IT expert appreciates HEC, Microsoft initiatives

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, participated in the Academic Day 2015, organized by Microsoft Pakistan with the collaboration of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The event was attended by the representatives from different universities which included vice chancellors, deans, professors and IT experts.

Microsoft Pakistan has signed an Education Alliance Agreement with the HEC following which the multinational has ingrained their technological solutions among academia all over the country. 

The HEC has been effectively implementing new technologies in academic sector. In collaboration with Microsoft, it launched Academic Initiative Programme which included free or subsidized OS licenses, technical trainings seminars, free academic license of office 365 imagine cup, faculty connections, technical conferences and workshops. 

“There is no doubt or ambiguity to admit that Microsoft office 365 cloud brought revolutionary growth in managing office documentation and correspondence, Abdul Moid Khan, an IT expert and System Manager, SSUET, remarked while sharing his valuable experience gained during implementing Microsoft Office 365, a cloud base technology and application at the campus. 

He revealed that the Sir Syed Univesrity is one of the pioneer universities who first successfully implemented Office 365 at the campus by its own team and expertise, however, migration process of 5000+ accounts and passwords from old system to Office 365 Cloud in a transparent way was a big challenge. The university is now moving towards automation and developing complete paperless environment at the campus. 

Moid Khan reckoned that it’s quite tough to introduce modern technology or new and innovative ideas in a pure traditional society. 

“Nevertheless, the HEC and its IT team must be appreciated for taking very dynamic step for introducing and implementing new technologies. The HEC is providing a great facility for the organizations to purchase costly software and hardware at very subsidized and economical rates,” he complimented.

SSUET's 2015-16 budget approved

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has passed its Rs 1,025 million budget for the financial year 2015-16 showing a deficit of Rs 2 million.

The budget was passed at a meeting of SSUET’s Board of Governors held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawaid H Rizvi, and attended, among others, by Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, Lt Gen (Rtd) Moinuddin Hyder, Prof M.D. Shami, Sardar Yasin Malik, Cmmdr. (Rtd) Saleem Siddiqi, Ms Aziz Fatima and Additional Secretary Education. 

The budget showed the current expenditure at Rs 884 million with development incurring an expenditure of Rs 141 million. During the upcoming fiscal year the university will be spending Rs 37.3 million on further upgradation of its laboratories while a record allocation of Rs 40 million has been made for award scholarships to the deserving talented students. 

According to the salient features of the budget 2015-16, the university will spend Rs 13.9 million on research projects, Rs 1.9 million on establishment of research innovative and commercialization centre, Rs 6 million on provision of financial incentive to faculty for carrying out research projects, Rs 0.8 million for Ph.D graduate program, Rs 5 million on hiring foreign specialists faculty, Rs 14.9 million for Faculty development and development of new campus, Rs 27.4 million on construction of new academic block, Rs 5 million on purchase of new books, research journals and equipment for the library, Rs 8 million, for provision of financial help out of profit of Endowment Fund, which today stands at Rs 340 million, to students and employees. 

It may be mentioned here that 2015-16 budget is higher by Rs 73 million as against the revised estimates of Rs 952 million of fiscal year 2014-15.

ABAD’s initiatives for rehabilitation of Katchi Abadies appreciated

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The rehabilitation of Katchi Abadies was discussed in length in a meeting between the top officials of the Association of Builders & Developers (ABAD) and the government officials held at the ABAD House in Karachi.

Mohammad Nawaz Shaikh, Secretary Katchi Abedies & Special Development Board (SDB), Government of Sindh, exchanged views with the ABAD delegation comprising of its Chairman, Junaid Ashraf Taloo, Chairman Southern Region, Mohammad Hassan Bakshi, Vice Chairman, Mohammad Hanif Memon, and a few other senior members. 

Hassan Bakshi highlighted the plan and programme of the ABAD for the rehabilitation of Katchi Abadies though Special Development Board. 

He said that the laws of board have been passed by the Sindh Assembly and ABAD needed protection by the Government of Sindh for rehabilitation of Katchi Abadies. The ABAD Chairman added that the Special Development Board was designed as a local planning authority to provide all the requisite approval for redevelopment of Katchi Abadies under one roof. 

Hassan Bakshi observed that the majority of Katchi Abadies were being used as the hideout of criminals, pointing out that the crime was increasing and registering growth due to Katchi Abadies. 

Nawaz Shaikh, Secretary KA & SDB, appreciated the efforts of ABAD for their plan and programme about Katchi Abadies. He also appreciated ABAD’s initiatives to provide free medical and education facilities for the residents of Katchi Abadies. 

He disclosed that there were 564 Katchi Abadies who were thickly populated and the data of population was not available. 

He desired another meeting with the ABAD officials next week to exchange information and data available with them and also to maintain a robust relation between two bodies.

Mirpurkhas schools directed to observe summer vacations

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Director, Private Institutions, Mirpurkhas Division, Abdul Hameed Shaikh, has taken serious notice of the opening of private schools in Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts during the ongoing summer vacations.

Directing all the schools to observe summer vacations during the stipulated time, he has issued orders to suspend the registration of 16 private schools with immediate effect, advising them submit an explanation in this regard. 

Under the order the registration of Ideal School Hameedpura Colony, Tameer Millat High School, Green Pak School Hameedpura Colony, Ghousia School Hameedpura Colony, Child Care High School Hameedpura ColonyCity Grammar High School PM Colony, Askhia Progressive High School Adam Town, Al-Rehman School Adam Town, New Star High School Satellite Town, Junior English High School Gharibabad and Moon Light School Gharibabad of Mirpurkhas have been suspended with immediate effect. 

The Director has also suspended the registration of Kainat Public High School, Marvi Public School, Superior Public School, The Scholar Public School and Mehran Public School Mirwah with immediate effect and sought for clarification within a period of seven days.

ABAD appreciates budget, desires more relief

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) has welcomed the recognition of the construction industry at the national level as their proposal was incorporated in the federal budget for the fiscal year 20015-16.

Addressing a press conference Junaid Ashraf Taloo, Chairman, Mohammad Hanif Memon, Vice Chairman, and Mohammad Hassan Bakhshi, Chairman, Southern Region, observed that for the first time the construction industry was given its due importance with the acceptance of the ABAD proposal in the federal budget. Zaigham Mahmood Rizvi, housing expert, and Saleem Kassim Patel, Convenor Budget Committee, were also present on the occasion. 

“If our proposals would have been accepted in total, it would have reduced the housing cost by 15% and increased in revenue collection of government,” they declared. Junaid Ashraf Taloo appreciated the Federal Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar, for taking some positive steps for construction industry. 

“We would have witnessed phenomenal growth of the construction industry if all our proposals were accepted. Further it would have provided greater relief to common man regarding low cost houses,” the ABAD Chairman stated. 

“A few automatic re-rolling mills hold monopoly and they are selling the steel bars at a much higher rate. In the local market steel bars are being sold through cartellization at the rate of Rs.85,000 per ton,” he pointed out. 

He appealed to the government to allow import of steel bars to the ABAD members directly whose benefit will be passed on to common man. He asked the government to abolish Federal Excise Duty on sale of cement may be abolished. The ABAD had proposed that sales tax on cement be charged at ex-factory rate instead of the market rate. 

He urged the government to establish Mortgage Finance Board to boost the housing sector so that the shortage of 80 lacs houses was minimized, besides asking the authorities to abolish Provincial Services Sales Tax on builders since they were not classified as service providers. 

“The government has to provide discount in Mortgage Financing and the Markup should be decrease to 4% or 5%, it will improve the purchasing power of common man. The ban on gas connection should be lifted,” the ABAD Chairman appealed. 

The ABAD proposals also included the start of first phase of Motorway M-9 from Karachi instead of Hyderabad, allocation of funds for K-IV water project to solve the water problem of Karachi, and the fixation of markup on house finance @ 3% only.

PEC elections on June 14

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The candidate for the post of Senior Vice President (SVP) of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Engr Inam Ahmed Osmani, and Engr Jamshed Rizvi, in a joint press conference, complained that the election rules were being violated and the polling stations were being set up in far flung areas of Karachi in order to devoid voters casting their votes. They demanded the polling stations to be set up in North Nazimabad, Federal B Area, PECHS and Burns Road in Karachi.

The governing body elections of the PEC are scheduled to be held on June 14 on all Pakistan basis to elect 46 members including Chairman and Senior Vice Chairman through right of franchise by 180,000 registered voters. 86,127 registered voters are in Punjab, 66,774 in Sindh, 24,751 in Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa and 4,921 in Baluchistan who could cast votes to elect candidates. 

Engr Osmani and Engr Rizvi remarked that the governing body of the PEC has taken the decision to set up one polling station for 1,000 voters and one polling booth for 200 to 250 voters and the location of polling station would be set up in easy approach. 

They regretted that instead the present administration of PEC has set up ten polling stations in Karachi to deprive voters of their right of fanchise. They revealed that the PEC administration has set up three polling stations for 4% voters in District Malir, four polling stations for 10% voters in District South, only one polling station for 47% voters in District Central, just one polling station for 28% voters of District East and one polling station for 5% voters of District West, while not a single polling station was set up in District Korangi. 

They alleged that the administration had intentionally selected polling station sites at far and difficult to reach places. They said that some candidates and voters met with the members of election committee PEC and acquainted the issue but all in vain. They demanded Minister of Science and Technology and Election Committee PEC to set up polling stations at North Nazimabad, Federal B Area, Burns Road according to number of voters. 

Engr Osmani and Engr Rizvi said that the election was being held under the biometric system, which was pleasing on one hand but it may also cause delay as under the procedure one voter would consume 4 to 5 minutes for casting vote. 

They contended that under this condition approximately not more than 120 votes would be cast in ten hours and more than 80% voters would be deprived of their right to vote under the plan of administration of PEC. They said that the governing body elected in 2011 was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2014 but it unilaterally extended period by one year, which was illegal and contravening the rules of the PEC. 

They added that under the constitution of the PEC only those engineers are entitled to cast vote those were registered by June 30 of the election year but the governing body on its own changed the registration date to May 14 and decided to hold election on June 14, instead of June 30. 

They said that on the other hand less polling were set up all over Pakistan and in Lahore alone 5 polling stations are set up for 17,900 voters, two polling station in Multan for 3,100 voters, three polling stations in Peshawar for 5,238 voters, three polling stations in Islamabad for 8,790 voters and just three polling stations for 7,930 voters of Rawalpindi. They felt that the election committee PEC was striving to prevent voters from casting their votes.

Pakistan Railways launch drive against ticketless passengers

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

In a massive drive against ticketless travellers in Karachi Division of the Pakistan Railways apprehended a record 11,205 passengers during the month of May 2015.

The drive was carried out by the Divisional Commercial Officer, Nasir Nazeer, on the directives of the Divisional Superintendent Engr Nisar Memon as a follow-up of instructions from the Federal Railways Minister, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, for rooting out the menace of ticketless traveling which was causing huge losses to the organization. 

Accordingly, the DCO raided various trains and caught 11,205 ticketless passengers and recovered over Rs 10.008 million as fine and fare and deposited the same in the government exchequer. 

It may be mentioned here that during April 2015, in a similar action, the DCO had apprehended 10,985 ticketless passengers and recovered over Rs 8,516 million, 

It may be recalled here that in during an intensive checking carried out in August 2014, DCO Nasir Nazeer had recovered a record over Rs 17.1 million from passengers who were caught traveling without ticket. 

According to the DCO, during May 2015, the trains raided to detect ticketless travelers included Awam Express, Pakistan Express, Allama Iqbal Express, Kara Koram Express and other trains. 

Meanwhile, the Railways authorities have appreciated the performance of the young and energetic Divisional Commercial Officer with the directive that this campaign should continue with still greater intensification to curb the menace of ticketless traveling.

SSUET board meets on June 13

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Board of Governors of the Sir Syed University of Engineering &Technology (SSUET), Karachi, is scheduled to meet on June 13, under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawaid H. Rizvi. 

The board meeting, due to commence at 6 pm, will accord approval to the university’s budget for the fiscal year 2015-16. It will also consider and give approval to the recommendations of the university’s Academic Council which earlier met and gave approval to the recommendations submitted by the Joint Board of Faculties and Board of Advance Studies and Research. 

The recommendations mainly concerned the courses of studies, Semester and admission rules for the purpose of inclusion in the prospectus for the academic year 2016. 

The SSUET Board of Governors comprises of eminent personalities like Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Lt Gen (Rtd) Moinuddin Haider, Prof Dr Ata-ur-Rehman, Justice Sadiq Hussain Bhatti, President KCCI, Secretary Education and others.

Admission at Bakhtawar Cadet College for Girls to start soon

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The admissions to the first-ever Girls Cadet College Sindh would start soon, the decision was taken in the meeting of Board of Directors of Bakhtawar Cadet College for Girls, Nawabshah.

The meeting was presided by the Chief of Air Staff Southern Command and it was attended by the Commissioner, Ghulam Mustafa Phull, the Deputy Commissioner, Tahir Hussain Sangi, education expert, S M Yousuf and officials of the departments of finance and education. 

The Deputy Commissioner informed the meeting that the first Girls Cadet College was being constructed on an area of 100 acres and the admission would soon be starting. He said that the college was best fit for the people of Sindh, adding that the approach road has been constructed to reach the college easily. 

Addressing the meeting, the Deputy Chief of Air Staff Southern Command said that the posting of principal was under process and this college would work under the auspices of the Pakistan Air Force. He expressed the hope that the college would produce outstanding girls cadets.

Protesting doctors seek job regularization

By Rashid Zia Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The lives of more than 40,000 patients suffering from hepatitis was at stake as they were devoid of vaccine under the government sponsored Hepatitis Control Programme. On the other hand the staff including 438 doctors and nursing staff working in the programme was protesting at not being given permanent status yet.

The Hepatitis Control Programme was launched in Sindh for patients suffering from hepatitis B and C for which 82 centers were established in the province with huge staff on temporary basis. 

However the staff was given assurance by Sindh Health Department that they would be regularized in future but the promise was not fulfilled. 

The staff later approached the court of law where the Sindh government, on January 30 this year, assured that the staff would be regularized after completing the data. 

The leaders of Doctors’ Action Committee, Dr Abdul Rahman and Dr Mansoor Qureshi, regretted that the Sindh government did not fulfill it promise of regularizing the staff of Hepatitis Control Programme following which 82 centers of Sindh were shut down through which more than 40,000 patients used to get free vaccination. 

They disclosed that the hepatitis injection was out of stock due to which the lives of the patients were in danger. They warned that the hepatitis can convert in cancer if the vaccination line was discontinued. The doctors revealed that the health department has once again assured the regularization of jobs but they were not in a position to pull back the patient from mouth of death. 

On the other hand sources on the condition of anonymity indicated that the tug of war of corruption in the purchase of vaccine between influential personalities was the main cause of the crisis.

Mirpurkhas Mango Festival concludes

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, observed that the mangos of Mirpurkhas were famous in America and European countries due to different quality and tasty varieties, adding that these mangos not only the identity of Sindh but also of Pakistan.

He was addressing the prize distribution ceremony at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Exhibition Hall, Mirpurkhas, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Mango Festival which.concluded on June 6. The Chief Minister remarked that the Sindh government was endeavoring to introduce the Mirpurkhas mangos worldwide in order to reach foreign markets and increase exports. 

He said that the issue of export of mangos was being taken up with the federal government in order to coordinate with the foreign embassies to boost the export of Mirpurkhas mangos. The Chief Minister went round different stalls of mangos and expressed his delight over the untiring efforts of the growers. 

Senator Hariram Kishori Lal, MNA Mir Munawwar Talpur, Provincial Minister, Ali Mardan Shah, MPAs Mahesh Malani, Khairunissa Mughal, Nusrat Sultana Khawaja, Advisor Abu Bhai, former MPA Shamim Ara Panhwar, Secretary Irrigation, Commissioner Shafique Mahesar, DC Rasheed Ahmed Zardari, DG Agri Extension Hidayatullah Chhajar, DH Agri Research Atta Muhammad Soomro, SSP Usman Ghani Siddiqui, and a large number of growers were present on the occasion.

Later the Chief Minister distributed cash prizes and shields among the winning farmers. The first prize of Rs. 20,000 and shield in the Festival Group A went to Nawazabad Farm, the second position was won by Seth Ajay Kumar with shield and cash Rs.15,000 while Sajid Sons stood at third position and received cash Rs.10,000 with a shield. 

The winners of the Group B were Allah Bachayo Rajar with Arif Bhurgari getting the second prize and Mohammad Ali Arain was declared third. They received cash awards of Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively alongwith their shields. A similar pattern of distribution of cash awards was followed in the Groups in which Raid Illahi Bux Lashari, Sobedar Lashari and Wali Muhammad Deshak finished first, second and third respectively. 

Earlier the Chairman of the Management Committee Mango Festival, Umer Bughio, in his welcome address, talked about the issues being faced by growers. He demanded that Solar System tube wells be provided to growers on at least 80% subsidy in order to eliminate salinity and water logging. He also urged for the construction of Seminar Hall for Horticulture to be completed on priority basis.

CM Sindh chairs party meeting in Mirpurkhas

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, has declared that notice has been taken of the shortage of irrigation water in Mirpurkhas and an inquiry committee headed by Secretary Irrigation has been formed to look into the matter. 

He made the announcement after chairing a party meeting meeting held at the residence of the PPP President Mirpurkhas Division, Pir Syed Aftab Shah Jilani, a senior parliamentarian and a former federal Minister. 

The Chief Minister deliberated on the strategy in the ensuing local government elections scheduled to be held in September in which, as a matter of policy, the party workers will be given a chance. He emphasized that the workers were the party assets and the high-ups realized the sense of their sacrifices at all levels.

The PPP District President, Mir Munawwar Talpur, Tharparkar President, Mahesh Malani, Umerkot President, Syed Ali Mardan Shah, Taluka presidents party office bearers and workers were also present on the occasion.

Advisor desires promotion of traditional sports

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Special Advisor to the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Riaz Ali Shah Khurasani, has reckoned that traditional Sindhi wrestling (kodi kodi) was affiliated with the Sindhi culture and its promotion was the responsibility of all the stakeholders. 

Talking in the event held on the sidelines of the Golden Jubilee Mango Festival in Mirpurkhas, he observed that the participation in such traditional games would encourage players. 

Kodi kodi and Malkhra in-charge Assistant Commissioner of Taluka Ghulam Muhammad Jhaman Das, President Kabbadi Kabbadi Association Saleh Kori, Malik Iqbal, Imam Baloch and sports lovers were present on the occasion. 

He pointed out that Mirpurkhas was the only district in Sindh where majority of varieties of mangos were produced and exported to foreign countries. 

He said that the organization of the Mango Festival was aimed at introducing the varieties of mangos produced by small growers, noting that such exhibitions become a link between mango producers and importers of foreign markets.

Mirpurkhas Commissioner backs sports culture

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Divisional Commissioner of Mirpurkhas, Shafique Ahmed Mahesar, believed that the players who remain on the front of game remain the winners. He said that the society gives good impression with the holding of sports events. 

He was addressing on the occasion of distribution of prizes to prominent position holders in the cycling race organized by district administration in collaboration with Lipton Tea Company.

The Commissioner stated that the district administration was taking concrete steps to promote sports in Mirpurkhas. 

The cycling race commenced from Jamrao and concluded at the Gama Stadium. It was participated by cyclists from Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Khairpur. The first position in cycle race was clinched by Muhammad Sumair of Karachi while Riaz Ahmed of Hyderabad and Sajid Ali of Karachi stood on second and third position on the victory stand. 

SSP Mirpurkhas, Usman Ghani Siddiqui, also took part in cycle race. Secretary RTA Pervez Hassan Qureshi, DO Sports Muhammad Arshad Arain, Wahid Pehlwani, Nasir Baloch, Imam Baloch, Malik Iqbal and Hassan Baloch were also present on the occasion.

SSP Mirpurkhas highlights sporting spirit

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Usman Ghani Siddiqui said that people of Mirpurkhas were ambitious and have interest in sports and for that reason several sports programmes were arranged on the occasion Golden Jubilee Mango Festival. 

He was addressing at the concluding session of shootingball exhibition match organized at the Government Girls High School by the district administration with the support of the Sindh Bank. 

The shootingball match was played between the teams of Niaz Club Hyderabad and Lashari Club Mirpurkhas. The match was won by Niaz Club by 16 points. Secretary RTA Muhammad Hassan Qureshi, DO Sports, Muhammad Arshad Arain, and a large number of sports lovers were present on the occasion.

Mirpurkhas Mango Festival inaugurated

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Senior Education Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, has mentioned that Sindh exports its mangos to 45 countries of the world and earns huge revenue of Rs 39 billion in foreign exchange.

He was addressing at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Exhibition Hall following the inauguration of 50th Golden Jubilee Mango Festival in Mirpurkhas. He said that more than 76 farmers have introduced different varieties of mangos in this festival. 

He stressed on improvement of quality of mangos and its packing in order to maintain export in 45 countries and for that purpose private sector has also play its part side by side with government. 

The Deputy Commissioner, Rasheed Ahmed Zardari, and the Chairman, Mango Festival Management Committee, Umer Bughio, said that the celebration of Golden Jubilee Festival was an honour for the people of Mirpurkhas. 

They said that the mangos of Mirpurkhas have special identity worldwide, recognizing that the role of district administration, Mango Festival Management Committee and the media remained important. 

Later talking to media Nisar Khuhro said that the Mango Festival was not only limited to Mirpurkhas but it highlighted the whole of the Sindh province. He urged the media to project the festival in a positive style to let the product could fetch more foreign markets. 

To a question Nisar Khuhro said that mangos of Mirpurkhas remained in demand all over the world and it was a praiseworthy effort to have organized the Mango exhibition annually for 50 years. He said that the varieties exhibited in last exhibition were 83 in number, which have increased to 183 during the Golden Jubilee occasion. 

He was of the opinion that further research was required for the production of more varieties, praising the Sindh Horticulture Research Institute Mirpurkhas for doing a fine job. 

Replying to another question, Nisar Khuhro said that paucity of irrigation water and farm diseases have caused damages to some extent to mango farms and for that reason the Sindh Government was introducing reforms in agriculture department to protect mangos and other crops from diseases. 

He later visited in detail different stalls of mangos. He also performed the opening of Family Festival at Police ground and visited stalls.

MPA Khairun Nissa Mughal, former MPA Shamim Ara Panhwar, DIG Javed Alam Odho, SSP Usman Ghani Siddiqui, DC Rasheed Ahmed Zardari, AC-2 Nisar Ahmed Memon, Chairman Festival Committee Umer Bughio, Director Horticulture Ashraf Soomro, Director Primary Education Jalil Lashari and others were also present on the occasion.

Media Forum Mirpurkhas comes into being

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Senior Education Minister, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, remarked that the media played a key role in bringing the voice of common man in assemblies, adding that media reporting should be done in impartial and objective manner in order to retain its confidence.

He was addressing at the inauguration ceremony of the Media Forum Mirpurkhas. He advised that the media professionals should avoid rumours and unconfirmed reporting, which in turn damaged the image of journalism. 

The Minister acknowledged that the media was playing its due role for the development of society collaborating with common man and government which has been helpful in bringing prosperity to province besides lowering the crime rate. 

DC Rasheed Ahmed Zardari, MPA Khairun Nisa Mughal, SSP Usman Ghani Siddiqui, Furqan Mushtaque of Media Forum, Shahzad Khan, Yusuf Malik, Atif Baloch and others were also present on the occasion.

Wheelchair cricket match organized in Mirpurkhas

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A wheelchair cricket match between Gulistan Disables and Mirpurkhas Special Sports Association was organized at the Colony Ground, Mirpurkhas, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Mango Festival in collaboration with Meezan Bank and District administration. 

Gulistan Disables won the match by 17 runs. Sadiq Mohammad, a former Test cricketer, was the guest of honour in the presentation ceremony.

AC Digri Asghar Joya, DO Sports Arshad Arain, Deputy Director Anti Corruption Mir Nadir Ali Abro, Iqbal Malik, Nasir Baloch, Imam Baloch and Malik Qamaruddin also witnessed the exhibition match besides a large number of cricket lovers.

Suzuki Bolan gifted to Gulistan Disables

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Wazir Ali Khoja, Director, Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited, gifted a Bolan vehicle to the Mirpurkhas-based Gulistan Disables, a welfare organization engaged to service to humanity.

In a brief speech on the occasion, he observed that the vehicle would be helpful to end sense of deprivation from the disable children and they would feel easy to reach this institution from their homes and highlight their capabilities. 

He vowed that government should implement on service of 2% quota for disable persons. He appealed philanthropists to extend financial help and media to highlight the working of this organization. 

The Patron of Gulistan Disables, Qamaruddin Malik, threw light on the working the institution and said that they were gifted Bolan by Pak Suzuki after their untiring struggle to establish this institution for 12 long years. 

The Pak Suzuki Regional Head, Mumtaz Shaikh, Irfan Tariq, Inam Abbasi, and Deputy Director Anti Corruption, Mir Nadir Ali Abdro, also attended the ceremony, alongwith elite of the town.

Mirpurkhas Mango Festival set for inauguration

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The 50th Golden Jubilee Mango Festival set to be organized in a style that would attract national and international markets for the export of mangos of Mirpurkhas.

These views were expressed by the Commissioner, Shafique Ahmed Mahesar, while presiding over a meeting of Mango Festival Management Committee for taking final account of arrangements. The festival will be held from June 4 to 6. 

He said that it’s an honour for Mirpurkhas to be the centre of producing mango, the king of fruits, which has huge demand locally and internally. 

He advised the the Mango Festival Committee members to work with dedication to make the three-day event successful. 

Later final touches were given to the festival programme arrangements. The meeting was also attended by DC Rasheed Ahmed Zardari, ADC-1 Muhammad Usman Mahsood, AC Revenue Muhammad Asim, Chairman Management Committee Umer Bughio, Deputy Director Agriculture Yar Muhammad Khaskheli, Horticulturist Shafiqur Rehman Memon, member Karim Memon, DO Social Welfare Khair Muhammad Dahri, DO Sports Muhammad Arshad Arain and others.

Motorcycles distributed to vaccinators in Mirpurkhas

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The government of Sindh is spending a substantial part of its budget on the betterment of health sector but there are little or no signs of improvement in this particular sector.

This was stated by MPA Khairunissa Mughal while addressing on the occasion of distribution of motorcycles to vaccinators at DHO Office in cooperation with the USAID in Mirpurkhas. 

She regretted that the percentage of protective vaccination in urban areas was 29% while in rural areas it was 14%, which should have been 100%. 

She said that government was taking practical steps to bring improvement in the sectors of education and health. She advised the vaccinators to discharge their duty with the sense of responsibility. She directed the officials of health department to keep an eye on the working of vaccinators and suspended them if found negligent in duty. 

Addressing the occasion Depauty Commissioner, Rasheed Ahmed Zardari, said that District Health Department was giving special attention on the betterment of health department. 

The USAID Programme Manager for Mother and Child Health, Dr Duleep Kumar, said that 550 motorcycles are distributed among vaccinators of 15 districts of Sindh by USAID in order to complete the vaccination task by 100%. District Health Officer Dr Ghulam Ghous Khan, doctors and vaccinators were present on the occasion.