GCU students trained in latest telecom technology
LAHORE (STaff Reporter): The students of Government College University Lahore were Wednesday told about the latest telecom technology at a seminar on “Internetwork Development and Engineering Aura (IDEA)” organised by the university’s Department of Electrical Engineering to share the latest happenings in the area of wireless communication and networks.
Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman chaired the seminar, while Dean of Sciences Prof Dr Islam Ullah Khan, Department of Electric Engineering Incharge Dr Engr Junaid Zafar, Prof Dr Muhammd Riaz and a large number of students from different universities were also present there.
Addressing the seminar, Prof Rahman said that the students must prepare themselves to face the upcoming challenges especially the technology-related issues. “Youth should not only equip themselves with the latest technology, but also play their role in bringing innovations and give their technical input for the betterment of the country,” he added.
He said that GCU had always been vibrant in organising special technical events, seminars to provide its students a platform to update their knowledge in latest advancements.  Dr Engr Junaid Zafa said that the event was an ideal networking opportunity to keep abreast with the current challenges being faced by communication industry. He said that the undergraduate/graduate students from within and outside the university got much benefit from the experience and expertise of technical professionals from different communication companies and network related industry.
Raees Khan, an IT expert, briefed the students about latest networking software including WireShark. He said that this software was essential tool of networking analysis. He also explained how networking had impact on our daily life.
Sajid Mukhtar and Muhsin Ali Arif described the role of Interment Service Provider (ISP) and network virtualisation in professional fields. Ahsan Malik defined the emergence of Huawei as an IP data com giant in the world. He also talked about 3G and 4G technology being deployed in Pakistan within one or two months. Kashif Saleem, Ieeza Ansari and Rana Zeeshan from Warid Telecom told the students about the role of technology in a cellular company. They also offered technology internship programme for the students. Baber Kareem from Wateen Telecom, shared his professional experience with the students to motivate them and gave them tips to face challenges in the professional field.

OPF approves various welfare schemes
ISLAMABAD (PR): The BOG in its 124th meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resources Development Pir Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi, expressed its satisfaction over the new initiatives which have been taken by the management for the welfare of Overseas Pakistanis.
 This included diversification of vocational training to seize emerging opportunities for manpower export in the Middle East, signing of MOUs with TUSDEC, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and IESCO for electricity project in OPF Housing scheme Zone–V.
The meeting reviewed various projects initiated by Housing & Works Division, Education Division, Finance Division, Welfare & Special Initiatives Division and Training Division.

Tameer Bank starts financial inclusion in Mithi, Tharparkar
KARACHI (PR): Tameer Bank formally inaugurated its new branch in Mithi, District Tharparkar, Sindh, last week. This is Tameer’s 27th branch in Sindh and 51st branch in Pakistan.
Commenting on the occasion Nadeem Hussain, President and CEO of Tameer said: “I am delighted to see Tameer in Mithi as part of our plan of extending outreach to the interior and remote areas.
Providing access to financial services is fundamental in developing an eco-system which supports development of people who are at the bottom of the pyramid. I am confident that Tameer’s presence in Mithi will have a similar positive impact in this area.”

Traffic Helpline receives 12145 calls in three months
LAHORE (PR): CTO Lahore Suhail Chaudhry has said that Traffic Helpline 1915 received around 12145 calls during the first three months of the current year. He said that citizens made 4222 calls to get information about driving license, 2853 calls to get information about alternative routes, 602 calls for emergency help, 376 calls to remove wrong parking, 622 calls for challan information, 162 calls for suggestions, and 393 calls were made to inform about inoperative traffic signals.  

SZABIST road show
ISLAMABAD (PR): A road show organized by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of science and Technology Islamabad Campus in collaboration with its official MoU Partner FM 100. This road show was organised to promote the awareness about a new idea of transport service with the name of “Tabeer Women Transport Service” which is exclusively for women. This project was launched by Zong in collaboration with Regional Transport Authority (RTA).
The main aim of this transport is to provide comfortable.
 safe and affordable transportation facilities for female students and working women. 12 vans will help women and girls to reach their destination on time and save them from the embarrassment they face while waiting for hours at bus stops. The interesting part is that the drivers of vans will be male but conductors would be ladies to guide the passengers.

PM’s youth skill uplift ­Program takes off
ISLAMABAD (PR): Government has started Prime Minister’s Youth Skills Development Programme. NAVTTC has been mandated to complete this task. Technical & Vocational training to 25, 000 less educated jobless male and female youth comprising particularly from the underprivileged & most neglected and remote rural areas and marginalised sections of Baluchistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, FATA, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir will be imparted.
NAVTTC, total cost amounting to Rs.800 millions has been approved for this program.

Wapda workers protest against privatisation
LAHORE (PR): Over 1,50,000 Wapda workers and engineers have observed protest day here  on Wednesday all over the country under the aegis of All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA) against the privatisation of profitable Discos. The workers and engineers held mass protest in all the major cities of the four provinces and staged “Dharna”.
At Lahore, thousand of workers staged “Dharna” outside the Wapda House which was addressed by  Khurshid Ahmad.
 along with Ms. Rubina Jamil, Yousaf Baloch, Akbar Ali Khan (NBP), Syed Zakir Ali Shah, Rena Abdul Shakoor, Osama Tariq, Rana Muhammad Akram, Sajid Kazmi, Javed Kashiri, M. Ayub, Raqeeb Shah, Amen Ullah and others, It was also participated by the representatives of the various trade unions including Pakistan Railways, PTCL, Irrigation, PWD , Transport etc. as a token of solidarity with Wapda workers for their struggle against privatisation. Speaking on the occasion, Khurshid Ahmad reminded that the electricity is a basic need of the citizens and its privatisation would lead to raise its tariff and would give rise to Inter-provincial dispute on differential power tariff like water distribution. The government should introduce reforms to raise its productivity instead of handing over to businessmen who would run it for their own profits instead of public interest. He pointed out that the union had been urging to develop cheaper source of energy and overcoming load shedding whereas IMF had compelled to withdraw subsidy for domestic consumers to raise power tariff.