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NEWS

SSUET organized Teachers’ Award Ceremony

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

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FEATURES

The role of women’s education in combating gender-based violence

Introduction

March 8th is celebrated as “International Women’s Day” across the Globe to commemorate the memory of the female textile workers of New York who marched on the streets of New York to demand equal wages and better working conditions on March 8th, 1857. It was the first strike of its kind organized by the women of the working class. Since then, women have been marching for their rights every year to demand equal rights and dignity. In Pakistan, the role of women in society is often limited due to gender biases and that often leads to a plethora of other problems. It is often suggested that Women’s education can play a decisive role in combating Gender-Based violence and can minimize the discrimination that women face in any society.

Combating Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination

Gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue that affects millions of women and girls worldwide. It is a form of violence that is rooted in unequal power relations between men and women, and it can take many forms, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence. While efforts to combat gender-based violence have been ongoing for decades, there is growing evidence that women’s education can play an important role in combating gender-based violence.

In Pakistan, however, women’s education is often limited by cultural, economic, and political factors. According to UNICEF, only 45% of women in Pakistan are literate, and many women are denied access to education due to poverty, early marriage, and societal norms that restrict their mobility and opportunities. To combat gender-based violence, it is essential to address these structural barriers and invest in women’s education.

Investing in girls’ education in Pakistan can have multiple benefits in the long run. Studies show that educated women are more likely to be economically independent, which can give them the power to leave abusive relationships or resist forced marriages. They are also more likely to participate in decision-making at the household and community level, which can help to challenge traditional gender norms that contribute to gender-based violence. Furthermore, educated women are more likely to have better health outcomes, and they can pass on their knowledge and skills to their children, leading to intergenerational benefits.

To combating gender-based violence through women’s education, it is necessary to take a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. Some of the key strategies that can be employed include:

Providing Accessible Education:

One of the primary reasons why women and girls are denied education in Pakistan is because of a lack of accessibility. To address this issue, the government and other stakeholders must invest in creating more schools and training teachers, especially in rural areas. Schools should be equipped with safe and secure facilities, transportation, and sanitation facilities. Additionally, there should be provisions for free education, scholarships, and financial incentives to encourage families to send their girls to school.

Educating Boys and Men:

While girls’ education is crucial, it is equally essential to educate boys and men on the harms of gender-based violence. Schools and other educational institutions should incorporate education on gender equality, healthy relationships, and consent into their curriculum. Moreover, communities should be engaged in campaigns to raise awareness about gender-based violence and its impacts on women’s lives.

Providing Support Services:

Women and girls who experience gender-based violence often face significant barriers to accessing support services. It is necessary to provide safe and confidential spaces for women and girls to report incidents of violence and seek support. Additionally, there should be provisions for legal aid, counseling, and medical care.

Advocating for Legal and Policy Changes:

To address gender-based violence, there must be adequate laws and policies in place that protect women’s rights. Pakistan has laws in place that criminalize violence against women, including the Protection of Women Against Violence Act, but the implementation of these laws is often weak. Advocacy and policy changes are necessary to ensure that these laws are implemented effectively and that women can access justice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, women’s education is a crucial strategy in combating gender-based violence in Pakistan. By investing in girls’ education, addressing structural barriers to education, and providing support services, Pakistan can empower women to resist violence, challenge traditional gender norms, and contribute to the country’s development.

Related: PU holds conference on gender based violence

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NEWS

Pakistan celebrates IWD with alarming situation of girls education

International Women’s Day (IWD) was celebrated all across the world and so in Pakistan organizing hundreds of events paying tributes to the women. But these events, seminars, walks, and marches will not improve the situation of women’s education in the country where the gap between girls’ and boys’ enrollment in schools is second lowest in South Asia.

The alarming condition of girls’ education in Pakistan is perhaps the most important issue which should have been discussed on the eve of IWD but still, this point of concern was missing at all the major celebrations of the Day.

With all the good slogans and positive campaigns by the federal and provincial government, the state of education is that over 5.1 million primary school-aged children are out of school in Pakistan – the third highest number of out-of-school children in the world – and 63% of them are girls.

Several reports about the worsening state of education especially about girls’ education have been published so far but very few practical actions were taken. Although these reports help gather figures, data and real on-the-ground situations, the political leadership, and bureaucracy are up to something else than education.

A recent report titled, “Public Investment in Education: An Appraisal of SDG 4 in Pakistan” explained the alarming situation with facts, figures and data and claimed that the Pakistan government has legislated for education for all, education remains drastically under-funded at 2.4% of GDP, a decrease from 2.7% in the preceding year – despite a government commitment of 4%. At this rate of funding and progress, there is no way Pakistan will achieve its commitment to education for all.

Enrollment

According to the report, Pakistan’s gap between girls’ and boys’ enrolment is, after Afghanistan’s, the widest in South Asia. Not only the divide based on gender is grave, but also poverty is a serious concern and determinant of low literacy rates. In Pakistan, the literacy rate of poor rural males is 64 per cent, compared to 14 percent for their female counterparts (UNESCO, 2016). Overall, for every 100 girls enrolled at the primary level in Pakistan, 60 girls of the same age are out-of-school while for every 100 girls enrolled at the secondary level, 223 are out of school (Khan, Asim Bashir, 2020).

A recent study, “Girls’ Education & Covid-19 in Pakistan,” suggests that girls’ access to formal education in Pakistan is further expected to regress as a result of the steep decline in household incomes. With many households still struggling with the financial toll experienced during the initial lockdown phase, many girls of school-going age are expected to either enter labour to supplement their household incomes or simply be withheld from returning to school to curtail household expenses, (Malala Fund, 2020).

There is also an acute lack of girls’ schools at every educational level compared to the institutes dedicated to boys’ education. As per the most recent Pakistan Education Statistics 2017-18 (2021), of the 119,813 same-sex primary schools in the country, only 43,741 or 36 percent are for girls. At the secondary and higher secondary level, this percentage stands collectively at 46 percent.

Budget

A look at the year-on-year analysis reveals that despite being a nationally adopted, high-priority target, despite Pakistan’s alarmingly poor performance in this specific area, gender parity has received little to no investment between 2015-2021. During the budget announcements made for the year 2021-22, Punjab and Sindh allocated, 1.07 percent and 2.64 percent of their education budgets respectively for specific schemes aimed at enhancing girls’ access to formal education. The federal government and Balochistan, on the other hand, announced no specific schemes at all.

Balochistan’s inability to earmark a single rupee for interventions to increase girls’ access to educational opportunities is specifically troublesome as the province has one of the highest percentages of out-of-school girls in Pakistan. At the secondary level, for instance, for every 100 enrolled girls, 666 girls of the same age are out-of-school (Khan, Asim Bashir 2020). Although Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did announce allocating 70 percent of its education development budget at the secondary level to enhance girls’ access to education, based on the review of documents, it is not possible to demarcate the precise amount that has been allocated for this purpose.

Targets

The government sets targets for education in the light of the United Nation’s SDGs which state that by 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes. The target was also set as 100 percent enrollment of boys and girls by 2030.

According to the government of Pakistan, the total enrollment level of pre-primary in the public sector was 4,391,144. Out of 4,391,144 pre-primary students, 2,440,838 are boys, and 1,950,306 are girls. It shows that 56% of enrolled students are boys, and 44% are girls. Further breakdown of these statistics into urban and rural enrollment levels reveals an almost similar percentage of enrollment among boys and girls, i.e. in rural schools 57% are boys and 43% are girls.

Related: Google trained women developers under Women Techmakers initiative
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NEWS

Okara University organizes Women Day Seminar

A seminar and walk were organized at the University of Okara (UoO) in connection with International Women Day. With the theme “DigitalAll: Innovation & Technology for Gender Equality”, the seminar was attended by a large number of female teachers and students.

The guest speakers of the event included the District Police Officer (DPO) Okara, Mansoor Aman, Principal, Divisional Public School (DPS) Okara, Sarwat Hassan and Sumaira Mazhar Rana, a renowned social worker of the district. The event was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Sajid Rashid Ahmad, and the Chief Organizer was Dr Nasrin Akhtar, Director Career Counselling at the UO.

Addressing to the participants, Prof Sajid Rashid told that no institution or state could prosper without the active participation of women. “The ratio of female students at the campus is 70 percent and this is our asset. We are preparing them in a way that they can help building a peaceful and prosperous society.”

The DPO said that they were going to develop a “Tahafuz Markaz” at the district in order to solve the problems of the vulnerable sections, especially women on priority.

Dr Nasrin highlighted the importance of advanced information and communication technologies in the inclusion of women in the social mainstream and the reduction of gender discrimination.

Sarwat and Sumaira encouraged the female students to actively contribute to all walks of life and get themselves recognized.

At the end of the seminar, shields were distributed among the guest speakers and the organizing team. Walk and plantation were also done.

Related: Kashmir Day activities held at Okara University

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NEWS

TEVTA, Punjab Police sign MoU forimparting skill education to beggars

To provide skill education to disabled beggars, Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and Punjab Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The ceremony was held at IG Office, Old Anarkali, Lahore where Senior Director General TEVTA Akhtar Abbas Bharwana and Inspector General of Punjab Police Dr Usman Anwar signed the document. As per the agreement, TEVTA will help Punjab Police in imparting skill education to disabled beggars.

While addressing on occasion, Akhtar Abbas Bharwana said that TEVTA is the largest organization providing vocational and technical education. The project will help the Punjab government to control the increasing numbers of beggars across the province, he said adding that the disabled beggars will be brought to the TEVTA institutions with the help of the Punjab Police where training sessions will be held for beggars.

He said that after learning the skills these people can earn respectable earnings.

Government of Punjab took the first step toward eradication of beggary and Department of Social Welfare established a Beggar’s Home in Lahore in the year 2014. The home has the capacity to accommodate 50 persons at a time.

All particulars of each beggar are recorded in a register and later interviewed by Social Welfare Officer who prepares the case history of each beggar.

Most of the beggars probably do not have identity cards therefore, NADRA is taken on board for special provision and preparation of the identity cards of these beggars. To extract authentic information from them, their families is contacted.

Related: TEVTA inaugurates Skill Park Momento

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NEWS

PU celebrates International women’s day

An awareness walk was organized on International Women’s Day under the auspices of Punjab University (PU) Department of Gender Studies.

On this occasion, PU VC Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chairperson Department of Gender Studies Prof Dr Raana Malik, faculty members and students were present. In his address, Dr Niaz Ahmad said that Islam has given many rights to women. He said that women are the heads of many important positions in Punjab University. He said that Pakistani women are very talented who can move forward by working harder. He said that chairperson Doctoral Program Coordination Committee (DPCC), director of external linkages, director of the regional integration center and other departments are being led by women in the university, which is an example of equal rights.

Dr Raana Malik said that it is good for women to have important positions in Punjab University, for which the Vice Chancellor deserves credit. The participants of the walk carried awareness posters about women’s freedom and fundamental rights. Meanwhile, under the auspices of Punjab University Institute of Applied Psychology, in collaboration with National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), mobile van service was provided for making female student ID cards.

In his message, Director General NADRA, Lahore Major (R) Syed Saqlain Bukhari said that a special NADRA registration van has been provided for female students on International Women’s Day. Director IAP Prof Dr Rafia Rafique thanked the NADRA team for supporting the students for ID cards.

Related: PU organizes seminar on ‘Media and Public Health’

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NEWS

IUB marks International Women’s Day

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, events were organized in various departments of the Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB).

A special walk was organized under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Department of Political Science Prof Dr Musavir Hussain Bukhari. Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Athar Mahboob took a special part in the walk. A special seminar was also jointly organized by the Department of Social Work, Fatima Jinnah Women Leadership Center and IUB Social Welfare Society in Ghulam Mohammad Ghotvi Hall.

The seminar was presided over by Prof Dr Rubina Bhatti, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences. The theme of the seminar was “Digital Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality” , this year’s theme of the United Nations. Prof Dr Rubina Bhatti said that the IUB is providing a favorable environment for women along with education and training. The University has the facilities of modern Day Care Centre, Enhancing Centre, Women Development Centre, Harassment Cell, Fatima Jinnah Women Leadership Center and Common Rooms. At present, 55% women students are studying in IUB.

Dr Asif Naveed Ranjha, Chairman Social Work Department, while presenting the welcome speech, said that the government is making great efforts to give women an active role in the society and many measures are being taken for the convenience of the working women which is being accepted globally. Our women are role models in courage, bravery and courage and are doing outstanding work in all walks of life.

Related: 3rd BLCF kicks off at IUB

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NEWS

Renowned Academician Syed Babar Ali visits UMT

Founder Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) / Packages Group Syed Babar Ali paid tribute to founder of University of Management and Technology (UMT) Dr Hassan Sohaib Murad on his visit to address a session on “Future Leaders with Business Leaders”.

Minister of Local Government and Member Board of Governors of UMT/ILM Trust Ibrahim Hasan Murad also accompanied Syed Babar Ali as a chief guest speaker. Professor Dr Sohail Qureshi, UMT senior leadership, faculty and a large number of students were also present on this occasion.

The purpose of organizing the event was the interaction of future leaders with eminent business leaders so that they can get guidance for their successful and bright future.

Addressing the seminar, Founder LUMS paid tribute to the educational efforts of Founder UMT Dr Hasan Murad Shaheed. He also appreciated Ibrahim Murad’s intellect and vision for providing quality education to the youth, providing skill based training and running UMT as a non-profit institution. Mr Syed Babar said that today’s parents pay more attention only to the education of their children, while their grooming is neglected. He also added that there is no shortcut or formula for success, the only way is to work hard and move forward. Never be afraid of failure, but face the failure with truth and move forward fearlessly, he shared. Syed Babar advised the students to do a job before becoming a good entrepreneur.

Ibrahim Murad Minister Local Government / Member Board of Governors UMT in his address welcomed Syed Babar Ali to UMT and said that people like Syed Babar are an asset of our country and it is a great honor for UMT students to seek guidance from him.

At the end of the ceremony, Minister Local Government / Member Board of Governors UMT Ibrahim Murad presented a souvenir to Founder LUMS Syed Babar Ali.

Related: President Arif Alvi at UMT terms education vital for growth

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NEWS

OIC states urged to invest at least 1% of GDP in research & science

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

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NEWS

UoK SMBBC holds seminar on women’s empowerment

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