The nine-member Inter University Consortium for the Promotion of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (IUCPSS) and Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for undertaking joint programmes to promote tourism in Pakistan.
Dr Muhammad Mukhtar, Chairperson, IUCPSS/Vice Chancellor of the Islamia University Bahawalpur, and Saad S Khan, Managing Director, TDCP, represented their respective organisations in the signing ceremony.
Dr Sohail Naqvi, Executive Director of Higher Education Commission, called this MoU as a milestone in promoting university-community linkages and domestic tourism in Pakistan. He underlined the importance of preservation of rich history, traditions, architecture and culture of Pakistan and assured the support of HEC in this regard. The tourism will promote harmony, soft image of Pakistan throughout the world and can be major source of income generation as well, he observed. He asked the consortium members and other higher education institutes to develop guide map highlighting their location and places of interest and tourism around them.
(The News)
Faculty members of the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) have condemned the manhandling of Dr. Irfan Zia Qureshi, an associate professor at the Department of Animal Sciences, by a university official.
According to sources, Dr. Qureshi complained to Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, vice-chancellor of the Quaid-i-Azam University, on Friday, when a group of students under the banner of Quaidian Students Federation was protesting, that the administration, hostel staffers and security people, including its head, were not performing and the rowdiness of students was being handled by faculty members.
Sources said that this enraged the university official dealing with the matter and soon after the VC was away he caught the associate professor by the neck and threatened him of dire consequences.
Sources said a delegation of faculty members met the VC in his office where Dr. Qureshi submitted a written complaint. Dr. Yasinzai, as head of the institution, apologised for the harsh treatment meted out to Dr. Qureshi by the university official. He also formed a committee, headed by Dr. Eatzaz Ahmad, dean of the Social Sciences Department, to look into the matter and submit a report.
When contacted, QAU Academic Staff Association President Dr Gulraiz Akhter confirmed the incident and said that his association was waiting for the committee report and action by the VC before chalking out a course of action.
When approached, Professor Zahid Majeed, vice-president of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association, and Professor Rasheed Khalid, president of the Federal Chapter of FAPUASA, demanded strong action against the university official.
(The News)
LAHORE – Punjab Teachers’ Union and Teachers Joint Action Committee took out a protest rally for their demands from Nasir Bagh to Regal Chowk, The Mall here on Thursday.
The teachers, hailing from across the province were having placards and banners inscribed with slogans highlighting their demands. They also chanted slogans and staged sit-in in front of various places. On the occasion, teacher leaders including Rai Abdullah, Sheikh Hasanaat, Ch Basharat Gujar, Haji Islam, Arshad Gul, Ashfaq Younas, and others said in the situation of high prices of essential commodities and utility bills teachers were forced on hunger.
They said bureaucracy was exploiting the teachers and they were unable to take their rights. They demanded the government revise their pay scale and raise their house rent and medical allowance. They also announced to boycott non-teaching activities. The teacher leaders also said that they would stage sit-in in front of Parliament House, Islamabad on May 16 if their demands were not fulfilled.
(The Nation)
LAHORE – Lahore College for Women University in collaboration with Child Care Foundation held a seminar on child education titled “The role of educational institutions and civil society in the education of underprivileged children in Pakistan.” here on Thursday.
Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister Zakia Shahnawaz presided over the seminar while other speakers on the occasion included Justice (R) Nasira Javed Iqbal, Dr. Pervaiz Ahmad Khan, Secretary Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education, Raja Anwar, Chairman Punjab Education Foundation, Rukhsana David, Principal Kinnaird College for Women, Dr. Pervaiz Hassan, Chairman CCF and Yasmeen Zaki Chief Executive Officer CCF.
While addressing the participants, Zakia Shahnawaz said that child labour was a very critical issue of the country which was needed to be addressed. She said only educated youth could secure the future of the country.
Zakia Shahnawaz apologised on behalf of the Punjab Chief Minister for his inability to the function as the CM was scheduled to preside over the event. She congratulated LCWU and CCF for organising a seminar on the critical issue under the slogan “Educate Pakistan. Save Pakistan.” According to her, the key to this goal laid in the commitment of the people and for them to work selflessly for a cause with all their hearts and souls. She said that for sustained social development there was a need for investment and public mobility. She also assured Punjab government’s support to CFF projects and funding.
LCWU Vice Chancellor Dr. Sabiha Mansoor, in her welcome address, said that CCF inspired each one of us and warmly appreciated the young guests present on the occasion from CCF schools. She further said that we needed reaffirm our faith in human kindness and pledge ourselves to work for the society because the government could not implement anything without the help of concerned citizens.
CCF Chairman Dr. Pervaiz Hassan said that they needed allies in their struggle to eradicate child labour.
He said 17 years ago, he started this journey when the carpet weaving industry came under attack because of allegations against child labour. But in countries like Pakistan it is not possible to simply ban it as Bangladesh did because these children are often working after school for a few hours to support their families, he said.
Justice (R) Nasira Javed Iqbal said that education was a matter of life and death for Pakistan. She asked the audience to spread the message of CFF. Dr. Pervez Ahmad Khan said that child labour and child education were very core issues in today’s world. He said that it was our aim to provide education to all irrespective of their age, sex or race but the main hurdle in this aim was undoubtedly poverty and other social constraints.
Raja Anwar spoke on the difficulties of the underprivileged half of our society. He also spoke on the struggles faced by his department in their goal to ensure quality education for all without any discrimination.
Earlier, six CFF students representing different districts of Punjab and Sindh performed a tableau. A pictorial documentary elaborating on the plight of children who were working at brick kilns, carpet weavers and other such business was also screened.
(The Nation)
LAHORE – An eight-member Chinese delegation of Shenzhen Chamber of E-Commerce on Thursday called on PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran at his office.
Director External Linkages Maria Maldonado arranged the meeting in which Chairperson of Shenzhen Chamber of E-Commerce Jennifer Tong, General Secretary Yilin Wen, Vice President Minfei Yan, CEO Best Source International Helen Ho, President and CEO Hueway Technology Jackson Zheng, and others participated.
While briefing the delegation on the varsity’s academic and research developments, Dr Kamran said that Pakistani people had warmest feelings for China and we were always happy to meet them. He said that the volume of trade and interaction would increase many times between the two countries if language barrier was removed. Prof Dr Mansoor Sarwar informed the delegation that Punjab University College of Information Technology was the largest source of producing quality IT graduates in the country. He apprised the delegation about ongoing and completed IT-related initiatives taken by PU administration. He said that a lot of IT companies had grown up in Pakistan in recent years. Chairperson of Shenzhen Chamber of E-Commerce Jennifer Tong said that they wanted to explore possible business relationship between Punjab University and Shenzhen Chamber of E-Commerce. She said that they could collaborate with PU in software development and application technology. She said the chamber made feasible solutions to IT related problems and educational issues. She said that they could give ideas to subsidize and modernize infrastructure.
Later, souvenirs were exchanged among the participants of the meeting.
PUCAD students shine in TDCP competition: Punjab University College of Art & Design students have won awards in Painting and Photography’ Competition’ 2011 held at Shahi Hamam organized by TDCP. The students including Maryam Laique, Aamir Hassan and Farhana Rasheed bagged 1st, 2nd and 3rd position and got Rs 10000, 5000 and 3000 as prize money in Painting respectively. While in Photography Competition Awais Ali Sheikh, Abdul Rehman and Shoaib Ahmed won 1st, 2nd and 3rd position and got 10000, 5000 and 3000 respectively.
College Principal Prof Dr Rahat Naveed Masud has congratulated the students on this success.
PU declares results:
PU Examinations Department has declared the results of MA English, Part-I, supplementary 2011, MA Physical Education Part-I, supplementary 2011, MSc Chemistry, Part-I, supplementary 2011, MA Diploma & Strategic Studies, Part-II, supplementary 2011, MA English, Part-II, supplementary 2011, MA Fine Arts, Part-II, supplementary 2011, MA History, Part-II, supplementary 2011, MA Political Science, Part-II, supplementary 2011, MSc Physics, Part-II, supplementary 2011, MSc Psychology, Part-II, supplementary 2011, MSc Zoology, Part-II, supplementary 2011, Diploma in Medial Radiology Diagnostic (DMRD), Part-II, supplementary 2010 and Diploma in Opthalmic Medicine & Surgery (DOMS), Part-II, supplementary 2010. Detailed results are also available at PU website www.pu.edu.pk.
(The Nation)
KARACHI – Chairman Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) Prof Anwar Ahmed Zai has announced that the board has all set arrangements to conduct the first phase of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Part-I & II Annual Examinations, starting from May 7.
The board has already sent enrolment cards to the institutions concerned, he said adding the enrolment cards having scanned photographs of the candidates would mitigate chances of impersonation cases during the examinations.
He said, “In the first phase, the candidates of Science Pre-Engineering, Science Pre-Medical, Commerce Regular, Home Economics, Computer Science will take part, while the candidates of Arts Regular & Private and Commerce Private would appeared in the second phase starting from June 5.
As many as 87 examination centres have been established in the city, out of them 49 centres are for male candidates while 38 for females, he said.
Prof Zai said more than 250,000 candidates will appear in all phases of the examination.
As many as 161,556 candidates will take part in the first phase, while 68,500 in the second phase, he said adding that the examination will be conducted in morning and evening shifts.
Police personnel will also be deployed in and outside the centres, he said.
Meanwhile, various vigilance teams of Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) caught three candidates using unfair means during a paper of SSC Part-I (IX-Class), General Group Annual Examinations-2012.
The teams paid surprise visit to National High School in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town.
(The Nation)
KARACHI – The seven day long gun-battle between the police and gangsters in Lyari claimed at least 40 lives while hundreds of others were wounded in the conflict.
Meanwhile, elders of various Baloch tribes were among the negotiating team trying to convince Uzair Baloch, Zafar Baloch and Baba Ladla to evacuate the area or surrender before the police. Sources privy to the matter disclosed that elders of Lyari gangsters having head money are ready to surrender but they are seeking assurances about their areas.
Gangsters believed that authorities will hand over Lyari to the rival gang of Arshad alias Papu released from jail couple of months ago. Sources disclosed that police and other authorities have decided to hand over Lyari to the Papu gang after the evacuation of Amman Committee members. It is pertinent to mention here that police claimed to have killed 4 members of Amman Committee. Two out of four bodies of alleged gangsters were removed by the gangsters, police said. Residents of the area confirmed that both victims including Manzoor and Shahzad were not affiliated with criminal groups. Meanwhile, Inspector General of Sindh police Mushtaq Shah gave two-day timeframe to conclude the action.
In a Press conference held at CPO, he said that police will resettle the residents of Lyari who left their homes because of gangsters. Gangsters are responsible for the killing of innocent people, he said. Mushtaq Shah called Cheel Chowk as headquarters of gangsters and hoped that Lyari will be cleared within two days.
Police also tightened the grip in the area and blocked all major roads linked to Lyari including Cheel Chowk, Ghulam Abbas Road, Dhobi Ghat, Miranaka, Maripur, and Shershah roads.
Gun-fight continued in the area on Thursday which left at least a dozen people wounded including Sub-Inspector Manzoor and Sub-Inspector Karam Elahi. Scores of protesters ransacked the house of Salman Abdullah Murad and other leaders of PPP in Malir area where police managed to disperse the crowd. A similar protest was staged in old Sabzi Mandi area, demanding end to operation.
(The Nation)
KARACHI – Several students’ organisations and the Palestine Foundation (PLF) on Thursday announced they would mark May 15 as Nakba Day to express solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians.
They announced special programmes and a campaign in all educational institutions across the country on May 15 to mark the day.
These decisions were made at a joint meeting of the People’s Students’ Federation (PSF), Muslim Students’ Federation (MSF), Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT), Anjuman Talba-e-Islam (ATI), Pukhtoon Students’ Federation (Pukhtoon-SF), Insaf Students’ Federation (ISF), General Union of Palestinian Students (GUPS) and working committee of the PLF Pakistan.
Faisal Shaikh of the PSF, Khalil Satti of the MSF, Hafiz Bilal of the IJT, Abdul Basit of the ATI, Bakhawar Shah of the Pukhtoon-SF, Alamgir Khan and Arsalan Ghumman of the ISF, Mohammad Fadal of the GUPS and Sabir Karbalai, central spokesman of the PLF, spoke at the meeting, held at the Sindh People’s Secretariat.
They said that despite the passage of 64 years, neither Palestine could be liberated nor made a sovereign and independent state because of Arab and Muslim governments’ lack of attention and interest.
They said that Pakistani students demanded the government to remain firm on its policy towards Palestine and continue to support the just cause at the United Nations and other international forums. Later, fateha was offered for martyrs of the PPP.
(The Nation)
KARACHI – Peak Private Schools Association Sindh President Hyder Ali on Thursday demanded the authorities concerned to postpone holding of SSC Part-I & II (IX & X-Classes) Annual Examinations-2012 in Lyari. He said it was very difficult for the students living in the affected areas to prepare for the examination in such a war-like situation. He said that the postponed papers should be conducted after the situation comes to normalcy in Lyari.
He said the government and all authorities concerned have been demanded to award 10 additional grace marks in each paper to the candidates living in the affected parts of Lyari.
Meanwhile, the Karachi University on Thursday organised a seminar on Press Freedom Day. Press Council Chairman Raja Shafqat Khan Abbasi said, “Media in today’s world is playing a dynamic role in shaping up the psychological stance of an individual. Slogan of free media has both positive and negative implications. In this connection, greater responsibility is laid on journalists’ shoulders. Rafia Taj, Prof Shahida Qazi also address the event.
Mujahid Barelvi, Ghazi Salahuddin and others. The speakers said that in the current social and political situation of the country, reporting has become a difficult and challenging task. While paying tribute to media, Abbasi said reporter deserved to be saluted for their unbiased reporting under the circumstances prevailing in the country. A large number of KU faculty members, students and journalists attended the seminar.
(The Nation)
KARACHI – At a time when almost the entire nation is striving to deal with the financial crunch, the Karachi University has owned the financial problems of its students and provided them stipends on need-cum-merit basis, its Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Qaisar said while addressing a ceremony to give away stipend cheques on Thursday.
Students’ Financial Aid Office Director Prof Dr Shakeel Ahmed Khan organised the ceremony in collaboration with the Mitsubishi Corporation International.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Attaur Rehman emphasised upon formal collaboration between the University of Karachi and universities of Japan which, according to him, would help widen the horizons of research in both the countries.
He said that students could contribute to the economy and national development of the country, adding that all they needed was a careful speculation of the world around them.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mitsubishi Corporation International General Manager Masaharu Domichi said that Pakistan was one of those countries, students of which were given economic assistance by Japan in the pursuit of higher education.
Later, 56 students were given away stipend cheques.
(The Nation)
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