Day: June 20, 2022

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Pakpattan: ‘Call for Justice’ Rally on 8th Anniversary of Model Town Tragedy organized by PAT

Lahore, June 20, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) took out a rally ‘Call for Justice’ on the completion of the eight years of Model Town Massacre in Pakpattan and asked the Chief Justice of Pakistan to play his role in the provision of justice to the families of the martyrs as well as those injured during the tragic day.

Addressing the rally, the speakers said that our only demand before the judiciary on the eighth anniversary of Model Town tragedy is that the stay order is withdrawn and the JIT is restored so that the stalled process of justice could be resumed. He said that the Model Town case is alive today because of the courageous role of media, and the steadfastness of the families of the martyrs and Shaykh-ul-Isla Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)
365-M, Model Town,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-140-140
Email: info@pat.com.pk
Website: www.pat.com.pk

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NA-240 Karachi By-Election: Violence, Abysmal Turnout Overshadow Generally-Compliant Voting, Counting Processes 

Islamabad, June 20, 2022 (PPI-OT):Election on a working day deterred a majority of voters from casting their ballots in NA-240 (Korangi Karachi-II) by-polls that largely remained orderly, but was overshadowed by two high-profile incidents of violence widely covered on national media, reports Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

According to FAFEN observers, the presence of party camps in close vicinity of polling stations was one of the most persistent and prominent violations of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Contesting Candidates. Supporters of rival candidates had set up camps around 88 percent of the observed polling stations. FAFEN observers reported the presence of armed persons at 22 percent of these camps. While these camps are generally set up by candidates to facilitate their voters in checking their serial numbers on electoral rolls, they are also the primary triggers of violence particularly in hotly contested neighbourhoods. One such clash between rival parties in NA-240 outside Polling Station No.52 led to the killing of one person.

Earlier before noon, an incident of firing on the car of a key leader of a contesting party in the Landhi area, repeatedly covered by national media, may have created a sense of fear in the constituency discouraging potential voters to go out and vote. In addition, the by-election being conducted on a working day led to a turnout that remained the lowest during any of the by-elections held since the General Election (GE) 2018. Inhabited by mostly workers employed in surrounding industrial areas, the constituency registered an abysmal 8.38 percent voter turnout as compared to 37.38 percent in GE-2018. According to Form-47 (Provisional Consolidated Statement of Results of The Count), only 44,388 – 31,677 men and 12,711 women – of a total of 529,855 registered voters – 294,385 men and 235,470 women – exercised their right to vote on June 16, 2022. As many as 440 ballots were excluded from the count, while the margin of victory between winner and runner-up was merely 64 votes.

FAFEN observers reported that the voting process remained largely compliant with the procedure provided in the Elections Act 2017, the Elections Rules 2017, and the ECP’s instructional handbooks. However, they reported some procedural irregularities at polling stations such as setting up of party camps outside the polling stations, missing or improperly placed secrecy screens at polling booths, and skipping out necessary voter verification steps, which indicate the need for greater investments in training as well as increased scrutiny of officials before their selection for election duties.

The by-election was compelled due to the death of Mr. Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan, who had won this constituency on Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan’s (MQMP) ticket by securing 61,165 (34 percent) of the polled votes during GE-2018, while the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) Mr. Muhammad Asif was the runners-up bagging 30,535 (17 percent) of the polled votes. Seven political parties including MQMP, TLP, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Mohajir Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League (PML), Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), and Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) fielded their candidates for the by-election, while 18 candidates contested independently.

The ECP had set up 309 polling stations – 100 male, 99 female and 110 combined. As many as 208 polling stations had more than 1,200 voters assigned to them, which was above the legally advisable limit under Section 59 (3) of the Elections Act, 2017. The election law had included a maximum limit of voters to be assigned at a polling station in the interest of smooth voting and ensuring that the polling stations do not get cramped and crowded with voters. The law requires the Returning Officers to document categorical reasons for assigning more voters than the permissible limit at any polling station.

The report is based on the observation of 247 polling booths at 67 polling stations spread across the constituency by a total of 18 non-partisan, trained, and duly accredited observers – eight men and ten women. This includes the observation of the counting process at 13 polling stations.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org

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Report on Second Line Master Training Workshop on Certificate Course for Nursing Educators 

Karachi, June 20, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Sindh Health Department and the World Health Organization (WHO) has organized a second line master trainer Training Workshop on Certificate Course for Nursing Educators in Karachi from May 24 to May 31, 2022. Dr. Sara Salman, Provincial Head of WHO Sindh, delivered a second-line master trainer training workshop for nursing educators on the Certificate Course.

The goal of organizing this workshop was to help faculty members in Sindh enhance their capacity building and assists nursing educators in gaining a better understanding of modern nursing education. In this regard, faculties from various schools of nursing are invited to deliver lectures, interactive sessions, and group discussions. Dr. Yasmeen Amarsi and Dr. Sumaira K. Punjwani from Ziauddin University Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery also facilitated the Second Line Training session.

Different renowned professors, researchers, guest speakers, and academicians were also invited from all over Sindh, including Dr Rubina Barolia, Dr Khairul Nissa Aajni, Prof Tazeen Saeed, Alia Nasir, Shakila Laghari, Nazneen, Dr Dildar, M Rehan, Abdul Manan, Abdul Karim etc. Experts viewed that such training workshops for nurses should be organized in divisional and districts level across the Sindh province.

For more information, contact:
Ziauddin University
4/B, Shahrah-e-Ghalib, Block 6,
Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35862937-9
Email: info@zu.edu.pk
Website: https://zu.edu.pk

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Report on tribute to Nurses and Midwives as Front-Line Soldiers who performed Selfless Services for nation against COVID-19 Pandemic 

Karachi, June 20, 2022 (PPI-OT):Nurses and midwives have been on the frontline of the COVID-19 response in our hospitals, aged care facilities, community services and general practices, providing quality professional care under extraordinary conditions. An Appreciation Award Ceremony was organized on June 11th, 2022 by Ministry of Health, Government of Sindh in collaboration with WHO hosted at Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical College to give “Tribute to Nurses and Midwives as front-line Soldiers who performed selfless services for nation Against Covid-19 pandemic”.

In recognition of their work in such unprecedented times faculty from various schools of nursing were invited. Dr. Pamella Marshal, Dr. Yasmeen Amarsi, Ms. Afshan Nazli and Dr. Sumaira K. Punjwani attended the ceremony as Special Guest to represent Ziauddin University Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery.

For more information, contact:
Ziauddin University
4/B, Shahrah-e-Ghalib, Block 6,
Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35862937-9
Email: info@zu.edu.pk
Website: https://zu.edu.pk

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ORIC Session on Design Thinking in Research and Prototyping

Karachi, June 20, 2022 (PPI-OT):Prototyping allows designers to test the practicability of the current design and potentially investigate how trial users think and feel about the product. A session on Design Thinking in Research and Prototyping conducted by Mr. Adnan Jafri (ORIC, ZU) on Friday, April 08, 2022 in which all the faculty members of the Ziauddin University Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery (ZUFONAM) participated.

The purpose of this session was to draw the attention of faculty members and students to innovation through new ideas. Through these ideas, they can create something new that will make it easier for them to learn. Improve their thinking ability and improve the quality of education.

Everyone on our team works together to enhance our strengths and thinking ability. Sir Adnan showed a video on innovation and creativity. He also shared his life experience of what he did in his student life for the betterment of his project. All that needed is how easily the problems that arise in daily life can be solved, with just one thought and that thought tells us the answers to solve the problem. All the faculty members learned a lot from his experience and determined that they will do something new for Ziauddin Faculty of nursing and midwifery and for its students in the future which will help them to improve a lot.

For more information, contact:
Ziauddin University
4/B, Shahrah-e-Ghalib, Block 6,
Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35862937-9
Email: info@zu.edu.pk
Website: https://zu.edu.pk

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Youngsters Affected by Substance Abuse can overpower addiction, no need to despair: VC NUMS LT Gen Wasim Alamgir address to International Conference

Rawalpindi, June 20, 2022 (PPI-OT):Vice Chancellor National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Lt Gen Wasim Alamgir HI(M) said the initiative to host the conference on substance abuse was taken in recognition of rising use of drugs and for giving hope to patients afflicted with drug addiction in the country. Addressing as the chief guest, at the inaugural session of one-day international conference, jointly organized by NUMS Department of Psychology and Phoenix Foundation for Research and Development (PFRD) Lahore, at the Army Medical College (AMC) here, he said, there was no need to be despondent in view of available remedies.

Those who graced the occasion, besides delegates and representative of the universities and psychological institutes from across the country, were principal of AMC Maj Gen Farrukh Saeed HI(M), Director General Anti- Narcotics Force Maj Gen Ghulam Shabeer Narejo, NUMS,s Pro Vice Chancellor Academics Maj Gen Saleem Ahmad Khan HI(M), (Retd), Pro Vice Chancellor Administration, Maj Gen Syed Ammar Reza Hamdani HI(M), (Retd), Dean Social Sciences and Humanities Prof Azam Chaudhary, Vice Chancellor of FATA University in KPK Dr Jahanzeb Khan, Senior Technical Advisor, Dean of Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies Dr Aisha Mohyuddin, Dr. Izhar ul Haq UNODC Country Office Islamabad, Asif Hussain, Director Research and Innovation Division Higher Education Commission, NUMS senior Faculty members and students of the college.

Lt Gen Wasim Alamgir did not agree with the gloom and doom scenario on drugs abuse and said those who unfortunately had fallen prey to drug addiction, need attention and care. Those who have gone down the “slippery slope” they have possibilities to get back to normal life again. “There is no need to be hopeless and I strongly believe they do have the hope,” he said, adding as a society we should gather our act for concerted efforts for prevention of this menace. He urged the students to be the “ambassadors of hope” to play their role in the prevention of the substance abuse. He said the universities were supposed to generate knowledge and hoped that the representatives of the educational institutions, hailing from across the country would also contribute in this regard.

In his message to the conference, the Vice Chancellor said this conference had provided a “Platform to scientific community to explore the possibilities to overcome this menace and discuss and share evidence-based methods to facilitate recovery and prevent relapses; thereby improving other outcomes, including criminal behaviour, controlling infectious diseases and sustaining wellness”.

The Vice Chancellor gave away NUMS’s Shields and Certificates to key note speakers who included Director General Anti- Narcotics Force Maj General Ghulam Shabeer Narejo, principal of AMC Maj Gen Farrukh Saeed HI(M), Vice Chancellor of FATA University in KPK, Dr Jahanzeb Khan, Dr Mowadat Hussain Rana, Dr Salman Shahzad Associate Prof Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi and CEO of Phoenix Foundation for Research and Development (PFRD) Lahore Dr Noor ul Zaman Rafiq.

Principal AMC Maj Gen Farrukh Saeed, drugs abuse should be tackled at the national level so that the youth could be saved from its addiction. In his welcome address Prof Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities Prof Azam Chaudhary said the valuable contribution of the participants in light of their experience, would help tackle multiple challenges linked to substance abuse. This will also be a step forward to reduce its negative health and social consequences. Pro Vice Chancellor Academics Maj Gen Saleem Ahmed Khan (Retd), on the occasion, gave away NUMS’s Shields to Consultant psychiatrist Dr Fareed Minhas, Dr Nashi Khan Dean FSS and Director RLDDP, Rashid Latif Khan University (RLKU), Lahore.

Director General Anti- Narcotics Force Maj General Ghulam Shabeer Narejo in his talk said, drugs barons have found new ways to smuggle 40 to 45 per cent world’s heroin through Pakistan. ANF had seized about $44 Billion worth of drugs in last four years while the conviction ratio of narcotics carriers was 89 per cent, he added. Vice Chancellor FATA University in KPK Dr Jahanzeb Khan called for highlighting the damaging impact of substance abuse to counter glamour of narcotics.

Dr Mowadat Hussain Rana, a renowned psychiatrist, said that the parents have to work to cut demand for drugs by creating a happier, trauma- free home environment and the society, school and street must join hands to tackle this challenge by giving due attention to children. The CEO of Phoenix Foundation for Research and Development (PFRD) Lahore Dr Noor- ul -Zaman Rafiq, said it was not possible to hold this conference without their involvement and support.

The Plenary Session, chaired and co-chaired by principal Army Medical College, Maj Gen Farrukh Saeed and by Dr Nashin Khan respectively. In his remarks Dr Salman Shahzad, Associate Prof Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, called for forming coalition of the academic institutions to deal with the challenge of substance abuse. Dr Fareed Minhas, Consultant Psychiatrist, said that low self- esteem and poor self-image were some of the factors behind substance abuse. Parenting is far more important than producing a child and teachers should also pay attention to emotional needs of the students, he added.

The international speakers Dr Kevin P. Mulvey Executive Director International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDOR) emphasized the need for developing a Global Drug Demand Workforce. Dr Prapapun Chucharoen ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Thailand dilated on importance of credentialing and certification and role of ICUDDR and extended full support for curbing the substance abuse.

After a day-long deliberation the conference called upon all stakeholders, educational institutions and parents for creating awareness about disease of substance abuse to make them realize that drugs addiction had become a national problem. The participants suggested that “drug users are humans” so they need to be dealt humanely and efforts be made to work on the stigma of substance use. The conference called for removing legal lacunae for strict enforcement of laws for controlling the supply of drugs and gave stringent punishment to drugs dealers and suppliers.

For more information, contact:
National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS)
The Mall, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9270677
Email: info@numspak.edu.pk
Website: http://numspak.edu.pk