K-IV approved, yet doubts persist!

on 17/01/2023

Although the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme (K-IV) Project worth Rs126 billion, the project stands far away from creating a sense of security that the people of Karachi would surely be benefitted from this huge engineering project as it is being trumpeted.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar was one among those who rushed to his Twitter handle to claim the credit notwithstanding the fact that the project would have been given a top priority much earlier and not been fallen into the political trap.
Now that the project is approved, suspicions still continue to surround the project because of its unpleasant past and many experts are asking if all the technical and engineering demands of the project have been completed. Because as they say this project has a remorseful history in terms of design.
However, a senior engineer Engr. Bashir Lakhani from Techno Consult, one of the consultants of the project claims the design of the project is entirely new and is based on pressurized pipelines.
The revised PC-1 with an entirely new design based on Pressurised pipelines from Keenjhar Lake to 3 Reservoirs and Filtration Plants at Pipri, NEK, and Manghopir Road has been approved, says his digital communication.
Besides the design of the project, the quantum of the water would be 260 MGD which of course is much lesser than initially pronounced as 650 MGD. But, a major question makes rounds in the city if water would be supplied to common citizens of Karachi as the destinations of the route have long been creating suspicions in the minds of many.
The project as per the central government that oversees Karachi Transformation projects costing Rs1.1 trillion will be completed by October 2023.
In 2019, a Sindh government investigation report said K – IV was not taken seriously from the very beginning adding PC – II of the project seemed to be the rough work of a child instead of a professional document of significance appropriate to this very important project involving the water needs of tens of millions of people.
The findings of the report said both the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) and the consultants Osmani & Company Ltd. (OCL) are accountable and shifted responsibility on each other.
The inquiry was done by Aijaz Ahmed Mahesar, Secretary to the government of Sindh.
The systemic failure of checks and control were observed during the planning, preparation, and implementation of K-IV. This was mainly because the Consultants (OCL), who initially prepared PC-II/ Feasibility (including design of K-IV) was rehired during implementation as “Design and Supervision Consultants “with the tasks of, inter alia, drawings and designs of K-IV and review the earlier designs prepared by the PC-II Consultants (who were otherwise to be a different Consultant). Re-hiring, the Consultants who prepared PC-II for PC-I design and implementation Consultancy was not only the conflict of interest but this also set a stage for making more and more mistakes in the preparation of PC-I, its implementation and avoiding systemic controls,” the finding unearths. “This needs to be further investigated as to why and under what circumstances the same (OCL) consultant was repeatedly hired ignoring the conflict of interest,” it recommended.
As per the feasibility study carried out by the KW&SB in the year 2002 as well as the scope of work, services, and TORS clearly define the responsibility of the Consultants, who on the other hand has shifted the responsibility to others.
The findings further say the contention of the consultants that they were not supposed to prepare the PC-I is neither tenable nor justified and contradictory to Feasibility Study (Stage-2).
In any case, the original PC-I was prepared by them, which was clocked, approved, and signed by the officers of Sponsoring Agency {KW&SB} who also ignored to verify that many tasks were found missing in the document.
In its conclusion, the reports said: After perusal of all records and statements made available to the undersigned and keeping in view the findings, it is concluded the K-IV was badly planned since its inception and utter negligence in discharging the duty was also observed at various levels.
As a result, the cost of the program is increased exponentially, and the benefits of the K-IV have not been harvested in time.
Not only the Sindh government, but NESPAK also confirmed the objections raised in the Sindh government’s report.
Interestingly enough, the companies, departments, and the people who were held responsible in the report were not taken to the task.n

Young engineers meet on Zoom

on 17/01/2023

Young Engineers Pakistan had a meeting on zoom on 3rd Feb 2022. The meeting consisted of two rounds. The meeting was attended by 58 plus activists from all over Pakistan. They discussed issues of young engineers and the role of the Pakistan Engineering Council.
They demanded that HEC should withdraw the notification regarding technologists, CIBD should be under the PEC, improve the service structure of Engineers, the government should provide jobs for young engineers and there should be a representation of young engineers in the governing body of PEC.
Everyone was enthusiastic about the struggle for the rights of young engineers.

Efficiency of Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity

on 17/01/2023

The generally low energy thickness of pumped storage frameworks requires either huge streams as well as huge contrasts in stature between supplies. The best way to store a lot of energy is by having a huge waterway found moderately close, however as high above as could really be expected, a second waterway.
In certain spots this happens normally, in others one or the two waterways were man-made. Projects in which the two supplies are artificial and in which no normal inflows are engaged with either repository are alluded to as closed-loop frameworks.
The main use for pumped storage has generally been to adjust baseload powerplants, yet may likewise be utilized to decrease the fluctuating result of discontinuous energy sources. Pumped storage gives a heap on the occasion of high power results and low power interest, empowering extra framework top limit. In specific wards, power costs might be near nothing or sporadically negative on events that there is more electrical age accessible than there is load accessible to retain it; despite the fact that at present this is seldom because of wind or solar-based power alone, expanded breeze and sun based age will improve the probability of such events. Traditional hydroelectric dams may likewise utilize pumped storage in a crossover framework that both creates power from water normally streaming into the supply just as putting away water siphoned back to the repository from underneath the dam.
Miniature applications for pumped storage could be based on streams and inside frameworks, for example, drinking water organizations and fake snow-making foundations. In such a manner, a tempest water bowl has been solidly carried out as a savvy answer for a water repository in a miniature pumped hydro energy stockpiling. Such plants give appropriated energy stockpiling and conveyed adaptable power creation and can add to the decentralized mix of discontinuous environmentally friendly power advancements, for example, wind power and sunlight-based power. Alongside energy, the executives, pumped storage frameworks assist with controlling electrical organization recurrence and give hold age. Warm plants are substantially less ready to react to abrupt changes in electrical interest, possibly causing recurrence and voltage unsteadiness. Pumped storage plants, like other hydroelectric plants, can react to stack changes in no time. In open-circle frameworks, unadulterated pumped storage plants store water in an upper supply with no normal inflows, while pump back plants use a mix of pumped storage and customary hydroelectric plants with an upper repository that is renewed to a limited extent by regular inflows from a stream or waterway. Now and again of low electrical interest, an overabundance age limit is utilized to pump water from a lower source into a higher supply. At the point when a request develops, water is delivered once again into a lower supply (or stream or waterway) through a turbine, creating power. Reversible turbine-generator gatherings go about as both a pump and turbine (typically a Francis turbine plan). Practically all offices utilize the tallness contrast between two water bodies. Pumped storage hydroelectricity permits energy from discontinuous sources, (for example, sunlight-based, wind) and other renewables, or abundance power from nonstop base-load sources (like coal or atomic) to be put something aside for times of more popularity. The repositories utilized with pumped storage are minuscule when contrasted with customary hydroelectric dams of comparable power limit, and creating periods are regularly not exactly a large portion of a day. Some have proposed little pumped storage plants in structures, albeit these are not yet efficient. Additionally, it is hard to squeeze enormous supplies into the metropolitan scene. In any case, a few creators safeguard the mechanical effortlessness and security of water supply as significant externalities. Alongside energy, the executives, pumped storage frameworks assist with controlling electrical organization recurrence and give hold age. Warm plants are considerably less ready to react to abrupt changes in electrical interest, possibly causing recurrence and voltage flimsiness.n

A loving home for every child A Day at SOS village Jamshoro

on 17/01/2023

The IEEE Communication Society (ComSoc), Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Student Branch Chapter in collaboration with IEEE ComSoc Karachi Section Chapter, IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES) Karachi Section Chapter, and QS World Merit Pakistan organized a Community Service (Social) event “A Day with Children of SOS Village Jamshoro: A Loving Home For Every Child” held in February.
The theme of the event was “Spreading Smiles with the Children of SOS Village Jamshoro”. The SOS Children’s Villages (Save Our Soul) is an initiative that provides alternative families to children without adequate parental care. The children are taken into custody without any discrimination of gender, religion, race, or cast and are provided with shelter and the love of a family.
The SOS Children’s Village, Jamshoro has been operational since April 2012. It consists of fifteen families where each family has the capacity for 10 children maximum at once. There are currently 108 children living in the care. This event was dedicated to show our love, affection and appreciation of the children living there.
This event was attended by forty-seven people (47), which included thirty-nine(39) IEEE members (including twenty-one (21) IEEE ComSoc Members) and eight (08) non-IEEE members. Upon arriving, the kids were called out by their caretakers to meet all the guests and members. Gifts were also distributed among the children for the sole purpose of expressing our affection to the future heroes. The event was free to attend and organized by Dr. Umair Ahmed Korai (Advisor, IEEE ComSoc MUET Student Branch chapter) and his IEEE ComSoc MUET student branch team members. The IEEE ComSoc MUET student branch team members donated gifts which costs Rs. 15,000 (PKR) to the children of SOS village.
The workshop was formally started with the interaction of participants with Mr. Riasat Ali Changazi, Chairman Saman-E-Shifa Foundation Karachi, and Group Captain (R), Pakistan Air Force who attended the event as Chief Guest followed by the speech of Prof. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry, Professor Emeritus MUET and Chair IEEE Karachi Section attended as a Guest of Honor. Both appreciate the efforts of the IEEE ComSoc MUET team for contributing their efforts and donations to the great cause. Following members have attended the said event as a guest.
Prof. Dr. Tanveer Phulphoto, Professor MUET,
Engr. Moiz Rahman Memon, LUMHS FM Manager, and Treasurer IEEE Karachi Section,
Dr. Abi Waqas, Assistant Professor MUET, and Chair IEEE IES Karachi Section,
Engr. Zakir Shaikh- Lecturer MUET and President QS World Merit Pakistan Engr. Jatendar, RA MUET Engr. Ali Akbar, RA MUET
A couple of cakes were cut in the event to celebrate the birthday of one of the kids at SOS village. An especially customized cake was ordered to uplift the environment. After a lot of fun with the children, the event ended with the vote of thanks by Dr. Umair Ahmed Korai to the chief guest, guest of honor, event collaborators, volunteers, and participants followed by shield and certificate distribution, and lunch. From an adult to a kid everyone was overjoyed with the expression of love and warmth, and everyone went on their ways with happy memories and a new ignited spirit of helping the underprivileged people of our society.n

Robots in SIUT
First robotic surgery, training center becomes reality

on 17/01/2023

Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) has set up a robotic surgery and training center. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated the center—the one which has brought yet another distinction for the institute.
In 2017, SIUT embarked on its Robotic Surgical Program in collaboration with the Civil Hospital Karachi.
The robotic Surgical Unit that the institute established was funded by Bashir Dawood, the Sindh government, and SIUT North America.
SITU website says the donation by Bashir Dawood for the Robotic Unit was to honor his family friend Kassim Parekh, a renowned banker who became Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.
Recently two robotic surgical units were acquired by SIUT from Cambridge Medical Robotics (CMR). These are currently used by many centers in Europe, the Middle East, India, and Latin America.
This acquisition is part of the SIUT philosophy to remain at the cutting-edge of technology. Robotic surgery is considered the future generation of surgical sciences.
Robotic procedures are associated with less pain, less blood loss, and faster recovery. Patients are discharged within a few days and can resume regular activities.
The unit has started with urological surgeries, to be followed by colorectal and gynecological surgeries. Thus far more than 1000 Robotic Surgeries have been performed at the department.
SIUT had already planned for a regional Robotic Surgical Training Center to train the next generation of surgeons in this state-of-the-art technology both from within Pakistan and the region, the institute says.
Chief Minister Shah said robots performed surgery on organs that are difficult to reach by hand. “It is a revolution.”
Shah congratulated Dr. Adib Rizvi, the founder of SIUT and an internationally acclaimed surgeon.
Shah said he was proud that his government took a lead in robotic surgery in the country. He hoped more centers would be established in the country and offer young doctors to use modern tools and methods.
He also recalled that the first robot was acquired by the Sindh Government in 2017 from Intuitive Surgical Company, USA – The da Vinci System. It was used both by Dr. Ruth Fau, Civil Hospital, and SIUT and later the Robot was moved to a dedicated Robotic Surgery Unit in SIUT. – ER Report