National Quit Smoking Day on 1st Ramazan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The various health professionals’ organizations have voiced their concerns on the hazards of smoking cigarettes, which reportedly bring out the death of 166,000 people every year in Pakistan, on the eve of the National Quit Smoking Day to be observed on the upcoming first day of Ramazan. 

They have thrown light on the devastating tobacco epidemic rampant in the country and emphasized that the holy month of Ramadan provided a golden opportunity for people to quit smoking. 

“Cigarettes are killers that travel in packs. Tobacco consumption is the leading preventable cause of death, causing seven million deaths per year worldwide. Moreover, this death toll is expected to rise to 10 million per year by the year 2025 if the tobacco epidemic continues uncurbed. The horrifying impact of tobacco use in Pakistan is made apparent by the fact that smoking killed 166,000 Pakistanis in 2018 alone,” they warned. 

Prof Javaid Khan of the Aga Khan University (AKU) and Chair of the National Alliance for Tobacco Control, speaking at the Karachi Press Club, informed that every year, 1st Ramazan is commemorated all over the Muslim World as Quit Tobacco Day. 

“Ramazan presents a unique opportunity for Muslims to adopt a healthy lifestyle and quit tobacco use. Each puff of tobacco smoke is made up of thousands of chemicals, including at least 70 known to cause cancer. Tobacco kills half of those who use it, with its victims dying, on average, 15 to 20 years prematurely,” he stated. 

Prof Javaid Khan also urged religious scholars of the country to use this holy month to disseminate information to the public about the hazards associated with tobacco use. 

Dr Qaisar Sajjad, Head and Neck Surgeon and Secretary General, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), added that smokeless tobacco in the form of Gutka, Naswar and manipuri was responsible for 90% of head and neck cancers in the country. 

Advising the government to increase the taxation on tobacco products, he regretted the delay in introduction of Sin Tax on cigarettes as announced by the Health Minister last year.

ZAB E-Fest 2019 unfolds creativity, innovation

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

ZAB E-Fest 2019, an annual inter-university engineering competition, organized jointly by the faculties of computer sciences and mechatronics engineering of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Karachi, was inaugurated by Engr Muhammed Shafique, Vice-Chairman (Sindh), Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).

Speaking on the occasion, Engr Shafique appreciated that students from different universities from all over Karachi who were participating in this project competition. 

“In this modern age of technology advancement, challenges for engineering education were growing at the same pace,” the chief guest pointed out and added that the students needed to equip themselves with the latest and up-to-date technological knowledge, skills and hands on experience. 

He said it was inspiring for the students that their projects will be evaluated by the industry and academic professionals.

According to him bridging the gap between industry and academia was the need of the present time as both segments desired to fill the gap by exchanging the ideas and experience among each other. 

He hoped that the projects displayed in this event will be very eye-catching for the people either to solve their problems or to improve their systems 

He appreciated the efforts of SZABIST in providing superior and high quality education to the students with more progressive, state of the art and value added methods. 

Earlier, Dr Altaf Mukati, Vice-President Academics presented the welcome address and highlighting the objectives of ZAB E-Fest 2019 project exhibition.

On the occasion, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, President, SZABIST presented souvenir to chief guest, Engr Muhammed Shafique. 

Among others, the event was attended by Prof Dr Imran Amin, head of computer science department, members of the faculty and a large number of students. 

ZAB E-Fest has been launched with the cherished goals to inspire, motivate and produce a change. It endeavors to provide a platform for the youth to showcase their talents and skills in fierce competitions, displaying cutting edge technology and presenting it deliberately from all over.

With an aim to reach the goal of an ideal world and to provide know how and innovation of technology to everyone, each year the organizers take up initiatives that inspire dedicated and hardworking participant from all ages and walks of life, to come together and put their idea into reality.

Bahria University host exhibition

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Bahria University, Karachi, organized an All Karachi Inter-University Open House Exhibition. 

The exhibition was inaugurated by Engr Muhammed Shafique, Vice Chairman Sindh, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), in a graceful ceremony. 

In his speech, Engr Shafique appreciated the objectives behind the concept of exhibition and opined that such open houses should also be organized by other public and private sector universities. He was of the view that such events greatly help the students to make their mind for future career.

He said that as a member of the PEC, he will extend all his support for holding such events which may prove a source of guidance for students. 

Engr Shafique appreciated the Bahria Univerrsity for making efforts in successfully holding the exhibition and hoped it will go a long way in providing beneficial guidance to its students. 

The exhibition was largely attended by students, faculty members from different engineering universities who evince keen interest in the exhibits on display.

Project management seminar at SBBU

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The Department of Business Administration, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU) organized a one-day seminar on the subject of project management at its campus in Nawabshah on April 24. 

The seminar was aimed at creating greater awareness among the students of the department of Business Administration regarding business plans and projects. 

Professors and scholars hailing from different parts of the country delivered lectures and presented research papers, discussing issues in relation to the seminar topic. 

The seminar participants included Fahad Ali, President, Project Management Institute, Prof Dr Manzoor Ali Meerani of Institute of Business Administration Sukkur, Prof Dr Muha and Dr Mansoor Ahmed Channa of Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering Science and Technology and others. 

The speakers, on the occasion, said that no plan could be successfully implemented until it met proper requirements of project management. They stressed that the importance of project management could not be ignored. 

They explained that investment, time management, resources, area, target market and skilled human resources were equally important for a business project to succeed. 

Dr Liaquat Ali Zardari, Dean Faculty of Science and Technology, Dr Abdul Rauf Chairman, Business Administration, Dr Zahid Channa, Kashif Noorani and large number of students and teachers attended the seminar.

Global children’s research hospital teams up with specialist centres in Pakistan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

80 per cent of the world’s paediatric cancer cases occur in low and middle income countries such as Pakistan and childhood cancer care in the country stands to improve as US-based St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a global leader in children’s cancer care and research, launches a series of partnerships aimed at enhancing the standard of oncology services in the country. 

St Jude’s Global has built a network of regional partnerships spanning over 50 countries to promote self-sufficiency and the sharing of knowledge, skills and best practices in paediatric cancer under a US$100 million initiative. 

A memorandum of understanding in Pakistan has been signed by Dr Carlos Rodriquez Galindo, executive director at St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and Dr Adil Haider, dean of AKU’s medical college, at a ceremony on April 23. 

“The majority of children in the developing world still lose their lives to cancers that can be effectively treated. No child should die in the prime of their life and our partnerships with institutions like AKU will play a crucial role in realising our goal of enhancing paediatric cancer survival rates around the world,” Dr Galindo remarked.

As a member of St. Jude Global’s alliance, AKU’s healthcare professionals and researchers will benefit from a range of capacity building, research and knowledge-sharing initiatives aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s child cancer health system and at developing patient-centered initiatives across the continuum of care.

The partnership will see nurses, paediatric oncology specialists and intensive care unit staff at AKU’s teaching hospital benefit from specialised courses as well as hands-on training at the Memphis-based research hospital.

The research faculty will also participate in initiatives to generate new knowledge in the field and to develop collaborative projects with partner institutions in the global network.

The staff at AKU will also work with the Pakistan Society of Paediatric Oncology to extend the benefits of the global partnership to public, private and charity hospitals with paediatric oncology units in the country.

Early partners in the alliance with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital include Indus Hospital and the National Institute of Child Health.

“This partnership is for all children in Pakistan. Our specialists see some of the most complicated late-stage cases of childhood cancer cases and we’re keen to collaborate on initiatives that will raise the standard of oncology services across Pakistan,” Professor Zehra Fadoo, head of oncology services at AKU’s teaching hospital, stated.

An estimated 80 per cent of the world’s paediatric cancer patients live in low and middle income countries and the MoU is in line with the University’s commitment to achieve targets under goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals which seek a one-third reduction in cancer mortality and morbidity by 2030.

The university had entered into a similar agreement with Fred Hutch, another global leader in cancer research and care, in March 2019.

ACEP secretariat established in Karachi

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The first-ever secretariat of the Association of Consulting Engineers Pakistan (ACEP) was inaugurated by Engr Jawaid Salim Qureshi, Chairman, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) while Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister, Engr Ashfaq Memon, and Engr Najeeb Haroon, MNA, were the guests of honour on the occasion.

The objective behind the establishment of the ACEP in Karachi was to highlight the role of this body of consulting engineers in national development. 

Speaking on the occasion, Engr Javed congratulated the ACEP for having established its own secretariat to help coordinate its activities on national level. 

He held out his firm assurance to engineers to protect their due rights besides other related matters like sales tax, foreign consultancy, positioning of non-engineers on engineer's posts and status of diploma engineers. 

The PEC Chairman informed about the changes he had initiated during his tenure and how the Council had been transformed into a vibrant, friendly and one-window operation service for engineers. 

He declared that the PEC planned to start an engineers’ bank for the welfare of engineering fraternity. Engr Ashfaq also commended the ACEP and committed his full support for resolving the issues of consultant engineers with the Sindh government. 

Engr Najeeb Haroon, MNA, advised all the consultants to come forward, sit together to work for the betterment of engineers’ community. 

Earlier Engr Siddiq Essa welcomed the guests and presented a brief on the history of the ACEP while Engr Ch Ghulam Hussain, ex-President ACEP, highlighted the role of the body in national development. 

On the occasion, Engr Khalid Pervez briefed about upcoming the ACEP Conference and CPD programmes.

Milk shops raided, fined in Nawabshah

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The influential dairy farm owners have been found guilty selling health injurious chemical and water mixed milk after they broke the seals of their shops.

The milk shops selling sub-standard milk were sealed by Assistant Commissioner, Nawabshah, Nabeel Ahmed Sindhu, after a city-wide raid carried out to check milk quality on the directive of Deputy Commissioner, Abrar Ahmed Jaffar. 

Heading a team, the Assistant Commissioner along with veterinarian, Dr Tariq Noorani, conducted raids on milk shops following large scale public complaints in different city areas. 

The team found dairy shops selling milk prepared with various chemicals like detergent powder, urea fertilizer and other similar components. 

The dairy shops were fined and recovered Rs. 45,000 on the spot while huge quantity of sub-standard milk was destroyed and the shops were sealed. 

However some of the influential dairy farmers and milk sellers broke open the seals and started selling milk as usual. 

On the other hand, veterinarian, Dr Tariq Noorani, said that the samples collected from milk shops contained detergent powder, urea fertilizer and other disastrous chemicals the report of which was submitted with district administration.

Department of Sindhi established at SBBU

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News &Features Services) 

Keeping in view the historic status of Sindhi language and its importance, use and expansion of language, the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU) in Nawabshah has established the department of Sindhi along with creation of required faculty. 

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Tayyaba Zareef, while congratulating the university faculty and staff members said that the SBBU was the first university where department of Sindhi has been introduced. 

"We have to make efforts for the promotion of our mother tongue Sindhi,” she said, adding that establishment of such departments help in promotion and research on the language. 

The SBBU Vice Chancellor said that these departments work and research on the creation of different topic and the work done by teachers, writers and poets. 

She invited researchers to use their capabilities in the service of Sindhi language.

Economic benefits of mushroom highlighted

By Rashid Zia Qureshi 

(Pakistan News &Features Services) 

Senior Scientific Officer, Ministry of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Dr Sadia Munir has stressed the necessity for research on different varieties of mushroom. 

"It is essential as we still have no or little knowledge about the economic benefits of nushroom", she said while addressing a seminar ‘Cultivation and economic benefits of wild Mushroom’ which was organized under the auspices of Molecular Biology and Genetics Department of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University SBBU), Nawabshah. 

Dr Sadia Munir said that Mushroom output is seen in huge quantity in area of Thar but area people use poisonous mushroom than healthy mushroom due to lack of information about it. 

She said that not only food requirements could be achieved in case necessary attention is paid on mushroom production but it could fulfill economic requirements as well. 

The seminar, largely attended by the department students, was also addressed by Chairperson, Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Dr Waazir Ali Metlo, Dr Khalid Husain Rind and others.

Nawabshah facing acute power crisis

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The unabated power outages have critically affected commercial and non-commercial activities playing havoc with business community and people at homes. 

As a daily routine power supply goes off with the start of business and office hours and returns when offices are closed and workers start winding up at the end of working hours. 

The huge generators installed at banks continue running all the day giving rise to already aggravated environmental pollution. 

The main victims of load-shedding are the students appearing at the Hyderabad Education Board’s annual examination. Under a growing hot weather they find it next to impossible to make preparations. 

Whenever the electricity supply office is contacted, the usual reply comes that it is routine load-shedding, it is breakdown, it is shutdown or last but not least work is in progress on technical fault and the end result remain the same that you have to live with no electricity. 

On the other hand people have started switching to generators, Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems or solar panel systems to ward off total collapse of business activities.