Third Karachi Literary Festival (KLF): February 11 - 12, 2012 -- Announced by Ameena Saiyid

Third Karachi Literary Festival (KLF)

The Third Karachi Literary Festival (KLF) will be held at a local hotel on February 11 and 12. The event is being jointly organized by the Oxford University Press (OUP) Pakistan and British Council.

An announcement to this effect was made at a briefing by the Managing Director of OUP Pakistan, Ms. Ameena Saiyid. It was pointed out that the KLF is a reflection of Pakistan’s historical roots as expressed in a multiplicity of languages and in various forms of writing. At the same time it serves to highlight the contemporary context.

The festival also seeks to broaden the picture and counter-balance the negative depiction of society in Pakistan by celebrating the diversity and dynamism of this society. Asif Farrukhi, literary critic, along with Martin Fryer, Director Programmes, British Council Pakistan, and Shreela Ghosh, Director Arts, British Council South Asia, were also present on the occasion.

Ms. Ameena Saiyid said that through dialogue and discussion, readings and renderings, the Festival is intended to create an intellectual space in which the diversity and pluralism in Pakistan’s society is expressed by authors from traditions both within and beyond Pakistan’s borders. She said that the festival allows these writers to be freely accessible to people in an open and participatory manner.

Source: Pakistan Observer

RIP: IT Genious Arfa Karim Lost the Battle for Life

The youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Arfa Karim Randhawa passed away in Lahore today (Saturday, January 14). 

RIP: IT Genious Arfa Karim Lost the Battle for Life

The 16-year-old Arfa karim Randhawa was in coma since three weeks after suffering from epileptic attack. She was being treated at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore since December 22. 

According to hospital sources she was suffering from idiopathic epilepsy seizure which led to brain damage.

Arfa Karim became the youngest Microsoft professional after completing her MCP in 2004 at the age of only 9.

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Capital Hospital's Dr. Naeem Taj Brings Guinness World Record Honour to Pakistan

Dr. Naeem Taj Brings Guinness World Record Honour to Pakistan

Surgeon Doctor Naeem Taj, the head of Surgical Department at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Hospital, has brought another honor to Pakistan as he removed the world’s largest gall bladder through laparoscopic surgery.

According to details; Dr Naeem Taj operated the 70-year-old Rasheeda Bibi in CDA Hospital to remove 25.5 cm long gall bladder through as small as one cm slit.

The Guinness Book of World Records has already issued a certificate for the Dr Taj recognizing his recent professional excellence and achievement. The previous record was held by an Indian doctor, who had removed a 24 cm gallbladder through open surgery.

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Shining Star of Pakistan: Jawad Nazir Scored Highest Marks in Pearson PTE Exam

“Zara num ho tou yeh matti barri zarkhez hai Saqi” (this land is very fertile, it just need a bit of raindrop/water) - this is absolutely true for the Pakistanis especially the youth of my beloved homeland.

Jawad Nazir Scored Highest Marks in Pearson PTE Exam 

I have shared here few of the achievements of Pakistani students which are not less than international standards by any means. For example, Arfa Karim Randhawa, the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) at the time of certification, and Babar Iqbal, the youngest Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS). 

Another bright student from Pakistan hits a record in educational field. Jawad Nazir, a student from Rawalpindi, neighboring city of Islamabad - the capital of Pakistan, has scored 73 points overall in Pearson PTE examination.

Pearson examination is a new form of exam introduced in Pakistan after TOFEL and IELTS. It is on record that Jawad Nazir has scored maximum in Pearson PTE examination since it has been started in Pakistan.

Jawad Nazir told media that it was not an easy task to go for such an examination which is not popular and does not have enough awareness in masses. He said that online examination system is not very common in Pakistan so it is always a hard task to go for.

Pakistan has the traditional education system in place for decades; although the government is determined to improve the educational systems according to the international standards. Jawad Nazir also said on this that with less then 5% of the budget allocated towards the educational setup each year we can only dream of having enhanced educational system in Pakistan.

Jawad Nazir is also a youth activist and is a founder of local youth managed NGO “Jawad Nazir Trust”. He is working as a professional social worker for last 3 years and has heaps of experience in the field.

Know more about Jawad Nazir and Jawad Nazir Trust.

7th Karachi International Book Fair at Expo Centre, Karachi -- Book Lovers Showed Great Interest in 5-Day Event

KARACHI, Pakistan (Dec. 19) – More than 100,000 people swarmed into the 7th Karachi International Book Fair at the Karachi Expo Centre on Sunday. The 5-day book fair is being organized by the Pakistan Publishers and Book Sellers Association from December 16 to 20, 2011.

7th Karachi International Book Fair at Expo Centre, Karachi

The third day of the 5-day book fair was unbelievably crowded by the book-lover people of Karachi, said PPBA Chairman Aziz Khalid. Despite a weekly holiday, the roads around the venue of Expo Centre were jammed due to the huge traffic, while the parking lot of the venue was also packed to its full capacity. He said that the citizens had taken an advantage of Sunday and participated in the fare, showing their passion and love for books.

He said, “We are thankful to people of the metropolis who have given great response to the international event and proved that they are real lover of books.” In the event, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Mari, Matric Board Chairman Anzar Hussain Zaidi also participated. The information minister also launched a book on Habib Jalib, written by Mujahid Barelvi.

Publishers from America, India, Iran, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and England are participating in this exhibition at Expo Centre’s hall No. 1, 2 and 3. Around 290 stalls have been set up there. However, Readings Group - a big books’ publisher and seller in Pakistan - has displayed more than 100,000 books on general topics in the fair.

Chairman Readings Group Rana Saeed said, “We have set up the largest book display here with 30 stalls. Readings have a large variety of books in English language, while Readings’ publications are in both English and Urdu languages. We also have imported-books at a nominal price. The largest books’ display covers nearly all topics, such as natural sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, literature, philosophy, poetry, sports, journalism, history, astronomy, geology.”

Talking about the vision of the Readings Group, he said, “We have introduced a new trend of selling and publishing books in the country by starting our journey from Lahore.