Day: May 21, 2022

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Divisional structure and Club leagues introduced

Lahore, May 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):A round of healthy discussions between Cricket Associations and the Pakistan Cricket Board to further boost and develop cricket at pathways and grassroots concluded on Friday.

In a bid to bolster pathways structure, U19 and senior divisional tournaments have been introduced, which will sit between City Cricket Association and Cricket Association levels. Divisional tournaments will provide up and coming cricketers opportunities to nurture their talents and players struggling at the first-class and Second XI to regain their rhythm and form.

Each CA will have four divisional sides. The senior divisional teams will compete in three-day double-round robin tournaments and the U19 teams will play one-day tournaments.

A club cricket structure based on three tiers has been introduced to ensure cricket continues to grow at grassroots and players aspiring to graduate to apex level get ample opportunities to prove their mettle. The clubs, based on their performances in the last season, will be split into three divisions with the promotion and relegation system.

The clubs will play at least seven matches each in summer and winter leagues.

PCB Director – High Performance, Nadeem Khan: “We had a series of fruitful discussions with the chief executives of all Cricket Associations and it makes me very happy that we have been able to reach a consensus on a pathway and grassroots structure which will further strengthen our cricket.

“It is our vision to eradicate the system of open trials as no player can establish their credentials in a span of few balls or overs. To gauge the talent of a player and provide them with the desired resources to upskill themselves in terms of skills and fitness, it is important that we have a proper structure at every level of the game.

“I want to thank all the chief executives for taking out their time to have these discussions over two days at the National High Performance Centre in Lahore, and I am sure they will go a long way in development and promotion of the game.”

For more information, contact:
Media Manager,
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-5717231-4
Fax: +92-42-5711860
Website: www.pcb.com.pk

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Pakistan’s Prof Bhutta ranked among top 100 scientists in medicine globally

Karachi, May 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):Professor Zulfiqar Bhutta of the Aga Khan University (AKU) has been ranked among the top 100 medicine scientists in the first edition of top scientists ranking for medicine published by Research.com, one of the major knowledge centres for medicine research.

The ranking is based on criteria that considers h-index, which indicates how productive and influential a researcher is, publications and citations. The ranking team examined 166,880 scientists on Google Scholar and Microsoft Academic Graph, and over 65,743 profiles for the discipline of medicine. Professor Bhutta is the only scientist from Pakistan and the low- and middle-income countries who made it to the top 100.

“As is the case for other recent recognitions, though a personal recognition, this ranking reflects the achievements of scores of young researchers and faculty members across the world who have worked with me on problems of the most marginalized and impoverished women and children in poor communities,” commented Professor Bhutta, who is the founding director of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health and the Institute for Global Health and Development at AKU; and Co-Director of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, Robert Harding Chair in Global Child Health and Policy, and a Senior Scientist in the Child Health Evaluative Sciences programme at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.

“Congratulations to Professor Bhutta and his team for this great achievement. Their relevant research at AKU has changed lives not only in the countries where we seek to serve but also globally,” said AKU President Sulaiman Shahabuddin. Professor Bhutta is one of the original members of AKU’s faculty since the establishment of the University. Having begun his career at AKU in 1986, the University provided a foundation for the development of an illustrious career in which he built research programmes on maternal and child health and nutrition with national and global impact, despite the challenges of political turmoil and economic insecurity in Pakistan.

Between 1996 and 2002, Professor Bhutta and his team at the University undertook extensive community outreach and research programme in an urban slum of Karachi and several rural areas of Pakistan, which then expanded to many regions and provinces of Pakistan as well as other low- and middle-income countries. Over the last two decades, he has closely collaborated with the government of Pakistan to assess effectiveness of health care approaches and innovations in real-world settings through partnering with public sector community health workers.

Many of these large community-based cluster randomized trials led by Professor Bhutta have generated findings that changed global policy, most notably the finding that using chlorhexidine for cord care among home births was associated with significant reduction in the risk of neonatal sepsis and death, and that public sector community health workers could successfully work with communities to reach those at greatest risk and reduce perinatal mortality as well as maternal morbidities.

His work has been the foundation of multiple international guidelines, including changing World Health Organization policy on the treatment of persistent diarrhoea and malnutrition along with establishing lady health workers (LHW) as foundational members of community-based interventions in Pakistan, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. His team in Pakistan and Canada has extensively worked on strategies to improve maternal and child health and nutrition in conflict settings and emergencies. Notably his team works with community volunteers and health workers in tribal areas of Pakistan to improve polio and routine immunization coverage.

At AKU, Professor Bhutta holds the title of Distinguished University Professor – the highest faculty rank the University can confer – as well as an Award of Distinction and Award of Excellence in Research. He has received several international awards and recognition. Recently, he received the Roux Prize for turning evidence into health impact and the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for outstanding achievements in global health research.

For more information, contact:
Media Executive
Department of Public Affairs
Aga Khan University (AKU)
Stadium Road, Karachi
Tel: +92-21-34930051
Fax: +92-21-34934294, +92-21-34932095
Cell: +92-301-8258028
Email: rasool.sarang@aku.edu, public.affairs@aku.edu​
Website: www.aku.edu

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Bilingual Declamation Contest-2022 

Wah Cantt, May 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):UW Literary and Debating Society organized a “Bilingual Declamation Contest-2022” on 17 May, 2022. Students from other universities including UET, Taxila; COMSATS, Wah Campus; HITEC, Taxila; Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan participated in the event. The English declamation contest was won by Khushal Khan from Department of Civil Engineering, UET, Taxila whereas Amna Jamil from UW Department of Psychology secured the 2nd position.

Third position was awarded to Zobia Arooj from UW Department of Biosciences. In the Urdu declamation contest, Fahd Fawad Ali Shah from UW Department of English bagged the 1st Position, M. Ali from UW Department of Civil Engineering stood 2nd while Laiba Javaid from UW Department of English secured the 3rd Position. In the end, winners were awarded Shields and Certificates were distributed among all contestants. The event was attended by more than 300 students both from within and outside UW.

For more information, contact:
University of Wah
Quaid Avenue, Wah Cantt, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9157000, 905525256-7
Email: info@uow.edu.pk
Website: http://www.uow.edu.pk/Default.aspx

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GST waiver on solar panels hailed 

Karachi, May 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday warmly welcomed the announcement of the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, to remove 17 percent general sales tax (GST) on solar panels and strongly demanded to manufacture solar panels locally under imports substitution program on war footing basis.

PDP Chairman Altaf Shakoor said in a statement that his party has already demanded that policies should be made to ensure that Pakistan goes solar, as salvage of our economy, as well as, securing future of our coming generations is linked to renewable energy.

He appreciated that the prime minister has stressed the need for a compulsory solar geyser policy for every household. He said that the Prime Minister is right when he says that currently, Pakistan’s oil import bill stood at $20bn, which could only be reduced by promoting green energy.

The country has huge potential of alternative energy resources in Sindh and Balochistan areas as well as Bahawalpur. Altaf Shakoor said that banning import of luxury goods would save our economy and help bridging yawing current account, as well as, trade deficit. He said after costly foreign loans, huge oil import bill is another major factor devouring our foreign exchange reserves. He said it would take decades to come out of the foreign debt trap, but going solar could provide some relief in shape of lesser oil imports.

He said it would also reduce skyrocketing bills of domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural electricity consumers. He said solar run tube-wells and solar-run desalination plants could bring a green revolution in Pakistan. He said going solar would also help cutting emission of green house gases and mitigate harmful environmental changes.

He congratulated the Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and industrialists of the mega city for convincing the premier to abolish GST on solar panels and added that the next big task it how to manufacture the solar panels and accessories locally. He said presently Pakistan imports solar panels from China and huge foreign exchange is spent on it.

He said our industrial base is strong enough to manufacture the solar panels in our own country. He also sought a role of Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) in this regard. He said the PEC is a prestigious forum of Pakistani engineers but it is playing the role of a silent spectator when it is matter of engineering innovations and introduction of modern engineering manufacturing locally. He said India is making their own cars but Pakistan is still just a vehicle assembling country.

He said we should now make our own products instead of assembling and packaging foreign goods. He said why not we are focusing on technology transfer and technology development. He said our engineering universities are teaching outdated syllabus and they don’t promote technology research and development and start-up culture among students. He demanded overhauling the higher education system in Pakistan and bring modern changes to meet prevailing and future market requirements instead of teaching students about decades old outdated theoties, technologies and concepts.

Altaf Shakoor said that reducing imports is not just agenda of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but it is national agenda. This should be the agenda of all political parties of Pakistan. He said we have one hundred and one topics for politicking but for God’s sake economy should be spared from political mudslinging. He said solidarity of Pakistan is above all political considerations. He said this is an economic emergency and all political actors should a mature, responsible and patriotic attitude in this regard.

For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Pasban Democratic Party (PDP)
Pasban Central Secretariat
Office # 9, Five Star Center,
Block 11, University Road, Opp. Ibne Sina Hospital,
Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi
Tel: +92-21-34024480-81
Cell: +92-322-2212434
Email: pasban.ppick@gmail.com
Website: www.pasban.org

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IBA Karachi and Aga Khan University collaborate to facilitate research opportunities in Non-communicable diseases 

Karachi, May 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi and Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University (AKU), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide a fully funded, research training opportunity in Data Science and Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to four candidates. The MoU signing ceremony was held at AKU and Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director, IBA; and Mr. Sulaiman Shahbuddin, President, AKU, graced the event as chief guests.

Dr. Shakeel Khoja, Dean School of Mathematics and Computer Science (SMCS), IBA and Dr. Adil Haider, Dean Medical College, AKU signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions. The collaboration aims to enable and support aspirational Data Science students interested in the research of NCDs. Selected students will be fully funded for their Master’s in Data Science from SMCS, IBA, and will be provided with the opportunity to work as a paid Research Instructor for two years at the Department of Medicine, AKU. Furthermore, the program includes mentorship by IBA, AKU and Duke University Faculty.

The IBA team included, Dr. Tariq Mahmood, Professor and Program Coordinator, MS Computer Science and MS Data science programs; Dr. Shahid Hussain, Chairperson, Computer Science department; and Dr. Sajjad Haider, Professor, Computer Science department. AKU was represented by Dr. Zainab Samad, Ibn-e-Sina Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine and Director, CITRIC Health Data Science Centre; Dr. Adil Haider, Dean Medical College, and other faculty members.

The event commenced with opening remarks by Dr. Zainab Samad and Dr. Gerald Bloomfield, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine and Global Health Institute, Duke University. A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Sarmad ensued and included the following speakers: Dr. Sajjad Haider, Professor, Computer Science Department, IBA; Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, AKU; Dr. John Bartlett, Professor of Medicine, Global Health and Nursing, Duke University; Dr. Ayeesha Kamal, Professor of Neurology, AKU and Dr. Ayesha Almas, Associate Professor of Medicine, AKU.

Dr. Haider elaborated that the collaboration would enable academics from AKU and IBA to investigate the applications of existing machine learning algorithms for healthcare problems such as patient stay prediction, the possibility of readmission, and early warning systems to predict patient risk at an early stage. Additionally, the joint effort would also focus on the application of computer vision techniques on medical images and text analytics techniques on clinical notes and radiologist reports. This collaboration would also provide an avenue to develop novel methods for explainable Artificial Intelligence in the health domain.

Addressing the audience Dr. Zaidi commended AKU for organizing an excellent event and for playing an integral role in this collaboration between IBA, AKU and Duke University to train researchers who can understand and contribute towards suggesting and developing low-cost solutions to NCDs. He also said that this collaboration will bring great research opportunities for his colleagues.

Sharing his views, Dr. Khoja said that “This is a unique academic partnership in Pakistan between the IBA and AKU, where academics will work in their own domains to carry out research in order to solve local problems and challenges.” Expressing his appreciation, Mr. Shahbuddin thanked Dr. Zaidi for gracing the event with his presence. Furthermore, he said that as a proud IBA alumnus, he was delighted at this collaboration between the two finest institutes, the AKU and the IBA, which have come together to deliver this project on Data Science and building capacities for research in NCDs in Pakistan.

Speaking about the Program structure, Dr. Tariq Mahmood said, “The exact method through which this program will be executed is through first identifying the NCD health indicators. Then we are going to create problem statements and research questions pertaining to the improvement of these health indicators. We will then convert these problems to formal projects to be executed in the MSDS program as MS theses, MS projects or course projects. Furthermore, we will strive for maximum performance through aggressive hands-on activities in data science skills.”

For more information, contact:
Executive, Communication and Public Affairs,
Institute of Business Administration Karachi (IBA)
Main Campus: University Road, Karachi – 75270, Pakistan
UAN: +92-21-111-422-422 (Ext. 269)
Fax: +92-21-99261508
Email: raza.lakhani@khi.iba.edu.pk
Website: https://www.iba.edu.pk

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Current trends and issues of quality assurance practices

Faisalabad, May 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):Quality Enhancement Cell, The University of Faisalabad organized a one-day workshop on “Current Trends and Issues of Quality Assurance Practices in Pakistan’s Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)” in Health Sciences wing TUF. Mr Aqeel Akhter Khan, Director, Quality Assurance Agency, HEC and Prof Dr Saeed Ahmad Buzdar, Director QEC, Islamia University of Bahawalpur were the guest speakers. Dr Muhammad Zeeshan Khan, Director QEC TUF described the role of QEC in Higher Education Institutions. Directors of QECs from various universities of Pakistan attended this useful session.

For more information, contact:
The University of Faisalabad
Health Sciences Campus (For Female)
Sargodha Road University Town, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-41-8868326-30
Fax: +92-41-8868220
Email: admission@tuf.edu.pk
Website: www.tuf.edu.pk