Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi on Thursday assumed the charge of acting
Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi.

He was appointed by the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah as the
acting VC with immediate effect till the appointment of regular vice
chancellor through a search committee.

A good number of faculty members and non-teaching staff warmly welcome
Professor Dr Iraqi at the new administration Building and later gathered at
his Office to greet him. The acting VC KU, while talking to them, urged all
stakeholders to work together for the betterment of the university.

The deans, head of various departments and institutes and centers,
representatives of Karachi University Teachers Society, Officers Employees
Welfare Association and others met the acting vice chancellor of Karachi
University.

“We have to make Karachi University the best varsity of the region and it
cannot be done without support and endeavors of all stakeholders. Students,
teachers, and non-teaching staff all must come forward and work for
betterment of the KU. Otherwise, it will be difficult to achieve the goal
of making it the best institution of higher education,” he added.

Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi says he believes in transparency and his doors
would remain open for everyone and there would be no secrecy while
developing or implementing any policy.

“I believe that we can excel as a team. I will appreciate that everyone
should play a constructive role for the betterment of the university.” He
advised them to belief in yourself and work as a team so that fruitful
results could be produced.

Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi vowed to seek support of everyone at the varsity
for making a positive change. The acting VC KU assured them that he would
leave no stone unturned to resolve the issues and problems being faced by
the University of Karachi and he was quite hopeful that would be able to
run the varsity in the most efficient manner with the help of all
stakeholders.

He also thanked the Almighty Allah and provincial government for giving him
the chance to serve Karachi University.

Professor Dr Arshad Azmi appointed as KU Controller of Examinations

Consequent upon the resignation of acting Controller of Examinations, KU,
Dr Irfan Aziz, on Thursday, Professor Dr Arshad Azmi of Department of
Zoology has been given additional charge of the Controller of Examinations
with immediate effect till further orders.

Professor Dr Saleem Shahzad appointed as KU Registrar

After the resignation of acting Registrar, KU, Dr Muhammad Sohail on
Thursday, Professor Dr Saleem Shahzad of Department of Agriculture and
Agribusiness Management has been given additional charge of the Registrar
with immediate effect till further orders.

KU announces LLB Part I Annual Examination 2018 results

The Controller of Examinations, University of Karachi, Dr Irfan Aziz, on
Thursday announced the results of LLB Part-I, Annual Examination-2018.

According to the gazette issued, 996 candidates were registered of which
899 students appeared in the papers and 323 candidates were declared pass
and 576 students fail. The overall pass percentage was 35.93 percent.

The eminent educationist was suffering from cardiovascular disease and went to a private hospital for his dental checkup on Friday where his health deteriorated last night and later breathed his last in the wee hours of the Saturday morning.

Born on July 01, 1952, Dr Khan became the 17th vice chancellor of the public sector university in January 2017. His funeral prayers were offered at Jamia Masjid Ibrahim, KU, and later laid to rest in the KU Graveyard. 

His funeral was attended by the Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, social activist and renowned singer Shahzad Roy, provincial education minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, special assistants to the Chief Minister Sindh Waqar Mehdi and Rashid Rabbani, and Nabeel Zubari of Pakistan People Party, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, Syed Miraj ul Huda and Osama Razi of Jammat-e-Islami, Syed Faisal Subzwari and Syed Amin ul Haq of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan), Syed Mustafa Kamal of Pak Sarzamin Party, former KU VC Professor Dr Muhammad Qaiser, and ex-KU VC and current vice chancellor of Ziauddin University Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, NED VC Professor Dr Sarosh Lodhi, VC Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Lyari, Professor Dr Akhtar Baloch, VC Sindh University Professor Dr Muhammad Barfat, VC Nazeer Hussain University Professor Dr Muhammad Ahmed Qadri, VC Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Professor Dr Syed Altaf Hussain, VC Iqra University Waseem Qazi other noted political and social personalities as well as varsity’s Registrar and Controller of Examinations, members Syndicate, Senate, various head of the departments, large number of teaching and non teaching staff and students president of Unikarians International, Professor Ejaz Ahmed Faruqi and others.

Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan always said that he had accepted the post of the vice chancellor as a challenge. “I aim to turn the varsity into the top ones of the world. I am aware of the challenges faced by the university and do my best to resolve them.”

Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan was a noted Pakistani botanist and his teaching and research career spans over 44 years. For his outstanding services in plant sciences he had received numerous prestigious local and international awards including Presidential Award of Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2008.

He has also received Fellow of Fulbright Academy of Sciences and The World Innovation Foundation, Switzerland in 2006, HEC-Distinguished National Professor and Honor Professor, Shijiazhuang Institute for Agriculture Modernization, P.R. China in 2005, Fellow Third World Academy of Science in 2003, Fellow Pakistan Academy of Science and Presidential Award of the Pride of Performance in August in 2001.

Meanwhile, he was given the status of Meritorious Professor. He had also received title of Distinguished Scientist of the year 2008 in Botany as well as Fellow of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS), Fellow of Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), Fellow, Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Distinguished Visiting Professor, King Saud University, KSA and Qatar Shell Professorial Chair in Sustainable Development, Qatar University.
He was the recipient of Ohio University Teaching Assistantship (1980-1984); National Science Foundation, USA postdoctoral fellowship at Brigham Young University, USA (1984-1985); DAAD study visit to University of Munster, Germany (1994); Fulbright visiting scholar, Ohio University, USA (1995-1996) and Adjunct Professorship in the Brigham Young University, USA (1996-1997).

He was an elected member of Sigma Xi, USA, (1985), and Regular Associate member of Dr Abdus Salam International Center of Theoretical Physics, Italy (1990). During the year 2000 Dr Khan was awarded Pakistan Academy of Science and INFAQ Foundation joint gold medal (1999) in the field of Botany.

Based on Information Science Institute, Baltimore, USA Journal Citation Report, the Pakistan Council of Science and Technology had ranked him among the leading scientists of all disciplines.
Professor Muhammad Ajmal Khan was rated among top five biologists among the Islamic countries by COMSTECH. He was given the status of Honor Professor (Adjunct Professor), Shijiazhuang Institute for Agricultural Modernization, Hebei, China.

The salt tolerant plants (halophytes), physiology, biochemistry and ecophysiology; cash-crop halophytes was his research interest topics and through his research, he was engaged in development of varieties of halophytes for special uses, salt tolerance mechanisms, seed biology of halophytes.

 During his teaching career, the subjects like physiological ecology of plants, plant ecology, plant population biology, seed biology and evolutionary ecology always get his attention. 

Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan was awarded DSc, in Botany from University of Karachi, 2010, PhD in Physiological Ecology from Ohio University in 1985, MSc in Plant Physiology from Karachi University in 1974 and BSc (Hons) in Botany from KU in 1973. He did his intermediate from Jamia Millia College and matriculation also from a government school.

He started his career in 1975 as a Research Officer of Pakistan Science Foundation project in the Department of Botany, KU and later as a Lecturer in 1977, was appointed as Assistant Professor of Botany in 1985, Associate Professor of Botany in 1989, Professor of Botany in 1996, Director, Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization in 2007, Tenured Professor in 2011 and Meritorious Professor in 2012.

He was highest ranked botanists of Pakistan and served the University of Karachi as a regular faculty till 2012 and as a visiting Professor in several universities of China, Germany, Qatar, UK, and USA.

He was also the Chairman, Core Committee of International experts to rehabilitate coastal Sabkha in UAE by Environmental Agency, UAE and visiting Professor under Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

He also served as Scientific Advisor to Vice Chairperson, Qatar Foundation, Doha. Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan was also the Founding Director of the Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization (ISHU), KU.
In 2009, he became the first ever UNESCO Chair-holder in Sustainable Halophyte Utilization with ISHU as the global hub for supporting halophyte research. In 2012, he assumed the position of Qatar Shell Professorial Chair in Sustainable Development and Coordinator, Food Security Program at Qatar University. He was instrumental in creating the Centre for Sustainable Development, Qatar University and headed the food security program.

His group at ISHU has patented a non-conventional fodder crop for saline barren lands. A successful pilot project in Thar indicates that the successful implementation of this technology has the potential to make drought redundant.

Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan had also edited more than one dozen books and published 388 research papers with a cumulative impact factor more than 284; RG index of 40.26; h-index of 59 and i10-index of 253.

He had completed over 40 research projects on various aspects of salt tolerance in plants and had done pioneering work on mechanisms involving endogenous growth inhibitors under salt stress. The authenticity and uniqueness of his research has received wide acclaim from his peers and fellow researchers and his publications are repeatedly cited in papers from various corners of the world. The quality and impact of his research can be gauged by more than 20303 citations in international publications by peers in the field.

Besides his personal achievements, he had trained and motivated number of researchers to continue his legacy of scientific excellence towards ensuring food security for future generations.

After taking over as Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi during January 2017 he has been instrumental in bringing fundamental changes in admissions, examinations, security, recruitment, financial management and promoting research culture which has contributed in changing the direction and uplift of the university standards.

Meanwhile, the KU Administration has announced that all classes and exams scheduled on Sunday (today) have been postponed and new dates would be announced later. The schedule academic activities remain suspended on Saturday as well.

The KU is also holding a reference meeting at 10am at the Arts Auditorium on Monday which would be followed by Quran Khawani at Jamia Masjid Ibrahim, KU.

The signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding in this regard was held at the KU Vice Chancellor Secretariat. KU Faculty of Education Dean Prof Dr Nasir Salman and the chief executive officer of Durbeen, Salma Ahmad Alam, inked the document. Zindagi Trust founder Shehzad Roy also attended the ceremony. Last month, the Sindh government had outsourced the management of the GECE to Durbeen, which is a non-profit organisation, to improve its infrastructure, teaching and administration.

According to Durbeen, after the status of pilot project granted by the KU to the GECE, it aims at introducing certain innovations in the four-year bachelor of edcation.

IDM-Pak (Inclusive Development Movement in Pakistan)

The University of Karachi on Friday issued the interview schedule for the
candidates who have applied for the MPhil and PhD Scholarship Program-2019.

The in-charge Student Financial Aid Office, KU, Dr Muhammad Noman Syed,
directed all applicants under the MPhil and PhD Scholarship Program-2019 to
appear for an interview before the Institutional Scholarship Award
Committee (ISAC) on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at 10am at Council Room, Office
of the Dean, Faculty of Science.

He mentioned that all applicants are directed to bring along their original
and a photocopy of University’s ID card and BASR letter as well as CNIC for
the interview. Dr Noman warned that any candidate who fails to appear for
an interview before the ISAC would not be considered for the scholarship.

He said that candidates who have applied for the scholarship program were
already informed through email regarding the interview.

KU announces results of BCom Part I and II (Overseas) Annual Examination
2017

The Controller of Examinations, University of Karachi, Dr Irfan Aziz, on
Friday announced the results of B.Com Part-I and II and both parts
(overseas), Annual Examination 2017.

As per gazette, 19 candidates were registered in B.Com Part-I exams of
which 12 students appeared and only three candidates managed to pass their
papers while nine students were declared fail. The overall pass percentage
was 25 percent.

Meanwhile, 50 candidates were registered and 45 students appeared in the
B.Com Part-II and both parts exams of which four candidates declared pass
with first division, 10 students with second division whereas 31 candidates
fails to clear their exams. The overall pass percentage was 31.11 percent.

KU shortlist students for internship programs

The University of Karachi on Friday issued the list of students who have
been shortlisted for internship programs.

The Directorate, Students’ Guidance, Counseling and Placement Bureau, KU,
has conducted the written test and interview for the internship at Pakistan
State Oil. Over 400 students of different departments appeared in the test
which was held at the Arts Auditorium. The Director Students’ Guidance,
Counseling and Placement Bureau, Dr Abdul Jabbar Khan said that 276
students were shortlisted after the interview.

Meanwhile, he mentioned that more than 50 students were selected for
National Financial Literacy and Students’ Ambassador Program which would be
run by the State Bank of Pakistan. He said that these students were
selected according to the merit lists shared by their respective
departments.

He further said that two students namely Ariba Zahir from Department of
Economics and Rida Irum Abdul Rasheed were selected for the Summer
Internship Program-2019 of the State Bank of Pakistan.

Ariba Zahir was the position holder of BA (Honors) Economics while Rida
Irum was the most brilliant student in her class of BBA (Honors). The
Director Students’ Guidance, Counseling and Placement Bureau, Dr Abdul
Jabbar Khan said that KU would give maximum opportunities to students to
avail such program so that they could learn about working environment at
early stage and utilize their experiences when they started their
professional careers.

He mentioned that these initiatives were taken on the directives of the KU
Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan to encourage talented
students and aim to help them in utilizing their skills practically. He
believes that it would boost the confidence level among students and their
eagerness to perform well in education.

The Controller of Examinations, University of Karachi, Dr Irfan Aziz, on
Wednesday announced the schedule of submission of examination forms and
fees of MA Previous/Double MA, (External) Annual Examination 2018 without
late fee.

He said that students could submit their forms along with fees of Rs4200/-
till April 30, 2019. However, he mentioned that only candidates who were
registered in 2017 would be able to avail this opportunity.

The examination form and fee voucher are available on the Karachi
University website (www.uok.edu.pk) while examination fee could be
deposited at any branch of UBL, HBL, NBP, MCB or Sindh Bank.

KU announces results of BEd (morning) BEd second year (evening) program

The Controller of Examinations, University of Karachi, Dr Irfan Aziz, on
Wednesday announced the results of Bed (morning) and Bed second year
(evening) program Annual Examination 2018.

As per gazette issued, 42 candidates were registered for BEd (morning)
program of which 37 students appeared in the papers and 13 candidates
managed to cleared their exams with A-grade while 17 students were declared
pass with B-grade whereas seven candidates were declared fail. The overall
pass percentage was 81.08 percent.

Meanwhile, 20 students were registered for BEd second year (evening)
program and out of which 18 candidates appeared in the papers. As many as
nine students cleared exams with A-grade, five candidates got B-grade while
two students managed to pass exams with C-grade whereas two candidates were
declared fail. The overall pass percentage was 88.89 percent.

KU issues mark sheets of MA previous & final private Annual Exam 2017

The Controller of Examinations, University of Karachi, Dr Irfan Aziz, on
Wednesday announced that mark sheets of all MA (Previous and Final) Private
Annual Examination 2017 have been issued.

He directed the students to collect their mark sheets from the Counter No1
located at the Silver Jubilee Gate, KU, from 09am till 4pm. He mentioned
that students should bring their original admit cards, registration cards
and CNIC to collect their marks sheet.

Our enemies have always attempt to create and spread unrest in the country
but, if, we stand together then we can foil their conspiracies easily and
more effectively. We have to counter enemy’s ill-desires and unity would be
our main weapon in this regard.

These views were expressed by the experts during the one-day
Dukhtaraan-e-Pakistan: Envoy of Peace seminar held on Thursday at the Arts
Auditorium, University of Karachi. The chief guest and the provincial
minister for Women Development, Syeda Shehla Raza expressed that Pakistani
soldiers had safely picked up the Indian pilot and presented him in front
of national televisions so that the whole country and world could witnessed
how we treat our enemies.

“The captured pilot Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman
was not torture at all while one of the Pakistani prisoners was killed by
others in one of the Indian jails. Being a nation we have given a clear
message to the world that we are peaceful nation and only retaliate when
our enemies create disturbance and such actions are meant to defend the
country.”

She said that for the last two decades Pakistan is facing war-like
situation and this is due to presence of violent and extremist mindsets.
Owing to their activities, we have lost more lives than the wars in past
and world has also labeled as terrorist nation.

“We have to trace those elements, who mislead and misguide our youngsters,
to carry out suicide attacks in the name of religion. Although, we all
knows that this is against the teaching of Islam but, some elements are
exploiting the youngsters by giving them false interpretation of Islamic
teaching.”

She urged to defeat the mindset which tries to promote violence and
extremism in the country and asked not to let anyone use the name of
religion for their own benefits. Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor KU
Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan asked the female students to utilize their
degrees after completing their education rather than sitting back at homes.

He observed that one of main problems is that we did not see many
professionals in the society as a large numbers of female students did not
go into the field and sit back at homes. “We can do lot of things if we
have made commitments and adopt practical approach towards the situation.”

He observed that education is more powerful than weapons and we need to
develop culture which promotes education. He pointed out that youth is the
source of power and they have to realize that they could do wonders for the
country by utilizing their education.

The Chairperson, Sindh Commission on the status of Women, Nuzhat Shirin,
shared that women must know about their rights and who should be approached
if they need any help. She said that very low percentage of women in Sindh
is aware about their rights.

She said that good results could only achieve if public has complete
knowledge about the law. The Director General, Islamic Research Institute,
International Islamic University, Islamabad, Professor Dr Muhammad
Zia-ul-Haq, while talking about significance of peace narratives, said that
at the boarders, our soldiers are active and responding well to every kind
of violations, but the nation has to defeat the narrative of its enemy
which was launched to destroy our beloved country.

He further said that enemy is afraid to fight us and that is why it has
decided to invest huge money on our own people who have been misguided by
enemy’s narrative and those people were carrying out violent activities in
the country.

“This is so unfortunate that attempts were made to destroy this country by
its own people who have been misguided by enemy’s narrative.” He shared
that one of the Indian TV channel aired a program in which host asked
whether the Indian government would attack Pakistan. The expert replied
that they would not attack because Pakistani Air Force would bring down our
planes but he claimed that Indian government would use Pakistani people to
create panic and chaos to destabilize the country.

Professor Dr Zia added that we need to promote harmony in the country and
women could do it better than men by teaching their children what is good
for the society what is not. “In case, our enemy tried to attack us, it
will face what happened yesterday, but to defeat its narrative, we have to
end the hatred and intolerance from the society.

He informed the audience that over 7, 000 religious scholars have signed
Paigham-e-Pakistan documents and Dukhtaraan-e-Pakistan is also one of its
initiatives.

The Dean, JPMC, President of Pakistan Society of Psychology, Professor Dr
Muhammad Iqbal Afridi discussed anger and stress management issue while the
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Aga Khan University, Dr Rubeena Kidwai
discussed impact of hormonal changes on human behavior.

Earlier, the Director of the Institute of Sustainable Halophyte
Utilization, KU, Professor Dr Bilquees Gul, while delivering the welcome
address, urged that educated women should come forward and play their
positive role in bringing positive changes in the country.

The Director of the Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, KU,
Professor Dr Bilquees Gul, would deliver the welcome address while Dean,
JPMC, President of Pakistan Society of Psychology, Professor Dr Muhammad
Iqbal Afridi would discuss anger and stress management issue.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson, Sindh Commission on the status of Women, Nuzhat
Shirin, would shed lights on psychological reasoning of violence whereas
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Aga Khan University, Dr Rubeena Kidwai
would discuss impact of hormonal changes on human behavior and the Director
General, Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University,
Islamabad, Dr Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq would talk about significance of peace
narratives. The KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan would
also address the seminar.

He was the chief guest at a seminar ‘role of youth in bringing a positive change in society’. The event was organized by Karachi University Civic and Social Responsibility Society under the supervision of KU Students’ Advisor Office at Chemistry Auditorium.

He highlighted that 65 percent of population of the country is comprised of youth and that is why they are called future of Pakistan. But, unfortunately, the police have arrested students who were involved in selling drugs.

Dr Shaikh, who is also the Additional Inspector General Police, Sindh, urged that the parents and other family elders should keep an eye on student’s activities and also collect information about their gatherings and whereabouts.

Dr Shaikh shared that around 700 policemen have been martyred since 2013 in the city whereas 72 traffic policemen also lost their lives in the line of duty. He said that it would be unjust to blame whole police force due to acts of some individuals. He further said that only those who are wrong should be considered as wrong.

The Karachi Police Chief added that there are some sectors of improvement in police division and we have to work together to bring those positive changes in the policing system. In 2018, 331 fatal accidents were reported in which 201 youngsters become the victim and we must follow the traffic rules to reduce the ratio of road traffic incidents and casualties.

He shared that police always tried its best to arrest criminals and also work hard to get them strict punishments. He asked to look at the factors what are the major reasons of crime in the metropolis. We need to know why our youngsters are getting involved in criminal activities, research should be conducted to find out if the poverty, unemployment and divisions within the society are some of the reasons.

He said that parents would never allow their children to become a criminal and added that visit to jail and police stations would be arrange for students so that they could meet lawbreakers and also look at the reasons why did they take wrong decisions in their lives. Dr Shaikh also asked students to submit their recommendations and suggestions after the visit so that their research could be used by the concern departments.

Meanwhile, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, KU, Dr Salman Zubair, assured the additional IG Police that Karachi University students would perform duties at traffic signals voluntarily.

He informed the audience that on average 26, 000 incidents are reported in a year in the city and around 35, 000 people received injuries whereas 1, 100 persons lost their lives in those accidents.
The KU Students’ Advisor Dr Syed Asim Ali expressed that it always sounds good when someone says that youth would change the future of the country but we have to perform practically if we really want to bring any change in Pakistan.

The University’s students are take part in activities which are initiated to bring positive change in the society, he said and added that police force is also working hard to curb the crime and maintain law and order in the city. The policemen have sacrificed their lives to bring peace back in the city.

He shared that in the lights of KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan directives Karachi University has now number of students’ societies like theater and drama society, music society, debate and discussion society, arts and culture society, sports society and civic and social response society and students are taking part in various positive activities under the umbrella of these societies.