Workshop on “The Phytosociological Survey of Makran region, including SPSS tutorial guide for Graduate programs”

Turbat, December 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Department of Natural and Basic Sciences, University of Turbat (UoT) conducted a five-day training program on the “Phytosociological Survey of Makran region, including SPSS tutorial guide for Graduate programs” for the students of plant sciences from 28th November to 2nd December 2022 at UoT.

During the training program, the resource person, Prof. Dr. Hameed Baloch, Faculty of Agriculture, LUAWMS Uthal, described the Phytogeographycal point of view of Makran and conducted field visits in different areas of the Kech district. He guided the participants of the training program about the mechanism of collecting plant samples and preserving the plant samples for making herbarium.

He further trained the students that how these data are calculated and analysed using different statistical tools and software to analyze the plant diversity of areas. He also educated the students about the procedures for preserving plant seeds and analysing seed germination.

Extending his gratitude, Dr. Haneef Ur Rehman, Dean Faculty of Science and Engineering appreciated the efforts of Dr. Hameed Baloch for conducting training sessions for the young plant scientists of Balochistan which encourages them to work on the plant ecology of Balochistan.

For more information, contact:
University of Turbat
University Town Ginnah, M-8 Road Turbat,
Balochistan, Pakistan
Tel: +92-852-412045
Email: info@uot.edu.pk
Website: https://uot.edu.pk

AKUH’s Regional Laboratories across 8 Cities Receive CAP Accreditation

Karachi, December 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):They say ‘Quality is a journey, not a destination.’ This is fully embodied in the DNA of the Aga Khan University Hospital, where Quality, as one of our four guiding principles, along with Relevance, Access and Impact, is constantly invested in and progressed upon.

The latest example of this is CAP – College of American Pathologists – Accreditations for more of AKUH’s Clinical Laboratories across Pakistan. In a journey that began long before our – and Pakistan’s – first CAP accreditation in February 2017, the AKUH Main Campus has been re-accredited twice since, and now our Outreach labs are also CAP accredited.

Outreach Labs are those lab facilities which are equipped to process routine clinical lab samples quickly, so patients can get rapid turnaround on their lab tests. In the AKUH Outreach Health Network, our Outreach Labs serve their home cities, as well as surrounding geographical regions. The same level of the highest quality of testing is offered across all 290+ AKUH lab facilities in Pakistan; CAP accreditations offer external endorsements of this fact.

With this latest accreditation round, the Aga Khan University Hospital’s Main Hospital Lab and Outreach Labs in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad and Sukkur are now all CAP-accredited, offering even greater confidence to our patients and their families to the highest level of trusted quality testing that AKUH offers and is known for.

The accreditation certifies that AKUH’s clinical laboratories follow over 3,500 international standards to provide our patients with timely and accurate results every time, which is essential for timely disease diagnosis and treatment.

A team of three inspectors, Dr Aaron Han, Dr Stefan Weber and Ms Linana Seejan, who are practising professionals qualified through the CAP training programme – carried out the virtual and on-site audits of the AKUH Clinical Labs.

The audits comprised a comprehensive assessment of quality records, staff qualifications, and validation of tests, equipment, facilities, safety programmes and overall management against 3,500+ indicators that were successfully met by AKUH Clinical Labs.

Congratulating all the teams involved in achieving this milestone, AKU President, Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, said, “Our lab network’s widespread impact throughout Pakistan has contributed to AKU becoming a national institution,” adding that we have excellent leaders and teams of people, who work at our labs across the country; each one of them has played an integral role in this success.​

At a post-audit summation ceremony held at AKU’s Stadium Road campus on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, the CAP team expressed their satisfaction and delight and commended the efforts of the people who were involved in maintaining the highest quality standards across our laboratories every day.

Congratulating AKUH on achieving the CAP accreditation for the Outreach Labs, Dr Aaron Han, Chief Auditor CAP, lauded the high-quality standards throughout AKUH’s lab network and said, “Your quality systems are very strong, and you have competent people who manage your labs. You are the leader of lab systems throughout Pakistan.”​

This CAP-accredited level of quality testing is available across Pakistan to people from all walks of life; patient welfare support is offered to patients at over 240 locations across Pakistan. In addition, Zakat support to eligible and willing mustaheq is also offered at over 100 locations in the country.​

For more information, contact:
Marketing and Communications,
The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH)
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi – 74800, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-111-911-911
Email: akuh.information@aku.edu
Website: https://hospitals.aku.edu/pakistan/

IIUI Grand Mushaira on December 08 (Thursday) at 2:30 PM

Islamabad, December 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):Grand Mushaira shall be held on December 08 Thursday 2:30. The Mushaira shall be joined by renowned poets that will enthral the audience with the humorous poetry. These poets include Anwar Masood, Badar Munir, and Syed Salman Gillani, Dr. Inam ul Haq Javed, Khalid Masood and Aziz Faisal. The Extravaganza shall continue till December 09.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations,
International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI)
Room No.118, Admin Block, New Campus,
H-10 Sector, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9019249
Fax: +92-51-9257909
Email: iiuipublicrelations@iiu.edu.pk
Website: www.iiu.edu.pk

Book Fair, Food Festival for Female Students held at IIUI 

Islamabad, December 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):In connection with Extravaganza 2022, a book fair and food festival organized for the female students of International Islamic University (IIU) was inaugurated here at the new campus on Wednesday by Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon and President Islamabad Bar Shoaib Shaheen.

On the occasion, IIU President Dr. Hathal Homoud Alotaibi, Vice Presidents of the university, Deans, DGs, Students Advisors, Provosts and a large number of female students were also present. The chief guest visited the book stall set up by the publishers hailing from different cities of the country.

Meanwhile, the guests also visited the stalls of the food set up by the female students of more than 40 countries. Hailing the efforts of the Extravaganza 2022, DC Islamabad said that it is very encouraging that IIUI has provided a dedicated platform to female students to showcase their cultures and talent. He said the university management deserves appreciation for this long appreciable event to nurture the students by involving them in constructive activities.

Mr. Shoaib Shaheen said that IIUI has a legacy of providing a peaceful milieu and diverse culture. He said that on campus more than 30 thousand students are indeed ambassadors of the university who are being nurtured in an ideal learning environment. He also said that the book fair is an effort to bring youth closer to reading habits.

IIUI President said on the occasion that he was happy to see active participation of female students in all the activities of Extravaganza 2022 including the book fair. Dr. Hathal Homoud Alotaibi said that the university is keen to focus on the needs of society and we are making all our efforts to bring youth towards the initiatives that may pay back to the society.

He said university has a clear idea that youth is the biggest agent of change and this extravaganza is its true example as in dozens of events we have brought various platforms for the young talented students to shine and serve the society and humanity. On the second day of the event the students also participated in speeches, media hunt, arts exhibition, competitions of Qirat and Naat.

Grand Mushaira shall be held on December 08 Thursday 2:30. The Mushaira shall be joined by renowned poets that will enthrall the audience with the humorous poetry includes, Anwar Masood, Badar Munir, Syed Salman Gillani, Dr. Inam ul Haq Javed and Aziz Faisal. The Extravaganza shall continue till December 09.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations,
International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI)
Room No.118, Admin Block, New Campus,
H-10 Sector, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9019249
Fax: +92-51-9257909
Email: iiuipublicrelations@iiu.edu.pk
Website: www.iiu.edu.pk

Tech solutions put on display at GCU Innovation Fest 

Lahore, December 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):As many as 52 business ideas and technology, science-based solutions were put on display at the Innovation Fest 2022 by the students of Government College University Lahore. The Innovation Fest, organized by the University’s Business Incubation Center (BIC), is part of the week-long Second All Pakistan Summit for Students’ Societies attended by students of 25 universities across Pakistan.

Inaugurating the Innovation Fest, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi said these early ideas are evidence of the immense talent our young minds possess. He believed such science events motivate young students to become innovators and entrepreneurs by solving problems through technology, creativity and innovative solutions.

Prof. Zaidi claimed that GCU Lahore through the University’s science societies encourages its students to participate in developing hands-on solutions within their domains to address the current challenges faced by the industry. He directed the GCU BIC to invite industrialists and businesses to the Fest to give them an opportunity to students to showcase their research projects and innovative solutions to investors and industrialists for collaboration. “We need to give an education system and campus environment to our students that flourish diversity, curiosity and creativity in them,” Prof. Zaidi concluded.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk

Governor chairs panel discussion on challenges for higher education

Lahore, December 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):A panel discussion on “challenges and opportunities for higher education” was held here on Tuesday at the Government College University Lahore which was chaired by Governor Punjab Muhammad Baligh-Ur-Rehman. In his inaugural address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Asghar Zaidi said that structural lags impede progress in higher education; even large universities don’t have autonomy over their financial and administrative affairs.

“We don’t have the authority to hire professors from top universities; we have to follow specific service statutes and pay scales,” Prof. Zaidi said, clarifying that the standard salary packages are not lucrative enough to attract the best minds. He stressed the need for the training of faculty and yearly curriculum reforms.

Punjab governor Baligh-ur-Rehman highlighted the reforms in higher education from 2013-2018 and the need for continuity of policies for the development of institutions. “We should do a charter of the economy; so that policies don’t change with change the government,” the governor said. The governor stressed that research needs to be aligned with the needs of local industry. He said problems exist but things are improving; we have to be pragmatic and realistic about bringing reforms.

Talking to students, the governor said honesty and hard work are two gems which could earn you the highest ranks in this world and the world hereafter. He also asked students to make research part of their lives. The governor said there was a record increase in the number of universities and higher education funding during the PML-N government from 2013-18.

Information Technology University VC Dr Sarfraz Khurshid, Shaoor Foundation Executive Director Raja Shoaib Akbar and students’ representatives Raeesa Raiza and Nabiha also addressed the panel discussion. Former Secretary Punjab Higher Education Sajid Zafar Dall highlighted the importance of colleges in higher education and the need to strengthen their collaboration with universities.

Talking about research, Home Economics University VC Prof. Kanwal Ameen said mostly faculty assessments focus on a number of research papers but there is a need to enhance focus on the quality of the research. “We need to hire international faculty and need to have international students on campus so that our students could get exposure in having diversity on the campus,” she said.

Shaoor Foundation’s Raja Shoaib Akbar pointed to disparities across provinces in the universities. Bargad Executive Director Ms. Sabiha Shaheen said that female students have been outnumbering boys but there is still a lack of infrastructure for them in universities such as hostels.

Later, another panel discussion on “Journalism and Pakistan: Present and Future was held at GCU Lahore which was addressed by eminent journalists Orya Maqbool Jan, Salman Abid, Zohaib Saleem Butt, Azam Chaudhary, Ajmal Jami and Amin Hafeez. The panel discussions were part of the Second All Pakistan Summit for Students’ Societies organised by GCU in collaboration with Shaoor Foundation and Superior University.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk