Reformative measures in KMC schools starts showing results

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The implementation of reformative measures taken by the City Administrator, Rauf Akhtar Farooqui, to bring improvement in the academic standard of KMC schools, which according to him were in a mess, has started showing results.

The Administrator of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has entrusted the challenging task to his Advisor, Brig (Rtd) A S Nasir, who is known and respected for his disciplinary strictness. 

Brig Nasir, for the first time in the KMC’s history, convened a largely attended meeting of Head Mistresses and Head Masters of KMC Schools in the Z A Nizami seminar hall at Civic Centre on October 27, with the objective to have close interaction with them in order to achieve the cherished goal of bringing KMC schools into disciplinary circle and improve their, otherwise battered, academic environment. 

In his thought provoking and soul stirring address on the occasion, the KMC Administrator, Rauf Farooqui, called upon the teaching community members that they will have to employ their capabilities honestly and transfer the same among the children who are supposed to should the future national responsibilities. 

He was critical of the educational environment in KMC schools and said the conditions prevailing therein had brought bad name for them in the society with bad reflection on KMC itself which is today regarded as merely a sweeping agency. 

He noted that there had been lot of complaints against KMC school teachers who too had lot of grievances for what they called injustices being done to them. 

“Within eleven months we have reached a stage where we can now provide protection to their due rights including their promotions and seniority which previously used to be dealt with an element of adhocism”. 

The Administrator also observed that the gender imbalance between male and female teachers with females being in higher number than the male and said this has to be removed for n even field for both to achieve the desired results of academic excellence. 

Rauf Farooqui informed that the administration is working on the provision of quality training facilities for the KMC teachers along with eliminating the group mafias in the education sector. “We have started seeing improvement with the introduction of initiatives taken so far”, he added. 

He, however, made it clear that unlike the past practice, the teachers will now have to perform their responsibilities and they will not be tolerated to attend or not attend the schools at their whims and just drawing salaries. 

The Administrator emphasized that they are supposed to prepare a generation and for this realize their responsibilities honestly. He pointed out that if certain schools are known for their high standards, it was because of their quality teachers and the same pattern should be followed by KMC school teachers. 

Earlier in his address the Advisor to Administrator, Brig (Rtd) A S Nasir, who previously held many challenging positions in the Sindh Government, made a clarion call for eradication of corruption from KMC's education directorate and the schools under it and said cheating in examinations is one such element of corruption. 

He said that whole nation has great expectations from the teaching community and Karachi, being the biggest metropolis of the country, can play a leading role in this respect. 

He appreciated Administrator Rauf Farooqui for giving top priority to education which, he reckoned, is the basis for a strong nation building.

AMUOBA celebrates Sir Syed Day with traditional fervour

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Glowing tributes were paid to the great reformer, educationist and the guide of the Muslims of South Asia on the occasion of the Sir Syed Day which was observed with traditional fervour in Karachi.

Eminent speakers, on the occasion, highlighted various aspects of the life of the legendary Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and recounted his achievements in particularly the contribution and efforts towards the emancipation of the Muslims of South Asia by way of creating an awareness about their identity. 

Held under the auspices of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), the sponsors of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), the proceedings of the day were chaired by Engr Mohammed Adil Usman, President, AMUOBA, and Chancellor, SSUET. 

The speakers included prominent intellectuals, writers, poets, educationists and critics like Syed Safwanullah, a former Federal Minister, Prof. Dr Waqar Ahmed Rizvi, Prof Sehar Ansari, Anwar Ahmed Zai, Chairman Board of Intermediate Education, and Syed Arif Raza, a senior Aligarhian. 

They reminded of the various aspects of the life of the great reformer and enlightened the audience with his achievements with the assertion that it was high time to follow his mission with the spirit he had created among the Muslims of that era and which led to their independence from the yoke of imperialists. 

In his presidential address, Engr Adil Usman observed that Sir Syed had launched the Aligarh Movement to raise the educational and mental level of the Muslims and improve their economic bits. 

"He championed the cause that Muslims must secure scientific knowledge and have their own educational institutions and the AMUOBA takes the pride that while persuading the mission of Sir Syed, it established the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology and Aligarh Institute of Technology where best facilities have been provided for dispensing modern scientific knowledge," the AMUOBA President stated.

He said that the educational thinking and the mission undertaken thereof by Sir Syed were undeniable in their significance and the present day era and its needs demanded in following the footsteps of the great leader in its real spirit. 

On the occasion, he particularly referred to the construction of multi-storeyed Sir Syed Tower on AMUOBA’s plot and described the same as an accomplishment towards fulfillment of Sir Syed’s mission. 

He specially recalled the contribution of late Chancellor Engr Z A Nizami and the late Zakir Ali Khan, having served the AMUOBA as President and Secretary General respectively, towards conceiving this stupendous project. 

Engr Adil Usman sought the support and help of all and sundry at every step towards the completion of this gorgeous project . He pointed out that whatever funds AMUOBA had with it, were allocated for this project which, however, need more funds required for the project of this size. 

He also informed that work on the Engr Z A Nizami Block at the SSUET was in the final stages of completion while the present university management introduced four new technologies with funding from its own resources. 

Earlier in his discourse Syed Safwanullah said that it’s high time to ponder whether the message which Sir Syed left 150 years back, still exist to be pursued by us and what we are leaving behind for the next generation. 

“We should look into our own hearts to see whether we did follow the course provided by the great educationist or or we should leave them on smaller arteries to move ahead.” 

Prof Dr Waqar Azeem while unfolding various aspects of the life of Sir Syed, said that he spent whole of his life in reforming the Muslims and proved himself as an epoch-making personality who brought an opinion-making revolution which was his unmatched achievement. 

He said that Sir Syed had made Urdu a simple language and translated some 40 books on scientific subjects from English into Urdu. He said he brought out a gazette publishing scientific matters and it continued to be published for 30 years. 

Prof Sehar Ansari said that the wisdom and mission demonstrated by Sir Syed finds no other figure in the sub-continent which may match his towering personality. 

“He fought the knowledge and thinking of the Britishers with still greater knowledge and thinking and his 'khutbats' are a source of light even today.” He praised that his mission was being promoted at SSUET which is lighting the whole world. 

Prof Anwar Ahmed Zai remarked said that Sir Syed raised an army of his followers whose influence can be felt in the boys and girl students even of today. 

He pointed out that only three years later, the nation will celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of the great reformer who taught the lesson of independence 150 years back while focusing on the need for acquiring and learning English and scientific knowledge. 

Earlier Tayyaba Fasih and Shahzeb Rahman, two students of SSUET, delivered heart-warming speeches in Urdu and English respectively on the life and achievements of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Anwar Azeem, Editor of Tehzib, the AMUOBA’s journal, presented poetic tribute to Sir Syed. 

The proceedings concluded with the famous Tarana-e-Aligarh which infused warmth in the blood of audience who stood up in zeal and sung the same in unison with the group of SSUET’s boys and girls. 

The function was organized at the same venue where the foundation stone of the multi-million Sir Syed Tower was laid by the AMUOBA President, Engr Adil Usman, who is also the Chancellor of SSUET, a week earlier.

Sir Syed Tower’s foundation stone laid

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The foundation stone of the multi-storeyed Sir Syed Tower was laid at an impressive ceremony at the Head Office of Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) in Karachi on October 17.

The multi-million imposing tower building is an ambitious project of the AMUOBA facing the Arts Council of Pakistan in the neighborhood of the Sindh Assembly, the High Court of Sindh and the Sindh Secretariat. 

“It is like a dream having come true,” Engr Mohammed Adil Usman, President AMUOBA and Chancellor, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), remarked in his speech while laying the foundation stone in the presence of the beaming Aligarhians. 

“We were planning since long to build the Sir Syed Tower on this prestigious land of the AMUOBA in the memory of the great reformer and educationist Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. However, it was getting delayed for one or the other reason,” the AMUOBA President pointed out adding that eventually it took a start with the ground breaking ceremony as a result of sincere efforts and strategic approach adopted for the achievement of the association’s cherished goal. 

He specially referred to the great and undeniable contributions of late President AMUOBA, Engr Z A Nizami, and its Secretary General Late Engr Mohammad Zakir Ali Khan for conceiving the ambitious project. 

“The services of the present Aligs and those who are not among us any more were also an important part of this grand project,” he recognized 

Appreciating admirable achievement of the Aligs, Engr Adil Usman described Sir Syed Tower as the great source of historical value besides being an academic and corporate hub for the promotion of intellectual, cultural and creative activities. 

“I believe that if you take first initiative to start a project with good faith, God will certainly help you in its accomplishment,” he said and added now he had a strong feeling that this project will be completed without any hurdle within the given time frame.

Malala Yusufzai’s accomplishment hailed

By Abdul QadirQureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

 

“Malala Yusufzai, Pakistan’s child education activist having won the Nobel Peace Prize, has resonated valour, vitalilty and vibrance among the 120 million youth of Pakistan.”

This was remarked by Muhammed Jamil Khan, a former Pakistan Ambassador to Libya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who was directly involved in the evacuation of Malala to Birmingham via Abu Dhabi in an air ambulance of the UAE's Royal family.

 

At the age of just 17, Malala, who now lives in Birmingham, UK, has become the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. She will now be invited to attend an award ceremony in Oslo, Norway, in December to receive a medal and $1.4 m (£860,000) pounds in prize money. She was named one of Time magazine's most influential people in 2013 and awarded the EU's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize that year.

In an interview, the former ambassador Jamil Khan stated that besides mobilizing the youth of Pakistan towards attainment of education, she has raised the image of Pakistan to the highest degree.

 

Now it’s the time for the Foreign Ministry to immediately plan and project Pakistan's image by optimizing the contribution of Malala Yusufzai who represent and reflection of youth of Pakistan.

 

In this manner, he said, the world will get to know how devotedly we are addressing the problems of extremism, terrorism and yet maintaining the spirit among the people to turn against nasty activities of enemies of the society.

 

He further stated that the government should immediately ask the Education Ministry and departments to organize seminars and symposiums to promote the philosophy of Malala Yusufzai in the field of education in the face of hazards like Swat.

 

Jamil Khan said that it’s the right time to setup Malala Chair in selected universities to motivate the people and specially the youth of Pakistan.

 

Prime Minister Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has also congratulated Malala, describing her as the "pride" of the country.

"Her achievement is unparalleled and unequalled. Girls and boys of the world should take the lead from her struggle and commitment," he said in a statement.

Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan remembered at SSUET seminar

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

 

Glowing tributes were paid to Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan with speakers encompassing his life and achievements at a seminar organised by the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, to observe the Liaquat Day on October 2.

 

Addressing the seminar, the SSUET Chancellor, Engr Mohammad Adil Usman, remarked that Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan truly inspired the Muslims of the sub-continent  with his strong character, firm conviction and unwavering determination and above all motivating them for national causes.

 

He recalled a speech of Shaheed-e-Millat of November 17, 1947 in Karachi in which he had stated that the portfolion of Prime Minister will have no value to him, if he ever knew that he could deliver better results as a peon and he will never hesitate to do it.

 

Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan, he observed,  presented the true face of Islam before the West, convincing them that that it is a religion of peace and brotherhood  promoting human values.

 

He quoted him saying that Islam doesn’t mean offering prayers only but a complete philosophy of life, providing guidance which is reflective through every action of a Muslim.

 

Chancellor Adil Usman told the gathering that when first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, was assassinated his total bank assets stood at Rs 1,250. He had left behind huge valuable property in India but never claimed compensation  in Pakistan.

 

He informed that Liaquat Ali Khan was a graduate of the Aligarh Muslim University and he rose to prominence within Muslim League during the 1930s. He had the credit of persuading Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah to return to India from Britain which marked the beginning of the Muslim League's ascendancy and paved the way for Pakistan movement.

 

He went wholeheartedly with the Quaid-e-Azam in campaigning for the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of sub-continent.

 

Speaking on the occasion, General Secretary Quaid-e-Millat Memorial Society, Mahfooz un Nabi Khan, revealed that when Liaquat Ali Khan took over as Prime Minister he had no official residence, and stayed at the Haroon’s house.

 

Noted scholar Prof  Dr Waqar Ahmed Rizvi described Liaquat Ali Khan as a role model for our youth as a true successor of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Other speakers on the occasion included Dr  Mohammad Raza Kazmi, Col (Rtd) Akbar Yazdani and Nazir Ahmed Channa.

5,000 students appear in SSUET entry test

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

As many as 5,000 candidates appeared in the Pre-admission entry test for the bachelors degree programmes announced by the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, for the academic year 2015 held at the Expo Centre under strict security measures. 

The two-hour test was conducted on time and a large number of candidates from Gilgit, Biltistan and Azad Kashmir besides other parts of the four provinces appeared in the test. 

The Chancellor of the SSUET, Engr Mohammad Adil Usman, visited the examination centre where he was appraised of the arrangements made by the concerned authorities. 

Speaking on the occasion, Engr Adil Usman obseved that the Sir Syed University prepares future leaders to succeed in the competitive world of professionals with their extra ordinary skill and outstanding ability. 

He added that the university has established itself as a globally recognized destination for academic excellence. With career focused education, the SSUET prides itself for having the best and brightest faculty to commit to the highest global standards. 

The SSUET Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Syed Jawaid Hassan Rizvi, pointed out that keeping the new emerging trends; the university has introduced electrical engineering department from the upcoming academic year. 

The university has already started three new programmes in software engineering, architecture and bioinformatics, to meet the growing market demands. 

The results of the entry test will be announced in the month of December which will be made available on the SSUET Notice Board and will also be posted at the university’s website www.ssuet.edu.pk. The classes for new batch of 2015 will start from third week of January.

Around 5,000 students to appear in SSUET Admission Test

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

 

An estimated 5,000 applicants, seeking admission in various engineering disciplines at the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, will appear in the admission test to be held at Expo Center on September 28.

 

This year over 5,000 applications were received by the university until September 24, which was the last date for the submission of applications,  showing a substantial increase in the number of admission seekers. Last year 4,300 students had appeared in the SSUET entrance test which was also held at the centrally-located Expo Centre.

 

The highest number of applications to be received for admission this year were in the civil and electrical engineering disciplines.

 

Meanwhile arrangements were in the offing for the test for which  a couple of spacious halls have been booked at the Expo Center to accommodate the record number of applicants to appear in the test.

 

The two-hour test will start at 10 am and the applicants have been advised to reach the test centre an hour before the scheduled time.

 

The university also has made seating arrangements for parents accompanying the female students appearing in the test.

Scope of bioinformatics in Pakistan highlighted

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The scope and importance of  bioinformatics as an emerging science and its future were highlighted in the first  of the  lecture series  organized by the bioinformatics  department of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi.

Dr Reazuddin, Assistant Professor, Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, was the guest speaker on the occasion.

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data.

Bioinformatics is the application of computer technology to the management of biological information. It combines computer science, molecular biology, statistics, tmathematics andengineering to study and process biological data

The technology is versatile and can be applied whenever gene, protein and cell research are used for the discovery of a new drug or a new herbicide/herbicide-resistant crop combination. Without bioinformatics, new research in most fields of medicine and biology would come to a standstill.

 Focusing on “Bioinformatics and its applications in Biology Research”, Dr Reazuddin said that the explosive growth of biological information has resulted from many advances in the scientific fields and Bioinformatics is one of them in which by the advancement in computer technology, different sophisticated techniques and equipment used to carry out rapid genome sequencing.

He highlighted the importance of the field having the generous job opportunities in Pakistan and abroad.

“After graduation, the students of Bioinformatics have the chance to work as researcher in different departments like pharmaceutical, software houses, hospitals and academic and research institutions, and they have an open sky of opportunities,” Dr Reaz said.

The chairman of the department, Prof Dr Hilal Qureshi and its incharge, Uzma Mahmood. also spoke on the occasion and appreciated the series of lectures for being informative to the students seeking their career in the field of bioinformatics.

Election process starts at SANA

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The election process for the two year term (2015-16) has started in the Sindhi Association of North America (SANA), the social and cultural platform/organization of Sindhi Diasporas living in USA and Canada. 

An election commission has already been constituted under the chair of the veteran Khalid Hashmani with Sarfaraz Memon and Hasnain Shaikh have been appointed as its members with Aleem Brohi and Ali Nawaz Memon being chosen as the alternative members/observers.

In this regard, the SANA's Executive Council met through conference call system while its President, Jamil Daudi, chaired the meeting which reviewed and finalized the decisions and arrangements for the upcoming elections. 

In the meeting, General Secretary, Noorunissa Ghanghro, presented a resolution to congratulate Dr Khalil Memon chairman and all the members of local organizing committee of the 30^th SANA Convention held at Chicag,o USA, on their dedicated efforts and the wonderful arrangements to make the annual event a most memorable one for its participants. 

It may be recalled that more than 800 delegates participated in the historic and record-breaking annual gathering of Sindhi Diasporas which included prominent writers, poets, intellectuals, politicians and civil society members from the world over.

The resolution lauded the contribution of spouses and children of all the members of local organization committee who also actively participated in arrangements.

The SANA EC, at the demand of some members, reverted its decision to slash membership date from September 15 to August 15^..  President Jamil Daudi regretted that this reversion will deprive those 350 people who had renewed their membership in Chicago convention in the last couple of days of August. 

“This decision is inevitable in the best interest of the SANA as all the seniors and presidents of past have been taken onboard on this decision”, he added.

The President and General Secretary hoped that the decision will strengthen diasporas platform and those people will be countered who wanted to create division in this organization. The meeting decided to scrutinize the membership claims thoroughly and carefully so that free, fair and transparent elections are ensured.

The EC constituted a byelaws review committee comprising of Khalid Hashmani, Noorunissa Ghanghro, Dr Valeed Shaikh, Khair Muhammad Kolachi and Dr Saghir Shaikh.

As per election schedule, the nomination forms have already been issued by the chairman election commission with September 15 being the last date submission forms while October 15 is the last date for the withdrawal of candidarure. 

The election commission will issue the final list of eligible voters by October 21 whereafter  voters will be mailed  ballots  by November 7 with December 17 being the deadline for returning of ballots. 

The election commission will announce the results by December 20 with the induction of newly elected body due to take place on January 2, 2015.

Dr Ilyas Ishqi's Awaz-e-Latif launched

By Abdul QadirQureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, Engr Mohammad Adil Usman has described the poetic work of great soofi poet  Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai as soul-stirring, declaring that it carries a message of peace, love and brotherhood.

“His creative and imaginary thoughtfulness fully reflects the richness of his spiritual thoughts,” he observed adding that Shah Latif calls for a sustained endeavor for the attainment of the objective of communication with Allah by remaining fully dedicated to His oneness.

He expressed the views at the launching  of  book Awaz-e-Latif, penned by renowned scholar Dr Iliyas Ishqi, at a ceremony organized by the  Pakistan Academy of Letters in collaboration with the SSUET.

Engr Adil Usman remarked that with spiritual connotations in his superb poetic work, the book analyzes the same with  a different perception. He noted  that the writer’s articles in the book are  in response to some particular questions.  

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Sehar Ansari described  Dr Iliyas Ishqi as an outstanding figure and said his book about Shah Latif’s work is impressive and informative.

Another speaker Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal, Vice Chancellor, Federal Urdu University, in his discourse touched upon  ‘Aqeeda-e-Tauheed’  as a great force of Islam that annulled all other ideologies and thoughts.

Resident Director, Pakistan Academy of Letters, Agha Noor Muhammad Pathan, pointed oout that  Awaz-e-Latif is the outcome of 50 years’ devotion and dedication to the cause taken up by Dr  Ishqi, having been completed in 1999 but published this year after the writer’s  death in 2007.

He described Shah Latif as a great poet of Sindh and said credit for introducing him to the Urdu community goes to Iliyas Ishqi and Professor Afaq Siddiqui.

Other speakers on the occasion included Naseer Mirza, Station Director Radio Pakistan Hyderabad  Mahmood Siddiqui and Anwar Ahmed Zai.

Rosy Iliyas, daughter of the writer, presented the book to Chancellor Muhammad Adil Usman who presented her the  university’s shield..