Witnesses Protection Act to be implemented

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The measures for implementation of Witnesses Protection Act (WPA) came under discussion at a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of IG Police Sindh, Ghulam Haider Jamali.

The Additional IG CTD, while spelling out the spirit of WPA, highlighted its significance in the existing scenario. 

Addl. IG Traffic, Addl. IG CTD, Addl. IG Karachi, DIG Headquarters, DIG DL, DIG Crimes, DIG RRF, DIG CTD, AIG Finance, AIG Administration, AIG Legal and other officers attended the meeting.

It was decided to establish the Witness Protection Unit (WPU) to be headed by Addl. IG CTD, as required under the Act while the provincial home department will be approached to actualize the physical establishment of WPU. 

"Till the physical functioning of WPU, it is imperative to convey to Additional IG Karachi and all Range DIGs to ensure protection to witnesses, particularly those connected with high profile cases as an immediate measure and in ordinance with the spirit of WPA," the IGP directed 

IGP Jamali constituted a committee under Addl. IG CTD with DIG Headquarters and DIG Administration, Karachi Police and SSP CTD Aamir Farooqi as Secretary of the committee, to frame rules for WPU's working at the earliest.

4,000 appear in SSUET entry test

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Around 4000 candidates appeared in the entry test for admissions in the academic year 2016 of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) which was held under strict security measures at the Karachi Expo Centre.

The two-hour test commenced at the designated time of 10 am. and among the candidates were applicants coming from as far as Gilgit, Baltistan and Azad Kashmir besides other parts of the four provinces. 

The SSUET Chancellor, Engr Mohammad Adil Usman, visited the examination centre and had an appraisal of the arrangements made from the concerned officials. 

Talking to media on the occasion, Engr Adil Usman remarked that the university prepared future professionals for the competitive world equipped with extraordinary skills and outstanding abilities. 

“The university has established itself as a globally recognized institution of of academic excellence with career focused education,” the Chancellor said and pointed out that the SSUET prided itself for having the best and brightest faculty committed to international standards. 

On the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Syed Jawaid Hassan Rizvi informed that. keeping pace with the new emerging trends, the university has introduced new technologies to meet the ever increasing market demands. 

It may be mentioned here that SSUET is offering admissions in 10 engineering disciplines including computer, electronics, civil, telecommunication, bio-medical, software engineering besides computer science and architecture.

SSUET hold national songs contest

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, (SSUET), Karachi, in collaboration with the Mohabban-e-Bhopal, organized a national song competition with the participants from the various academic institutions having been divided into two different age groups.

According to jury’s decision, Ayesha Aneeqa of the SSUET and Ahmed Khan Asad of the NED University of Engineering & Technology, secured first and second positions respectively in the category of 20 to 25 years’ age, while Abbas Zaidi and Maheen Rahmna Sher Ali received the first and second prizes respectively in the category of 15 to 20 years of age. 

Addressing the ceremony, Engr Mohammad Adil Usman, Chancellor SSUET, described the competition most inspiring, reflective of deep rooted patriotism, adding that it promoted a sense of national pride and unity and providing an opportunity of peeping into our history, traditions and our cultural diversity. 

“Apart from infusing a spirit of national inspiration, the national songs call upon us to fulfill our responsibilities to lead our country towards prosperity and economic stability. These songs spark our feelings towards solidarity and commitment portraying country’s ideological meanings,” the Chancellor acknowledged. 

Appreciating the talent of students, Chancellor Adil Usman remarked that the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys’ Association (AMUOBA) was the true successor of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s educational movement and its members feel themselves bound to promote technical education in the country with patriotic zeal. 

Speaking on the occasion Qamar un Nisa Qamar, a former MNA, wished Pakistan to be an exemplary model of solidarity and unity with high moral values. Meanwhile Zafar Ramay enthralled the audience with his beautiful songs.

31st SANA Convention organized in Houston

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

 

The 31st Annual Convention of the Sindhi Association of North America (SANA), spanning over three days, was held recently in Houston, Texas. The moot was largely participated by literary and political personalities from all over the world. Around 600 families participated in the latest SANA event.

 

The leaders of North American Sindhi origin renewed their commitment to contribute positively to boost the image of their country and Sindh at the world level and serve the motherland with complete dedication.

 

On the concluding day, a general body meeting of SANA was held in which the central President Jamil Daudi, General Secretary, Noorunissa Ghanghro, Vice President, Canada, Maqsood Soomro, Vice-President, Youth Wing, Bakhtawar Hafiz, and Treasurer, Ali Hassan Bhutto, apprised the members about one year progress report. 

 

On this occasion Zafar Agha presented progress report of SANA Fame Fund scholarships being given to deserving and poor students of Sindh for completion of their education. 

 

The SANA decided to increase the number of scholarships to maximize the opportunities of quality education for the youth of Sindh. 

 

The Sindh Skill Development project was also discussed under which the educated youth are extended job oriented skill development along with opportunities of employment overseas. Sohail Ansari presented report on Thar Potable Water project.

 

On the last day various sessions and panel discussions were arranged in which the SANA decided to connect the youth of North America and Sindh through social media for knowledge sharing and each other's professional buildup.  

 

Need was stressed to teach Sindhi to the young generation of North American Sindhi families so that they were kept connected with their culture and heritage. 

 

A seminar on health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression among youth was also arranged by Dr Hafeez Abbasi.

 

Another important session was a debate in which renowned intellectual, educationist and author Aaqil Shah spoke about the major issues of Pakistan. 

 

 

The concluding session recognized volunteers and local organizers with the presentation of Life Time Achievement awards to world renowned vocalist Abida Parveen. 

 

The Consul General of Pakistan in Houston, Afzal Mahmood, also spoke to the gathering and appreciated the activism of Sindhi community of USA and particularly in Texas to improve the image of Pakistan in this society. 

 

On the occasion the artists coming from Pakistan, Humaira Channa and Shaman Ali Mirali, rocked the event with their famous songs and mesmerized the audiences who dances on their songs with great enthusiasm.  

 

On the second day of event a political session was also arranged to discuss the real issues of Sindh and Pakistan which was addressed by Ayaz Latif Palijo, Mahtab Akbar Rashidi, Zulfiqar Halepoto, Mohammad Ali Mahar and Lakhu Lohano.

 

A session on Information Technology was also arranged in which experts including ex-President SANA, Iqbal Tareen, apprised young generation about the opportunities ofemployment and entrepreneurship in the field of IT.

 

A literary gathering was addressed by distinguished laureates and literates from Sindh including ex-chairperson Sindhi Language Authority, Dr Fahmida Hussain, noted drama and story writer Noorul Huda Shah, noted poet Aakash Ansari, Secretary General of Sindhi Literary Association Dr Mushtaq Phull, Professor Mukhtiar Samu, Dr Saleem Memon and others. 

 

A session on education was addressed by noted educationist Syed Rasool Bux Shah, Saleem Memon, Asghar Soomro, Aijaz Turk and others.

 

The noted heads of media houses in Pakistan including chief of Hum TV, Sultana Siddiqui, head of Sindh TV, Dr Karim Rajper, head of Mehran TV, Ghulam Nabi Morai and noted columnist Asghar Soomro spoke on “The Role of Media" in an egalitarian society in Pakistan which was moderated by Khair Mohammad Kolachi. 

 

On the opening day, a session was dedicated to discuss the issues of Sindhi women. Mahtab  Akber Rashidi, Noorul Huda Shah, Dr Fahmida Hussain, Sultana Siddiqui, Nicolita Talpur, and General Secretary SANA, Noorunissa Ghanghro, regretted that even in this era of computer and information technology, a huge majority of Sindhi women are living without basic rights and looks still living in a stone age. 

 

The speakers urged the educated people of Sindh to provide maximum opportunities of education, health and employment to their daughters and womenfolk without which no society can survive and compete to the global challenges. 

SSUET holds biomedical engineering convention

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi (SSUET), Engr Mohammad Adil Usman has observed that biomedical engineering was a field in which engineering skills were applied on the improvement of healthcare.

He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of biomedical engineering convention 2015 organized by the SSUET’s biomedical engineering department on September 4. 

He pointed out that the SSUET was the first university to have introduced the discipline of biomedical engineering in Pakistan in 1996 and since its inception around 1,800 students have secured their future as biomedical engineers with dynamic career growth in the country and abroad. 

The chancellor reckoned that biomedical engineering was a research oriented branch which certainly was a new but a promising career option, involving study of all types of engineering ranging from electronics, computers, mechanical, chemical and nanotechnology. 

“Biomedical engineering definitely offers growth opportunities if you have got some experience with you,” he added. 

Earlier speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Ali Raza Jafri, chairman, biomedical engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology, remarked that biomedical engineering was a rapidly growing field due to bad eating habits all over the world. 

“Biomedical engineering profession has a 72 percent, 10 year job growth forecast. The biomedical engineers need innovation for technological advancement to cut down healthcare cost,” he stressed. 

Engr Tahiruddin, Technical Head, Technoman, said that the biomedical engineers provided support to the scientists in neuroscience. 

Engr Abdul Muqeet and Engr Mohammad Junaid Khan also spoke on the occasion. The SSUET registrar, Engr Syed Abrar Ali, also shared his views with the audience. Later the Chancellor presented the souvenirs to the guests and distributed certificates to the students.

Admission process starts at SSUET

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

 

The process for admissions 2016 has started at the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, (SSUET) with the distribution of prospectus and model test papers.

 

According to a SSUET announcement, the students desiring admission in SSUET can submit applications till September 8, the last date for the purpose.

The entry test has been scheduled to take place on September 20 for which arrangements have been made at the Karachi Expo Centre.

 

This year the university will be offering admissions in ten different technologies which include computer, civil, bio-medical, electronics, electrical  and telecommunication engineering besides computer science, software engineering, bio-informatics and architecture.

 

As per schedule, published in the prospectus, regular classes for the new academic session will commence from second week of January 2016.

German expert highlights health issues at SSUET seminar

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The biomedical engineering department of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, (SSUET), organized a seminar on “Regulation of Pump Function: Our Heart under control of Hormones” at the campus in which guest speaker, an internationally recognized German  physiologist and pharmacologist, Prof. Dr Joachim W Herzig delivered a very informative lecture.

Speaking on the occasion, Engr Mohammad Adil Usman, Chancellor SSUET, observed that people in Pakistan stood at higher risk of developing heart diseases and according to a survey, over one third of all deaths in Pakistan were caused by cardiovascular diseases as heart diseases accounted for around 35 to 40 per cent of the total disease burden in the country

He expressed deep concern over the increasing rate of heart diseases in the country, particularly among the youth due to the lack of awareness.

Chancellor Adil Usman also called for reducing the cost of treatment of heart diseases in Pakistan which was on higher side.

“It would be a great service to the nation if the efforts should be made at providing internationally recognized quality standards of cardiac care to the common man in the country with minimum cost,” he said.

Addressing the seminar, the guest speaker Prof Dr Joachim Herzig stated that pump failure was a condition in which blood supply to vital organs was impaired which resulted in the reduced economy of the heart.

“Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working. It means that heart's pumping power is less effective than normal. In heart failure, blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pressure in the heart increases. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs,” he explained.

He also pointed out that the chambers of the heart may respond bystretching to carry more blood to pump through the body or by becoming more stiff and thickened. This helps to keep the blood moving for a while, but in time, the heart muscle walls may weaken and are unable to pump as strongly.

As a result, the kidneys respond by causing the body to retain fluid (water) and sodium. A heart attack can damage the heart muscle, resulting in a scarred area that does not function properly.

The visiting professor spoke in detail about the Renin–Angiotensin System (RAS) and the Frank–Starling Law of the heart.

Earlier Chairman, Biomedical Engineering Department, Prof Dr M A Haleem, presented the progress report of the department. In the end Chancellor Adil Usman presented a SSUET souvenir bag to Prof DrJoachim Herzig.

SSUET celebrates Independence Day

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s Independence Day was celebrated at the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, with an impressive flag hoisting ceremony performed by Chancellor Engr Mohammed Adil Usman on August 14. 

On the occasion glowing tributes were paid to the people who sacrificed their lives during struggle for having an independent homeland for the Muslims of South Asia where they ordained their lives in accordance with the dictates of Islam and live as a dignified nation. 

“Today we are celebrating the day with a feeling enriched with emotions, profound joy and patriotic zest,” Chancellor Adil Usman observed while addressing the ceremony. 

He said dignified nations carry out movement to seek freedom which in turn demands responsibility which can be fulfilled only through a national will. “As a free nation it should be our incumbent responsibility to ensure that we fulfil our commitment to the sacred national cause,” he stressed. 

The flag hoisting ceremony was also attended by Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Syed Jawaid H. Rizvi, who paid rich tribute to father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, and all those who sacrificed their lives for the attainment of separate homeland. 

He underlined the need for translating the Quaid’s motto of unity, faith and discipline into reality and working together for greater national image building. 

Emotional scenes were witnessed on the occasion with national flag waving university students, joined by senior members of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), raising slogans of Pakistan Zindabad. 

On the occasion the students enthralled the participants with national songs. The ceremony was attended, among others, by the SSUET Registrar, Engr Syed Abrar Ali, Cmdr. (R) Saleem Siddiqui, Masood Alam and other senior Aligarians besides faculty and staff members and university employees. 

The ceremony concluded with prayer led by Hafiz Arsalan Saeed for national progress and prosperity of the Muslim Ummah.

New academic block to be completed at SSUET next month

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The work on the construction of ground plus six-storey new academic block at the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, is going on apace and is expected to be completed by September 2015.

The project was originally estimated to cost Rs 95.70 million as it was planned to construct basement plus four floors. 

However, subsequently, during the course of construction it was decided to add another two floors at a cost of Rs 46.977 million - thus increasing the project cost by Rs 46.97 million bringing the total cost of the project to Rs 142.677 million. 

Since the commencement of construction work, substantial physical and financial progress has been made so far. 

During the financial year a sum of Rs 50.60 million was provided in the budget for the ongoing construction of new academic block. 

However, the revised budget has been increased to Rs 76.10 million showing an increase of Rs 25.50 million. The university has allocated Rs 27.40 million in the 2015-16 budget for the project, expected to be completed by September. The provision includes installation of lifts and fire alarm system. 

The newly constructed block will house the departments of Civil Engineering and Architecture. The construction of new blocks had become imperative in view of introduction of new technologies including Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Bio-Infomatics and Architecture.

AIOU introduces tracking system to facilitate students to check degrees’ status

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Islamabad, has introduced a new computerized tracking system to facilitate the students to check status of their academic degrees and certificates.

For this purpose, a new website (ds.aiou.edu.pk) has been launched to enable the students to know position of their application for issuance of degree or certificate. 

Under the university’s policy, each student is required to formally apply for the degree or certificate of the qualified courses, with required documents. 

“The new arrangements are aimed at streaming and expediting the whole process of issuing degrees and certificates to the students. We are focusing on promoting students’ friendly environment in the University, providing them best possible services to the students in the educational pursuits,” Prof Dr Shahid Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor, AIOU, informed.

The students’ applications to this respect were being handled on the fast-track basis. It is pertinent to note that the university’s Controller of Examination issued 44, 899 degrees during the last five months. These are the record figures as compared to corresponding period during the last four years. Similarly, the process of issuing provincial certificates (PCs) has also been expedited. 

During the last five months, 2,26,435 certificates were dispatched to the students and the same were uploaded at the university’s website. For PCs, the students are not required to apply, except in the cases where they are some objections. 

The entire process is done through computerized system to facilitate the students. However, the issuing process of PCs is done manually where thesis is involved at the higher education level or in case of objections. 

According to Controller Examination, Sohail Rana, all backlog till the second last semester in case of issuance of degree to students has been cleared. Only those applications are pending where there some objections and the scheme of study was not followed. 

Dr Shahid Siddiqui remarked that the AIOU was actively working to bring about qualitative improvement in the university’s overall system. 

“Now there is considerable reduction in the students’ complaints in regard to the admissions and examination as well as delivery of books. Meanwhile, the students’ support system has also been strengthened with setting up online complaint management centre,” he added.