Author Archives: mak3mirz

Pakistan is among chosen 22 to lead economic growth

In 2005 when all our economic indicators were positive and showing an upward trend, Pakistan was added to the list called NEXT-11, a group of 11 countries – Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey, South Korea, and Vietnam – that global financial institutions and researchers felt would lead the future global economic growth, behind the G-7 countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, and USA – and BRIC countries (abbreviation for Brazil, Russia, India, and China). It was a great honour and a testimony that we are among the largest contributors of the world.

These 22 economies of the world have been individually selected by global institutions and have been earmarked to lead global economic growth into the 21st century. These countries currently account for 75% of global GDP and 70% of its population. It is pertinent to note that these 22 nations account for a mere 10% of the countries in the World Bank’s global database.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/417914/line-up-pakistan-among-chosen-22-to-lead-economic-growth/

Halal industry: Pakistan has more potential than Malaysia

Although there is uncertainty on who issues halal certification for McDonald’s food sold in Pakistan, there is no ambiguity at all on the importance of eating halal in the life of over 1.6 billion Muslims in the world.

Consequently, a new and dynamic global halal industry is thriving. The halal brand is not only relevant to food but also pharmaceuticals and fashion including make-up, leather bags and shoes. In countries like Malaysia, the government is pushing hard to make the country a global hub for halal products. This is in addition to the central position that Malaysia has already acquired for itself in the field of Islamic banking and finance.

As Pakistan is another country where Islamic banking and finance is thriving – with over 8% share of Islamic banks in the national banking sector – the relevance of the halal industry is even more important. Malaysia is a country with approximately 29 million people, with about 60% Muslim population. Pakistan, on the other hand, has a population of over 170 million, and predominantly Muslim. Furthermore, unlike Malaysia where production and consumption of non-halal items like alcoholic beverages and other food items like pork are readily available, Pakistan has a more pure regime where consumption of alcohol is banned except for a tiny non-Muslim population and the use of pork and other non-halal food items are virtually non-existent. Hence, Pakistan stands a better chance of emerging as a global hub for the halal industry.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/417896/halal-industry-pakistan-has-more-potential-than-malaysia-to-thrive/

With a population of over 170 million Pakistan has a better chance of becoming the global hub for the halal industry

12-year-old to participate in Istanbul Chess Olympiad

LAHORE: Mehak Gul, 12, will leave for Istanbul this Monday as part of the 10-member team which will represent Pakistan in the World Chess Olympiad. 

Gul will be the youngest participant to represent Pakistan in the tournament.

Gul- who has been playing chess since the age of six- recently came in the limelight after securing positions in chess championships at provincial and national levels. A student of the Lahore Garrison School in Township, Gul won school chess championship back in 2010 after which she participated in the Punjab Chess Championship in June this year. She came third in the competition.

Her father and her coach, Mohammad Zahid said he was proud of her daughter’s talent.

“Her performance in all the tournaments has been beyond my expectations,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/425860/12-year-old-to-participate-in-istanbul-chess-olympiad/

Gul has been playing chess since the age of six

Pakistani student proves research, wins $250k scholarship

KHAIRPUR: Shadab Rasool Abro, a student of matriculation and a resident of Khairpur, was given an award as well as a scholarship worth 250,000 dollars by the US State University of New York for presenting his research in the field of Bio Chemical.

The student of Pak-Turk School, talking to Geo New said he had conducted a modern research in the field of Bio Chemical and also worked on a project with an amazing result.

On an invitation from the US State University of News York, Shadab Rasool Abro visited the varsity and performed a successful experiment on the basis of his research. This won him an award and a scholarship worth 250,000 dollars in the US.

http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=63379

Tandoori Boy tops in graduation exam

LAHORE: Muhammad Mohsin, son of a labourer of Hafizabad, has topped the list by obtaining 688 numbers in Punjab University (PU) graduation (B.A/B.Sc) exam.

Talking to ‘Geo News’, Muhammad Mohsin said he is son of a labourer and works at Tandoor to help his father. ‘I could not afford college fees due to this I appeared in private exams’, he said and added ‘I want to get masters (M.Sc) but cannot pay the fee’

He requested Punjab the Punjab government to provide give him scholarship so that he could continue his education.

Parents of Muhammad Mohsin are very happy on this great achievement of their son.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-62936-Tandoor-boy-tops-in-graduation-exam—

Muhammad found time to study in between working at his father’s tandoor

 

 

Engro Foods wins ‘G20 Challenge’ award

The Group of 20 announced the winners of the G20 Challenge on Inclusive Business Innovation, a global competition managed by International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. Engro Foods Limited of Pakistan was among the winners.

Ambassador Rogelio Granguillhome, Executive Secretary of the Mexican Agency for International Development Co-operation and Chair of the G20 Development Working Group, presented the awards at a ceremony, says a press release here on Wednesday. The world’s leading economies launched the G20 Challenge to rapidly expand commercially viable businesses that serve the large numbers of low-income people that constitute the base of the global economic pyramid. Its goal is to identify, showcase, and support innovative business models that can be replicated across developing countries.

“The winners demonstrate that commercially viable companies can also provide economic opportunities for poor people – along with better access to clean water, electricity, health care, education, housing, phone services, and financial services,” said Lars Thunell, IFC Executive Vice President and CEO. “They provide impressive models for others to follow.”

http://www.brecorder.com/business-a-economy/189/1203004/

Engro Foods has more than 1,000 locations where farmers can walk in and sell their milk

‘Call a Rik’ at your doorstep

Karachi: Lined neatly in a row are 27 white auto rickshaws with spotless doors and glass windows. On a blue strip on their back a number is painted. Once they are out on the streets, they will give conventional rickshaws a run for their money.

The Call-a-Rik project, launched on July 24, brings a rickshaw to one’s doorstep. Moreover, it gives one what one can call a luxury rickshaw ride with a backseat as big as Suzuki Mehran, doors which close like a car’s doors, an LCD screen for entertainment, and headphones for every passenger to buffer the noise outside. All that for an affordable price of Rs10 per kilometer on weekdays and Rs12 per kilometer on weekends.

You can call or SMS for booking at 0331-CALLRIK (2255 745) or visit www.callarik.com

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-122943-Call-a-Rik-at-your-doorstep

Pakistani students sweep debating competition in Mexico

KARACHI: For the three 15-year-old students selected to represent Pakistan in one of the largest high school tournaments in the world, The Karl Popper Debating Championship (KPDC), the first-time visit to Mexico became their time to shine.

Not only did the Pakistani team win the final against the team from South Korea, but all three participants were listed in the top 10 speakers of tournament. The titled was achieved after winning through 6 preliminary rounds, 3 elimination rounds and the grand final.

Karachi Grammar School student Zainab Hameed was named the top speaker of the competition while Azeem Liaquat, student of the Salamat International Campus for Advanced Studies in Lahore, came second. Their compatriot, Ahmed Shujaan from the Aitchison College, was not far behind either and bagged the fifth position among more than 200 participants.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/416178/team-pakistan-sweeps-debating-competition-in-mexico/

Islamic artist finds peace in his work

The calligrapher of the Prophet’s Mosque, Shafeeq uz Zaman, is from Pakistan. Since 1990, he has been doing calligraphy work (in the Thuluth script) on the mosque’s 177 domes. He won second prize at the International Calligraphy Competition in Istanbul, Turkey and has also won several competitions at national and international levels. Hundreds of Arabs and Turkish people are students of Ustadh Shafeeq.

It is astonishing that he learned calligraphy on his own and calls himself the spiritual student of the renowned 20th century calligrapher, Ustadh Hamid Al-Amidi.

Ustadh Shafeeq thinks in the period of computers, calligraphy’s importance will not fade. He also says he finds peace while doing calligraphy in the Prophet’s Mosque and cannot find this anywhere else. He shared his experiences and achievements in an interview with Khalid Khurshid.

http://www.arabnews.com/islamic-artist-finds-peace-his-work

Shafeeq was found creating signboards on a street in Karachi by a Saudi Sheikh who was impressed with his work and employed him

Imran Khan awarded fellowship by Royal College of Physicians

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has been awarded an honorary fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) in recognition for his contribution to cancer services.

The fellowship has been awarded for his contribution through the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre.

The RCPE is a professional membership organisation with a membership of over 10,000 “fellows” in 91 countries.

Imran Khan founded Shaukat Khanum on December 29, 1994.

The inspiration for the hospital and research centre came after the death of his mother, Mrs Shaukat Khanum, due to cancer.

The trust uses donations to help patients with cancer through the application of modern methods of curative and palliative therapy free of cost.

Positive Pakistani: Wise beyond his years

Seventeen-year-old Ghalib Khalil’s parents always knew that their son was a bit of a philanthropist. “Every time we saw a beggar on the street, he would force us to give something,” says his mother, recalling Ghalib’s childhood. “He was always curious about why people were weak, sick and poor.”

While he may not be a household name in Pakistan, he has certainly won accolades in the wider world. The Huffington Post, in partnership with youth service America included him in their list of 25 most powerful and influential young people in the world list for his relief work during the floods. The list was aimed at promoting teenagers and young adults who were having a positive effect on their community — and if anyone fit that bill, it was Ghalib!

Through his work, Ghalib has put that philosophy into action. He may not have a future plan of action sorted out already, but he knows what his calling is. “My message to young Pakistanis, and people from around the world, is that they should let go of their differences to rescue the downtrodden and secure the oppressed.”

http://tribune.com.pk/story/389694/positive-pakistani-wise-beyond-his-years/

After the 2010 floods, Ghalib managed to collect 10 million rupees under the aegis of his newly formed NGO

PK’s Who’s Who: Omar Khan

Omar Khan
Consulting Magazine’s Top 25 Consultants

Omar Khan was born in Egypt, the son of Pakistani diplomats, and has lived in Germany, the United States, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, England, Japan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Dubai and Singapore. Omar has been rated in the “Top 25 Consultants in the World” in Consulting Magazine’s annual award, the first time the honor has been given to someone from a boutique consulting firm. His firm, Sensei International is ranked by LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE Magazine as being among the Top 25 leadership development firms in the world.

Khan was a pioneer in Neuro-linguistic programming, and tapped that background when he founded Sensei International, a global leadership development and consulting firm with 20 people in the U.S., the U.K., Asia Pacific, the Middle East and South Asia.

In 1992, Khan created a firm called Training 2000 in Pakistan, fertile ground with enough business and hardly any consulting firms.

He was nominated for the Top 25 award by more than a dozen clients, which include American Express, 3M, Johnson & Johnson, Ritz-Carlton and Unilever.

http://consultingmag.com/article/ART648076

Pakistani photographer gets IPC award

New York: The International Photographic Council (IPC), an NGO of the United Nations, has awarded Muzammil Izhar Siddiqui the IPC Distinguished Service Award-2012.

The award was given for Mr Siddiqui’s services rendered for the promotion of peace in Pakistan and abroad through his photographs at the annual IPC Pro Award ceremony held recently at the UN headquarters in New York.

Having been in this field for nearly 15 years as an amateur, Mr Siddiqui teaches photography at university level and is a guest editor of a Japanese weekly, Pen News. He also organises shows and publishes an Urdu photographic magazine Fotoline.

http://dawn.com/2012/07/05/pakistani-gets-ipc-award/

Muzammil Siddiqui wearing his IPC medal

Honest Police constable returns Rs 5.5 million

MINGORA: A police constable from Swat has created a new standard for honesty. The police constable found Rs5.5 million and returned it.

Ayaz Mian was on his way home after performing his duty as part of the security escort of a civil judge when he found the bag filled with money lying on the roadside.

He initially took the money to his house and began the search for its owner. After some time, Ayaz heard the owner of the money announcing that he had lost it on a loud speaker.

After ascertaining that this was the rightful owner, the police constable returned the money and was offered a Rs500,000 reward which he refused to accept.

 http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=56858

From ball-boy to tennis champion

KARACHI: Asheesh, who at first glance would seem like any other less-fortunate 9-year-old boy from Karachi, is far from it. He is not just a breadwinner for his family by being a handy-man to the gardener at the Defence Authority (DA) Club, he is also a young tennis prodigy, who recently became the under-9 Sindh tennis champion.

Barely two weeks ago, Asheesh, along with being a handy-man, worked as a ball- boy, picking up tennis balls on the courts. Little did he know that all the time he spent on the court, intently watching the players plying their trade would help and inspire him to become a champion. According to the secretary of the Sindh Tennis Association (STA), Khalid Rehmani, who is also the organiser of the Maroof Trophy Tennis Championship where Asheesh won the title, the boy caught everyone’s eye. He ended up outplaying 20 other children who were professionally trained by coaches.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/399780/from-ball-boy-to-tennis-champion/

Qureshi/Rojer Capture Halle Trophy

In Halle, top seeds Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer captured the Gerry Weber Open title on Sunday, beating Treat Conrad Huey and Scott Lipsky 6-3, 6-4.

The Roland Garros semi-finalists won 80 per cent of their service points and broke Huey and Lipsky once in each set to wrap up the final victory in just under one hour.

“I knew it was going to be a tough final. I played Huey three times this year and Lipsky twice, so we had a little bit of an idea on what to do. Because they had lost to us, we knew they would come in pumped, so we expected them to play really well,” Qureshi told ATPWorldTour.com.

“The whole tournament, the key for us has been to stay positive and use our momentum from Roland Garros. We ended up doing it and I’m really happy with how we played during the week, dealing with the different situations we were in. Last year, it was very special to win here. But defending a title for the first time in my career is definitely very sweet and I’d like to thank my partner Jules for making it happen.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/06/24/Doubles-Halle-London-Sunday.aspx

Pakistani chef spices up American cooking show

While friends were applying to Ivy Leagues and Oxbridge, up to five or six universities at a time, Ali applied to just one; a culinary institute in upstate New York.

While her mother supported her decision, her father, a well-known barrister in Lahore, initially urged her to apply to law schools instead, finally coming around after much persuasion. For 16-year-old Ali, there was no two ways about it – she started cooking at five and this would be her future.

Single-minded in her goal, her stubbornness combined with passion eventually helped her win an episode of the reality cooking show ‘Chopped’ which aired on June 12 on The Food Network in the United States.

The 22-year-old, who is a sous chef at Café Centro in mid-town Manhattan, remembers watching food television religiously. BBC Food while she was in Karachi and then The Food Network when she moved to the US. “My sister would beg me to change the channel, especially during Ramazan, but I would be like ‘no, no, no’, eventually my entire family was addicted.”

When Chopped first aired on US television, Ali, who was then a student at the Culinary Institute of America, was hooked to it. “I convinced myself I would do it one day,” recalls Ali.

http://dawn.com/2012/06/18/pakistani-chef-spices-american-cooking-show/

Ali works as a sous chef in a restaurant that can seat up to 420 people and sees a lunchtime crowd of 150 people every hour

Gulgee’s Buzkashi sells for record £61000 at Bonhams

A stunning image by one of Pakistan’s foremost modern artists Ismail Gulgee led a strong selection of works by major South Asian artists at Bonhams Annual Summer Sale of Modern and Contemporary South Asian art in New Bond Street, London.

The sale included works by well-known Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan artists such as MF Husain, Sadequain, Jamil Naqsh and AR Chughtai, sourced from private collections in Europe and the US.

The auction presented the largest group of works by Pakistani masters to ever come under the hammer at an international auction. Gulgee’s 1965 work titled Buzkashi – given a reserve price of £15,000-£25,000 – which depicts Afghanistan’s national sport, was one of the highlights of this section, more than doubling its upper estimate to finally go for £61,250. The sale price is a record for an oil-on-canvas work by Pakistani artist and follows the success of previous watercolours by Gulgee that have also sold for record amounts through Bonhams.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C06%5C15%5Cstory_15-6-2012_pg9_12

The painting more than doubled its upper estimate and went for £61,250

Aman Foundation enhances beach-rescue services

KARACHI – A ceremony was held to inaugurate lifeguard services with an aim to provide safety to the 2 million annual beach goers of Karachi. “Aman-PALS” lifeguard services are a much needed public service made possible by Aman Foundation and Pakistan Life Saving (“PALS”). 
 
Taking note of the massive impact of life guard services, which brought drowning rates to nil on the beaches of Karachi, AMAN Foundation has decided to become one of the primary organizations to sustain the invaluable lifeguard services for the next 5 years.

The lifeguards are selected by PALS and then trained by the best in the field, courtesy of “Surf Life Saving”-New Zealand and “Surf Life Saving”-Australia, to turn them into contributing members of their communities and their households. Aman-PALS will not only ensure safety at Karachi beaches but will also sustain and build a thriving social enterprise. This is a prime example of the grass roots approach that AMAN Foundation takes to transform lives.

The lifeguard services were first revived by Aman Foundation in early 2011 through disbursement of a capacity building grant to PALS. During the period June to December 2011, the lifeguards successfully rescued over 300 lives and administered first aid to over 400 beach visitors. The launch of Aman-PALS lifeguard services comes at an important time when thousands flock every month due to the summer season and the rough sea necessitates such free public safety.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/06/12/city/karachi/aman-foundation-enhances-beach-rescue-services/

The Aman grant will provide employment opportunities to more than 120 local lifeguards belonging to the low income coastal communities.

TCF student wins USA Art Competition

Karachi: The TCF Family is proud of young Shahid Wajid Ali who is among the winners of 2012 Space Foundation Student Art Contest. TCF Student Shahid is one of the 36 winners (in different categories) out of more than 1,500 global entries! Because the winners are from all over the world, instead of having a ceremony, the space foundation made a video featuring astronauts who announced names of the young winners.

Based in USA, The Space Foundation, sponsor of the 2012 Space Foundation Student Art Contest, is a global, nonprofit leader in space awareness, educational programs that bring space into the classroom and major industry events, including the National Space Symposium. The winning entries of this competition were displayed in the Ball Aerospace Exhibit Center Pavilion at the Space Foundation’s 28th National Space Symposium at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs (April 16-19). Furthermore, all the winning entries were also displayed on http://www.artsonia.com/space, an online museum of exceptional student artwork.

To financially support his family, he has been working at a small embroidery setup in his street. Since the tender age of nine he has been working there learning the art of threadwork (zari ka kaam) his tender fingers have been bruised hundreds of times in the process of learning this art but Shahid has never given up.

http://tcf.org.pk/storyDetail.aspx?id=85&year=2012&p=1

Shahid is one of the 36 winners out of more than 1,500 global entries

Pakistani prodigy sets world record

LAHORE: Pakistani student, Shayan Anique Akhtar, has set a world record in Microsoft Professional Certificate programme by achieving 998 marks out of a total of 1000, Geo News reported.

 His name has been entered in the Guinness Book of World Records for this accomplishment.

 Shayan is also scheduled to meet Bill Gates in July this year on a special invitation of the Microsoft founder.

 He is also a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Professional Developer (MPD).

http://pk.msn.com/pakistan-news/news/126145/pakistani-prodigy-sets-world-record.aspx?region=pk.&featuredpk

Shayan is scheduled to meet Bill Gates in July this year on special invitation from the Microsoft founder

Big win for Pakistan at Karl Popper Debates

It was a big win for Pakistan when their team were declared winners of the first Asian Karl Popper Debate Championship and all three members of the team emerged the top speaker, runner-up and fifth. 

Zainab Shahid, aged 17, leapt out of her seat when Pakistan 2 was declared winner as her teammates Aleena Ali, 17, Murtaza Chaudhry, 18, and their coach Haider Khan cheered. They beat the Nepal 2 team in the grand finals which was held in Pattaya on May 18.

Noel Selegzi, Program Director of OSF Youth Initiatives presented the challenge trophy to teams Pakistan 2 and Nepal 2.

Earlier in his speech, he said: “You come from a wide range of countries – a wide spectrum from closed to open. This forum is to prepare you to discuss critical issues in a responsible manner. We see debate as a means to promote open society.

The top 5 speakers had 4 contestants from Pakistan:

1st        Aleena Ali (Pakistan 2)                                   467 points

2nd       Yondeen Sherpa (Nepal 2)                              466 points

3rd        Zainab Shahid (Pakistan 2)                            464 points

4th        Isha Raut (Pakistan 2)                                       459 points

5th        Murtaza Chaudhry (Pakistan 2)                      459 points

http://ayf2012.netii.net/big-win-for-pakistan-at-first-asian-kpdc/

PK’s Who’s Who: Chacha Cricket

Chaudhry Abdul Jalil (Urdu: چوہدری عبدالجلیل) aka Chacha Cricket (Urdu: چاچا کرکٹ) is one of Pakistan’s most ardent and famous cricket mascots and fans. “Chacha Cricket” literally means “Uncle Cricket”. He was born in Daska, Punjab on October 8, 1949 close to Sialkot, north-west Pakistan, and watched his first international match on the Colin Cowdrey tour of 1969.

Whatever time he could get away from his job in the forestry department in the United Arab Emirates would be spent either playing or watching the game. He started to be recognised by other Pakistan fans and a cult soon developed around his patriotic slogans. Then, in 1997, he was taken by the idea of having an outfit made for him in Pakistan’s colours. In the 1980s, Jalil used to work in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He later resigned from his job and began to follow the Pakistan national team around the world on a full-time basis. As his fame increased, the Pakistan Cricket Board hired him and currently sponsor him to travel around the world following the Pakistan team.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/hi/newsid_2790000/newsid_2790600/2790609.stm

Pakistani doctor inducted into Medical Hall of Fame

WASHINGTON: Illustrious Pakistani doctor S Amjad Hussain, has been inducted into the Medical Mission Hall in Toledo, Ohio.

Amjad Hussain is one of 34 individuals from around the world who are now members of the Medical Mission Hall of Fame. The MMHOF was created in 2004 to honor those individuals and organisations who have made significant and substantial contributions to advancing the medical well-being of people throughout the world.

A native of Peshawar, Dr Hussain has participated in medical and teaching missions for more than 40 years. He has traveled to the Dominican Republic, China, Libya, India and Pakistan, where he has taught a legion of medical students and doctors and has donated tons of supplies and equipment. Professor emeritus of thoracic cardiovascular surgery at the University of Toledo, he is a graduate of Khyber Medical College in Peshawar.

The inventor of two surgical devices – the pleuro-peritoneal shunt and a special endotracheal tube to supply oxygen during fiberoptic broncchoscopy in awake patients – he was recognised by the Khyber Medical College with its first lifetime achievement award during its golden jubilee celebration in 2005.

Dr Hussain is the author of seven Urdu and six English books on diverse subjects including religion, culture, history and international relations.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/378986/illustrious-pakistani-doctor-inducted-into-medical-hall-of-fame/

“One pound fish” internet sensation

He’s the internet sensation who sells fish with a song.

Muhammad Shahid Nazir – who is from Lahore in Pakistan – has notched up over a million YouTube hits after performing his “one pound fish” song at Queen’s market in east London.

He’s now getting cover versions made of the song by pop stars including Mindless Behaviour and Alesha Dixon.

The BBC Asian Network‘s Shabnam Mahmood went down to meet him.

Video produced by the BBC’s Dan Curtis

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18061205

Citi Pakistan wins ‘Best CSR Programme’ award

KARACHI: Citi Pakistan has been awarded the ‘Best Community Programme’ award for its pioneering work in microfinance and vocational training at the International CSR Awards 2012. The bank has been focusing its programmes on microentrepreneurship for vulnerable groups, including helping female entrepreneurs set up businesses. This is evidenced through the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) programme, which has been run in association with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) for the past eight years through an annual grant provided by the Citi Foundation. staff report.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C05%5C01%5Cstory_1-5-2012_pg10_2

 

 

Pakistani Doctor named ‘Scientist of the Year-2012’

A Pakistan-based scientist has been honoured by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), the body said in a statement released this week.

Dr Yusuf Zafar, who is the director general agriculture and biotechnology at the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission was declared ‘Scientist of the Year-2012’ for his pioneering work in the cotton biotechnology sector.

Zafar has over 110 scientific papers (published in national and international journals) to his name. According to ICAC, “in cotton virology his group covers nearly 90 per cent of the global published literature.”

The Faisalabad-based scientist played a key role in bringing together the world’s major cotton groups, including Australia, China, UK and USA, for the purpose of conducting joint research.

http://dawn.com/2012/05/04/pakistani-cotton-scientist-declared-the-worlds-best-in-2012/

http://icac.org/technical-information/researcher-of-the-year/2012_yusuf_zafar

In cotton virology Dr. Yusuf Zafar group covers nearly 90 per cent of the global published literature

Whiz kid: 14-year-old to present first research paper

After breaking four world records, 14-year-old whiz kid from Dera Ismail Khan, Babar Iqbal is now set to present his first research paper at the 8th IEEE International Conference on Innovations in Information Technology.

Iqbal will present a paper on digital forensic science, the field that covers the recovery and investigation of data from digital devices and is often used to aid computer crime investigations.

This is not the first time Iqbal has been in the spotlight, he was the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and the youngest Certified Internet Web Professional (CIWA) at the age of nine.

He then went on to become the youngest Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA), youngest Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) and youngest Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) in .NET 3.5 at the age of 10, 11 and 12 respectively.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/333906/whiz-kid-after-4-world-records-14-year-old-to-present-first-research-paper/

Iqbal's method does not require Jailbreaking and can image an Apple device in less than 30 minutes

Lyceum School in Top 10 delegations at Model UN

Adapted from Ehab Ansari’s “The Journey from Pakistan to Harvard MUN 2012” (www.bestdelegate.com)

In a ranking issued on the best international high school teams that participated at North American MUN conferences, The Lyceum School has featured in the Top 10 ranking, being the only team from Pakistan to do so. The team participated at Harvard’s MUN conference in Boston in January and won 9 awards out of 16 students. The ranking was diverse, taking in teams from as far apart places as Venezuela and the United Kingdom.

How many knew that LUMS, a university in Lahore, has won the Best Small Delegation award for 5 consecutive years at Harvard WorldMUN (last year, they narrowly lost to Yale)? Or that out of the 40 university students from Pakistan that participated at WorldMUN last year, eleven bagged the Outstanding Diplomacy award? In a similar vein, high school students have also done remarkably at Model UN, against all odds. Thus begins the story of a Pakistani high school delegation and its journey to HarvardMUN 2012.

At HarvardMUN 2012, The Lyceum School represented France in twelve committees: DISEC, ECOFIN, SOCHUM, SPECPOL and Legal; alongside the European Union, World Trade Organization, World Health Organization, Futuristic General Assembly, the Historical League of Nations, the United Nations Special Summit on Peacekeeping, and the United Nations Security Council.

http://bestdelegate.com/the-best-high-school-model-un-teams-2011-2012-best-international-delegations/#comments

http://bestdelegate.com/the-journey-from-pakistan-to-harvard-mun-2012/

Virtual University wins global award

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Islamabad: The Awards Committee of the Open Course Ware Consortium has selected the Virtual University of Pakistan’s Open Course Ware site for the ‘2012 Outstanding New Site Award for Open Course Ware Excellence’, says a press release.

The Open Course Ware Consortium is a US-based collaboration of higher education institutions and associated organisations from around the world creating a broad and deep body of open educational content using a shared model.

The Outstanding New Site Award is conferred annually by the Committee and recognises an outstanding institutional or affiliate sites launched during the previous calendar year. The award was previously given to the University of Sumatera Utara Open Course Ware.

A representative of the Virtual University will attend the upcoming OCW Consortium meeting in Cambridge, UK, to receive the award at a reception to be held on April 16, 2012.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-98902-Virtual-University-wins-global-award

Chic Pakistani clothing makes inroads in India

Delhi: Delhi is hosting a first-ever exhibit of Pakistani fashion, furnishings and other design items. The Lifestyle Pakistan show is intended to connect Pakistani exporters with Indian importers – part of an effort to boost the paltry levels of trade between the two countries and further normalize relations. The commerce ministers of both nations kicked off the event, organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and its Indian counterpart, and a huge delegation of Pakistani businesspeople made the trip.

“We’re just crazy about Pakistani suits: the cut, the design, the fabric,” said Sarita Khera, catching her breath with a bulging bag of shalwar kameez (also know as kurta pyjamas, Punjabi suits or just “suits” – the tunic-over-trousers outfits favoured by women across South Asia) at her feet. Ms. Khera runs a watch manufacturing company; she likes colourful clothes for the office. “The Pakistani ones are just much better than anything you can get in India.”

“I don’t wear ‘Indian clothes,’” said Natasha Arora, who designs children’s rooms. Clad in skinny jeans and a knit top, she was holding up an ankle-length, pale yellow, fine cotton kameez, slit to the knees and decorated with blue hand-embroidery. “But this I’ll wear. Over baggy pants, like those Pakistani girls do – they’re really stylish.” She was pleasantly surprised that the kameez was just $40.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/chic-pakistani-clothing-makes-inroads-in-india/article2402420/

Pakistani game developer joins ranks of Atari

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani social game developer is poised to join global gaming giants Atari and Kabam after accreditation from 6waves – the largest Facebook game publisher in the world.

According to a news release issued here, Islamabad’s White Rabbit Studios is the only Facebook gaming studio from Pakistan – and in fact the entire South Asian region – to be featured in the list of key social game developers. As a result of this partnership, the company will gain access to more than 30 million users in 6waves’ gigantic Facebook user network, said the release.

White Rabbit’s Facebook partnership with 6waves will lend it an opportunity to become one of the leading content creation companies in South Asia; a rare feat in the services dominated IT sectors of Pakistan and India. “It is very exciting to see our company’s name mentioned along with the likes of Atari and Kabam,” said CEO of White Rabbit Studios Hassan Baig.

“We’re very confident in our ability to compete with the finest minds in centres of innovation across the world. We can do everything they can, and at more favourable economics. We may be considered underdogs at present, but the future, beyond any doubt, will belong to us,” he said.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/360832/pakistani-game-developer-joins-ranks-of-atari-and-kabam/

Pakistanis rank 4th on global intelligence survey

LONDON – Pakistanis have been ranked the fourth most intelligent people across the world in a globally-held survey. “Pakistanis are equal to the people of developed and industrialised countries when it comes to intelligence,” the survey report said. The poll was organised by the Institute of European Business Administration in 125 countries. The survey quantifies various aspects of brilliance and intellectual work in the nations of the surveyed countries. “Pakistanis outshine in the field of intelligence despite a dearth of required resources and opportunities,” the poll inferred.

The case studies of Ali Moeen Nawazish, Arfa Karim and Moosa Firoz were also quoted to prove the mental aptitude of the Pakistanis. Ali secured 22 As in A-levels exams; Arfa Karim had earned title of the youngest Microsoft Certified Expert; and Moosa recently won the World Mathematics Championship.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/04/01/news/national/pakistanis-rank-4th-on-global-intelligence-survey/

Case studies of students like Ali Moeen Nawazish, who broke a world record by passing 23 A-levels, were quoted in the study

A warm, secure welcome for the ‘British Universities’

British Universities AAF XI captain, Kamal Alam writes about his wonderful experience touring Pakistan:

[…]

…We arrived in Lahore for the first cricket tour of Pakistan by a foreign team, apart from Afghanistan, since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team. We are the Afghan Appeal Fund XI (AAF) – a charity team captained by Kamal Alam and comprised of MCC, Durham and Oxford University players – and are here to play four matches, to promote the AAF and also, crucially, to help the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in their bid to bring international cricket back to the country.

…While the quality of our play may not, in truth, merit our staying at the prestigious National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, 24-hour access to a bowling machine and breakfast coaching tips from national coach Dav Whatmore are more than welcome. The NCA is also a convenient and secure base.

Our initial experience security-wise has been only positive. Everyone we have met – from our bus driver to batting-legend Javed Miandad – has been incredibly welcoming, betraying the size of the hole left by the absence of touring teams. And they all echo the same sentiments – what one reads in the media back home is not the reality. While the stigma created by the 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus remains strong outside Pakistan, we have encountered nothing thus far to support negative claims. The Punjab Police’s black t-shirts – with their ‘No Fear’ motifs – serve as a useful nudge to the ICC and Test playing nations alike, showing the attitude required to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.

[…]

http://blogs.espncricinfo.com/tourdiaries/archives/2012/04/a_warm_secure_w.php

The AAF is a UK-registered charity set up by British servicemen's wives to build schools and further education in Afghanistan

Aurat Foundation’s tribute to role models

ISLAMABAD: To celebrate International Women’s Day and pay tribute to women who have achieved excellence in various fields, Aurat Foundation held an awards distribution ceremony at Islamabad Hotel in March.

The awards were distributed among those who have played an active role in empowering women at a very young age.

The following inspirational women, among others were recognized:

Marium Hote Malhar is a social worker who has organised a successful campaign to raise awareness on dengue virus. Hailing from Seraiki area, she says she wasn’t given admission in any school in Islamabad as she could not speak English.

Samina Baig, 21, belongs to Shimshal valley in the Karakoram mountain range. She is the first Pakistani woman to adopt mountaineering as a career and has embarked on a high-altitude winter climbing expedition. She conquered many mountains and made her mark in this sport

Shahroo Malik, 20, is a young artist who depicts women’s issues through her brush. In 2006, she won a competition held by the Japanese embassy, which allowed her to visit Japan

Malala Yousafzai, 14, won the National Peace Award for Youth. During the militant rule in Swat, she wrote on kids’ rights to education on BBC website.

Sara Nasir, 21, is the only girl from Pakistan to achieve a gold medal in karate in a recognised martial arts competition such as the South Asian Games in Dhaka in February 2010. She earned her black belt at the age of eight.

 http://tribune.com.pk/story/347430/award-distribution-tribute-to-role-models/

During the militant rule in Swat, Malala Yousafzai, 14, wrote on children’s rights to education

Much awaited ‘National Climate Change Policy’ approved

The government has approved much awaited National Climate Change Policy mainly focusing on importing natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) over import of oil from foreign countries.

The analysts have pointed out that the government has again reiterated its resolve to import natural gas from the neighbouring country in the face of severe criticism especially from the United States.

The draft of the National Climate Change Policy available with ‘The News’ showed that the government would take measures to ensure reduction in usage of petroleum products that are not only affecting natural environment but also causing huge import bills.

Dr Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry, the lead author of the policy, told ‘The News’ that the approval of this policy is well timed and a significant development for the country.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-98231-Much-awaited-National-Climate-Change-Policy-approved

Unlike traditional natural gas, LNG has the potential to be traded at the global level through storage facilities and ships that are specially designed to tolerate low temperatures.

Pak Student Wins World Math Competition

ISLAMABAD – A 13-year-old Pakistani student Moosa Feroz on Sunday won a gold medal in the World Eduation Games 2012 mathematics competition held in Australia. About 5 million children from 100 countries around the globe took part in the competition which was held in the first week of March.

Moosa, dissatisfied with his 5th place finish in last years competition, worked all year to bring his skills up to win the 11-13 years category.

Moosa being greeted by loved ones and the media on arriving back from Australia

KGS win Harvard Model UN award

KARACHI: The Karachi Grammar School Model United Nations team won Best Large Delegation at the annual Harvard Model United Nations conference. The conference was hosted by Harvard University in Beijing, China from March 15 to March 18. Some 1,200 students from over 25 countries participated in the international conference.

KGS’s 10 student team was the only Pakistani delegation to win an award out of the 160 delegations participating. Azzah Hyder, the headgirl and Alizeh Atif won Best Delegates while Omar Mahmood, Faiz Khalil and Saad Ahmed Khan won Outstanding Diplomats. Shayaan Abdullah, the headboy, Sophia Ashai and Areeba Tariq also won Honourable Mentions.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/354336/from-china-with-love-kgs-win-harvard-model-un-award/

Participants of the 2010 World Model United Nations pose for a photo.

Pakistan wins contract for InfoDev mobile software lab

KARACHI: In a move that would help spur the already booming development of IT content, Pakistan has beaten off competition from regional countries to bag World Bank’s contract for setting up a research lab for mobile software development including apps, The Express Tribune has learnt.

World Bank’s division InfoDev planned to establish five mobile software development research labs across the world including one in the Saarc region, the official said. India and Sri Lanka were also shortlisted for the region but Pakistan was picked as the final destination.

The business plan focuses on combining arts and science schools under the umbrella of PSEB. “We proposed that we will bring these two communities together for content-based applications,” a PSEB official who requested anonymity. “Our plan inspired them and we won the grant to set up the lab, he added.

PSEB is leading the project while Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture, National College of Arts, and University of Engineering and Technology (UET) are among the implementation partners, the official said. The lab will be setup at UET, he added.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/354211/software-development-lab-pakistan-beats-india-and-sri-lanka-to-get-contract/

The University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore has been chosen as the venue to set up the lab

NED students launch Pakistan’s first Formula car!

Karachi, March 23rd: What a way to celebrate Pakistan Day! Students of NED University of Engineering and Technology held their Media even for the launch of Pakistan’s first Formula-style car as part of the Formula SAE Competition.

Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineering) is an international competition between engineering students involving the design, construction and dynamic testing of an open-wheel racecar. NED University is the first engineering institute in the country to have introduced Automotive Engineering.

Being the pioneers, they will be the first team to compete in an international competition of such stature which will be judged by the racing industry’s most prominent engineers and consultants, including Bill Mitchell, Doug Milliken, Claude Rouelle and Jack Auld.

For more, visit the Project website and Facebook Page below:

http://www.formulaned.com/car/

http://www.facebook.com/FormulaNED

Students spent more than 25 hours a week to produce the car

A 9-year-old novelist from Lahore

LAHORE: Aiman Waheed, a nine-year-old girl from Lahore, has written and published a 64-page novel titled “The Dangerous Pet” which is available in the local market.

According to her family, Aiman has always been into reading books and completed her novel in a span of four months.

“I kept jotting down my ideas in the form of points. And when I started writing, the story just went with the flow,” the young author said.

The sixth-grader has already started working on her next novel which would be a mystery story.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/352089/9-year-old-novelist-emerges-from-lahore/

Aiman completed her novel in a span of four months.

Suhaila Muhammadi – An inspiration for all *International Women’s Day Special*

A young girl from a highly conservative society, Suhaila Muhammadi, has defied all odds by going her own way, realizing her dream, and proving everyone wrong. At 17, Suhaila is a martial arts champ, with 35 gold medals under her (black) belt. Her message: “there is no field in which a man can venture and a woman can’t”. Here’s her inspiring story.

ArtNow: Pakistan’s first online art magazine

KARACHI: It was in December last year that William Lawrie, the co-owner of a gallery in Dubai, was so inspired by a Pakistani art catalogue that he decided to visit the country to check out its art scene.

I have seen thousands of catalogues in my life but the one on Rising Tide at Mohatta Palace struck a chord,” he said. “The very next morning I decided to come to Pakistan.”

He spoke at the launch of ArtNow, the country’s only bilingual online magazine on contemporary art. Although the magazine has been in print for six months, its official launch took place on Friday at Port Grand.

A jubilant and excited editor-in-chief, Fawzia Naqvi, said that the aim of the magazine was to highlight young and upcoming artists and to create a space for Pakistani artists in foreign galleries. “We want to portray Pakistan’s positive image on the international front,” she said.

Lawrie also praised the art studies in Pakistan. “I think the standard of art education is high in the country,” he said. “What the National College of Arts (NCA), the Indus Valley of Art and Architecture are doing is great.”

http://tribune.com.pk/story/347966/a-sign-of-the-times-pakistans-first-online-art-magazine-makes-a-scene/

The purpose of the magazine is to establish itself as an authentic source for contemporary art and portray Pakistan’s positive image

Over 4,000 children say no to drugs

KARACHI – The Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW) recently launched its 10th international competition ‘Poster/Drawing/Presentation 2012’.

The first position in the first category was bagged by Rameez Ali from Islamabad; second by Mohammad Shahzaib Shoib of the Army Public School & College (APS&C), Saddar, Karachi; and third by Talha Shahzad of the APS&C, Kharian Cantt.

The first position in the second category was bagged by Natalia Ashraf of the APS&C, Malir Cantt and Faisal from the Children’s Cancer Hospital; second by Kinza Hanif of the Karachi Grammar School; and third by Aimal Farooq of the International School of Choueifat, Lahore.

The FDFW is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Los Angeles and dedicated to the eradication of illicit drugs. The Foundation is also working for the cause of promoting drug-free life among the youth. Its Pakistan chapter was opened by Director/Trustee Judi Shervell in 2009 and Sewani was made the Pakistan Coordinator to launch activities of FDFW in the country.

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/02/over-4000-children-say-no-to-drugs/

Within a span of three years, FDFW Pakistan has successfully launched three poster competitions, one drawing competition, one pledge drive, three essay competitions and two letter competitions

Ricksaaf: A rickshaw that wants your trash

KARACHI: The rick-saaf is a combination of a rickshaw and a garbage truck that can collect waste from those hard to reach places where the onus is generally left to the scavenger.

Khayam Husain’s own neighborhood and his work in Sindh’s flooded areas with the Karachi Relief Trust inspired him to find solutions for waste management. “… I wanted to design a vehicle that could get into small areas.”

The prototype Husain’s company Autocom has designed takes a rickshaw and adds a steel container that can take up to 200kg. This, then, operates through hydraulics with an independent power pack that uses a separate car battery, which doesn’t put any strain on the engine or fuel consumption. He adds that it is a simple system that can be operated by virtually anyone.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/343153/ricksaaf-karachi-city/

The prototype takes a rickshaw and adds a steel container that can hold up to 200kg

Sharmeen Obaid dedicates Oscar to women in Pakistan

Pakistani journalist and documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s latest venture Saving Face has won an Oscar award under the category ‘Best Documentary, Short Subject’.

In her acceptance speech, Chinoy dedicated the award to “all the heroes working on the ground in Pakistan” including British Pakistani plastic surgeon Dr Mohammad Jawad, main subjects of the documentary and the women of Pakistan.

“All the women in Pakistan working for change, don’t give up on your dreams, this is for you,” she said.

Asad Farouqi, the cameraman for Saving Face, was all praise for Obaid-Chinoy as well. He said that it was a big achievement that learning and working in Pakistan she had managed to make it to the Oscar Awards.

“Our programming is focused on showing a positive image of Pakistan,” said Farouqi. He said the real purpose of the documentary was to create awareness and that it was commendable that this had brought Pakistanis together and had them reacting in a positive manner.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/342358/sharmeen-obaid-chinoys-documentary-wins-oscar-for-best-documentary-short-subject/

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy salutes the crowed as she and Daniel Junje accept the Oscar for the Best Documentary Short for their film Saving Face at the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012 (Courtesy: GARY HERSHORN/REUTERS)

Misbah and Ajmal top Statsguru Awards

The Statsguru Awards are based purely on numbers from international matches in 2011. However, they go beyond the usual stats – runs scored, wickets taken, batting averages and such – and are based instead on detailed data analyses of performances. Which batsman played more consistently than any other over the entire year? Which batting pair was the most prolific through the year? Which bowler was at his best in the third and fourth innings of Tests? Read on to find out. (All ODI stats include performances against Test-playing sides only.)

BATSMAN OF THE YEAR
(cut-off: 700 runs each in Tests and ODIs)

Misbah-ul-Haq
Test average 69.54, ODI index 37.22, Total 106.76

The year 2011 was a fantastic one for Pakistan, and for their captain, Misbah-ul-Haq. In Tests he topped 50 eight times in 16 innings, and averaged 69.54; in ODIs he held Pakistan’s middle order together, scoring eight more half-centuries in 22 innings, and achieving an average of 55.06.

BOWLER OF THE YEAR
(cut-off: 30 wickets in Tests, 25 in ODIs)

Saeed Ajmal
Test average 23.86, ODI index 11.33, Total 35.19

Saeed Ajmal had an outstanding year in both forms of the game. In Tests he was the leading wicket-taker with 50 in eight, at an average of 23.86. In ODIs he was equally impressive with both his wicket-taking ability and his economy rate – 26 in 17 games at 19.53, conceding 3.48 runs per over. His ODI index (the product of average and runs conceded per ball) was an outstanding 11.33. Add his Test bowling average, and his total ODI score was 35.19. Graeme Swann, the winner of this prize last year, only managed an overall score of 47.75. Dale Steyn had a superb year too, but he fell short of the cut-offs, taking 28 wickets in Tests and 24 in ODIs.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/awards2011/content/story/554009.html

In 2011 Misbah-ul-Haq topped 50 eight times in 16 innings

PK’s Who’s Who: Altamish Jiwa (Sports Anchor)

Altamish Jiwa with world champion Amir Khan

 Altamish Jiwa has, over a very short period of time, achieved heights that few anchors and reporters realize in their lifetimes. Altamish joined the main stream Media in 2005 and his first job with an internship at a local Business Channel called SunBiz. In only 7 years, he has been able to reach a level of professionalism and credibility which has landed him exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in sporting world from World Champion Boxer Amir Khan to Former World no1 Ana Ivanovic, the Giant killing Swede Robin Soderling and current World No 6 Jo Wilfried Tsonga. In addtion to his, he has hosted numerous shows with top Cricketers of Pakistan and England as well as ICC Umpire of the year  Aleem Darr.

What makes Altamish different is that he hasn’t let his success stop him from spending quality time covering local sporting events in the impoverished areas of his hometown Karachi like Maach Goth, Lyari, Empress Market, Yousuf Goth, Orangi town. Covering local communties and bringing them to the mainstream gives him the sense of satisfaction and happiness that is essential for an all round personality.

Altamish  firm conviction that “whatever we strive to do in this life and we are able to do is purely the will of the Almighty Allah” coupled with his sincere passion and love for sports have allowed him to undergo experiences that a 27 year old youth could only dream of. His most memorable moment is visiting the Theater of Dreams the home of Manchester United Old Trafford where he had a chance to interact with the best players of Manchester United as well as Sir Alex Ferguson.