Category: Karachi

Karachi: The Advanced Studies and Research Board of the University of Karachi awarded 64 PhD, 187 MPhil, four M.S. Course Work (30 Cr. Hr.), and one LLM degree in various disciplines during the recently held ASRB meeting.

A statement on Monday said that the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi chaired the meeting which awarded PhD degree to Kashif Riaz, and Syeda Kishwar Zehrah Naqvi (Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology), Qaisar Mansoor, Sheeza Sheikh, and Umaira (Biochemistry), Syeda Saima Razzaq (Biochemistry [NCP]), Maham Ghouri (Biotechnology [KIBGE]), Sheikh Muhammad Fakhre Alam Siddiqui, Muhammad Furqan Saleem, Asim Mabashir, and Salman Hameed (Karachi University Business Administration [KUBS]), Abdul Rafiq Khan, and M. Zeeshan Ul Haq (Chemistry), Muhammad Ikram Nabeel, Rubina, Syed Muhammad Zaki Shah, Nurmeen Adil, Sajjad Haider, Naheed Akhtar, Urooj Qureshi, Muhammad Sajid, Azra Akbar, Muhammad Ali Minhas (Chemistry [HEJ]), Muhammad Ali, Saad Uddin Khan, Aysha Zamir, and Afshan Uroos (Economics), Karim Aman (Education), Syed Arsalan Ali (Food Science and Technology), Muhammad Asim, and Muhammad Ali Khan (Islamic Banking and Finance [SZIC]), Anwar ul Haq, Rabia, and Mumtaz Ali (Islamic Learning), Ambrin, Shabana Abdul Waheed, Faiza Shamim, and Shyam Lal (Law), Seharish, and Tayyaba Hamid (Marine Science), Saba Naz (Mass Communication), Shaista Urooj (Microbiology), Sarah Rizwan Qazi Molecular (Medicine), Sidrah Shams, and Syeda Farah Shah (Molecular Medicine [PCMD]), Muhammad Ali (Pharmaceutics), Ghulam Mustafa, Junaid Kareem Khan, and Muhammad Ali Qureshi (Physics), Erum Afaq (Physiology), Syed Asim Ali (Political Science), Mahrukh Amjad (Psychology), Syeda Nabila Hasan Zaidi (Public Administration), Umahani Urf Sindhu (Sindhi), Nadil Shah, Safia Habib, Qurat-Ul-Ain Rana, and Farah Naseer (Sociology), Rabia Tabassum (Space and Planetary Astrophysics [ISPA]), Aamna Shaikh (Special Education), Arshad Mahmood, Rizwan Azam, and Zulfiqar Ali (Teacher Education), Tabinda Shameem Jafri (Women's Studies).

Furthermore, the MPhil degrees were awarded to Ayesha Abdul Jabbar, and Waqas Shahab (Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology), Amana Maroof, Imrana Saif, Mudassir Abdul Wahid Moorad, Sardar Adil Iqbal, Muhammad Saad Khan, Fatima, and Sameetah Rafique (Applied Economics Research Centre), Farid Alvi (Applied Physics), Rabeet Laeeque, Farhat Deeba, Bisma Farooqi, and Syed Shabib Muhammad Zaidi (Biochemistry), Bushra Syed, Syeda Ailya Batool, Masood Ahmed, and Umme E Hani (Biotechnology), Waseem Ahmed, Arifa Latif, and Syed Meesam Raza Naqvi (Biotechnology [KIBGE]), Urooj, Areeb Anjum, Rida (Botany), Javeeriya Khan, Abira, Zubia Mustafa, Qazi Ghulam Ahmed, Muhammad Ashraf, and Maryam Mehmood (Chemistry), Muhammad Naveed Akhtar, Muhammad Kamran, Muhammad Adnan Akram, Muhammad Talha Fareedi, Naved Iqbal, and Muhammad Asif (Chemistry [HEJ]), Rawan Saleh Abdul Rahman, Maliha Naz, and Yousaf Khan (Clinical Psychology), Sumaira Ahmed (Computer Science), Kanwal Rao, and Farha Zeba (Economics), Nazia Mazher (Educatio n), Rabia Saadi (English [Literature]), Nageen Tayyab (Environmental Studies), Muhammad Junaid Anwar, Syeda Moahida Batool Sherazi, and Hifza Khan (Food Science and Technology), Shahab Uddin (Geography), Iqbal Ahmed Siddiqui, Urooj Ahmed Khan, Hira Aqueel, Sadaf Subhi, Mutraf Un Nisa (Health Physical Education and Sports Sciences), Mukhtiar Ahmed Burdi, and Maryum Urooj Khan (History), Aisha Kiyani (Institute of Clinical Psychology), Hina Bushra (Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics [ISPA]), Syed Nasim Hayder Naqvi, Zeeshan Hyder, and Muhammad Tabish Sarfaraz (International Relations), Mumtaz Fatima (Islamic History), Yasmeen Razzaque, Khalid Kamal, Asma Batool, Muhammad Saeed, Asadullah, Nida Umar, Ali Muhammad Rehmani, Najeeb Ullah, Asif Nawaz, Erum Bashir, and Shahzaib Khan (Islamic Learning), Salah Uddin, Abdullah Ibn e Masood, and Zainab Akmal (Islamic Studies with Computer Technology [SZIC]), Sadia Ishtiaq, Amna Shamim, and Furrukh Hussain Zai (Library and Information Sciences), Ramshah Abrar, and Azka Rafique Malik (Marine Biology), Hina Tariq Iqbal (Marine Science), Noman Ali, and Mehr Feeroze (Mass Communication), Muhammad Junaid, Ayesha Shaikh, Syeda Nameera Akhtar, Areeba Azam Bajwa, Faiza Mukhtar, and Mateen Ahmed Ghaznavi (Mathematics), Mehkar Hussain, Sumaira Bibi, Shazia Fatima, and Allah Rakhya (Microbiology), Dr Shabana, and Dr Sana Tazeen (Microbiology [BMSI]), Muhammad Jahanzaib, Laleen Hammal, Anum Fatima, Syeda Maria Jilani, and Naveera Zafar (Molecular Medicine), Mehka Ruba (Molecular Medicine [PCMD]), Zubair Shah, and Muhammad Shah Fahad (Pakistan Studies), Farah Siraj (Pathology [BMSI]), Iffat Sultana (Pharmaceutical Chemistry), Imran Shakir, and Ghazala Rahim (Pharmaceutics), Samina Qadri, Rasikha Naseem, Nazish Mustafa, Wareesha Ateeq Ansari, Haseeb Ur Rehman, Nabeel Ahmed, and Muneeba Aijaz (Pharmacognosy), Maira Iqbal, Sumbul Ausaf, SadiaFeroze, and Syed Uzair Hasan (Pharmacology), Aqsa, and Ayesha (Pharmacy Practices), Bilawal Khan, Shoukat Hussain, Syed Qamar Shujat, Aafree na Nasim (Physics), Aneela Sarwer (Physiology), Muhammad Fareed Ud Din Qadri, Salman Ali, and Muhammad Arsalan Naeem (Political Science), Kiran Sardar Zaidi, Maham, Abdul Karim, Sumeayya Manzoor, Muhammad Sufyan Anis, and Marium Khan (Psychology), Muhammad Osamah Ahmed Makhdoomi, Syed Salman Hassan, Warda Hussaini, Mohsin Mehmood, Zain Aman, Fahad Hussain, and Nayab Noonari (Public Administration), Asma Tufail, Pir Muhammad, Ilays, Bushra, Sana, Hafiz Syed Jalal Uddin, Rashid Ali, Muhammad Tahir Shah, Syed Shahrukh Ali, Sidra Akhlaq, Noaman Imam, Abdul Hafeez, Sayed Riaz Hussain Shah, and Sheikh Muhammad Tanveer (Quran and Sunnah), Syeda Saba Hashmi, Maryam Jan, and Fenantha Sanam (Sociology), Muhammad Huzefa Khan (Space Science and Technology), Sabeen Dossal, Farheen Dossal, and Sharmeen (Special Education), Zobia Mushtaq (Statistics), Rashida, and Muhammad Ali Hasnain (Teachers Education), Syed Hussain Haider Zaidi, and Safdar Abbas (Urdu), Tehmina Mukhtar, Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Imdad Ull ah Alabashi, Afshan Rani, NidaSohail, and Muhammad Faraz (UsoolUd Din), Afna Mehtab, Muhammad Shahzaib Abbasi, Rimsha Naseem, Amina Jadoon, Sadia Mukhtiar, Yasir Khan, Asifa Ali Rehmani,, Sehrish Khan, Shaista Aslam, Mueid Ali Khan, Syed Wajahat Hussain, and Muzamil Ahmed (Zoology).

During the ASRB meeting, Safia Bibi received an LLM degree, and Rabiya Mateen (Chemistry), Sufiyan (Genetics), Muhammad Sami (Public Administration), and Muhammad Hashir Nadeem (Zoology) received M.S. Course Work (30 cr. Hr.) degrees.

Karachi: Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Chair at the University of Karachi organized the event at KU Audio Visual Center to pay tribute to Pakistan's first female prime minister.

Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto always thought for Pakistan and endured imprisonment for her beliefs and she never let her ego take precedence in her politics.

These views were expressed by the Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Najmi Alam, while addressing a seminar on Friday regarding Benazir Bhutto's 17th death anniversary.

Najmi Alam said that Benazir Bhutto should not be viewed just through the lens of the People's Party but as a politician and an individual.

He further said that student union elections should be held as they allow the middle class to enter politics. Educated and middle-class leadership requires student union elections, he observed.

The provincial minister for Women's Development Sindh Shaheena Sher Ali said that looking at the life of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto makes one proud to be a woman. She endured many hardships for Pakistan. Shaheed BB wanted to restore democracy in Pakistan and end dictatorship, she said.

KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that personalities are mortal, but their ideas live on and guide us from darkness to light. A visionary leader empowers people and provides awareness about upcoming challenges.

He mentioned that very few leaders in Pakistan have made history, including Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto always advocated for democracy, dialogue, reconciliation and the supremacy of the Constitution, regardless of the difficulties.

The KU Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Prof Dr Shaista Tabassum said that Benazir Bhutto was a visionary leader who wanted to restore true democracy in Pakistan. 'Democracy is essential for correcting any system because systems formed based on public opinion are successful.'

The KU Director of the SMBBC Muhammad Ibrahim Sheikh said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was a democratic-minded leader because she closely observed her father Z. A. Bhutto's politics.

Karachi: Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami on Friday emphasized that continuous efforts, unwavering determination, and a strong commitment to innovation are the core principles of PN Dockyard.

Addressing at Pakistan Navy COMLOG Command Annual Efficiency Award Ceremony 2024 here, he congratulated the award winners and advised to continue the good work with same zeal and zest, said a press release issued by Directorate General Public Relations (Pak Navy).

In his address, Commander Logistics, Rear Admiral M Sohail Arshad highlighted operational achievements of COMLOG Command during the year 2024.

He apprised that COMLOG Command successfully carried out its mandated role despite the challenges. He further highlighted that professional excellence has been and will continue to remain hallmark of COMLOG Command.

The ceremony is organized annually to recognize the efforts of employees and units for their pivotal role in achieving Command's objectives.

During the ceremony, the Chief Guest presented awards to individuals and units for their outstanding performances.

The event was attended by a large number of senior serving and retired Technical Branch Officers, CPOs/ Sailors and Navy Civilians of COMLOG Command.

Karachi: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, underscoring the significance of enhancing exports for sustainable economic growth on Friday said that government will extend every possible assistance to exporters for increasing export volume.

The federal minister, in separate meetings with exporters of rice and spices and herbs here at Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, urged the exporters to adopt modern technology and ensure strict compliance of phytosanitary regulations and other standards set by the importing countries.

The NFSR minister, in the meeting with delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), appreciated the services of business and trade community for economic development of the country and said that business community was an asset of Pakistan and they had been playing notable role in economic growth and prosperity of the country.

"For sustainable economic stability and growth, we have to focus on enhancing the volume of exports as well as production of agricultural products," he said adding that Pakistan was an agrarian economy while demand of agricultural products was very high in the global markets.

"We should leverage from the prevailing demand in world markets and take tangible steps to capture and sustain new markets for Pakistani products through adoption of modern technology and strict compliance of international food quality standards and phyto-sanitary regulations," he emphasized.

The European Union, USA and some other countries have stringent regulation pertaining to food quality and a minor distraction might cause interceptions and rejection of export consignments, he pointed out adding that such violations may result into ban on exports of relevant products from Pakistan.

"Government is taking multifaceted measures to enhance agricultural productivity, facilitate exports and manufacturing and bring reforms in public entities to address the challenges," he said and stressed on business community to align their businesses with the national and international regulations and requirements.

The minister directed Department of Plant Protection to make its Lahore office operational to facilitate exporters and resolve the issues being faced by rice exporters in consultation with the stakeholders.

The Director General DPP informed the minister that discussions with REAP were underway for resolving various issues and significant progress has been made so far. He informed that REAP has expressed their reservation regarding some rules and the issue was expected to be resolved by end of January.

Representing REAP, Mahesh Talreja, Raza Amjad and other members briefed the meeting that export of rice from Pakistan had surged to $4 billion in previous fiscal year due to efforts of rice exporters while ratio of regulatory compliance by REAP members was 99 percent.

They suggested to grant industry status to rice processing and export sector, fast tracking of phytosanitary certification and inspection processes, spreading awareness on regulatory frameworks and requirements, and revising the rules to further develop the sector and enhance the exports of rice.

The delegation of exporters of spices, herbs, processed food and other edible items led by Mushkbar Zehra, discussed ways and means to increase export from the Pakistan. They suggested ensuring provision of the quality seeds to farmers, controlling the sale of pesticides banned in EU, US and other international markets, and promoting pesticide control at farm level to ensure compliance of international standards.

Karachi: The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, vowing to take forward the agenda of economic stabilization and reforms, on Wednesday said that the vigorous collective efforts has resulted in macro level stability and now we have to convert it into sustainable economic growth.

The prime minister was addressing to a ceremony held here at the Pakistan Stock Exchange to mark the exceptional performance of PSX and becoming the top stock market in the world.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar, Governor and Chief Minister Sindh, Chairperson PSX Shamshad Akhtar and distinguished business and trade personalities.

The prime minister felicitated the PSX for achieving the tail-winds and stressed on sustaining the momentum as our actual target is economic growth with prudent utilization of immense natural resources and skills and expertise of experienced business and trade leaders so that we could lead the country to path of progress and prosperity and preventing the economy from the boom and bust cycles.

He said Karachi the city of lights is nerve center of Pakistan's economy and feed back and suggestions of the investors of the city would prove beneficial for boasting the growth. The government will welcome tangible proposals and recommendations by the business community for actualizing the export led growth.

Shehbaz Sharif underscored the significance of progressive taxation and structural reforms and said that Pakistan had a target of enhancing the tax to GDP ratio to 10.6 percent under the commitments with IMF but we have taken the ratio to 10.8% that is a major achievement.

Expressing satisfaction on significant decrease in the policy rate from 22% to 13%, he noted that there was more space available to further decrease it but any such move must be made in a prudent and cautious manner.

He highlighted the growth opportunities in agriculture, mines and minerals sectors and said foreign investors who recently visited the country shown interest to bring investment and technology to Pakistan. We want to utilize the natural resources for promoting manufacturing in the country and employment generation with a strategy of taking the Pakistan to new heights, he maintained.

Referring to the privatization process and structural reforms in public sector entities, the PM said that state owned entities made losses of billions of rupees in previous years. He outlined that government was committed to ensure complete transparency in privatization of PIA and other organizations and following the endeavor process of outsourcing of certain services at Islamabad International Airport was completed in transparent manner recently.

The Deputy prime minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, speaking at the occasion said that the sapling planted nine years ago with initiative of merger of stock markets of the country has grown into a gigantic tree and we are getting the best result of it today with remarkable performance being recognized across the world.

Stressing on the need of creating secondary market on the lines of advanced and strong economies he urged the business community to rise up to the challenges and create market opportunities so that national economy could achieve resilience and be able to absorb the shocks and reliance on foreign resources could be subsided.

He said that Shehbaz Sharif led PDM government steered the country out of serious economic challenges and today we are among the rapidly stabilizing economies.

The prime minister always focus on practical approach and implementation of policies and the country is moving ahead under his able leadership, he said and anticipated that situation will further ameliorate in the coming years.

The federal minister for finance and revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb reflecting on sizable improvements in economic indicators said that government is actively pursuing its agenda of decreasing inflation, supporting export led growth and bringing reforms in tax, energy, public sector entities, pensions, civil service and other important sectors.

The finance minister also spoke on right sizing initiatives aimed at improving service delivery and cutting down expenditures of federal as well as provincial governments and said that the much needed structural reform were being implemented in a phased manner.

He felicitated the PSX on remarkable performance and underscored the importance of capital and monetary markets in sustainable development of a country. The finance minister also assured to start pre-budget consultation with all the stakeholders in the coming month so that their proposals could be acquired and incorporated in budget making process.

Chief Executive Officer Pakistan Stock Exchange Farukh Sabzwari, in his welcome address highlighted exceptional performance of PSX, China's strategic investment and partnership, key features and proposals for further growth of the capital market.

Later, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with DPM Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Aurangzeb, CM and Governor Sindh, chairperson and CEO of PSX struck the gong to mark the remarkable performance of PSX.