President Zardari condemns killing of Dr Saleem Kharal

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has condemned the killing of Dr Saleem Kharal, who was gunned down in Karachi on Friday evening. A statement issued by Jameel Soomro of the Media Cell Bilawal House here on Saturday, said that the President has asked the Sindh Government to initiate inquiry to bring the culprits to book at the earliest.

For more information, contact:
Farhatullah Babar
Spokesperson to the President
Tell: +9251 920 4530 and +9251 920 4974
Email: farhat.babar@president.gov.pk

Minister for Information inaugurated the installation of electronic payment system and up gradation of Peshawar Bus Terminal at Peshawar

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information and Transport, Mian Iftikhar Hussain formally inaugurated the installation of electronic payment system and upgradation of Peshawar Bus Terminal at Peshawar on Friday. The electronic system would play a major role in eliminating the menace of overcharging along with favourable behaviour change.

Electronic fee collection from vehicles would take place on the spot through hand held devices of specified functionality. Similarly, due to upgradation of Peshawar Bus Terminal, the state of the art travelling facilities would also be available to passengers and transporters. Besides a large number of transporters Secretary Transport, Azmat Hanif Orakzai and Director Transport were also present.

Addressing a function held on this occasion, Mian Iftikhar said that transport was such a business with whom a large number of people of this province were attached and was a major source of income for the Pashtoons throughout the country, but this profession has been defamed.

He added that it is our first priority to make this profession a honurable and transparent one. He said that we would evolved such a comprehensive system to make it corruption free profession and bring favourable behaviour change in it.

The Provincial Minister said that government would establish a transport complex where every kind of modern facility would be available to transporters and passengers. The Minister said that when assumed the charge of transport ministry a few months ago there were no powers with the department and it was dead one we strive hard for its reorganization, activation and empowerment.

He said that ban was imposed on route permit for vehicles and now we are introducing computerized system for route permits on January 5, 2012 to ensure transparent, systematic and easy issuance of route permit. Secretary Transport also addressed on this occasion.

It is noteworthy that the electronic payment system of fee was to introduce with partnership of A2Z. Similarly upgradation of Peshawar bus terminal include renovation of main hall, establishment, modernization and renovation of washrooms, canteen, mosques and drainage system.

For more information, contact:
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Tel: +9291 921 6889 (Ext 106)
Email: info@khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk

Supreme Court Implements the Order and Takes the Matter of Press Conference on Judicial Side

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has implemented the Court Order in Constitution Petitions No. 77 to 85 of 2011 [regarding the alleged memo delivered to Admiral Mike Mulen U.S Joint Chief Staff] filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 by sending copies to all concerned parties and further in pursuance of the order wherein office was directed to put a separate note in the Chambers of Chief Justice of Pakistan along with the transcription of the press conference dated 01.12.2011 of Mr. Babar Awan, Sr. ASC along with replies/reactions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan 23.12.2011 and 26.12.2011 for passing appropriate orders.

In compliance with the above order, the office put up the note, upon which the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan has been pleased to pass the following order:-

“After perusal of transcription of the press conference dated 01.12.2011 addressed by Dr. Babar Awan, Sr. ASC in presence of three others on 01.12.2011 as well as reply/reaction of the Prime Minister dated 23.12.2011 and 26.11.2011 filed through Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq, Attorney General for Pakistan, it is considered appropriate to take up this matter on judicial side. Thus, office is directed to place the matter before Bench No. VII on 04.01.2012 for proceedings in accordance with law”.

Further, the Honourable Court in para-9 of the above order dated 30.12.2011 has elaborated, “after having heard the parties and having taken into consideration the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the law, judgments cited on behalf of both the sides and the pleadings of the parties carefully, we hold as under:-

(a) In exercise of powers of Judicial Review, we hold that in these petitions, petitioners have succeeded in establishing that the issues involved are justiciable and question of public importance with regard to enforcement of fundamental rights, prima facie, under Articles 9, 14 and 19A of the Constitution has been made out. Thus, the petitions under Article 184(3) of the Constitution are maintainable.

(b) To delineate measures with a view to ensure enforcement of the fundamental rights noted in para ibid, a probe is called for to ascertain the origin, authenticity and purpose of creating/drafting of Memo for delivering it to Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen through Gen. (Retd.) James Logan Jones, former US National Security Advisor.

Thus, in exercise of powers conferred upon this Court under Article 187 of the Constitution, Order XXXII, Rules 1 and 2 read with Order XXXVI of the Supreme Court Rules, 1980 coupled with the principle of Civil Procedure Code, a Commission is appointed. As the due process of law is the entitlement of all the stakeholders, therefore, to ensure probe into the matter in an transparent manner the Commission shall be comprising of:

(i) Mr. Justice Qazi Faez Isa, (Chairman)
Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court

(ii) Mr. Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman (Member)
Chief Justice, Islamabad High Court

(iii) Mr. Justice Mushir Alam (Member)
Chief Justice, High Court of Sindh

Raja Jawwad Abbas Hassan, District and Sessions Judge, Islamabad is appointed as Secretary to the Commission”.

Urdu translation of the court order is enclosed for publication in your esteemed paper.

For more information, contact:
Shahid Hussain Kamboyo
Public Relations Officer
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Tel: +9251 920 4184
Fax: +9251 920 1001
Email: pro_scp@yahoo.com

Punjab University awards PhD degree in Dentistry to Syed Akhtar Hussain

Lahore: Punjab University has awarded PhD degree to Syed Akhtar Hussain Bokhari S/o Syed Ameer Shah in the subject of Community Dentistry after approval of his research thesis entitled “Influence of Periodontal Treatment on Systemic Inflammatory Mediators: hsC-Reactive Proteins, Fibrinogen and White Blood Cells in CHD Patients” He has completed his thesis under the supervision of Dr Ayyaz Ali Khan, Head Department of Oral Health Sciences, Sheikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute (SZPGMI) Lahore.

PU Dean Faculty of Medical and Dental Sciences Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal has said that it is the first PhD degree in the subject of Dentistry in the past 100 year history of the varsity. He said during the process of research and write up of the thesis, eight articles were published by Dr Syed Akhtar Hussain with a total impact factor of 16.68.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has congratulated Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal and the researcher. He hoped the PhD programme will get boost under the leadership of Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal.

For more information, contact:
Registrar
Punjab University
Tel: +9242 9923 1102
Fax: +9242 9923 1103
Email: registrar@pu.edu.pk

Rulers urged to allocate 4 percent Gross Domestic Product to education Punjab University Voice Chancellor addresses 120th Convocation, distributes degrees and medals

Lahore: 120th Convocation of the Punjab University was held here in the Faisal Auditorium, New Campus on Saturday. Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran was chief guest on the occasion, while Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Akhtar, Controller Examinations Prof Dr Liaquat Ali, all Deans of faculties, Principles of colleges, Directors of Institutes, heads of Departments, professors, students receiving degrees and medals and their parents also attended the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, VC Dr Mujahid Kamran said the only reason behind our all national crises was lack of education.

He said our rulers, since the inception of Pakistan, had never recognized the utmost importance of education properly. He said education was the key to progress and development of any nation and we were facing national disasters because of illiteracy. Educational backwardness and illiteracy was the only reason of all devastations and natural punishments.

He said the leadership of our country had not realized that the 722 verses of Holy Quran, which is 1/8th of the Holy Book, stressed to focus on the mysteries of the universe.

The Vice-Chancellor said Almighty Allah had promised His blessings including power, respect and wealth to only that nation who was educated. And the nation, he added, sans strong character could not become educated. He said Allah did not value verbal beliefs. Our religion is for the betterment of the world. Offering Salat has become a custom only but no one was punctual of time and line.

He said it was unfortunate that Pakistan stood at 186 out of 193 countries in spending lowest of their GDP on education. He appealed to the government to focus and promote education in a true manner as a lot of time had already passed. A human being without education was blind, deaf and burden on earth.

He said the earth was also not ready to accept the burden of nations who were illiterate. Vanishing of nations, who were uneducated and illiterate, is destined according to the rules of nature. He said that the group, who led the world, termed human beings as “human garbage.” Dr Mujahid Kamran advised the students to promote education wherever they go, vast their hearts, earn fair income, get perfection in their field and helping others should be make the cause of lives.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor gave away degrees to 129 PhDs, 261 MPhils, 377 Masters and 219 Undergraduates besides distributing 199 medals and cash prizes among 60 Undergraduates and 79 Masters students. Earlier, in his welcome address, Controller Examinations Prof Dr Liaquat Ali presented the progress report of the Examinations Department.

For more information, contact:
Registrar
Punjab University
Tel: +9242 9923 1102
Fax: +9242 9923 1103
Email: registrar@pu.edu.pk

President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry addressing the audience during a Seminar

Islamabad: Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, President FPCCI addressing the audience during a Seminar, jointly arranged by FPCCI and HISAR Foundation, held on 31st December, 2011, at Federation House, Karachi. Seen in the picture Mr. Siddiq Sheikh, Head of CSR, Engr. Anwarul Haq Siddiqui, Ms. Rehana Mughni and other prominent speakers / participants.

For more information, contact:
Muhammad Raza Khan,
Chairman Coordination,
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI)
FPCCI, Capital Office, Islamabad,
Former President, Haripur Chamber of Commerce,
Founder President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce.
Tel: FPCCI +92-51-2251891-3. Fax +92-51-251894
Tel: Business +92-51-4434200-5. Fax +92-514434203

Pakistan Telecommunication Company makes the Hajj dream of 40 employees come true

Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) has made a dream come true for 40 of its employees by sponsoring their Hajj this year as part of its organizational commitment to provide incentives and encouragement to the good performing employees.

“PTCL is proud to have played a central role in realizing a life-long spiritual and religious aspiration of our dedicated employees for performing Hajj,” said Senior Executive Vice President, Human Resource, Syed Mazhar Hussain, while addressing a reception held here today to honour PTCL employees who have returned from Hajj.

“Our Company is committed to the welfare and well being of all our workers, as well as giving outstanding rewards to the best performing employees. Besides satisfying employees’ religious sentiments, this initiative has also complimented the spirit of a performance based culture within PTCL.”

The reception was attended by senior PTCL officials as well as employees who expressed a deep appreciation for their Company’s support for their blessed Hajj journey. They thanked the PTCL management for taking this initiative and providing this facilitation specially based on their work performance.

Employees expressed their complete satisfaction with the arrangements and facilities provided during their Hajj, as well as the transparent selection process. All the 40 pilgrims were selected through a balloting procedure amongst the top performers of the year 2009-2010.

“PTCL is a Company, which acts like a mother to all its employees,” said Ajab Gul Orakzai, one of the employees, while speaking on the occasion. “This gesture has infused all employees with a renewed commitment to work with dedication for the development and progress of our Company.”

In recent years, PTCL has firmly established its reputation for redefining and realigning the industrial relations paradigm. In line with contemporary business requirements, it has led organizational development and employee welfare by successfully creating a win-win situation, both for the employees and the organization, to emerge as an employer of choice.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL)
F-8 Exchange, Nazim-Ud-Din Road F-8/1, Islamabad
Tel: +9251 111 20 20 20
Fax: +9251 111 21 21 21
Email: shahzad.khalil@ptcl.net.pk