Month: July 2026

Karachi: Vice Chancellor of the Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw (NED) University of Engineering and Technology Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail Jokhio, CEng, FIMechE, FIEP, formally assumed the additional charge of the VC of the University of Karachi on Tuesday.

Dr Tufail was given the additional charge of the KU VC after the completion of Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi’s four-year tenure on Monday, July 27, as the vice chancellor of the university.

The competent authority, Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, has assigned the additional responsibility of the KU acting VC to the NED University Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail, until the appointment of a regular vice chancellor, through a notification issued on July 24, 2026.

After assuming charge as KU Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail briefly addressed teachers, officers, and employees who gathered to greet and welcome him. Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail said that his foremost priority was to take effective measures for sustainable solutions to the problems faced by the University of Karachi. He observed that merely identifying problems was not enough; rather, a comprehensive analysis of their root causes would be carried out to ensure their permanent and durable resolution.

Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail said that for the development, stability, and promotion of the prestige of the University of Karachi, all teachers, officers, and employees must play their effective role with a sense of collective responsibility. He stated that the success of any institution and the achievement of the best results depend on strong teamwork, cooperation, and professional commitment.

Dr Muhammad Tufail urged teachers, officers, and employees to make punctuality and discipline part of their professional responsibilities so that administrative and academic matters could be carried out without interruption, effectively, and in the best manner, resulting in further improvement in the overall performance of the University.

It is worth mentioning that Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail was regarded as one of the country’s eminent educationists, a globally renowned engineer, and a pioneer of reforms in higher education management.

Dr Muhammad Tufail, who was a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of both the Institution of Mechanical Engineers from the United Kingdom as well as the Institution of Engineers Pakistan, is a distinguished academic leader, globally recognized engineer, and governance reformer.

With over 25 years of leadership experience in higher education, research management, accreditation, and international academic collaboration, Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail has played a prominent role in institutional reforms, promotion of quality education, academic partnerships with global universities, digital transformation, advancement of research activities, and strengthening of effective administrative systems.

Under his leadership, several strategic reforms were implemented at NED University, resulting in further enhancement of educational standards, institutional transparency, research funding, and international linkages.

Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail has obtained his PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing Systems) from the University of Nottingham, UK. Before assuming charge as NED VC, he also served NED University as its Pro Vice Chancellor, Dean of various faculties, and Chairman of the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.

Among his major achievements was the establishment of a constituent college of NED University in District Tharparkar, through which students from underprivileged areas gained access to quality engineering education.

At the national level, Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail has served as an elected member of the Governing Body of the Pakistan Engineering Council, as Convener and Member of Accreditation Visiting Teams, as a member of various Selection Boards and Finance Committees, and as Chairman of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Pakistan Group). He has played an effective role in improving engineering curricula, accreditation systems, and the quality of higher education.

Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail is also a distinguished researcher and research supervisor. He has led numerous research projects in diverse fields including advanced materials, manufacturing systems, sustainable fuels, additive manufacturing, biomedical alloys, and supply chain quality management, and has successfully completed research projects worth millions of euros under international programs.

In recognition of his outstanding services in higher education and engineering, Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail has been honored with multiple awards including the Engineers Excellence Award (Academia and Research) 2023 by the Pakistan Engineering Council, the High Performers Award 2023 by the Government of Sindh, and the Wall of Fame Award 2018.

Academic and administrative circles state that Professor Dr. Muhammad Tufail’s vast experience, effective leadership, and reformative vision will bring significant improvement in educational, research, and administrative domains at the University of Karachi.

Karachi: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Sindh on Tuesday reviewed progress on the Green Climate Fund (GCF)-funded project, Transforming the Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management, aimed at strengthening climate resilience in the province’s agriculture and water sectors.

A high-level FAO delegation, led by Deputy Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific and FAO Representative ad interim Robert Simpson, met officials of the Sindh Planning and Development Department to assess the project’s achievements, discuss upcoming activities and enhance interdepartmental coordination, said a news release.

The meeting was chaired by Acting Chairman of the Planning and Development Department Bilal Ahmed and attended by representatives of the Finance Department, Agriculture Department, Irrigation Department, Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) and the provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Cell.

The FAO delegation briefed participants on progress under the project’s three implementation components, highlighting achievements in strengthening climate information services, promoting climate-smart agriculture and improving sustainable water management in the intervention districts.

Officials said the project seeks to improve climate change adaptation in the agriculture and water sectors, enhance on-farm resilience and create an enabling environment for sustainable water management and climate-resilient farming practices.

The meeting was informed that Master Trainer Farmer Facilitators had been trained to lead Climate Business Farmer Field Schools, enabling farming communities to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices, efficient water management and sustainable farming techniques.

FAO also shared plans to collaborate with Sindh Agriculture University to secure formal accreditation of the Farmer Field School curriculum to ensure its long-term sustainability and wider adoption across the province.

Participants were informed that the Hydro Informatics Centre of the Sindh Irrigation Department was using data generated from FAO-installed Automatic Weather Stations to produce farmer-friendly weather advisories, helping farmers make informed decisions and better prepare for climate-related risks.

The meeting also reviewed preparations for the forthcoming Provincial Project Technical Steering Committee meeting, which will provide strategic guidance and strengthen coordination among implementing partners and government departments.

Speaking on the occasion, Bilal Ahmed appreciated FAO’s continued collaboration with provincial institutions and acknowledged the progress achieved under the project. He reaffirmed the Sindh government’s commitment to supporting its implementation and stressed the need for stronger coordination to maximise its impact.

Robert Simpson said sustained collaboration between FAO and the Government of Sindh was vital to addressing the growing challenges of climate change and strengthening food security.

He said agro-meteorological information systems played a key role in developing effective early warning systems, while institutionalising the Farmer Field School methodology would ensure the long-term adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by FAO and the Government of Sindh to further strengthen cooperation in promoting climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable water resource management and resilient livelihoods for farming communities across the province.

Karachi: A police constable embraced martyrdom after sustaining gunshot wounds during an encounter with suspected robbers in Pakistan Bazaar area on early Tuesday, police said.

According to police, the encounter took place near National Stop in Altaf Nagar when a police party confronted the suspects. During the ensuing exchange of fire, two alleged robbers were killed.

Police said Constable Hassan, 26, son of Shoukat Ali, sustained serious injuries after being shot by the suspects. He was being shifted to the Aga Khan University Hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries on the way, police added.

Police recovered two pistols along with ammunition and a motorcycle from the suspects. Further investigation into the incident is underway, police said.