Latest news with #NUST
Business Recorder
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
FAST Cables and NUST host forum on climate challenges
LAHORE: FAST Cables, in collaboration with the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), successfully hosted the FAST Forward Sustainable Development Forum—a high-impact event bringing together thought leaders from academia, industry, and civil society to explore the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and industrial transformation in Pakistan. The event commenced with a welcome address by Dr Syed Irtiza Ali Shah, Principal, School of Interdisciplinary Engineering and Sciences, NUST. He highlighted the essential role of academia in solving real-world challenges and stressed the importance of university-industry collaboration. He also emphasized that sustainability must begin at the individual level, stating, 'In global innovation ecosystems, companies approach universities with real-world problems—and students deliver real-world solutions. That's what we need to build in Pakistan. Our research must be aligned with the practical needs of industry.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Newcastle's ‘leaked' crest sparks concern
Newcastle have been criticised over their decision to redesign the club's badge amid concern at one of the potential options. The club emailed a survey to season ticket holders and members last week to ask for feedback on what supporters would like to see in a new crest design. The club are adamant that no final design has been drawn up, despite images circulating on social media showing a crude new effort that appears to have been used in an internal presentation. Several options, taking into consideration the results of the survey, will be presented for a public vote before the new crest is decided upon. Crucially, though, there was no option in the survey circulated to say that supporters do not want to change the current design, which has been the club's badge since 1988. The proposed redesign will be the fourth time Newcastle have changed their club crest since the 1950s, but many fans are reluctant to change it again. As a result, the Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) have expressed concern at the survey being 'framed in an incredibly leading manner throughout, and it is hard to see how any meaningful fan engagement or reliable conclusions can be drawn from it.' A letter to Newcastle CEO Darren Eales added: 'We do not believe the survey in its current form can produce results which would satisfy Clause M9 of the Football Association's Rules of the Association: 'A club must be in a position to evidence that the majority of its supporters are in favour of a material change to its club crest prior to making any such change.' The image shared on social media has also caused alarm, with its blocky basic design giving an ugly re-imagination of the current crest. Telegraph Sport understands the design leaked last week was not meant to be viewed in public. Although it could be one of the options presented to supporters at the end of the consultation period, that has not been decided. The internal preference from the branding team, lead by Dan Ginger - a Newcastle fan who is Director of Brand, Marketing and Digital Media – is to merely update the current crest, sharpening it up and simplifying some of the details. However, if supporters indicate they would be open to a more radical redesign in the survey, this will also be one of the options presented for as public vote. In a presentation to the media on Friday, it was explained that the current crest, of which there are already several slightly different versions being used on different parts of club branding, is too complex and intricate for modern purposes. 'As our club grows on the global stage, the symbol that represents us needs to be able to keep pace,' the club said in a statement. 'It needs to show up clearly and confidently across everything – from kits to screens to merchandise. 'So, we've been asking ourselves: how well does our current crest represent the club today? And how well will it serve us tomorrow? 'It's time to update our crest. This isn't a decision we take lightly. We love our crest. It's iconic and has stood us through unforgettable triumphs and testing times. 'But it was created in a different era. Its intricate design doesn't always translate well in today's digital world. And it's difficult to reproduce it clearly and consistently. As football and the world changes, so too must the symbol that unites us. 'Based on what we've heard, updates to the current club crest should be minimal and therefore 'Refine & Revive' is our recommended approach.'
Express Tribune
09-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt taps EU demand for skilled labour
The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was informed on Thursday that Europe was projected to require 450 million skilled workers over the coming years, and Pakistan is moving to position its workforce to meet the demand. Similarly, a labour agreement has already been signed between Italy and Pakistan, while a similar deal with Belarus is expected soon. During the session, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Dr Arshad Mahmood, told the committee that Belarus required approximately 150,000 skilled workers. Efforts are being made to send as many Pakistani workers there as possible, he added. Dr Mahmood further stated that Europe demands skilled labour, and Pakistan has initiated six-month specialised training programmes at five universities, including NUST, aimed at ensuring confirmed employment opportunities abroad upon completion. He revealed that Italy's interior minister visited Pakistan a day earlier and formally signed a bilateral agreement to recruit skilled labour from Pakistan. CEO Sehat Sahulat Programme Muhammad Arshad informed the committee that all Pakistani citizens were entitled to free medical treatment under the programme. For further details, he added, citizens can send their CNIC number to 8500 to access information about affiliated hospitals and other services. Separately, the director general of the Foreign Office briefed the committee that Pakistan has signed prisoner exchange agreements with eight countries, under which 185 convicted individuals have been repatriated.
Business Recorder
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Inclusive prosperity promotion: Minister calls for Pakistan-ASEAN technology alliance
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has called for a technology alliance between Pakistan and ASEAN to promote inclusive prosperity. The minister expressed these views while addressing the ASEAN-Pakistan Technology Expo 2025 as the chief guest at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad on Monday. The minister said that our vision is to make Pakistan a knowledge economy that empowers the youth, strengthens its industries and plays a meaningful role in regional cooperation. The two-day event brought together distinguished delegates from ASEAN member states, academia, industry leaders, and students to foster collaboration in science, technology, and innovation. The minister underscored the significance of the Expo as a symbol of shared commitment between Pakistan and ASEAN nations to harness the transformative power of technology. He emphasised the dual nature of technological change, which offers immense promise but also presents serious challenges. From artificial intelligence to clean energy, Iqbal noted that disruptive innovations are reshaping global economies and societies, and highlighted the risks posed by the growing technology gap, digital divide, and skills mismatch in developing regions. Iqbal outlined the common challenges faced by Pakistan and ASEAN countries, including climate change, youth unemployment, and uneven digital infrastructure, while also pointing to shared strengths such as a young and tech-savvy population, robust universities, and a growing appetite for innovation. He stated that this synergy forms the foundation for deeper cooperation in science and technology. Reaffirming Pakistan's strong commitment to its partnership with ASEAN, Iqbal proposed a forward-looking vision for ASEAN-Pakistan technology collaboration. He outlined three strategic pillars to drive this agenda: fostering knowledge and talent exchange through academic partnerships and innovation fellowships; building joint research and development platforms in emerging fields; and ensuring that technology contributes to sustainable and inclusive development, particularly in areas such as climate resilience, health, and education. The minister also highlighted recent milestones in Pakistan's journey toward a knowledge-based economy. These include the launch of the National AI Policy, the creation of Special Technology Zones to attract global investment, the digitisation of governance through the E-Pakistan initiative, and the strengthening of institutions such as NUST and Ignite to support startups and applied research. He emphasised that the future must be built through cooperation, innovation, and shared vision. Commending NUST for its leadership in technology education and research, he called upon the youth to develop technologies that serve not just markets, but the greater public good. The minister expressed hope that the ASEAN-Pakistan Technology Expo would mark the beginning of a new era of collaboration, shaping a smarter, greener, and more inclusive future for the region. In his concluding remarks, Iqbal issued a compelling call to action, urging all stakeholders to reimagine ASEAN-Pakistan relations not merely through the traditional lenses of trade and diplomacy, but as a dynamic technology alliance for inclusive and sustainable prosperity. He also proposed the following action steps for consideration at EXPO 2025: Establish an ASEAN-Pakistan Technology Cooperation Forum that convenes annually to identify joint initiatives, exchange innovative ideas, and evaluate collaborative progress. Launch an ASEAN-Pakistan Startup Bridge aimed at connecting incubators, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs across the region to foster a vibrant cross-border innovation ecosystem. Promote the development of regional standards and interoperability in digital technologies to enable efficient, seamless collaboration and integration among member states. Encourage the co-hosting of technology expos, hackathons, and innovation challenges that actively crowdsource solutions to shared developmental challenges and stimulate youth-led innovation. Institutionalise a structured digital dialogue bringing together policymakers, academia, industry leaders, and young innovators to ensure that technology policies remain inclusive, future-oriented, and people-centered. In his welcome remarks, Umar Khan, Project Director of the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA) at NUST, acknowledged the pivotal role of Ahsan Iqbal in establishing key national research centers. He highlighted that the NCRA, along with the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence, National Centre of Big Data and Cloud Computing, National Centre of Cyber Security, and the National Centre of GIS and Space Applications, were all launched in 2017-2018 as part of the minister's vision to propel Pakistan into a technology-driven future. He noted that Iqbal's unwavering dedication has transformed these initiatives into thriving ecosystems of innovation, commercialisation, and national impact. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan proposes tech alliance with ASEAN, eyes inclusive digital future
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has called for a strategic technology partnership between Pakistan and ASEAN to foster inclusive prosperity. Speaking at the ASEAN-Pakistan Technology Expo in Islamabad on Tuesday, he reiterated Pakistan's commitment to building an innovation-driven future. According to a statement from the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Minister Iqbal emphasized the dual-edged nature of technological progress in his address 'Disruptive innovations are reshaping global economies and societies,' the minister said, as he highlighted the 'risks posed by the growing technology gap, digital divide, and skills mismatch in developing regions.' He identified shared challenges like climate change and youth unemployment, while highlighting synergies such as 'young, tech-savvy populations and robust universities.' The minister proposed three strategic pillars for cooperation, involving knowledge exchange through academic partnerships, joint R&D platforms in emerging fields and inclusive tech development for climate resilience and healthcare. Noting Pakistan's strides like the National AI Policy and Special Technology Zones, Iqbal urged stakeholders to 'reimagine ASEAN-Pakistan relations not merely through the traditional lenses of trade and diplomacy, but as a dynamic technology alliance for inclusive and sustainable prosperity.' He announced concrete steps, including an annual ASEAN-Pakistan Technology Cooperation Forum and a Startup Bridge to link regional innovators. NUST's Umar Khan credited Iqbal's leadership for establishing pivotal research hubs like the National Centres of AI and Cybersecurity in 2017-18, now thriving innovation ecosystems. Concluding with a call to action, Iqbal stressed: 'Future must be built through cooperation, innovation, and shared vision.' The Expo aims to catalyze what he termed 'a smarter, greener, and more inclusive future for the region.'
