Author: Arshad Yousafzai

Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET) organized the 2nd ceremony of Best Teachers Award ceremony in which around 45 teachers were given the Best Teacher Award in recognition of their outstanding performance. The ceremony was attended by the Dean, FoE&CE, Prof Dr Muhammad Aamir, Chairmen, Directors, HODs, faculty members and others.

Speaking on the auspicious occasion, Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, Jawaid Anwar, said that Teaching is an important and noble profession. Teacher is a pillar of the society who prepares a brigade of qualified and civilized individuals who may significantly contribute to the society. Teacher has a huge impact on Students and help them engage in lifelong learning. SSUET is fully dedicated for its commitment towards education and character building of students. We strive to create a difference in the society with unique style of education and vocational trainings. Our goal is to give tribute and reward to outstanding educators for eminence and effectiveness of their teaching, their specialized leadership, their engagement with the community, and their potential for even greater hand-outs to the healthy development aspects of educational programs.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Vali Uddin said that the purpose of the award to teachers is to recognize contribution of the teachers with extra ordinary skills, who through their commitment improved the quality of education and enriched the lives of their students. We appreciate and acknowledge educators to reward them for their overall performance and achievement. SSUET made unique criteria based on KPI (Key Performance Indicator) to consider the faculty members for the award. We try to facilitate faculty to adopt modern teaching skills and encourage them to promote research culture at the campus.

Earlier presenting welcome speech to the ceremony audiance, Registrar SSUET Syed Sarfraz Ali said that the purpose of the Teachers Award was to recognize and reward the significant contribution by the teachers to enhance the quality of learning and teaching in the university.

Related: SSUET observes Quaid Day

The 24th Conference of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS), has urged the OIC member states to invest at least One Percent of their GDP in research in science, technology and innovation (STI) for socio-economic development.

The expert-participants have called on OIC member states for the inclusion of enquiry-based education to enhance creativity, curiosity and problem solving for building-capacity in STI and enriching human resources.

They were speaking in the concluding session of the 24th Conference of the IAS on “Challenges to Promote Science & Technology for Socio-Economic Development in OIC Countries” held at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK) on Wednesday.

Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the ICCBS, and COMSTECH Coordinator-General, and IAS President Prof Adnan Badran (Jordan), addressed the concluding session.

The conference was organized in collaboration with the Islamic World Academy of Sciences, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), and ICCBS, University of Karachi. Eminent scientists from various countries, especially from the Islamic World, including Jordan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran, Palestine, Bangladesh, Morocco, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Germany, USA, Singapore and Australia attended the conference.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Iqbal Choudhary pointed out that there was a dire need to bridge the gap between the academia and industry in the OIC member states for joint R&D leading to socio-economic development.

Countries in the Muslim World are required to create technology parks and incubators to commercialize the delivery of research and innovations into start-up SMEs and enhance diversification of new materials and quality control, he said.

Prof Iqbal Choudhary said, “Science is like a ‘one language’ which unites the whole humanity”. Through science and technology nations can bridge the gap, and engage themselves in a productive and useful dialogue for common human values, he said.

He also informed the participants about various programs and initiatives of COMSTECH, which included the largest research fellowships program in the OIC region.

Prof Adnan Badran urged the OIC member states to create a consortium for a sustainable triangle of energy-water-food security linked to IAS platform to network reputable research centers in OIC countries for self-reliance and meeting the SDGs, and called on COMSTECH to increase their mobility grants to scientists from LDCs to centers of excellence for training and research in combating poverty and hunger.

The IAS president also urged the OIC member states to align cooperation and collaboration with private sector on achieving a sustainable triangle of food security, for future generations.

Academia and research centers of OIC member states should encourage interdisciplinary research to deal with “common” problems of the Islamic world, including fields of humanity and social sciences as climate change, the triangle for sustainability, population, poverty, Medicare etc., he said.

Related: Our mission is to promote ‘Made in OIC’ and ‘Made in Pakistan

The Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Chair (SMBBC) established at the University of Karachi (UoK) arranged a seminar on International Women’s Day 2023 entitled “Women’s Empowerment: Vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benzair Bhutto”, at the Karachi University Business School Auditorium on Wednesday.

The former chief minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah was the chief guest on this occasion while the former provincial minister Senator Sassui Palijo and the advisor to the CM Sindh Sharmila Faruqui were the guest speakers.

The ex-CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah observed that women are equal to men, and they should be aware of their rights. He urged that women must make full use of the legislation regarding women’s rights.

He said that nowadays women can be seen in almost every field including education and health sectors and the trend that shows that women are now more interested in getting a higher education is a very good sign.

He further said that despite the current economic situation of Pakistan, people are forced to get expensive electricity, and the past and present federal governments are not utilizing coal discover in Thar, which could be used to produce a cheap power supply.

“If a proper investment is made, enough electricity can be generated from coal and oil present in Sindh, and after fulfilling the needs, the government can export them to other countries.”

Syed Qaim Ali Shah mentioned that Benazir Bhutto faced countless problems and difficulties but did not leave behind her belief in democracy. He advised that young scholars should do research on the personality of the first prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto and expressed that he hopes that KU SMBBC will promote research on the personality and political life of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister of Labor and Manpower Saeed Ghani said that Benazir Bhutto was not only the pride of Pakistan but also the pride of the Muslim world. She was the first woman prime minister of the Muslim world.

He shared that Benazir Bhutto faced hardships while she was struggling for the restoration of democracy in the country and fatwas were also issued against her but she did not step back and kept fighting for the restoration of democracy for 25 long years.

Saeed Ghani said that Benazir Bhutto was the vocal voice in a male-dominated society, and added that she launched different programs for Pakistani females. “BB also started a lady health workers program to create health awareness among women. To empower women on women’s issues, First Women Bank was created which is a quality institution that is playing important role in financial support and empowerment of women.”

On this occasion, the KU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that women should not be confined to homes but should play their role in the development of society. He advised that to empower women, they should be given access to technology along with education. “A man’s education is only an individual’s education, but educating a woman is actually equal to educating the whole family.”

Dr Khalid Iraqi said that an educated and knowledgeable woman can raise her children well and can play an important role in the development of the country. He acknowledged that women are now playing a significant role in various fields along with fulfilling their traditional responsibilities.

He mentioned that the development of any country depends on its manpower and when it comes to manpower, it should be taken into account that almost half of the country’s population consists of women. Benazir Bhutto is a role model for Pakistani women. Her entire life is a role model not only for the people of Pakistan but also for the whole world. There are many leaders who become a part of history while there are some leaders who make history and Benazir Bhutto is counted among those personalities who made history.

The KU VC mentioned that the University of Karachi also has a Church and a Mandir as it respects all religions and provides space for minorities to freely worship and practice their religion.

Another speaker, Senator Sassui Palijo said that Benazir Bhutto was a great visionary leader and an inspiring torchbearer for women not only in Pakistan but also around the world. She mentioned that Benazir Bhutto continued to fight for women’s rights until her last breath. Senator Sassui Palijo shared that Benazir Bhutto took practical steps along with legislation for women’s rights, and set examples for others to follow.

Sharmila Faruqui said that Benazir Bhutto fought against every negative-thinking person who wanted to push women back. She lauded the work done by our mothers, sisters, and daughters for the construction and development of Pakistan since the Pakistan Movement.

She believes that if men and women do not walk together in society, then it cannot be developed and there will be anxiety and unrest in society. We have to stand firm and raise our voices for our rights. Benazir Bhutto thought that we should take women forward. We have to carry forward her thoughts.

Earlier, the Director UoK SMBBC Muhammad Ibrahim Shaikh while presenting the welcome speech share details about the activities of the Chair named after Benazir Bhutto.

Related: Panel discussion at UoK demands end to gender discrimination

A panel discussion was organized by teachers under the banner “Tu apnay aanchal say aik parcham bana layti to accha tha” at the History Department of Karachi University (UoK) with respect to women’s day to end the gender discrimination.

 The title of the program was Aurat, Masail aur Huqooq. The panel consisted of Sheema Kirmani, Dr Hina Khan In-Charge History Department, Dr Erum Muzzafar In-Charge Pakistan Study Centre, Dr Sadaf Ahmed Director, Centre of Health and Wellbeing, and Dr Zakia Rani from the Urdu Department. The discussion centred around the problems women face in Pakistani society based on their gender.

At the beginning of the program Sheema Kirmani spoke about the different aspects in which women are repressed by a patriarchal society. She emphasized on the intersectional understanding of this repression. A daily wage worker, a domestic help, a forcibly converted Hindu girl, for instance, are more repressed in Pakistani patriarchal society. She argued that a gendered analysis of class, religion and other differences provides a nuanced understanding of women’s problems.

Dr Hina Khan spoke on the importance of women’s resistance movements in Pakistan’s history. She emphasized how women who participated in the struggle for independence had to demand equal social and political space from their male fellows/counterparts after partition. She also spoke on the hardships women had to face in Zia’s dictatorship, and how women’s resistance in the form of Women Action Forum (WAF) arose as a force against this repression.

Speaking on the relationship of environment and women issues, Dr Erum Muzzafar drew a parallel between the capitalist exploitation of land and the capitalist exploitation of women. She argued that the capitalist system has on the one hand commodified the land. In the name of development land is exploited and is being continuously robbed of its natural habitat. Likewise, a woman is also made a commodity, her own nature has been repressed for the benefit of the system.

Dr Sadaf Ahmed spoke on the challenges of basic health women face in our society. From maternity care to postpartum depression her struggles are enormous and oftentimes unnoticed. Due to diverse health issues women are under constant neurophysiological stress, hence they are unable to live a healthy life. A better society must understand these challenges and work towards the physically and mentally healthy individual.

Dr Zakia Rani emphasized on the role of women writers in Urdu literature. She stressed that though women have been depicted by male writers, and in a positive way, but male writers lack the complexity which female voice has. A female voice comes from a privileged perspective of women’s lived experiences.

She also said that there had been double standards for women and men in Urdu literature. What was permissible for a male writer was considered abominable for a woman writer. Women writers had to go through a long struggle against these forces. Some of the writers who broke these walls were Quratulain Haider, Ismat Chughtai, Ada Jaffery, Kishwar Naheed, Fahima Riaz among others. Tanveer Anjum and Dr Uzma Farman also spoke on the struggles of women writers and poets in Urdu literature.

Related: UoK, Russian delegation discuss cooperation, bilateral program

On the occasion of World’s Women Day the Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Pakistan organised a Women’s Day Carnival at Bilawal stadium, Hamdard Public School, where different fun filled activities were organized for the women staff members of Hamdard group including cricket matches, badminton, balloon shooting, arm wrestling, tug of war, carrom, camel riding, dart game and volleyball matches.

The President of Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, Ms Sadia Rashid graced the event as Chief Guest along with Dr Ahsana Dar – Dean Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University while Prof Malahat Kaleem Sherwani Director Bait al-Hikmah, faculty members Prof Dr Shamim Akhter dean faculty of Pharmacy, M. S. Kausar coordinator to Vice-Chancellor HU and other staff members were also present on the occasion.

While praising the performance of women athletes, Ms Sadia Rashid remarked that in Islam, women are endowed with all the fundamental rights that are not granted to them in any other society. She further stated that the women in our community possess a wide range of talents and capabilities and can achieve great feats provided they are given positive opportunities.

In the Hamdard Premier League Women’s Day Special, Cricket teams of Hamdard Public School, Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Pakistan, Hamdard University staff and Hamdard University students played friendly matches with each other. Where Hamdard University students won the tournament and Hamdard Public School stood runner up.

President Hamdard Foundation Pakistan Ms. Sadia Rashid distributed the trophies amongst the players.

Related: Hamdard University awards 1212 degrees in its 25th Convocation

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Pakistan Biological Safety Association (PBSA) and the University of Gwadar on 6th March 2023 at the University of Gwadar to promote academic and scientific and biological research between the two institutions.

Dolat Khan, Registrar University of Gwadar, and Prof Dr Saeed Khan, President PBSA signed the agreement during his visit to Gwadar University.

According to the document, both parties agreed to jointly conduct biosafety and biosecurity training workshops. The PBSA will facilitate and provide opportunities for the University of Gwadar’s faculty members for participating in activities regarding  the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) certification exam.

PSO to Vice Chancellor Gwadar University Rahmatullah, Assistant Registrar, Abdul Majid, and administrators were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, a three days workshop on “Biosafety and Biosecurity Practices: Emphasis on Personal Safety of a Lab Biologist” organized by the Pakistan Biological Safety Association in collaboration with the University of Gwadar has been launched on 5th March 2023. President PBSA Prof Dr Saeed Khan leads the workshop on biological Safety and good practices.

Related: Gwadar University approved retirement plans & health allowances

A delegation of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) led by its Vice-Chancellor (VC), Dr Nasir Mehmood called on Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), Muhammad Dital Khalhoro at his office on Friday and discussed rural development, women empowerment and skill trainings.

The CEO told about establishment, objectives, governance structure and the projects of SRSO. He said SRSO’s main approach was social mobilisation of the poor in order to get them directly involved in decisions which affect their lives and prospects.

Talking about SRSO’s Institute Of Management And Skill Development (IMSD), he said it takes on the results works towards poverty alleviation and pursues this objective by providing capacity development opportunities through formal training, on-job technical training, and experience sharing seminars workshops and conferences, both for the community members as well as the staff, while following full training cycle management protocols according to needs.

Vice-Chancellor, Dr Nasir Mehmood appreciated efforts of SRSO in poverty reduction and transformation of lives of rural communities, especially women. The CEO Mr Kalhoro also appreciated the contribution of the AIOU in promotion of education and reaching out to marginalised communities.

Later, the delegation also visited Sartyoon Sang Crafts outlet where they were decorated by traditional Ajraks.

Related: AIOU Center of Excellence for Early Childhood Development

Dr Mujeeb Sahrai, Vice-Chancellor Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) and Dr Jan Muhammad, Vice-Chancellor University of Turbat (UoT) signed an MoU on Friday at SMIU.

Both the vice-chancellors agreed to work together in the areas of training of faculty and students, research, organizing joint conferences, seminars, and workshops and working on the exchange program.  It was also decided that a consortium of SMIU and universities of the Makran region as Turbat University, its Panjgur Campus, Gwadar University and Makran university would be formed. Similarly, both the vice-chancellors decided that the Education Department of SMIU will arrange capacity-building training programs for female teachers of ten affiliated colleges of Turbat university.

Dr Mujeeb Sahrai suggested that a four-member joint committee comprising directors of ORIC and senior faculty members of both the universities might be formed to identify the areas of joint working in the fields of mutual interest. In this regard Dr Mujeeb Sahrai nominated Dr Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, Dean Faculty of Information Technology and Dr Aamir Iqbal Umrani, Director ORIC, of SMIU, for the committee. Dr Mujeeb said we should work together in the field that are need of the day and would be tangible.

Dr Jan Muhammad said Sindh Madressatul Islam University being an Alma-Mater of founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah is very important for them. That is why, they want to collaborate with this historic institute in areas of research and training.

He said Makran is a big region of Balochistan province, and interestingly there is no traditional tribal system in the said region, that is why a large number of female students are studying in Turbat University. He said there is a highest number of female students specially in the Department of Sociology and Education. “Out of 4000 students of the university about 1800 are female students,” Dr Jan Muhammad said. He said some female students are residing in hostels and some are coming from their remote villages in buses daily.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Deans of SMIU Dr Jamshed Adil Halepoto,  Dr Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, Dr Zahid Ali Channar, Advisor on Academics Dr Abdul Hafeez Khan, Director ORIC Dr Aamir Iqbal Umrani, Registrar Ghulam Mustafa Shaikh and Additional Director Planning & Development Ms Uzma Batool.

Related: Minister for Universities & Boards chairs 6th SMIU Senate Meeting

A farewell ceremony was held on the occasion of the retirement of Prof Ghulam Sarwar Qureshi, who was the principal of Sindh Medical College of Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) for 9 years.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Amjad Siraj Memon graced the occasion with his presence. Registrar Dr Azam Khan, head of most of the departments, including a large number of SMC staff and students also participated.

On this occasion, Vice-Chancellor Prof Amjad Siraj Memon appreciated the services rendered by Prof Dr Ghulam Sarwar Qureshi for this institution. He said that he was an Excellent Teacher as well as an Excellent Mentor. He has always played a vital role in the welfare and prosperity of the university and for the betterment of student’s education. His educational services will never be forgotten. Today a government employee is definitely retiring, but a teacher never retires, a teacher is always remembered in his pupil’s hearts.

“It is an occasion of great joy for a teacher to receive a farewell ceremony in his honor and good bye in a dignified manner, appreciating his services”, he added.

Registrar Dr Azam Khan, while appreciating the academic services of Prof Ghulam Sarwar Qureshi, expressed his best wishes for the future journey of his life.

Prof Dr Syeda Kausar Ali, Prof Dr Haleema Yasmin, Prof Dr Perwaiz Ahmad Makhdoom, Associate Prof Dr Nighat Ali Shah, Associate Prof Dr Surriya Sarwat, Associate Prof Dr Tafazzul Haider Zaidi, Dr Anam, Dr Amber, Qazi Shabbir and others also expressed their views and mentioned the good time spent with Professor Ghulam Sarwar Qureshi.

Afterwards, Prof Ghulam Sarwar Qureshi thanked the Student Council for organizing the farewell ceremony and said that he has had a long and deep relationship with SMC. He has many memories associated with this college, including the university. He got immense love and respect from this university.

At the end of the ceremony, Prof. Ghulam Sarwar Qureshi’s birthday cake was also cut and Ajrak and shields were presented to him.

Related: JSMU welcomes new batches of MBBS and BDS

Ziauddin University (ZU) and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (ICCIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to launch the Green Waqf Initiative, a project of the ICCIA.

The project aims to provide a practical Islamic solution to tackle climate change, preserve biodiversity, and combat poverty by reviving the historical concept of the waqf. The MoU was signed by H E Yousef Hasan Khalawi, the Secretary General of the ICCIA, and the Vice-Chancellor of ZU Prof Dr Syed Irfan Hyder on behalf of their respective organizations.

The Green Waqf Initiative is a unique initiative that seeks to revive a historically proven model that caters to cultural and religious sensitivities and seeks to promote practical solutions not just within the 57 Muslim-majority countries of the OIC but beyond.

As part of the MoU, ZU’s Faculty of Law, Politics & Governance Centre for Human Rights will lead research around waqf legislation in Pakistan, working in collaboration with the ICCIA to assist the launch of the first pilot project. The initial phase of the project will focus on Pakistan’s legal landscape around the waqf, but it is projected to expand to other jurisdictions, including Mauritania, Morocco, and other OIC member states.

Syed Muaz Shah, the lead researcher at the Centre for Human Rights, will coordinate with Saad Pasha from the ICCIA to oversee the study, with students expected to contribute to the research.

In addition to the Green Waqf Initiative, ICCIA and ZU have also agreed in principle to expand further linkages and collaborations to engage students and faculty.

While talking at occasion of signing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Syed Irfan Hyder, Vice-Chancellor of Ziauddin University, said, “We are honored to partner with the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture to launch the Green Waqf Initiative, which seeks to provide a practical solution to tackle climate change and promote sustainability. We look forward to working together to develop innovative ideas that can make a real impact on the world.”

H.E. Yousef Hasan Khalawi, Secretary General of the ICCIA, said, “We are delighted to partner with Ziauddin University on this important initiative. The Green Waqf Initiative aligns with our vision to promote sustainable development, and we are confident that this partnership will contribute to advancing our common goals.”

H.E. Mr Khalawi recognized the preliminary research done by two students, Alishba Fazal and Areeba Qureshi, under the supervision of Mr. Shah at the Faculty of Law, Politics & Governance on waqf and carbon credits. He subsequently invited them to the Al-Baraka Symposium 43, “The Sustainability Authenticity in Islamic Economy” happening this month in Madinah, Saudi Arabia and to also perform Umrah on a fully sponsored trip.

He expressed that “Young people like these two young women have to carry on the spirit of research and innovation for the next generation and that is what this Green Waqf Initiative and the various activities at ICCIA is all about – true sustainability for future generations to come.”

Related: ZU presents interactive dialogue on Power of Gender Diversity