quality Enhancement Cell(QEC), comprising of experienced and senior professors, who successfully completed the progress report to be submitted to HEC will help university retain its position in W category. 

The office of the Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), since its inception earlier this year, achieved a monetary grant from EU with the help of University of Malagawere 3 PhD students, preferably SSUET faculty members can work and complete their research paper in maximum time of five months. The ORIC also conducted a conference at Malagawere University where six research papers were submitted and published in the Impact Factor Journal. 

The Centre of Guidance/Counseling and Career Planning/Placement was revamped for crystal clear guidelines and orientation of students as proper guidance was essential for students to be successful in practical life. 

The Directorate of Sports was launched for the students to actively take part in inter universities tournaments and competitions. Postgraduate Studies Directorate was established to promote higher education in different fields of engineering leading to Masters' and PhD degrees. 

In particular short courses under continuing education program were given too upgrade knowledge of existing teachers and taught. For researchers and faculty development MoUs were signed with national and international universities and now the faculty members were going abroad for research and taking part in international seminars, the beginning of a new era for the faculty members and researchers. 

The university is encouraging the faculty to come up with particular projects that can be funded by the HEC and other international bodies. On the financial side there was general discontent among the faculty about stagnantion of salaries and benefits. 

This serious issue was addressed and a befitting raise in salaries of faculty members and low paid management staff was allowed. The University arranged for medical insurance to all employees which was yet another milestone.

Apart from the recent raise in the pay scale and other benefits, 422 eligible staff members out of 680 regular and non-teaching employees got financial benefits and some of them will also get promotion in keeping with their qualification and experience. 

The contracts of contractual employee were not further extended since 2013 and are now being given extension to enjoy same benefits as are admissible to regular employees. Similarly around 400 daily wages workers were promoted to adhoc while lower grade adhoc employees were regularized as permanent. 

A selection board has been constituted to look after the issue of Faculty upgradation for the long serving employees.

In the year 2016 a new department of Information Technology was introduced raising the number of disciplines to 11 while introduction of disciplines such as Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Urban and Infrastructure Engineering, MBA in Social Sciences, CS training were under consideration. 

In order to steer the system effectively a qualified and well experienced team has been raised with hiring of a highly experienced and committed Registrar, Director Finance, Director QEC, Director ORIC and Director P&D, Director Sports and Internal Auditor.

Novel robotics, 3D imaging make complex surgeries possible in Pakistan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Surgeons at Pakistan’s leading hospitals are benefiting from the introduction of advanced surgical equipment which is enabling highly precise surgery on the body’s most complicated organs, according to experts at Aga Khan University’s Surgical Innovations for the Developing World conference.

The presence of advanced technology means that most complex surgeries can be done within the country. 

This is a great benefit to patients since treatment in Pakistani hospitals is significantly less expensive than centres in the United States and England, according to the speakers. 

Prominent surgeons explained that the use of the latest imaging technology at the country’s top healthcare institutions was allowing them to look deep within the body and to plan surgeries to a level of precision which was not possible earlier. 

In addition, the availability of robotic arms and exoscopes in operating theatres was enabling more targeted, less-invasive treatment for patients. 

“Today’s surgeons have never had better tools and technology to operate with. Like all developing countries, Pakistan suffers from resource constraints that requires us to find frugal innovations to problems and new ways to spread the knowledge and experience that makes the best surgeons,” Dr Masood Umer, Associate Professor, Surgery, AKU, remarked. 

“It takes many hours of training, observation and practice before one obtains mastery in a particular surgical area. However, innovations such as the use of life-like surgical simulators were enabling surgeons to learn their craft at a much quicker pace. Simulators allow surgeons to rehearse skills and hone their technique in a variety of cases. This practice enables them to be more prepared in the operating theatre and thereby reduce the chance of complications,” he added. 

Other experts at the conference also praised the application of video conferencing technology which was enabling live surgeries to be seen at large gatherings of medical experts. Besides the benefits of watching more experienced surgeons cope with challenging cases, conferencing technology was also enabling doctors to discuss cases with peers in different countries. 

“Surgeons have to be ready to face unpredictable situations in the operating theatre. Conferences like these enable experts to share knowledge and research about rare cases as well as the skills needed to tackle the unexpected challenges that sometimes arise during surgeries,” Dr Shahzad Shamim, Assistant Professor, Surgery, AKU, stated. 

The two-day conference saw experts from Germany, USA, UK, UAE and Switzerland conduct workshops in 11 major surgical areas. Over 500 national and international surgeons, specialists and young doctors were present at the event at the AKU campus in Karachi. 

Other speakers at the conference included public intellectual Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, Syed Ather Enam, Chair, Department of Surgery at AKU, and Ather Osama, Founder, Pakistan Innovation Foundation.

New logo of SSUET unveiled

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
Pakistan News &Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, one of the top educational institutions of the country, has unveiled its new logo. 

The logo has been designed in two different patterns with the identical colours with the first one containing Quranic verse and the other one having a slogan ‘Knowledge for Future’ inscribed on it. 

The SSUET Registrar, Syed Sarfraz Ali, has informed that the first logo will be printed only on the permanent documents and not on the disposable documents in order to maintain sanctity of the Quranic verse. The other logo will be used on all disposable documents and items.

The directives in this regard have been issued and the two patterns of the logo will be used strictly accordingly. 

According to the details, the logo with the Quranic verse will be used in degrees, diplomas, certificates, transcripts, PhD thesis, admission forms, university flag, souvenirs, insignias, buildings, glows and sign boards while the other logo will be printed on notices of meetings, invitations, greeting cards, examination papers, test answer scripts, calendars, file covers, examination forms, project reports, laboratory reports, letterheads, uniforms, panaflex banners, panaflex flyers, badges and fee vouchers.

AKU-EB hosts Principals Conference

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB), in collaboration with the Oxford University Press (OUP), hosted the second Principals’ Conference in Karachi.

With an aim to provide structured learning opportunities to educational leadership and to gain insights into school improvement from an indigenous as well as a global perspective; educationists across Pakistan participated in this conference to discuss challenges and to find ways to improve school leadership and thereby raise the standard of teaching and learning. 

The educationists deliberated on prevalent educational issues in Pakistan and discussed how to build linkages with their peers in order to learn from best practices and thereby boost results. The participants also discussed ways to collaborate and to help students to successfully transition from one level to another. 

With an aim to further strengthen and build capacity of school leadership, AKU-EB also launched Pakistan’s first Principals’ Network at this conference. The objective of the network is to engage school principals, heads and institutional leaders across Pakistan and to facilitate the sharing of ideas, innovations and best practices that contribute in the development and implementation of whole school improvement programmes. 

“Engaged teaching and learning affects the knowledge, skills, attitudes and capacities of student to contribute in the communities in which they live. It broadens their horizons and approach towards education which prepares them to practice higher-level critical thinking,” Dr Shehzad Jeeva, Director,AKU-EB, observed in his welcome address.

.“Why is it that when the human intellect is exploring outer space deep space, probing the depth of the ocean and releasing the vast potential of its genius through invention, discovery and innovation that our children’s minds are still throttled by an education system that is rigid, inflexible and rooted in traditionalist systems and structures. The paradigm shift to center our approach to educating children on proven effective practices of pedagogy, teaching and learning is imperative,” the chief guest, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Trustee, Education Trust Nasra Schools and President, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), stated. 

“To attain learning outcomes, in knowledge and skills, and make ‘the great leap forward’ so every child can achieve his/her potential, we must break the shackles of over-regulation, and centralized controls, pitch resources into promoting quality teaching and learning, and place the ‘teacher’ and the ‘student’ at the center of the change process. The Principal’s Conference brings together the change agents, “educator leaders”, to transform school learning,” she added. 

Renowned national and international speakers and panelists engaged the participants in thought provoking sessions. 

The highlight of the conference included a session by Nicholas Horsburgh, a veteran author and textbook writer of the OUP on Ownership and Engagement. Shahid Badami, Principal, Ghulaman-e-Abbas School, and Ali Gohar Chang, Principal, IBA Public School, Sukkur, shared inspirational stories of their schools, striving to provide and promote quality education in challenging areas of Pakistan followed by a panel discussion by Dr Ayesha Mian, Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Aga Khan University, and Prof Dr Muhammad Shafi Afridi, Chairman, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Peshawar. 

An intriguing discussion on Re-Imaging the Textbook was led by an experienced panel including Dr Nicki Saroca, Faculty, Habib University, Rahila Ashraf, General Manager, Education, Oxford University Press, Kermin Parakh, Principal, Bai Virbaijee Soparivala (BVS) Parsi High School, and Dr Uzma Javed, Director, Studies, The City School, Lahore. 

The conference concluded with an interactive session titled ‘World Café’, conducted by Abbas Husain, Director, Teachers’ Development Centre. 

“The importance of education throughout human history is undeniable. Education is the key to an individual’s as well as a nation’s future. In today’s world, populated by seven billion plus people, all striving for a better future for themselves and their coming generations, education is as essential as air and water, not only to survive but to progress. Education is the understanding, imparting and application of knowledge for personal as well as professional progress. Education is the foundation on which knowledge and life are built,” Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director, Oxford University Press (OUP), remarked while presenting the vote of thanks.