Anti-polio campaign to be launched on Feb 26 in Khairpur

Mon, 12 Feb 2024, 7:20 PM

SUKKUR, Feb 12 (APP):An anti-polio campaign will begin in Khairpur from February 26 to March 2, in which children under five years of age will be administrated polio vaccine with vitamin A drops.

Speaking about the campaign in the district, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Khairpur, Syed Ahmed Fawad urged the parents to fully cooperate with the polio teams and ensure that their children were vaccinated against polio.

He said that eradication of Polio from the country was responsibility of every citizen. He said that cases of polio had been reduced to only few in the country.

The DC urged the educated people to create awareness among the masses about the crippling disease

CDA to develop housing scheme with participation of private firms

Ali Ali

Mon, 12 Feb 2024, 7:19 PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP):The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to develop a housing scheme with the participation of a private firm.

The housing scheme, to be named ‘Kurri Enclave Housing Scheme’, would be developed over an area of 10,000 kanals in Kurri village.

According to sources, the land is owned by the CDA but the project costing billions of rupees would be developed as a joint venture with some leading real estate developer or with a consortium of more than one firm.

The board of CDA had already approved to launch and develop housing schemes with the participation of the private sector.

The civic body had also invited Expression of Interests (EoIs) for the selection of reputed firms to execute the project. The selected real estate firm would invest while developing and planning the project.

Firdous Ashiq reches out IHC to get protective bail

Waseem Iqbal

Mon, 12 Feb 2024, 7:19 PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP):Former federal minister Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday, seeking protective bail in the case registered at Sadar police station, Sialkot, for interfering in the polling proceedings on February 8.

Firdous Ashiq Awan named ASI Amjab Ali among the parties in the plea and requested protective bail, enabling her to approach the Sessions Court in Sialkot.

It may be mentioned that ASI Amjab Ali had filed an FIR against the former federal minister on charges of misbehaving with officials and obstruction the government functions.

No accused can be arrested from courts’ premises: IHC

Waseem Iqbal

Mon, 12 Feb 2024, 7:16 PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP):The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday said that no accused could be arrested from the premises of high court and lower courts, and barred the authorities from this act.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the case pertaining to the arrest of a woman by the capital’s police from the court’s premises. SSP Investigation Rukhsar Mehdi appeared before the court.

The court asked the police official to prepare an SOP after a meeting with the Inspector General of Police regarding the arrests of accused.

It said that no accused could be arrested from the premises of the high court, session courts or civil courts.

The SSP tendered the apology to the court and said that the sb-inspector (ASI) involved in the arrest of a woman,had already been suspended.

The court instructed the police official to inform it after preparing an SOP. The further hearing of the case was then adjourned for two days.

Regional Head Federal Ombudsman holds open court in Larkana

Waseem Iqbal

Mon, 12 Feb 2024, 7:15 PM

LARKANA, Feb 12 (APP):On the special directives of Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, Regional Head Federal Ombudsman at Sukkur Syed Mehmood Ali Shah heard complaints against Sukkur Electric Supply Company (SPECO) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) in open court held at the Provincial Ombudsman’s Office, on Monday.

Revenue Officer SEPCO Larkana, R.O SEPCO Kambar-Shahdadkot, Executive Engineer (Rural) SEPCO and other related officers, while on behalf of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Deputy Chief Manager Larkana, other officers of SSGC Larkana and petitioners also appeared and presented their issues against SEPCO and SSGC including complaints of over-reading and deduction.

Regional Head Mahmood Shah reviewed the 26 complaints received against SEPCO in which 22 complaints were decided on the spot and the rest were given a date in 06 application/complaint. However, 25 complaints were received against SSGC, and 22 were reviewed and decided. While the date was given in 03 applications.

Syed Mahmood Ali Shah directed the officials of SEPCO and SSGC that their overbilling should be deducted and their problems and grievances should be resolved within 30 days.

He assured the petitioners that their complaints would be processed within 30 days, otherwise, the case of non-processing of complaints would be referred to the Federal Ombudsman and legal action would be taken against the officers violating the order and take action against the culprit meter reader and SDO, he added.

KU, ABM inks MoU to institutionalize Biorisk management practices across Pakistan

Waseem Iqbal

Mon, 12 Feb 2024, 7:12 PM

KARACHI, Feb 12 (APP):The University of Karachi and the Association for Biorisk Management-Pakistan signed the memorandum of understanding to launch a collaborative effort for implementing the Pakistan Biorisk Management (PBMP) Program to control zoonotic pathogens by introducing and strengthening biosafety and biosecurity practices in the biological laboratories of the University of Karachi.

KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi and the Executive Director of ABM-Pakistan Dr Asghar Ali inked the MoU documents during a ceremony at the conference room of the KU Dr A. Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE), said a spokesperson of the KU on Monday.

The Program Director and Health Security Partners Dr Javed Khan, the President of Pakistan Biological Safety Association Professor Dr Saeed Khan, KIBGE faculty and chairpersons of several departments of the University of Karachi were also in attendance.

As per the MoU, the KU and the ABM—a non-governmental organizations stationed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa— agreed to institutionalize Biorisk management practices in priority labs across the country.

The program aims to control zoonotic pathogens by introducing and strengthening biosafety and biosecurity practices in existing laboratories in AZK, KPK, Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan.

Under this program, the ABM will work with laboratories within veterinary hospitals and medical facilities as well as research centers and universities that deal with pathogens and toxins.

According to the MoU, the ABM will provide regular technical support to the laboratory regarding biosafety and biosecurity, as well as furnish profiles, conduct biorisk assessment and reassess the relevant laboratories of the University of Karachi, and recommend BRM mitigation measures accordingly.

The ABM will also train the lab staff and field staff in biosafety and biosecurity and will provide complementary biosafety kits to the training participants, and strengthen the laboratory by providing critical SOPs, essential laboratory equipment, and reagents.

The KU will furnish a list of nominated participants per ABM criteria for training, workshop, seminar, and meeting, and execute laboratory mitigation measures and BRM protocols to ensure biosafety and biosecurity.

Earlier, Dr Asghar Ali informed the audience that ABM-Pakistan is working vision of safe and secure handling of hazardous material and a zoonoses-free Pakistan and wants to develop biorisk management expertise to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions to the biorisk challenges in the country through awareness, and capacity building and strengthening.

Dr Javed Khan mentioned that this project is essential for biorisk management and safety in labs of Pakistan and hoped that the KU would further train the faculty members of other varsities.

The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi shared that KU will lead and help other universities of Sindh regarding spreading the importance and benefits of biorisk management in labs.

He observed that the KU faculty members will learn a lot from the experience of ABM-Pakistan and become active members of their country-wide platform.

Pakistani expert installs research equipment at University in Mauritania

Waseem Iqbal

Mon, 12 Feb 2024, 7:09 PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP):In a remarkable achievement, Pakistani expert, Engr. Syed Muhammad Hussain Rizvi has installed research equipment at the Nawakchott University in Mauritania.

Engr. Syed Muhammad Hussain Rizvi is visiting Mauritania under COMSTECH- Mauritania Science and Technology Cooperation Program.

The installation of this equipment is a new initiative of the Agence Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique et de l’Innovation (ANRSI).

It is aimed at promoting and supporting scientific research, logistics, and technical support with the resources needed to achieve the maximum benefit from laboratories.

Where the ANRSI seeks to provide valuable, versatile, research equipment to the researchers of all disciplines.

Engr. Syed Muhammad Hussain Rizvi, had previously visited Nawakchott, in the same context last year.

His competence and experience in evaluating and maintaining research equipment in a number of countries such as Yemen, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia, is well known.

His work has been recognized with awards by Bruker AXS Germany and outstanding technical support shield by KRL, Islamabad.

COMSTECH signed a memorandum of understanding with ANRSI last year, since then it is supporting visits of experts to Mauritania to develop institutional capacities.

The visiting experts install and repair the scientific instruments, and impart training to Mauritanian manpower on the use and maintenance of the equipment.

ANRSI is the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation of Mauritania. It aims to make scientific research a lever for overall economic and social development.

Its mission is to implement State policy for the promotion of scientific research and innovation. It is notably responsible for supporting all research and innovation activities in Mauritania.

COMSTECH aims to enhance cooperation among OIC member states in the field of science and technology, and improves capabilities through training in modern fields.