NAPA stages Urdu version of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice

Pakistan News & Features Services

The legendary English poet and playwright, William Shakespeare, hailed as the greatest-ever writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist, has had a massive following all over the globe for centuries. 

The Merchant of Venice is one of his most tragic comedies believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. 

Although classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is talked about more for its dramatic scenes, and is best known for Shylock and the famous 'Hath not a Jew eyes' speech. 

The Urdu version of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, directed by Akbar Islam, was staged at the auditorium of the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) in Karachi on December 29 and it turned out to be another success story. 

It was a great idea of doing an Urdu version of one of the most famous plays of all time.

The second and third-year students of the NAPA came up with sterling performance to meet the challenge having grasped the translated version of Shakespeare’s renowned play. 

Hammad Sartaj did justice to the pivotal and iconic role of Shylock while Shahjahan Narejo was superb in the role of Bassanio, having worked hard on pronunciation and gestures. Both of them did a fabulous job.

Shaheen Khan as Portia was mixed bag as she seemed to be delivering dialogues rather hastily in the first half of the play but she was brilliant in the latter half with her talents unfolding as the play progressed.

Farhan Alam Siddiqui was pretty good in the role of Antonio while Hammad Khan’s comings and goings as Launcelot provided comic relief and Hammad Siddique did the role of the Prince of Morocco. 

The couple of Maha Ali and Faraz Chhotani excelled in their roles while Sonia Ashraf and Noel Francis also had their moments. 

Overall it was a wonderful effort by Director Akbar Islam and his students made him proud by delivering against the toughest of odds.

Four new flyovers in Karachi to be completed in three months

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has ordered the municipal officials to work round-the-clock on the four flyovers being built on Shahrah-e-Pakistan to complete the construction by March 2013. 

The top officials of the KMC inspected the sites of developmental works being carried out on Shahrah-e-Pakistan and issued directives on the spot to resolve some of the issues concerning the flow of traffic. 

The flyovers, being built on traffic intersections of Teen Hatti, Daak Khana, Ayesha Manzil and Water Pump, have been causing jams in the peak hours and the commuters have been particularly jolted by the persistent traffic congestion on the intersections of Ayesha Manzil and Water Pump. 

The KMC Administrator, Mohammad Hussain Syed, directed the concerned officials to engage traffic police in devising and implementing an effective traffic movement and diversion plan for resolving the traffic mess on these intersections. 

He ordered them to observe traffic diversion plans devised for building these flyovers to save the people from undue troubles while travelling on the routes along these sites. 

He said that the new traffic diversion plan for the ongoing construction work of the Teen Hatti and Daak Khana flyovers should be properly advertised for the commuters’ guidance, regretting the inconvenience caused for the time being.

He admitted that the traffic congestion problem on Shahrah-e-Pakistan needed to be resolved to save time and fuel of the commuters who often faced vehicular mess on this major road that ran through several heavily-populated areas and small arteries merged into this main thoroughfare. 

The KMC Administrator was informed that the traffic improvement plans had been prepared for organising and facilitating movement of vehicular traffic beneath the flyovers. 

The vehicular traffic going to and coming from Martin Road, Liaquatabad, Lasbela, PIB Colony, Nazimabad, Azizabad, Ancholi, Karimabad and Super Highway will be facilitated after construction of the flyovers.

Amir Latif elected Secretary of Karachi Press Club

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News and Features Services)

Amir Latif of Online News Network was elected as Secretary and Imtiaz Khan Faran of Daily Awam was re-elected as President of the Karachi Press Club as their Democrats Panel registered a landslide victory in the KPC Elections 2013 held on December 29. 

All the elected 12 office-bearers belonged to the Democrats, who overcame the joint candidates of the Green Panel and the Panel. Amir Latif also earned the distinction of securing the highest number of votes (582) with his rival Faisal Aziz Khan of Geo News getting 318 votes. 

According to the results announced by the Election Commission, Imtiaz Faran was elected President with 521 votes while his rival, G M Jamali of Daily Express claimed 387 votes. 

Saeed Sarbazi of Business Recorder was elected Vice President with 502 votes with his rival Khurshid Abbassi of Daily Awam bagging 402 votes. Arman Sabir of BBC Radio was elected Treasurer with 559 votes as his rival Ataullah Abro of Nawa-i-Waqt got 327 votes. 

Shams Kerio of Daily Aaino was elected Joint Secretary with 580 votes as his rival Kashif Hussain of ARY News got 319 votes. 

Hina Mahgul Rind (616 votes), Asif Jiaja (577), Javed Asghar Chaudhry (547), Mohammad Ramzan Chandio (522), Jamshed Gul Bukhari (520), Imdad Soomro (507) and Kashif Rais Farooqi (497), all of them belonging to the Democrats panel, were elected members of the Governing Body. 

The polling started at 9 am and continued until 5 pm without any break. There was a steady turnout with 915 of the 1,111 eligible members casting their votes in the booths set up in the club’s spacious parking lot.

Faisal Subzwari, Shoaib Siddiqui vow to improve Sindh Youth Policy draft

Pakistan News & Features Services

The top functionaries of the provincial Youth Affairs department have vowed to incorporate changes in the draft of the Sindh Youth Policy which was reviewed in a lively four-hour session at Hotel Pearl Continental, Karachi, on December 24. 

They lauded Bargad-Organization for Youth Development, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for having joined hands with the Department of Youth Affairs Government of Sindh, for working on the Sindh Youth Policy. 

Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, Sindh Minister for Youth Affairs, who presided over the concluding segment, declared that other relevant government departments will also be consulted before preparing the final document to be presented to the provincial cabinet for approval. 

“We value the input of the representatives of the youth who have come up with some valid observations here. Our learned speakers have also put forward worthy suggestions. Let me assure you that it’s not the final meeting and we remain open to ideas in order to make the Sindh Youth Policy even stronger document,” the Minister remarked. 

He recognized that the collective efforts, sharing of experience and expertise by the civil society organizations have been instrumental in shaping the role the Department of Youth Affairs, Government is Sindh, was playing at present. 

Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Secretary, Youth Affairs to the Government of Sindh, gave an inspiration welcome note which set the tone for an enlightening session, having highlighted the work his department has been doing besides developing the Sindh Youth Policy. 

“We recognize that youth is our asset. They are not only the assets only to their families but also to the province and to the country as a whole. We are duty-bound to think and act for the youth who has to build the nation in the years to come. It’s our moral, social and official responsibility to do it,” he observed. 

“Our department has been playing the role of a facilitator instead of being an intervener. This message has spread due to our actions and the results are coming. For the past four or five years we have been working with the collaboration of the various institutions and the youth of the province realizes that the government does take care of them which is indeed very satisfying to us,” he added.

Sindh Youth Policy draft reviewed in enlightening session

Pakistan News & Features Services

The consultative meeting on the Sindh Youth Policy, held at Hotel Pearl Continental, Karachi, on December 24, turned out to be a success story with the proactive participation of the various stakeholders. 

The review session, spreading over nearly four hours, was jointly organized by Department of Youth Affairs Government of Sindh, Bargad-Organization for Youth Development, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 

Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, Sindh Minister for Youth Affairs, spent more than two hours with the participants before presiding over the concluding ceremony. 

Earlier the meeting got underway with the welcome address of Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Secretary, Youth Affairs to the Government of Sindh. 

Mohammad Saleem Butt, Azad Jammu & Kashmir Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs, and Dr Lal Chand, Member National Assembly, also attended the meeting. 

The present draft of the Sindh Youth Policy has been prepared after consultation with youth of all categories and more than 70 organizations and related stakeholders from all districts of Sindh and the review meeting sought feedback and review of elected and non-elected government officials, academia, civil society organizations and youth organizations.

Mian Khuram Shahzad, Programme Coordinator, Bargad, moderated the review meeting and also gave a detailed presentation on consultative process on the Sindh Youth Policy. 

Sabiha Shaheen, Executive Director, Bargad, and Iqbal Haider Butt, Youth expert and lead consultant on Sindh Youth Policy project, briefed the participants on the various aspects of the draft policy like vision, mission, mandate, salient features and institutional mechanism. 

Dr Khalida Ghaus, Managing Director, Social Development Policy Centre (SPDC), during her comprehensive speech, raised a very relevant question as to why the number of females has decreased over the time as the data suggested 

Prof Saeed Siddiqui, Chairman, Sindh Board of Technical Education (SBTE), spoke about the importance of raising the skills of the youngsters in order to let them kick-start their professional career. 

Following the plenary discussion group work was conducted where six groups presented recommendations on themes of social, economic and political empowerment of youth, education for youth development, youth and peace-building in Sindh and Governance and Institutional Issues. 

Helping Hands Trust and Visionary Foundation rendered extensive cooperation in organizing the event which was attended by a diverse representation from the civil society organizations including Aurat Foundation, Shirkat Gah, School of Leadership, Awareness Pakistan, Network of Organizations working for People with Disabilities Pakistan (NOWPDP), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, PILER, Institute of Social Research and Development, Packard Foundation and Urban Resource Centre (URC).

PIA earns profit for third consecutive month

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

National Carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), has achieved an operating profit of Rs.738 million in November 2012 after having suffered losses of Rs.1272 million in the corresponding period last year. 

The airline earned the profit despite difficult economic conditions, fierce competition, rising fuel prices, foreign exchange losses and law and order situation, PIA said. 

It was for the third month running that there was significant increase in the airline’s revenue income due to, what was described as, dynamic policies of the present management which made the airline to achieve operating income since September this year. 

Although the airline faced a tough year yet successfully pushed its business forward in different areas with the credit attributed to the employees who made the airline to leap forward despite challenging times. 

The Managing Director, Mohammad Junaid Yunus, described it a testimony of the efforts of everyone connected with the airline. 

Explaining, he said PIA made successful Hajj operation this year and carried 98,000 hajjis achieving 96 percent flight regularity and winning punctuality awards from Saudi Civil Aviation Authorities. 

PIA’s operational profits during the last two months, demonstrated that the airline is able to achieve higher levels of profitability, he remarked. 

Having a forward look for the next year, Junaid Yunus believed that opportunity exists to continue on improving the financial health of the airline and it is satisfying to see the airline making progress and the efforts being made laying the foundation for the company's future. 

He said the focus of the present management is on cost reduction, improvement, and expansion in network, yield and revenue. 

Robust business plan for transformation is the roadmap for going forward, he said adding that it will be a long, winding and difficult journey requiring unleashing of talents by all the employees with support and patronage from valuable customers. 

He hoped the business transformation plan will transform the airline into a strong, dynamic and vibrant institution, aggressively bracing new opportunities and absorbing external shocks. 

According to him, the induction of new aircrafts in PIA fleet would be the turning point for the airline as it will be the foundation of being able to deliver cost cutting on fuel and improve punctuality and regularity bringing back the confidence of the customers. 

He asserted that these aircrafts should have been introduced more than a decade back since the centre of PIA’s network is short haul operations (within four hours) which comprises 64 percent of total operations, the newer aircraft if brought earlier would have been cardinal for the airlines financial conditions revival.

Riphah Institute of Public Policy organize seminar on Public Private Partnership

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The concept of public-private partnership was advocated at a seminar on Public Private Partnership, jointly organized by the Riphah Institute of Public Policy (RIPP) and the Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF) at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad, on December 20.  

The distinguished speakers shared their views on the subject and stressed on the need for providing a boost to public-private participation concept to promote the cause of the country's greater progress.  

Senior government functionaries from different ministries, including Finance, Housing, Railways, P&D and Agriculture, also participated in the one-day policy seminar and deliberated on the possibilities of involving the private sector in infrastructure projects.

They appreciated the level of knowledge displayed by the presenters and emphasized that such conferences should take place more frequently. The seminar provided an opportunity to the academia to join hands with the government and to analyze the important issue. It covered the entire project life-cycle on public-private partnership, discussing the institutional and supporting framework and the best practices in procurement of such projects.

The Riphah Institute of Public Policy (RIPP) has been recently established at Islamabad by Riphah International University as part of its commitment to further the cause of education and research in the discipline of public policy.  

Besides its academic programs of Masters in Public Policy, the RIPP also provides a non-partisan and academic forum for conducting debates on important public policy issues.

Mohammed Ishfaq Khattak, Director RIPP, in his opening remarks welcomed the participants from different ministries and highlighted the fiscal limitations currently faced by the government, the unsatisfactory working of the Public Sector Enterprises and ever-increasing need for investment in the infrastructure projects.

Prof. Dr. Anis Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, Riphah International University, emphasized the importance of the role of private sector and said that such seminars would go a long way in developing connectivity between the academia and government sector.

Such interactions, he observed, are common in the developed world and the government benefits from the research and new knowledge created in universities.

The Riphah University, he said, had established RIPP for this purpose, and it would endeavor to maintain the linkages between the government and academia through RIPP. He said the recommendations of the seminar would be shared with the stake holders.  

Adil Anwar, CEO, IPDF, stressed the importance of the public-private partnership in Pakistan and mentioned the shrinking PSDP budget for infrastructure projects.

He said in order to spur economic growth Pakistan should promote private sector participation. He also gave an overview of the programme and the projects in pipeline, revealing that their costs exceeded US$ three billion.  

Ali Malik, Infrastructure Specialist, IPDF spoke about the supporting framework including the creation of viability gap fund aimed to bridge funding gap for projects which are economically viable but are not financially feasible.

Ahmad Aslam, Senior Infrastructure Specialist presented principles and best practices of procurement. He stressed pre-procurement planning and positive attitude are key to successful implementation of the projects.  

Mohammed Awais, Senior Legal Advisor, IPDF, spoke at length about the standardized contractual provisions specifically drafted such projects. The IPDF, he remarked, has developed comprehensive standardized contractual provisions to safeguard interests of the public sector while securing the private sector investments.

The vote of thanks was presented by Ishfaq Khattak in which he acknowledged the participants for their valuable inputs and announced that the policy seminar would be followed by focused workshops on public-private partnership in different sectors like energy, transport, agriculture, environment, production and industries. 

Youth Road Safety Conference: Another feather in Shoaib Siddiqui’s cap

Pakistan News & Features Services

Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Secretary, Youth Affairs Department Government of Sindh, lived upto the reputation of turning his visionary ideas into action by holding the first-ever Youth Road Safety Conference at the Marriott Hotel, Karachi, on December 17. 

The full-day event was organized by the Youth Parliament, whose membership is open to those in the 14 to 35 years age-group, with the collaboration of the Youth Affairs Department Government of Sindh but in practice it was the fulfillment of Shoaib Siddiqui’s another dream. 

It was revealed during the conference that the idea of having a Road Safety Conference exclusively for the youth was conceived when Shoaib Siddiqui came across a news report some months ago in which the high casualties of youth in the province were highlighted in road accidents. 

The Youth Parliament, having been founded on August 14, 2005, came in contact with the Youth Affairs Department and they decided to join hands in turning this dream into reality. 

The registration for the conference had opened on December 12 and the response was overwhelming. The organizers didn’t have to wait long to formally announce the closure of booking because the space in the hall was to be limited. 

No wonder the hall was packed to capacity when the proceedings got underway and the success of the event could be gauged by the intensity which didn’t drop even after being there for more than eight hours. 

The topics discussed included the causes of road accidents, license system, traffic police on road, emergency health services, first aid, hospital emergency, ambulance, vehicles maintenance, rule of law, dangers of motorbikes, role of education institutions and the role of media. 

The thought-provoking speech by Irshad Ali Raza, a senior police official, enlivened the proceedings. He candidly admitted the shortcomings in the system but advised the youngsters to be better prepared to meet the challenge in future. 

In the extended interactive session, he replied to the most probing of questions with a cool head and tried to satisfy the young minds, many of whom expressed disappointment with the performance of traffic police and sought remedial measures from the government. 

Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Secretary, Youth Affairs Department Government of Sindh, in his remarks, appreciated the talents of the young generation of the province in the various fields and he hoped that they would make it big in the years to come. 

While assuring the support of his department in facilitating the youngsters by holding many such events in future, he urged the youth to continue working hard to accomplish their cherished goals. 

Rizwan Jaffar, Chairman, Youth Parliament, spoke to the audience quite a few times during the day. The other office-bearers of the parliament were also provided the opportunity of briefly sharing their views at the stage.

Supplementary exams commence at Sir Syed University

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The supplementary examinations for students of all the eight semesters commenced at the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, on December 13. 

The arrangements for over 900 students appearing in the exams in the engineering disciplines of Civil, Electronics, Computer Bio-Medical and Telecom were reviewed at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawed Rizvi. 

The Vice-Chancellor expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made separately for old as well as new students. He directed that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for security arrangements should strictly be followed and no compromise on this aspect will be acceptable. 

Dr Jawed Rizvi also reviewed the ongoing admission process and it was informed that the first merit list has already been issued whereby over 1000 eligible students as per the Higher Education Commission (HEC) criteria have been sent offer letters at their home addresses besides having it published on the university's website.

The meeting was told that December 17 is the last date for depositing of admission and semester fee. The first merit list was issued on December 8. 

The Vice-Chancellor said that if some seats remained vacant after December 17, the university will issue second merit list. The meeting also reviewed the arrangements for the ‘Orientation Day’ to be held on January 7, 2013, when new session’s classes will start. 

The meeting was attended, among others, by Registrar Shah Mahmood Hussain Syed, and Chairpersons of the various departments.

Aligarh’s sporting spirit kept alive at SSUET: Engr Z A Nizami

Pakistan News & Features Services
 

The Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET) has vowed to keep the Aligarhian spirit alive by continuing the policy of promoting sports in a big way. 

Engr Z A Nizami, Chancellor, SSUET, and President, Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), renewed the pledge while talking to a group of sports journalists at the University campus in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on December 10. 

Ali Zafar Khan Afridi, Joint Secretary (Sports), AMUOBA, who had secured admission in the Aligarh University in the 1940s on the basis of his all-round excellence in swimming, was also present on the occasion. 

“The legendary Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, who is credited to have played the pioneering role in enlightening the people of South Asia, laid great emphasis on education and sports. That’s why sports featured prominently in the list of priorities at the Aligarh University which he founded. The first-ever covered swimming pool of international standard in the entire region was built there,” Engr Nizami, who himself played tennis while studying at the famous Aligarh University, revealed. 

“The SSUET, founded by the AMUOBA in 1994, has been following the principles of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and the university has carried forward the Aligarhian spirit of sports among its students. We are delighted to be the largest university of the country in the private sector with more 5,000 students enrolled,” the SSUET Chancellor observed. 

“Special consideration is given to the outstanding athletes at the time of admission where the sports certificates carry certain marks. The performance in sports also helps them in getting scholarships,” Engr Nizami, who also served as the Director General of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), added. 

“We have developed sporting facilities at the ground, owned by the Karachi Hockey Association, which is just opposite our campus. We encourage and support our students to actively take part in sports and quite a few of our teams have fared well in many competitions across the country,” he elaborated. 

“We have planned even bigger things for sports in future. We have decided in principle to build a sports complex in our new campus which is to be spread over 200 acres. Besides providing facilities for indoor games at the sports complex, we will also make an athletics field and a swimming pool,” he revealed. 

“At present we have space constraints here. Otherwise we would have developed more facilities than we actually have at the moment. Since sports remains in the list of our priorities we will make amends by building infrastructure projects that would serve the generations to come,” he announced. 

“We have passion and determination to play a lead role in motivating the students to engage in healthy activities like sports. We fully understand its importance and significance,” the SSUET Chancellor said. “Among the other initiatives to be launched in the near future are instituting ‘Athlete of the Year’ award at the SSUET,” Engr Nizami concluded.

PIA yet to finalize deal for new aircrafts

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The immediate goal before the PIA management is to bring down the average age of its fleet and improve reliability and punctuality with on time departures and arrivals besides providing world class customer service. 

A PIA Spokesman informed the PNFS on December 6 that the airline, under the present management which barely had few weeks, has started a process of fleet modernization and revamping of its entire service to achieve turn around in shortest possible time with its new business model. 

"Already the airline has entered the operating profit during the last two months-September–October 2012,” he disclosed. 

He clarified that PIA has not finalized particular type of aircrafts, adding that tenders have been floated for acquiring five narrow body aircraft with delivery of at least four in first and the fifth one in the second quarter of 2013 so as to cope with the capacity shortfall. 

PIA has received offers for both Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800. However, A320 offers are larger in number as compared to Boeing 737-800. Presently, these offers are being evaluated and no final decision regarding induction of either narrow-body aircraft has been finalized. 

He made it clear that the tender for these aircrafts has not yet been awarded and the evaluation process was still not complete. It is, therefore, premature to assume which aircraft or engine type will be inducted. 

“Speculative reports create undue bias for evaluators and they may not be in the best interest of the national airline,” the spokesman felt. 

He said it was for the first time in PIA’s history that their Managing Director, Mohammad Junaid Yunus, invited Transparency International Pakistan to monitor the bidding process. 

In addition to TIP, representative of the Ministry of Defence, Employees’ Unions including SAEP were also present in the financial and technical bid opening process while TIP was taken onboard during the evaluation process relating to not just this tender but in fact all future tenders would be forwarded to TIP for scrutiny. 

According to him, PIA was spending 55 percent of its revenue on fuel. Newer an aircraft provided fuel savings up to 50% for a route flown as well as lower maintenance costs. 

PIA’s 63 percent operation is on short haul routes, within four hours of flight time. 

He said PIA is following a clear point-based system where points are awarded based on fleet commonality and availability of present apparatus for overhaul of engines. 

The spokesman said that PIA would not go for one criterion, especially with the rapid advances in technology in aviation. What matters is the cost benefit analysis of these aircraft and therefore financial cost and availability of these aircraft also play an important role, he said adding that PIA cannot afford to wait years on end to suit the schedule of a particular vendor or manufacturer. 

It is pertinent to mention that any further delay in the induction of new aircraft will result in the delay of the turn around of the airline, which was noted by the Board of Directors and Government Pakistan, he concluded.

PIA, KESC sign MoU for energy conservation

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Managing Director PIA, Mohammed Junaid Yunus has said that the airline management is committed to implement Energy Conservation Program, not due to high energy cost, but as a social responsibility for rational power use.  

He was speaking at the MoU signing ceremony between the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) for Energy Conservation held at the PIA Headquarters in Karachi on December 5.

The MoU was signed by Capt Junaid for PIA while Tabiss Gohar signed for KESC. He said that PIA’s Green Team is working for Safe Environment for future and the saving achieved will help minimize cost, time and resources.

"We are committed to protect the environment and comply with environmental laws, regulations and methods of conservation,” he remarked. Speaking on the occasion, CEO KESC Tabish Gohar described PIA a potential customer of KESC and said the power utility looks forward for strengthening the existing relationship between the two organizations.  

KESC, he assured, will fully corporate with PIA in saving energy cost through cost cutting measures. Although it may reduce KESC's revenue but saving of important resource will be of great benefit, he added.

KESC's Director Energy Conservation, Asif Siddiqi, in his remarks, pointed out that that PIA would save 30 percent in its electric bills by introducing energy conservation programme at its Head Office and Training Centre.

It may be mentioned here that PIA is currently spending about Rs 50 million a month on power consumption at its head Office and Training Centre and by implementing energy conservation plan it is expected to save around Rs.200 million annually in its electricity bills.

MD PIA Junaid Yunus explained that the PIA Green Team has worked tremendously on power conservation during the last couple of years which saved Rs 7 million in diesel consumption last year despite rising cost of diesel.

He said PIA saved another Rs 3 million in one month as compared to September 2011 by rationalizing office timings.

He assured KESC of full cooperation during Energy Audits and also for technical collaboration in matters of energy and environment conservation. 

Brilliant young minds selected for IMO training camp at ASSMS

Pakistan News & Features Services

The 29 top students, short-listed on the basis of the results of the country-wide open competition held on November 10, have been provisionally selected to receive the International Mathematic Olympiad (IMO) training at the Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS), GC University Lahore, located in New Muslim Town, from December 3 to 13. 

The list is dominated by the students of Lahore (13) and Karachi (11) with Islamabad (3) and Quetta (2) also joining the elite group. They will now be trained and groomed by world class coaches. 

The top 10 students who excel in these camps will receive certificates and prizes. The selected students will represent the country at the IMO 2013, to be staged at Santa Marta, Colombia, in July next. 

They will also become eligible for various fellowships for higher studies in sciences. The ASSMS organized the contest with key objective to secure recognition at the highest level to the talented students. It provided the students, desiring to become a world class scientist, an excellent opportunity to start with. The competition was open to students born on or after July 16, 1993. 

According to the results, the short-listed students from Lahore for the IMO camp are Ali Hamza, Awais Mohammad Chishti, Ayesha Majid, Hamza Arif, Hamza Shafiq, Haris Bin Adnan, Omar Ali Jahangir, Ramesha Akhtar, Raza Adeel Agha, Saadullah Aamir, Sarah Khawaja, Wardah Rafaqat and Zuhair Saleem while those from Karachi are Aiman Khan, Areeb-ur-Rahman Siddiq, Hassan Ahmed, Hassan Saeed, Mohammad Faiz Taufiq, Mohammad Musab Usman, Mohammad Sehan Khawar, Mohammad Zain Qasmi, Mustafa Mansoor, Shayan Ahmed Farooqui and Uzair Irfan Farooqui. 

Awais Khalid, Javeria Khalid and Zain Humayun have made the cut from Islamabad while Mohammad Naurez Shaukat and Shahzaib Shaukat have qualified from Quetta. 

The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the World Championship Mathematics Competition for High School students and is held annually in a different country. The first-ever IMO was held in 1959 in Romania, with seven countries participating. It kept expanding gradually and there was a record participation of 565 students from as many as 104 countries in 2009 when its 50th edition was organized at Bremen, Germany. 

The 52nd IMO at Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 2011 had 564 entries from 101 countries while 548 students from exactly 100 countries contested the 53rd IMO at Mar del Plata, Argentina, earlier this year. 

The Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS), established by the Government of Punjab under the aegis of the GC University Lahore, has been pursuing the goal of becoming a Centre of Excellence for research and advanced studies in Mathematical Sciences. It is acclaimed as one of the fastest growing doctoral schools in the world. 

The GC University Lahore is among the oldest educational institutions of the country, which will be turning 149 in one month time. It had started its journey as Government College Lahore on January 1, 1864.

Final Semester exams commence at Sir Syed University

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The final semester examinations of Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, have commenced here November 28. 

“The exams are being held under complete peaceful atmosphere”, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawed Rizvi, informed Chancellor Engr Z A Nizami during his surprise visit to various examination rooms to personally review the conduct of examination. 

Some 1541 out of 1711 registered students are appearing in the final semester exams being held simultaneously along with second, fourth and sixth semesters in Computer, Electronics, Civil, Bio-Medical, Telecommunication engineering and Computer Science. 

As far as the break-up is concerned, 318 are appearing in Computer Engineering, 350 in Electronics, 141 in Telecom, 366 in Civil, 126 in Bio-Medical engineering and 240 in Computer Science. 

Registrar Shah Mahmood Hussain Syed briefed to the Chancellor that the examinations will conclude on December 11 to be followed supplementary examination due to start from December 13. 

The Vice-Chancellor confirmed that the classes in the New Year will start from January 7, 2013 following holding of ‘Orientation Day’ the same day. 

He said that the arrangements have also started for holding of ‘Convocation 2013’ to award degrees to passing out students. 

It would be the 16th Convocation since the SSUET came into being as a private sector engineering university in 1994. 

Currently the University has over 5000 students on roll including over 600 girls studying in various engineering disciplines. The University has been granted the highest “W4” Category by Higher Education Commission and also registered as 5-Star University by the Sindh Government’s Charter Evaluation Committee.

Senior Aligarhian from India visits SSUET

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, Engr Z A Nizami has reckoned that having achieved commendable success in developing information and communication technology, the university has emerged as a modern educational technology hub contributing significantly to both knowledge acquisition and innovation. 

He made these remarks while speaking at a reception held in the honour of senior Aligarian Rifaqat Ali Khan from India during a visit to SSUET on November 27. 

The SSUET Chancellor remarked that the new initiatives taken at the university had provided a boost to creative and research potential and the innovative measures taken towards this direction infused a new spirit of confidence in the academic and administrative work culture here. 

Recalling the memories at the Aligarh Muslim University, Chancellor Nizami said that he had spent a very eventful and productive life there and spoke about some of the episodes of activities. 

Speaking on the occasion, the senior Aligarian, Rifaqat Ali Khan, observed that establishment of the Sir Syed University was a historical initiative that proved to be a milestone in the educational development of the nation.

 He said that existence without education for a nation, particularly in the present era, is not possible and will serve just as a dream, adding that time has come to catch up with changes fast taking place globally and assign top priority to education. 

Rifaqat Ali Khan asserted that torch-bearers of the Aligarh spirit have a sacred responsibility of promoting education without discrimination in every walk of life. 

The Aligarian from India did Masters and PhD in History from the Muslim University before joining Jamia Milia where he retired as Head of Department of History. 

His wife is also an Aligarian who did Masters in English from Aligarh University. Later she joined the Dehli University and retired as Professor of English from the university. 

Earlier the SSUET Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawed Rizvi, welcomed the distinguished visitor and informed that Sir Syed University, which started with only 200 students in 1994, today has more than 5000 students on roll. “The university focus remains on quality education and try to improve it,” he emphasized.

Computer Skills set high standards as IT recruitment specialists in Australia

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Melbourne-based Computer Skills (Vic) Pty Ltd, having been founded in 1977, has distinguished itself as a specialist in Information Technology recruitment. It has remained committed to providing professional services to the IT industry, having earned a reputation for quality of service and unquestionable ethics. 

Computer Skills is now acclaimed as one of the longest established IT recruitment agencies in Australia. Initially it was recognised as a specialist in the recruitment of IBM iSeries/AS400 personnel before the company expanded itself to recruit across all areas of the IT industry, adding value to their clients by placing only the most suitable professionals in their respective fields. 

Over the years Computer Skills has developed an extensive database of both permanent and contract IT professionals which gets constantly updated. They also offer a wide range of support services as an IT recruiter to candidates looking for their ideal job. 

Besides being a dedicated I.T recruiter, Computer Skills also provide a range of services which include technical assessment testing, assistance with remuneration levels and salary packages for experienced professionals and career advice. 

Having the leading recruitment consultants on board, Computer Skills, with the enthusiastic duo of Matt Campbell and Anthony Patti being the Directors, has made a point to offer their clients and candidates a caring and top-class professional service. 

Campbell brings with him the rich experience of Help Desk/Desktop Support & Systems Administration across Microsoft and Novell for four years. He also worked in a number of industries including automotive, manufacturing, distribution, communication and retail before joining Computer Skills in 2006 where he has proved his mettle in the field of IT recruitment. 

Patti has been associated with Computer Skills since the early 1990s. He is the son of Dom Patti, the previous owner of the company. He did Bachelor of Computing at Monash University in 1996 before joining the IT department at Coles Myer where he was involved with the Data Warehouse system development and support for four years. 

He then switched over to the field of IT recruitment, devoting all his energies solely at Computer Skills since 2000. 

Campbell and Patti, with their motivated team, have been working wholeheartedly to pursue their cherished goal of building lasting relationships which has been a hallmark of Computer Skills since its inception in 1977.

SSUET’s final semester exams begin on November 28

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The final semester examination at the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, will commence from November 28 and go on till December 11. 

This was confirmed the other day at a review meeting convened by the Chancellor SSUET, Engr Z.A. Nizami. 

The meeting was attended, among others, by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Javed Rizvi, and Registrar, Shah Mahmood Hussain, besides Director Finance and two Additional Registrars. 

It was informed that after a gap of a couple of days, the supplementary examination will start from December 13. 

The meeting was told that the admission process was going on and the interviews of candidates who qualified for admission in test held earlier on November 18 at Expo Center was in progress and will be completed later in the week where after lists of successful candidates will be finalized and later displayed on notice boards besides being posted on the university’s website. 

The Vice-Chancellor reported that the ‘Orientation Day’ will be held on January 7, 2013, which will be followed by holding of regular academic session. 

He said that the arrangements have also been started for University’s Convocation 2013 scheduled to be organized on March 2. 

The Chancellor also reviewed the calendar of activities and directed that it should be strictly followed as per laid down schedule of events.

Sri Lankan delegation discuss bilateral cooperation in academic sector during SSUET visit

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A eight-member Sri Lankan delegation, headed by Chairman, Puttalam Urban Council and also including Minister of Health, Indigenous Medicine, Sports & Youth Affairs, North Western Province recently visited Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, and exchanged matters of bilateral cooperation in the field of education. 

The delegation comprised K A Baiz, Mayor of Puttalam, Chief Government Organizer for Puttalam Electorate, N T M Thahir, Member of North Western Provincial Government, A M Kamardeen, Member of North Western Provincial Government, R A S Pushpakumara, Deputy Mayor of Puttalam, A O Alikhan, Opposition Leader for Puttalam, M T N Ameen, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Party Member for Puttalam Urban Council and W.M.M.B Weerasakara, Commissioner of Local Government and Representative of Governor of NWP. 

The Mayor of Puttalam and Chief Government Organizer for Puttalam Electorate, K A Baiz, stated that efforts were being made to improve bilateral cooperation in academic sector, for which vast potential existed between two countries. 

“We are planning to have interactive sessions with the officials of Sir Syed University to open its campus in Sri Lanka,” he added. 

Baiz appreciated the University’s role in helping the students in acquiring knowledge in modern technologies through highly competent and capable faculty and state of the art equipment. 

He was highly impressed with the presentation given by Prof. Shahid Saleem providing complete information about Sir Syed University with the help of statistics. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Abdul Baiz emphasized the need to explore new avenues of bilateral economic and commercial cooperation. He was of the view that Puttalam Urban Council can join hands with SSUET in areas of mutual cooperation in the field of education. 

He informed that earlier there were only state universities in Sri Lanka as the government didn’t allow universities in private sector in the past. But now with a change in the policy, the government was considering to grant permission for opening campus of foreign universities in Sri Lanka. 

The SSUET Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Syed Jawaid Hassan Rizvi, Registrar Shah Mahmood Syed, Dean Engineering Prof Dr S.M Makhdumi, Prof Dr M A Haleem, Dr Faisal Bukhari, Dr Imran Beg and other faculty members were also present on the occasion.

PIA declared Best Hajj Airline Operator for third year running

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia, has declared the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as the best airline operator amongst the 74 international Airlines operating from Hajj terminal, flying more than 1.7 million Hajjis in 2012. 

The PIA spokesman, Syed Sultan Hasan presented the copies of the certification of 25 Zilhajj 1433H (November 10, 2012) mentioning PIA as the Best Hajj Airline Operator to a Pakistan media team visiting Saudi Arabia at Madinah. 

The GACA, in the certificate issued to PIA, has noted that they closely monitored the activities of all the airlines’ operating from Hajj terminal Jeddah and considered that PIA again proved itself the best operator on the basis of regularity as well as services provided. 

The GACA further said that PIA demonstrated exceptional value by overcoming the delay factor of departures during the initial two days of Post Hajj operation. 

This is the third consecutive year starting from 2010 that PIA has been chosen by the Saudi Arabia Civil Aviation as the best Hajj flight operator. 

The testimonial from the GACA should further motivate PIA would in order to continue serving the Hajjis with even greater devotion in the years to come.