October 26, 2022 – Newswire Pakistan

October 26, 2022October 27, 2022

Pakistani duo among ACCA’s global prizewinning students

Islamabad, October 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pass rates have been announced by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) for students who sat their exams in September 2022. Two Pakistani students have made the country proud by scoring highest marks to qualify for the cash prizes.

‘83,630 ACCA students from around the world entered for the September sitting and It’s particularly pleasing to see Pakistani students shining in the exams and building a strong reputation for the country on a global level for top finance talent. It’s not about one or two meritorious students, we’re seeing a growing trend of ACCA students and professionals from Pakistan creating a global impact with their ability and ambition. This also proves how our people can compete and win globally if they’re offered right support and a global platform,’ said Rashid Khan, ACCA’s spokesperson for the Asia Pacific region.

The ACCA Qualification rigorously tests the skills, abilities and competencies that a modern accountant needs, with a firm grounding in ethics and professionalism. It prepares students for a rewarding global career as a qualified and ethical finance professional.

Malik Shahmir Pervez

Malik Shahmir Pervez earned the global position for demonstrating stellar performance in the Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) exam which is considered one of the most challenging of all ACCA papers.

Shahmir comes from a modest family and his father was a truck driver in Rawalpindi. He completed his early schooling at an Urdu-medium local school before joining the Army Public School (APS).

Despite the fact that he had to adjust to English-medium in his new school, he qualified for a scholarship after proving his mettle in exams at APS. He then completed pre-medical at Fauji Foundation College with an A-1 grade but was unable to continue his education after the sudden death of his father who was also his best friend.

For two years, Shahmir went through a severe mental trauma and would spend whole day in his room. With family’s love and support, he was finally able to come out of the emotional ordeal and ended the hiatus in his studies by opting to study the globally renowned ACCA Qualification. ‘I feel it’s important for everyone to talk about mental health more openly and the reason I’m sharing my struggle of coping with all sorts of anxieties is simply because I would like to tell those who’re currently going through a similar phase that it’s okay to be not okay and it’s never too late to press the restart button.’

After joining ACCA, this is Shahmir’s first global distinction and third national distinction. He loves studying with ACCA since he was never a fan of rote learning and would rather focus on understanding the concepts. ‘ACCA is the world’s most innovative professional body and the same is reflected in how it has designed its qualifications and assessments. With ACCA, you’re always ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest knowledge and most in-demand skills,’ said the AAA prize winner.

The 23-year-old who is only one paper away from becoming an ACCA affiliate sees his career at a big4 firm and would like to join the audit profession soon after qualifying with ACCA. When not studying, Shahmir keeps himself active by playing sports such as Table Tennis and Cricket.

Noman Abbasi

Noman Abbasi who’s celebrating his 22nd birthday this month is one of the two Pakistanis who also made the ACCA’s list of global prize winners by scoring the highest marks in the Financial Reporting (FR) exam.

Listening to the news, Noman’s father, who is a doctor by profession, had tears in his eyes. He proudly admits that his son’s achievement is undoubtedly the highlight of his life and nothing else can ever come close to the feeling of seeing one’s son or daughter succeed in such a coveted exam.

Originally from Kashmir, The Abbasi family came to Karachi in search for better economic prospects some five decades ago. Noman’s father completed his MBBS here and went on to serve in the army. He has been running his private practice since 1982, the year he finished his military service. With father being a doctor and brother an engineer, Noman felt pressured to study pre-medical in college but he always knew his interest lied elsewhere. ‘I wanted something more exciting to do in my career and travel the world. So, accountancy was a natural choice for me.’

Soon after passing Intermediate, Noman chose to start his ACCA journey and has shown exemplary performance in all his exams so far. ‘When in college, I never felt great studying due to the lack of interest. But now I get such an adrenaline rush analysing the financial data and preparing reports that I don’t need any other motivation to stay focused.’

Noman spends almost 6 hours studying every day, in addition to the time he spends attending his online classes. ‘Thanks to the flexibility that ACCA offers, I’m able to attend all my lectures online and don’t have to waste time commuting to and from my home in Baldia Town that would have taken hours otherwise,’ shared Noman.

When not studying, Noman loves listening to music and considers Drake, the Canadian rapper, his biggest inspiration in life. ‘Just like Drake who came from a modest background and made it big with his talent and ambition, I too would like to scale similar heights and make my family and country proud by proving how a person can achieve anything by working hard and making right choices,’ said the prizewinning student. ACCA is world’s leading body for professional accountants with 241,000 members and 542,000 future members based in 178 countries and regions.

For more information, contact:
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Pakistan (ACCA)
Office No. 5, 2nd Floor, SNC Centre,
Fazal-ul-Haq Road, Blue Area, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-111-222275
Fax: +92-51-2876605
Email: info@pk.accaglobal.com
Website: www.pakistan.accaglobal.com

October 26, 2022October 27, 2022

SDPI, Edge Group sign MoU to make urban dwellings resilient, sustainable

Islamabad, October 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and real estate sector Edge Group on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to make new urban dwellings resilient by applying standards set in the SDG 11 (making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable) and SDG13 (climate action).

Pakistan is signatory to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to meet Agenda 2030 agenda and global sustainability issues. Pakistan’s real estate sector is growing continuously and the demand for housing in a country of 220 million will not be lower. Unorganized and unplanned growth in housing poses challenges for both the populace and the environment. This unplanned and unsustainable urban growth and development of housing societies mar public services and natural resources causing pressures on the government.

According to a press release of SDPI, to address the core issue of ‘sustainable tomorrow’, a new genre of futuristic organizations is established under the umbrella of Edge Group (EG). Sustainable tomorrow is the key question which EG is trying to address with technical support from the experts on SDGs, Sustainability, Climate Change and Resilience available with the leading think tank of the country, the SDPI.

This MoU will promote cooperation between think tanks and private sector. Under this MoU, Edge will continue to have close consultative coordination with SDPI’s experts for their future endeavours to ensure their compliance under the SDGs targets; another aim of this MoU is to create a result-oriented dialogue among the policy makers and stakeholders.

Given the need for clear actions to achieve the SDGs in housing/real estate sector, this is a step in the right direction by the private sector representatives where the key question of what is the real contribution of the corporate entities to sustainable development remains unanswered. Edge is committed to keep on pursuing on this highly significant matter via creating awareness, consistent follow ups and interactive sessions with the stakeholders in the future.

“The Edge Group is committed in realizing the SDGs targets as a responsible national and global private sector player like other corporate sector companies globally playing their role in achieving the SDGs targets mandated by the UN which has mobilized and motivated the private sector to come forward to play their due role.

The EG feels that its cooperation with SDPI will go a long way in fulfilling our commitment to sustainability and resilience,” said Mr Zeeshan Hashmi, CEO of the Edge Group on the eve of the signing of the MoU. “The SDPI works with governments, private sector, and civil society to influence the policy agenda in favour of sustainable and resilient development. The SDGs 11 and 13 indicate that now from onwards we have to move to make cities inclusive, clean, green, and smart to reduce carbon footprint to serve the cause of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The MoU with Edge is a step forward in this direction; and it is a welcome step that they have pro-actively reached SDPI to seek technical support on integrating SDGs target into their development projects,” said Dr Shafqat Munir Ahmad, Director/Head Sustainability and Resilience Programme SDPI.

For more information, contact:
Coordinator, Policy Advocacy and Outreach
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
38 Embassy Road, G-6/3 Islamabad, Pakistan
Postal Code: 44000
Tel: +92-51-2278134 (Ext: 113)
Fax: +92-51-2278135
Cell: +92-333-559 2210
Email: main@sdpi.org
Website: https://sdpi.org/

October 26, 2022October 27, 2022

Call for new accords for SA development

Lahore, October 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Prof Dr Shahid Munir has said that the countries of South Asia must learn from past mistakes and make new agreements to move forward and develop their nations. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the 3-day international conference on ’75 years of South Asia’s history: past, present and future’ organized by Punjab University Department of History and Pakistan Studies at Al Raazi Hall here on Wednesday.

On this occasion, Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities Prof Dr Amra Raza, Dr Iftikhar Ahmed Malik of Oxford University, Dr Sara Ansari from University of London (online), Convener of Parliamentary Research Group Zafarullah Khan, faculty members, students and researchers from all over the world participated. In his speech, Dr Shahid Munir said that the countries involved in South Asia are facing four types of problems, which include population, climate change, conflicts and unemployment. He said that there was scarcity of resources in the region as the population is increasing rapidly.

He said that the increase in population not only causes economic instability but also affects the education system. He said that according to an estimate, the world’s population will reach 10 billion in 2050, which needs to be controlled. He said that climate change has greatly affected the South Asian region. He said that timely measures to eliminate pollution are the most important need of the hour. He said that this region has been suffering from many conflicts, including terrorism, wars and the Kashmir issue. He said that according to UNICEF, most of the population of South Asia consists of young people under the age of 24, for whom unemployment is a major problem.

He said that in recent years, the war between Russia and Ukraine, along with COVID-19, has increased the employment problems at the global level. He said that South Asian countries have to learn from past mistakes and move towards a better future by making proper use of resources. He said that there is a need to strengthen the ties between the SAARC countries, to ensure the provision of skills to the educational institutions as per the needs of the industry and to give importance to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

Dr Iftikhar Ahmad Malik said that there are numerous institutions for higher education in Pakistan, but good research must be promoted to improve the quality of education. He said that in order to promote quality education in Pakistan’s public and private universities, an atmosphere of competition must be created because without it the process of development is inevitable. Dr Sarah Ansari discussed the history of South Asia.

Zafarullah Khan said that there has been a lack of communication between the countries of South Asia. He said that Pakistan and Bangladesh have gone through the experiences of good and bad democracies. Dr Amra Raza while thanking the distinguished guests, congratulated the organizers for organizing such an impressive conference. She said that the South Asian region is a combination of different cultures, religions, archeology and languages.

She said that our problems related to food, living conditions, education and employment are similar. She said that the subject of history should be given importance because it has a major role in policy making. Chairman Department of History and Pakistan Studies Prof Dr Mehboob Hussain said that as many as 120 research papers will be presented in the conference. The conference will continue on Thursday (today) as well.

For more information, contact:
Registrar,
University of the Punjab
Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99231102
Fax: +92-42-99231103
E-Mail: registrar@pu.edu.pk
Website: http://pu.edu.pk/

October 26, 2022October 27, 2022

Emergency Medicine Leadership Course – Day 1

Karachi, October 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Emergency Department (ED) at IHHN, Korangi Campus, is conducting a three-day course on Emergency Medicine Leadership (EML) from October 26-28, 2022. The objective of the course is to familiarize the participants with the various aspects of ED leadership through lectures from subject experts and peer mentorship. The first day of the course was fast-paced and focused on laying the foundation for the essentials of Emergency Department (ED) Leadership.

Day one started with a presentation from the course director, Dr. Megan Rybarczyk from the University of Pennsylvania, who gave a 360-degree view of the ED. This was followed by a talk from Dr. Saima Ali, Head of the Department – Emergency Services (Adult), IHHN; Ms. Qurat ul Ain Maroof, Clinical Services Management, IHHN; and Mr. Abid Ali, Nursing, IHHN; who spoke about the importance of proper staffing models.

Dr. Sean Kivlehan from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dr. Adeel Khatri, Consultant, Emergency Medicine, IHHN and Mr. Tariq Aziz, Nursing, IHHN, emphasized the importance of triage models and interventions. Dr. Jon Bar and Ms. Amanda Rudolph’s recorded presentations highlighted the importance of disaster planning and the role of ED nursing for efficient function.

Mr. Imran Jamal gave a comprehensive breakdown of the reasons for ED crowding and was followed by Dr. Sama Mukhtar and Dr. Ali Kashan, who spoke about hands-off communication and the role of EMS in safe patient referral. The day also saw the participants working enthusiastically on their group presentation, building on shared knowledge and designing efficient emergency departments. The course includes a diverse set of participants like Emergency Medicine physicians, nurses, and administrators from across Pakistan, with unique representation from both public and private sector hospitals.

For more information, contact
The Indus Hospital (TIH)
C-76, Sector 31/5, Opposite Darussalam Society,
Korangi Crossing, Karachi – 75190, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35112709-17
Fax: +92-21-35112718
Email: crd@indushospital.org.pk
Website: http://www.indushospital.org.pk/

October 26, 2022October 27, 2022

Chairman PTI Imran Khan and CM Ch Parvez Elahi chaired a joint parliamentary party meeting, the parliamentary party announced to fully support the long march

Lahore, October 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):Chairman PTI Imran Khan and Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi chaired a joint provincial parliamentary party meeting of PTI and PML-Q in which Imran Khan took into confidence the provincial parliamentary party on the announcement of the long march. The parliamentary party announced to fully support the long march.

Chairman PTI Imran Khan in his address said that he is not doing politics but doing Jihad at the moment and a new record of public attendance will be set in the long march adding that the imported government did not hold an election as elections are the death of the imported government. The imported government is neither managing to run the country nor the economy and have put the country into a blind alley. He said that Shehbaz Sharif is begging by going abroad and now is the time for “now or never.”

The long march is not an ordinary movement and has become one of the biggest movements of Pakistan. 90 percent of politicians of PML-N are criminals adding that the one who indulges into a foul play is assigned a bigger position in PML-N. Imran Khan stated that Nawaz Sharif is the biggest dacoit of the country adding that they want to get him disqualified. Imran Khan said that Rana Sanaullah is a murderer and a criminal adding that the murderers, dacoits and the thieves are freely roaming about in the country. Day after tomorrow all the people will gather at the Liberty Chowk and our long march will remain peaceful, he disclosed.

The public welfare projects of Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi were appreciated in the parliamentary party meeting and the participants reiterated their resolve that they are standing with Imran Khan like an iron wall and will continue to do so. They vowed that they are standing shoulder to shoulder with Imran Khan with full parliamentary, political and public strength. Under the able leadership of CM Parvez Elahi the exemplary alliance of PML-Q and PTI is delivering to the people of the province.

For more information, contact:
Mediacell, Pakistan Muslim League
30-C, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Road,
Gulberg-II, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35878428
Fax: +92-42-35877329
Website: www.pmlmediacell.com

October 26, 2022October 27, 2022

Szymon Makuch Awarded with Indus Ambassador Certificate

Karachi, October 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):Szymon Makuch, the Polish ultra-distance runner, was awarded with the IHHN Ambassador Certificate by Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, CEO, IHHN, and Mr. Mashhood Rizvi, Executive Director, Communication and Resource Development Directorate, IHHN.

Szymon Makuch specializes in extreme runs for charity. He has run several ultra-distance treks through his Run for Emotion initiative in order to help raise funds for various patients. Recently he completed the 1000 kilometers approx. KarakoRUN2022 through the Hindukush, the Karakorum, and the Himalayas to raise funds for treatment for children with cancer at IHHN and Herosi Foundation. Upon completing this marathon, Szymon traveled to Karachi to meet Indus Hospital and Health Network’s childhood cancer patients.

KarakoRUN2022 marks Szymon’s fourth and most extreme run so far. The run, which spanned almost 20 days in North Western Pakistan’s most difficult terrains, provides a modest emulation of the burdensome journey childhood cancer patients experience.