Entry and transfer of votes

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The entry and transfer of vote is being be done at temporary or permanent address mentioned in Computerized National Identity Card according to Section 27 of Rule 2017 of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The District Election Commissioner, Shaheed Benazirabad, Zahid Hussain Bhutto, has explained that in case of being a government employee, his and family votes can be entered at temporary or permanent address as mentioned in CNIC and can also be entered at the place of employment. 

Addressing a meeting of councilors at his office, the DEC stated that 16 display centers have been established throughout the district for the purpose of entry and transfer of votes. 

Four such display centers have been opened in Talukas Nawabshah, Qazi Ahmed, Daur and Sakrand, each headed by an Assistant Registration Officer. 

He added that a voter can now transfer his address at place mentioned in CNIC if earlier it was entered at some other address. 

He informed that after the expiry of stipulated date of March 31, 2019, the address other than mentioned at CNIC would be automatically deleted. 

He advised the councilors to create awareness among voters of their respective wards for entry of votes at their temporary or permanent address by the deadline of March 31, 2019.

Caravan-e-Bhutto train march warmly welcomed in Nawabshah, proceeds to Larkana

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Caravan-e-Bhutto train march led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, reached Nawabshah on its way to its destination of Larkana. 

He was warmly welcomed by party workers at the Nawabshah Railway Station as he was showered rose petals while the station was profusely decorated with colorful banners. 

The Caravan-e-Bhutto had kicked off from Karachi's Cantt Station on March 26 saw many senior PPP leaders joined Bilawal Bhutto in his journey to Larkana to attend the 40th death anniversary of the party founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a former Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Addressing party workers from the compartment of his train, the PPP chairman said the late former premier and the party founder had sacrificed his life but did not take a U-turn. 

Bilawal Bhutto remarked that practical steps were necessary for bringing stability to Pakistan's economy instead of collecting charity. 

He was of the view that the accountability should be for everyone but instead a series of revenge process has been started in the name of accountability. He questioned about the accountability of Aleema Khan and asked whether the wealth was taken back from her.

Canada, UAE collaborate in space exploration

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Embassy of Canada in the UAE, organized a conversation with the UAE Space Agency (UAESA) Director General, Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President, Sylvain Laporte, at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island on March 20. The event brought together the delegates of the UAESA, CSA and Global Space Congress and members of CBC Abu Dhabi. 

Masud Husain, Ambassador of Canada to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), presented the welcome address in which he spoke at great length of the growing relationship between Canada and the UAE and their collaborative efforts in space exploration. 

Gregory Zoughbi, Chairman of CBC Abu Dhabi, welcomed and introduced the speakers, noting on CBC’s role in promoting business relations, commerce and investment between Canada and the UAE through its Communities of Interest (COI) initiative. 

Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor-in-Chief of The National opened the discussion by how the investment in space will benefit different sectors such as energy, construction, education, media and others; and what opportunities it may have to offer to society.

It was a historic moment for the UAE when it launched its first Emirati-made satellite in 2018. Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, shared how this vision came into reality because of the country’s dedicated leadership who foresaw the future of this nation as well as the region. 

The UAE’s space programme has various initiatives such as hosting the Global Space Congress and teaming up with different countries, such as Canada, with the same passion for space exploration. 

Sylvain Laporte, President of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), talked about the many lessons learned throughout this programme, mentioning a country could not do space exploration without international collaboration. 

The CSA chief expressed great appreciation of how the UAE’s Space Agency, within a short span of tim,e has been able to achieve great milestones.

The topic on Canada’s commitment to the Lunar Gateway by providing smart robotic system was also discussed wherein he explained how this system will work and how Canada has taken advantage of the technologies from the two Canadarms. 

The informative discussion concluded with the point that the UAE and Canada have driven inspiration for the youth to get involved in space initiatives as both the countries encouraged innovation, commercialization and diversity in space. 

The Canadian Business Council Abu Dhabi (CBC) promotes business relations, commerce and investment between Canada and the UAE with a particular focus on the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA), established in 1989, is responsible for coordinating all government-funded space activities in Canada and some of its more high-profile projects include its robotics, most famously the Canadarm and the Canadarm 2. 

The UAE Space Agency is a federal agency, created to take care of the space sector including all projects, activities and programmes related to outer space. 

It is focused on the development of policies, strategies and plans related to the space sector that are approved by the Council of Ministers.  

The Global Space Congress, hosted by the UAE Space Agency, is a strategic gathering of global space industry leaders. 

Promoting the worldwide industry of space, the Congress brings together over 600 key space agencies, commercial space, academia and end users of space services to evaluate the biggest opportunities in the space sector.

New evidence about post-miscarriage infection

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

New international guidelines on how to provide treatment for women having miscarriage surgery are needed after a large-scale international trial has provided new evidence.

The trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved thousands of women at hospitals across four low and middle income countries, including the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi and 12 other hospitals across Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. 

The findings of the study show that administering antibiotics prior to miscarriage surgery had a possible benefit when pelvic infection was defined by global standards. 

“Before the trial we had no idea what the right thing was, to reduce the serious complication of pelvic infection. We finally now have the highest quality evidence that a single, cheap, preventative dose of two commonly available antibiotics was not only safe but also appeared to reduce pelvic infection if the infection was diagnosed using strict international criteria,” lead researcher Dr David Lissauer of the University of Birmingham, remarked. 

Infections following miscarriage surgery are more common in low and middle income countries like Pakistan versus higher resource countries.

“In Pakistan, access to resources to care for women who do develop complications after miscarriage surgery is poor. The findings of this study will lead to improved treatment outcomes for women,” Dr Rahat Qureshi, associate professor, department of obstetrics and gynaecology at AKU, and one of the authors of the study along with Dr Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, the founding director of AKU’s Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, stated. 

“Globally there are concerns about the irrational and widespread use of antibiotics which can fuel antibiotic resistance. 

This practice is rampant in Pakistan as well which is why quality processes within our health system must be initiated to prevent infections. In addition, a balanced use of antibiotics will improve practices and reduce the risks of emergence of resistant bacteria,” she added. 

Prior to this study, there were only four trials conducted on antibiotic use in women undergoing surgery for miscarriage. These trials were conducted at single centres, used different antibiotics and assessed different outcomes. This study, however, was a multi-country, multi-centre randomised trial, the findings of which will call for a reassessment of international guidelines on the use of antibiotics in miscarriage surgery. 

A miscarriage is the most common complication of early pregnancy, the loss of a baby before 20 weeks. However, sometimes not all the residual pregnancy tissue is dispelled through the womb after a miscarriage so often a surgery is required to remove it. Miscarriage surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures carried out around the world. 

The study’s findings have implications for global efforts to achieve targets under goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals which call for specific measures to reduce the maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births. 

The study was funded by Medical Research Council UK, Wellcome Trust and UK Aid, and led by researchers at the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, the Institute of Applied Health Research, and the Health Economics Unit at the University of Birmingham.

SBBU students celebrate Basant festival

By Rashid Zia Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The two-day Basant festival, organized by the final year male and female students of the Information and Technology department of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU) to welcome spring season ended on March 12.

The students wearing colorful and traditional dresses organized various beautiful programmes which included the department decoration, trade tactics of small businesses stalls, kite flying and exhibition of cultural costumes. 

Besides musical events, stalls of eatables, mobile selfies competition, mehndi designs, acting competition, humour poetry, face painting and holding of local traditional games also marked the occasion. 

The students staged Balochi, Sindh and Punjabi dances on the drumbeat and chanted slogans of BO Kata during kite flying competition. They welcomed the guests coming to their stalls and briefed them about the festival. 

The SBBU Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr. Tayyaba Zareef, Prof Dr Liaquat Zardari and others visited different stalls and joined students during kite flying. The teachers were wearing cultural dresses and colourful scarf to welcome spring.

On the other side students of Information and Technology Department highlighted the culture by wearing Balochi and Sindhi Paghdi. 

The Basant festival, for a change, ended with Qawali sessions instead of musical programme. 

Addressing the gathering, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Tayyaba Zareef remarked that it’s the university manifesto to take along all with love and cultural ethics. 

She observed that the students of the SBBU were instrumental in spreading the message of love far and wide.

“Our students care for each other, which has boosted their own confidence and built a very cordial atmosphere at the campus,” she reckoned. 

“The SBBU students have clinched positions and distinguished themselves in all areas and I hope that they will continue doing so. Promoting our culture and spreading of peace, love, good manners and best education would last for life,” she added.

Police action against drugs, illegal arms in interior Sindh

By Rashid Zia Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Police of different police stations of District Shaheed Benazirabad, on the directives of SSP Tanvir Tunio, raided various places and arrested 10 culprits following recovery of drugs and illegal arms and ammunition and registered cases against them.

In this regard Kazi Ahmed Police arrested accused Ayub Khoso and recovered 1.1 kilogram of charas. 

The Police arrested six accused following recovery of cash and cocks involved in cock fight gambling in village Maal Maher. They were identified as Gul Bahar Umrani, Ashraf Mirasi and Mitha Khan Mirasi. 

During checking at Shahdadpor road, the Gupchani police arrested accused Abdullah son of Abdul Aziz and recovered a pistol with bullets. 

The Airport Police Nawabshah arrested accused Imran alias Bhooro Arani and recovered five kilograms of charas. 

The A-section police arrested Noman alias Nomi Awan near Golimar Phatak and recovered 3 bottles of liquor. They also arrested Ghulam Murtaza in Taj Colony following recovery of four bottles of liquor. 

The Sakrand Police raised a distilled liquor factory near Teen Ghat and recovered large quantity of raw liquor. The operator of factory, however, managed to escape.

Sindh govt takes fresh water initiatives

By Rashid Zia Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Government is taking appropriate steps for supply of clean potable water to common man and more filter plants are being installed for better facilities in this regard.

This was stated by the Secretary of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Syed Hassan Naqvi, during his visit of Asia’s largest Water Ultrafiltration Plant, water checking centre, Sewerage Treatment Plant and Sakrand Water Supply Scheme. 

He disclosed that all the water supply and drainage schemes were handed over to the PHED. 

The PHED Secretary instructed officials to play role in provision of clean potable water to common man as it is their basic right. 

He advised the officials to activate all filtration plants and any negligence in this regard would not be tolerated. 

He also instructed them to complete all the ongoing development schemes of drainage and water supply schemes. 

Later the Secretary visited Water Checking Plant at Peoples University of Medical and Health Science and collected information. He was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner, Abrar Ahmed Jaffar, and officials of the PHED.

Nawabshah hawkers elect consensus candidates

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Muhammad Ashraf Quureshi and Abdul Malik were elected as the President and the General Secretary of the Akhbar Farosh Union of Nawabshah on March 12. 

The elections were held after the meeting of the general body, presided over by senior hawker Ashraf Qureshi while Farooq Memon and other hawkers were also present on the occasion. President Ashraf Qureshi, 

General Secretary Abdul Malik, Vice President Akram Shaikh, Joint Secretary Rizwan Qazi, Treasurer Mansoor Soomro and Office Secretary Aqeel Malik were elected with consensus for a period of two years. Abdul Khaliq Malik was elected member for Central Governing Body of the All Pakistan Akhbar Farosh Union. 

The Central Secretary General of the All Pakistan Akhbar Farosh Union, Tikka Khan Abbasi, has congratulated the newly elected office-bearers of Nawabshah.

Strict measures in Shaheed Benazirabad

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Deputy Commissioner Shaheed Benazirabad, Abrar Ahmed Jaffar has ordered strict action against petrol pumps functioning without permission, petrol agencies and sellers of sub-standard oil in the district. 

Additional Deputy Commissioner Tariq Ali has been tasked as Focal Person to coordinate with the team of Collector Modern Custom Collectorate to take action against those involved in the sale of illegal and sub-standard oil in the district and carry out raids against such petrol pumps and petrol agencies functioning in other parts, towns and places of the district.

It is a well-known fact that majority of sellers are openly selling smuggled Iranian petrol. Earlier sometime back, Assistant Commissioner had raided and sealed ten petrol pumps involved in the sale of sub-standard petrol. 

However further action was stopped on the threat of traders to resort to strike against the action. The citizens complained that contaminated oil was the main cause of damaging the engines of their vehicles and it required strict action to prevent the sale of sub-standard oil.

Girls’ advancement in education hailed

By Rashid Zia Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh Education Minister, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, expressed his pleasure over the fact that the girls in the province of Sindh were advancing in the field of education and holding positions which was the dream of Benazir Bhutto. 

He was talking to media after the conclusion of 4th Annual Convocation of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Benazirabad. 

He criticized the ruling party at the centre, Pakistam Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), accusing them of carrying out actions against its political opponents. 

“The PTI should be renamed as Tehrik-e-Inteqam. Accountability should be held for all but revenge under the cover of accountability would not be acceptable,” 

“No segment of the nation should go without accountability but who will do the accountability of NAB,” he questioned. 

He thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for having recently visited Thar and remembering its people. 

He recalled that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi contested several times from Thar constituency but did nothing for the welfare of Thar people except collecting ‘Nazrana" from his followers there. 

To a question, the Minister described a report regarding closed schools in Sindh as an old one and said that he would release a verified report in next ten days in this regard.

He added that it was during the tenure of Junejo government when teachers were inducted and schools were constructed on political grounds. 

“Such teachers were employed who lacked required capabilities to teach student while more than one schools were constructed in many villages despite the fact that number of students was low there. Such people were employed as teacher who had no ability to get any other job,” the Minister asserted.

He told a questioner that the government employees were barred to do media jobs and action would be initiated against such teachers violating laws and not discharging duty as teacher. 

He showed ignorance about the occupation of Nawabshah Press Club by government employees involved in journalism and said that action would initiated against such persons in the light of inquiry.  

The Minister stated that educational institutions were set up in the name of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in Sindh to pay tribute to the great leader.

Syed Sardar Ali Shah awarded three gold medals and 12 silver medals to position holders and awarded degrees to 160 girls and boys of the university. The convocation occasion was also addressed by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Tayyaba Sharif.

Sindh College Games begin at Bilawal Complex

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh College Games 2018-2019, being organized under the auspices of Regional Directorate of Colleges Shaheed Benazirabad, was formally started on at Bilawal Sports Complex on March 1.

The sports outfits comprising male and female students of government colleges are participating from six Sindh Divisions including Karachi, Hyderabd, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad Division would show their talents in Inter-Regional Basket Ball and Throw Ball. 

The Chairman Nawabshah District Council, Sardar Jam Tamachi Unar was chief guest on the occasion of opening of Sindh College Games. 

Addressing the opening session, Jam Tamachi Unar said that games are necessary for healthy environment and appealed Sindh Government to set up games grounds on government spaces occupied illegally so that our youths shall not be deprived of healthy events. 

He further said that the trend of sports would multiply with the setup of sports grounds. He said that sports events should be organized at division, district and tehsil level as necessity. 

Speaking on the occasion Regional Director Colleges Shaheed Benazirabad, Prof Muhammad Siddique Unar, said that organizing of sports aims at promoting youths and highlighting the name of country. 

Addressing the players he said that winning and losing is part of the game and they shall play showing the game spirit and this would be stage where your will surely win.

Control room in Shaheed Benazirabad

By Rashid Zia Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Divisional Commissioner Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirza Nasir Ali, has set up Divisional Control Room in the wake of prevailing situation in the country. 

The Additional Commissioner-2 Shaheed Benazirabad, MuhammadYousuf Abbasi, has been assigned the charge as head of the Divisional Control Room that would remain in contact with all the control rooms set up in the division. 

The control room has been allotted Phone number 02449370310 and 0244372580, Mobile Watsapp No. 03443783349, email id yousufabasi123@gmail.com and Fax number 02449370392 for contact in any emergency situation.

Emergency setup in Nawabshah

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The District administration has set up District Control Room at Darbar Hall of the Deputy Commissioner Secretariat keeping in view the prevailing emergency situation of the country.

The District Control Room was set up on the directives of Deputy Commissioner, Abrar Ahmed Jaffar, while Additional Deputy Commissioner-2, Tariq Ali Solangi, has been appointed as focal person who would remain in touch with all control rooms set up in the district and would submit report to the Sindh government on daily basis. 

Meanwhile the leaves of government employees were also suspended forthwith. The control room set up at Deputy Commissioner Office would work round the clock for which the related staff was assigned duties up to March 31, 2019. 

In case of occurrence of any unwanted incident in the district, it would immediately be reported to District control room in order to extend help to public in emergency situation. 

In case of any emergency the control room can be contacted at Phone number 02449370343 and Fax number 02449370338 while the focal person can be contacted at cell number 03333972010.

Nawabshah gears up for challenges

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Commissioner Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirza Nasir Ali, chaired an emergency meeting of all the administrative and local government’s divisional and district heads in view of the prevailing situation.

Addressing the meeting held on the advice of the provincial government, the Commissioner informed that a control room has been setup by the provincial government and similar control rooms also established at divisional and district levels with directives to all the departments to cancel the leaves of their employees. 

As such, he said, everyone will have to remain alert to meet any emergency situation and perform their duties as per aspirations of the people and the country. 

He called upon the meeting participants to immediately visit the government buildings, schools and colleges and ensure their utilization when required for emergency purposes. Besides all types of .machineries and facilities available with the departments, should be kept ready.

The Additional Commissioner, Wasim Hamid, informed the meeting that education department has prepared list of scouts and volunteers and step being taken for their training with the cooperation of Civil Defence. 

The Commissioner exhorted the Chamber of Commerce and members of civic business community to ensure stocks of items of daily use like wheat, rice, flour etc. for public use and said there should not be any shortage or profiteerimg. 

The meeting was attended, among others, by Additional Commissioner Shaheed Benazirabad, Mohammed Yusuf Abbasi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Waseem Hamid, Chairman Municipal Committee Nawabshah Azeem Mughal, District Health Officer, Director Schools Secondary and Primary Education, District Incharge Civil Defence and officials of other departments.