IPS – Page 3 – Newswire Pakistan

February 24, 2022February 25, 2022

An overview of civil services of Pakistan

Islamabad, February 24, 2022 (PPI-OT):The civil services form an important element of national progress and development, as being a fundamental administrative unit, they forge a direct impact on various matters of national significance. They not only deliver services, but also offer leadership at numerous levels of national administration and governance.

This overview of civil services was presented by Fasih Uddin, senior IPS associate and former chief economist, Planning Commission of Pakistan, during an interactive session held at IPS on February 21, 2022. The session was presided over by Chairman IPS Khalid Rahman and attended by Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, vice chairman, IPS and Syed Abu Ahmed Akif, former federal secretary, alongside the Institute’s research faculty.

Discussing the importance, history and evolution of civil services in Pakistan, the speaker explained that the contemporary civil service structure in Pakistan has gradually evolved from the pre-independence civil service framework, which itself finds its roots in the mid-nineteenth century. With time and different post-independence political eras, there have been several reforms and amendments in civil administration roles, duties, induction, and formation, some made by legal means and other by political wills. The establishment of new service categories, the inclusion of women at different administrative levels, accountability of civil servants, and the allocation of authority and power are a few examples of reforms that were done lately.

At the same time, the speaker pointed out, the civil administration framework and services are also loaded with a number of flaws and shortcomings which include the lack of sense of responsibility, political tints, corruption and incompetency. The speaker advised in the end that the civil administration of Pakistan must be made effective and disciplined, and this can only be done by inculcating civil servants with ethics, moral values, sense of responsibility, competence and commitment.

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February 18, 2022

Post-Truth Era: Trends in Media

Islamabad, February 18, 2022 (PPI-OT):It is not the ‘news’ when it’s not based on truth, as it does not serve the basic purpose of the news which is to be ‘for the good of the society’. This was unanimously observed by a panel of national and international speakers during the first plenary session of a two-day international media conference ‘Post-Truth Era: Trends in Media’, which was held at the University of Karachi on February 15-16, 2022, with the joint collaboration of the University’s Department of Mass Communication, Sindh Higher Education Commission, Greenwich University, and Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad.

The conference itself was presided over by Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, vice chancellor, University of Karachi, having Vice Chancellor Greenwich University Seema Mughal as a guest of honour. The chief guest of the inaugural session was Dr Asim Hussain, chairman, Sindh Higher Education Commission, whereas Former Deputy Chairman, Senate of Pakistan Saleem Mandviwalla graced the closing ceremony in similar capacity.

The first plenary session of the conference was addressed as keynote speakers by Prof Nico Carpentier, extraordinary professor at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, and Dr Alice Srugies, director of International Masters in Communication program, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The session was moderated by Samina Qureshi, assistant professor, Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, whereas the other panellists of the session included Khalid Rahman, chairman IPS, Prof Dr Noshina Saleem, director, School of Communication, University of the Punjab, Dr Moazzam Ali Hashmi, former political affairs advisor to the US Consulate in Karachi, and Mubarak Zeb Khan, a journalist from Daily Dawn.

Discussing the impact of misinformation and fake news as a challenge to modern democracies, the keynote speaker Prof Dr Nico Carpentier said “It’s hard not to start it with Donald Trump”, before highlighting and scrutinizing various misleading statements made by the former US President during and before his tenure as the country’s premier.

The speaker was also very critical over the widely prevailing spread of misinformation through fake news around the world today, maintaining that fake news should be seen and termed as btalant lies and dealt with accordingly. “To counter the spread of misinformation or disinformation, the fake news should be termed fair lies.” He said before adding “Political lies should also be distinguished”.

Dr Alice Srugies highlighted the importance of crisis communication, explaining that the crisis communication process includes multiple voices which are both senders and receivers, trying to communicate to, with, against, about or past each other.

According to Dr Alice, in order to avoid a ‘hegemonic’ takeover of communication [which leads to disinformation and fake news], we need to strengthen empathy in communication, avoid scapegoating and silencing, and provide adequate resources for listening and engaging with different stakeholders affected by the crisis.

Rahman pointed out that 15th February, the first day of the conference, was a memorable day in relevance to the topic ‘Post Truth Era’ as on the same day back in 2003, USA decided to invade Iraq on the pretext that Iraqi government possessed ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’, which later turned out to be a misinformation fabricated to influence the public opinion.

“When Fake News transmits from one individual to another, the damage is limited. But when it is institutionalized, and even worse, when it is orchestrated by governments, its impact becomes disastrous”, Rahman said. “Add to it the advent of modern technologies which have multiplied the speed, spread and scope of such transmissions, these developments have not only increased the possibilities of causing more damage to human societies, but are also beginning to cast serious concerns over democratic and civilizational spirits”, he added.

Professor Dr Noshina Saleem too highlighted the issue of dissemination of ‘fake news’ by means of social media applications, viewing that Social media applications have given wheels to the spread of fake news and mis/disinformation in modern times. Dr Moazzam too reflected on the post-truth phenomenon, stressing that the journalists today needed to be equipped with sufficient relevant information to know the background of the issue they are raising, discussing or covering at hand.

The other speakers who addressed the two-day conference in other sessions included Professor Lee Artz, director, Center for Global Studies, Purdue University Northwest, US, Professor Cherian George, associate dean, Research and Development, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University, Dr Ishrat Moin Seema, senior journalist and poet, Pakistan German Press Club, Berlin, Germany, Professor Yiheng Deng, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China, Dr Muhammad Noor Aladwan, assistant professor, Communication and Media Department, Al Ain University, UAE, Dr Fouzia Naz, chairman, Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, Prof Dr Nusrat Idrees, dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Karachi, Zarrar Khuhro, senior journalist and host at Dawn News, Karachi, Nighat Dad, founding director, Digital Rights Foundation, Lahore, Dr Arshi Saleem Hashmi, department head, Peace and Conflict Studies, National Defense University (NDU), Islamabad, Dr Faizullah Jan, associate professor, University of Peshawar, Dr Abida Ashraf, professor, School of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Dr Zulfiqar Qureshi, Mass Communication Department, University of Sindh, Zohare Ali Sharif, CEO Asiatic Public Relations Network, Dr Salma Umber, assistant professor, Mass Communication, Government College University, Faisalabad, Dr Syed Abdul Siraj, dean, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Islamabad, Dr Ayaz Ahmed Siddiqui from Greenwich University and Dr Sadia Mahmood, Sameena Qureshi, Dr Raana Afzal, Dr Syed Azfar Ali, Dr Naveed Iqbal, Dr Uzma Qazi, Huma Zafar Rao and Syed Mohammad Abbas Rizvi from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, among others.

February 15, 2022

Assessment of Net-Metering Based Solar Systems installed at IESCO and LESCO

Islamabad, February 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad with the support of GIZ Pakistan and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), under the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (REEE) project constituted a study to assess the net-metering process in the country with the main aim to highlight the barriers in procedural, technical and quality assurances.

With the active participation from NEPRA, IESCO, LESCO, REAP, SQF and several solar vendors, the report summarizes the quality issues and non-compliances of the regulations meant to govern the net-metering process, and suggests the intervention required for steady and successful renewable energy transition in the country.

January 29, 2022January 31, 2022

IPS, USPCASE-NUST to hold joint research on energy and power sector policies

Islamabad, January 29, 2022 (PPI-OT):A delegation from U.S. Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCASE), National University of Science and Technology (NUST) visited IPS on January 27, 2022 to discuss different arenas of cooperation and collaboration in promoting policy-oriented research, especially to address the pressing issue of the power sector of Pakistan.

The visiting delegation, which was headed by Dr Adeel Waqas, dean and principal, NUST, and comprised Dr Majid Ali, HoD, Department of Thermal Engineering and Fawad Khan, industry liaison officer, was welcomed by Chairman IPS Khalid Rahman along with the Institute’s team including General Manager Operations Naufil Shahrukh, Senior Research Officer Syed Nadeem Farhat, Manager Outreach Shafaq Sarfraz, Research Officer M Wali Farooqui, and Hamza Naeem and Lubna Riaz from the Institute’s Energy, Water, and Climate Change desk.

The guests expressed their interest in working together with IPS over the outstanding issues of the power sector, mainly the piling up of the circular debt and the lack of governance in policy matters, as well as to promote integration of renewable energy in the country.

The delegates apprised that USPCASE was equipped with the state-of-the-art laboratories and resources which provide an adequate technical support for testing and application of innovative research in the fields of electric power markets, renewable energy grid integration, smart grids, high voltage assembly, solar PV and thermal applicability, biomass and waste to energy conversion, batteries and storage devices, and energy storage materials – which can be efficiently utilized to address the issues in the power sector of Pakistan indigenously.

IPS welcomed the proposal to engage itself to mount the technical capabilities of USPCASE in the regulatory and policy framework for the development of the power sector. Moreover, proposals of joint publications, initiation of awareness programs, seminars, special issues of the journals and joint programs to enhance the capacity building of the stakeholders of the power sector were also discussed.

Furthermore, IPS and USPCASE, NUST agreed to engage the policy circles and business community of the country to promote green and cheap energy sources, while forming a pragmatic framework against the issues which have been snubbing the growth of the energy sector.

January 24, 2022January 25, 2022

A delegation from JKLC visits IPS

Islamabad, January 24, 2022 (PPI-OT):A three-member delegation from Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Cell (JKLC) visited IPS on January 22, 2022 and had a detailed meeting with the Institute’s faculty over various issues of common interests. The visiting delegation was headed by JKLC Secretary Ijaz Hussain Lone and comprised Najeeb ul Ghafoor and Khan Afsar, whereas IPS was represented by its GM Operations Naufil Shahrukh and team members Syed Nadeem Farhat, Sabur Ali Syed, Raja Farrukh Zeb, Shafaq Sarfraz and Mohammad Wali Farooqi.

The visitors were given a detailed brief by IPS’ Senior Research Officer Syed Nadeem Farhat about the Institute’s recent initiatives and ongoing research endeavours, to which Lone expressed a lot of enthusiasm and interest. The briefing was followed by a candid discussion in which both sides explored miscellaneous areas for collaborations and different options for joint ventures. It may be mentioned that both organizations have jointly organized an international conference on Kashmir in the past, and are now planning and looking forward to build on that experience further in coming days.

January 17, 2022

Scholar and journalist Hashir Farooqui remembered at IPS

Islamabad, January 17, 2022 (PPI-OT):A condolence meeting was held at IPS on January 13, 2022 to recall and recollect the intellectual contributions of prominent scholar and journalist Hashir Farooqui, who breathed his last in London on January 12, aged 90.

The sitting, which was chaired by Dr Safir Akhtar, a renowned scholar and editor of IPS journal Nuqta-e-Nazar, and attended by the Institute’s faculty, paid rich tributes to the deceased intellectual who was the founding member of UK Islamic Mission, trustee of Islamic Foundation, UK and many other organizations, and the founding editor of Monthly Impact International which was launched in 1970 from London and served the Muslim Ummah for forty years.

Earlier IPS’ Patron-in-Chief Professor Khurshid Ahmad also issued a heartfelt condolence message at the loss of his old friend and companion. He extended his deepest sympathies to the members of the bereaved family while praying to the Almighty to shower his blessings upon the departed soul.