Month: April 2018

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Stern action ordered against fake NGOS

KARACHI: Taking a notice of complaints about collection of donations in Mehran Town and other parts of Karachi, advisor to chief minister Sindh for social welfare ShamimMumtaz has directed secretary social welfare department to take strict action against such elements and fake non-governmental organizations in collaboration with police and district administrations across the Sindh province.

She said that as holy month of Ramazan approaches, fake non-governmental organizations and elements start collecting donations in the name of welfare which is illegal and added that no individual or un-registered organizations have mandate to collect any type of donation. He appealed to citizens to authenticate that organizations or institutions were recognized and registered with government before extending any kind of cooperation.

The advisor said that miscreants and outlawed organizations might use these donations for theirs nefarious activities and ask citizens to be very careful and vigilant. Responding to an advertisement being aired by Private FM Radio, she said: “There is ban in place on the registration of new NGOs and social welfare department had made no agreement with any international organization. She termed the advertisement fake and illegal and asked private radio station administrations to immediately stop airing it.

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President: (President reaches Quetta)

ISLAMABAD: PresidentMamnoonHussain has reached in Quetta on a two-day visit.

Governor BalochistanMohammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul QuddusBizenjo and Chief Secretary Balochistan received him at airport.

President will hold meetings with Chief Minister Balochistan and Governor Balochistan. The president will attend the 9th convocation ceremony of SardarBahadur Khan Women University Quetta as a chief Guest tomorrow (Wednesday).

He will confer degrees and medals to the students of SBK.

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Siyal pays rich tribute to Bhutto

KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal on Tuesday stated that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s martyrdom was defeat of the dictatorship forces, adding he rendered great sacrifices for democracy.

In a statement, he said   philosophy, ideology and thoughts of Shaheed Bhutto are in the blood of every worker of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP).

He said that after the martyrdom of Bhutto, when the people of country needed leadership his daughter continued the mission of her father and encouraged the people. He also praised the services for his party of Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

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Cabinet: (Pakistan to send special envoys worldwide to highlight Indian brutalities in held Kashmir)

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has declared that Kashmir Solidarity Day will be observed on Friday in support of Kashmiri people and against Indian brutalities.

The federal cabinet met in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Prime Minister ShahidKhaqanAbbasi. Foreign Minister KhawajaMohammadAsif gave a presentation on the situation in Indian occupied Kashmir.

He apprised the meeting about Pakistan’s efforts to garner support of international community for innocent Kashmiris who are being subjected to brutalities by Indian forces.

The federal cabinet offered Fateha for the Shuhuda and prayed for early recovery of the injured. The meeting also adopted a resolution, which said that the cabinet members will participate in the Joint Session of the AJK Legislative Assembly to be held tomorrow.

It also decided to send special envoys of the Prime Minister, including the President of Azad Jammu Kashmir, to selected capitals to highlight the deteriorating situation in occupied Kashmir.

The meeting strongly condemned the brutal and indiscriminate use of force by the Indian occupation forces that resulted in the martyrdom of more than twenty innocent Kashmiris in Shopian and Anantnag.

The cabinet members paid tribute to the brave and resilient people of occupied Kashmir who have been continuously demonstrating against the brutal repression, incarceration, torture and extra judicial killing perpetrated by the illegal occupation Indian forces.

It stressed that the deteriorating situation in occupied Kashmir and the Indian escalation at the Working Boundary and the Line of Control is a flashpoint and a threat to regional peace and tranquility.

Expressing solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the meeting urged the international community to take cognizance of the gross and systematic human rights violations of the Kashmiris.

The meeting requested the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission to send fact-finding missions to the Indian occupied Kashmir.

The cabinet also reiterated Prime Minister’s request to the UN Secretary General to appoint a Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir with a mandate flowing from the unimplemented UN Security Council resolutions.

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NSA: (Pak committed to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogues: Nasser Janjua)

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have agreed to explore the possibilities of more cooperation and of improving bilateral relations to ultimately take it towards comprehensive process of dialogue.

This was agreed during a meeting between National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua and Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria, who made a pre-planned courtesy call on him in Islamabad on Tuesday.

They discussed matters pertaining to improving the bilateral relations including the recent worsening situation in Indian Held Kashmir.

Nasser Khan Janjua said Pakistan is deeply committed to the cause of Kashmir and supports to resolve this issue politically and according to the aspirations of Kashmiri people.

He said Pakistan is pursuing the policy of friendly relations with all its neighbours including normalcy of relationship with India. He said Pakistan is committed to resolve all outstanding issues through comprehensive dialogues.

The adviser expressed serious concerns over the ongoing human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir. He said the use of force alone can lead us nowhere and it rather diminishes hope, injures the society and further worsens the fragile situation.

He said process of dialogue is the only way forward to resolve our disputes. The Indian envoy acknowledged that Pakistan and India definitely need to improve their bilateral relations and said both countries have immense potential to improve the relationship and cater to each other’s needs.

He also suggested to work on taking small steps for improving the bilateral relations including exchange of prisoners, visits of medical teams and trade initiatives. He said we can build on these small steps between us and take the relationship towards normalcy to address the bigger issues.

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‘Use science for welfare of mankind’

KARACHI: Karachi University’s (KU) Chairman Department of Computer Science (UBIT) DrSadiq Ali Khan said that the use of science must be for the welfare of mankind, adding data science has a pivotal role not just in computer science but every field.

He was addressing at the concluding session of the workshop on data science organized by Department of Computer Science (UBIT), University of Karachi and IEEE Karachi Chapter.

He said our students must be educated in accordance to their abilities and mental strength. He briefed on the progress in his one-year tenure and vowed that he will be carrying out constructive decisions and plans that will be beneficial for DCS-UBIT as well as for the betterment of Computer Science in Pakistan.

He emphasized on the fact that although being in a Government sector university where resources are limited, he is focusing on efficient and effective steps to carry out in his tenure. The instructors emphasized the importance of big data, the difference between conventional databases and big data, how cloud technology supports big data applications.

The workshop also exhibited the recent emerging products in big data and the scope of big data in Pakistan Market.

Other speakers included Yusuf Bhaiji, who has been with Cisco Systems for nine-years and is currently the Product Manager for the Cisco CCIE Security certification and CCIE Proctor in Cisco Dubai Lab. Prior to this; he was Technical Lead for the Sydney TAC Security and VPN team.  Chair IEEE Karachi Section & Dean Faculty Computer Science, Habib University, Shahid Sheikh.

Bhaiji, in his speech, illuminated the fact that how such educational workshops and conferences are contributing towards the development of skills and interests of Students and for Pakistan as a whole.

Shahid Sheikh, in his speech, commended the efforts carried out by Chairman DCS-UBIT, Dr. Mohammad Sadiq Ali Khan, promised that IEEE will be always being supporting such educational workshops and will be providing assistance in every field.

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Trade: (ICCI calls for withdrawal of hike in sales tax on POL products)

ISLAMABAD: Sheikh Amir Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has called upon the government to immediately withdraw hike in sales tax on some POL products as it would put additional burden on consumers and enhance the cost of doing business in the country.

He urged that government should also pass on full benefits of reduced oil prices in international market to the consumers.

He said that FBR vide its SRO No.414(1)/2018 issued on 31st March 2018 has further enhanced sales tax on Motor Spirit from 17 percent to 21.5 percent and on High Speed Diesel Oil from 25.5 percent to 27.5 percent which was not justified.

He said government was already charging Rs.8 per liter petroleum levy on HSD, Rs.10 on petrol, Rs.6 on light diesel oil and Rs.3 on kerosene oil while further increase in sales tax on some POL products would surge transportation cost and increase inflation leading to further dent in business activities.

He emphasized that the government should withdraw hike in sales tax on POL products and pass on full benefits of reduced oil prices in the international market to the people to provide them badly needed relief.

He urged that government should consider further reduction in POL prices and make significant in heavy taxes on these products that would enhance purchasing power of consumers and facilitate the growth of business activities.