PARC, SALU ink MoU to promote advanced science and technology
ISLAMABAD (INP): The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) Friday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at strengthening scientific and technical cooperation between the two organizations. The MoU would help strengthen the scientific infrastructure and technology to promote culture of advanced science and technology. The MoU was signed by Secretary PARC, Dr. Munir Ahmad and Vice Chancellor SALU, Professor Dr. Parveen Shah on behalf of their respective organization. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Chairman PARC, Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad and members and senior officials of the council.
According to the MoU, both the organizations would pursue a programme of scientific, technical and academic collaboration for the exchange of ideas, skills and techniques on problems of national interest as mutually agreed from time to time. According to the agreement both the organizations would exchange material and train technical personnel with no cost for research besides launching a joint coordinated scientific research technological development programme.
Development of marketable collaborative research products and patents, holding of joint conferences and seminars, access to each others’ knowledge, data and library, mutual sharing of scientific information and strengthening of staff in design of research studies, survey techniques, data analysis techniques and statistics are the other features of the MoU.
The MoU would remain operative for five years which could be extended by mutual understanding while both the parties would appoint focal persons who will be holding periodic meetings to work out the details of the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman PARC, Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad expressed the hope that the MoU would help promote research activities for the benefit of both the organizations. He said that PARC has been working to promote advanced technologies to help promote agriculture sector of the country to ensure nutritious food security in the country.
In her remarks, VC SALU, Dr. Perveen Shah said that the MoU would go long way to promote research and help the university in imparting better education and training to the scholars.

Record container handling at KPT during January 2015
KARACHI (APP): The Karachi Port handled record containers of 156,254 TEUs during the month of January 2015, apart from rest of operational activities. This is first time in many years that the KPT handled 156,254 TEUs at both of its terminals by handling the over flow containers at East & West wharves in the premises of KPT, said a statement on Friday. At the KPT, two private terminals PICT and KICT are operating as per international standard/bench mark and handled 42,279 TEUs import and 41,831 export at KICT  with 40 vessels and 36,767 TEUs import and 33,349 TEUs export at PICT with 27 vessels in the previous month.
Both the terminals are handling the containers more than their original capacity and it is important to highlight that 3rd Container Terminal, PDWCP is planned to be functional in 2016, which will also attract the domestic, In-transit and transhipment traffic with Deep Draught Container berths.
Handling of 156,254 TEUs in January, of Import & Export is a matter of great satisfaction and it confrims the efficiency/coordination at all the level between KPT and the management of both the Container Terminals.

Govt taking initiatives for ensuring quality meat to consumers
LAHORE (APP): UVAS Lahore Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha Friday said the government had taken many initiatives for ensuring availability of quality and hygienic meat to consumers. He said this while chairing the concluding ceremony of a week-long training workshop titled “Training of Trainers in Animal Production and Feedlot Cattle Farming” organised by The Department of Meat Science and Technology of the UVAS in collaboration with the Agribusiness Support Fund and the USAID. The vice chancellor said the university on its part had also taken various initiatives through its Department of Meat Science and was conducting training programmes for people involved in meat business.
He said ensuring availability of quality meat to consumers was a challenge, adding that with the increasing demand for export of meat/beef, the demand for quality meat was also increasing in a local market, therefore, meat industry people had realized its importance and were improving their knowledge and skills through these trainings to meet the challenges.
He said the UVAS would continue to play its role in training of trainers as well as practitioners.
Over 30 practitioners from public and private organisations from across the four provinces participated in the workshop. The vice chancellor distributed certificates among the participants.

Investment management competition
LAHORE ( Staff Reporter): The LSE has conducted prizes distribution ceremony for the winners of the Virtual Investment Competition –which is fourth session of Financial Literacy Initiative - campus outreach programme in collaboration with the South Asian Federation of Exchanges in LSE. A sum of Rs 92,000 has been sponsored by the ACCA Global Pakistan to be distributed amongst the top ten winners. prize of Rs20,000 went to Sarfraz Ahmed Ghumro, student of Sukkur IBA whereas cash prizes of Rs15,000, Rs 10,000, Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 5,000, Rs. 5,000, Rs. 5,000, Rs. 5,000, Rs. 5,000, Rs. 5,000 went to Asif Manzoor,  Shahbaz, Ali Raza Saeed, Hassam Naveed, Mubashar Azeem, Fahad Ali Salik, Mustafa Ali, Abdullah and Rinkal Rani respectively.
In this ceremony Aftab Ahmad Ch, Managing Director of LSE and Secretary General SAFE said that with running of two regular programs, i.e. Campus Outreach Programme and Investor Awareness Program, LSE shall fulfill the objectives of Corporate Social Responsibility of our Exchange. He encouraged the contestants to utilize the learning gained from these sessions and apply their understanding by entering the capital markets. He also added that LSE has observed records of students who have already entered into the capital market through the recent IPOs taken place.

15 more locos arrive from China
LAHORE (Staff Reporter): The final shipment of 15 Chinese locomotives has reached Karachi and they will be included in Railways’ fleet till the end of February. It is likely that the locomotives would be dedicated for freight sector. The Pakistan Railways (PR) is currently operating around 10 freight trains on daily basis. With the inclusion of new engines, the total number of locomotives will be reach 268. The department at time of independence on 1947 was operating 572 locomotives.  The Railways minister has vowed to bring back the lost glory of the department and cover the deficit. A statement issued by the PR, said 43 Chinese locomotives had already been reached in Pakistan while 15 new arrives on Friday.
Among total 58 locomotives, 29 are of 2000 horse-power and 29 are of 3000 horse-power.