KCCI assures total support and cooperation to SSUET

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The elected representatives of the business community at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) have expressed the hope that dwindled economy and battered industrial sector will witness a new surge during the next five years. 

They made the assessment on the basis of formation of new government to be formed by Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif which, they noted, has dedicated industrialists, businessmen and experts in the related fields in its fold who are capable to deliver which the previous government could not. 

Their remarks in this regard came in a meeting with Engr Mohammad Adil Usman, Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, held at the university campus on May 15 The 21-member delegation of KCCI, led by its President, Mohammed Haroon Aagar, visited the university and discussed various matters to further strengthen the existing coordination and relationship with SSUET. 

The KCCI chief pointed out that no expansion occurred in the industrial sector during the last 5 years and this sector has much hopes on the new government which is going to be formed with an industry-related background. He offered large scale internship opportunities for the SSUET students, foreseeing the rapid industrial growth that is likely to take place in the coming years. 

He specially referred to the ongoing energy crisis and said that with other sources of energy generation potential also existed to tap solar energy prospects for use in the industries. He also offered to extend sponsorships for the SSUET students, wherever required. 

In his remarks on the occasion the SSUET Chancellor, Engr Adil Usman, thanked the delegation for coming over and described it highly encouraging with fruitful discussion. He said while foreseeing the future development prospects, there is imperative need to encourage the students studying engineering in this university which is being run with its self-generated resources to provide best possible knowledge to future builders of the nation. 

The Chancellor said that the university does not receive any government grant, still no student is allowed to give his studies just for financial implications and all requirements of poor students are fulfilled by this university which has been awarded the highest “W4” category by Higher Education Commission. 

He suggested the KCCI to establish a fund for poor students of this university which will be utilized under the criteria to be worked out by KCCI itself. He also referred to the SSUET’s Research and Development programs and pointed out that world over such programs are supported by the industry. He said that R&D programs at universities ultimately prove beneficial for the industry. 

He informed the KCCI officials that the university can send talented students abroad if a fund is created by KCCI for this purpose. Engr Adil Usman also referred to the bio-plant designed with SSUET’s cooperation and emphasized that it needs further development to launch it for meeting energy needs. 

He appreciated KCCI’s offer for 6-month IT training for the university students and said the University at its end can offer solutions for IT related problems if these come from the Chamber. 

On the occasion, Shamim Firpo, Senior Vice-President KCCI, appreciated SSUET’s participation in the Chamber’s ‘My Karachi; exhibition held at Expo Center last year and said that the projects displayed on that occasion drew big public liking. 

He said this year the KCCI is organizing the exhibition in July and will earmark an exclusive education pavilion to showcasing the projects of engineering students. He said such programs will help enhance greater SSUET-industry collaboration. 

He also referred to the menace of energy crisis and observed that if the new government surmounts this menace, the industry will grow and in turn new job opportunities will create and simultaneously ongoing law and order come under control. 

He assured KCCI's total support and cooperation for the SSUET along with other members of the visiting delegation who appreciated the presentation given on the occasion by Registrar SSUET Shah Mahmood Hussain Syed and particularly referred to the quantum of scholarships awarded and the financial assistance give to needy students. 

First Meeting of Pakistan-Korea Business Council of FPCCI held in Karachi

Mr Sohail Nisar, Chairman Pak-Korea Business Council of FPCCI convened the First Meeting of the Council which was graced by Mr. Chang-Hee Lee, Consul General of Republic of Korea in Karachi.

Haji Fazal Kadir Sheerani, President FPCCI in his welcome address emphasized the need for more interaction between the Business Communities of two countries. He also stressed upon that opportunities for joint ventures that exist in many fields including alternate energy, agriculture, engineering sectors, food processing, technical and technological collaborations etc. He also suggested frequent exchange of trade delegations, promotion of new products by organizing exhibitions, conducting joint study to find new products for bilateral trade, and to remove hurdles that impede the bilateral trade between Pakistan and South Korea.

Mr Sohail Nisar, Chairman Pak-Korea Business Council mentioned that Korea has demand for at least 20,000 tons of mango, which is currently being met through imports from a few countries. But the delicious, aromatic and different varieties of mangoes grown in Pakistan have no parallel. He said despite a 30% duty on mango imports, the Pakistani fruit could have a good demand in the Korean market. He, however, called for swift processing of mango at the existing facilities.

Members of the Council informed the Consul General about the difficulties being faced by them in the process of obtaining visas, despite the fact that they have visited Korea several times for business purpose. The President FPCCI suggested establishing a special window at the Consulate General of Korea in Karachi to issue visa to the genuine businessmen on the recommendation of FPCCI.

The Consul General was also informed that Pakistan-Korea JBC meeting is due for last six years and sought his cooperation in holding it at the earliest so that the two sides could take a fresh look at the opportunities and challenges before them in order to achieve comprehensive development and foster greater collaboration.

Mr. Chang-Hee Lee, Consul General of Republic of Korea in Karachi thanked the FPCCI for inviting him. He informed that Korea is the 12^th largest economy in the world and 4^th largest in Asia. He said Pakistan and South Korea have a lot in common, be it socio politics or cultural aspects and enjoy a much deeply enrooted friendly and mutually co-operative relations since more than six decade. He said it was encouraging for him to witness the presence of big Korean Corporations in Pakistan, like Samsung, LG, Lotte, Ssangyong, POSCO, Daewoo and establishing relationship with Pakistani business community. Mr. Chang-Hee Lee said the problems faced by Pakistani businessmen are regrettable and he would take up the matter with the Authority in Korea for rectification.

NBP Embarks to Establish the Largest Data Center

In line with the NBP President’s vision of technology at the core of banking, National Bank of Pakistan inked its Data Center Project on turnkey basis with Getronics (AGCN) Pakistan. The project shall be an International Standards Certified Tier III Data Center Project.  This Data Center facility will serve more than 1290 online branches for Centralized Banking Applications; to ensure 24x7x365 (Always Online) IT services across the bank and all its applications including a 24 hours IT services monitoring & operations center.  

The Project Head NBP Mr. Qasim Y. Khan (Vice President/Wing Head IT Strategic Planning Wing) and country manager Getronics Pakistan Mr. Faisal Rao signed the contract in the presence of the President, National Bank of Pakistan Dr. Asif A. Brohi and senior executives of the bank.  Mr. Mahmood Siddique (Chief Information Officer) and Mr. Yasir Ansari (Deputy CIO) acknowledged the project to be a success for the future NBP services & increase customer satisfaction through highest availability and resiliency. This is one of its kind projects in the financial industry of Pakistan with latest equipment and technology and an IT milestone for the largest commercial bank of Pakistan.

Arif Bukhari calls on Chancellor Schroeder

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Arif Ali Shah Bukhari, Chancellor of KASBIT and Chairman of KASB Foundation, called on former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, on the sidelines of the recently held YPO-WPO Global Leadership Conference in Istanbul, Turkey.

Arif Bukhari apprised the German Chancellor about the successful implementation of the FATA Children Scholarship Programme that was run by the KASB Foundation with the support of the German Foreign Office to educate the children who were displaced because of the violence in the FATA region. 

Realizing the importance of Pakistan, which will serve as the transit point in the new business order of the world to connect the Middle East, Afghanistan and the former Soviet Bloc countries, East Asia and more importantly China with the rest of the world, Chancellor Schroeder looked forward to the timely development of infrastructure in Pakistan to meet the challenges that would have to be met for the prosperity of Pakistan in particular and the South Asian Region in general.

Arif Bukhari, who is also the Chairman of the Pakistan China Business, Cultural and Social Society, which serves to develop the social-cultural, economic and people to people contacts between Pakistan and China, invited Chancellor Schroeder on behalf of the society to visit Pakistan as a special guest speaker to inform its members about the vision he holds for the South Asian Region and the supportive role he could play on behalf of his country to which the Chancellor responded that he looked forward to do so whenever the right opportune allowed him to visit Pakistan.

The German Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Michael Koch, having taken very keen interest in the running of the FATA Children Scholarship Programme, was also appreciative of the KASB Foundation initiative.