Latest news with #KarachiUniversity
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Khurshid Ahmad obituary
My friend Khurshid Ahmad, who has died aged 93, was a pioneering scholar admired for helping to develop the field of Islamic economics as an academic discipline. In 1973 he founded the Islamic Foundation in Leicester, a centre dedicated to research, education and training that has published more than 400 books and papers. It is now housed at the Markfield Conference Centre in Markfield, Leicestershire. Khurshid believed that conventional banking methods produce various forms of injustice, and he was deeply opposed to the charging of interest to people who borrow money. Much of his work was based on trying to find alternatives to interest-charging that were compliant with ethical Islamic principles. Khurshid was born in Delhi, in India, to Nazir Ahmad Qureishi, a journalist and businessman, and Sarwar Jahan. He attended the Anglo-Arabic school in Delhi, then, following the birth of the state of Pakistan in 1947, migrated with his family to Lahore. After gaining a degree in economics from Karachi University, followed by a master's in Islamic studies, he taught economics in Karachi at the Urdu College and Karachi University. He moved to the UK in 1968 to do a PhD, and after setting up the Islamic Foundation, he served as its chairman until his retirement in 2017. He was awarded a number of honorary doctorates, including by Loughborough University and the University of Malaya in Malaysia. Khurshid's wife, Azra (nee Mohebullah), whom he married in 1967, died in 2015. He is survived by their sons, Haris, Salman and Umer, and daughters, Asma, Salma and Fariha, and by his brother, Anis.
The Star
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
India-Pakistan conflict: Nervous calm as Pakistan fears war within days
KARACHI: There is a deceptive calm in Pakistan's main cities. Even as 25 Indian drones penetrated deep into Pakistan's airspace in the early morning of May 8 – reaching as far as the country's economic capital, Karachi – daily life in major urban centres remained largely unaffected. Markets bustled, schools and universities conducted exams as scheduled, and streets bore no signs of panic. Yet, in the rural eastern stretches bordering India, the mood was starkly different: it was one of dread, anxiety, and preparation for the worst. Despite the seeming calm in much of the country, experts insist the situation remains dire and Pakistan is poised on a knife-edge. 'This is a very serious situation, and the international community needs to recognise it,' warned Dr Nausheen Wasi, an international relations expert. 'One-fifth of Pakistan's population is at risk. On top of that, with the ongoing climate crisis and severe energy shortages, the situation could become catastrophic.' Dr Wasi, an assistant professor at the state-run Karachi University, emphasised the unpredictability of the crisis: 'We can see a full-fledged conventional war in coming days, but given the uncertainty, even a nuclear scenario can't be ruled out entirely.' She added: 'The norms of global politics are being defied. Under pressure from his own party, India's leadership wants to resolve the Kashmir issue militarily.' The drone incursions mark the latest flare-up in what is fast becoming one of the most serious escalations between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in recent years. The strikes reportedly targeted militant hideouts, including a residential area linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar. The group is blamed by India for a recent deadly attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 27 tourists dead. India had on May 7 launched a series of air strikes on sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing at least 31 people, two weeks after that attack. Despite the gravity of the conflict, large cities like Lahore and Karachi have shown a remarkable air of indifference. 'We heard a boom this morning and later came to know that a drone had been shot down,' said Nazeer Ahmed, a 30-year-old resident of Karachi's Malir district. 'But we are not afraid. Our armed forces will take good care of Indian attacks.' Shops, offices and educational institutions remained open across Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other metropolitan areas. An official from the Sindh Education Ministry confirmed that public and private universities continued with their scheduled examinations. 'Two private universities have advised students to remain cautious, but no emergency drills have been carried out yet,' the official added. In Lahore, where security agencies ordered the evacuation in Johar Town of a residential block, reportedly connected to JeM's Azhar, most of the city continued to function normally. 'India cannot attack us because of our well-prepared army,' a local taxi driver confidently told a passenger. 'Public sentiment has become extremely resilient,' said Dr Wasi. 'People aren't reacting with fear. It feels like business as usual – there's no panic visible on the streets.' The disconnect between public calm and military escalation underscores a complex reality. For decades, Pakistanis have lived under the shadow of conflict with India, and many have learnt to compartmentalise threats. However, a different reality looms along the border regions. In the desert town of Chor, adjacent to India's Rajasthan, 70-year-old Sharda Kohli recalled the trauma of previous wars. 'We are afraid. We suffered during the 1971 and 1965 wars when Indian forces crossed into our territory,' she said. 'This time, we are storing food and other essentials. It feels like full-fledged war is coming, and no one knows what happens in that situation.' Rajesh Kumar, 45, a school teacher from Umarkot, echoed the sentiment. 'The fear is real here. We live too close to the border to ignore this. The towns are tense.' While Islamabad has called for restraint, warning India against further escalation, its response has been forthright. The Pakistan military claimed it shot down five Indian fighter jets and destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters and check posts along the Line of Control. While Pakistan's military posture has so far been restrained, Dr Wasi warned that 'there seems to be no sign of de-escalation'. And already, business leaders are warning that economic costs are taking root. In Karachi, a major importer revealed that trade disruptions are beginning to take a toll. 'Both countries have blocked containers. Freight costs have jumped from US$300 (S$390) to US$500 per container, making imports unviable,' he said, requesting anonymity. Adding to the mix is the government's attempt to rally national sentiment. In Sindh's capital, Karachi, the provincial leadership led a rally condemning Indian aggression. Though it drew the participation of local political figures and government ministers, the public turnout was modest. As the global community watches closely, what happens next hinges not just on military movements, but also on diplomacy, restraint and the political will to pull back from the brink, say analysts. 'It is very unfortunate that things have reached a point where war seems inevitable,' said Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan, a prominent author and columnist. 'The situation requires immediate diplomatic intervention by the international community and global powers to halt the escalation,' he added. Noting that ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine have already pushed the world to the brink of uncertainty, Dr Wasi warned: 'Another impending conflict could further destabilise the global situation.' - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
India-Pakistan conflict: Nervous calm as Pakistan fears war within days
There is a deceptive calm in Pakistan's main cities. Even as 25 Indian drones penetrated deep into Pakistan's airspace in the early morning of May 8 – reaching as far as the country's economic capital, Karachi – daily life in major urban centres remained largely unaffected. Markets bustled, schools and universities conducted exams as scheduled, and streets bore no signs of panic. Yet, in the rural eastern stretches bordering India, the mood was starkly different: it was one of dread, anxiety, and preparation for the worst. Despite the seeming calm in much of the country, experts insist the situation remains dire and Pakistan is poised on a knife-edge. 'This is a very serious situation, and the international community needs to recognise it,' warned Dr Nausheen Wasi, an international relations expert. 'One-fifth of Pakistan's population is at risk. On top of that, with the ongoing climate crisis and severe energy shortages, the situation could become catastrophic.' Dr Wasi, an assistant professor at the state-run Karachi University, emphasised the unpredictability of the crisis: 'We can see a full-fledged conventional war in coming days, but given the uncertainty, even a nuclear scenario can't be ruled out entirely.' She added: 'The norms of global politics are being defied. Under pressure from his own party, India's leadership wants to resolve the Kashmir issue militarily.' The drone incursions mark the latest flare-up in what is fast becoming one of the most serious escalations between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in recent years. The strikes reportedly targeted militant hideouts, including a residential area linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar. The group is blamed by India for a recent deadly attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 27 tourists dead. India had on May 7 launched a series of air strikes on sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing at least 31 people, two weeks after that attack. Despite the gravity of the conflict, large cities like Lahore and Karachi have shown a remarkable air of indifference. 'We heard a boom this morning and later came to know that a drone had been shot down,' said Mr Nazeer Ahmed, a 30-year-old resident of Karachi's Malir district. 'But we are not afraid. Our armed forces will take good care of Indian attacks.' Shops, offices and educational institutions remained open across Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other metropolitan areas. An official from the Sindh Education Ministry confirmed that public and private universities continued with their scheduled exam ination s. 'Two private universities have advised students to remain cautious, but no emergency drills have been carried out yet,' the official added. In Lahore, where security agencies ordered the evacuation in Johar Town of a residential block, reportedly connected to JeM's Azhar, most of the city continued to function normally. 'India cannot attack us because of our well-prepared army,' a local taxi driver confidently told a passenger. 'Public sentiment has become extremely resilient,' said Dr Wasi . 'People aren't reacting with fear. It feels like business as usual – there's no panic visible on the streets.' The disconnect between public calm and military escalation underscores a complex reality. For decades, Pakistanis have lived under the shadow of conflict with India, and many have learnt to compartmentalise threats. However, a different reality looms along the border regions. In the desert town of Chor, adjacent to India's Rajasthan, 70-year-old Sharda Kohli recalled the trauma of previous wars. 'We are afraid. We suffered during the 1971 and 1965 wars when Indian forces crossed into our territory,' she said. 'This time, we are storing food and other essentials. It feels like full-fledged war is coming, and no one knows what happens in that situation.' Mr Rajesh Kumar, 45, a school teacher from Umarkot, echoed the sentiment. 'The fear is real here. We live too close to the border to ignore this. The towns are tense.' While Islamabad has called for restraint, warning India against further escalation, its response has been forthright. The Pakistan military claimed it shot down five Indian fighter jets and destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters and check posts along the Line of Control. While Pakistan's military posture has so far been restrained, Dr Wasi warned that 'there seems to be no sign of de-escalation'. And already, business leaders are warning that economic costs are taking root. In Karachi, a major importer revealed that trade disruptions are beginning to take a toll. 'Both countries have blocked containers. Freight costs have jumped from US$300 (S$390) to US$500 per container, making imports unviable,' he said, requesting anonymity. Adding to the mix is the government's attempt to rally national sentiment. In Sindh's capital, Karachi, the provincial leadership led a rally condemning Indian aggression. Though it drew the participation of local political figures and government ministers, the public turnout was modest. As the global community watches closely, what happens next hinges not just on military movements, but also on diplomacy, restraint and the political will to pull back from the brink, say analysts. 'It is very unfortunate that things have reached a point where war seems inevitable,' said Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan, a prominent author and columnist. 'The situation requires immediate diplomatic intervention by the international community and global powers to halt the escalation,' he added. Noting that ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine have already pushed the world to the brink of uncertainty, Dr Wasi warned: 'Another impending conflict could further destabilise the global situation.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Express Tribune
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Karachi's water woes show no signs of abating
Imagine a teeming city by the sea stuck in a chronic water crisis — a crisis perpetuated by inefficiency and greed of its civic authorities, a crisis used by a "mafia" as a bone to mint money, of course in connivance with some black sheep in the administration. Yes, it's Karachi. The metropolitan city plunges into made-made water crises with regular intervals. Every time, civic authorities blame it on pipeline ruptures before offering lip-service to the parched citizens. The latest water crisis - blamed on burst of the main 84-inch diameter pipeline near Karachi University - has exasperated after authorities shut down 10 pumps at the Dhabeji pumping station to plug the hole in the damaged pipeline. The pipeline, which burst on Tuesday morning, resulted in the wastage of millions of gallons of water and severe disruption to the city's supply. The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) has stopped the water flow and started repair work, which is expected to be completed by Saturday evening. It states that around 36 feet of the damaged pipeline — originally made of Pre-Stressed Reinforced Cement Concrete (PRCC) - will be replaced with a more durable Mild Steel (MS) pipe. To facilitate the repair operations, 10 pumps at the Dhabeji pumping station, the city key water supply source, millions of Karachiites are facing a daily shortfall of 200 million gallons of water. Over the past three days, this has amounted to a shortage of around 700 million gallons. Several neighbourhoods have been severely affected, including Korangi, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Jamshed Road, PIB Colony, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Gulberg, the Old City Area, and Defence-Clifton. Meanwhile, KWSC Managing Director Ahmed Saleem Siddiqui has constituted a three-member investigation committee to examine the causes of repeated failures in the city's main water supply lines. The committee will submit its findings directly to the MD. As per sources, the line failure may be linked to the installation of two 24-inch connections allegedly added to the main 84-inch conduit to supply Safoora and NIPA hydrants.
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Karachi colleges seek postponement of biannual exams for associate degrees
Listen to article Karachi University is considering a one-year postponement of the newly introduced biannual exam system for Associate Degree (AD) programmes offered in public colleges, following a recommendation from the Sindh College Education Department. The move comes amid administrative and logistical challenges faced by government colleges in implementing the system. The university's academic council has been called into session to formally discuss the proposal. In a letter addressed to Karachi University, Karachi's Regional Director of Colleges, Faqir Muhammad Lakho, recommended delaying the implementation of the new examination format for one year. 'There is still considerable work to be done regarding the Associate Degree programmes (ADC, ADS, ADA), and colleges are facing difficulties in executing certain aspects,' the letter stated. 'In the interest of both students and institutions, the new system should be deferred for a year.' Karachi University had earlier approved the new exam model based on guidelines issued by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), developed by Affiliation Committee Secretary Prof Anila Amber Malik. Unlike the semester system, the biannual structure requires two 100-mark exams per subject each year, conducted entirely by Karachi University's Examination Department. Under the semester system, 40% of marks were assessed by the colleges and 60% by the university. Although the HEC mandated a semester system for Associate Degrees, implementing it proved impractical due to the presence of private candidates, who fall outside traditional academic schedules. Since the HEC replaced the traditional two-year bachelor's programme with a four-year model and reclassified the two-year degrees as Associate Degrees, enrolment in Karachi University's affiliated colleges has significantly declined. Annual income from this stream has dropped from Rs800 million to just Rs200 million, the university confirmed. The academic council is expected to finalise its decision on the proposed deferment in the coming days.
