7 week semester break at SSUET

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

Following the conclusion of the spring semester examinations at the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, a seven-week semester break has got underway at the campus.

The examinations, having started on May 27, were conducted in six engineering disciplines of Computer, Electronics, Civil, Bio-Medical and Telecommunication besides Computer Science.

According to an annoucement made by the University administration, new semester's classes will commence from July 29 after a the seven-week break.

AIT holds career guidance seminar

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The students of theAligarh Institute of Technology (AIT), an affiliate of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, were briefed in detail about selection of their career after they pass out, at a seminar on career guidance organised by the AIT for the graduating diploma holders.

The objective was to guide the graduating diploma holders in various technical fields, to choose a career and explore job opportunities. The seminar was addressed by heads of departments of the AIT besides the representatives of various private companies and multinational NGO’s.

The keynote speaker for the session was Muhammad Yahya Waliullah, Director, Information Technology and Statistical Bureau of the SSUET, and ex Secretary, Sindh Planning & Development Department.

In an hour long presentation he guided and advised students as how to choose a career and go up on the ladder of professional life. He identified path to success and emphasized that students will have to work hard in their area of specialization, as professionals have high demand in the market.

"Professionalism comes from education, training and social network", he pointed out adding that command over the subject in which one has obtained diploma has to be supplemented with advance communication and presentation skills.

He threw light on the methods for searching a job and deliberated on the sources and preparing an effective CV that may catch attention of HR officials or employer and should focus on practical work done by students during their education, project preparation and internship.

He emphasized that CV should be as short as possible without leaving any information that may help in getting employment or job. He said major companies identify prospective employees on the basis of written test to determine knowledge base that includes some questions on I.Q. level and behavior of potential employee.

Once this stage is successfully crossed, he stated, selected candidates have to face by HR and Technical Department of the company. These interviews usually focus on subject knowledge and candidate knowledge about the company, his approach on how can a otential employee enhances production level, profitability and elevating image of the company.

That requires knowledge about the company and its competitors in the market, which can be obtained either through websites or printed material of the company.

Continuing, he said, important thing now a days is social networking like Facebook, Youtube, LinkedIn, Twitter which are powerful social media instruments and helps a candidate in many ways.

The seminar was attended by 150 students and professionals and was followed by a question and answer session that resulted in clarification of some points and further guidance given to students and professionals.

Muslim Abbasi, Vice Principal, and Shahid Jameel, Head of Computer Information Technology organized the seminar while Dr Hilal Qureshi Principal of AIT in his concluding remarks emphasized upon the students to work hard as world has opened up and there is fair competition not among natives but across globe as well.

He thanked heads of departments, Vice Principal for making arrangements and recognized YahyaWaliullah for giving a useful presentation and guiding students.

SSUET budget to be presented on June 21

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Finance and Planning Committee of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has finalized the budget proposals for the fiscal 2013-14.

The outlines of the budget were finalized at a meeting of the committee, chaired by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawaid H. Rizvi, and attended, among others, by Zulfikar Ali Qadri, Rafiq Ahmed Akhund, Muhammed Salman Sualeh, Engr Muhammed Yusuf Siddiqui, Cdr. (Rtd) Salim A. Siddiqi and  Registrar Shah Mahmood H. Syed.

The budget proposals would now be placed before the SSUET’s Board of Governors which is scheduled to meet on June 21. The budget will become effective upon the approval of the Board.

On the occasion the meeting offered Fateha for the departed soul of SSUET’s Founder Chancellor, Engr Z A Nizami, who passed away earlier this year.

The Director Finance presented the university’s revised budget of  Rs 791.56 million for the year 2012-13 with anticipated surplus for Rs 0.16 million for consideration and recommendations to the Board of Governors.

Arif Kassam elected to NED’s senate

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Noted structural engineer Arif Kassam, has been elected unopposed to the Senate of the NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi.

The notification in this regard was issued by the NED University on June 3, announcing his election under the University Graduates category.

Arif Kassam did his BE (Civil) from the NED University in 1979 securing sixth position while he completed Masters in Structural Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA in 1983.

He has written and presented many papers on topics like methods of seismic analysis of buildings and their comparison with special emphasis on D-value methods, dangers of improper modeling in E-tabs, seismic design and drawings for IMF, proper detailing of reinforcement and concrete for fire resistance.

Robert Scott, Aziz Memon urge for reinstatement of Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring and Coordination Cell

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Dr Robert S Scott Chair, International Polio Plus, Rotary International and Aziz Memon, Chair, Pakistan Polio Plus, Rotary International, have urged the government to take steps to re-establish the essential functions that were previously undertaken by the Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring and Coordination Cell in the interest of the children of the country.

In a letter addressed to the Caretaker Prime Minister, Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, with a copy sent to the Prime Minister-in waiting, Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, the Rotary officials have regretted the recent closure of the Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring Cell, merged with the old system, which is incapable of delivering routine immunization or running the Polio Eradication Initiative, due to serious administrative issues.

The senior Rotary officials have drawn the attention of the concerned authorities towards the particular deficiencies of the EPI were highlighted by the Federal Ombudsman in his recent ‘Report on Measles Outbreak in Pakistan.’

‘The decision to close the Monitoring Cell was done in haste, without giving any thought to future action or implementation. The programme will stall key initiatives taken by the polio cell to completely stop transmission of polio from Pakistan by the end of 2013,” they said in a jointly signed letter sent to the Office of the Prime Ministers.

“Eradication of Polio is a global priority.  Pakistan, being one of the only three polio endemic countries of the world, is under intense pressure from the international community to take drastic steps for eradication of this disease and actively contribute in the Global Eradication of Polio,” Scott and Memon stated.

“The Government of Pakistan in collaboration with partner agencies approved the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) for Polio Eradication with responsibilities of implementation to the District Administration,” they added.

“To achieve this objective, the Government of Pakistan had in 2011, established a Cell known as the Prime Minister's Polio Monitoring & Coordination Cell, to monitor and coordinate efforts being made at the National and International level on Polio Eradication. In addition the PM monitoring cell also assisted the National Task Force on Polio Eradication headed by the Prime Minister,” the Rotary officials recalled.

“The Cell comprised of Public Health Specialists and Experts in Polio Eradication. It has achieved major success, and witnessed tremendous progress in this area, which has been recognised and appreciated by the International Health Forums like the World Health Assembly and the Independent Monitoring Board based in London. Due to untiring efforts, polio cases have dropped from 198 in 2011 to 58 cases in 2012 and 9 cases in 2013,” they concluded.

Chancellor Adil Usman stresses on importance of character building

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, Engr Muhammad Adil Usman, has said that changes depend on values and morals, and character is the magic component that makes someone unique among the contemporaries.

“Each of us has the ability and potential to develop and strengthen our character that, of course, ensures the success in life”, he said while speaking at a reception hosted for visiting senior Aligarian Brig (Rtd) Iqbal Shafi at the SSUET campus.

Focusing on the importance of character building, the Chancellor pointed out that character is an amalgam of many qualities like honesty, integrity, dependability, diligence, loyalty, compassion, sincerity, attentiveness, determination and confidence.

“Good character is when your head, heart, soul and hands agree to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons and the combined effort gets the right results in the midst of the most adverse conditions,” he elaborated.

Chancellor Adil Usman reckoned that education without character is like a flower without fragrance and education isn’t mere textbook knowledge.

“As a matter of fact education in the true sense has a great role to play in shaping ones personality and character. Let a student learn thoroughly whatever he may learn and let his conduct be worthy of his learning,” he stated.

He was of the view that the students should give top priority to education which necessarily builds their character. Following the thought and vision of the great educationist Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the students of the SSUET are promoting the Aligarh spirit throughout the world, he added.

Speaking on the occasion the visiting Aligarhian Brig. (Rtd) Iqbal Shafi emphasized the need for character building  for true development of the country, and  which is totally ignored in our country with no one give importance to it.

“We have nearly 177 universities in Pakistan but none of the university has any inclusive and comprehensive plan for character building of their students. Our universities are producing employees, professionals but no leaders. We have failed to produce leadership so far in the country,” he regretted.

Observing that Pakistan lacks actual democracy, Brig Iqbal Shafi said charter of Medina or Meesaq-e-Medina was the 1^st written agreement in the history of world. After emigration to Medina, Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) drafted the Charter of Medina, establishing a kind of alliance or federation among the eight Medinan tribes and Muslim emigrants from Mecca, which specified the rights and duties of all citizens and the relationship of the different communities in Medina including that of the Muslim community to other communities, specifically the Jews and other.

“The Charter of Medina reveals the Holy Prophet’s great diplomatic skills, as it instituted a number of rights and responsibilities for the Muslim, Jewish, Christian and other communities of Medina bringing them within the fold of one community-the Ummah,” he stated.

Brig Iqbal Shafi informed that he got the charter for Sir Syed University, Islamabad, having affiliation with the University of Punjab. He said that, in addition to BBA, they were planning to start M.Ed and B.Ed courses in near future.

“If we produce teachers, they will motivate students focusing on character building wherever they will go and it will eventually turn into a movement of character building,” he said.

It may be pointed out here that Brig Iqbal Shafi was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) for his commendable services in Army. He also received Tehreek-e-Pakistan Gold Medal for his valuable services during Pakistan Movement. He is qualified in Chinese language.

He was posted as Head of Military Mission to China from 1974 till 1976. He has been Honorary President of Pakistan-China Friendship. He worked as Director Aga Khan Foundation for 12 years. He is the President of Sir Syed Society, Islamabad and also Chancellor-designate, Sir Syed University, Islamabad

The ceremony, attended by members of AMUOBA and oothers, concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by SSUET’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Syed Jawaid Hassan Rizvi .

Auto-CAD course inaugurated at SSUET

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has been inculcating a culture of skill development through in-house training programmes for its staff working at various levels in different departments with the objective  to depict the true picture of SSUET as a Centre of Excellence.

In this regard a two-week Auto-CAD Course, which was third in the series of skill development programmes, was inaugurated by Prof Dr S.M. Makhdumi, Dean Faculty of Engineering, in which 36 trainees are participating.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Makhdumi emphasized the need and importance of both   training and research in order to keep pace with the current developments taking place around.

“Latest knowledge and skills in the relevant field have become the key towards success. The students as well as the professionals need to keep themselves informed and updated,” he stressed.

Dr Syed Faisal Ahmed Bukhari, Chairman, Computer Engineering Department, also spoke on the occasion and highlighted  the need for such courses and suggested a similar course in C+ +.

The speakers emphasized the need for such cost free in-campus courses where the Trainers and Trainees are from the same institution and only available facilities are utilized, without disturbing the normal sphere of duties, as the staff is relieved one or two hours twice or thrice a week for 2-3 weeks.

Upon completion of the course, trainees will be awarded a Certificate which will prove invaluable and an asset for them for future growth. On the other hand, staff gets trained in multi-tasking and gives better performance and output.

So far the University has conducted three training programs under the skills development scheme. These programs were conducted in various fields.

Skill development was described as a continuous program launched this year to develop excellence in performance at all levels and in all the departments of the university.

Prof Noman Ahmed’s lecture presentation touches key issues of Karachi

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Prof Dr Noman Ahmed, Founder Chairman, Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, touched upon the various segments during his comprehensive lecture presentation on the planning issues of Karachi at the Auditorium of the Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP), Karachi Centre, on May 25.

The nearly one-hour lecture, which was lively as well as informative, was followed by an inter-active session in which Prof Dr Noman Ahmed was asked to explain the finer points relating to the issues of Karachi.

His lecture was punctuated with relevant maps and a few sensational images, like the ones shot in the slum areas, which kept the interest of the audience alive throughout the presentation and the extended question-answer session reflected the involvement of the IEP members until the very end.

Prof Dr Noman Ahmed, with the help of charts, showed how the city had expanded in all directions during the last couple of centuries in particular. He described Karachi as a relatively young city in comparison to the cities like Lahore and Multan, having very old history.

He shared his view on the various development plans prepared for the city over the years. He expressed his concern over the transport problems in particular, hoping that it will be resolved in the near future.

Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam, having headed the city government’s Karachi Mass Transit Cell, who was present in the audience, also took some questions relating to the transportation problems in the city.

Engr Farhat Adil, President, IEP, Karachi Centre, in his brief remarks, commended Prof Dr Noman Ahmed for coming up with a very impressive presentation on the subject of planning in Karachi.

SSUET students develop Advance Wi-Fi Micro Controller System

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The  Electronics Engineering department students of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology  (SSUET), Karachi, have developed, what they described,  ‘Wi-Fi Micro Controller System’ through which short circuit and cable burst problems can be monitor and manage the process of data transfer.

They believed that the Wi-Fi MCS communication system would make communication system more speedy and effective and help increase the industrial productivity.

The project has been developed a group of students comprising Abdul Wahab, Muhammad Bilal, Raza Irfan, Talha Iqbal, Usman Khan, Aulqadar Irfan under the supervision of Farhan Ahmed Siddiqui and Engr Shah Zaib Siddiqui with an almost negligible investment.

According to group leader the project was brought on surface with joint application of both Hardware and Software and  with the help of Visual Basic, Wi-Fi Module and Access Point, Temperature sensor, SPDT rilay, LDR as Flame Detector, For display their will be a LCD, RI sensor, DC motor void wall.

The group was of the view that Cable Burst and Short Circuit can cause a great damage to any company but this project will help overcome a potential loss while Data Transfer process from one place to another, would be easier and swift and  end the expenses for treating  scattered data storage.

“Our system monitors all equipment and cable operations continuously”, the project members said and pointed out that main reason for making this project was to make Wireless Industrial Management System so that industrial operation is made effective.

They hoped to get the cooperation of industrial sector for commercial development of this project which can prove less complicated as compared to other systems in vogue. They said that application of this system would help improve the industrial productivity.

Shoaib Siddiqui praises role of media in highlighting issues

Commissioner Karachi
Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, has acknowledged that a vibrant media plays a significant role in highlighting the issues of public importance helping the authorities in solving them.

He made the observation while talking to a delegation of APP Employees Union (CBA) Sindh, led by its President Ehsan Qureshi, who called on the Commissioner on May 23.

Shoaib Siddiqui recognized the contribution of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the national news agency of the country, in different fields of national life and noted that the men holding its flag have worked with dedication, having kept the national interest foremost while discharging professional duty.

He was informed by the delegation that this is for the first time in the history of the office of Commissioner Karachi that the APP Employees Union's elected office bearers have been granted an audience by the administrative chief of the country’s biggest metropolis.

The Commissioner Karachi offered every possible support for welfare of deceased senior reporters of this organization and assured to extend support and assistance needed for the good cause.

Ehsan Qureshi
President
 APP Employees Union Sindh

Shoaib Siddiqui, who took over as Commissioner Karachi in April, stated having received big support from the APP and promised to help in raising funds for the late Chief Reporter of APP Karachi, Khushnood Ali Shaikh, who lost his life in a road accident, and Rafi Nasir, another senior reporter who died late last year.

"We will join hands with APP Sindh Union in their endeavours for extending support to the families of the late reporters," he announced while lauding the services of late Khushnood Shaikh and Rafi Nasir in their journalistic career.

On the occasion, Vice President of the Union Arshad Ahmed Khan briefed the Commissioner about the various plans chalked out for the welfare of members of APP Employees Sindh and introducing the annual awards for them. He also spoke about the plans for holding a reunion of retired APP staffers..

He said the national news agency has always played a positive role in projecting the real public issues through their reporting skills, photo journalism and video news service (VNS).

    

The other members of the delegation included Faheem Haider (Treasurer), Anwer Ali (Joint Secretary), Members Governing Body Toheed Siddiqui, Shoaib Qamar and Muhammad Saleem.

Commissioner Shoaib Siddiqui forms broad-based committee of public service organizations