Comsats, SDPI technical resources sharing

Comsats, SDPI signed MOU to share resources
Islamabad, Dec 17: Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Commission on Science & Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (Comsats) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that paves the way for sharing of intellectual and technical resources between the two organisations.

Based on common interests and focus on sustainable development, the agreement aims at strengthening institutional networking, enhancing organisational capacities and extending outreach.

Dr Imtinan Elahi Qureshi, Executive Director Comsats, and Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director SDPI, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations in a ceremony that took place at the Comsats headquarters, says a press release.

The MoU has resulted from consultations held between the officials of Comsats and SDPI over the last many months, the most important of which took place on November 26.

According to the MoU, the two organisations will collaborate in areas of education, healthcare and population, food and agriculture, renewable energy, institutional capacity building, information and communication technologies, employment generation, environment, and South-South cooperation.

The means and protocols of collaboration as agreed by the two organisations include the exchange of information, knowledge and expertise; assistance for educational and training opportunities; holding of national and international events; formulation of strategy and policy advice; and support in media and public relations.

Comsats would organise a special session on renewable energy in SDPI's forthcoming annual sustainable development conference. The news

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12-year-old scolded for scaring school
Islamabad: A threatening call received by a government school sent the city police into hectic action on Wednesday but ended in just reprimanding a 12-year-old boy.

Police traced the call to a class six student of the school, who admitted to playing the prank "to take revenge against the school" after failing the exams for promotion to the next class for the third time.

The student made the call to Islamabad Model College for Boys F-11/1. The administration immediately called police, which reached the school along with bomb disposal squad, and scanned it but found nothing.

Later, the caller was traced who turned out to be a student of the educational institute.

He was brought to police station and during interrogation he told the police that he failed for third time and in revenge he committed the act.

Later he was allowed to go after his parents assured that he would not do it in future.

A senior police officer when contacted said that the police did not want to take any action against the minor, and he was released after dressing down. Dawn

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Declamation contest among students
Islamabad: To mark 30th anniversary of the adoption of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Ministry of Women Development (MoWD) organised a bilingual declamation contest at the Preston University.

In addition to providing youth a platform to express their views on the topic, the event was also aimed at introducing the international obligations of the government to the educated human resource of the country.

The participants brilliantly deliberated on the topic 'Capacity Building: Women as Leaders and Trainers' and supported the cause of the ministry to create awareness regarding CEDAW and Pakistan's obligations for women's empowerment.

The international human rights treaty for women (CEDAW) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly 30 years ago on December 18, 1979. Pakistan acceded to the Convention on February 29, 1996 as the 174th state-party.

The Ministry of Women Development (MoWD) is the designated focal machinery for its implementation.

According to final results, Ramla Ayub, Irum Rizwan and Sabeena Khan stood first, second and third respectively. In the end, Dr. Shazia Khalid presented vote of thanks.

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A charming, youthful perspective
Islamabad: An exhibition of prints by seven emerging artists - all of them graduates of the Fatima Jinnah Women University - opens at Nomad Art Gallery here today (Thursday).

The participating artists are Wajeeha Kamal, Summiya Khan, Maryam Sabir, Reema Fawad, Saira Ijaz, Sana Sehrish and Anila Khokhar.

"We are proud to exhibit these 55 prints, which are creative and skillfully executed with a charming and youthful perspective that appeals to the viewer and the critic alike ... sharing moments of joy, confusion, resolving issues while challenging and stretching the medium to the maximum level to break barriers and limits," the gallery's director Nageen Hyat commented at the exhibition's preview.

For Wajeeha, emotions are like rolling tides of the sea that provide a way to release built-up stress. "A person who is unable to express his emotions is actually treading the path of self-destruction. Feelings help you to understand your own emotions and actions as well as those of other people," the young print-maker stated in a bid to explain the philosophy governing her art.

Summiya Khan too considers self-expression as one of the quickest and most effective ways to relieve stress. "The way we perceive ourselves has an enormous impact on how others perceive us. Self-awareness and exploration is very important for true self-expression. Expressing who we are is one of the best ways to find peace of mind. It gives you a sense of freedom and community, bringing you together and keeping you safer from trouble," she commented.

Maryam Sabir has highlighted the various stages of a human being's life, along with the emotions, ideas and expressions that mould this journey. Every stage comes with its own set of problems. "As a man enters a new stage, memories of the past start blurring. He also starts making assumptions about his future. In the same vein, I too have provided an insight into the emotions and feelings that I have experienced during different stages of my life, and those which I will probably encounter in the future," she reflected.

Reema Fawad's prints are titled 'Pakistan: a dream gone sour.' The artist has referred to the dreams of the many Pakistanis who migrated from India in order to lead an independent life in their own homeland. "Pakistan was a dream for those who struggled for it and sacrificed their lives for it. What is it that motivated them? They wanted a piece of land where they could live in freedom, in peace, to prosper as a strong nation, to secure their children's future, but their dream for a nation like this never came true." The purpose of my research is to reflect on why a dream that was based on strong ideals and motivation turned sour.

Saira Ijaz also talks about the stages of life. "I believe that ways and tracks help one to move from one stage to another. Sometimes, these tracks help us to reach our destination and sometimes they end in a blank dot, which is endless fury of the mind and soul," she explained. In Saira's opinion, these tracks are gateways leading to a destination along the endless road of life. "It is a circle where nature and deeds matter a lot. Fate and destiny is built on these blocks but life is endless, pathways are endless. My self is endless ...," she went on to say.

Sana Sehrish's work has a more contemporary feel to it. "I have tried to depict the conditions of our society, particularly the worries surrounding each one of us," she briefly stated.

Anila Khokhar, on the contrary, prefers to stick to her childhood memories. "Children have their own fantasies and imaginary world. My work not only depicts the imaginations of children but also the memories of my own childhood. Some of my prints depict the drawings which I made in my childhood," she informed.

The exhibition will continue at the Nomad Art Gallery (22 Justice Abdur Rashid Road (7th Avenue), Sector F-6/1) till December 30. A visit to the show is bound to be a source of encouragement for the budding artists.

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IT expert promoted as DG
Islamabad: Shahida Saadullah, a computer professional belonging to NWFP, has been promoted as director general (BPS-21), Pakistan Computer Bureau, Ministry of Information Technology, says a press release issued here on Wednesday.

A notification to this effect will be issued after approval of the prime minister along with other officers of the government who have recently been considered and recommended by the Central Selection Board. The news

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Nothing works like hard work
Rawalpindi: Students should get education for the larger end to serve humanity. Only strenuous hard work and labor on part of students could enable them to achieve excellence in every field.

Former Principal and eminent educationist Prof Khawaja Masud Government Gordon College expressed these views while addressing "Salma Masud Scholarships Awarding Ceremony 2009-10" held at Federal Government (FG) Post Graduate College for Women, Kashmir Road Wednesday.

Prof Masud who was the chief guest on the occasion said that for success in the society as well as the world students should revise their lessons at least 5 to 6 hours daily at home. He advised them to adhere to their books with sincerity and devotion.

College principal Shaista Zaid, other faculty members and a number of students were also present in Salma Masud Hall.

Prof Masood shared his personal memories and highlighted the importance of selfless teaching by illustrating the sacrifice of Socrates for this profession.

Some sixteen students, three each of 1st year to 4th year and two students each of 5th year and 6th year, were awarded scholarships on the occasion by the college principal and the chief guest. It is pertinent to mention here that "Begum Salma Masud Memorial Fund" was instituted in 2002-03 by Prof Khawaja Masud and his family in the memory of Salma Masud the founder principal of FG College for Women, Kashmir Road Rawalpindi.

A sum of Rs25,000 was awarded by the family to assist those students who excel in curricular and co-curricular activities. The fund was arranged on a permanent basis. At the end, the cash prize of Rs7,500 was also given to the students (Rubab Haider, Maryam Ahmed, Nosheen Israr, Mehwish Naz and Sana Zainab) of FG Post Graduate College for Women, Kashmir Road who took 2nd position in Chemistry in "All Pakistan Federal Government Educational Institutions Science Competition".

In Biology model Iqra and Anaab Mujtaba won consolation prize from Federal Board. The nation

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