Jumbo Karachi Guide is need of the hour: Numan Nabi Ahmed

Pakistan News & Features Services

One of the top professionals of the advertising and marketing industry, Numan Nabi Ahmed, has declared Jumbo Karachi Guide, an iconic annual publication, as the need of the hour. 

"Jumbo Karachi Guide is the need of the hour as it provides an insight into the positive features of the city while also portraying its true potential to the world specially the businesses looking for avenues to grow," Numan Nabi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Brands Partnership, wrote in the Words of Encouragement section of the fourth edition of Jumbo Karachi Guide. 

"Karachi happens to be one of the most human-friendly and compassionate cities of the world. It’s one place which has absorbed people from every nook and corner of the country. It has provided unlimited opportunity of growth to every segment of the society and continues to do so," he observed 

"Karachi has been in the forefront in philanthropy. I will not be exaggerating if I said that hardly anyone sleeps hungry in this city. Let’s recall the devastating earthquake in the northern areas of Pakistan in 2005. The Karachiites from all classes had responded in the most generous and passionate manner. Seldom would have one witnessed this much of care for the humanity. It was widely recognized by the World," Numan Nabi reckoned.

Radio professional remembered

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Tributes were paid to Syed Sibt-e-Asghar Bilgrami, a renowned radio professional and retired Deputy Controller of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), who passed away recently 

His colleagues recalled the memories of late Bilgrami at a condolence meeting held at the Old Broadcasting House of Radio Pakistan at M A Jinnah Road, Karachi. 

The 71-year old Bilgrami had passed away after a protracted illness leaving behind a widow a son and a daughter to mourn his death. 

The meeting participants offered fateha and prayed to Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.

SSUET student gets USAID Fulbright Scholarship

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Syed Mustafa Jamal, a student of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has been awarded the prestigious Fulbright scholarship. 

The SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, has appreciated Mustafa Jamal for this great achievement and wished him greater success in his future career.. 

With BS degree in Biomedical Engineering from Sir Syed University, Mustafa Jamal was selected from among 1700 candidates for the scholarship and is set to leave for US for higher education, according to a statement issued recently. 

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Fulbright scholarship covers tuition, required textbooks, air fare and health insurance.

SSUET plans to launch new courses

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology has chalked out plans to introduce new courses. "In order to meet the present day demands, the university will introduce new courses and technologies including BBA, MBA and Management courses for engineers,” the SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, announced during a recent meeting. 

He said that the university, as per its charter, had the authority to launch new courses and technologies. The SSUET was the first in Pakistan to introduce the discipline of Bio-medical Engineering while four new technologies in Software Engineering, Bioinformatics, Architecture and Electrical Engineering were added to existing courses in Computer, Civil, Telecommunication, Bio-Medical Electronics engineering besides Computer Science. 

He pointed out that a large number of graduates were benefitting from short certificate courses like Project Management Professionals, Web Engineering, PHP MySQL, Graphic Designing and Web Designing already being run by Continuing Education Programme of the Sir Syed University. 

Speaking about admission policy, Chancellor Jawaid Anwar said that the admission process was passing through the last phase. The merit list was issued as per schedule and the admissions were successfully done on pure merit through a transparent procedure. 

He added that the admission process will be completed as per schedule on January 8, 2016, after which new the academic session will get underway. 

The Chancellor recalled that January 8 was a day of great significance in the history of South Asia as it was on this day that Mohammadan Anglo Oriental (MAO) College was founded in Aligarh by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan that set the direction of Muslims of subcontinent towards scientific education. 

"Being the true followers of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan's ideology, we established SSUET and Aligarh Institute of Technology to carry forward the mission of great educationist and reformer to promote modern education,” Chancellor Jawaid Anwar stated.

Police to provide foolproof security to polio workers

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Inspector General Police, Sindh, Ghulam Hyder Jamali, has issued directives for providing due security to polio drops administering teams during the anti-polio drive starting from December 9 to 17.

He directed that East, West and South Zones be divided into sectors and sub-sectors with extra ordinary security measures to be provided under the supervision of concerned SSPs for polio teams. 

He instructed that deployment of police commandos with polio teams be ensured in categorized sensitive Union Councils/Areas.

A report compiled by the police said that overall 4325 police commandos/personnel drawn from will perform security cover to the SSU, Rapid Response Force, Sindh Reserve Police, Counter Terrorism Department, Sindh Crime Branch, Anti-Encroachment Cell, Shaheed Benazirabad Elite PoliceTraining School Razaqabad, and Police Training College Saeedabad/RTC Hyderabad, Jam Nawaz and PTC Shahdadpur besides existing force from Zones, Districts and Police Stations. 

This has been done to provide foolproof security to health workers, doctors and other staff as part of polio teams, particularly in areas of sensitive union councils. These teams will administer polio drops in various parts of union councils of Karachi in coordination with stake holders.

The IGP directed that during this period, there should be effective mobile movement of police on motor cycles besides snap and random checking at different points with strict vigil at entry and exit points along with intelligence.

Police intensifies action against crime

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

According to a report submitted to the Inspector General Police, Sindh, Ghulam Hyder Jamali, as many as 1357 terrorists/criminals were killed in police action during 823 days of Karachi Operation. 

The report added 73,072 culprits were arrested during this period since September 5, 2013. It also said that during this period police had 4,143 encounters with the criminals/terrorists and busted 2117 organized gangs. 

During the period under review, police claimed to have recovered 1437 kilograms of explosive material, 31 suicide jackets, 15 IEDs, 1808 bombs/hand grenades, 20 LMGs, 438 SMGs/KK, 289 shotguns/repeaters, 348 rifles and 16910 pistols/revolvers/mouzers.

PLISJ completes 47 years of publication

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan Library and Information Science Journal (PLISJ), being published by the Karachi-based Library Promotion Bureau (LPB), has completed 47 years of publication with its fourth and final quarterly issue (October-December) of 2015 which has seen the light of the day recently.

The bureau, which was set up by Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari in 1966, has remained successful in having brought out 188 issues of the journal in as many quarters since its launch in 1968. 

Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, who is also the Chief Editor of the PLISJ, has continued working with the missionary zeal for nearly half a century now to ensure the timely publication of the quarterly journal, which is highly revered in the library and information science circles. 

Besides looking after its management and taking care of its financial needs, the former Chairman of the University of Karachi’s Library and Information Science department has been devoting his energies in contributing for the journal and editing the contents very professionally. 

The latest issue of the PLISJ contains contributions from eminent personalities like Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, Prof Owais Jaffery, Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, Dr Nasreen Shagufta, Dr Mohammad Shahid Soraya and Dr Shamshad Ahmad.

SANA condemns killing in San Bernardino

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the killing of innocent people in San Bernardino, California, and demanded of the Government of the United States for gun control laws to abstain such type of incidents causing loss of precious lives.

The SANA’s Central President, Jamil Daudi, General Secretary, Noorunissa Ghanghro, and other members of Executive Council also condemned the massacre. 

The SANA Executive Council, in a statement, said that every other day mass shooting incidents in the United States were causing distress, unrest and terror among the citizens, and now time is up to come up with some concrete measures to control these incidents and save precious human lives.  

The SANA leaders, expressing deep sorrow and sympathy with the families of victims, said that although the killer couple seemed to be Muslims but relating the incident with religion will be unjustified. 

“The SANA and Sindhi community of North America, affirms at large to work for peace and harmony at all level to extend a safe and secure atmosphere to our young generations, and demands from the Government of United States for measures to prevent such mass killings at the hands of cruel people” the statement concluded.

Ombudsman rescues medical student

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The intervention by the Provincial Ombudsman Asad Ashraf Malik, helped a female student to get back about half a million rupees which she had deposited in a public sector medical university as admission fee.

The student, Asra Zafar had deposited Rs 441,600 in a public sector university as admission fee but later she changed her mind and got admission in another university and sought the refund of the deposited a mount which, however, was declined by the university. 

She approached the Provincial Ombudsman with whose efforts, the university paid back the deposited amount and handed a cheque for Rs 441,600 to Ombudsman. 

The Ombudsman Asad Ashraf Malik handed the cheque to the complainant student in his office.

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s accomplishments highlighted

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) and Chancellor Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology Jawaid Anwar has called for imbibing the thinking and philosophy of great visionary reformer and educationist, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, to face the present day challenges ever changing world.

He gave the call while addressing a seminar held at SSUET to highlight the educational reforms and services of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. 

On the occasion reputed writers and intellectuals spoke high on the life, services and achievements of Sir Syed. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the Chancellor said, not only gave the concept of Islamic environment but also laid great emphasis on the need and importance for attainment of western knowledge without disjointing from our religion and Islamic identity. 

For this purpose, he pointed out, that the great reformer had established an institution for raising the educational and thinking capabilities of the Muslims of South Asia besides going all out for character building. 

“Today’s new world order, new eras and new demands are once again hinting at adopting the leadership Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, President AMUOBA stated adding that “today we need more than ever before to follow his ideology and philosophy”. 

He was of the view that today we are countering a situation of chaos and confusion which is a mental disorder, treatment of which has to be discovered by ourselves. 

“It is right time and need of the hour to practically follow the foot prints of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan for we are not his successors but custodians of his legacy”. 

He recalled the most significant services rendered by Sir Syed for greater Islamic renaissance and philosophy and said it was because the same could have a review of our eastern norms. 

Earlier in his welcome speech Khawaja Razi Hyder said the achievements of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a man of great far-sightedness and sagaciousness, are regarded as important milestones of our history.  

Prof Anwar Ahmed Zai, a noted writer and educationist, said that the dreams are not the ones which are seen while asleep but these are the dreams which do not allow us to sleep. 

He said that Sir Syed Ahmed Khan guided the youth of that era towards learning English which was a great example of his wisdom, intellectual brilliance and farsightedness.

Police academy trainees call on IGP Sindh

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A 30-member group of under-training ASPs from the National Police Academy called on the Inspector General Police, Ghulam Hyder Jamali and senior police officers at the Central Police Office and it was briefed about the performance of the Sindh Police by the DIG Headquarter, Abdul Aleem. DIGs Ghulam Sarwar Jamali, Dr Amin Yusufzai, Iqbal Dara and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

The IGP gave his introductory address encompassing police security and law and order measures taken and said that there has been a significant decline in various types of crimes in the province, particularly in Karachi as a result of timely decisions and the best possible strategy. He said a targeted operation is continuing to maintain the outcome of police actions. 

Briefing the visitors, the DIG Headquarters, while explaining the actions taken under National Action Plan, informed that during 10,648 raids and 2091 search operations, 427 criminals were arrested and 384 killed. 

Under the loudspeaker Act, 1564 cases were registered along with 876 arrests while 718 cases registered and 198 arrests made on charge of distribution of inflammatory material and wall chalking. 

He informed that under the national action plan, the weapons recovered from culprits included 18 LMGs, 10 G3 rifles, 341 SMGs/KKs, 7847 pistols/revolvers/mousers, 291 rifles, 866 repeaters/shotguns 6 MP5 besides 526 Kg explosives, 29 suicide jackets, 6 IEDs, 615 hand grenades/bombs. 

The visitors were also informed about the various measures taken in relation to increasing the capacity increase of the police force by the DIG who said that steps for upgrading the Sindh Police’s Forensic Division and DNA Laboratory were being executed. 

Later the group members were taken round the Central Command and Control Center at CPO and had a detail review of the city’s security monitoring systems.

SSUET final semester exams from Dec 8

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi,  has announced the schedule whereby the final semester examination is set to start from December 8.

“The teaching has been completed and the students given one week examination preparation time,” Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawaid H Rizvi, disclosed. 

As per schedule the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th semester exams will be held in two shifts, morning and afternoon. 

The Vice-Chancellor added that the new academic year will start from mid-January 2016 while the customary Orientation Day will be held on January 12. 

Meanwhile, the admission process for new academic year 2016 is in progress while the merit list for batch 2016 has already been issued and displayed. The successful candidates have started depositing fee while the university has announced December 8 as last date for the purpose. 

It may be mentioned here that the university is imparting teaching in 10 engineering and non-engineering disciplines which include Computer, Electronics, Electrical, Civil, Telecommunication, Software and Bio-Medical Engineering besides Computer Science, Bio-Informatics and Architecture