Brief Profile: Dr Mubashara Khan

Pakistan News & Features Services

Dr Mubashara Khan has made her presence felt on the scene as a bio-technician, nutritionist and fitness trainer. She describes herself as a pragmatic professional and modern scientist who can help out people in rediscovering their top energy levels. She also specializes honing skills that need to be explore, recognized and get certified.

She has been around at the Shara's Health & Wellness Centre, located at Badar Commercial Area in Phase-V of DHA, Karachi, since 1998. She provides the opportunity to earn certifications in wide-range of health and wellness programs.

She assists people y by offering the programmes which best suit their needs depending upon their academic background, interests and future plans.

She has a variety of courses designed by professionals and instructors of highest calibre from leading organizations and universities around the world which delivered by her trained faculty members and professional trainers.

Dr Mubashara Khan is herself highly skilled and qualified which put her in a strong position to lead by example. She has done M Phil in Sports Science and Medical Aestheticians from Toronto, Canada.while she did PhD in Homeopath from Sri Lanka and qualified as a Bio-technician from Germany.

Dr Mubashara Khan on Jumbo Karachi Guide

Pakistan News & Features Services

“No praise could be too high for Karachi. It is a cosmopolitan city in the truest meaning of the word. The city is as fascinating as New York or any other vibrant metropolis on the planet. Karachi never sleeps. It has all the ingredients of a world-class city.” 

“Karachi is a city of dreams as well. It provides the platform for the talents to unfold and the dreams to come true. Nothing is impossible in this hugely resourceful city where plenty of opportunities exist for everyone to grow big. Relocating in this city has never been an issue because its people are open-hearted and welcoming by nature.” 

“Karachi has literally everything. The standard of education is exceptional. There are beaches and many other avenues for recreation. The meals are the tastiest. There are numerous shopping malls who offer every conceivable brand. The information provided in Jumbo Karachi Guide could make it easier for you to explore this magnificent city.”

Brief Profile: Samina Peerzada

Pakistan News & Features Services

Samina Peerzada has been known and respected for her creativity and imagination. She has been prolific in acting and she has also carved a niche as a director and producer. She acted in numerous films and television serials before excelling in the role of director.

Born in Lahore on April 9, 1955, she showed an inclination towards acting during her academic life while graduating in commerce. She was quite active in extracurricular activities with acting being her forte.

In 1976, she starred in her film Nazdikiyan. This was followed by many films, including Bazaare Husn and Khawahish. She has a long list of television plays to her credit, among them the popular are Raat and Hisar. She has also performed on stage for such successful productions as Raaz-o-Niaz and Gurya Ghar.

Samina Peerzada was hailed as one of the most promising directors in Pakistan's film industry as she made her directorial debut with ‘Inteha’ which proved a success story.

Before turning to the celluloid world, she had directed a string of successful television productions, such as Sophia and Karb for PTV. She has continued to act in a number of television serials for the plethora of relatively new channels. She has done famous television plays such as Sheeshay Ka Mahal,Kaanch, and Ghar Gharonda.

She was invited by Amnesty International India in New Delhi for International Week of Justice Festival in 2008, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She has travelled widely, having performed in Oslo in an Ibsen festival, and won many awards, including a couple of Presidential Awards for her films and as many Graduate Awards for her work on stage.

Samina Peerzada on Jumbo Karachi Guide

Pakistan News & Features Services

“The city of Karachi is full of life. Its inhabitants have awesome resilience as they love their culture and treasure their values." 

"The people visit the theatres as passionately as they take part in other cultural and recreational activities. It’s the city which proactively participates in community service.” 

“Karachi is a city having made phenomenal contribution in the field of fine arts in particular. Its painters, artists, writers and poets have attained worldwide recognition.” 

“It’s a great idea to bring out travel guide of a metropolis like Karachi which has plenty to offer for everyone. This would help in promoting the local artists as well besides highlighting the other facets of the glorious city.”

Brief Profile: Humayun Saeed

Pakistan News & Features Services

Humayun Saeed is acclaimed as one of the most versatile showbiz personalities of the country, having proved his mettle as an actor, director and producer. He remains the only TV star of Pakistan, having received the LSA Best Actor award five consecutive times. 

Born in Karachi on July 27, 1971, he did graduation in commerce before establishing himself as production manager in a garment factory, H Nizam Din & Sons, where he worked for four years. 

He first appeared on television at the end of 1995 with ‘Ye Jahan’ being his maiden play. He was declared Best Actor at the PTV Performance Awards, for his performance in the play ‘Ab tum ja sakte ho’ in 1996. The same year he earned another Best Actor award for his performance in the telefilm 'Zeher.' His first television serial was 'Karooron Ka Aadmi' aired in 1998. 

Besides acting and modelling, Humayun Saeed has also performed leading roles in film. His first film ‘Inteha’ was commercially successful. Since the mid to late 1990s, he produced his own television serials, especially for Pakistani channels like PTV, under the banner of Humayun Saeed Productions. 

In 2000, he joined hands with Abdullah Kadwani to form Humayun Saeed-Abdullah Kadwani Productions. Their very first serial,Ana, garnered a Lux Style Award. He also has two production houses named as Six Sigma Entertainment and 7th Sky Entertainment which have produced many hit drama serials.

Humayun Saeed on Jumbo Karachi Guide

Pakistan News & Features Services

“Karachi has become the hub of showbiz. Art is being promoted in a big way; theatre has witnessed revival; television dramas are being produced in great numbers and the cinema has come alive.” 

“The professional attitude of the various stakeholders has contributed immensely in boosting the showbiz industry of Karachi."

"The corporate houses and the institutions like NAPA and SZABIST have also been playing pivotal role in this direction. The future of showbiz looks very bright indeed.” 

“Karachi has been blessed with tropical weather, fantastic locations, prosperous culture and delicious food. Jumbo Karachi Guide could help in getting a perfect acquaintance about this wonderful city before you actually arrive here.”

Brief Profile: Dr Abdul Ghaffar Billoo

Pakistan News & Features Services

Dr Abdul Ghaffar Billoo is one of the most eminent personalities in the field of health and medical sciences. He is regarded as the leading pediatric endocrinologist of Pakistan, working at the Aga Khan University as professor of clinical pediatrics.

Born in Junagadh, India, on January 14, 1937, he and his family migrated to Pakistan soon after partition. He obtained his MBBS degree from Dow Medical College, Karachi, in 1959.

He received his Diploma in Child Health, Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the United Kingdom in 1962. He qualified for his MRCP in 1964 and was appointed a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1986.

He started his professional career in 1959 from Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. He joined Institute of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene on 1962 located in Glasgow. He was appointed as Registrar in Pediatrics at Seafield Sick Children Hospital Ayrshire, Scotland in 1962.

Upon return from the UK, he started practising as pediatrician in Karachi and joined Aga Khan University Hospital as chairman of Department of Pediatrics in 1998. He also served as professor and Head of Pediatrics Department in Dow Medical Collage besides being a part of the University of Karachi as Dean Faculty of Medicine for three years.

Dr Abdul Ghaffar Billoo has more than 200 publications in United States National Library of Medicine. He founded Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS), with his few close friends, which has been serving humanity since 1975. It works on health, human rights, education, disaster management and poverty alleviation.

He was awarded with Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the most prestigious civilian award of Pakistan, for public service by the then President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, in 2007.

Dr Ghaffar Billoo on Jumbo Karachi Guide

Pakistan News & Features Services

“Karachi, without any shadow of doubt, is one of the best cities of the world. In terms of significance and contribution to the national exchequer it’s second to none in the country."

"It’s blessed with innumerable resources and it has the potential to prosper further.”

“The publication of Jumbo Karachi Guide is quite timely and it’s very much needed as such guides go a long way in facilitating the people in general.” 

“The promoters and the compilers of the guidebook deserve appreciation for having initiated the novel idea and going by their enthusiasm they are quite likely to make it a permanent project. My best wishes are with them.”

Brief Profile: Engr Adil Usman

Pakistan News & Features Services

Engr Mohammad Adil Usman, a great-grandson of Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, one of the legendary leaders and orators of the early 20th century, is the President of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) as well as the Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi. 

Having graduated from the Aligarh Muslim University in the discipline of electrical engineering in 1968, Engr Adil Usman is the Chief Executive of the Associated Technical Consultants, a renowned engineering consulting firm. 

A badminton champion during his university life, he took active interest in the promotion of technical education in Pakistan besides his other social sector engagements. He happens to be the founder member of the SSUET having been a member of the Board of Governors for the last many years. 

Engr Adil Usman served as Convener and Member Governing Body of the Aligarh Institute of Technology. He was elected as the AMOUBA’s Senior Vice President before becoming its President. He has been a member of the Executive Committee of Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) for two consecutive terms, 1991-93 and 1994-96. 

He was the Convener of the PEC Consulting Engineers Regulation Committee in 1996. He was elected as the Honorary Secretary of the Association of Consulting Engineers, Pakistan for the term of 1999-2001 and worked on National and International level for furtherance the cause of the engineering community in Pakistan. 

Engr Adil Usman has attended numerous technical seminars held in Pakistan and abroad having presented a large number of technical papers many of whom have also been published in the reputed international journals. He has been involved in research projects related to introducing viable sources of renewable energy in the Pakistani market, one of which was the local design and fabrication of a bio-diesel production plant. 

He is a Fellow of Institution of Engineers and Vice-President (Electrical) of Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP). He is also a member of various prestigious institutions, actively working for promoting cause of the engineers at all forums.

Engr Adil Usman on Jumbo Karachi Guide

Pakistan News & Features Services

“Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world. The countries, excelling in the field of education, have progressed in leaps and bounds over the years.” 

“The 21st century is also considered as the Knowledge Age. We at the SSUET are in the process of shifting to the 21st century thinking in education and learning. We do understand that knowledge is no longer being thought of as stuff that is developed and stored but it is now being thought of as a form of energy or a system of networks and flows which make things happen.” 

“While we have had the strong conviction that ample facilities for technical education remain highly essential for Pakistan in order to let the country stand on strong footings we also facilitate in supporting the worthy initiatives aimed at spreading knowledge.” 

“We recognize and support the efforts of the team of eminent journalists having undertaken the arduous task of bringing out an updated edition of Jumbo Karachi Guide. Such guidebooks serve as handy resource for the academic purposes as well.”

Nadeem Hussain declares Pakistan’s microfinance banking better than Grameen

By Syed Sajid Aziz
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tameer Microfinance Bank Limited, Nadeem Hussain, has remarked that microfinance banking is more advanced in Pakistan than any other country in the region as verification system through NADRA is not available in India, Bangladesh or most of the countries in the region.

Addressing a media briefing at the Karachi Press Club on July 24, Nadeen Hussain observed that in this gloomy economic scenario, microfinance banking could be a ray of hope and play a vital role in eradicating the unemployment in the country. 

He said that Tameer Bank has provided access to finance to people, who were not banked or could not take loans from other commercial banks, adding that Tameer Bank’s outreach has expanded many folds due to Branchless Banking (Easypaisa) which has opened the doors for financial inclusion. 

“This is a bank for the common people, who can approach and take small loans,” Nadeem Hussain assured. 

He reckoned that due to many regulations microfinance banking could not reach to its targeted consumers as there should be at least 30 million consumers of micro financing while it only 300,000 only.

He was of the opinion that Pakistan’s model of microfinance banking is far better than Grameen Bank in Bangladesh as Tameer Bank’s volume through Easypaisa is three times more than Grameen Bank. 

He said that Tameer Bank through Easypaisa has announced the availability of its Inter Bank Fund Transfer (IBFT) service to enable customers to transfer funds between a number of Banks via the 1-link switch. 

With IBFT for Easypaisa, the service has become the first mobile money service in Pakistan to become interoperable with the existing banking infrastructure. 

Easypaisa’s IBFT service will be available for its Mobile Account holders and Over-the-Counter (OTC) customers. Easypaisa Mobile Account holders can now move funds from any Bank Account into their Easypaisa Mobile Account and vice versa conveniently and securely, thus overcoming one of the hurdles of getting funds into the branchless banking systems.

Once the funds are in the Easypaisa Mobile Account, customers can proceed to use the most convenient and secure bill payment, money transfer or airtime recharge service in the country through the Easypaisa Mobile Account on their mobiles.

Nearly six million unique customers using Easypaisa services each month, banked customers can deposit cash into their bank accounts without having to go into their bank branches. 

He said that the customers will only need to approach an Easypaisa shop, provide their CNIC and their bank account number to use this service. This cash deposit facility will be available at Easypaisa shops while they are open, often late into the night and even on weekends. 

“It is great step in the branchless banking industry, a revolutionary development which will act as a catalyst for the robust growth of the branchless banking industry in Pakistan. Easypaisa now connects the unbanked directly to the banking infrastructure by enabling them to send and receive money on their Mobile Accounts and through OTC services,” Nadeem Hussain concluded.

80 top brands to participate in ‘Festival of Friendship’

By Syed Sajid Aziz

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Over 80 top companies and leading brands have so far registered themselves to represent Pakistan in the 2^nd Made in Pakistan Exhibition being held in Mumbai, India, from August 31 to September 5, 2014.

After the great success of the inaugural Made in Pakistan Expo Mumbai in April 2014, the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturer and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), with the support of Association of Indian Industries, are organizing the 2nd edition of the Made in Pakistan Expo Mumbai titled ‘Festival of Friendship’ at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai.

During the six-day event, besides the exhibition, a delegation of high-profile Pakistani businessmen would also be visiting India to explore bilateral trade opportunities in various sectors. It’s being hoped that the event will not only promote trade but also offer a chance for the people to feel and own the highest quality Pakistani products.

It has also been announced that alongside the exhibition, there will be a ‘Pakistan Fashion Show’ of leading Pakistani designers where they will show case their latest lines of top-end designer wear.

The six-day ‘Art Exhibition’ will enable the visitors to acquaint themselves with the works of famous Pakistani artistes while a ‘Pakistan food court’ will serve the best in Pakistani cuisine to visitors. 

Arshad Aziz, Chairman, PRGMEA, has appreciated the support of Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Textile, Government of Pakistan. The success, he said, was only possible due to the support of Secretary Textiles, Rukhsana Shah, who will lead the delegation.

He pointed out that Pakistan’s economy and exports were showing a remarkable recovery and growth. “This has been achieved with the hard work and efforts undertaken by the business community with the full support of the government of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif,” the PRGMEA chief stated.

Arshad Aziz reckoned that the people of Pakistan have been showing extraordinary resilience in the face of multiple challenges. Pakistan was destined to become a regional economic and commercial hub, given its location and enormous resources.

Referring to the first meeting between the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India in New Delhi on May 27, 2014, the PRGMEA Chairman said that the leaders from both the countries had articulated their mutual desire for peace and development. It was now important to move forward towards realizing their vision.

He emphasized that Pakistan was committed to exploring all possible avenues for enhancing mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation, adding that the time has come to move beyond the rhetoric and transform the bilateral relationship into one of peace, cooperation and prosperity.