Monsoon rains, floods pose colossal challenge

on 09/01/2023

Unprecedented monsoon rains and flooding continue to affect the people and have affected over 30 million people over the last few weeks. Though the figures vary from 30 million to 33 million, the updates pouring in from Sindh and Balochistan and parts of Southern Punjab suggest that the number of affectees will rise and is likely to depict a scene more alarming than the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan.
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah said the number of affected in the province has surpassed 10 million. He has issued a call to the affluent classes to play their part in relief operations across the province as the provincial government cannot meet the challenge alone.
Over 23 districts of the province have been declared calamity-hit areas where the damages are being assessed. As per media and social media reports, the loss on accounts of infrastructure is huge.
In his emergent televised message, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said, “I have visited almost all the districts of the province and found everything inundated with rain water,” he said and added that the people who have been temporarily settled at relief camps are in a state of shock after losing their near and dear ones, their cattle, and other belongings.
The CM said women and children are living with tears in their eyes in relief camps.
Shah said that the riverine floods of 2010 had submerged all the cities, towns, and villages on the right bank of River Indus while the flash flood of 2011 had flooded the entire left bank and in those days our road network was not so good and despite this, philanthropists had helped the homeless and displaced people.
The chief minister said: “Compared to 2010 and 2011 our road network, including link roads and farms to market roads provides easy access, therefore philanthropists, welfare organizations and donor agencies should visit to take stock of the situation and help and support the distressed people.
Balochistan another affected province of Pakistan seems to be the hardest hit where not only the number of displacements is high but also the economy of the province has washed out with the floods. Over 5 lakh animals including cattle, one of the important sources of livelihood for the local people have died.
Thousands of kilometers of roads and many bridges have been washed out and other infrastructures have been damaged badly.
The torrential rains that triggered massive floods last month have also killed over 900 people all over Pakistan.
Some reports say Sindh in the country’s southeast and Balochistan in the southwest are the two most affected provinces. More than 504,000 livestock have been killed, nearly all of them in Balochistan, while damage to nearly 3,000 km of roads and 129 bridges have impeded movement around flood-affected areas.
Rehman and his cabinet colleagues say Sindh is the hardest hit province in the last few days. Sindh has requested 1 million tents for the affected people.
Reports from locals say there is a scant number of dry patches of land in many districts and those also are threatened by flooding in the canal system of the Indus River. The flood protection dykes along with the Indus are also facing the onslaught of the flood water on the right side of the river.
“South of Pakistan is inundated almost underwater. … People are going to higher ground,” Rehman said. “Needs assessment is being done, we have to make U.N.’s international flash appeal; this is not the task of one country or one province, it is a climate-induced disaster,” she added.
Rehman said Sindh has received “784%” more rainfall this month than the August average, while the province of Balochistan had received nearly 500% more.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal also said that 30 million people had been affected, a figure that would represent about 15% of Pakistan.
However, the U.N. agency Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the monsoon rains had affected some 3 million people in Pakistan of which 184,000 have been displaced to relief camps across the country.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that 150 kilometers of roads had been damaged across the country and over 82,000 homes have been partially or fully damaged.
Since mid-June, when the monsoon began, over 3,000 kilometers of road, 130 bridges, and 495,000 homes have been damaged, according to NDMA’s situation report in the last week of August, figures also echoed in the OHCA report.
Funding and reconstruction efforts will be a challenge for cash-strapped Pakistan, which is having to cut spending to ensure that the International Monetary Fund approves the release of much-needed bailout money. ERMD

Saqib Munawwar assumes charge of Controller
Examinations NHU

on 09/01/2023

Engineer Saqib Munawwar has taken acting charge of Controller of Examinations at Nazeer Hussain University (NHU) Karachi. Engr. Munawwar has on his credit 12+ years of working experience as an academician, and researcher besides administration and management.
Also, he has been involved with professional societies at national and international levels i.e. PEC, IEP, IEEEP, IEEE, ACM, NCEAC, ASHRAE, PHVACRS, etc.

IEEE R10 EA Capacity Building Workshop

on 09/01/2023

A 2-Day workshop was organized by IEEE educational activities, Karachi section in collaboration and with the supportive entities.
The workshop was led by Dr. M. Sadiq Ali Khan Chair IEEE Educational Activities, Karachi Section and conducted by the key resource persons: Muhammad Taha Hassan (Member IEEE Education Society), Muhammad Hammad Hassan (Member IEEE Computer Society), Manal Liaquat (Member IEEE Education Society) and Asif Nawaz (Member IEEE Computer Society).
The objective of this workshop was to facilitate teachers and stakeholders of Primary and secondary schools to accommodate the social distancing mandated by the government due to COVID itself by embracing distance learning tools. As such, many educational institutes in Karachi were contacted and their teachers were brought forward for training in order to improve the standard of education that the schools are providing.
Approximately 50 participants, all of which were teachers of Primary and secondary levels, were rigorously trained on their online teaching skills. The knowledge of crucial tools such as Zoom, Google Meet, Edmodo, Socrative, and many more were imparted to them during this 2-Day venture. With overwhelmingly positive feedback from the participants, the objective of this workshop was to take a step toward the improvement of Karachi’s educational standard was deemed complete as it came to a close on 25th June 2022.
During the event, the participants were graced by the presence of none other than the honorable Prof. Dr. Samreen Hussain, Vice Chancellor Aror University of Arts, Architecture, Design and Heritage, who enlightened everyone by the mention of her past achievements and motivated the female teachers that were present to do their best in their fields. She also imparted the knowledge of the valuable lessons she had learned throughout her life that made it possible for her to become the stellar figure she is today. The honorable Prof. Dr. Bhawany Shankar Chowdhry, Chair IEEE, Karachi section also arrived at the event to congratulate the various people involved in the event and inspired new ideas for further development and workshops in the same domain. The Regional Director, HEC, Mr. Javed Memon was also present during the event, further bolstering the confidence of the teachers so that they may carry their learning forward to implement in their schools

Biotechnology, food, agriculture turns lucrative investment areas for Pakistanis

on 09/01/2023

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has invited Pakistan’s private sector to availing opportunities in fields such as biotechnology, food, agriculture, etc.
UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem AlZaabi who spoke to the business community at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said Pakistanis were actively contributing to various sectors of the UAE economy. “A large number of businessmen from the UAE are interested in investing in Pakistan.
He was of the view that Pakistani business people lacked information as regards market needs.
He said an agreement under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was being finalized that would allow free trade between the two countries.
“We are looking forward to establishing an interactive platform between the two countries by collaborating with chambers of both sides.
There is a dire need for maximum facilitation of investors of both countries in this challenging economic era,” the ambassador emphasized.
LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir said that Pakistan and the UAE had time-tested diplomatic and economic relations.
“These ties were well reflected in the sizeable trade volume and cooperation in various fields including the defense sector.” He pointed out that the UAE and Pakistan were major economic and trade partners. Among the importing and exporting countries for Pakistan, the UAE holds the second and sixth places respectively.
“The balance of trade has always been in favor of the UAE as a major share of imports from the UAE is held by petroleum products and crude oil, which accounted for around 77% last year.” Trade volume between Pakistan and the UAE increased from $5.6 billion in 2020 to $8.6 billion in 2021. Pakistan’s exports inched up from $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion while imports jumped from $4.5 billion to $7.4b. — ERMD

What IMS plant and environment are distinct for! Imran Qureshi, Plant Director, IMS who loves machines talks to ER and shares how he faces challenges at the plant.

on 09/01/2023

The plant manager utilizes a lot of sources for producing a product at the plant. It’s a challenging task.
Manufacturing is always challenging, and so is the supply chain. But managing a plant is an exciting job too and I like it as I like machines and interaction with people. It’s like fun for me, I do it passionately and do not get overpowered by the challenges. There are many issues one has to face like manpower, labor issues, materials, supply chain, customs, etc.
ER: When we talk about Industrial plants, people say energy is very expensive. How do you look at it and how energy efficient is your plant?
We have taken several steps to conserve energy at the plant. In less critical areas like the canteen, mosque, etc, we have installed systems which turn off supplies when those areas are not in use. We have fixed planned breaks for tea and lunch and we have a system to turn off the plant during such breaks.
Now, we are switching to a solar system.
ER: How hi-tech is your plant?
It is a hybrid plant where we have many CNC machines digitally connected and operated through software. We have modern testing equipment besides the use of sensors and monitors for being digitally connected. It ensures that our customer is aware of first-hand information. We try to remain up to date with technology and are successful to a great degree.
ER: What about the environment and safety systems for the people on the plant?
Safety is part of our DNA and thus is embedded in our culture. The safety of the employees and the equipment is a must. In our country, we find a casual approach toward safety but we are very focused on safety and quality in IMS. Our employees are encouraged to report safety issues if any and address the issues in a proper manner. It is everybody’s responsibility.
The environment at the plant is very good as most of our employees are university graduates and they are encouraged to raise their issues with the Human Resource Department as well as the top management.
ER: Most of the machinery in our industrial plants is imported, so why can’t we try to make machines in Pakistan?
Our machines are also imported from Europe, they can be made in Pakistan too but the government level focus on the manufacturing sector remains absent. If we can make mobile phones, can overhaul jets, we can make these machines also but our two big institutions such as the Heavy Electrical Complex and Heavy Mechanical Complex are in poor condition. It is the lack of our governments. Look at India, they make all machines in their country.
ER: How do you maintain your machines if they develop any issues?
If any issues develop that are linked with the mechanical or hydraulic side, we look towards local vendors whereas, in case of any sophisticated problems like circuit boards and CNC cards and electronics, we rely on foreign vendors.
ER: How do you face issues relating to the supply chain in the wake of rising inflation and the Covid situation before it?
It is a complex issue that started with the shortage of containers and then congestion at the port. Closure of industry resulted in delays. It was a tough time that the whole industry faced in the country. Since we have a three-month cycle thus we ensure the availability of our stocks as they are import-based. Because we see the demand that must be met.
During Covid – 19 Pandemic, we faced a bigger challenge as the investments went down.
Now, new challenges are on the customs side, and let’s see how it goes.
ER: Does your company collaborate with academia in case of any issues relating to the industry?
We collaborate with academia through an internship program. We select students from academia every year through a screening process. We have a comprehensive rotation program under which internees are informed about the plant and all systems are available here. The program aims at inducting the best human resource into the company.n